Adam Bienkov
@adambienkov.bsky.social
Political Editor of Byline Times and Online Editor of BylineTimes.com. Lobby journalist in the House of Commons. 📩Adam@bylinetimes.com
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https://www.adambienkov.co.uk
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https://www.adambienkov.co.uk
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Adam Bienkov
@adambienkov.bsky.social
· Oct 17
To all the newly-arrived Twitter refugees, I've created a starter pack of UK political journalists, experts, commentators and politicos to follow here
go.bsky.app/2CwmVfN
go.bsky.app/2CwmVfN
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Matt Goodwin and the end of England: How one man's career explains our public life iandunt.substack.com/p/matt-goodw...
Matt Goodwin and the end of England
How one man's career explains our public life.
iandunt.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Matt Goodwin and the end of England: How one man's career explains our public life iandunt.substack.com/p/matt-goodw...
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
I remember growing up in a period when America took itself seriously, and now it's just going to let the president loot $10 billion from the treasury?
President Trump has filed a lawsuit against the IRS, in which he demands that the IRS, which he as president controls, pay him $10 billion.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 30, 2026 at 1:09 AM
I remember growing up in a period when America took itself seriously, and now it's just going to let the president loot $10 billion from the treasury?
The Greens have picked local councillor and plumber Hannah Spencer as their candidate for the Gorton & Denton by-election.
If successful, she will be the party's first MP in the North
If successful, she will be the party's first MP in the North
January 30, 2026 at 11:07 AM
The Greens have picked local councillor and plumber Hannah Spencer as their candidate for the Gorton & Denton by-election.
If successful, she will be the party's first MP in the North
If successful, she will be the party's first MP in the North
Nigel Farage and Reform are threatening to sue the Conservative party for using "alleged mental ill-health as a political weapon" against Suella Braverman.
Just imagine doing such a thing
Just imagine doing such a thing
January 29, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Nigel Farage and Reform are threatening to sue the Conservative party for using "alleged mental ill-health as a political weapon" against Suella Braverman.
Just imagine doing such a thing
Just imagine doing such a thing
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
On almost everything – fraud, polarisation, radicalisation, misinformation – evidence suggests that over 60s are in much more urgent need of online protection and education than teenagers.
But that issue gets zero political attention, and is a total non-starter. Nothing good will come of it.
But that issue gets zero political attention, and is a total non-starter. Nothing good will come of it.
This was a minor story on London news this morning - but suspect is a real cautionary (and alarming) tale of an older man getting radicalised online.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sidcup man convicted aover explosive attack on Ulez camera
Kevin Rees's homemade bomb caused damage to vehicles and property including a child's bedroom.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 9:43 AM
On almost everything – fraud, polarisation, radicalisation, misinformation – evidence suggests that over 60s are in much more urgent need of online protection and education than teenagers.
But that issue gets zero political attention, and is a total non-starter. Nothing good will come of it.
But that issue gets zero political attention, and is a total non-starter. Nothing good will come of it.
Great piece on why this Labour Government's failure has primarily been a moral one
My Trade Secrets today, in which it's fair to say I go off on one.
The Labour party is famously "a moral crusade or it is nothing". On aid, immigration and trade they're going for the latter option, with betrayals of principle both repugnant and pointless. 1/n
The Labour party is famously "a moral crusade or it is nothing". On aid, immigration and trade they're going for the latter option, with betrayals of principle both repugnant and pointless. 1/n
The abandonment of Labour’s moral crusade
[FREE TO READ] The UK is taking a cynical but fruitless turn to the reactionary and insular on aid, immigration and trade
as.ft.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Great piece on why this Labour Government's failure has primarily been a moral one
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Wild how both former main parties now hate their natural supporters and want them to vote for someone else
Centrist ideas no longer wanted in Conservative party, says Kemi Badenoch
Party leader tells MPs that one-nation Tories doubting her rightward direction ‘need to get out of the way’
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Wild how both former main parties now hate their natural supporters and want them to vote for someone else
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
No response yet from Reform pundit and activist Tim Montgomerie about his party's selection in Gorton and Denton
January 28, 2026 at 10:55 AM
No response yet from Reform pundit and activist Tim Montgomerie about his party's selection in Gorton and Denton
Wonder if Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin remembers this.
