In a world of lies, we need the BBC more than ever. This week could be our last chance to save it | Polly Toynbee As the public consultation on the BBC nears its end, the right will be out in force to undermine it. But its supporters can do their bit – with this guidance, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
All friends of public broadcasting: Before March 10th, hurry to answer the DCMS questionaire on the future of the BBC, as it comes up for Charter renewal. Find it here:

Inequality in Britain is rampant, writes @pollytoynbee.bsky.social, and has become so with the help of our electoral system.

Our new research paper, 'Lifting the Lid', links our fragmenting voting system to mass regional deprivation, and regional deprivation to the all-powerful nature of FPTP.

Britain told to stop being so ‘secretive’ about its Brexit reset New report from cross-party committee of UK lawmakers says Keir Starmer is not being clear about what it’s after in its

🇪🇺 “The truth is that the public have just sort of shrugged their shoulders and said, well, yeah, get on with it,” Emily Thornberry MP said.

👏 Thornberry is right. The public are hugely supportive of the government negotiating closer ties with the EU.

Good article by @pollytoynbee.bsky.social

It used to be said that the one major advantage of the UK's First Past the Post (FPTP) voting system was that it keeps the extremists out.

That's clearly no longer true.

We need proportional representation (preferably STV) for the next General Election!

I have seen the scale of the mountain Labour has to climb in Gorton and Denton – but also the way it can do it | Polly Toynbee In focus groups, people are clear they want to stop Farage at all costs. Labour must now reach out to the progressives it has disappointed, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

I have seen the scale of the mountain Labour has to climb in Gorton and Denton – but also the way it can do it | Polly Toynbee

Abandon pointless+expensive council re-disorganisation. Towns like Reading, Oxford, Cambridge, Exeter, Ipswich etc swallowed into counties, losing their identity. Councillors are backbone of fragile civic life:75,000 in 1965, only 14,000 after this. Wasn't in manifesto, doesn't save money, so why?

Leading voices in journalism, science, and culture join New Humanist Editorial Board Humanists UK has announced a new Editorial Board for New Humanist magazine, bringing together some of the UK’s most prominent thinkers in science, politics, the arts, and philosophy.

We’re super excited to announce a new Editorial Board for @newhumanist.bsky.social, bringing together some of the UK’s most prominent thinkers in science, politics, the arts, and philosophy. A bright future for humanist publishing 🧵

humanists.uk/2026/02/11/l...

Dinner with Peter Mandelson (A piece from last September...you might like to see)

Dinner with Peter Mandelson
open.substack.com/pub/suzannem...

Here’s the lesson of the Andy Burnham saga: Labour needs a new leader – fast | Polly Toynbee Keir Starmer’s dismal decision to block the Greater Manchester mayor has bought him time, but it won’t change his fate, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre.... nuanced well argued @pollytoynbee.bsky.social But I would hope the great majority of Labour MPs, members, voters and potential voters want to put up the strongest contender, setting aside factionalisms of small difference in the face of a grave national threat”

If the assisted dying bill is killed off by the Lords, let that be the end for this unelected chamber | Polly Toynbee With filibustering slowing the pace to a crawl, there is no chance the legislation will get through – unless the government shows some backbone, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

"If the Lords block this, it should be their last gasp." - @pollytoynbee.bsky.social @theguardian.com #AssistedDying

via Private Eye

If the assisted dying bill is killed off by the Lords, let that be the end for this unelected chamber | Polly Toynbee With filibustering slowing the pace to a crawl, there is no chance the legislation will get through – unless the government shows some backbone, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

@pollytoynbee.bsky.social in @theguardian.com exposes deliberate filibustering of the assisted dying Bill by a small group of long-opposed Peers.
She captures growing frustration at, and rising pressure, on hardline opponents to allow the Bill to move forward.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

'There is no sign yet of either happening. It’s said that Starmer worries about two religious figures in his cabinet who are outspoken opponents, but Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood have had their shout and would hardly resign over this.' @pollytoynbee.bsky.social

