โIโm tired Lorraine of having to justify my existence by the worth I bring to this countryโ
@DrAmirKhanGP
responds to the immigration and NHS claims made by Nigel Farage in last nightโs episode of
@imacelebrity
#Lorraine
#ImACeleb
BRADFORD IS
#CityofCulture2025
๐ฅ
This is our time to celebrate our extraordinary district โ and for our young population to become leaders and change-makers to begin an exciting new chapter in our story.
This is Our Time, Our Place
#Bradford2025
Congratulations to all Bradford recipients in the new year's honours list. Bit gobsmacked personally - mine is for everyone in
#teamBradford
. This is a team game. And it's a wonderful team to be in.
My Mum has had her vaccination. Can't tell you how relieved I am. 20 of the 70 residents in her home died of Covid and I haven't been able to see her since last March. A hug with her is that much closer.
So today I was meant to be on holiday heading north to see my Mum. First time since March 20th. At a distance. 20 of 70 in her care home died during lockdown. Miracle she is still with us. Instead I walked 10 miles on moors above Bradford to lift my spirits.
Feeling weary + low this day when the death toll in the UK from Covid went above 40K. Too much loss + pain. So many have worked so hard in the Bradford District to keep people safe. But this isnโt over. And I see too many signs that people think it is.
#StaySafe
Eight months after the hospital warned us on three occasions that we were near the end - and months of slow rehab - fantastic to take my mum out to celebrate still being in the world
#cheers
#edinburghweekend
Well I can't remember the last time
#Bradford
had an 8 page spread in HELLO magazine! Amazing coverage of
#royalvisitbradford
What an epic day that was ๐
A woman whose life and work touched so many lives including mine. She taught me everything about standing up to prejudice and bigotry and tackling injustice. Most of all she was my Mum.
Bradford is the largest Uk city not on a national rail line. Better connectivity would unlock productivity and growth for the north. Weโre young, diverse and entrepreneurial. Part of the solution. Northern Leaders (on all sides) and great businesses got that. HMG chose not to.
Standing room only at the vigil for Peace
@Bfdcathedral
this evening. Bradford historically home to more people of Ukrainian descent than anywhere outside London.
#WeStandWithUkraine
Great to finally break cover and tell the world we are going for it - fasten your seatbelts
#Bradford
it's going to be a breathtaking exhilarating ride!
#bradford2025
I am all but off-grid at my darling mother's bedside as she hovers between life and death. Meantime the gorgeous red haired daughter of mine being held by her grandma in this picture turns 25 today.
#circleoflife
Our Maisie left this world today. She was a rescue cat. In truth she rescued me over 20 years more times than I care to remember. Here we are in easier times shooting the breeze after one of my regular runs in Northcliffe Park.
#RIPlittleMoo
๐ฅ
Having a little weep as I listen to
@BBCr4today
before I start work. Havenโt seen my Mum who has dementia and lives in a care home in Scotland other than by video since March. It hurts.
Turbulent emotions on my first trip north for a year. Wonderful to see my Mum and to be told I could hug her (after negative LfD test). But Dad now in hospital very poorly with sepsis and double pneumonia after surviving a year of Covid alone and being fully vaccinated. ๐ฅ
This is serious. If we want to avoid local lockdown everyone of us has to step up. Regular hand washing, keep a safe distance, minimise social visits to other households, donโt car share or gather in large groups, wear your mask.Get tested if you have symptoms + self isolate.
As infection rates in the district begin to rise again, health leaders are calling on every resident in the Bradford District to play their part in tackling Covid-19 so we can beat the virus. See our latest statement here:
A message to the 107 care homes in the
#BradfordDistrict
- we know just how hard you have worked throughout this crisis to keep your residents safe. And in your struggles with access to testing, PPE, infection prevention and control we have been with you.
@HelenBfdCCGs
My dad would have been 93 today. Sadly he died 14 years ago of alcoholism. Every day in lockdown I've treated myself to a great coffee using this handgrinder I inherited from him. I can feel the groove created by his hand on the box which is from the late 1930s.
#NeverForgotten
A tough month ahead. People flat out, many fearful for their futures, + others fighting for their lives. None of us can be with loved ones. But I'm privileged to be in this wonderful generous + tenacious District. We will do all we can to be there for each other
#teamBradford
About time we let the world in on the fact that
#Bradford
has a wealth of things to offer - amazing landscapes, heritage, culture and food glorious food from all corners of the world prepared by the people of the world!
