Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Fossil Fuel Treaty @fossiltreaty.bsky.social · 14h

Historic win for nature and climate!

Today, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, the world’s largest environmental network of governments, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples voted to recognise fossil fuels as a root cause of the biodiversity and climate crises for the first time in history.

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Birmingham Green Party @brumgreens.bsky.social · 10h

Birmingham #GreenParty breaks the 1,000 member mark due to the #GreenSurge!

If you live in #Brum and want to make a difference then #JoinTheGreenParty now!

join.greenparty.org.uk

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 12h

Leaked plans show the government wants to cut its affordable housing targets.

At a time when rents are soaring and families are struggling, that’s the last thing Britain needs.

We need homes people can actually afford — not just more empty Labour promises.

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 10h

British.

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Dr Robert Bohan @robertbohan.bsky.social · 9h

I hate ethno-nationalism.

My family can trace their roots back to the 4th C AD Eoghanacht Loch Lein. They trace to Aengus, a Tuatha Dé Dannan god, who arrived with the Gaelic Celts 2,500y ago. I also have English, French, Italian & Viking roots. None of us is ethnically pure. It’s a nonsense.

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 10h

British.

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 17h

Reform UK has been forced to reject more unlawful donations than any other British political party in 2025

the party has had to give back almost £200,000 this year from 18 impermissible donors, according to Electoral Commission data

www.ft.com/content/5392...

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Tits McGee @scientits.bsky.social · Aug 28

This is bad but also if you are an adult born between 1970 and 1990 you should consider getting the MMR as you were probably not vaccinated against all three infections

Yesterday I booked an MMR jab after realising I lived abroad for the first two years of my life so wouldn't have had any jabs

Sky News @news.sky.com · Aug 28

None of main childhood vaccine uptake targets reached in England - as MMR uptake hits 15-year low

None of the main childhood vaccines in England reached their uptake targets in 2024/25, new figures have revealed.

news.sky.com

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 11h

My colleague @mashley.bsky.social argued recently that directly reducing electricity bills (to reverse the levies) may be a better use of government money than cutting VAT.

Why? Because it opens up an affordable route to get off gas and further lower bills, via electric heating

Is removing VAT really the best way to cut energy bills?

Targeting electricity bills, subsidising bill-funded schemes, or a one-off debt forgiveness program offer more effective, fair, and sustainable solutions

www.nesta.org.uk

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 12h

#RighttoProtest - we have to allow people to make a noise, to disrupt: that's democracy, says @greenjennyjones.bsky.social in #HouseofLords debate on Crime and Policing Bill
parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Parliamentlive.tv

House of Lords

parliamentlive.tv

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Prof Nisreen Alwan @nisreenalwan.bsky.social · 1d

1/ I guess I’m ‘The Good Immigrant’:

Been here most of my life now, never claimed benefits, paid taxes, worked for the NHS, taught students, done research for public good, volunteered, spoke English fluently.

So why do I feel so alienated and hurt by the government’s anti- immigrant rhetoric?

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 11h

Wonderful opportunity for more people to discover the brilliance of this remarkable humanist. Bertrand Russell's dedication to reason, his tireless campaigning for peace, & unwavering belief in humanity's potential for good remain as important as ever!

Nobel Prize-Winning Philosopher Bertrand Russell Biopic in Development, Amanda Curdt-Christiansen to Pen Script (EXCLUSIVE)

Nobel Prize winner Bertrand Russell gets first feature biopic.

variety.com

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Dave Vetter @davidrvetter.bsky.social · 21h

Cardiff will be the first UK city to introduce a surcharge for oversized SUVs and trucks, "while very large vehicles – those over 3,500kg – will be excluded from residential permits entirely."

Cardiff set to tackle SUV 'carspreading' in UK first

Cardiff Council is set to become the first local authority in the UK to introduce higher parking charges for SUVs and other heavy vehicles, in a move campaigners say will make city streets safer and f...

nation.cymru

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 21h

They lie about the ECHR.
Just like they lied about Brexit. Claiming if we just got rid of that ‘European’ thing, we’d be free, we’d have control, all our problems solved…
It’s NOT TRUE.
We’d inflict more chaos on ourselves and torch our own human rights framework for NOTHING.
For liars.
Again.

Andrew Cutting @andrewcutting.coe.int · 1d

The European Convention on Human Rights is being misrepresented in the UK, says former Supreme Court President Lady Hale👇

🔗 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home... via @the-independent.com

“It seems so short-sighted. I’m sorry, I’m really, really worried about it.”

#ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

"Another Reform MP has been accused of being in breach of Parliamentary rules, after its deputy leader Richard Tice failed to register lavish hospitality he received from Lubov Chernukhin – wife of a former Russian deputy finance minister"
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/refo...

