Janet John

[Prof Katherine Sleeman @kesleeman]

On the day that Lauren Edwards MP reintroduced the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a reminder that none of these problems have been addressed 👇

[Outspoken Women @women_outspoken]

VV important Emp Trib coming up on Monday, scheduled for a 4-week (!) trial in Leeds. Tempest v Environment Agency/DEFRA/Rural Payments Agency. It'll test whether any manifestation of GC beliefs in the Civil Service is allowed. 4 weeks of Jane Russell...
https://t.co/1awJNRIKRC

[Martin Murray @martinpmurray]

There has been a lot of commentary, and unfortunately, quite some politicisation about Staffordshire libraries in recent days.

Let me first make one point very clear:

No books have been removed from your library shelves.
No authors have been pulled from the catalogue.
No titles have been placed off-limits.
Every resident of this county can still walk into their library, borrow what they want, reserve what they want, request what they want — exactly as before.

Anyone saying otherwise is not telling you the truth.

Our new Staffordshire County Council Libraries Strategy 2026–2028 will focus on core services and will no longer use taxpayer-funded resources, sites and communications channels to promote any particular group, cause or identity.
That applies consistently to every group and every cause.

Your library services belong to everyone in Staffordshire equally. They are not there to promote or privilege particular groups, causes or identities, however well-intentioned. As such, Pride events will no longer be promoted in our public libraries.

A library in Staffordshire should feel like it belongs to a pensioner in Rugeley, a devoutly religious person in Cannock, a child in Lichfield, a farmer in the Moorlands or a student in Stafford, equally and without bias of any kind.

Individuals, charities, businesses and community organisations remain entirely free to organise and promote any lawful cause they choose. We are not seeking to prevent that.

However, Staffordshire's public resources will no longer be used to promote any cause or campaign in a way that prevents us from treating every resident equally, without fear or favour.

I must add, we are investing £5 million to keep all of your 43 libraries open and to turn them into vibrant community hubs for every resident, in every community. Cllr Hayley Coles, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for libraries, has worked tirelessly on this policy over the past 12 months, scrutinising existing arrangements and helping develop a new library strategy that puts Staffordshire residents first. Cllr Coles' focus has been on ensuring our libraries remain relevant, while delivering genuine value for money and reflecting the priorities of the communities they serve.

I will be very clear: this is not about silencing any group of people. It is about reasonable limits to make sure publicly funded services remain balanced, fair and suitable for all users, at all times, as well as a good use of taxpayers' money.

Our libraries exist for everyone in Staffordshire.

Cllr Martin Murray

[Lord (David) Alton @DavidAltonHL]

British Geriatrics Society responds to Bill's reintroduction: and says it has "significant concerns that the bill does not contain sufficient safeguards for older people, the group most likely to be impacted by a change in the law.
"Most deaths (70%) in England and Wales are among older people, but the original bill contained no specific safeguards to protect them from abuse or coercion, including societal pressures that may make them feel a burden. The bill also lacked specific provisions to recognise the complex health and social care needs of older people living with multiple long-term conditions, frailty or dementia, nor did it include requirements for a comprehensive needs assessment.
"We are alarmed by the Government’s interpretation of the bill’s definition of terminal illness, which could significantly broaden eligibility for assisted dying, particularly among older people. Government advice has been that a person would be eligible for an assisted death if they have multiple conditions which, if taken individually, would not be considered terminal, but when considered together would result in death within six months. This interpretation will include many older people living with multiple and complex health conditions, where predicting life expectancy is known to be fraught with difficulty and often inaccurate."

[Julie Bindel @bindelj]

Pride in Surrey, the real reason it's been cancelled this year (link to full podcast in reply). Got a comment, @ZoeFranklinLD? After all, you chucked me and my producer out of the event last year because we were asking awkward questions...

[The Secret Barrister 🦋 @BarristerSecret]

Putting aside this case, everybody should read this report by @nickwallis.

The appalling, chaotic conditions he describes are all too familiar in the magistrates’ courts.

This is how @DavidLammy wishes for serious crimes - carrying up to 2 years in prison - to be tried.

[Nikki da Costa @nmdacosta]

Then there's the implementation. The former Attorney General for Victoria says the system is "designed for the regulator to find out nothing, investigate nothing and report nothing that could suggest that assisted dying has been anything other than an unblemished success" 2/

[Harriet Sergeant @HarrietSergeant]

Former Oldham social worker explains in the Times today why Preston was left to die. Social workers’ “worst” fear is a complaint they are, “racist, homophobic or prejudiced. Then not being backed by management. No one wants to make a report, receive a complaint and get hung out to dry.” Ridiculous priorities. Their worst fear should be a child dying in terror and agony.