January 28, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
So basically Albert Speer’s defense at Nuremberg.
January 28, 2026 at 3:00 AM
So basically Albert Speer’s defense at Nuremberg.
No response yet from Reform pundit and activist Tim Montgomerie about his party's selection in Gorton and Denton
January 28, 2026 at 10:55 AM
No response yet from Reform pundit and activist Tim Montgomerie about his party's selection in Gorton and Denton
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Goodwin was born in St Albans in Hertfordshire.
Farage needs a geography lesson.
Farage needs a geography lesson.
January 28, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Goodwin was born in St Albans in Hertfordshire.
Farage needs a geography lesson.
Farage needs a geography lesson.
There's a good chance they will come third but if this is expectation management then it's pretty poor.
Nobody is going to congratulate them if they come second in one of their safest seats in the country
Nobody is going to congratulate them if they come second in one of their safest seats in the country
January 28, 2026 at 10:18 AM
There's a good chance they will come third but if this is expectation management then it's pretty poor.
Nobody is going to congratulate them if they come second in one of their safest seats in the country
Nobody is going to congratulate them if they come second in one of their safest seats in the country
There's so much Labour could use to attack him and they go with this www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour...
Labour Criticised Over 'Misleading' Video Attacking Reform By-Election Candidate Matt Goodwin
The Gorton and Denton contest is already getting dirty.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 7:39 AM
There's so much Labour could use to attack him and they go with this www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour...
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Matt Goodwin makes a living out of railing against university educated elites & his whole schtick is "he was the first person in his family to go to university", which is a bit weird given that his Dad, now being heavily invoked for his Manchester connection, appears to have a string of degrees.
January 27, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Matt Goodwin makes a living out of railing against university educated elites & his whole schtick is "he was the first person in his family to go to university", which is a bit weird given that his Dad, now being heavily invoked for his Manchester connection, appears to have a string of degrees.
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
It does seem slightly problematic for the British Polling Council that a pollster who over-estimated Reform by 5 points in their final poll at the 2024 general election is standing for the party within two years.
January 27, 2026 at 5:12 PM
It does seem slightly problematic for the British Polling Council that a pollster who over-estimated Reform by 5 points in their final poll at the 2024 general election is standing for the party within two years.
This is how the BBC is reporting Matt Goodwin's selection as Reform's candidate in Gorton and Denton.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
January 27, 2026 at 2:44 PM
This is how the BBC is reporting Matt Goodwin's selection as Reform's candidate in Gorton and Denton.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
This Matt Goodwin?
January 27, 2026 at 2:39 PM
This Matt Goodwin?
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
How long until we find out that Dominic Cummings is advising Reform?
The Telegraph’s political editor is saying, more subtly, what others are saying brutally.
January 27, 2026 at 1:36 PM
How long until we find out that Dominic Cummings is advising Reform?
This is who Reform are putting up to represent a parliamentary seat in one of Europe's most diverse major cities
January 27, 2026 at 2:35 PM
This is who Reform are putting up to represent a parliamentary seat in one of Europe's most diverse major cities
Reform picks anti-migrant activist Matt Goodwin as its candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election.
A reminder that just a few months ago the BBC invited him onto Question Time as a supposedly independent "author and academic"
A reminder that just a few months ago the BBC invited him onto Question Time as a supposedly independent "author and academic"
January 27, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Reform picks anti-migrant activist Matt Goodwin as its candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election.
A reminder that just a few months ago the BBC invited him onto Question Time as a supposedly independent "author and academic"
A reminder that just a few months ago the BBC invited him onto Question Time as a supposedly independent "author and academic"
New YouGov poll gives Reform its lowest lead since last April.
