James Austin @JamesDAustin Twitter profile

Last Seen Profiles

@Gaassiigg

@hwganna

@remataoo

@torinoelle

@_rachaelthorn

@jlwardx

@zFa9u0rKuLOotfO

@HowardUAlumni

@stw_pdg

@naeluhshi

@FkEEzKinj8EB14L

@DepthsofEnkano

@stw_pdg

@KoreanAir_KE

@mintclub0922

@mayamokh

@bokeplokalmalam

@cs_barbz

@stwmaniax

@recon2sg

@CharoTobajas

@KarimRa56178408

@mushmoonz

@France_Travail_

@trainwiths

@RakshanVJ

@nogsalex

@wlandlilac

@clarazhv

@LordNipppy

@imunit_nn

@doremifaso64

@hotyemenh

@BranquinhoINVER

@radubulat

@jandakembangstw

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

It really is notable now how poor, or at least unmodern, a lot of the UK feels compared to countries you visit. Even somewhere like Krakow, traditionally a spot people head for cheap lads holidays and seen as 'poor', feels considerably more modern than, say, Bristol.

211

292

7K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

6 months

If you can afford afford private school fees (average: £16k p/a) you aren't middle income.

Sam Freedman

@Samfr

6 months

Middle income families do not use private schools for the absolute love of God. The average household income is less than the annual fee of Sunak's old school.

142

928

8K

14

135

3K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

24 days

The lack of focus on the Liberal Democrats taking 60, conservative-held, seats is particularly bizarre. The Tories can't win a majority without the South-West and they've lost it to a party who: a) sit to their left b) dig in brilliantly c) aren't in govt so v.hard to attack

Rob Ford

@robfordmancs

24 days

The main opponents Conservatives need to defeat to win back seats are Labour (Con second to Lab in 219 seats) and Lib Dems (Con second to Lib Dems in 64 seats) So naturally many in the party are arguing for an all out focus on Reform (Con second to Reform in…2 seats)

108

347

2K

31

290

3K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 month

Ed Davy wakes. He rolls out of bed and pulls on the crumbled suit. In the corner the bright yellow helmet awaits. Breakfast. Trepedation. Mentally he curses the comms team. He stumbles off the bus, helmet in hand. Ahead, the cannon and the 6 foot high blue wall awaits

16

100

2K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

16 days

Labour party have, in under 2 weeks in office: - Approved 3 massive solar farms - Removed the ban on onshore wind - Committed to banning new petrol cars from 2030 With more to come in the Kings speech. The Greens do pretty graphics. Labour does practical action.

Gareth Dennis

@GarethDennis

16 days

@JamesDAustin @Psythor don't get too high and mighty: this also applies to the current Labour party!

13

1

50

510

140

2K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

23 days

.... this is HS2. It's literally the proposal for HS2. Which we should absolutely finish and build Northern Powerhouse Rail as well (and a high speed line to Plymouth/Cardiff + connect Bristol to Brum)

Farrukh

@implausibleblog

24 days

Andy Burnham, "I have been talking to ministers about it.. It's not about going back to HS2.. It's about having an alternative to the West Coast mainline when the HS2 trains go from London to Birmingham" "The idea that they can go on the existing West Coast mainline, it just

62

236

2K

48

116

2K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

This is very smart, targeted politics: anyone who has done some knocking (or just spent time in) some smaller towns in England will know what a high profile issue with some this has become. And the comments just dismissing it 😂

The Labour Party

@UKLabour

2 months

Labour will clamp down on dirt-bikes being used for antisocial behaviour.

755

251

2K

78

102

2K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

While I'm not a fan of it, the Tories have been doing this sort of thing for years. They have absolutely no moral ground to stand on. Sliding into? Remember *your literal leader using Saville smears just 2 years ago?*

Tobias Ellwood

@Tobias_Ellwood

1 year

Is this where UK politics is sliding to? Belittling your opponent rather than promoting your own policies? If it’s not addressed 👉 the electorate will disengage 👉 good people will not stand 👉 And our int’l standing will fall Time for a code of conduct to keep the bar high.

3K

144

833

58

362

2K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

Fine, so let's have national service for, say, 60 - 75 year old volunteers. 1/4 weekends a year. After all, they are the ones in favour of it

Tom Calver

@TomHCalver

2 months

Ok I know it sounds bonkers, but the idea of *some* form of national service is actually quite popular

714

64

310

67

118

2K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

I swear the anti 'VAT on private schools' people are now in competition to find the least sympathetic case study. It's like they're trying to build support of the policy

123

364

2K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

23 days

My definately not 'back of a fag packet' proposals for Western Powerhouse Rail. Which we should build tomorrow.

