Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Richard Burgon MP

@richardburgon.bsky.social

7.1K followers 63 following 200 posts

Leeds born and bred. Member of Parliament for Leeds East. Secretary of the Socialist Campaign Group.🌹

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Jan 12

So Nigel Farage has replaced Boris Johnson as the MP trousering the most money from other jobs.

Farage has pocketed over £570,000 in outside income in just six months.

I brought a Bill to ban all MPs' Second Jobs.

I'll keep pushing to end this racket once and for all.

48 350 990

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · 1d

Today I spoke again at another huge national march for Palestine.

The ceasefire has given Gaza a chance to breathe. But we will not stop until there's real peace and justice.

Until those guilty of genocide face justice.

Until Israel’s occupation ends.

Until Palestine is free.

Richard Burgon speaking at the national march for Palestine on 11 October.

2 20 70

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · 2d

Just a reminder that Reform’s former Leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, has admitted taking bribes from Russia while an MEP.

Yet Reform spokespeople have suggested their leaders didn't really know Gill.

So here's a few pictures of him with Nigel Farage.

Various photos of Reform’s former Leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, with Nigel Farage.

7 67 110

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · 8d

This follows the wholly disproportionate and deeply troubling decision to designate Palestine Action - a group that posed no risk to the public - as terrorists.

I voted against that decision in Parliament and again call on the Government to immediately overturn it.

5 16 55

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · 8d

Instead of vital police resources being used to keep communities safe, we have the absurd situation where they're being wasted on arresting peaceful protesters: people simply holding signs and exercising their democratic rights to oppose genocide.

14 37 110

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · 18d

The two-child benefit cap is one of the cruellest Tory policies.

That’s why I voted to scrap it - and lost the Labour whip for doing so.

It’s great to see a growing consensus to end it. Along with other MPs, I’ve written to the Prime Minister demanding he scraps it immediately.

8 12 56

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Sep 3

At PMQs today, I told the Prime Minister that to stop a Reform Government we need a return to real Labour values.

That means real action to tackle poverty and inequality, a Wealth Tax on the super-rich, and an ethical foreign policy that takes a strong stand against war crimes.

25 33 130

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Sep 2

The toxic rhetoric around migration in recent weeks has emboldened far-right thugs - who are now abusing and intimidating people in the street they see as “foreign”, who are now vandalising their homes, businesses and places of worship with racist graffiti, and who are spreading division in our communities.

As I've said before, I believe the scapegoating of refugees and migrants for society’s problems is totally wrong. The real responsibility for the deep problems we face lies with the super-rich and those in power who have profited from our rigged economic system, who sold off our public services and attacked workers’ rights. They - not refugees and migrants - have driven down wages, starved our NHS, and fuelled the housing crisis.

That’s why I’m campaigning for a wealth tax on the super-rich, to build huge numbers of council houses, to bring water and energy back into public ownership and to kick the profiteers out of our NHS.

But whatever people’s views, we should all agree on this: racist intimidation, violence, attacks on people and their property and other criminal activity are completely unacceptable.

Every politician has a duty to speak out, to condemn this far-right thuggery, and to do all they can to stop the stoking of the hatred that fuels this wave of far-right violence and intimidation.

10 23 74

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 29

UK billionaire wealth has more than doubled since 2010.

▪️2010: £250 billion
▪️2025: £620 billion

While workers’ wages have flatlined.

When Parliament returns next week, I’ll be stepping up the campaign for a wealth tax.

Ask your MP to sign my Parliamentary Motion on this.

6 38 68

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 28

The super-rich who run our society always use “divide and rule.”

They blame migrants so people don’t see who’s really behind the crisis.

Migrants didn’t underfund the NHS, make housing unaffordable or hike energy bills.

That was the super-rich - and their rigged economic model.

1 28 100

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 25

Israel's again bombed a hospital in Gaza.

I'm sick of the empty statements from so many governments including our own.

They must hit Israel with the toughest sanctions possible to end the Genocide

▪️Sanction Israel’s economy
▪️Sanction Israel’s leaders
▪️End all arms sales now

8 34 100

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 24

29 140 400

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 20

Sickening abuse of a man simply enjoying time with his grandkids.

The racists are getting bolder.

We need to stand up to their hate and build unity.

The far-right has no solutions to the problems our communities face - all they have is hateful division.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Family in fear after Tommy Robinson shares video of black man with white granddaughters

Exclusive: Olajuwon Ayeni racially abused and falsely labelled a paedophile as far right weaponises clip of family in park

www.theguardian.com

26 15 72

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 13

The Government must impose widespread sanctions on Israel.

Alongside @imranhussainmp.bsky.social, I'll be launching a new Parliamentary Working Group for Sanctions on Israel when Parliament returns.

It will bring together MPs, Lords, lawyers, NGOs and justice campaigns to demand sanctions.

5 21 56

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 12

I've long campaigned for a Wealth Tax - and it’s great to see the call growing stronger by the day.

A 2% Wealth Tax on assets over £10 million could raise £24 BILLION per year.

And polls show that 75% of the public supports a wealth tax!

Together, we can win this!

19 120 460

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 12

So The Sun has run a piece expressing alarm at my “influence” pushing against welfare benefit cuts and for justice for the Palestinian people.

Seems they may not have clocked the photo they used for this article calling me a “plank” is from when I beat The Sun in the High Court!

2 22 70

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 8

2 20 73

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 6

Fossil fuel giants have driven us to the cliff edge of climate catastrophe while making obscene profits.

I've brought a Make Polluters Pay Bill to Parliament to make those most responsible for the climate crisis fund the urgent action we need.

Over 40 MPs have backed the Bill!

1 23 61

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 6

9 5 65

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 5

UK billionaire wealth has more than doubled since 2010.

▪️2010: £250 Billion
▪️2025: £620 Billion

Instead of making cuts, the Government should be introducing a Wealth Tax on the very wealthiest in our society.

That's the fairer alternative we need.

5 19 53

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 5

I recently tabled a Sanctions on Israel Bill in Parliament.

My Bill sets out the steps the Government must take following the International Court of Justice's ruling including:

▪️Sanctions on Israel's economy

▪️A ban on trade with Israeli settlements

▪️A full arms embargo

7 34

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 5

I was proud to join constituents at the Stand Up To Racism counter-demo in East Leeds.

The far right offers no answers - just division.

We need to build a mass movement against racism and the scapegoating of migrants and minorities and for a better society for the 99%.

5 20 93

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 4

I recently wrote to the Foreign Secretary alongside over 80 Parliamentarians from 9 parties, to call for widespread sanctions on Israel, including:

▪️ Sanctions on Israel's economy

▪️ A ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements

▪️ A full arms embargo

3 17 47

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Aug 1

2 19 63

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Jul 31

5 17 85

Richard Burgon MP @richardburgon.bsky.social · Jul 30

I've long campaigned for a Wealth Tax - and it’s great to see support for it growing stronger by the day.

A 2% Wealth Tax on assets over £10 million could raise £24 BILLION per year.

That's the much fairer alternative to cuts that we need.

2 22 59