Back when @andyburnham had an "honest conversation" about Brexit...
😢
I don’t want to post the video. You’ve all seen it. But I do want to write a love letter…
Dear everyone in Britain, ( even you illegals)
Just so you understand. The poppy is for the boys who never got to grow old. For the boys who were still somebody’s baby, brother, uncle or father. More than 600,000 of them.
It doesn’t matter if you support war, hate your country, think you are a woman (even though you are a man). It doesn’t matter which God you pray to, or if you pray to none at all.
It doesn’t matter who you vote for, what climate narrative you believe, or whether you believe Israel should exist or not!
The poppy isn’t for you!
It’s for those who came before. Those who fought for your right to be weird, annoying or even foreign.
The poppy is how we say thank you. Thank you for giving us time, peace and choice.
And attempting to ban our poppy by declaring it politically divisive isn’t a move towards freedom. It is an act of suppression. Understand that.
The poppy is about love and loss. For you!
So stick your rainbow flags and every other flag where the sun doesn’t shine and just wear your poppy. Those boys did not die as symbols. They died for you!
Did you know that poppies grew across the battlefields where so many fell? As though even the land refused to forget the blood once given to defend it.
So the poppy is for them. For those who came before us and paid in youth, in hope, in breath, in blood, so that we might have the freedom to be arseholes.
So that we might even have the freedom to fight over the ridiculous, the inconsequential and the insane.
Revere it, celebrate it and wear it. The very least you can do is that.
Best
The ordinary people.
Julia Hartley-Brewer retweeted
Watching the penny very slowly drop at The Economist is always a pleasure.
A hard look at Britain’s data suggests so. But it is hardly an epidemic economist.com/britain/2026/1…
Julia Hartley-Brewer retweeted
🚨"In news, in the BBC Arabic service and the documentary department there is a very deep, nasty and very SINISTER problem."
Julia Hartley-Brewer speaks to ex-BBC Panorama producer Phil Craig about claims of pro-Gaza bias and antisemitism within the broadcaster.
@JuliaHB1
Julia Hartley-Brewer retweeted
Listen to the second episode of our podcast 'Politics Unleashed' on:
YouTube: youtube.com/@politics.unleas…
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/281AJ1…
Lord Terry Burns knows more about budgets than anyone else. As Chief Economic Adviser and Permanent Secretary to the Treasury from the beginning of Thatcher to the End of Blair, he helped shape 20 budgets across seven chancellors, and at least three major economic crises.
This is a short clip from the full episode.
Julia Hartley-Brewer retweeted
EXCLUSIVE
John Healey will announce plans to increase the minimum wage by nearly 4 per cent but slow the rise for young people after warnings that they are being priced out of jobs
The Times has been told that the national living wage, which applies to those aged 21 and over, is expected to rise from £12.71 to around £13.20 — an increase of 3.9 per cent
However, Healey has decided not to repeat the big rises of the past two budgets in the national minimum wage, which applies to those aged 18 to 21
It will rise broadly in line with the rate for older workers - from £10.85 to around £11.27, an increase of 3.9 per cent
It effectively spells the end of Labour’s manifesto pledge to bring the “discriminatory” minimum wage for young people into line with the living wage for older workers in this parliament
The minimum wage increased by 26 per cent between 2025 and 2026, leading to stark warnings from employers that it risked impeding efforts to get 1 million “Neets” - young people not in education, employment or training - into work.
Healey alluded to the approach in an interview with The Times last week, in which he spoke of the importance of the “trade-off between the level of the minimum wage and the employment rate”
thetimes.com/article/c9142a2…
Julia Hartley-Brewer retweeted
London in a nutshell. Twat cyclists and useless hi-vis ‘security’ engaged in a futile stand-off along a run-down, once iconic area that has descended into tourist traps, tat and money laundering.
Cyclists are continuing to ride along the newly pedestrianised section of Oxford Street, despite being asked to dismount.
Around seven security staff have been stationed near Oxford Circus, calling out to cyclists to get off their bikes, with mixed success.
More on this story ➡️ bbc.in/3W32bbT
#OxfordStreet #London #Cycling #Pedestrianisation
Julia Hartley-Brewer retweeted
BREAKING: The Home Secretary has announced an independent review of Henry Nowak's case led by Alex Chalke.
It will look at both the police *and* the IOPC.
It will look at missed opportunities to intervene and whether the family were treated as they should have been.
Due in 5 months.
Julia Hartley-Brewer retweeted
Firstly, there are no 'Palestinian' citizens of Israel. They're Israeli.
Secondly, is Sky News telling its audience that Israel ISN'T an apartheid state?! Wow.
Could Palestinian voters tip Israel's election?
Sky's @adamparsons looks at whether Palestinian citizens of Israel can turn their votes into meaningful political influence in this week's election
Julia Hartley-Brewer retweeted
Given cyclists in London now treat even the pavements as cycle lanes this was entirely predictable
Anyone who promises to sort out this — plus the scourge of people blaring phones out loud — gets my vote
These tossers have been indulged for too long
Cyclists are continuing to ride along the newly pedestrianised section of Oxford Street, despite being asked to dismount.
Around seven security staff have been stationed near Oxford Circus, calling out to cyclists to get off their bikes, with mixed success.
More on this story ➡️ bbc.in/3W32bbT
#OxfordStreet #London #Cycling #Pedestrianisation
Julia Hartley-Brewer retweeted
🚨"Up until now all tax has gone into central government"
Economist Paul Johnson says to expect big announcements for Andy Burnham's devolution where local authorities will get to keep percentages of income tax instead of central government.
@JuliaHB1 | @PJTheEconomist
Julia Hartley-Brewer retweeted
"Putin genuinely believes we wouldn't respond"
Colonel Simon Diggins says Putin is testing the West because he doesn't think the integrity of NATO will hold if he tries to take the Baltics.
@SimonLeoDiggins | @JuliaHB1