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

23 days

.... this is HS2. It's literally the proposal for HS2. Which we should absolutely finish and build Northern Powerhouse Rail as well (and a high speed line to Plymouth/Cardiff + connect Bristol to Brum)

48

116

2K

138

78

2K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 years

Genuinely the weirdest attempt to make a culture war. Yes, of course, I support the idea of having everything I need within 15 minutes walk and a livable neighborhood. Because I'm not a weirdo.

Nick

@LOVillaJavea

2 years

Will you accept 15 minute cities?

529

2K

1K

25

71

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

4 months

Why the hell would you need a mandate from those 'whose house values are expected to plummet'. Nationally important infrastructure shouldn't be held hostage to a few local people.

42

74

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

This is just straight-up vandalism - and those involved should be arrested and charged. Can you imagine the outrage if, say, Just Stop Oil did the same?

UB1UB2 West London (Southall)

@UB1UB2

3 months

Locals in Hillingdon take down a traffic light with a ULEZ camera on it in their West London neighbourhood. This is in protest of Sadiq Khan's policy where drivers are charged £12.50 for driving within London with a non-ULEZ compliant car. Police are forced to turn up at the

471

368

3K

22

77

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

6 months

Nothing says 'we've failed' like blaming a bloke who left office *checks notes* 17 years ago for 'still ruining Britain'

The Telegraph

@Telegraph

6 months

✍️ 'Tony Blair is still ruining Britain' | Writes @miriam_cates Read the full column here ⤵️

135

23

119

15

68

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

6 months

Starmer sounded genuinely, and rightly, disgusted there. #pmqs

65

89

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

9 months

@TPGRoberts Geniunely, I swear they have done these stories on repeat since the 80s

4

6

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

Genuinely, the UK seems to be actively trying to make young people leave at this point. If we're going to bring in these sorts of measures they should be applying to older drivers - many of whom clearly shouldn't be on the road. But attacking young people is easier.

Julia Buckley MP

@JBuckleyLabour

3 months

@kimleadbeater 's Graduate Driving License bill will have its second reading on May 17th. I fully support this bill and @owe65332 with her petition to push for Graduate Driving Licenses. You can find the petition below:

261

33

145

36

61

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

One advantage of the Greens basically being a vibe and not really focusing on policy is that it obscures the fact that much of their policy is, to put it frankly, mad.

Rhiannon L Cosslett

@rhiannonlucyc

2 months

The Green Party, and I say this politely, can fuck the fuck off

157

476

5K

10

136

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

Is this really working out?

Neil Henderson

@hendopolis

1 year

Is this really working out?

181

22

197

11

65

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 month

I don't think this is a particularly outrageous demand tbh. That the Tories do says a lot about why they're in the trouble they are.

Iain Martin

@iainmartin1

1 month

The great Sunak shaming: please stop this human sacrifice. Spot on by ⁦ @camillalong ⁩ on the anger and fury of contemporary politics. As ⁦ @matthewsyed ⁩ also says in ⁦ @thetimes ⁩ something similar will consume the next government too.

508

12

35

52

151

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

This is it The Labour manifesto has been so well briefed over years that it doesn't look incredibly ambitious - but there is a lot of radical stuff in it which we've managed to normalise Its the apotheosis of Starmer's reassurance strategy. Radical stuff in a reassuring package

Theo Bertram

@theobertram

2 months

If today was the first time Labour was announcing GB Energy, rail nationalisation and a new industrial strategy, the manifesto might be regarded as bold so the fact that these are pre-announced and familiar doesn’t diminish their ambition.

25

190

976

33

103

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 years

Words cannot describe how much I hate these 'progressive' takes on national teams in sport. It basically just denies that players from minority backgrounds are 'truly' french or 'truly' English. Just reinforcing far-right narratives. They're French.

CJ Werleman

@cjwerleman

2 years

It took a team full of Arab and African migrants to defeat Morocco.

1K

4K

27K

9

90

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

4 months

I preferred the old way of doing a general election when we elected all of the MPs at once rather than one by one.

George Eaton

@georgeeaton

4 months

The Tories' overall majority is now just 43 (down from 80 following the 2019 general election).

