Lewis Herbert
@lewisherbert.bsky.social
Helping tackle UK housing & homeless crisis, the root of too many evils.
Labour Cambridge Council leader 2014 to 2021 - city of considerable magic.
Peace & equity, Hills & coast, Photoing & laughter too.
Band above is definitely not Genesis reformed.
Labour Cambridge Council leader 2014 to 2021 - city of considerable magic.
Peace & equity, Hills & coast, Photoing & laughter too.
Band above is definitely not Genesis reformed.
Pinned
Lewis Herbert
@lewisherbert.bsky.social
· Dec 28
Stunning, evocative and lonesome ancient Eglwys Sant Baglan, nr #Caernavon.
Staring out across #Menai Strait, protected by its gnarled oaks.
Remarkably well preserved like so many Welsh church wonders saved by the amazing Friends of Friendless Churches #friendschurches.
Visit old Welsh churches!
Staring out across #Menai Strait, protected by its gnarled oaks.
Remarkably well preserved like so many Welsh church wonders saved by the amazing Friends of Friendless Churches #friendschurches.
Visit old Welsh churches!
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Negotiating with our European neighbours as an outsider, instead of as an equal partner around the EU table, inevitably leaves Britain with a weaker hand
Talks for UK to join EU defence fund collapse in blow to Starmer’s bid to reset relations
Talks for UK to join EU defence fund collapse in blow to Starmer’s bid to reset relations
UK had been pushing to join €150bn Safe fund, a loan scheme that is part of bloc’s drive to rearm Europe
Keir Starmer’s bid to reset relations with the EU suffered a major blow on Friday, after negotiations for the UK to join the EU’s flagship €150bn (£131bn) defence fund collapsed.
The UK had been pushing to join the EU’s Security Action for Europe (Safe) fund, a low-interest loan scheme that is part of the EU’s drive to boost defence spending by €800bn and rearm the continent, in response to the growing threat from Russia and cooling relations between Donald Trump’s US and the EU. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Negotiating with our European neighbours as an outsider, instead of as an equal partner around the EU table, inevitably leaves Britain with a weaker hand
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Plus: Is Coldhams Lane next in line for traffic restrictions? #Cambridge Science Park revamp. Petition on IB funding goes to No 10. Wimpole's stunning light trail. Panto marks
@artstheatrecamb.bsky.social reopening. @lewisherbert.bsky.social's pandemic diary & novelists' concerns over #AI
@artstheatrecamb.bsky.social reopening. @lewisherbert.bsky.social's pandemic diary & novelists' concerns over #AI
In @cambridgeindy.bsky.social the closing arguments in #Cambourne to #Cambridge busway inquiry, a feature on new reservoir plans & why we could face 2026 drought, Sir Ed Davey on @arthurrankhospice.bsky.social funding & we talk to rail minister about Cambridge East station plans
November 26, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Plus: Is Coldhams Lane next in line for traffic restrictions? #Cambridge Science Park revamp. Petition on IB funding goes to No 10. Wimpole's stunning light trail. Panto marks
@artstheatrecamb.bsky.social reopening. @lewisherbert.bsky.social's pandemic diary & novelists' concerns over #AI
@artstheatrecamb.bsky.social reopening. @lewisherbert.bsky.social's pandemic diary & novelists' concerns over #AI
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Andrew Wolfe, 24, and Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of the West Virginia National Guard had been on duty in the streets of D.C. for three months when they were shot near the White House on Wednesday.
Both were critically wounded and had undergone surgery.
Both were critically wounded and had undergone surgery.
Two critically wounded National Guard victims identified
The victims, who came from units in West Virginia, had been patrolling in D.C. since August, according to officials.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Andrew Wolfe, 24, and Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of the West Virginia National Guard had been on duty in the streets of D.C. for three months when they were shot near the White House on Wednesday.
Both were critically wounded and had undergone surgery.
Both were critically wounded and had undergone surgery.
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
It's time to be nice about the Budget.
The council tax surcharge is a good policy. Very compromised/imperfect, but still good policy.
This is why:
The council tax surcharge is a good policy. Very compromised/imperfect, but still good policy.
This is why:
November 27, 2025 at 4:59 PM
It's time to be nice about the Budget.
