iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Zoë Crowther

PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Labour’s Holborn & St Pancras win punctures the idea that the Greens are unstoppable on the left But with the Greens having won 33% of the vote, Labour figures know the threat is far from over @zoecrowther.bsky.social @matildamartin.bsky.social & Harriet Symonds report 👇

politicshome.com

Labour Believe They Can Win Back Green Voters After Holborn And St Pancras By-Election

Labour figures believe the Holborn and St Pancras by-election has punctured the idea that Zack Polanski’s Greens are an unstoppable force on the le...

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PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

"There's still this perception that the Green Party are going to protect Britain with healing herbs and herbal tea" The Greens are trying to build economic credibility without losing their radical edge, @matildamartin.bsky.social reports from their conference www.politicshome.com/news/article...

politicshome.com

The Greens Look To Get Serious On The Economy

Green Party figures are wrestling with a question: how can they demonstrate economic credibility while maintaining their radical edge?

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PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Senior London Conservatives have called for a “conversation” about scrapping Sadiq Khan’s free school meal programme if the party wins the mayoral election in 2028 "Nothing’s free – those are taxpayer-funded meals," Emma Best, deputy leader of City Hall Tories, said at the party's conference

politicshome.com

London Tories Call For 'Conversation' On Ending Sadiq Khan's Free School Meal Scheme

Senior London Conservatives have called for a “conversation” about scrapping Sadiq Khan’s free school meal programme if the party wins the mayoral ...

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PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Kemi Badenoch pledged to scrap inheritance tax on homes in her keynote conference speech She also launched a scathing attack on Farage's party, saying Reform MPs were “openly questioning people's identity” based on their race The Tory leader said "we must not let these people take us backwards”

politicshome.com

Kemi Badenoch Pledges To Cut Inheritance Tax If Tories Win Next Election

Kemi Badenoch pledged to scrap inheritance tax on family homes in a conference speech that sought to present the Conservatives as the party of the ...

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

"It effectively meant that all of us in politics, instead of just the Labour Party HQ and No 10 being able to use focus grouping, were able to effectively challenge ourselves in our thinking by being able to do that." Read the full interview here:

politicshome.com

There Is Too Much Westminster 'Doomerism' About Artificial Intelligence, Says AI Minister

The AI minister has said the government must find a middle ground between “boomerism” and “doomerism” on artificial intelligence.

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Narayan said AI focus groups are less effective for capturing the public’s real-time views on fast-moving news "But segmentation and views don't change that much, so on broad-brush questions like how should I think about AI, doing static focus groups with that is very useful."

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The AI minister has used AI-generated synthetic focus groups provided by a private company to test public opinion on AI and other issues The model is trained on data from real-life focus groups

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Matilda Martin @matildamartin.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I've spent the last couple of months looking into how Green-run councils are exploring safer drug consumption facilities/rooms and other harm reduction spaces Campaigners and experts argue they could be introduced without a change in the law if arrangements were made with local police forces👇

politicshome.com

Green Councils Fight For Drug Consumption Rooms

The Green Party’s success in English local elections has put fresh impetus behind efforts to follow Scotland in providing safer drug consumption fa...

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The AI minister said Burnham has repeatedly asked him to prioritise linking regional population health data with genetic data to improve NHS services & attract investment Burnham is reportedly searching for a UK alternative to Palantir for NHS and MOD data system contracts 8/9

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Now a member of Andy Burnham's Cabinet, Narayan said he spends “most of my time convincing the Cabinet, my parliamentary colleagues and the bubble that technology is the way that we can achieve our primary political growth.” 7/9

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

After recent hacking incidents involving OpenAI, Narayan identified Britain's reliance on the US for access to frontier AI models as his “biggest concern” for security His proposed focus is across “testing, defending, and building”, alongside a major uplift in cybersecurity 6/9

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Narayan believes building public consent is crucial but is “not wedded to a singular way of driving that through central diktat” But he stressed: “We are not trying to build a ton of data centres in every postcode. That is not the plan.” 5/9

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

On UK AI infrastructure and data centres, he acknowledged that progress on the five AI Growth Zones hasn't moved as quickly as he wants. “The pace with which I would like that to happen has not been the pace in practice.” 4/9

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The minister wants to bring the British public with him in the bid to accelerate AI sovereignty and adoption But he believes "technology as an industry has not engaged sufficiently with politics and the British public" 3/9

