Sally Dawson

NEW: My cover interview with Alf Dubs, the Kindertransport refugee and Labour peer, who says he — had more success shaping immigration policy under the Tories than he does now — hasn’t met with Shabana Mahmood whereas Tory home secretaries used to invite him to meet — agrees with Rayner that Labour’s immigration rule changes are “unBritish” and says they make people feel “very uncertain and insecure” — reveals conversations with whips… & more 👇 politicshome.com/news/article/a…

The first recorded appearance of a cat in Japan is described arriving as an imperial gift, written down on March 11, 889 AD by 22-year-old Emperor Uda on his diary:

The US president is praising Allah and Iran is defending the Pope, welcome to 2026

Thank you, @efoody and @politicshome for this lovely review of my book about Labour pioneer Margaret Bondfield. (Also for your kind words about my work supporting women in politics, which are very much appreciated!) @BloomsburyAcad x.com/politicshome/s…

"Nan Sloane has produced an expertly told story of an extraordinary working-class woman" 📚 @efoody reviews @NanSloane's 'Margaret Bondfield: The Life and Times of Britain’s First Female Cabinet Minister' | @Bloomsbury bit.ly/4c7CFrv

‘There are three bodies no sensible man directly challenges. The Roman Catholic Church, the Brigade of Guards and the National Union of Mineworkers.’ - Harold MacMillan.

In response to a personal attack by President Donald Trump the night before, Pope Leo told journalists on the papal plane to Algeria: “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the Church is here to do. We are not politicians. We don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.” (Video: @OSVNews)

NEW: Team Burnham’s plan to get him into No 10 — The figures behind that Rayner speech on immigration rules & the soft left’s conclusion that they need to wait for Burnham — How Burnham has started organising properly, meeting with MPs & unions — Miliband, Haigh, Nandy now considered by allies to be on board the Burnham train – He has moved from 50-odd potential nominees in the PLP to triple figures, says a backer & more 👇 politicshome.com/news/article/b…

NEW: Pope Leo XIV’s close ally Cardinal Robert McElroy received a standing ovation at the end of his homily, where he called on Catholics to take up civic action to help end the “immoral” war against Iran. “When we leave this church tonight, we must move beyond prayer. As citizens and believers in this democracy that we cherish so deeply, we must advocate for peace with our representatives and leaders. “It is not enough to say we have prayed. We must also act. For it is very possible that the negotiations will fail because of recalcitrance on both sides, and the president will move to re-enter this immoral war. “At that critical juncture, as disciples of Jesus Christ called to be peacemakers in the world, we must answer vocally and in unison: “No. Not in our name. Not at this moment. Not with our country.”

What London looked like in August 1942, where Cannon Street Station, Monument and Tower Bridge can be clearly seen in the background.

NEW: BIG big read on Team Andy Burnham — A day in the life, which starts running to the Stone Roses — Meetings focus on how it will land in the press —Works of Philip Larkin and Shakespeare drove him to English literature —Can drink eight pints without "appearing pissed" one friend recalls —Civil servants snooping on his Manchesterism press conferences —He's a royalist according to close friend Steve Rotheram —David Blunkett's advice from the Russian revolution on leadership challenges politicshome.com/news/article/w…

Significant. Lawyers for Reform UK donor Ben Delo say that referring to his criminal conviction is a breach of privacy law, with no "public interest". If highlighting the criminal records of those bankrolling UK political parties is not in the public interest, what is?

Did you catch Moya on @bbcwm just now, discussing her Dispatch article about teenage link ups? Here's her personal analysis of what she saw.

Absurd and inhuman violence is spreading ferociously through the sacred places of the Christian East, profaned by the blasphemy of war and the brutality of business, with no regard for people’s lives, which are considered at most collateral damage of self-interest. But no gain can be worth the life of the weakest, children, or families. No cause can justify the shedding of innocent blood.

JD VANCE: With no disrespect to the cardinal, I don't know who Cardinal Christophe Pierre is REPORTER: He's the ambassador to the Holy Sea and US VANCE: Okay, I've met him before. Sorry. I just didn't remember the name. I've never seen this reporting. I'd like to talk to him.

BREAKING: Pope Leo XIV on Trump’s warning to Iran of “civilization” destruction — “This is truly not acceptable. Here there are certainly questions of international law, but even more than this a question of morality for the good of people.” He adds the war is “continuing to escalate and is not resolving anything… is only provoking more hatred throughout the world.” “attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law, but it is also against sign of the hatred and division that we are capable of.” Video @Reuters

Big news for dogs

Imagine Trump’s messages read out by the prosecution at Nuremberg. (“A whole civilisation will die tonight.”) They would have hanged any one of the defendants.

Alex Jones is worried that Trump is too crazy. Yes you read that correctly.

A literate person would of course say "beneath" not "below"