Blair McDougall MP

Another. Sadly still relevant.

Good morning! Here's another.

Another nice hopeful one.

Another poem. This was written on eve of the Second World War.

Kemi Badenoch’s flagship party conference policy document overestimated the cost of net zero by nearly £500bn… …seemingly after someone accidentally double-counted figures on a spreadsheet. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Here's another (from one of my all-time favourite poets).

People seemed to like the last one, so I'll keep sharing. This is one I think of when I see really ugly behaviour. More poetry in politics please!

It is deeply irresponsible for any politician, let alone a senior Conservative, to peddle the same far-right nonsense about Luton that we see from the likes of Yaxley Lennon and Reform.

With the PM talking about his love of poetry, I think more of us politicians should follow his lead. For years I've collected poems (by others not me!) which speak to political life in some way. I think I'll share them. Starting with this one which feels appropriate after Andy Burnham's speech.

The strongest and most personal argument for the Union I’ve heard from any Prime Minister.

A damning verdict from the Local Government Information Unit thinktank on the SNP’s outrageous local government plans. lgiu.org/scottish-gov...

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, we’d like to wish Shana Tova from all of us at the Jewish Labour Movement. We wish everyone a happy, healthy and sweet new year!

NEW: Westminster Voting Intention LAB 28% (+1) RFM 23% (-1) CON 21% (+2) LD 10% (+1) GRN 8% (-2) SNP 2% (=) PC 2% (+1) RB 2% (-1) OTH 4% (=) F/w 9-10 September 2026. Changes vs 28/08/2026

Richard Tice wasn't happy being reminded that Farage wanted to abandon manufacturing workers.

4/

#BREAKING Georgian police fire tear gas as protesters try to enter presidential palace

Timeline cleanse

Actually, Frankenstein is a doctor success at the Venice film festival

The UK is becoming a dumping ground for slave labour goods in between tougher protections in place in the US and EU markets. This story should accelerate action to beef up our anti-slavery laws. inews.co.uk/news/uk-800m...

Farage adviser said UK would be better off if it had not fought Nazi Germany

Despots who don’t have to worry about term limits or public opinion can play for time and manipulate our open societies. They will only respect and be influenced by strength. Long past time for the US to stop playing Putin’s game.

Anyone know what this crest on a building in my patch signifies?

Who is Jimmy Lai? 'Prisoner of conscience' who has endured 1,600 days behind bars

Thinking of the buckets of abuse tipped over us a decade ago for saying the SNP's prospectus for leaving the UK was threadbare only for Nicola Sturgeon to now admit she thought it was too. Extraordinary. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYeO...

shop.viz.co.uk/viz345bs

news.stv.tv/west-central...

Good to see @blairmcdougall.com introducing a 10 minute bill to remove crown immunity from SPS. Our office has been calling on UK and Scottish govts to progress this since 2022. Statements here: shorturl.at/TaPWJ shorturl.at/z5SeO

BREAKING Russia launched some 400 drones, 18 missiles in overnight attack, says Zelensky

My letter to Glasgow City Council's SNP leader with @martinmccluskey.bsky.social @blairmcdougall.com @alisonstaylormp.bsky.social & Johanna Baxter MP. As representatives of Glasgow's neighbouring constituencies, we are appalled at the suggestion our constituents should pay a Clyde Tunnel Toll Tax.

Our Patron @blairmcdougall.com called on the 🇬🇧 government to keep its promise to the people of #HongKong and maintain the 5+1 #BNO pathway.

I met Badri just a few days ago in London. Georgia Dream is now engaged in an all out war against democracy in Georgia. I'm pleased the UK Government summoned the ambassador over this but I'll be calling for more action against the regime in Parliament . civil.ge/archives/688...

Big news for my Rare Cancers Bill! - Yesterday, it took a major step forward as the UK Government confirmed the funding needed for it to progress. This clears the way for the Bill to move to the committee stage—where it will be examined line by line—and, hopefully, to a 3rd Reading on 11 July! >>

Hospices UK: “You can’t but note a moral question mark over the assumption we all make — until we hear otherwise — that an assisted dying service will be fully state funded, whereas currently the palliative care provided by hospices is currently only 30 per cent state funded”

Yesterday, we launched our latest business and human rights report in 🇬🇧 Parliament, featuring our Patron @blairmcdougall.com, @carmenlau.bsky.social, Lara Strangways, and our Senior Research and Policy Advisor Thomas Benson. www.hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/20...

Deeply troubling

Very strong intervention by the Royal College of Psychiatrists on eve of the final vote on assisted dying. www.rcpsych.ac.uk/news-and-fea...

I called out the Iranian regime’s hypocrisy on international law today. They’re sending thousands of drones to Putin’s war against UkrIne and plotting against jewish communities and dissidents in the UK while demanding the protection of an international rules based order. youtu.be/gTl8wCRMZl8?...

Here’s Swinney’s “austerity” in graph below. The big divide in modern politics is between those who are interested in the hard work of fixing real problems & those who want to create an unreality to disguise their true intentions. Swinney is choosing the path of bullshit here.

We are launching our latest business and human rights report in 🇬🇧 Parliament, featuring our Patron @blairmcdougall.com, @carmenlau.bsky.social, Lara Strangways, and our Senior Research and Policy Advisor Thomas Benson. Join us here: forms.gle/5BFpqrkFhtdY...

This is a must read by the brilliant @natalie-fleet-mp.bsky.social www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/nata...

This is an important read on a huge byelection result. Swinney was relying on a distracting fight between reform and the SNP to avoid an election judgement on his appalling record. He’s now naked and open to scrutiny at next year’s election. www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

GET IN!

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has criticised the SNP’s opposition to Trident, labelling it the “single most important part” of the UK’s defence capability. www.holyrood.com/news/view,ke...

It would be helpful for Reform to warn donors that, if you (for example) buy some bitcoin for £2k, and its worth £4k when you donate it, then you’re taxed on a £2k capital gain.