RFM: 25% (+1)
LAB: 21% (+2)
CON: 17% (-1)
GRN: 16% (-1)
LDM: 14% (=)
Looks like hoovering up a series of deeply unpopular, disgraced former Conservative ministers isn't quite the massive vote winning strategy that was predicted
RFM: 25% (+1)
LAB: 21% (+2)
CON: 17% (-1)
GRN: 16% (-1)
LDM: 14% (=)
Looks like hoovering up a series of deeply unpopular, disgraced former Conservative ministers isn't quite the massive vote winning strategy that was predicted
January 27, 2026 at 10:37 AM
New YouGov poll gives Reform its lowest lead since last April.
RFM: 25% (+1)
LAB: 21% (+2)
CON: 17% (-1)
GRN: 16% (-1)
LDM: 14% (=)
Looks like hoovering up a series of deeply unpopular, disgraced former Conservative ministers isn't quite the massive vote winning strategy that was predicted
RFM: 25% (+1)
LAB: 21% (+2)
CON: 17% (-1)
GRN: 16% (-1)
LDM: 14% (=)
Looks like hoovering up a series of deeply unpopular, disgraced former Conservative ministers isn't quite the massive vote winning strategy that was predicted
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
What's the outcome that terrifies Labour most in the Gorton by-election?
Reform winning?
Nope. It's the Greens they're most worried about.
They'd prefer Reform to win, rather than the Greens.
Reform winning?
Nope. It's the Greens they're most worried about.
They'd prefer Reform to win, rather than the Greens.
January 26, 2026 at 9:46 AM
What's the outcome that terrifies Labour most in the Gorton by-election?
Reform winning?
Nope. It's the Greens they're most worried about.
They'd prefer Reform to win, rather than the Greens.
Reform winning?
Nope. It's the Greens they're most worried about.
They'd prefer Reform to win, rather than the Greens.
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
This reads like a breathless Reform press release.
Not the slightest reflection that being seen as a dumping ground for failed Tories might not be entirely positive.
Or that it might help Tories detoxify.
Or that Reform is ticking down in all recent polls.
Dismal stuff.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Not the slightest reflection that being seen as a dumping ground for failed Tories might not be entirely positive.
Or that it might help Tories detoxify.
Or that Reform is ticking down in all recent polls.
Dismal stuff.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Suella Braverman: Another big beast defection shows momentum is with Reform
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman is the fourth sitting Tory MP to join the party since the last election.
www.bbc.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM
This reads like a breathless Reform press release.
Not the slightest reflection that being seen as a dumping ground for failed Tories might not be entirely positive.
Or that it might help Tories detoxify.
Or that Reform is ticking down in all recent polls.
Dismal stuff.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Not the slightest reflection that being seen as a dumping ground for failed Tories might not be entirely positive.
Or that it might help Tories detoxify.
Or that Reform is ticking down in all recent polls.
Dismal stuff.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
We are opening an investigation into Grok because we believe that X may have breached the DSA.
We have seen antisemitic content, non-consensual deepfakes of women, and child sexual abuse material.
In Europe, no company will make money by violating our fundamental rights.
link.europa.eu/Fh8h84
We have seen antisemitic content, non-consensual deepfakes of women, and child sexual abuse material.
In Europe, no company will make money by violating our fundamental rights.
link.europa.eu/Fh8h84
January 26, 2026 at 1:24 PM
We are opening an investigation into Grok because we believe that X may have breached the DSA.
We have seen antisemitic content, non-consensual deepfakes of women, and child sexual abuse material.
In Europe, no company will make money by violating our fundamental rights.
link.europa.eu/Fh8h84
We have seen antisemitic content, non-consensual deepfakes of women, and child sexual abuse material.
In Europe, no company will make money by violating our fundamental rights.
link.europa.eu/Fh8h84