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

But Narayan said he is "sceptical" about putting his own private data into chatbots and mostly limits his own use of AI to professional settings He never uses it to write speeches and does not want to limit his own capacity to think for himself 2/9

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I hosted an in-conversation with AI minister Kanishka Narayan at Labour conference We covered a lot of ground... He said there was too much AI “doomerism” in Westminster And revealed he has used synthetic AI focus groups to gauge public opinion on a range of topics 1/9

Zoe Crowther and Kanishka Narayan speaking at an event hosted by ThinkLabour at Labour Party conference 2026

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Finally arriving at Labour conference after a (very) long journey up from Cornwall I’m chairing two events this year 🤖 Tuesday: a timely in-conversation w/ AI minister Kanishka Narayan 🧬 Monday: a panel w/ Labour MPs & experts on how life sciences can deliver for patients Come and say hi!

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Reposted by Zoë Crowther

PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Lib Dems go soul searching in Brighton While Ed Davey's position as leader is secure, he is under pressure to provide a clearer answer to the question that dominated the party's conference: what, and who, are the Lib Dems for? @zoecrowther.bsky.social & @noahvickers.bsky.social report

politicshome.com

Lib Dems Go Soul Searching In Brighton

Questions about the Liberal Democrats' strategy, message and identity dominated the party's conference in Brighton.

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Being able to name MPs is probably the only hard skill I need for my job tbf

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

You can tell I've been at Lib Dem conference for the last few days... MP Recall 🏛️ I named 60/649 current MPs in five minutes. 🟥 21/403 LAB 🟦 8/118 CON 🟧 17/71 LD 🩵 7/8 REF 🟢 4/5 GRN 🟪 2/2 YP 🟫 1/1 RB Can you beat me? toys.jamesomalley.co.uk/mprecall/

toys.jamesomalley.co.uk

MP Recall — How many MPs can you remember?

Name as many current UK MPs as you can in five minutes.

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Reposted by Zoë Crowther

PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Senior Labour MP @liambyrnemp.bsky.social has warned that the UK must not repeat the mistakes it made with North Sea oil when it comes to the potential wealth generated by AI 👇 Read @zoecrowther.bsky.social's interview with the former Treasury minister

politicshome.com

Senior Labour MP Says UK Must Not Repeat North Sea Oil Mistakes With AI Wealth

Senior Labour MP Liam Byrne has warned that the UK must not repeat the mistakes it made with North Sea oil when it comes to the potential wealth ge...

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

If you could that would be great, thank you!

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This is my third time enlisting the help of social media for tenancy issues over the last few years, I actually despair 😢

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

They keep pushing back our tenancy date, are adding extortionate admin fees for seemingly no reason, and much more!

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Taking off my journo hat for a second to request some help from housing lawyer Bluesky please! I’m dealing with a dodgy letting agent and would v much appreciate speaking to a lawyer who can help my flatmates and I understand our rights Please reply or DM me if you think you can help 🙏

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Another scoop from @bengartside.bsky.social British officials asked US State Department Under Secretary of State Sarah Rogers about how to tackle the far-right She praised the now-abandoned Rwanda scheme to process asylum seekers overseas as a way to combat the radical right

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

So yes, the Council's share of the council tax bill is increasing by nearly 190% But the above explanation is why people's bills are actually *doubling*, not tripling That's enough maths for one day

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

If you're (understandably) confused about the Wandsworth council tax rise numbers It's only the council's half of the council tax bill that's increasing (other half goes to the Mayor) The council's share is going up by 188% so residents will see an increase in their bill of 94%

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Great to see this story picked up by the Telegraph, CityAM, Politico and others this morning Wandsworth Council has confirmed a record increase of 188% in its share of the council tax bill, as was originally scooped by @matildamartin.bsky.social @politicshome.bsky.social

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

@matildamartin.bsky.social got the original scoop that Wandsworth Council were planning the record council tax rise We then reported that the council would launch a formal challenge against the government's local authority funding settlement – with other councils now expected to join them

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The MPs wrote in a letter that they “cannot support a narrative that seeks to rewrite the recent financial history of Wandsworth Council or shift responsibility for damaging choices that are being made by the current Conservative administration”

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Recent funding reforms have decreased the grant funding available to some London councils, including Wandsworth Labour MPs Rosena Allin-Khan, Fleur Anderson & Marsha de Cordova have told the Tory council leader that they won't support the council's challenge against these cuts

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

EXC: Wandsworth’s Labour MPs have refused to back Tory-run Wandsworth Council’s challenge against govt cuts to local authority funding The borough is planning a record council tax rise of at least 160% with multiple figures (including higher figures) considered, according to multiple sources

politicshome.com

Labour MPs Refuse To Back Tory Wandsworth Council Against Government Funding Cuts

Wandsworth’s three Labour MPs have refused to back the Conservative-run council’s formal challenge against the government’s cuts to local authority...

