Charlie Alford

Poll shows big movements in the Greater Manchester mayor race

Post author:Willem Moore
Post published:14 July 2026
Post last modified:15 July 2026

New polling has come out for the Greater Manchester mayor race, and it’s showing some significant movements: A new poll has just dropped for Greater Manchester. Labour – 25%Greens – 15%Reform – fighting a bin in Clacton Sign up to our actions days to help get Geraldine Coggins elected Mayor of Greater Manchester. pic.twitter.com/DolJ8JKpxo — The Green Party (@TheGreenParty) July 13, 2026 Does this show that the Greens are on a path to victory? Greater Manchester mayor race Admittedly, Zack Polanski is being a bit cheeky by not showing the overall polling, which looks like this: POLL | Greater Manchester Mayor:…

Big Oil must foot the bill for urgent heat protection as Europe swelters

Post author:The Canary
Post published:13 July 2026
Post last modified:13 July 2026

As deadly heat covers Europe, governments must act quickly to protect lives and force fossil fuel companies to foot the bill. That’s the view of campaign group 350.org. There were more than 10,000 excess deaths across Europe during record-breaking heatwaves in June. Deadly wildfires are still raging in France and Spain. And even in the normally less extreme UK, the death toll has topped 2,700 and multiple fires have taken hold. Climate campaigners urge European governments to take urgent measures to protect the public, especially vulnerable populations, from heat impacts. This includes measures such as upgrading hospitals, care facilities, schools and…

Labour’s Lucy Powell targets free speech, not Big Tech

Post author:Maddison Wheeldon
Post published:6 July 2026
Post last modified:7 July 2026

During a recent LBC interview, deputy leader of the Labour party, Lucy Powell rightly called out X as a “toxic and difficult environment“, adding that the government should consider stronger regulation. But her comments, as usual, have missed the mark. For Powell, the concern is less about the harm social media causes to everyday life, but the influence it can have for political parties during election campaigns. When it comes to protecting children online, the outgoing Labour leader, Starmer, chose to restrict access rather than properly regulate these platforms. Yet when social media, which is undeniably more democratic than traditional media, could…

Starmer has banned kids from social media instead of reining in capitalist big tech

Post author:Maddison Wheeldon
Post published:15 June 2026
Post last modified:15 June 2026

PM Keir Starmer has announced a social media ban for under-16s which will prevent access to apps like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Taking inspiration from Australia, the UK will introduce a similar ban to take effect from Spring 2027. However, the government will go further by restricting livestream and ‘stranger communication’ for children including on gaming sites. In his address, Starmer stated: All I’ve ever wanted for my own children, hand on heart, is for them to be happy and for them to be safe, I think that’s what any parent wants. BREAKING: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer…

Pro-Palestine protester ‘Big Ben Dan’ found guilty

Post author:Skwawkbox
Post published:11 June 2026
Post last modified:11 June 2026

‘Big Ben Dan’ Day has been found guilty of ‘public nuisance’ at Southwark Crown Court after climbing the parliamentary tower in March 2025. Day’s 17-hour protest was against Israel’s Gaza genocide and against state-sanctioned police violence against peaceful protest. Big Ben Dan — “Serious disruption” The state claims Day caused a £67,000 public bill, some lost bus fares and “serious disruption”. Not as big as Israel’s genocide has caused to millions of innocent Palestinians and surely that’s the point of protest. But that’s the UK state’s priority as Keir Starmer wages war on anti-genocide speech and protest. Supporters chanted “Free Palestine”…

Private consultancy firms rake in big GB Energy public money

Post author:Cameron Baillie
Post published:29 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

New-ish GB Energy has wasted no time siphoning off public money to private companies. Scottish paper the National has revealed that up to £20m of taxpayer money is going straight to consultancy firms. GB Energy: corporate capture Under energy secretary Ed Miliband’s guidance, London-based firms Deloitte and Baringa Partners are gaining lucrative contracts. They’re to handle day-to-day operations of Labour’s flagship — supposedly publicly-owned — corporation GB Energy. The National has revealed that these contracts, signed on 1 May, awarded the two firms a shared programme — worth up to £10m each — in which they will: be responsible for “organisational set…