The council tax surcharge is a good policy. Very compromised/imperfect, but still good policy.
This is why:
The council tax surcharge is a good policy. Very compromised/imperfect, but still good policy.
This is why:
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
"Trump's peace plan is not a plan, but a list of Putin's wishes."
Kaja Kallas
Kaja Kallas
November 23, 2025 at 2:46 AM
"Trump's peace plan is not a plan, but a list of Putin's wishes."
Kaja Kallas
Kaja Kallas
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
John Major, "One aspect of reducing immigration would be to make it more palatable for migrants to remain in their own countries"
"That is why the policy of cutting aid and investment to poor countries is a very poor sighted policy"
"That is why the policy of cutting aid and investment to poor countries is a very poor sighted policy"
November 25, 2025 at 6:22 PM
John Major, "One aspect of reducing immigration would be to make it more palatable for migrants to remain in their own countries"
"That is why the policy of cutting aid and investment to poor countries is a very poor sighted policy"
"That is why the policy of cutting aid and investment to poor countries is a very poor sighted policy"
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
BREAKING: Marjorie Taylor Greene announces she is resigning from Congress. Her last day in office will be January 5, 2026.
November 22, 2025 at 1:23 AM
BREAKING: Marjorie Taylor Greene announces she is resigning from Congress. Her last day in office will be January 5, 2026.
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Lincoln has just got itself two new civic mascots @lewisherbert.bsky.social - does Carina know?
November 21, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Lincoln has just got itself two new civic mascots @lewisherbert.bsky.social - does Carina know?
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Macclesfield Central (Cheshire East) Council By-Election Result:
🌍 GRN: 41.8% (+19.7)
🌹 LAB: 28.6% (-25.7)
➡️ RFM: 15.8% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.1% (-4.5)
⚖️ EQU: 2.5% (New)
🔶 LDM: 2.2% (-7.7)
Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
🌍 GRN: 41.8% (+19.7)
🌹 LAB: 28.6% (-25.7)
➡️ RFM: 15.8% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.1% (-4.5)
⚖️ EQU: 2.5% (New)
🔶 LDM: 2.2% (-7.7)
Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
November 20, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Macclesfield Central (Cheshire East) Council By-Election Result:
🌍 GRN: 41.8% (+19.7)
🌹 LAB: 28.6% (-25.7)
➡️ RFM: 15.8% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.1% (-4.5)
⚖️ EQU: 2.5% (New)
🔶 LDM: 2.2% (-7.7)
Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
🌍 GRN: 41.8% (+19.7)
🌹 LAB: 28.6% (-25.7)
➡️ RFM: 15.8% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.1% (-4.5)
⚖️ EQU: 2.5% (New)
🔶 LDM: 2.2% (-7.7)
Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
South Bank (Redcar & Cleveland) Council By-Election Result:
🌹 LAB: 47.4% (-17.8)
➡️ RFM: 44.3% (New)
🌳 CON: 8.2% (-4.3)
No Ind (-22.2) as previous.
Labour HOLD.
Changes w/ 2023.
🌹 LAB: 47.4% (-17.8)
➡️ RFM: 44.3% (New)
🌳 CON: 8.2% (-4.3)
No Ind (-22.2) as previous.
Labour HOLD.
Changes w/ 2023.
November 20, 2025 at 11:30 PM
South Bank (Redcar & Cleveland) Council By-Election Result:
🌹 LAB: 47.4% (-17.8)
➡️ RFM: 44.3% (New)
🌳 CON: 8.2% (-4.3)
No Ind (-22.2) as previous.
Labour HOLD.
Changes w/ 2023.
🌹 LAB: 47.4% (-17.8)
➡️ RFM: 44.3% (New)
🌳 CON: 8.2% (-4.3)
No Ind (-22.2) as previous.
Labour HOLD.
Changes w/ 2023.
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Victoria Canning, who has spent more than 10 years researching refugee rights in Denmark, writes about the lessons that can be learned.
Why it's a bad idea for the UK to copy Denmark's asylum system
www.bigissue.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Victoria Canning, who has spent more than 10 years researching refugee rights in Denmark, writes about the lessons that can be learned.
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
From an article in today's Financial Times. Such an obvious statement of fact. It's hard to understand why direct public investment in social rent housing - so successful for decades - is now unthinkable.
