Dan Fernbank

Almost nobody in the media reported on the former Tory Government's sweeping power grab of the electoral commission. This week Labour have announced that they will reverse what Boris Johnson did and return the commission to independence.

Ofcourse Labour will get absolutely no credit for doing this

Green Party wins Gorton and Denton by-election with Labour pushed into third by Reform Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber, also becomes the first Green Party candidate to win a Westminster by-election.

42% more people voted for @greenparty.org.uk hope over hate -
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
Green Party wins Gorton and Denton by-election with RefUK a distant second

Green party wins Gorton and Denton byelection, pushing Labour to third place in blow to Keir Starmer Hannah Spencer elected as party’s first MP in northern England, as Labour sees a 25.3% drop in vote compared to 2024

At last, a sign the general public don't want division and hate, they want a positive alternative 💚
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

UK to cut climate finance to poor countries by a fifth despite promising more help Exclusive: Campaigners say proposed cut from £11.9bn over past five years to £9bn over next five years will cost lives and livelihoods

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

How depressing - and the problem, clearly, is not authors selling through Amazon, but consumers buying almost exclusively through them.

Greens in second place on Reading Council

It is Green vs Labour on #rdguk Council. Get involved and help elect Greens to make a difference reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved/

💷 Help with the cost of living
Support people with bills

🏡 Good homes for everyone
Affordable homes

🚍 Better transport
Buses, walking, and cycling

Figure 5. Impact of climate change on terrestrial water fluxes (A). Climate change directly and indirectly impacts groundwater resources:

Figure 2. The impacts of the exceptional marine heatwaves in 2023–2024 and the period of occurrence of the warmest sea surface temperature

Figure 1. Estimates of contributing factors to the anomalous global mean temperatures in 2023 and 2024

10 key #climate science insights from 2025:
doi.org/10.1017/sus....

Guest post by @carbonbrief.org:
www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-1...

University of Reading campus with trees and green lawns, highlighting its 4th place UK ranking in the People & Planet University League for sustainability.

We’re proud to retain our place in the Top 5 of the People & Planet League

This caps a standout year for Reading:
🏆 University of the Year for Scholarships & Bursaries
🌍 Top 30 globally in QS Sustainability Rankings
🔝 Now ranked 4th in the UK by People & Planet

Full story: https://rdg.ac/48Nivjs

Huge news from the UK today: after UN climate talks in which there was a massive fight over language on fossil fuels, the UK government today announced that it will in fact be keeping many millions of barrels of oil & gas in the ground. Deeds rather than just words for a change! 🧵

Done 👍

Daily Mail owner strikes £500m deal to buy Telegraph titles Acquisition likely to trigger in-depth investigation by regulator after agreement between DMGT and Redbird IMI

Well, this is pretty terrifying. The Daily Mail is buying the Telegraph.

One massive consolidated right-wing media empire controlled by off-shore interests at a critical moment in global politics.

What could go wrong?

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...

JUST FANCY THAT! 3 Oct 2025: Nigel Farage updates his register of financial interests. Since becoming MP for Clacton in July last year he has earned £1.2m from his second jobs, more than any other MP. 30 Oct 2025: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's index of multiple deprivation reveals that Jaywick, in Farage's Clacton constituency, is the most deprived area in England. Farage says it is "obviously sad that things aren't improving more quickly" but that having him as their MP has "definitely helped".

Farage earns more than any other MP for NOT being an MP. He says it’s “obviously sad” that part of his constituency is the most deprived area in England.
But everything he’s ever done, said and wanted has made sure of it.
This is the whole country if he gets into power.
(Private Eye)

Hi @metoffice.gov.uk - the distinction between yellow and amber warnings are very difficult to determine if you're colourblind 😯. Thanks!

A large SUV with private jet wings

A group of campaigners holding "Tax Private Jets" signs.

Did you know you pay more fuel tax on a single car journey than a billionaire does on a private jet flight?

Right now the gov is subsidising tax breaks, when they could be using that tax to generate billions for public services.

