Emma Lee

Perimenopausal woman. PTSD. SEN Mum. Carer. Socialist. General Practitioner.

[Saul Staniforth @SaulStaniforth]

Falconer: "Success in Ukraine looks like.. a victory for intl law. It is an absolutely vital principle that.. Russia cannot simply gobble up pieces of territory it thinks its got some connection to"

So why are we arming Israel? Why aren't we arming Palestine to help them resist?

[The Heartlands Tribune @HeartlandsTrib]

It is a rare thing for the editor of the Daily Mirror, Kevin Maguire, to speak a truth that echoes the pages of The Heartlands Tribune. Yet on Good Morning Britain, even the mainstream media found itself forced to state the obvious.

Discussing the government’s commitment and the order from Trump to ratchet up defence spending, targeting 3% to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, an extra £40 billion in today's money, Maguire laid bare the brutal trade-off:

"If your choice is to spend a lot more on warfare, you're going to have less on welfare or council houses or health or education filling potholes, whatever you want."

The case for the crown, fairly stated, argues that we live in a dangerous world requiring a massive commitment to deterrence. They tell us that without a militarised posture and total compliance with NATO spending targets, national security is compromised. Grant all of it. Assume the absolute worst-case scenario peddled by the hawks in Whitehall.

The reality is that's a useful bogeyman for the bottomless pit.

First, the threat itself is fundamentally mismanaged to justify the price tag. As Maguire noted, and as GCHQ and intelligence figures have conceded, Russia’s conventional military capability has been severely bled dry in Ukraine. It holds less capacity today as an invading force against NATO territory than at almost any point in recent history. Yet, every defence budget requires a bogeyman. Without a perpetual threat lurking on the horizon, the arms lobby cannot justify its subscription model.

Second, where does the money actually go? Westminster treats the Ministry of Defence as a sacred cow, exempt from the fiscal discipline forced upon hospitals, schools, and local councils. Public finances are throwing billions into a black hole, and nothing functional comes out. Despite decades of record funding, our conventional armed forces remain notoriously under-equipped, plagued by procurement scandals and breathtaking wastage. Former ministers resign, parliamentary committees issue scathing reports on procurement failures, and yet the public is asked to throw good money after bad.

The argument still leads straight back to austerity.

If ministers keep their self-imposed fiscal rules, refuse to tax wealth properly and insist on meeting ever-higher NATO targets, the money has to come from somewhere. That means fewer homes, weaker councils, longer waits, deeper cuts and another raid on the working class.

Real security is a council house, a GP appointment, more nurses, more doctors, a functioning school, decent social care and a wage that covers the bills.

The real #welfare state now props up defence contractors, private arms firms and their shareholders. Everyone else gets austerity.

[lan Byrne MP @IanByrneMP]

The number 96 has been tattooed on my wrist since 2015.

It reminds me every day that I was one of the lucky ones who came home from Hillsborough.

Today, standing in Parliament to speak as the Hillsborough Law passed was one of the proudest and most emotional moments of my life.

For the 97. For their families. For every campaigner who never gave up.

This is your legacy.

#HillsboroughLaw
#JFT97

[Cold War Steve @coldwarsteve]

@RobertJenrick

[Jeremy Corbyn @jeremycorbyn]

I am gravely concerned by reports of a severe deterioration in the condition of Dr. Abu Safiyah.

We reiterate our demands for his release, along with all other doctors being held without charge.

[NHS Million @NHSMillion]

Does anyone know why life saving air ambulances have to rely on funding from charities

But helicopters for the Royal Family are paid for by the tax payer?

[Saul Staniforth @SaulStaniforth]

"The hardest decision we had to make in completing this report was.. not to name the Palestinian children, whose deaths, injuries & suffering we describe.. we didn't name them because we feared the consequences for their families"

He means Israel would go after them too.

[liam cunningham @liamcunningham1]

This is all he will be remembered for. A human rights advocate who turned into a genocide advocate.
He has outlived his usefulness.
Watch closely where he ends up.
The cushy position will be his little token of thanks from the Establishment. Blair territory. Morally despicable.

[Liam Nissan™ @theliamnissan]

Yup

[Neena Jha @DrNeenaJha]

No words needed 💔

[Ounka @OunkaOnX]

Richard Burgon just exposed the most glaring double standard in British policy

"Imagine if this weekend in London there was a Russian real estate event selling Ukrainian land. The government would ban it immediately.

Instead, we have an Israeli real estate event openly advertising the illegal sale of land in occupied Palestinian territories. The government recognizes Palestine. Why isn't this banned?"

[Melanie Ward MP @melanie_ward]

Funding illegal Israeli settlements is not charitable activity. It is extremist activity.

Working with Israeli human researchers, I found at least 32 UK charities who have sent £28 million to settlements in recent years.

There’s a likely taxpayer subsidy of at least £5 million

[Jeremy Corbyn @jeremycorbyn]

What an absolute disgrace. A FIFA-certified referee being denied entry to the United States purely because he is Somali.

The World Cup is meant to bring people together. This is racism, plain and simple. Shameful.

https://t.co/rpSgTmmPU4

[Richard Burgon MP @RichardBurgon]

The ‘Great Israeli Real Estate Event’ is to be held in London this Sunday.

This disgraceful event will involve the sale of land stolen from Palestinians in illegal Israeli settlements.

Today, I called for the Government to ban this event.

[Carla Denyer @carla_denyer]

Following my doctor’s advice, I am taking some time away from work for health reasons.

My office will be functioning as usual and my staff are there to support all my constituents who need help, so please don't hesitate to get in touch.

See my full statement below.

[Zarah Sultana MP @zarahsultana]

Please retweet.