November 10, 2025 at 7:43 AM
From an article in today's Financial Times. Such an obvious statement of fact. It's hard to understand why direct public investment in social rent housing - so successful for decades - is now unthinkable.
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
🚨 New on Substack: my post on the postwar history of Lewisham's Honor Oak Estate - a story of exclusion, regeneration and changing community; the childhood home of Ian Wright (pictured here with his inspirational teacher Sidney Pigden).
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-honor-...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-honor-...
November 13, 2025 at 8:20 AM
🚨 New on Substack: my post on the postwar history of Lewisham's Honor Oak Estate - a story of exclusion, regeneration and changing community; the childhood home of Ian Wright (pictured here with his inspirational teacher Sidney Pigden).
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-honor-...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-honor-...
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Aggregate Result of the 160 Council By-Elections (for 163 Seats) since the 2025 Local Elections:
RFM: 55 (+47)
LDM: 48 (+18)
CON: 16 (-20)
LAB: 13 (-38)
GRN: 13 (+2)
Ind: 9 (-3)
Local: 4 (-6)
SNP: 3 (=)
PLC: 2 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
RFM: 55 (+47)
LDM: 48 (+18)
CON: 16 (-20)
LAB: 13 (-38)
GRN: 13 (+2)
Ind: 9 (-3)
Local: 4 (-6)
SNP: 3 (=)
PLC: 2 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
November 14, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Aggregate Result of the 160 Council By-Elections (for 163 Seats) since the 2025 Local Elections:
RFM: 55 (+47)
LDM: 48 (+18)
CON: 16 (-20)
LAB: 13 (-38)
GRN: 13 (+2)
Ind: 9 (-3)
Local: 4 (-6)
SNP: 3 (=)
PLC: 2 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
RFM: 55 (+47)
LDM: 48 (+18)
CON: 16 (-20)
LAB: 13 (-38)
GRN: 13 (+2)
Ind: 9 (-3)
Local: 4 (-6)
SNP: 3 (=)
PLC: 2 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
The 7 council by-elections taking place this week:
🌹 Macclesfield Central
🌹 Southbank
🌳 Ashdown & Conquest
🌳 Salford Priors & Alcester Rural
🔶 Quinton
🌍 Hale
🙋 Stranraer & The Rhins
electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
🌹 Macclesfield Central
🌹 Southbank
🌳 Ashdown & Conquest
🌳 Salford Priors & Alcester Rural
🔶 Quinton
🌍 Hale
🙋 Stranraer & The Rhins
electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
November 17, 2025 at 1:48 AM
The 7 council by-elections taking place this week:
🌹 Macclesfield Central
🌹 Southbank
🌳 Ashdown & Conquest
🌳 Salford Priors & Alcester Rural
🔶 Quinton
🌍 Hale
🙋 Stranraer & The Rhins
electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
🌹 Macclesfield Central
🌹 Southbank
🌳 Ashdown & Conquest
🌳 Salford Priors & Alcester Rural
🔶 Quinton
🌍 Hale
🙋 Stranraer & The Rhins
electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 27% (+1)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 17% (-1)
GRN: 17% (+2)
LDM: 13% (-1)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 16-17 Nov.
Changes w/ 9-10 Nov.
RFM: 27% (+1)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 17% (-1)
GRN: 17% (+2)
LDM: 13% (-1)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 16-17 Nov.
Changes w/ 9-10 Nov.
November 18, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 27% (+1)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 17% (-1)
GRN: 17% (+2)
LDM: 13% (-1)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 16-17 Nov.
Changes w/ 9-10 Nov.
RFM: 27% (+1)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 17% (-1)
GRN: 17% (+2)
LDM: 13% (-1)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 16-17 Nov.
Changes w/ 9-10 Nov.
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
The government won’t achieve ‘decency’ over ‘division’ by trying to be Reform Lite and please remember this - the ECHR is much more than a treaty. It’s a quiet promise - a shield against abuse of power, a lifeline for the vulnerable, a declaration of who we are as a nation
Labour’s plan risks weakening protections for all of us. Human rights are universal - politicians may not always find them politically convenient but it shouldn’t fall to any government to say who those rights should and should not apply to. It’s a slippery slope to oblivion youtu.be/bl0Lm7v_T18?...
