iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 23/09/2026

AI klaxon in today's Manchester full council: first "I rise to support" in a speech, that big AI tell...

Reposted by Chris Northwood

Rebecca Jones 🔶🇪🇺 @rebeccajones03.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Delighted to have got the chance to get up in stage at Lib Dem Conference to speak truth to power and advocate for the rights of trans and non-binary people. Even more delighted that the motion 'Restoring trans rights' passed overwhelmingly. #transrights #LDConf

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 21/09/2026

It's now official @libdems.org.uk party policy to fix the Equality Act after the flawed Supreme Court judgment. Our MPs have been calling for this for a while, but it's now officially part of the party's policy. Bravo @pluslibdems.bsky.social for their effort.

Several people stand behind a large trans banner on the seafront.

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Rebecca Jones 🔶🇪🇺 @rebeccajones03.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The Liberal Democrats are clear, we are a proudly trans inclusive party and that's not changing anyime soon. It's great to see Ed making this clear in the press and backing @pluslibdems.bsky.social motion on Restoring Trans Rights. www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

telegraph.co.uk

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 16/09/2026

It goes from dealing with Claude wanting to "eslint-disable" things at work when asked to fix linting issues, spotting AI-generated constituent emails, to using Gemini to build a capsule wardrobe as a trans woman (and getting to my "doll who definitely has a GitHub account" aesthetic description).

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 16/09/2026

Earlier this year I returned to tech lead work after 3 months off and was worried I was being left behind by AI. Had a bit of an existential crisis that went beyond professional life, so I decided to write candidly about how I’m using LLMs. chrisn.xyz/casework-cod...

chrisn.xyz

Casework, Code and Lash Extensions: How I’ve embraced LLMs, and my limits – Chris Northwood's personal website

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 16/08/2026

In Edinburgh for the Fringe, saw @alexfranklinhallo.bsky.social with @dizzy.omelette.gay, hilarious, relatable and infected with her energy. Loved it and recommend!

Three women look into a camera taking a selfie

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Luke Allan 🔶 @lukeallanld.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

At long last, the cooler weather has returned – perfect for getting out and about! After yesterday’s advice surgery at Beswick Library, @alangoodld.mcrlibdems.uk and I did a spot of litter picking along Limetree Walk, clearing everything from crisp packets and beer cans to a blanket and trolley… 🛒

Luke in a navy T-shirt and Cllr Alan Good in a grey T-shirt smile for a selfie while holding bags of rubbish collected during a litter pick.

Cllr Alan Good uses a litter picker to collect rubbish from a grassy verge beside Limetree Walk, with a bag of litter in his other hand.

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 13/08/2026

I've just read @rutgerbregman.com's latest book "Moral Ambition" and really blown away by it (despite the awkward use of Hogwarts as an analogy), it's really fired me up and made me really want to find my own group of tight knit people who share the world view and want to put it into action.

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 21/07/2026

Had a scrutiny meeting where the importance of trans people being in the rooms of power matter (#ElectTheDolls), and I was able to push back against a small change that would have accepted a transphobic framing of sex.

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 29/06/2026

Lucy Powell has today replied to this letter, in which she agrees with all the concerns, but stops short of actually committing to any action which will make any sort of difference, and seems content to let the current situation continue to play out. The trans community needs more than words.

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LGBT+ Liberal Democrats 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @pluslibdems.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Exempting broadly-defined "health" services from this bill would be a bit like exempting "fuel" services from a bill about CO2 reduction. There must be no carve-outs or loop holes for abusive practices, in healthcare or otherwise, for this to be anything like what has been promised, for years.

gov.uk

Conversion practices draft bill

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 25/06/2026

Rich is one of the best councillors I know and I'm proud to be supporting his campaign. Let us know if you intend to vote for Rich or otherwise at www.mcrlibdems.uk/votepledge

Chris Northwood and Richard Kilpatrick stand at a road junction in front of a Liberal Democrats branded billboard with a laughing photo of Nigel Farage holding lots of money that says "Ten Years On... Do You Feel Better Off?"

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Christine Jardine @cajardinemp.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Protecting trans young people means listening, understanding and acting with compassion so that every child has the support they need to face the future with confidence and care. www.facebook.com/share/v/193R...

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 23/06/2026

Ten years since the Brexit referendum. It's caused chaos with us about to get a 7th Prime Minister in a decade, it's made everything more expensive and made our lives worse, taking away things we took for granted. We @libdems.org.uk want to fix this and build a closer relationship to Europe

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 16/06/2026

When I was young, I was an active user of what would now be called social media. vBulletin and phpBB boards, IRC channels, LiveJournal... When I get married in a few months time, two friends I met on IRC and still switch between thinking of them as their handles or "real" names will be my bridesmen.

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Lib Dem Peers @libdempeers.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

A government pledge to end IVF discrimination against lesbian couples has reached just four of England's 42 health boards. This Pride Month, @carolinepidgeon.bsky.social, Lib Dem Health and Social Care spokesperson, says equality can't stop at the fertility clinic door.

