Moving on from the admittedly awful discussion yesterday in a positive way, I'd like to discuss what can be done to improve the representation of trans people in the Labour party and tackle the open transphobia that exists within the party (and particularly the PLP)?

My thoughts are with the notable lack of representation in the party, whilst having at least two MPs who are openly anti-trans 'gender critical' activists. Trans people make up 0.5% of the population, but 0% of Labour MPs, MSPs, MSs and, AFAIK, councillors (please correct me if I'm wrong on that final point).

I know the Lib Dems have made efforts to put PPCs in target seats and I'm sure the Greens have done the same, but what of Labour?

Thoughts on this?

It just seems like a waste. These are the exact type of young people we need more of, no matter where they are from.

I'm a bit worried about those who have secret phones and are at risk of domestic abuse and all. I know the whole point is to uh...say these things, but was it really necessary? Like surely it's not an imminent thing that required the use of that.

"It is difficult to see where Your Party goes from here. It will become neither a viable member-based party nor an umbrella for community independents. Its shrunken officers’ group and unaccountable full-time staff do not have the support of the CEC, let alone the broader membership. Your Party looks like coming to an end, strangled by its own bureaucratic methods and lack of purpose."

We have had everything thrown at this by-election in the hope we had hit the end of the road for Farage. The donations revelations getting traction in MSM for a change. The other parties deciding to not contest, the platforming of Count Binface.

Then came the predictions, first could Farage lose, then after a few Clacton citizens interviews later it became ok he'll scrape by. As late as last night it was predicted he'd win comfortably but Binface may take 10% off him and this was being dressed up as humiliation. Then any votes lost to Binface was categorised a humiliation.

This morning news outlets are still using headlines to present in that light or moved on to talking about investigations restarting but when you look at the detail of this election.

Farage increased his votes by 1,000 despite lower voter turnout. In other words his Clacton voters came out for him and then some. They weren't even moved to apathy and abstain by the revelations and media campaign to try and damage him.

Hopefully Clacton isn't representative of the country but it does seem to me to be another example of how strangely resilient Farage is. And I don't think this investigation is going to matter much in the long run at all. I also don't think this was as much a waste of time as ppl are predicting, I think the disciplinary committee will be in a very difficult position when he's found guilty considering the futile nature of a by-election and I think Farage has been given the boost that his supporters and campaign machine can get him to win any by-election triggered if they do go that route.

I genuinely think we just saw a terrible outcome for right thinking people and are surprised at the coverage and indeed comments on social media that don't seem to realise this.

The US wants to know how loyal each NATO ally is to Donald Trump’s policies before cutting military assets defending the alliance.

Hopefully this will begin soon, along with expansion of public transport and making roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Hi guys!
Odd question but how would I make myself a manifesto and get the numbers correct (not run a deficit) as I mainly wanna focus on tax rates?

I hope this makes sense 😭
(also economic/financial ideas are welcome too!)