Trump has crossed all lines: it is time to cut off his global credit card

I went to A&E with a broken wrist and caught a dose of ‘I’ve been lucky’ syndrome | Polly Toynbee Statistics show my timely, efficient treatment wasn’t a matter of fortune but quite ordinary, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

@pollytoynbee.bsky.social you are right to point to good experiences with the NHS. I am certainly enjoying excellent treatment. The more important point you make is that waiting lists are falling fastest in areas of greatest need. This needs to be trumpeted. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

‘Fat Cat Tax’: Make companies pay for extreme inequalities This year, the average FTSE100 CEO took less than three days to earn what the typical UK worker will in all of 2026. In the case of Melrose, where the CEO earned 1509 times the median UK salary, it wi...

This is an important cause - please sign: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fa...

Let me tell you the good things the government has done in 2025 – because it certainly won’t | Polly Toynbee It’s all there: more apprenticeships, more rights for workers and renters – and most of all, a focus on children. What a shame Labour wavers about saying so, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

It's true that Labour hasn't done nearly enough to publisise the good thing its done 2025, so @pollytoynbee.bsky.social has written this to help!

Let me tell you the good things the government has done in 2025 – because it certainly won’t | Polly Toynbee It’s all there: more apprenticeships, more rights for workers and renters – and most of all, a focus on children. What a shame Labour wavers about saying so, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

@pollytoynbee.bsky.social I don’t think I have ever felt more passionately about a government succeeding. Your piece made me quite emotional. @teamlabouruk.bsky.social is doing so much good where it matters. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A friend keeps a similar ‘the good things the govt is doing and no one seems to know’ list. A real boost to see this by @pollytoynbee.bsky.social - we really need Labour to be able to communicate this vision clearly too instead of wooing Reform voters!

BREAKING: Labour's landmark Employment Rights Bill has PASSED both Houses of Parliament. Its new rights will be transformational.

This is a massive step forward in delivering Labour's New Deal for Working People - passed by a Labour Government, delivered with the labour movement. Let's celebrate 🎉

We’re all here answering the phones. Donations pouring in to these brilliant community charities. Call us for a chat.
Polly

Lines are open 📞

Phone in to our 2025 telethon and speak to your favourite journalists from the Guardian on 0203 353 4368.

We'll be accepting donations by credit or debit card. You can also support the 2025 charity appeal at theguardian.com/charityappeal25bsk

Donald Trump wants a Europe in chaos – a sure sign for Britain to shore up its democracy | Polly Toynbee With the US threatening to support ‘patriotic’ parties here, we need better defences, starting with tough new rules about political donations, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

"With the US threatening to support ‘patriotic’ parties here, we need better defences" @pollytoynbee.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Come with me to Jacob Rees-Mogg’s house. The Brexiters are rattled – and it shows | Polly Toynbee Labour and the country have reached a historic inflection point. For all the talk of Brexit ‘benefits’, the anti-EU ideologues know the tide has turned, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Come with me to Jacob Rees-Mogg’s house. The Brexiters are rattled – and it shows | Polly Toynbee Labour and the country have reached a historic inflection point. For all the talk of Brexit ‘benefits’, the anti-EU ideologues know the tide has turned, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
More wise words from @pollytoynbee.bsky.social on #brexit harms

Many thanks

The shameful attacks on the Covid inquiry prove it: the right is lost in anti-science delusion | Polly Toynbee There is nothing wrong with questioning the mighty cost of the lockdowns, but we can’t let hardline libertarians rewrite Britain’s pandemic history, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social

Now is not the time for a Labour leadership election | Polly Toynbee The focus should be on talking up this government’s achievements so far – and preventing a Reform victory, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

@pollytoynbee.bsky.social I do so hope that Labour MPs read your article. I quote ‘it should make the most of power, ignore unpopularity and fearlessly do what it knows must be done.’ I was why I voted for them. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Do you know how much they raise?