Simon Bird

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

Callum Wilson exclusive: "I was that child once" The England and Newcastle striker volunteers at Gateshead foodbank and recalls the days when his family needed help. New @TrussellTrust stats show 3m parcels given out in last year, up 37pc #nufc https://t.co/7t1bBnYJWv

[Ian Herbert @ianherbs]

Jokes, memories and stories, many told against himself. The inimitable Kevin Keegan. Superb piece by @SimonBird_, in the audience to hear him in Newcastle. https://t.co/K9JDlKnMog

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

@Davy_Craig @PeteGravesTV FYI and for others Pete knew I was attending, (was going to get me a ticket but I got my own) and reporting for the Mail to give a update on KK’s health and how he is still full of life, doing well, and receiving so much love from fans. And it was great. Recommend others go

[Craig Hope @CraigHope_DM]

🚨 Kevin Keegan: "I've got stage four cancer. It's been a really tough time - I need to say goodbye to Newcastle United properly"

👇 @SimonBird_ reports from a room full of "mutual love & adulation" for King Kev on Tyneside last night...

https://t.co/9Qis9jcy1e

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

Great to see Keegan looking so well and upbeat. Expertly compared by @PeteGravesTV

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

Kevin Keegan: On stage last night, an entertainer, a serious cancer diagnosis, still spreading humour and warmth. No better therapy than a room full of mutual love and adulation. A piece for Daily Mail Sport #NUFC #LFC

[Daily Mail Sport @MailSport]

Kevin Keegan: I've got stage four cancer. It's been a really tough time - I need to say goodbye to Newcastle United properly... just promise not to build a statue of me at St James' Park until I'm gone https://t.co/TEmQCrNIvz

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

Absolute common sense here… but why is/are the PM, challengers, Labour backbenchers, afraid to make the argument? Stop being comfort zone, give away, populists and tackle the problems. Eventually you’ll get credit.

[Tim Shipman @ShippersUnbound]

Further to Blair. Literally every honest sensible person in all the main parties privately agrees with all these propositions:

- welfare spending is too high and is throwing good people on the scrapheap
- defence spending is too low
- the triple lock is unsustainable
- without cheap energy we cannot exploit the AI revolution
- we should be investing in EVERY form of energy: renewables, nuclear and the North Sea
- migration needs to be controlled to boost social cohesion and because the boats look like a huge failure of the state
- any new relationship with the EU will be imposed on us until we are stronger and cannot involve the closeness some desire without freedom of movement
- we are deeply embedded with America in ways which the public does not understand and cannot be told and however joyous it makes us feel to hate Trump, disengagement at the deep state level is not only wholly unrealistic but also undesirable
- Whitehall needs a total overhaul so specific project expertise and political appointees can be brought in quickly

Blair basically says all that.

The one thing he doesn’t say and which the same group of people agree on is this and it’s something Blair left behind:

- judges and quangos have too much power, are unaccountable and without redressing the balance in favour of parliament it is very difficult to do anything big fast
- the bare minimum that needs to change in this regard is to reform judicial review and planning law so we can put building and economic growth ahead of newts and NIMBYs

None of that above really ought to be up for discussion. It is all common sense but not one of our politicians will publicly say all of it

Whatever you think of Blair, engage with what he’s saying not how he makes you feel. The bare minimum we should expect from any leader is that they have an analysis of the current situation and a plan to deal with it which is as coherent and realistic as his intervention. Pretty well every critique I’ve read so far has failed to meet this requirement.

Over to Andy and Keir and Kemi and Nigel and Zack and all the others

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

And here is the sound of Sunderland qualifying for Europe. The noisiest day I can remember in 25 years at SoL

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

Sunderland in Europe for first time since 1973. Incredible day of noise, connection and passion at Stadium of Light. Regis le Bris for manager of season? Report for @TimesSport @thetimes #safc
Enjoy this article for free.
https://t.co/EVNtQRgDZt

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

Incredible and brilliant from Sunderland… 7th place, Europa League. A year to the days since promotion via play offs. Blew Chelsea away with hunger and passion on and off pitch. Huge celebrations here at SoL!

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

@AyoCaesar A bloke walking ahead of me on my dog walk randomly drew on one on a parked car in Newcastle recently. I followed him as he changed his coat donned a cap and shoplifted (unchallenged, despite me warning the staff)) in Sainsbury’s. We live among some scum

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

@ShippersUnbound Can Labour MPs explain their own ideas/direction of travel when calling for PM to go.. Cut welfare… no, rebelled against that. Immigration? Prickly for left. Spend more?… already paying £100m to service debt. Tax more? did that, killed jobs. = Harder choices than sacking the PM

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

@chriswardmp You are correct and a rare example of a loyal MP. Months taken up on leadership fighting instead of governing

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

Questions https://t.co/EZuZ9ghE4L

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

Kim Hellberg ‘anger’ at Southampton ‘cheating’ as rival Tonda Eckert walks out of pressa under pressure and refusing to answer key charges in Spygate II in dynamite row in @EFL play offs https://t.co/H7IylGUEoj

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

More to come from Spygate after dynamite post match press conferences here at the Riverside but first take from Boro 0-0 Southampton here: https://t.co/H7IylGUEoj

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

Question now is: will Labour even win ONE council seat in Newcastle? Single figures would be bad but can’t see where they win looking at the results coming in. Reform biggest party? Perhaps Libs and Greens together get the numbers?

[Daniel Holland @danhollandnews]

Newcastle City Council as it stands (9 of 26 wards declared):
Green 11
Lib Dems 7
Reform UK 6
Independent 3

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

@manxpie86 Never forgetting NUFC squad had a viral conjunctivitis outbreak in ‘04, and Siem de jong’s lung collapsed in ´15. Cutting edge bad luck.

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

@d_gray_writer @ChrisW1001 A lovely spot btw.

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

@ChrisW1001 @d_gray_writer Niche, but excellent

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

@JeckyNorth @Scotlandteam Half the session at half the pace of old! Still hurts

[Simon Bird @SimonBird_]

Women’s rugby is thriving. Well done @Scotlandteam u18 at 6 Nations last week, so close to 3 wins! Fast paced, powerful and developing skills in a very professional set up. Esp proud of daughter Katherine