Nizam Mamode

Dear Shabana, I notice today that you referred to me in your speech on immigration at the IPPR think tank. You said: “A party leader should not be on the beaches of France encouraging people to make a perilous crossing on small boats.” I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised especially after the hateful Labour campaign in Gorton and Denton, but this is just the latest in a string of lies peddled by a discredited Government who intentionally fan the flames of racism and division. When I went to Calais, I was not there to encourage people to travel to the UK. I was there to see at first hand the suffering your Government and successive Governments have done in demonising migrants in a pathetic bid to pander to the base instincts of Reform and the flawed strategy of Morgan McSweeney. As you will know, if you even bothered to research my visit instead of taking Reform talking points, I was there to witness the brutality of families living in tents in freezing temperatures. I filled water tanks and picked up litter. What that visit did do is confirm my belief that if we are to smash the boat gangs and stop the boats, we need to offer safer and managed routes for migrants to come to this country. Showing compassion as a politician is not a crime. In fact, we need to see much more of it. It reminded me of a young MP who in October 2015 spent three days in Lesbos helping migrants fleeing war-torn Syria. She posted videos on X, talked about handing out water and croissants to refugees and food parcels. When she returned to the UK, she wrote a very moving piece in the New Statesman. She said “we have to work with our European partners and create new, safe, and legal routes for refugees to get to Europe. We cannot abandon them to their fate, left as prey for smugglers whilst risking death on the seas.” She said “maybe we can make ourselves feel better by saying no-one is making them get on the boats. And again, the Home Secretary is not entirely wrong when …

Dear Shabana,

Let's clear some things up around migration and remember we're talking about people's lives.

The Second Cut: DeBakey, the Shah, and the Hubris of the Comforting Explanation 1. The Legend, the King, and the Hostile AbdomenOn March 28, 1980, in a military hospital on the banks of the Nile, Michael DeBakey removed a spleen the size of a football from a dying exile.The patie...

Interesting essay on the splenectomy of the Shah by DeBakey

#SurgSky

www.leezhaomd.org/post/the-sec...

Brilliant and really spot on

😕

Will they be there tomorrow?

Glasgow! We have an ocean extravaganza for you next Saturday (Feb 21st) with a hands-on exhibition of all sorts of ocean science & robots, plus a lunchtime combo of talk+interactive session+short ocean films. Do join us! And do please spread the word 🌊

www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/whats-on/how...

TV highlights: Paedo Island

From the Private Eye archive.
Issue 1615, January 2024.

Good luck

Seaglass pendents in green and blue and a wooden button Pendant

Have made more pendants with #Shetland seaglass and have been experimenting with other beach finds like pottery and buttons! Available now on Etsy and will be adding some earings later today. Link in comments

Transplant Science Summer School 2026 • ESOT

Applications are open for the Transplant Science Summer School 2026 (11–13 June, Kraków 🇵🇱).​
🆕 ESOT in-person format for early-career clinicians & scientists.​
👥 30 places | 📝 Deadline 15 March​

📧 silvia . valls @ esot . org​
#TransplantScience #ESOTeducation #ESOT_BasicScience

Absolutely

Graphic featuring Green Party leader Zack Polanski, with his portrait at the top on a green background. A large quote reads: “As days pass and Labour seemingly find new ways to disappoint people, I remain focused on growing the Green Party. At the upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton, it’s become clear that the Greens are the only progressive party capable of beating Reform.” Green Party logo and branding appear at the bottom.

We are not here to be disappointed by Labour anymore. At the by-election in Gorton and Denton, we are here to replace them. This election is a two-way race now - Greens Vs Reform.

Free solar? Alex Honnold’s other mission He shocked audiences with his outrageous climbing feats. Now he’s bringing solar power to isolated communities

Lots of mixed opinions on Alex Honnold's solo of Taipei 101 today, which will be streamed live on Netflix (!). Many won't know about his non-profit, Honnold Foundation, to which he donates around 1/3 of his earnings. My interview with him for FT HTSI from 2023: www.ft.com/content/fdc1...