10

56

157

8

74

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

14 days

I hate to say it mate, but when the bloke making the statement *is literally the co-leader of your party* that kind of makes it your stance. It's how politics works. You can't just go 'our leader thinks this but we don't.'

Alex Powell

@APowellLaw

15 days

@DuncanStott You are... But his stance is not the same as the parties stance. That is the slippage I object to. On a personal level, I also disagree with him.

16

0

5

16

30

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

6 months

I went to uni in 2008 thinking 'I'll graduate just as the economy is picking up speed post-recession' It did not pick up speed.

jonn elledge

@JonnElledge

6 months

Just caught myself thinking "hmm, I wonder what a boom feels like", great sign for an economy given my age

16

21

505

17

39

1K

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

27 days

It's appointed a cabinet, cancelled Rwanda, started talks with the junior doctors, had a cabinet meeting and begun to sort the country. Pretty good for less than 24 hours.

Robert Crowcroft

@RCrowcroft

27 days

The government has been in office for less than 24 hours and hasn’t done anything - but yet according to Marr, “for the first time in many of our lives” the country already resembles a “haven of peace and stability”. This is not analysis.

370

285

3K

17

58

999

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

16 days

Jason Groves

@JasonGroves1

16 days

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay confirms he’s opposing new electricity pylons needed to link green energy to the grid in his East Anglian constituency. Says the route is not popular locally and he’s a ‘constituency MP’ first

329

307

1K

11

84

965

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

4 months

It's astonishing. They've somehow managed to make a bill that was intended to extend the rights of tenants one which further protects landlords. Jokers. Can't wait till we get rid of them all.

Daniel Hewitt

@DanielHewittITV

4 months

Lobbying by landlords on renters reform has worked. Govt will: -Extend period by which a tenant can end a tenancy from 2 months to 6 months, giving landlords more protection -Delay abolishing Section 21 while Lord Chancellor writes an assessment of the 'readiness of the courts'

18

96

143

12

231

953

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

5 months

Insane stat from Dylan down the thread: that the Tories are losing roughly 23k votes p/m through natural turnover (deaths + new voters) and that, assuming demographics hold, delaying from May -> October will cost them 0.5% of their support. Good grief

Dylan Difford

@Dylan_Difford

5 months

Polls currently imply a record 15½-point swing to Labour. But where is this swing coming from and can it be undone? The largest component is Tory defections to Labour (around a third of the swing), but losses to Reform and Don't Know/Not Voting are also big parts of the story.

15

68

252

12

143

939

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 month

The UK equivalent if that campaign intern? A 74 year old woman called Margaret whose being doing this for years but hates smartphones and still uses WARP sheets Americans can't grasp the complete differance in resources between US/UK politics. Which is why they'd fail here

charlie 🇺🇦🇵🇸

@baranskocracy

1 month

A one day canvassing bootcamp taught by a random American intern would completely revolutionize British politics for a generation

64

140

4K

16

39

897

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 month

People still falling for the old 'talk centre, govern left' trick. Labour are promising a huge expansion of state intervention in the economy, renationalising railways, taxing private schools, industrial strategy, and extending workers rights. Definately Conservative policies.

The Guardian

@guardian

1 month

Labour is telling Britain it is now a conservative party – and we should believe it | David Edgerton

49

44

125

84

66

866

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

6 months

Cameron is, not that quietly, turning out to be a very decent foreign secretary.

Dan Bloom

@danbloom1

6 months

👀 David Cameron pops up in The Hill on US funding for Ukraine ... "I am going to drop all diplomatic niceties. I urge Congress to pass it." "I do not want us to show the weakness displayed against Hitler in the 1930s."

66

491

2K

39

38

863

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 month

Angela Rayners favourability rating is roughly higher than any other politician in the UK. The weird obsession the right has with her being some sort of bogeyman is a very good tell of how disconnected they are from reality.

Alex Armstrong

@alexharmstrong

1 month

As soon as Starmer steps into No. 10, it’s clear who’ll be clawing at the door. He won’t last 18 months. Only Reform can give this country the opposition it will desperately need.

316

347

1K

34

103

864

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 month

The Tories were very happy to monster Brown, Miliband and Corbyn. They've tried to do the same to Starmer - remember the Saville stuff? They were happy when the electoral system delivered them disproportionate victories. But now the boots on the other foot and they can't deal.

Iain Martin

@iainmartin1

1 month

The great Sunak shaming: please stop this human sacrifice. Spot on by ⁦ @camillalong ⁩ on the anger and fury of contemporary politics. As ⁦ @matthewsyed ⁩ also says in ⁦ @thetimes ⁩ something similar will consume the next government too.

