Tom Watson

Author, Chair of UK Music Management: [email protected]

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

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[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

And immensely proud of Claire.

[Claire Hughes @clairehughesBA]

In October 2025, I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.

Thanks to our amazing NHS, I’m now cancer-free.

I’m sharing my story to encourage everyone, but especially younger women, to check their chest regularly.

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

So proud of this guy. ❤️

[Kevin Brennan @KevinBrennanMP]

Ringing the bell at Velindre for last radiotherapy session - thank you all the wonderful NHS staff! Lads over 50 get yourselves checked with a simple blood test to catch any prostate cancer early and keep living it large!

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

Love.

[Anneliese Midgley MP @anneliese_midge]

Throwback to my DJ days. 🎧🎶

So many nights in venues like this showed me just how important pubs, clubs and live music venues are. They're the beating heart of our communities.

Delighted they'll be getting a 20% business rates cut from April to help them keep going strong.

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

As Muriel Spark wrote:

“She wasn’t a person to whom things happen. She did all the happenings”

[UK Prime Minister @10DowningStreet]

Anneliese Midgley has been appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip). She will be a member of Cabinet.

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

What terribly sad news. He had a curious journalistic mind and intellectual decency. My thoughts and prayers are with Ed’s family, friends and colleagues.

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

Broadcaster and journalist Edward Stourton dies aged 68 https://t.co/yyUy10cNaZ

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

Excellent to see @RobertoNeri47 join the House of Lords.

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

Bookworm at the centre. In every crisis ask yourself “what would Muriel Spark do?”

[Lucy Fisher @LOS_Fisher]

The former Britpop stalwart at the heart of Burnham’s machine

Anneliese Midgley is one of the ‘strong Northern power women’ who Burnham credited for his Makerfield win

She’s now advising her third Labour leader in a row...

How has this adept political shape-shifter survived senior roles with both Corbyn and Starmer to become a key influence w/ Burnham?

My @FT profile w/ @PickardJE

https://t.co/D6uyOL3dOY

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

At best, it’s a negotiation. At worst, it’s a crucible.

[Lee Cain @MrLeeCain]

A reminder for everyone in Westminster - the grid is NOT strategic comms 🙄

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

@reid6peter @RachelReevesMP He’s right about VAR too!

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

This is an excellent email from Andy to Labour MPs. If these changes are followed through, they could transform the relationship between Government and the PLP, and create a better culture of listening, discipline and delivery.

[Patrick Maguire @patrickkmaguire]

Full text of (long) Burnham email to Labour MPs on the new regime

- Cabinet expected to “prioritise PLP engagement”
- Whips office as “HR department”
- No more legislation presented as “fait accomplit” by ministers and officials

(1/2)

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

It would be insane to offer anyone a ministerial job until Andy is PM. All MPs should know this.

[Steven Swinford @Steven_Swinford]

The latest episode of The State of It with @patrickkmaguire

* Andy Burnham said to have been taken aback by overt pitches from ministers for jobs. People are being very direct. He is giving nothing away - this is his point of maximum power and he knows it

* Burnham remains genuinely undecided about what he will do. It's fuelling paranoia. Ed Miliband allies started worrying that Lou Haigh could become his chancellor. Miliband himself does not know his fate

* @patrickkmaguire on 'Burnham magnanimity syndrome' - at the moment everyone is rowing in behind him. But there are only so many jobs to go round. There will be lots of losers. Keeping this coalition of MPs happy is going to be hugely challenging

* 'One day soon this period of maximum leverage and maximum sycophancy will be over and there will be losers from the choices that Burnham makes'

* There are concerns about the old boys network from the Brown era dominating once again. Burnham, Purnell, Miliband, Miliband, Balls... Women's PLP watching closely. Brown appointed what was then the youngest cabinet in history, and it means many of them have unfinished business

* Allies of Burnham point to the fact he has an almost entirely female team around him - Lou Haigh, Anneliese Midgley, his putative No 10 operation. They say this will be a balanced cabinet on every level

* The briefings against David Miliband as foreign secretary have begun - people pointing to strong endorsement of international aid at a time it is being cut to fund defence. Argue it makes him less suited for the role

https://t.co/l0KBv2ut3F

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

This is a huge number of nominations for a challenger candidate.

[Simon Dubbins @SimonDubbins67]

Brilliant news! I am delighted to announce our campaign has received 342 nominations and I have now formally accepted nomination.

There is no precedent in our union for a campaign for change to receive such depth of support from every corner of our union.

This is a fantastic achievement and I would like to thank every branch which has supported and built our campaign.

This is our opportunity to win a new start for our union and we will take it.

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

Remind us.

[Michael Gove @michaelgove]

There’s a lot to admire about @bphillipsonMP but when I recall what some Labour folk used to say about education secretaries between 2010 and 2024 I do wonder if this is her best ever intervention

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

This professional journalist worked in the Parliamentary lobby when Andy was a Cabinet minister and MP for 16 years.

[Christopher Hope📝 @christopherhope]

It is extraordinary that our Prime Minister has lost his job (probably) to a local politician from Manchester who has been a MP for four days, who did not stand on the 2024 general election manifesto, and is not very well known outside of the North West of England. More analysis at @GBNEWS.

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

This is appallingly insensitive.

[Royal Mail @RoyalMail]

Moving home?

Remember to redirect your mail ✉️ https://t.co/DgDFRfZ1Hk

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

In less intense times: My good friend Lord Brennan of Canton must be wondering if Andy is putting the band back together. No heritage acts here though.

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

Other than David Attenborough, Andy Burnham is the only Briton who could win a by-election for Labour right now. Well done Andy and his excellent campaign team.

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

The more I see this guy, the more I think it’s a tragedy that he’s not still a minister. I sincerely hope he finds a way back.

[Al Carns @AlistairCarns]

My resignation speech to the @HouseofCommons today ⬇️

[Tom Watson @tom_watson]

Happy 40th birthday.
https://t.co/fINYZeDabH