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 05/06/2026

Last week I was on a podcast which was a little bit out of my comfort zone, talking to a church about my experience of being trans. It was a really interesting conversation, uncomfortable at times but one to try and help people understand, especially people who don't hear from trans people often

youtube.com

Church on Wheels: Being transgender, an honest conversation

YouTube video by Church on the Street Ministries

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 05/06/2026

youtube.com

Church on Wheels: Being transgender, an honest conversation

YouTube video by Church on the Street Ministries

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 03/06/2026

Today I'm at #LDX3 (the lead dev conference) and thought I'd post some insights and takeaways from the talks in this thread!

A selfie in a conference hall holding a conference pass

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 02/06/2026

The idea that a sedated person's lack of opposition can be taken as consent is not okay. This is a deeply disturbing precedent and we must listen to disability rights campaigners when they warn about the removal of important checks and balances.

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 02/06/2026

If you're in Manchester and want to join the fight, I'm doing what I can on the council to ensure Manchester remains a trans inclusive city. If you want to join my campaign team, mcrlibdems.uk/join and please get in touch!

mcrlibdems.uk

Join the Liberal Democrats

Join the Liberal Democrats for a fairer, greener more caring Britain.

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 01/06/2026

Very proud of my friends on @pluslibdems.bsky.social for preparing their briefing to our MPs on the EHRC, and for our MPs to turn up today, having listened to trans people to oppose Labour's trans toilet ban. And shame on Labour for doubling down with this cruel, unworkable plan.

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 30/05/2026

Very pleased to see today that @eddavey.libdems.org.uk has written a letter condemning the EHRC guidance and calling for a review of legislation. I spoke to him a little while ago when he was in Manchester about what the party are doing in this space

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Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 30/05/2026

The new EHRC Code of Practice is not fit for purpose. It does not provide clear guidance or do enough to protect everyone from discrimination, and it is not compatible with longstanding British values. @EdDavey.LibDems.org.uk and @MarieCGoldman.bsky.social have written to Bridget Phillipson. ⬇️

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libdemvoice.org @libdemvoice.org · 23/05/2026

Discrimination is always out there, it’s just the victims that change, so we must fight it wherever and whoever it effects, as Meg Challinor relates… www.libdemvoice.org/the-modern-n...

libdemvoice.org

The modern “No Blacks, no Dogs, no Irish”

I, like many in the LGBT+ community am scared right now. I cried yesterday and today about the uncertainty of my future and my friends’ futures. If you are cis or trans it doesn’t really matter, it’s ...

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 22/05/2026

I've written to the MP for Manchester Central following yesterday's release of the EHRC code. It can not pass silently, and we need to move towards new legislation to fix the mess the Supreme Court ruling caused.

Dear Lucy Powell MP,
I write to you the day after your colleague Bridget Phillipson laid the updated EHRC code of conduct in Parliament. As you will know, Parliament now has a time window in which to debate this code and choose to accept or reject it. But there is no guarantee that it will do so, and if it does, there will not be any trans voices directly heard in that debate.
In trying to interpret the Supreme Court judgement, the EHRC guidance has produced guidance that is muddled and hard to interpret. Legal commentators have argued that it is contradictory and in key cases provides no real guidance on how to act in a way that doesn’t cause discrimination. This is not a standard, uncontroversial statutory instrument legislating on a technical detail, it is one that will directly impact people’s lives. It deserves Parliamentary time.
But even if Parliament debates and rejects the guidance, trans people will still remain in limbo. Only new legislation that restores a definition of sex that matches how people actually live their life, rather than a hard to interpret and enforce technical one that erases people’s identity, will bring back common sense to equality law. A debate on this code of practice must be the start of a process to bring around this change, and this change must include trans voices at every opportunity.
You have previously provided reassurances that you support trans people here in Manchester. Now is the time to put those words in action, and to use your unique position as Deputy Leader of the Labour party to do so. The next few weeks risk enshrining harm for the trans community in statutory guidance. It must not happen silently, and deserves better than being lost in the noise of a proxy leadership battle happening in Makerfield. This must be the turning point to stop the rollback of trans rights in our country.
Although hope is in short supply today for trans people, I await your response with it.
Yours sincerely,

Cllr Chris Northwood (she/her)

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 21/05/2026

As our ability to live freely in society is minimised, Parliament might get a chance to debate how we live our lives, if the government lets them. But there'll be no trans voice in that debate. And already, the media talks over us and erases the tiny bits of nuance in the guidance that does exist.

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Trans+ Solidarity Alliance @transsolidarity.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

🚨 EHRC guidance update: Polite exclusion is still exclusion. This CoP is about as unfair and unworkable as before, with only small tweaks. Clearly many service providers will just go gender neutral to avoid the headache, but this risks pushing trans people yet further out of public life.

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 20/05/2026

Women belong in politics, and especially women from different backgrounds and with different life experiences. I'm pleased to be one of the panellists at this upcoming event!

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 13/05/2026

A side note on the Polanski council tax thing is that a few years ago we had some casework from boaters on the New Islington Marina where the operator wanted to move them away from paying council tax to including business rates in the mooring fee. But you can't get help with paying business rates...

