Gavin Callaghan

READ MY LATEST BLOG Farage’s greatest achievement has never simply been persuading people to vote for him. It has been persuading millions of people that politics stopped listening to them altogether. That argument cannot be defeated by telling voters they are mistaken. It can only be defeated by making it obviously untrue. Burnham is perhaps uniquely placed within Labour to do exactly that because he is comfortable talking about England, comfortable talking about patriotism and comfortable talking about local identity without ever allowing those conversations to descend into the grievance politics that has become Farage’s stock in trade. He understands that people can be proud of where they come from without believing somebody else has to lose. If he can take that language into every corner of England, Farage’s politics begins to look less like an unstoppable force and more like a symptom of problems that are finally being addressed. leftfootforward.org/2026/06/…

This is the Alderete of old. Looks class. #SAFC

Amazing what happens when you play wingers on the wing… #SAFC

Is the #Sunderland game on Sky tonight #SAFC

Oh I think there’s more to come from this and spoiler… @BBCEssex won’t be able to just print this guff they’ve been fed. It runs a LOT deeper and is an absolute scandal. Wheels falling off for Samuel. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crz6…

Sunderland still haven’t lost this season to a team or in a game where you’d have expected them to win, bar perhaps, Ipswich on the opening day. Yet are bottom of the league. It’s an odd one. #SAFC

Thought Sunderland dominated that second half and were unlucky not to get a goal. Worked better with Rigg at RW. Angulo played well. As did LON. Leeds have pace and try to create chaos. Thought Sunderland contained them well. Repeat result from the home game last season. Onwards #SAFC

Poznan thoughts… 1) missed chances but with an Isidor or Brobbey we finish them off. 2) Fofana seems a panic buy that just isn’t what we need. Talbi is so much better than him. 3) Xhaka makes the whole team tick. Without him we lose so much impetus. 4) really like Ahoka. Can’t say the same for Methalie. 5) LON played well. Danso is not a good footballer. 6) Keep the faith. #SAFC

I just really enjoyed that one. #SAFC

In other news, Stansted is Red & White again! Off to Poznan we go! Ha’way the Lads! 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️ #SAFC #Sunderland

I am disgusted by the verdict and the sentence in Michael Ashton’s case. A Basildon boy, just 28 years old, was mowed down outside his own home by the driver who was supposed to get him home safely. The man responsible has been jailed for five years for causing his death by dangerous driving. After time already served, he is expected to spend only around a further 18 months in prison before release on licence. Michael’s family will live with their loss for the rest of their lives. It’s not right. His family deserve justice. This isn’t it. I’ve taken action. I have written to the Attorney General @elliereeves asking for an urgent review of the sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, and for the case to be considered for referral to the Court of Appeal. In my view, this represents a catastrophic miscarriage of justice for Michael and his family. Michael’s life mattered. His family deserve to be heard. I will use my position to speak up for them and press for this sentence to be reviewed. My letter to the Attorney General calling for a review of the sentence here:

No LGR = No Mayor of Essex. It’s that simple.

So because Rishi Sunak announced it and caved to private parking partnerships (check whether his family owned any), the new Labour government shouldn’t put his wrong, right? Bizarre argument. Parking is a huge issue for residents.

Come on the, #SAFC fans, riddle me this… Would you take 17th in the league now but a Europa League final?

Christ alive. These people spent 2 years moaning Starmer was too busy on international relations and now they moan that Burnham is too fixated on domestic issues. They’re rattled because they’re losing. Badly.

Goes without saying that @CouncillorTudor is one of the good guys. Fabulous career and commitment to Plymouth. Go well with whatever is next, Tudor.

Here’s an attempt to put a slightly more positive view on #Sunderland’s start to the season. It’s certainly been tough and there have been some ropey performances. Also some exceptional ones like 3 goals away at City, first half against Brentford and pre-Enzo penalty against Arsenal. But compare our results thus far to results last season: Ipswich away - L (we lost away at Burnley last season) Fulham home - W (we lost at home to Fulham last season +3) Brentford away - D (we lost away at Brentford last season +1) Arsenal home - L (we drew at home to Arsenal last season -1) City away - L (we lost away at City last season) Brighton home - L (we lost at home to Brighton last season) Bournemouth away - L (we drew away at Bournemouth last season -1) So we have gained 4 points from games we got 0 from last season but dropped 2 versus Arsenal and Bournemouth where we drew last year. The rest of the results are the same. Won 2 from 2 in Europe. I get we haven’t been great. We miss Brobbey, Traore and Ballard. We should never have bought Danso and the Talbi omission is just weird. But is it as terrible as the pundits suggest or are we still alright? #SAFC

Sunderland need to go back to basics. Revive the same back 4 as last season. Get Talbi on the wing. Play a striker. #SAFC

Alderete looks like a guy who is out of form. Hardly surprising because he’s barely played all season and has been left out for an absolute donkey in Kevin Danso. Our back 4 was the 4th best in the PL last season. No need to change it from RLB and Flo. #SAFC

As I was saying. Get him out of the club immediately. #SAFC