508

12

35

10

87

727

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

This man.

16

44

711

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

10 months

Good grief. In which case this has gone from 'bad policy decision' to 'wilful act of national vandalism' which is designed to stop Labour restarting the project. Utterly shameful.

Faisal Islam

@faisalislam

10 months

Land acquisition for phase 2a to Crewe suspended immediately… Government to start reselling properties it bought for hs2 phase 2

144

206

303

10

153

699

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

10 months

Still stunned that the Tories are apparently genuinely planning, as a plan not a emergency measure, to make 'not building HS2 to Manchester, but building it to London' the part of Rishi's speech tomorrow. In a railway building in Manchester.

3

71

685

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

But you have fantastic modern infrastructure: excellent active travel stuff, trams, good bus network, the public realm is in decent nick and, while its still full of stag dos and cheapish for beer, it's also got a very high end side Does feel were being caught and falling behind

6

3

688

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

25 days

Remember when we were in a climate emergency? Needing radical action to reach net zero? Well, apparently, we should piss about for years considering slower, more expensive and more difficult options which have already been thought about. Because, really, it's not that urgent

Pete Kennedy

@PeteKennedy

25 days

@seandsmyth You know there are other options than pylons, right? Offshore grid, tunnelling. These haven’t been properly considered.

167

1

88

5

54

647

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

29 days

Genuinely remarkable that apparently the story of the night is Reform rather than, you know, the party that has won every seat thus far

14

71

638

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

4 months

This is why I'm very skeptical of the idea that simply adding infra or 'building beautiful' will resolve/placate Nimbyism Fundamentally, Nimbyism is driven by opposition to change. It's deeply conservative. Most of the 'reasons' found to oppose a development are post-hoc

Daniel Heaton

@2D0XPS

4 months

The Mail really lays out just how terrible the plan is

27

52

1K

28

70

623

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

Having a few responses from racists: no, the UKs failure to invest in infrastructure and local govt for over a decade isn't the fault of immigrants or multiculturalism. That's one of our great strengths. You guys have, and will continue, to lose. Toodles.

6

9

617

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

For referance, Diane, last year the rural community I grew up in held a 'It's a Sin' draft night raising money for the Terrance Higgins Trust in the town hall. It sold out and was supported by the entire community. Rural communities are not full of anti-gay bigots.

Diane Abbott

@HackneyAbbott

1 year

Keir Starmer now saying that rural communities are in his DNA. Bet he did not say that when he was running for Holborn and St Pancras.

2K

509

3K

12

46

583

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

This isn't even a gaffe really. It's a very standard photocall, distinguished only by being in Cannock - a seat that you're only visiting if you fear wipeout. But the narrative is now set. Everything is a gaffe. And so this is.

Lewis Warner

@LewisJWarner

2 months

The press call was the PM building *checks notes* a red brick wall

125

336

3K

16

38

590

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

One of the things that always strikes me about arriving to and being in central Manchester is how it feels like you're in a major Place. IMO no other major UK city (aside from London) feels like that. Not Leeds or Birmingham. Manchester feels like a metropolis.

48

12

586

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

17 days

Just about as pure a distillation of nimbyism as you could get: supporting the roll out of pylons, but not in their backyard. But that is who the Greens are: hypocrites who care more for the colour green than the environment.

Adam Bienkov

@AdamBienkov

17 days

Green Party MP Carla Denyer says it is in her party's "DNA" to push for "more rapid rollout" of renewable energy, while at the same time trying to explain why her co-leader is actively campaigning to slow down the rapid rollout of just such a project in his own constituency.

89

201

1K

11

75

585

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

6 months

I'm really struggling to see how Sunak is more able than Brown, Cameron or May. Hell, while he's more competent than Johnson he's a far worse politican. It's vibes over achievement.

John Rentoul

@JohnRentoul

6 months

The Conservatives are heading for a long spell in the wilderness. My weekend article for @Independent

64

25

92

18

45

573

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

Genuinely amazing people are trying to treat Labour having its highest share of the vote at a LE since 1997, gaining 600+ councillors and key targets as some sort of defeat and crisis for Starmer. Remarkable.

