Jon Mabbutt

I would find Tony Blair’s intervention less nauseating if he’d practiced what he preaches. New Labour ran down our industrial base, built no nuclear power stations, no new airports, not a single reservoir and far FEWER state homes than Thatcher! He preferred illegal wars…

Aspire vote in the first Council meeting for a massive increase in their own pay Cabinent members will get a 63% increase so will now earn £48,292 a year - this is much higher then the average income of residents for a part time role Mayor 13% increase to £92k Deputy Mayor 35% increase to £58k Chair of Strategic Development Committee up 70% to £33k Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee up 34% to £29k Plus two new paid posts Deputy (junior) Cabinet Member £8k + Ambassadors £6k - see 2nd pic Its likely that all of the 33 Aspire Cllrs will get some kind of extra pay so that none earn less then £20k There are also big increases in pay for Committee chairs and opposition leaders - some of this is justified and I am not against some increase in allowances especially for C'ttee chairs BUT what do we as tax payers get in response - we are paying for this increase - do we think the Council will now be more productive? A reminder being a Cllr is a part time role (its why all of the meetings are in the evening), a few will do extra work but whats the point of having an Executive Mayor if so many others are also paid more then many do for a full time job? All Cllrs get £12,792 allowances + the Special Responsibility Allowance (except the Mayor himself) - so in the table below I add the 2 together so that you can see full pay Also from 1st April all Cllrs in England will get pensions again (a good thing) The justification given for this massive increase That it would encourage a more diverse group of Cllrs - but we just had elections That it brings pay into line with other Councils with Mayoral models in London - but does not explain why now and why needed - just because others do it does not mean its needed But whats clear is that this is now a salary not a compensation for extra work - it allows a large group of Cllrs to be full time I don't object to the Mayors increase - Mayors should be paid the same as MPs at least, as have a much more responsible job See item 12 for backup democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ieListDocument… The table is my own summary

Copying us again? At least give credit where it is due, Rupert.

Today the SDP publishes 'The Investment State'. It is our latest Green Paper that sets out to make a strong argument for why the United Kingdom is poorer than it should be, and what a government serious about growth would do about it. We are inviting you to have this conversation with us. Read it at: sdp.org.uk/investment-sta…

William Clouston, Stephen Balogh, and Matthew Kirtley address journalists and supporters at today's launch of The Investment State, the SDP's new economic Green Paper.

@McsteaBilly @SDPhq @WilliamClouston Welcome Billy. Good to have you with us.

For the second time in my life I’ve resigned from the Labour Party, this time to join a party I should have joined years ago. @SDPhq @WilliamClouston

@WhetstoneSDP current confirmed SDP number is over 30 and there are still some missing. It's early still in the data gathering process.

We've 27 in Yorkshire alone! SDP.ORG.UK.

@Mrbobo972407 @natehiggins I would predict~ 2 greens, 15-20 or so Labour and 1 Tory councillor in Tower Hamlets fyi. Aspire will get likely the rest.

@natehiggins I'm going to redo some of these areas once the SOPN has been published to see where leftist/Gaza indies are running, which I think will actually cost the Greens in a couple areas like Islington and Newham, its just I didn't have the info whilst makinG this projection.

My projection of the 2026 London Local Elections

I can't think of anyone I care to hear the opinion of less than Alistair Campbell when it comes to the legality of war. @campbellclaret

If you get a chance, take a look at this. This is what politics should be. If you live in Gorton and Denton, then please vote for Sebastian Moore on 26th. There is no better candidate. @SDPhq youtu.be/8xAvt8asSOc?si…

"This is a really common sight in 2020s Britain" Sebastian Moore, our candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election, thinks the neglect of our streets is reversible.

@SDPhq @RedActuary We've been very blessed to have you as deputy leader. Thank you for your contribution.

SDP Party Chairperson Stephen Balogh has issued the following statement: Hilary Salt's position as Deputy Party Leader of the Social Democratic Party has ended. William Clouston, Party Leader, said: "Much valuable work has been done since Hilary's appointment as Deputy Leader of the SDP in Autumn last year.  I'd like to thank Hilary for all her efforts made across many aspects of the party's mission since August 2024.  We look forward to building the party in 2026 and in the years to come."

Top ten things not in the Labour Party 2024 manifesto that they are now doing. Feel free to add more 1. Assisted Dying 2. Removing access to trial by jury 3. Increasing taxes on working people 4. Digital ID 5. Removing child benefit cap 6. Mansion Tax 7. Removing IHT relief on farms 8. Setting up new public bodies 9. Restricting salary sacrifice arrangements 10. Delaying elections

Samir Zitouni was heroic. "In a moment of crisis, Sam did not hesitate as he stepped forward to protect those around him. "His actions were incredibly brave, and we are so proud of him, and of all our colleagues who acted with such courage that evening. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Apparently telling a loved one that they are loved and precious and you don’t want them to commit suicide is now “coercion”. This is Orwellian darkness. Up is down, black is white, goodness is evil. What a wicked thing this bill is.

Police update: "Five casualties have now been discharged from hospital, and one remains in a life-threatening condition. "This casualty is a member of LNER rail staff who was on the train at the time and tried to stop the attacker. "Detectives have reviewed the CCTV from the train, and it is clear his actions were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many people's lives." Wow. God willing, he pulls through.

Mandatory ID cards are un-British. If forced on us it will be yet another embedded freedom lost due to the cultural chaos and abuses of mass immigration. It always brings to mind this wonderful piece of writing by A. J. P. Taylor ⬇️

These people never fail to amaze.

@jake_sdp8607 @SDPhq Congratulations Jake! It's good to have your leadership.

The UK is now a country where silently praying near an abortion centre is illegal but killing a baby just before birth is legal. This doesn't happen by accident. It's the systematic application of an evil ideology.