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 MPs on this list have failed to sign EDM demanding Lammy meet hunger strikers lawyers.

Heba - day 69, Kamran day 62, their lives slipping away - they are Prisoners of Conscience, over a year in prison no trial, no bail.

drive.google.com/drive/folder...
#HungerStrike #PalestineAction
#Filton24

‘We just sit and cry’: Gaza’s cancer patients die waiting for treatment Gaza cancer deaths triple as doctors say Israel allows entry of 'chocolates and chips" but blocks chemotherapy drugs.

This is one reason why the number of indirect deaths will be several times greater than the number of direct deaths. The genocide against the Palestinians continues in full force, and most Western states—including Germany—are not even trying to stop it.

www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/...

I'm so worried about Heba Muraisi who has now passed 66 days on hunger strike I fear PM Keir Starmer, Justice Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will let Heba die in prison. Where is their humanity? 😭 #GazaGenocide

Renee Good, a citizen & mother was shot 3 times in the head, on camera, by a masked gang. She is smeared by Trump & MAGA lunatics.
May she rest in peace & her family find comfort.

Frankly the only surprise is it took this long.

Farage wants “ICE style raids” in the UK. #r4today

When UK announced a deal with US on Pharma, @elstorreele.bsky.social & I were sceptical @bmj.com (not least because there is no text). Now we have the US interpretation and it’s not good 👇

www.bmj.com/content/391/...

Lewis Goodall grills Labour’s Darren Jones on the UK’s repsonse to the US capture of Nicolás Maduro.

Is there any legal justification for the US attack on Venezuela? International law experts expect Washington to claim self-defence and face little serious pushback

Spoiler! No. Absolutely none. And huge consequences for the whole world and all our security if US are allowed to get away with this... Come on Keir...

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Spray paint a plane and they'll detain you without trial and call you a terrorist.

Kidnap a foreign head of state - and Keir Starmer will make it clear we've played no part in it but will wait for the scheduled press conference in a few hours before potentially condemning it

🇵🇸

The Hiking Trails Reshaping Lebanese Tourism New initiatives are opening up the country’s mountainous landscapes and bringing opportunities to its rural communities

2025 was a varied and interesting first year as a full-time freelance journalist, taking me to Ukraine and Borneo. More stories are due out in Jan/Feb, but here are some highlights! 1. On Lebanon's developing mountain tourism industry for @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/spotlight/th...

Cannot stop thinking about the people I met in Calais. They deserve so much better.

@greenparty.org.uk @calaisappeal.bsky.social

Mural in Gaza today. It speaks for itself. Courtesy of my friend who’s there

Today in Leeds we recreated Christ under the rubble in solidarity with the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. Also raising awareness of the number of children killed and maimed and the plight of the hunger strikers. Lots of people stopping to talk & lots donations for MAP & to support families from Gaza

Left: Greta Thunberg arrested for holding a placard in London

Right: Labour's Baron Hain, "This gov is treating Palestine action as equivalent to ISIS or al-Qaeda, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled and morally wrong. I'm deeply ashamed"

Don't feel guilty or selfish for taking the time to exercise esp over the holidays. It's actually a selfless act- you feeling better physically & mentally is better for your loved ones, community, employer, the health system. It's your gift to the world🎄

The BIGGEST INTERVIEW of the election. Can Conservative Rosie Holt turn it round for Rishi Sunak? YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic

Great to see Trevor Philips interview Rosie Holt on Sky News this morning. I had the opportunity of interviewing her last year before she “decided to cross the floor to Labour” in the biggest must watch interview of the General Election. Hold onto your seats if you missed it
youtu.be/TMcdUhYEMpw?...

Happy Christmas. Green is the colour. It always was.

🎄💚