Josh Westerling
@joshwesterling.bsky.social
Work on campaigns and public affairs at JRF. Current home Bethnal Green, from Wycombe. West Ham ST holder. Views mine.
Playgrounds are good, small things that matter for children and their families. Cross-generational 'social' infrastructure.
November 26, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Playgrounds are good, small things that matter for children and their families. Cross-generational 'social' infrastructure.
They'll also be trialling pooling public service budgets in five MSAs alongside working with Greater Manchester on a prevention demonstrator.
November 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM
They'll also be trialling pooling public service budgets in five MSAs alongside working with Greater Manchester on a prevention demonstrator.
Government hopes that the new Office for the Impact Economy will help to crowd further capital into the Pride in Place programme.
November 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Government hopes that the new Office for the Impact Economy will help to crowd further capital into the Pride in Place programme.
Think Julian Coman is right to identify Mahmood and Burnham as representing two different democratising tendencies in Labour. But the examples he picks (borders + bond markets) actually inadvertently highlight where there's overlap on sovereignty.
There are differences.
There are differences.
November 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Think Julian Coman is right to identify Mahmood and Burnham as representing two different democratising tendencies in Labour. But the examples he picks (borders + bond markets) actually inadvertently highlight where there's overlap on sovereignty.
There are differences.
There are differences.
On X Tommy Robinson is spreading bollocks about West Ham 'saying no to poppies'. We're not, obviously. This is West Ham.
November 8, 2025 at 11:47 AM
On X Tommy Robinson is spreading bollocks about West Ham 'saying no to poppies'. We're not, obviously. This is West Ham.
What is most striking is that both 'anti-system' parties believe they can make electoral hay with this disaffected groups. See Zack Polanski's party conference speech ⬇️
November 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
What is most striking is that both 'anti-system' parties believe they can make electoral hay with this disaffected groups. See Zack Polanski's party conference speech ⬇️
Patrick Maguire column identifies Reform's pitch to the petty bourgeoisie. It could be potent too as it'd be fair to say the govt currently lacks a distinctive offer to these workers. They don't often feature strongly in Labour's conception of its people and that shows in policy and comms.
November 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Patrick Maguire column identifies Reform's pitch to the petty bourgeoisie. It could be potent too as it'd be fair to say the govt currently lacks a distinctive offer to these workers. They don't often feature strongly in Labour's conception of its people and that shows in policy and comms.
Guardian editorial on latest IMD stats. Of course it is right to say that incomes need a boost too. But a mistake to not position policy on place AND incomes / living standards as BOTH pushing in the direction of greater opportunity and good lives for people living in those neighbourhoods.
October 31, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Guardian editorial on latest IMD stats. Of course it is right to say that incomes need a boost too. But a mistake to not position policy on place AND incomes / living standards as BOTH pushing in the direction of greater opportunity and good lives for people living in those neighbourhoods.
You'd be selling to the public that you will be sorting out public services and getting child poverty down by the end of this parliament because this is a Labour government. The politics isn't being bashful or half measures.
October 31, 2025 at 9:07 AM
You'd be selling to the public that you will be sorting out public services and getting child poverty down by the end of this parliament because this is a Labour government. The politics isn't being bashful or half measures.
Good realistic essay by @npjgarland.bsky.social for @powertochange.org.uk. Key bit for me is communities policy being tied into a broader political economy.
October 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Good realistic essay by @npjgarland.bsky.social for @powertochange.org.uk. Key bit for me is communities policy being tied into a broader political economy.
Rigid, controlling, centralised institutions aren't going to cut it. We need dispersed power, ways of finding common ground and making the most of our disagreements.
Good piece on digital democracy.
Good piece on digital democracy.
October 21, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Rigid, controlling, centralised institutions aren't going to cut it. We need dispersed power, ways of finding common ground and making the most of our disagreements.
Good piece on digital democracy.
Good piece on digital democracy.
Starmer channelled this in his conference speech, and spoke specifically about Chinese takeaways being targeted.
Yesterday Big John went to show his support for the Dragon House in York.
Time to find and support more Big John's.
Yesterday Big John went to show his support for the Dragon House in York.
Time to find and support more Big John's.
October 12, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Starmer channelled this in his conference speech, and spoke specifically about Chinese takeaways being targeted.
Yesterday Big John went to show his support for the Dragon House in York.
Time to find and support more Big John's.
Yesterday Big John went to show his support for the Dragon House in York.
Time to find and support more Big John's.
Just came across a relic from 2021
October 10, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Just came across a relic from 2021
Striking both the populist left and right are pitching toward this section of the public which I've only really seen Dan Evans write about. Gap for the govt?