So very sad to hear of Cllr Hussainโs passing from Covid19. He was a wonderful Lord Mayor and proud to be so. Our flags will be at half mast. City Hall bells will toll in his honour and in memory of a great servant of the public.
We are the heart of Yorkshire. From Ilkley, Keighley, Bingley and Haworth to Shipley, Saltaire and Bradford there is culture and magic. Itโs our time
#cityofculture2025
My favourite time in
#CityParkBradford
is when it's full of kids and families splashing and laughing. But caught early before the crowds gather its also kind of magic. Happy Birthday City Park!
Walk in test centre under construction on Centenary Square
#Bradford
#Covid19UK
. A reminder this vrius is not done with us yet and our individual and collective vigilance to
#staysafestaywell
is vital.
An early picture of Captain Sir Tom Moore published in the Keighley News in 1933. Here he is age 13 helping to clear snow in Riddlesden (just below where I now live) after the great blizzard of February 1933. Civic minded and neighbourly from the off!
#RIPCaptainTom
Proudly raising the
#WindrushDay
flag in Bradford this morning. Designed in Bradford. Today flying across the country including the
@mhclg
+
@ukhomeoffice
. Celebrating the huge contribution of the Windrush generation to the life of Bradford and the UK.
Clapping for all front line heroes - whatever role they are playing to keep us well and safe. But tonight special thoughts for some extraordinary Foster carers and Children's services staff who have gone above + beyond to care for children at risk.
#clapforourcarers
@Irfan_4lam
It looks like it will be dry and sunny for the Duke and Duchessโ visit to Centenary Square. Phew. They will get to see City Hall and City Park bathed in Yorkshire sunshine. Most importantly they will meet the great people of the Bradford District. ๐๐พ๐๐ฝ
#RoyalVisitBradford
Flags will be at half mast on our civic buildings including
#CityHall
tomorrow to honour Captain Tom Moore. Born in our District and a proud Keighleian he was the best of us.
#RIPCaptainTom
In August a final pitch to land the โฆ
@Channel4
โฉ HQ for โฆ
@LeedsCityRegion
โฉ 2 day the news we will be itโs home! Work already started to support the creative talent of our places to benefit. ๐
In the final days of
#Ramadan
and as many friends and colleagues begin preparing for the celebrations of
#Eid
Iโm thinking of Muslim communities suffering persecution in places across our world. Holding them in my prayers. Praying for peaceful coexistence.
The group of talented young and older people, all working to make the
#BradfordDistrict
prosperous, who met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at City Hall this morning.
#RoyalVisitBradford
And only tip of the iceberg in terms of the talent of
#teamBradford
After a tough old week the most amazing thing. 705 members of
@bradfordmdc
staff joined me for an hour. We worked together on how we stay focussed + determined to drive this vile virus out of the District. Itโs a pleasure + a privilege to be part of this team.
#teamBradford
Great to see
#Bradford
ranked 2nd in the top 20 most entrepreneurial UK cities. Yet another reason why itโs so important to put a city centre stop on the
#NPR
line through Bradford. Unlock the potential + growth of this great young diverse entrepreneurial City! โฆ
People across Bradford district urged to stay alert to COVID-19 | Bradford Council. People have been phenomenal at protecting themselves and their loved ones throughout this pandemic. We need to maintain this vigilance. Please read THIS ๐๐ฝ
@BenOxlade1
Thinking of you daily Ben. He is definitely worth fighting for. We are here for you. Let us know what we can do. And look after you both too.
A few things made me very happy last week - this is one of them. Grandsonโs first bike ride. He looks a tad unsure! V nostalgic. This is how his dad and I got about for the first 4 years of his life. I didnโt drive or own a car until I was nearly 30.
Bradford is on the shortlist to become UK
#CityofCulture2025
๐ฅ
We're thrilled to annouce we're one of four places through to the final stage of the contest.
This is the time to tell the world our own story. This is Our Time, Our Place
#Bradford2025
โฃ๏ธ
A hike with friends along the canal to Saltaire and back stopping for a takeout at the great 5 Rise Locks cafe - gorgeous scenery, fascinating industrial heritage + largest permanent collection of Hockney's work anywhere.....
@visitBradford
@Welcome2Yorks
#Walkshire
Five years ago Jo Cox MP was murdered in broad daylight as she undertook her work for the people she served and cared about. I will never forget. Everyday we will work to create a world in which our common bonds unite us. Be more Jo.
#moreincommon
@BfdForEveryone
@PeopleCanBD
3/4 of local govt workers are women. We design cities, teach, protect children, coach, run libraries, clean, cook, care, support local biz, + ctty groups, give legal + hr advice, collect + manage the money + more. Happy International Women's Day local govt sisters!