16

60

548

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

21 days

It's a sign of how the YIMBY/pro housing narrative is working that NIMBYs are getting so worked up about being (correctly) labeled as such

The Telegraph

@Telegraph

21 days

✍️ 'I’m all for more homes being built, but dismissing those who love our green and pleasant land is just insulting,' | writes @JudithWoods Read the full comment👇

14

0

13

8

23

532

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

The fact that the apparent lead political analysis story is the (3%) Reform surge and not, say, the 20% Labour lead says a lot about why we're in the situation we're in. Just no curiosity at all about Labour or how it's got to this position

38

63

525

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

10 months

People are *massively* underestimating just how radical Labour's 2024 manifesto is looking With this, the Green New Deal and decarbonising energy by 2030 you've got some very transformative and ambitious policies The rhetoric is downplaying it but don't be fooled; its big shit

Steven Swinford

@Steven_Swinford

10 months

Exclusive: Keir Starmer to announce generation of new towns as he sets out plans for a 'decade of renewal' He will pledge to build Georgian-style townhouses in urban areas Labour will release low-quality green belt for housing - he calls it grey belt

336

402

4K

47

63

523

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

This one has to be a piss take, surely?

53

60

503

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

It was ever thus

7

30

503

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

5 months

Well, yes. That's kind of the point. Given this is what is on the site presently I'd say it'll be an improvement. Cities shouldn't be preserved in sepia

Bristol24/7

@bristol247

5 months

Warning proposals to demolish a city centre hotel and replace it with a 28-storey tower will “change the face of Bristol”

23

6

21

11

27

502

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

4 months

4.3 million children are in relative poverty. 3.6 million in absolute poverty. Politics is about priorities. If we're spending £10.5bn I know what I'd prioritise. It's not people who were given 15 years notice of a pension change.

Andrew Fisher

@FisherAndrew79

4 months

Don't quite understand why Labour is tying itself in knots over #WASPI compensation this AM... Surely line to take is: Opening: "The government should honour the PHSO report and compensate these women now" Would Labour if the Tories don't? "Yes, Govt has a duty to these women"

60

133

395

19

41

475

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

8 months

@thomas_violence Certainly shows why we've had the whole 'enshittification of the internet' thing - and why Gen AI is going to make it way worse

1

12

470

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

The dynamic within Labour of Starmer being more radical than many members of his inner cabinet, and in particular Reeves, is going to be a fascinating one to watch going forward

Tom Harwood

@tomhfh

2 months

NEW: I understand that some senior Shadow Cabinet ministers (including Rachel Reeves) are 'uneasy' about Labour's plan to lower the voting age to 16, approved at Friday's manifesto meeting. Starmer, however, is personally adamantly in favour of the change, and pushed it through.

144

98

553

18

23

476

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

Of the last 7 PMs 4 have been of strong religious faith. Our present PM is a devout Hindu. The other candidate for SNP leadership is a practicing Muslim. The idea this is 'barring people of faith' from public office is for the birds.

Nick Eardley

@nickeardleybbc

1 year

Kate Forbes argues on Today that there's a risk of Scotland moving into "very dangerous days" Questions if want people of faith "barred" from high office Repeats she wouldn't have voted for gay marriage because she backs "mainstream Christian teaching"

84

10

50

14

62

465

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

5 months

Does the deep state include... the entire British public?

James Heale

@JAHeale

5 months

Liz Truss has written for Fox News ahead of her CPAC speech tomorrow. Says the "administrative state and the deep state" "sabotaged my efforts in Britain to cut taxes, reduce the size of government and restore democratic accountability"

27

7

22

12

24

466

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

4 months

It's genuinely fascinating to watch what Labour are willing to get more aggressive on - and what they're backing off. I'll admit that planning/NIMBYism isn't something I'd expected us to go big on... but I'm very glad we are.

YIMBY Alliance

@yimbyalliance

4 months

The language is getting stronger by the hour!

6

19

233

26

25

456

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

24 days

I'd guess the answer here is 1) - Blair feels ignored and is now going public. Starmerism, such as it is is, is far more rooted in class, place and doesn't really do the big visions Blair is fond of. In many ways its a rejection of Blairism, despite links. Blair is pushing back

James Ball

@jamesrbuk

24 days

I’m not sure whether this implies either (1) Blair doesn’t feel his advice is getting the attention it warrants behind the scenes, (2) that Blair is incapable of handing over he spotlight, or both. But this doesn’t reflect well on him.