October 3, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Striking both the populist left and right are pitching toward this section of the public which I've only really seen Dan Evans write about. Gap for the govt?
This is an important point especially when political parties (partic Labour?) seem to be putting more energy into slowly adjusting their politicians communication style rather than encouraging this wider cultivation.
And then how much that rubs against an ingrained party culture.
And then how much that rubs against an ingrained party culture.
October 3, 2025 at 10:36 AM
This is an important point especially when political parties (partic Labour?) seem to be putting more energy into slowly adjusting their politicians communication style rather than encouraging this wider cultivation.
And then how much that rubs against an ingrained party culture.
And then how much that rubs against an ingrained party culture.
Walking and Ravilious in Eastbourne perfect pre-conference
September 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Walking and Ravilious in Eastbourne perfect pre-conference
Good @robertshrimsley.bsky.social piece. And agree v much with this bit in particular.
www.ft.com/content/e895...
www.ft.com/content/e895...
September 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Good @robertshrimsley.bsky.social piece. And agree v much with this bit in particular.
www.ft.com/content/e895...
www.ft.com/content/e895...
This is positive from the govt PR, for it to work will need the people + orgs who know how do do that work on the boards from the outset.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
September 25, 2025 at 8:06 AM
This is positive from the govt PR, for it to work will need the people + orgs who know how do do that work on the boards from the outset.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Ah this is very sad. In Our Time and Melvyn are both special. Soundtrack to doing chores, cooking dinner, and when I can't sleep.
As I've said before, my favourite moment is when Melvyn reads 'She, to Him' by Thomas Hardy and audibly chokes up at the end - rightly so as it is moving.
As I've said before, my favourite moment is when Melvyn reads 'She, to Him' by Thomas Hardy and audibly chokes up at the end - rightly so as it is moving.
September 3, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Ah this is very sad. In Our Time and Melvyn are both special. Soundtrack to doing chores, cooking dinner, and when I can't sleep.
As I've said before, my favourite moment is when Melvyn reads 'She, to Him' by Thomas Hardy and audibly chokes up at the end - rightly so as it is moving.
As I've said before, my favourite moment is when Melvyn reads 'She, to Him' by Thomas Hardy and audibly chokes up at the end - rightly so as it is moving.
“Labour has got to stop believing that the painfully slow grind of the Home Office, overly cautious lawyers, and traditional diplomacy is going to do the job.”
Agree, but having spoken about authenticity re opportunity he under-acknowledges how this is counter to Starmer’s view of institutions.
Agree, but having spoken about authenticity re opportunity he under-acknowledges how this is counter to Starmer’s view of institutions.
August 30, 2025 at 8:09 AM
“Labour has got to stop believing that the painfully slow grind of the Home Office, overly cautious lawyers, and traditional diplomacy is going to do the job.”
Agree, but having spoken about authenticity re opportunity he under-acknowledges how this is counter to Starmer’s view of institutions.
Agree, but having spoken about authenticity re opportunity he under-acknowledges how this is counter to Starmer’s view of institutions.
‘To be born in that city…is useful for only one thing: to have always known, almost instinctively, what today, with endless fine distractions, everyone is beginning to claim: that the dream of unlimited progress is in reality a nightmare of savagery and death’
August 29, 2025 at 4:21 PM
‘To be born in that city…is useful for only one thing: to have always known, almost instinctively, what today, with endless fine distractions, everyone is beginning to claim: that the dream of unlimited progress is in reality a nightmare of savagery and death’
What I’d add is that having been stripped of your home, both the ground and the geography, that purpose and unity can only be found on the pitch, as you can no longer rely on the comfort of that home or the club’s soul to keep things together.
August 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
What I’d add is that having been stripped of your home, both the ground and the geography, that purpose and unity can only be found on the pitch, as you can no longer rely on the comfort of that home or the club’s soul to keep things together.
David Blunkett on drawing upon the Labour and Co-operative tradition
August 20, 2025 at 11:21 AM
David Blunkett on drawing upon the Labour and Co-operative tradition
When is politics and economic policy going to adjust to inflation in part being driven by food prices resulting from droughts in Southern Europe? Which is presumably going to happen most summers now, whilst food companies profit and ordinary people bear the brunt.
August 20, 2025 at 7:45 AM
When is politics and economic policy going to adjust to inflation in part being driven by food prices resulting from droughts in Southern Europe? Which is presumably going to happen most summers now, whilst food companies profit and ordinary people bear the brunt.