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

MPs have voted against the assisted dying bill – 286 against vs 270 in favour The vote means that the issue is unlikely to be revisited by Parliament before the next general election

politicshome.com

MPs Vote Down Assisted Dying Bill

MPs have voted against a bill that would have allowed terminally ill adults in England and Wales to seek medical assistance to end their lives.

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Reposted by Zoë Crowther

PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 🪴 Ahead of Green Party conference, The Rundown is joined by @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social, @russellwarfield.bsky.social, @moreincommonuk.bsky.social’s Louis O'Geran & @zoecrowther.bsky.social to discuss the party's future & Zack Polanski's chances of becoming an MP 🎧 pod.fo/e/5fb012

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Reposted by Zoë Crowther

Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

NEW: My @thehousemag.bsky.social cover i/v with Lib Dem leader @eddavey.libdems.org.uk In the face of criticism from within his own party, he tells me the Lib Dems are ready for govt & he's the "most experienced" leader to take them into a hung Parliament & prevent a Reform/Tory coalition 1/8

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Davey continues: "When I apply that to ideology and policy, I want us to be seen as a party that really cares about people and that caring is missing from our political dialogue at the moment. It never used to be.” Read the full interview here 👇 8/8

politicshome.com

Ed Davey: In A Hung Parliament, I'd Be The Most Experienced Leader

Ed Davey thinks his party is better placed than ever before to exploit Britain’s fractured politics. The Lib Dem leader tells Zoe Crowther his part...

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Modelling himself on his political hero/former boss Paddy Ashdown, Davey describes his version of “gritty liberalism” “If you’re a gritty fighter, you take on adversity, you learn from that... I’m quite an empathetic person, having had that experience as a carer." 7/8

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

At this year’s conference, taxation will be firmly on Davey’s agenda “I don’t think you can tackle the cost of living crisis unless you address the fact that we are so overtaxed in our country now." 6/8

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The Lib Dem leader insists his party is leading on being the most anti-Trump and wants to lead on being an anti-racist party "The moral responsibility I’ve talked about beating Reform is about beating that racist element that we’re seeing in our politics.” 5/8

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

While Davey says he "agrees" with calls for the party to win more northern urban seats, his priority remains winning in Tory heartlands “The vast bulk of seats we can take at the next election are off the Conservatives, and if we don’t take them, Reform will take them" 4/8

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Despite fears from some of his Lib Dem colleagues that his stunts make the party seem unserious, Davey insists they will continue “I don’t think we’d have as many MPs as we do if we hadn’t done the visuals that we did last election... So, we’ll continue to do the visuals" 3/8

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

“The chances of a hung parliament are larger than I have known… and in that I’d be the most experienced leader," Davey tells me His goal is to prevent a right-wing coalition govt and get the Lib Dems into some form of power “That Tory-Reform axis is truly frightening." 2/8

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Richard Tice has responded to this story by tweeting: "Another journo making stuff up" Harriet Symonds, @matildamartin.bsky.social and I all spoke to business people for this story. Needless to say, we obviously stand by our reporting and did not "make stuff up"

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Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Business reps told @politicshome.bsky.social they were "unimpressed" with Reform's engagement at conference One business source complained that it was a "shitshow", while another said: "If that's how they run a conference day for business, I don't know how they're going to run an entire country."

politicshome.com

Business Leaders Left Disappointed By Reform UK Conference After “Disaster” Dinner And Donations Row

Business leaders and stakeholders have told PoliticsHome that they have been left frustrated by Reform UK's annual party conference in Birmingham.

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Noah Vickers @noahvickers.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

NEW: A survey by @unitetheunion.bsky.social finds that 7 in 10 MPs' staffers have dug into their savings or used credit to cover everyday expenses in the last year as their wages don't stretch far enough. Some report going without meals or hot showers at home: www.politicshome.com/news/article...

politicshome.com

MPs' Staff 'Struggling To Survive' With 'Stagnating' Pay, Union Warns

Parliamentary staffers are being squeezed by stagnating wages, damaging their mental health and forcing many to “cut back on essentials”, according...

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