Former adviser to Labour leaders, former chief of staff to the Mayor of London. Director of winning Labour leadership campaigns. Socialist. Political campaigns II writing and analysis II consultancy https://linktr.ee/simonfletcherhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mrrs2lvfkc2l“Against rearmament” - by me for Tribune https://tribunemag.co.uk/2026/07/against-rearmament29 Jul 2026 11:10 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrrs2lvfkc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3montkq53fs2gFive points after Makerfield. New by me, free to read https://modernleft.substack.com/p/labours-choices-after-makerfield19 Jun 2026 17:11 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3montkq53fs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mon6ennlec27. @andyburnham.bsky.social’s huge victory in the Makerfield byelection built a coalition that derailed Reform, who should have expected to win. The majority is easily clear of the Restore vote, giving Farage no excuse. A very important defeat for Farage, Lowe and the right as a whole19 Jun 2026 10:52 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mon6ennlec27https://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mo77jntzlc2uGood to spend time talking to residents in Orrell today. After all the hate of the last few days, inflicting a defeat on the right in the Makerfield by-election would put an obstacle in their path. Vote Andy Burnham, stop Reform. @andyburnham.bsky.social13 Jun 2026 21:35 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo77jntzlc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mnmijumnrs2uPolling of trade union members this week showed Labour and Reform neck and neck. I’ve written about this - on both the possible weaknesses of the poll itself but also implications. https://modernleft.substack.com/p/how-far-has-labour-shed-union-members06 Jun 2026 10:56 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnmijumnrs2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mlku727vbs2ohttps://bylinetimes.com/2026/05/11/keir-starmer-leadership-labour-party-challenge-andy-burnham-angela-rayner-wes-streeting/ ‘Labour’s Leader Must Change Not Just Because Keir Starmer Is Unpopular, but Because of What Made Him Unpopular’ Latest for @bylinetimes.bsky.social11 May 2026 08:29 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlku727vbs2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mlepuw6dm22fThe Labour right’s strategy is devastating Labour. https://modernleft.substack.com/p/the-labour-rights-strategy-is-devastating08 May 2026 21:55 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlepuw6dm22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3ml3xyd7mkk22The @fbunational.bsky.social General Secretary Steve Wright says in the fire service “with our wages and also with the lack of funding and investment in public services, it’s just been austerity mark II” and calls for the unions to be heard. Interview: https://modernleft.substack.com/p/after-the-elections-what-next-for05 May 2026 10:26 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml3xyd7mkk22https://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mhiikcwfek2pI recently took part in the @londonassembly.bsky.social podcast series reflecting on 25 years of the Greater London Authority. With Len Duvall I discussed Ken Livingstone’s time as mayor and his administration’s legacy. On YouTube here and also Spotify. https://youtu.be/atqn8qowkbY?si=PUMkJRSpqmKTID_020 Mar 2026 12:14 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhiikcwfek2phttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mgxnd5w7kc2fExclusive on my Substack - voting projections show Labour is set for historic losses in Tyne & Wear at this May’s local elections, according to new modelling. It shows Labour losing control of all four councils up for all-out elections in May. Full details: https://modernleft.substack.com/p/exclusive-labour-facing-historic13 Mar 2026 19:24 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgxnd5w7kc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mftfqix7o22xLabour: third in a ‘two horse race’ https://open.substack.com/pub/modernleft/p/third-in-a-two-horse-race?r=povin&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web27 Feb 2026 09:33 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mftfqix7o22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mejgxw5qrc2uI now have a public Instagram, maybe see you over there too: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUla5Y-DFp3/?igsh=MTBiYjFrbHpidDVibA==10 Feb 2026 17:03 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mejgxw5qrc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3me2nogpupc2mLabour’s leadership brought Mandelson in and clung to him because of a shared political project. The Mandelson crisis is a crisis of that project. By me: https://modernleft.substack.com/p/the-mandelson-crisis-is-a-crisis04 Feb 2026 19:53 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3me2nogpupc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mdxwzyqis22gBruce Springsteen’s song responding to the murders of Renée Good and Alex Pretti was the highest-selling song in the USA last week. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/bruce-springsteen-anti-ice-streets-of-minneapolis-charts-1236171290/03 Feb 2026 18:02 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdxwzyqis22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3mbyrjjukjs2hLate sharing it, but this by @jemgilbert.bsky.social from just before Christmas is good on the mismatch between the scale of the economic and social challenges in Britain, and the policy programme of the Labour leadership. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/12/why-is-keir-starmer-so-unpopular09 Jan 2026 15:06 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbyrjjukjs2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3ma6aqtpup224Excellent by @fisherandrew79.bsky.social on Wes Streeting and BMA - a very welcome corrective to all the boneheaded denunciations of resident doctors. https://bsky.app/profile/fisherandrew79.bsky.social/post/3ma66xw6wm22d [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Dec 2025 08:32 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3ma6aqtpup224https://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3ma2gts36fk2rBritish and European militarism is out of control: “To serve. And if necessary, to fight. And more families will know what sacrifice for our nation means." https://news.sky.com/story/uks-sons-and-daughters-need-to-be-ready-to-fight-amid-growing-russian-threat-says-head-of-armed-forces-1348386015 Dec 2025 20:10 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3ma2gts36fk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3m7qag4hews2kMPs of all parties should be pressed to sign this motion tabled by @johnmcdonnellmp.bsky.social calling on the Justice Secretary to intervene urgently to ensure the Palestine hunger strikers’ treatment is humane and their human rights are upheld. https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/64800/palestine-action-hunger-strike11 Dec 2025 18:48 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7qag4hews2khttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3m4jnsnrnbk2aI went to see Emma-Jean Thackray at the Glasshouse tonight and it was outstanding.31 Oct 2025 23:44 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4jnsnrnbk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/fletchersimon.bsky.social/post/3m3zny5rqpc25The election of Lucy Powell as deputy leader is a rebuke by party members to Labour’s course under the leadership of Keir Starmer. Her opponents argued that a vote for Powell would destabilise Labour - but Labour was already destabilised (and worse) https://modernleft.substack.com/p/who-destabilised-labour25 Oct 2025 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:rf25bx4dxdguvik3icrx4aro/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3zny5rqpc25