#IWD2018
A very special joint birthday lunch out in Edinburgh with Helen whose been my best friend since we were 12. She played centre forward I played centre half + we've journeyed thru the thrills and spills since for 48 years. So this is what 60 looks like hey?!
Getting ready for an evening celebrating the amazing people who work with me
@bradfordmdc
. The necklace says it all. Wow! I am priviliged to work with you all. Thank you. ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
In a pre Covid world I was due to spend this week volunteering on the West Bank in Palestine. Instead I took a few days off to recharge batteries, walking, gardening and catching up at a distance with old friends. (and grandchild obvs)
A week at home catching.
Sorting Mum's books to go to
@Literacy_Trust
- as she would have wished. Some still have notes of hers from when she gave talks. Pleased they will be read once more but also hard to let go. ๐๐ข
16 May 2019 to 16th May 2020 - what a year! Couldn't give him a birthday hug but such a joy to see my gorgeous grandson on his first birthday. Happy Birthday H!
Bradford is UK's youngest city. 25% - 140K souls - are u16. How do we build a city that hums with this energy, creativity + ambition? This impressive group are determined we make it happen. I'm with them. ๐๐ฝ
#teamBradford
#CityofYouth
Fantastic news that
@Channel4
has shortlisted
@LeedsCityRegion
to become its HQ! Thank you to everyone in the creative sector who helped to make the case particularly those from
#teamBradford
. You made a compelling case. Now let's nail it!
Can't overstate my admiration of our election team. 8 contested elections on a day complex enough (+ with differing voting systems) but at tail end of a pandemic + with supply chain issues thrown in is extraordinary. Team calm but tired today. Ballot boxes lined up ready to go.
A right red carpet moment celebrating the opening of
@Channel4
HQ. Brilliant working with
@sinead_rocks
@mahonalex
to intro C4 to the diverse talent and stories in our region. Levelling up in action.
#winwin
Looking after this little one so his parents can have a New Year's night out. Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. Thank you to every single member of
#teamBradford
for your brilliant work in 2019. Let's have a fantastic 2020!
Today was due to be our
@bradfordmdc
glittering staff awards night preceded by the civic thanksgiving service
@Bfdcathedral
. Neither happening. But I want to say thank you to every colleague
@bradfordmdc
for their incredible work. So proud to work with you.
Here is my Mum as I remember her when I was a child. Wouldn't be the woman I am today without her incredible drive, passion and fascination with life.
#MothersDay
Made up to have a day off to go north with one of my brood to celebrate my Mum's 90th birthday. A trip up the canal to look at spring blossoms, a treaty picnic lunch, glass of fizz and birthday cake made the day. ๐
Inevitably weโve needed to rest crews whoโve spent the day sandbagging and gully clearing so that we can get the gritting operation out tonight. Sleet, snow and ice in the forecast. Itโs full on for
#teamBradford
Y'day we took breath + started prep for
#lockdown3
. Today partners - public,private,voluntary,community + faith will meet on plan of action. Our 5 pledges: protect the vulnerable,support community + business resilience, run core services + communicate constantly
#teamBradford
The week begins. Iโm thinking of key workers in local government providing vital services to individuals/ctty + to maintain fabric of District. Front line heroes. Vulnerable staff + many others WFH. For those on front line social distancing + other measures in. Still hard.
โฐ 2 days / 48 hoursโฐ
The time until you find out where is
#CityofCulture2025
๐ฅณ๐พ
Good luck to our final 4 ๐๐พ Bradford, County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham๐จ
First day back after a week away. 12 hours and 12 meetings later am feeling a tad pie eyed ๐ณ. Yearning for the simple pleasure of nothing more to worry about than getting the kettle on!
"To make life a little better for people less fortunate than you. That's what I think a meaningful life is. One lives not just for oneself, but for one's community."
Hear some of the most memorable words from Ruth Bader Ginsburg's speeches over the years.
Wonderful to get our glad rags on + celebrate some of the amazing young Yorkshire women + men of Asian heritage. Delighted to be hosting in Bradford, the youngest place in the UK and home to so many of south Asian heritage. All credit to
#QED
for creating these awards.
#theYAYAs
โฆ
@katehardcastle
โฉ hope you like? This is the blue plaque we unveiled today! And itโs temporary - made by our fab sign shop - as a cast iron version (with updated ยฃยฃยฃ) being cast by Leander Architectural. And they are donating the plaque for free!! Team work ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