Chris Philp at Tory conference “Some bloke’s been going around pretending to be the Shadow Home Secretary.. some bloke called Zia or something. They need to seek help..”
Ben Quinn
@benquinn75.bsky.social
Guardian Political Correspondent UK current affairs (with a fair bit on the Far Right, populism, disinfo) Irish Londoner Story? ben.quinn@theguardian.com Something sensitive? Secure drop: https://www.theguardian.com/tips
Former student of suspended Reform official James Orr ‘reopens case’ against University of Cambridge www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Former student of suspended Reform official ‘reopens case’ against University of Cambridge
Cambridge previously paid £5,000 compensation after an investigation partially upheld allegations against Dr James Orr
theguardian.com
Burnham to tell MPs public control is only way to drive growth www.theguardian.com/politics/202... Exc via @jessicaelgot.bsky.social
More public control is only way to grow UK economy, Burnham to tell MPs
Exclusive: Prime minister wants to ‘bring back hope’ by tackling cost of living as MPs call for electoral reform
theguardian.com
US accused of ‘meddling in British democracy’ with $500k grants from the embassy www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... via me + @aishadown.bsky.social
US accused of meddling in British politics with $500,000 grant for ‘public education’ courses
Documents published on US embassy’s website prompt claims of attempt to export Maga propaganda to UK
theguardian.com
Former neo nazi Conservative candidate latest Misses out on running to try to be a councillor .. but gets a plum advisor role from Kemi Badenoch www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Badenoch gives former neo-Nazi advisory role after he withdraws as Tory candidate
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who was convicted of harassing Jewish MP, says Badenoch has asked him to work with party’s culture and integration commission
theguardian.com
"I don’t believe this man should have *any* role in public life – because of both his racism and his view of women.” Former MP targeted with anti-semitic abuse by neo nazi who became Tory candidate challenges Kemi Badenoch to drop him www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Ex-MP urges Tories to drop candidate jailed for campaign of antisemitic abuse against her
Luciana Berger says Joshua Bonehill-Paine should have no role in public life because of ‘his racism and his view of women’
theguardian.com
Analysis: Rupert Lowe's 'olive branch' & the risks for Farage in telling him to shove it where no sun shines .. Get too close & Farage alienates Reform-curious Tories .. Keep away & Farage alienates Restore-curious Reformistas www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Rupert Lowe’s ‘olive branch’ to Farage piles more pressure on Reform leader
Restore leader has countered charges he’s splitting the right while showing his party is a very real obstacle for Reform
theguardian.com
Former Neo Nazi activist selected to stand as a candidate for the Conservatives www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Former neo-Nazi activist selected as Tory candidate for Somerset council election
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, creator of satirical Crewkerne Gazette, has convictions including for harassing a Jewish MP
theguardian.com
Reform document: “We do not believe for one moment that the French Navy or Gendarmerie would open fire on Royal Marines” putting those from small boats back on French beaches. “Likelihood of tactical confrontation is incredibly low..”
British military personnel will escort migrants on to French beaches and “we will end up having something of an argument” if the French don’t agree - Zia Yusuf explaining new Reform channel plans on BBC R4 #today
Groundwork for Burnham's first meeting with Trump shaping up well
Andy Burnham (this month's UK prime minister) says his first action as PM will be to end rough sleeping [something which Jeremy Corbyn had said would have been his first action. Burnham also pledged it as mayor] www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Andy Burnham gives first speech after becoming UK prime minister – UK politics live
New PM delivers address at Downing Street as after meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace
theguardian.com
Keir Starmer's reign of terror ends.. and he arrives at Buckingham Palace as a band plays a Bon Jovi medley www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Keir Starmer gives final speech from No 10 before Andy Burnham becomes new prime minister – UK politics live
Starmer now heading to Buckingham Palace to meet the king and formally resign
theguardian.com
That World Cup half time BBC advert will be seen in some quarters .. cough.. as the Danny Boyle Olympic opening ceremony on steroids
World Cup Final opening so far. A *serious* amount of nip and tuck ..
From DC with love.. Trump administration to grant $12m to groups founded by Jacob Rees-Mogg & Toby Young www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... scoop by @aishadown.bsky.social
Trump administration to grant $12m to groups founded by UK conservatives Jacob Rees-Mogg and Toby Young
Exclusive: Controversial grants are part of package criticised as misuse of public money to influence European politics
theguardian.com
So much for protecting Britain from hybrid threats! The owner of X and friend of the President of our number 1 ally pays to send an extremist English nationalist to Russia to collude against British democracy… Try defending against that! 🙄 www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Elon Musk’s family foundation took Tommy Robinson to Russia, says Musk’s father
Errol Musk says far-right activist is ‘a fine young man’ and held meetings with Russian business figures
theguardian.com
EXC. from me Tommy Robinson was brought to Russia by the Musk family, according to Elon Musk's father www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Elon Musk’s family foundation took Tommy Robinson to Russia, says Musk’s father
Errol Musk says far-right activist is ‘a fine young man’ and held meetings with Russian business figures
theguardian.com
Just a volunteer ? George Cottrell was introduced as Nigel Farage’s ‘chief of staff’ we’re told www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
George Cottrell referred to Nigel Farage as ‘daddy’, says ex-Reform candidate
Exclusive: Questions grow over convicted fraudster’s role in Reform UK as party says he has never held official position
theguardian.com
Serious interview here by me with @countbinface.bsky.social Prediction: Nigel Farage may struggle to keep a lid on his Clacton rival www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Count Binface on Clacton byelection: ‘I didn’t know old Farage was going to self-detonate’
Parody candidate, expected to be Reform leader’s only challenger for seat, suggests ‘perhaps it’s all a fever dream’
theguardian.com
.. and a full list of candidates will be published on the BBC website
Breaking: Now Greens say they won’t stand in Clacton Farage V Binface is ON🚨 greenparty.org.uk/2026/07/07/g...
Green Party of England and Wales announce they will not stand in Clacton by-election - Green Party
Green Party Leader Zack Polanski said, “This is a desperate stunt from a desperate politician whose lifetime of grifting is finally catching up with him. Greens will play no part in his political circ...
greenparty.org.uk
Interesting to hear Andy Burnham use a term like 'reindustrialisation' in his Manchester speech One that's been heavily associated with the populist right in the US, UK and elsewhere (pushing back against the 'terrible net zero green agenda' ) Not a phrase associated with, say, Keir Starmer
That Andy Burnham speech - covered & analysed by @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social on the Guardian's liveblog www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Andy Burnham to propose devolution plan in first major policy speech since launching bid for No 10 – UK politics live
Makerfield MP and hopeful prime minister to pledge ‘growth in every postcode’
theguardian.com
UK govt rejects claims in London by Trump official that UK police make ‘thousands’ of ‘speech arrests’ www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Senior Trump official’s claims about UK free speech arrests rejected by No 10
Sarah B Rogers speech at conference in London included far-right memes and conspiracy theories about ‘Da Yookay’
theguardian.com
The international new right met up in London this week at ARC. Re-industrialisation? Just one of the themes they’re successfully getting right wing parties to adopt
Nigel Farage at the ARC conference in London "family breakdown is pretty much the same as community breakdown"
Spent time today at ARC - meeting point for the global new right - half way between party conference & evangelical Christian rally .. the name of one favourite villain in particular kept coming up www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Hard-right figures take aim at Ed Miliband and UK net zero policies at ‘anti-woke Davos’
Kemi Badenoch, who joined US anti-abortion activists and European far-right parties at ARC, described energy secretary as a ‘villain’
theguardian.com