10

9

179

15

24

444

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

25 days

'I want a proper options assessment!' 'Okay, and if that shows that pylons are the best option you'll back it?' '....' Remember: this is the Green's co-leader. It's very clear what they stand for - and its not tackling climate change

16

58

445

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

Also: Krakow is lovely, Poland is great and I'm going to have to visit here at some point when I'm not on a very traditional stag whose main aim is drinking

5

3

443

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

Yeah, this. I don't particularly like it or her. She isn't fit to be a Labour candidate. But it's entirely the right political move: the Tories wanted to fight the GE on immigration, Rwanda and small boats. She neuters that.

James O'Malley

@Psythor

3 months

She's basically just a human shield for any attacks on immigration during the election campaign, a one line answer that Starmer can drop in to diffuse any criticism/scepticism.

8

13

139

29

39

431

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 month

The Green party took down all of it's policy documents a few days into the election when people found them. I find that chilling.

George Monbiot

@GeorgeMonbiot

1 month

Here's what you get if you try to read Labour's 2019 manifesto. It has been deleted. I find that chilling.

833

986

5K

3

12

433

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

As always McDonnell is one of the most intelligent and far-sighted members of the far-left - I suspect this is correct. The first 2 years or so of Labour's time in office is going to be incredibly tough - there will definitely a opportunity to push for greater radicalism then

John Rentoul

@JohnRentoul

2 months

I thought this, from John McDonnell, was interesting

11

20

64

21

30

429

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 years

I can't put into words just how much I abhor this. The right to strike is incredibly hard won and workers only real weapon against abusive employers like this government. To remove it is a huge, awful step and we must fight it every step of the way.

Steven Swinford

@Steven_Swinford

2 years

EXCLUSIVE: Rishi Sunak is poised to announce minimum strike legislation as soon as tomorrow It will enable employers to sue unions and sack employees if they refuse to accept Hearing six sectors covered - NHS, schools, rail, borders, fire, nuclear

1K

3K

13

98

427

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

16 days

How the hell do the Greens think they are going to push for more radical action to tackle the climate emergency when they can't even stand up to a small group of Nimby constituents?

Jason Groves

@JasonGroves1

16 days

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay confirms he’s opposing new electricity pylons needed to link green energy to the grid in his East Anglian constituency. Says the route is not popular locally and he’s a ‘constituency MP’ first

329

307

1K

11

53

422

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

7 months

Allie Hodgkins-Brown

@AllieHBNews

7 months

Wednesday’s TIMES: “Tories to woo first-time buyers” #TomorrowsPapersToday

18

20

21

2

68

405

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

Still find it amazing thay the Prime Minister, in a fight to prevent his party facing a existential wipeout, has spent 7/23 days of the campaign thus far just... not campaigning

27

18

406

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

People don't like 14 year olds tearing around their estate on dirt bikes scaring the shit out of them shock

8

5

397

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

5 months

It's genuinely remarkable how no one in the govt or commentariat seems to have noted that they delivered very similar tax cuts just 5 months ago *with no political impact.* Why do they think it'll work this time?

Sam Freedman

@Samfr

5 months

Coverage of the budget just seems utterly impervious to poll after poll after poll showing the public care more about the decline in services.

38

275

1K

14

50

385

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

6 months

It needs to be restated, over and over again, that this is a crisis caused by central government, with cuts mandated by central govt. And it can only be solved by central govt. Which refuses to do so. And children will suffer as a result.

Sam Freedman

@Samfr

6 months

Birmingham children's services to be cut by around 25%. First wave of cuts include these. This is a very obvious disaster in the making.

125

894

2K

8

112

390

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

6 months

A fantastic example of the British planning system in action - and a disgrace Brownfield site, not far from town, desperately needs redevelopment. 820 potential homes Blocked for another 2 years by local Nimbys Meanwhile, average rent in Bristol has increased by 41% in 5 years

Tristan Cork Post

@TristanCorkPost

6 months

BREAKING: Another 2 years of limbo for Broadwalk Shopping Centre as blame game begins. Read the full story here 👇🏼

9

13

30

10

40

385

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

5 months

Good example of how the Tories play politics on easy mode. The govt is only able to afford these tax cuts because of undeliverable spending cuts. But almost no attention on what those will be. As compared to the opposition being expected to have detailed plans within hours.

Lucy Fisher

@LOS_Fisher

5 months

Keir Starmer derides Budget as the 'last desperate act of a party that has failed'... But Labour can't identify a single measure they oppose/wd reverse if they win power Party faces huge headache now Hunt has nicked policies on non-doms & windfall tax

21

10

38

6

65

384

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 years

This is literally what we need to be building in centres like Peckham. We have a housing crisis. If we are going to address it, without losing huge amounts of green space, we need to build densely. Places like this, with excellent transport links, should be first up.