Reform’s Richard Tice failed to register lavish hospitality from former Russian finance minister’s wife

'Tice and Oakeshott stayed at the Chernukhins’ “turreted villa” with “a stunning view of the Mediterranean” and had supper with them at a Michelin-starred restaurant'

leftfootforward.org

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

RSPB Action @rspbaction.bsky.social · 1d

Win for nature-friendly farming!

UK Government’s one-year extension of some nature-friendly farming agreements in England gives breathing space for those making space for wildlife on farms.

But it’s only a stop-gap, we need a long-term plan for the future 🧵 👇

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Alan Stedman @alanjstedman.bsky.social · 20h

Labour

The party of the working class?

They really should change their name to 'The new Tories' because their value set seems to have shifted...a lot

Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 20h

Excuse me but, what the f*** is the point of targets to build homes that only the wealthy can afford? How does it help anyone who is not a property developer? And why does Labour care more about property developers than families? liveapp.inews.co.uk/category/398...

Leaked memo reveals Labour plan to slash affordable homes target

A requirement for developers to build affordable housing in London is set to be cut from 35% of new homes to 20%, in a move councils fear will spread across Britain

liveapp.inews.co.uk

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 20h

Please read my column today in conjunction with Aditya's. The government pretends to be delivering housing to those who need it, but is in fact just appeasing the big corporations. Then it blames nature protections, and rips those down at their behest as well.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A leaked memo, a Maga-style hat and a trail of broken pledges – it’s Labour’s great housing betrayal | Aditya Chakrabortty

Ignore the bombast: Steve ‘build, baby, build’ Reed’s boast looks likely to end in targets more pathetic than they are now, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Dr Andrew Boswell #ClimateLitigation @drandrewboswell.bsky.social · 1d

Taxing the rich has been @greenparty.org.uk policy for years, and that policy has been amplified very strongly by @zackpolanski.bsky.social in recent months

So now #Reeves concedes to do this eminently sensible step

Thank you Zack!

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Rachel Reeves says higher taxes on wealthy ‘part of the story’ for November budget

Chancellor hints at rises and calls out past ‘scaremongering’ over VAT on private schools and changes to non-doms

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Dr Andrew Boswell #ClimateLitigation @drandrewboswell.bsky.social · 1d

#EdMiliband needs to consider this very carefully. He knows that he is backtracking if he approves this, and he knows it is a climate disaster

The UK can lead in not allowing further oil and gas

Now is the time to do this Ed

And tell #Keir and #Rachel where they can put the anti-climate greed

Stop Rosebank @stopcambo.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING🚨: @Equinor has resubmitted its application to open the biggest undeveloped oil field in the UK - Rosebank.

In the next weeks, the UK gov will decide to reject or approve this disaster project.

Equinor hasn’t given up, and neither will we. We’re stepping things up.

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Bylines Network @bylinesnetwork.co.uk · 1d

Bylines Network Reader Survey 2025

10 minutes to shape the future of citizen journalism bit.ly/BylinesNetworkSurvey

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 1d

"Covering a war means going to places torn by chaos, destruction and death... It means trying to find the truth in a sandstorm of propaganda" - the late Marie Colvin.

Truth is the cornerstone of justice. Without it we can't start to hold those responsible to account. Let journalists into Gaza.

The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 1d

The Rafah crossing is expected to re-open.

Alongside the desperately needed aid, journalists must be allowed into Gaza.

Over 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza - but the crimes of the Israeli government and military must not go undocumented.

Let the journalists in.

Graphic with an image of a press photographer among rubble in Gaza.

Text reads:

REAL HOPE. REAL CHANGE.

LET
JOURNALISTS
IN

Green Party
Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 1d

Caroline Lucas is wondering why Michelle Mone is still a member of the House of Lords

And most of us are wondering the same as well!

But if Mone is going to be removed from the Lords, there are others too who fail to meet the standard and should be removed as well

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

David @zero-4.bsky.social · 1d

Starmer regarding Reform’s former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill: “The member for Clacton & his deputy worked alongside someone who took money to spread Putin’s propaganda. They have serious questions to answer about what they knew”

#PMQs #PoliticsLive

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Carla Denyer @carladenyer.bsky.social · 1d

The Renters Rights Bill has finished going through the House of Lords and will soon become law - great news that renters will now get the basic protections they desperately need

But it barely does a thing on affordability, so now time to tackle that by bringing in rent controls

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Reposted by Cath Martin 59

Jenny Rhodes @jennyrhodes42.bsky.social · 1d

I’d prefer to watch a programme about this serious subject presented by Alice Roberts alone.

Alice Roberts @profaliceroberts.bsky.social · 4d

I’m sure they didn’t mean to eliminate the woman in this image.

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