The government won’t achieve ‘decency’ over ‘division’ by trying to be Reform Lite
YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 8:29 AM
The government won’t achieve ‘decency’ over ‘division’ by trying to be Reform Lite and please remember this - the ECHR is much more than a treaty. It’s a quiet promise - a shield against abuse of power, a lifeline for the vulnerable, a declaration of who we are as a nation
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Labour’s latest attack on asylum seekers is cruel & counterproductive. How does it help community cohesion to hold threat of deportation over vulnerable people? We don’t need an arms race with the hard right over asylum, we need safe routes & European cooperation #bbclaurak
November 16, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Labour’s latest attack on asylum seekers is cruel & counterproductive. How does it help community cohesion to hold threat of deportation over vulnerable people? We don’t need an arms race with the hard right over asylum, we need safe routes & European cooperation #bbclaurak
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
“An immigration system based on compassion and dignity.”
- Keir Starmer: My Pledges To You.
- Keir Starmer: My Pledges To You.
November 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM
“An immigration system based on compassion and dignity.”
- Keir Starmer: My Pledges To You.
- Keir Starmer: My Pledges To You.
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Born on this day, 1897, Nye Bevan, Minister of Health and Housing when Labour built 805,000 council homes between 1945-51. He believed high-quality council housing should reflect 'the living tapestry of a mixed community'.
November 15, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Born on this day, 1897, Nye Bevan, Minister of Health and Housing when Labour built 805,000 council homes between 1945-51. He believed high-quality council housing should reflect 'the living tapestry of a mixed community'.
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
July 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
New emails suggest Trump knew about conduct of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
New emails suggest Trump knew about conduct of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
In messages released by House Democrats, Epstein wrote Trump ‘spent hours at my house’ in the company of one of his sex-trafficked victims
*
US politics live – latest updates
Damning new emails that suggest Donald Trump knew about the conduct of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released Wednesday, in which Epstein said “of course [Trump] knew about the girls” and which are likely to add pressure on the White House to release the so-called Epstein files.
In one of several messages released by Democrats on the House oversight committee and not publicly seen before, Epstein wrote to a contact in 2011 that Trump “spent hours at my house” in the company of one of the disgraced financier’s sex-trafficked victims. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:49 PM
New emails suggest Trump knew about conduct of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Presssure grows on Starmer to sack chief of staff over briefing row
Presssure grows on Starmer to sack chief of staff over briefing row
Growing calls for Morgan McSweeney to go after extraordinary briefing operation against Wes Streeting
Keir Starmer is coming under intense pressure from a wide range of ministers and MPs to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after No 10 was accused of an extraordinary briefing operation against the health secretary, Wes Streeting.
Starmer is understood to have told MPs he will not sack his chief of staff and would not respond to several demands to ensure there were “consequences” for the briefers. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Presssure grows on Starmer to sack chief of staff over briefing row
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Israeli settlers attack villages in West Bank as violent incidents increase
Israeli settlers attack villages in West Bank as violent incidents increase
President condemns ‘shocking’ incident in rare comment as settlers injure four Palestinians and attack Israeli soldiers
Dozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, injuring four Palestinians and attacking Israeli soldiers in the latest incident of rising settler violence.
The settlers attacked the Palestinian villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf, setting vehicles on fire and damaging property belonging to a Bedouin community, with charred remains of cars left behind the next day. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Israeli settlers attack villages in West Bank as violent incidents increase
Reposted by Lewis Herbert
Property experts urge Rachel Reeves to abolish ‘sin tax’ of stamp duty in budget
Property experts urge Rachel Reeves to abolish ‘sin tax’ of stamp duty in budget
Chancellor advised to replace levy with an annual property tax as Treasury considers overhaul of system
Rachel Reeves has been urged to abolish the “sin tax” of stamp duty in the budget by property experts including TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp, as the chancellor faced calls to replace it with an annual property tax.
Allsopp, presenter of Channel 4 property shows including Location, Location, Location, said “people are in a panic” about potential stamp duty changes, and “sitting tight” ahead of the 26 November budget. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Property experts urge Rachel Reeves to abolish ‘sin tax’ of stamp duty in budget