Aylesham Community Action

@ACAPeckham

2 years

Seriously, how can this be allowed? An extremely dense & high rise development plonked down in #Peckham town centre. This is for @BerkeleyGroupUK shareholders and has NOTHING to do with needs of local people. #NeedNotGreed . @PeckhamVision @peckhampeculiar @SouthwarkNotes

113

70

152

10

24

381

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

This is entirely shameless and shows a huge amount of disrespect for those who voted for Sian to be a list assembly member. Just treating the seat as a toy to be passed around among the party elite.

British Electoral Politics

@electpoliticsuk

3 months

NEW: Green Party London Assembly Member Sian Berry has resigned her seat just 3 days after winning it. She is also the Green Party's candidate for Brighton Pavilion in the General Election.

260

206

820

24

30

387

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

6 months

This is an utterly bizarre way for the BBC to report the recession. Somehow trying to frame it as a good news story. I mean... what?

Nick Eardley

@nickeardleybbc

6 months

BBC verify on the recession numbers - which show mildest start to a recession for 50 years 👇 That means economy not shrinking by as much. And recession not expected to last as long. via @BBCNews

915

18

75

10

49

377

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

4 months

Labour didn't plough 'infinity money' into the NHS up to 2010 and yet we got very high public satisfaction and decent outcomes. The story of the NHS since is one of mismanagement, lack of capital investment and failed reform. That's on the Tories.

Henry Hill

@HCH_Hill

4 months

If only the Tories hadn't decided not to plough infinity money into the NHS because they're evil.

30

6

73

16

53

380

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

5 years

So I joined the @LibDems - making the same journey my parents did 30 odd years ago when they left @UKLabour to join the Social Democratic Party. This got me thinking about the parallels between the two journeys. Funny how history repeats...

28

72

368

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

2 days. 2 days and they're heading to reset. And they only reset what, 2 weeks ago? Good grief. You don't just leave a weekend day of campaigning free for the opposition to dominate unless things are really bad

Politics UK

@PolitlcsUK

2 months

🚨 BREAKING: Rishi Sunak will take a day off campaigning tomorrow to regroup with his aides in a highly unusual move so early on in the election campaign [ @guardian ]

339

209

2K

16

21

380

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

2 months

Look guys, Labour is doing its bit to keep that combined vote share up. It's not our fault the Tories are letting the side down. Just absurd framing.

Guardian politics

@GdnPolitics

2 months

Tories and Labour on course for lowest share of the vote since 1945

16

13

16

25

33

375

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

4 months

The point here is not that the Tories haven't tried to be small state; it's that they have done it really badly Demographic pressures means state spending is naturally rising. The Tories salami slicing approach has just led to the enshittification of services not a smaller state

Andrew Neil

@afneil

4 months

I think you must have been AWOL for the past decade or so if you think that’s what Tory policy has been. The tax burden is now the highest for 70 years. State spending as a share of GDP is the highest since the 1970s, when your approach to the economy took us to the brink of

288

729

4K

13

50

369

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

Quick reminder that this happened to rents without any discussion of help. Let's you know who the govt cares about

Vicky Spratt

@Victoria_Spratt

1 year

👀

23

11

64

7

60

358

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

This is just sad.

32

12

351

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

16 days

Speaking as someone who is (just about still) a young person and would like kids at some point I'd quite like a 3 bed house. Pretty sure the same applies to a lot of younger people, even those in (gasp) living wage jobs

Bristol People

@Bristol_People

16 days

We need three million new social rent, one bedroom flats across England and Wales. Elderly people and young people in living wage jobs do not need or want 3 bedrooms houses. They need a nice, safe & secure home. Capitalism has wreaked the fabric of society

23

2

17

25

15

360

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

4 months

Which is why, whenever someone goes on about how we have to cut immigration, the correct response is: What is your solution to our dependency ratio?

Tom McPhail

@PensionsMonkey

4 months

The support ratio doesn't look good

9

0

28

128

46

359

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

Or you could... just give them better pay and working conditions? Not a huge amount of point in 'forcing' doctors and nurses to stay a few extra years if... they just leave immediately after that. You're just delaying the issue.

Nigel Farage MP

@Nigel_Farage

3 months

More than 15,000 NHS doctors left Britain last year. It can cost up to £400,000 to train them. It’s only fair on the taxpayer that new doctors and nurses should stay here for a given period of time.