[💚🤍💜Hoardosaurus 💚🤍💜 @coccinellanovem]

@Plaid_Cymru @RhunapIorwerth Is banning a feminist group from your conference - because like the Supreme Court they don’t think that some men are women - your idea of ‘bringing communities together’?

Do women in Wales who disagree with your policy to make single-sex spaces & services mixed-sex not count?

[REDUXX @reduxx]

UK: Two trans-identified males were in court for separate sex offenses yesterday, with British media referring to them both as "women."

Jessica Smith tried to meet a 12-year-old for sexual abuse, while Paula Stanton masturbated in front of female nurses.

https://t.co/EJPKFk9lx7

[Mia Hughes @_CryMiaRiver]

In Canada, if women and girls object to the likes of "Paula" in their intimate spaces, or indeed if anyone dares express lack of belief in his sacred womanliness, they're violating his human rights and risk being dragged through our human rights kangaroo courts.

[Jo Bartosch @jo_bartosch]

Latest on Welsh politicians enabling violent trans activists. With thanks to @WRNWales https://t.co/vPY4CDVV0y

[Maya Forstater @MForstater]

The City of London is defying the Supreme Court in pledging to carry on with allowing men into the women's bathing pond.

Which men? City bosses say they will leave that to the "common sense" of frontline staff.

Lawful...? We'll see them in court in November.

[Disability Rights @TalkThatTalk_K]

The rest of the country isn’t grateful, Claire. The HoL did their jobs and you’re circumventing the law. All to give the government a cheaper option than palliative care. And no, the country doesn’t support this bill. Only old polls conducted by Dignity in Dying (the ones who poured millions into getting this done for the government) actually suggest that.

A deeply dangerous bill that intends to remove safeguards in the coming years once it’s through the door is being forced AGAIN and refuses to ensure safeguarding.
Anyone who gives a damn about people being able to make a decision on AD without coercion being a factor, will oppose this bill.
Unfortunately, many will still back this bill because it’s the cheaper solution.

They would rather let you, your loved ones suffer to the point of asking for AD rather than fund proper palliative care. That’s already coercion. It’s also cheaper to people being on benefits. In a country that let a mass disabling virus let rip - this is a cost saving bill.

But we knew this was the agenda since the committee stage when we first heard them vote away safeguards for non terminal disabilities. No one needs AD for autism, Down’s syndrome, anorexia or diabetes. But that’s what they voted on. Any safeguards in place to get this bill through the door is smoke and mirrors to allow state sanctioned death via the back door.
It must fail. This bill is completely unsafe for all. Even those they’re hiding this appalling bill behind. They’re using these terminally ill people to get this through. They do not care what happens with them at all.

[🟥Hackney Dr. of Terfery @NoShirleyNo]

People suddenly very concerned for children’s wellbeing. Didn’t hear a peep about puberty blockers, drag queen story hours, breast binders or girls having to share toilets with boys and losing their sports.

[LGB Alliance @AllianceLGB]

We look forward to a time when Amnesty returns to its core charitable purpose of promoting and defending human rights rather than promoting and defending self-harm.
Supposedly ‘cute’ pictures under a pink and blue flag should not be used to disguise the brutal reality of this unevidenced experimentation on vulnerable young women.

[Sonia Sodha @soniasodha]

2. To the unnamed Labour MP recounting a female constituent who identifies as trans and says she’d rather die than be on a women’s ward… do they think a woman’s request to be on a male ward should be honoured even when it creates horrific risks like this?

[Rosie Duffield MP @RosieDuffield1]

@jan_murray @barrydistrict This is so bloody unspeakably ridiculous. Everyone with eyes can see this is a sick old man with a joke of a wig on his idiot head. The infinite stupidity and woman-hate of calling this fool a 'she' when not a single actual woman has ever behaved like this... #NotOurCrimes

[Jennifer Thetford-Kay @JenKteach]

Sex Matters is right to challenge the NPCC and BTP guidance. Women in police custody and prisons have the right to be strip-searched by biological women; not men who identify as women.
"Consent" or GRCs do not override PACE or basic dignity and safety. Biological sex matters for intimate searches. Full stop. LIVE TWEETS below:

[TransgenderTrend @Transgendertrd]

Amnesty's message to vulnerable young women: get your healthy breasts surgically removed and you can be one of the cool crowd too.

Amnesty bookshop in Kentish Town uses this dangerous and irresponsible messaging to celebrate Pride.

With a backdrop of the trans flag of course.