If we are to raise productivity, rebuild social capital, and reverse the entrenched inequalities that hold the country back, the UK's economic institutions must be reformed to recognise the full economic value of investment in people and places.
The OBR was created in an era defined by short-term cost-control, not long-term nation-building - and its remit, assumptions, and methods still reflect that inheritance.
Good to see more voices joining the call for reform
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Under Reform, the disgraceful behaviour of companies like P&O Ferries would become the norm.
One of the first priorities of this Labour government was to make people safer and more secure at work.
Today Reform are revealing their true colours, they'll roll back our rights, reinstate fire and rehire and give bad bosses the freedom to behave as they want.
Agree with this analysis. You can’t deliver change with a system built to resist it. Reforming how the country is run is part of the mandate for change we were elected on
When the government has deviated from our Labour values, it has made errors.
But this Labour Government has begun the serious work of changing the country and delivering the national renewal we promised voters in 2024.
Turning inward to a leadership contest now would be both wrong and counterproductive when there is still so much vital work ahead.
Our focus should remain on delivering the change voters asked for, not distracting ourselves from it.
Reform’s Matthew Goodwin’s big idea would punish millions of women and strip them of their basic dignity to choose.
Even more dumfounding is that Nigel Farage appears to agree with it.
This is the kind of divisive politics we must stand against.
Colour me shocked that a company owner that uses *slave labour* as its operating model should end up in the Epstein files.
www.ft.com/content/d8f9...
Picture of column in the Sunday Mirror
In the Sunday Mirror today on the threat of Reform to the country, why I left X and my continued campaigning on NDAs.
The Labour Government announced world-leading legislation to ban the exploitation of NDAs for victims of harassment and discrimination.
Today I pressed them to introduce the legislation and ensure that all such gagging clauses are banned.
It is absolutely right that we put our best possible candidate forward for this crucial by-election.
Without a shadow of a doubt, that is Andy Burnham.
leader of red wall group of MPs @jowhitemp.bsky.social suggests Andy Burnham should be allowed to stand in by-election 👇
I welcome that the Government is introducing national minimum standards for drivers but it needs to go further and it was brilliant that the Leader of the House agrees.
I will keep campaigning until this is law.
Today in Parliament, I called for the Government to legislate on cross-border hiring for taxi drivers.
As many constituents and taxi drivers have raised with me, the law as it stands weakens safeguarding protections and service standards.
This is good news and thanks to the leadership of the government and threat of such strong sanctions against X.
But this issue has highlighted the real harm and pace of change of AI.
We must change the way we legislate to address the ever-changing challenges of AI.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It’s an important issue that has to be tackled but the Tories and Reform are desperate to avoid the wider conversation we need to have about online safety and the regulation of emerging technologies.
I support restricting social media for under‑16s. But the rules that are already in place to protect children simply aren’t being enforced, and any new measure has to be practical and workable.
The despicable images circulating on X via its chatbot Grok show the way we legislate & regulate isn’t fit for purpose when it comes to the challenges of AI.
I’m calling for a totally new, empowered regulator that embeds people's experience online.
I spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme today.
This proves the way we legislate and regulate simply isn't fit for purpose for the challenges AI presents.
We need to change that urgently.
The Government have been absolutely right to take action against the disgusting and illegal images generated by Grok on twitter.
But Elon Musk is ideologically opposed to the safeguards the public expect online and Grok has been generating these images as far back as August.
Britain’s welfare system is unsustainable.
Today in the New Statesman I argue for a reset built on dignity, work & structural reform on housing and health policy.
The Treasury & OBR must start modelling savings over longer horizons.
Yesterday I posted my last ever Tweet and called on the Government to do the same.
Read more below on why I think it’s time to leave the cesspit formerly known as Twitter.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
I call on my party and my government to remove themselves entirely from X and communicate with the public where they actually participate online and can be protected from such illegality.
However, the revelations around the enablement, if not encouragement, of child sexual abuse mean it is unconscionable to use the site for another minute.
I continued to maintain an account and occasionally post because a critical mass of people, including the Government and journalists who we need to communicate with as MPs, remained on the site.
I have not personally used X/Twitter for some time now. It was already an unpleasant place prior to its takeover by Elon Musk but since his acceptance of hate speech and anonymous online abusers, it has become utterly unusable.
We want a comprehensive plan that reduces costs for the taxpayer, helps people into work and delivers better support for those who need it most.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Short-term fixes cost more in the long run; smart investment brings costs down.
Labour backbenchers aren’t anti-reform; the welfare system isn't working.
Britain’s welfare system is unsustainable.
Today in the New Statesman I argue for a reset built on dignity, work & structural reform on housing and health policy.
The Treasury & OBR must start modelling savings over longer horizons.