Help us change this: https://bit.ly/43NAeFN

Firms ordered to reduce forever chemicals in drinking water for 6m people The persistent pollutants which build up in the environment have been linked to serious illnesses.

Drinking water for up to 6 million people in England may have levels of 'forever chemicals' which could "constitute a potential danger to human health"

Drinking Water Inspectorate have issued enforcement notices on water companies to reduce levels of chemicals

🧵🧵 1/4

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

@greenparty.org.uk polling 2nd though, just 2 months after @zackpolanski.bsky.social was elected leader 💚

Wind power has cut £104bn from UK energy costs since 2010, study finds Reduction comes from energy generated from windfarms and lower cost of gas owing to lower demand Wind power has cut at least £104bn from energy costs in the UK since 2010, a study has found. Users of gas have been among the biggest beneficiaries, the research suggested. Continue reading...

Wind power has cut £104bn from UK energy costs since 2010, study finds

MEMBERSHIP DOUBLED With photo featuring Zack Polanski, Anthony Slaughter, Mothin Ali, Tessa Marshall and lots of Green Party activists! Green Party Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ

🚨 BREAKING 🚨

📈 Since the election of our new leadership team, our membership has doubled, now sitting at more than 140,000.

And this is just the beginning: join.greenparty.org.uk

University of Reading is ranked 27th in the UK and 201st-250th globally in THE World University Rankings 2026, alongside a background image of the University's historic clock tower.

We're ranked in the UK’s top 30 universities in THE World University Rankings 2026

We're also proud that University of Reading rose significantly in the Teaching category - up to 287th worldwide - reflecting our commitment to educational excellence.

Full story 🔗 https://rdg.ac/4q7cE0w

Samaritans accused of stifling dissent and bullying over branch closure plans Claim comes after charity suspends a number of senior volunteers who spoke out publicly against proposals

@samaritans.bsky.social management accused of bullying dissenting voices over objections to planned closures- www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

🌍 Joint-highest Green Polling EVER (15%)

➡️ Lowest Reform Polling Since July (26%)

It’s still killing people, and the government has yet to act: Britain’s hidden asbestos epidemic | Tom White Asbestos was banned in 1999, but as materials left in our buildings deteriorate, thousands of lives are being lost every year, says writer and education worker Tom White

Britain's hidden asbestos epidemic is shocking. My dad died of mesothelioma, with no obvious clear exposure to asbestos, having been an accountant all his life. Shocking how wide spread asbestos use was until 80s, despite it's dangers being known in 19th century.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A great, authentic, heartfelt album 👏

Controversial UK oil field reveals climate impact if approved The impact from the Rosebank oil field is estimated at nearly 250 million tonnes of planet warming CO2.

Developers of the #Rosebank oil field said nearly 250 million tonnes of planet warming gas would be released from using oil products from it.

The UK's annual emissions in 2024 were 371 million tonnes.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#ClimateChange #Climate

Great turnout at our AGM!

We celebrated another strong year of solar generation and community impact — plus exciting new plans with Reading Buses. 🌞

Thanks to everyone helping power a greener Reading 💚

#CommunityEnergy #ReadingUK #SolarReading #InvestInSolar #RdgUK #ReadingBuses

The more I hear about unlimited energy contracts, the more it concerns me that students are being taken advantage of.

New Energy Advice Service for University of Reading students highlights premium cost of unlimited energy contracts -
www.reading.ac.uk/news/2025/Un...

Brilliant from @kevinclimate.bsky.social as always - making abundantly clear the inconvenient truth this Govt is forever trying to duck & dodge: expanding aviation capacity is fundamentally incompatible with the UK’s climate obligations

Samaritans facing volunteer exodus over proposed branch closures Opponents fear plans to close more than100 branches could put the charity’s ability to answer calls in doubt.

BBC News - @samaritans.bsky.social facing volunteer exodus over proposed branch closures (and don't appear to be listening)
www.bbc.com/news/article...