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 12/05/2026

After last week's election there is a bit of admin to get out of the way in the form of an election for positions in the Liberal Democrat group on Manchester City Council! I'm pleased to report that I was re-elected unopposed as Deputy Leader of the group 🎉

Four people stand posing for a photo in the council chamber in Manchester

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 09/05/2026

Difficult day yesterday, losing and not being able to welcome my amazing hard working colleague to the town hall. But in a complete coincidence the LGA have just published my case study in their "Be A Councillor" series www.local.gov.uk/be-councillo...

local.gov.uk

Councillor Chris Northwood

Democracy is strongest when elected representatives actually represent the whole gamut of lived experience in our society.

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Manchester Liberal Democrats @mcrlibdems.uk · 07/05/2026

Polls are now open! Vote Lib Dem today and then help our team by letting us know when you've done so so we minimise the amount of doors we need to knock on www.libdems.org.uk/voted

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LGBT+ Liberal Democrats 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @pluslibdems.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Thanks to @chrisn.xyz and @eddavey.libdems.org.uk for this. It's been a hard year, and we have work to do. But we're in the fight, and we're proud that the @libdems.org.uk are in it with us. Trans rights are human rights. 🧡🏳️‍⚧️

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 31/03/2026

Today is #TransDayOfVisibility. Right now we're being pushed into invisibility, especially in light of the UK's Supreme Court ruling, as we see attacks to push us out of fully participating in society. At the same time too few trans voices are actually present in the rooms making those decisions.

Chris Northwood, a white trans woman, stands in front a Progress flag in an office whilst wearing a hi-vis vest

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TACC @tacc.org.uk · 10/03/2026

Great news today: we were told that @libdems.org.uk have written to the Minister for Women and Equalities regarding the EHRC and Supreme Court ruling. Urging the Minister to appoint a joint committee of cross-party MPs and peers to conduct post-legislative scrutiny of both the

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 09/03/2026

Transphobia is a rot that hurts everyone. Everyone should be safe in our city centre, and this kind of violence for clickbait is unacceptable. Full solidarity with @greenpartyhan.bsky.social and bravo to her for staying resolute against these bullies. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Green Party say 'Hannah Spencer won't be silenced' after Manchester violence

Hannah Spencer, Gorton and Denton's newly-elected MP, was ushered into a police car amid the unfolding chaos

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 06/03/2026

Recovering from surgery has been a major slog, a lot of managing energy levels, listening to my body and discomfort but so far smooth with only a few minor but common complications! (Photo is from the hospital but I'm home now)

Chris takes a selfie, smiling at the camera wearing a hospital gown, in a hospital room

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 27/02/2026

I'm pleased Manchester once again rejected Reform's nasty divisive politics, and with Labour in 3rd again like the last council by-election in Manchester they need to do some soul searching. Congrats to Hannah and the Greens, and I'm proud of Jackie for focusing on local issues in her campaign

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 26/02/2026

There's only one person who'll be able to vote for themselves in today's by election, and she was there at 7am as the polls opened to do so! I'm recovering from surgery so not able to attend the count this evening which given there's no pressure on us might be less stressful but there we go.

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 28/01/2026

If you're able to support the Lib Dem campaign in Gorton & Denton, helping build the fighting fund will be a massive help. www.mcrlibdems.uk/donate/gd

mcrlibdems.uk

Give to the Liberal Democrats

Make a donation and support the Liberal Democrats, the party of community, openness, tolerance, privacy and more.

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Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 03/01/2026

Keir Starmer should condemn Trump’s illegal action in Venezuela. Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate dictator, but unlawful attacks like this make us all less safe. Trump is giving a green light to the likes of Putin and Xi to attack other countries with impunity.

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 01/01/2026

I've written up my end of year reflections, it's struck me how hard 2025 has been but I've found some positives still. I always find this a really cathartic process. chrisn.xyz/reflections-...

chrisn.xyz

Reflections on 2025 – chrisn.xyz

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 01/01/2026

I've written up my end of year reflections, it's struck me how hard 2025 has been but I've found some positives still. I always find this a really cathartic process. chrisn.xyz/reflections-...

chrisn.xyz

Reflections on 2025 – chrisn.xyz

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 25/12/2025

Merry Christmas from us!

Chris & Meg stand in front of a Christmas tree drinking champagne

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Chris Northwood @chrisn.xyz · 18/12/2025

maybe it seems the Levy review was okay? I mean it's not introducing informed consent but it is moving more into primary care and recommending legacy GICs improve and follow the model of the pilots and has some actionable stuff that should free up GICs to actually see new patients faster? [1/2]

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Heather Burns @heatherburnstech.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Genuinely bemused by UK Gov wielding soft power correctly for the new renationalised railway regime by rolling out the DLC for train sims first.

And who said Lisa Nandy gets all the fun? Alexander will be playing a popular train simulator game at London Bridge station which features the new branded GBR trains (due to become available to the public as DLC soon), as well as pointing at some Hornby miniature train sets in the red, white and blue of the new branding. She’ll do a pool clip in the late morning, while Rail Minister Peter Hendy will do interviews with transport correspondents.

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