2K

1K

7K

30

11

353

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

4 months

'I support building on brownfield' 'No! Not like that!' Properly astonishing, rejecting a dilapidated small house being replaced by some pretty nice medium density homes in an area of high housing need. Notably, everywhere he suggests they're built are outside his constituency

Chris Philp MP

@CPhilpOfficial

4 months

I am pleased that a plan to demolish a family home on Riddlesdown Road, Purley and replace it with a large block of flats has been refused. New homes are needed but the right place for new flats is Croydon town centre, central London and brownfield sites.

378

4

62

5

24

352

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

23 days

My radical view is that if you don't believe supply/demand applies to housing, and oppose new housing on environmental grounds, your home should be knocked down and the land returned to nature. After all, it'll have no impact on prices so you'll find a new place easily, right?

James Ball

@jamesrbuk

23 days

Personally I would be happy to cut off any town or village from the national grid where the majority had objected to pylons. They could be reconnected later for a reasonable fee and dropping the objection. There’s a reason I haven’t sought elected office.

53

61

772

9

21

354

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

I've said this before: but my Grandad is in his mid-80s, lives in a marginal, was a working class builder who set up his own firm and did very well and is socially conservative He's the Tories dream voter And he thinks they're incompetent and hate old people. He's voting Reform

Sam Freedman

@Samfr

3 months

One big problem the Tories have is they've ended up pursuing only one type of voter - retired authoritarians - who, by nature, are often not hugely grateful and deeply suspicious.

61

180

2K

30

20

348

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

Or, you know, proportional representation. The thing that A) the Lib Dems properly believe in B) has relatively little political baggage C) has strong Labour support (outside of the leadership) D) would make the single biggest difference to their long term prospects as a party

(((Dan Hodges)))

@DPJHodges

1 year

Lot of speculation this morning about what Ed Davey would want in return for propping up Starmer. If he’s got half a brain the thing that should be top of his list is the abolition of tuition fees.

438

28

359

11

25

342

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

It's hard not to conclude, after the past few days, that something isn't pretty fundimentally broken in British journalism. Totally detached from reality. Thing is... it doesn't even help the Tories. They're killing them through kindness

Jack Surfleet

@jacksurfleet

3 months

Monday's TIMES: UK heading for a hung parliament, says Sunak #TomorrowsPapersToday

69

27

28

12

32

344

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

7 months

'Your council has gone bust, you can't see a doctor and your mortgage has gone up by £500. And we plan to cut public services by another 13% next year... ... but we'll abolish this tax you won't pay for 35 years so vote for us'

18

56

335

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

1 year

IMO this largely applies to older British people. Younger ones (-40 for example) have a very realistic view of where we stand and the trajectory. Because, you know, we're actually in work and aren't protected from it by asset wealth.

Tom Williams

@tomwilliamsisme

1 year

The UK has a totally unrealistic sense of its own prosperity, which is why we are not prepared to do what is necessary to reverse the trend

34

147

1K

4

19

330

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

Once again I want to say that this is a insane way to run and reform local government in the UK. Really hoping Labour take a proper look at governing structures when we're in and do something to fix this utter mess

Jack Shaw

@JackTShaw

3 months

Houchen may be joined by new Conservative mayors in 2025 with elections in Greater Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Hull and East Yorkshire and Norfolk. Norfolk delayed its election from May 2024 to May 2025.

7

2

17

22

17

336

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

3 months

The @JonnElledge bubble again. Genuinely, you've lost 1/2 your councillors. Had a huge, 26% swing against you in a by election. Seen basically every target marginal swing massively to the opposition. Lost North Yorkshire. And you're saying they're mixed results?!?

Kate Ferguson

@kateferguson4

3 months

Have to say I think party a bit more split than this…. There is gloom, but mixed results mean some are getting their fight back

101

5

26

12

34

329

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

6 months

The obsession with Reform when Labour are hitting 47% in the polls is remarkable. Talk about missing the wood for the trees

Alex Wickham

@alexwickham

6 months

— the play against Sunak is to show that without a change of leader Reform will destroy the Tories — warning of possibility Reform will crossover in polls if Farage returns — in that scenario people like Gove, Rees-Mogg could lose seats

10

13

56

19

11

322

James Austin

@JamesDAustin

9 days

Very much struggling to take seriously people who voted for, and lauded, the 2017 manifesto who have suddenly found a huge point of principle on the benefit cap. Labour should get rid of it, but it's very transparent what the game is.

19

15

327