Ben Bradshaw
@benbradshaw.bsky.social
Ex Labour Minister & ex MP for Exeter, now growing olives in Sicily.
He/him
He/him
Correct call by the NEC. The Government needs to get on with the job, not repeat the psychodrama of the Tory years & indulge the media’s addiction to personality politics.
People aren’t talking about Burnham on street corners. They aren’t talking about him in pubs or cafes. They’re struggling with the after effects of 14 years of Tory governments
Labours only mission has to be improving the lives of people in this country - slow boring politics which people voted for
Labours only mission has to be improving the lives of people in this country - slow boring politics which people voted for
January 25, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Correct call by the NEC. The Government needs to get on with the job, not repeat the psychodrama of the Tory years & indulge the media’s addiction to personality politics.
It’s easy to be relatively popular as a metro mayor when you claim credit for all the good stuff (much of which was done by your predecessor) & blame the Government for the bad stuff, people have forgotten your record as a Minister & how you abandoned the PLP in its struggle against Corbynism.
Labour MPs divided over potential Andy Burnham return
Labour MPs have strong views on whether Burnham should be Labour's candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 24, 2026 at 9:39 AM
It’s easy to be relatively popular as a metro mayor when you claim credit for all the good stuff (much of which was done by your predecessor) & blame the Government for the bad stuff, people have forgotten your record as a Minister & how you abandoned the PLP in its struggle against Corbynism.
“He (Starmer) can leave Nigel Farage marooned on the wrong side of public opinion, fanboy to the man who insulted Britain’s war dead”. Excellent column from @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social
As the world finally punches back, was this the week Donald Trump went too far? | Jonathan Freedland
The US president took his bullying doctrine to Davos and hit a wall of opposition. If this creates a new western alliance against him, all to the good, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2026 at 8:30 AM
“He (Starmer) can leave Nigel Farage marooned on the wrong side of public opinion, fanboy to the man who insulted Britain’s war dead”. Excellent column from @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Bradshaw
Great to have Kelly Holmes & Josh Cavallo backing Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces Move with Pride 2026. emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
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emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
January 24, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Great to have Kelly Holmes & Josh Cavallo backing Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces Move with Pride 2026. emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
While the lazy media pack runs in unison with pathological hatred for this Government, nice to have this weekly reality check from @labourlist.bsky.social
Delivering in Government: your weekly round up of good news Labour stories - LabourList
Warm homes, SEND training for teachers and bringing in investment. Find out how Labour have delivered in government this week.
emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:25 AM
While the lazy media pack runs in unison with pathological hatred for this Government, nice to have this weekly reality check from @labourlist.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Bradshaw
I’m confused by some of the posts on this site.
Do people want Starmer to act in concert with the EU when it comes to Greenland or not?
Because if they do then they need to stop comparing Starmers approach to Carney’s.
Do people want Starmer to act in concert with the EU when it comes to Greenland or not?
Because if they do then they need to stop comparing Starmers approach to Carney’s.
January 21, 2026 at 7:29 AM
I’m confused by some of the posts on this site.
Do people want Starmer to act in concert with the EU when it comes to Greenland or not?
Because if they do then they need to stop comparing Starmers approach to Carney’s.
Do people want Starmer to act in concert with the EU when it comes to Greenland or not?
Because if they do then they need to stop comparing Starmers approach to Carney’s.
Reposted by Ben Bradshaw
After one day of unity over Trump the Mail, the Telegraph, Times and Badenoch have decided the Chagos are more important than the destruction of the western alliance and backed the insane ramblings of a rogue president who was fine with the deal last year. We see you #collaborators
Choosing sides between a rogue president bent on destroying the Western alliance and UK and EU governments finally standing up to him shouldn’t be difficult for mainstream political parties or news organisations. So come on Telegraph, Times, Badenoch and yes you Farage if you want to be PM…
January 21, 2026 at 6:21 AM
After one day of unity over Trump the Mail, the Telegraph, Times and Badenoch have decided the Chagos are more important than the destruction of the western alliance and backed the insane ramblings of a rogue president who was fine with the deal last year. We see you #collaborators
Reposted by Ben Bradshaw
They got so so much wrong. And we are all paying the price.
January 21, 2026 at 7:56 AM
They got so so much wrong. And we are all paying the price.
The best speech from a western leader for a very long time.
Mark Carney's speech really is terrific: full text is here and very much worth your time.
The Carney doctrine
Open comment thread on the PM's Davos speech
paulwells.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:34 AM
The best speech from a western leader for a very long time.
More completely mad policies from the Green Party. Trump
might well blow up NATO, the way he’s going, but that’s no reason for the UK Government to help precipitate that.
might well blow up NATO, the way he’s going, but that’s no reason for the UK Government to help precipitate that.
UK should consider expelling US forces from British bases, says Zack Polanski
Exclusive: Green party leader advocates leaving Nato and says Britain should wean itself off its reliance on the US
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:36 AM
More completely mad policies from the Green Party. Trump
might well blow up NATO, the way he’s going, but that’s no reason for the UK Government to help precipitate that.
might well blow up NATO, the way he’s going, but that’s no reason for the UK Government to help precipitate that.
The #Brexit vote, swung by the lies & fantasies of Johnson, Farage & co, turns out to have even more disastrous consequences for Britain than our worst fears.
Starmer to give Downing Street speech as Trump plans 10% tariffs in Greenland row - live updates
Trump wants the
www.bbc.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 8:26 AM
The #Brexit vote, swung by the lies & fantasies of Johnson, Farage & co, turns out to have even more disastrous consequences for Britain than our worst fears.
Good, strong response from Keir & other European leaders to the latest crazy threat from Trump.
Trump tariff threat over Greenland 'unacceptable', European leaders say
The US president says several European allies opposed to his plans to buy Greenland will face 10% tariffs from February.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 5:03 AM
Good, strong response from Keir & other European leaders to the latest crazy threat from Trump.
Spound call by Exeter City Council. It would have been a total waste of council officers’ time & public money to hold this year’s
annual elections for a third of seats when there will be all-out elections to the new unitary council next year www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
annual elections for a third of seats when there will be all-out elections to the new unitary council next year www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Zombie administration' accusation as Exeter elections cancelled
The council's leader said cancelling would save money and allow staff to focus on reorganisation.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Spound call by Exeter City Council. It would have been a total waste of council officers’ time & public money to hold this year’s
annual elections for a third of seats when there will be all-out elections to the new unitary council next year www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
annual elections for a third of seats when there will be all-out elections to the new unitary council next year www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Biggest fall in #NHS waiting times for 15 years & strong November growth figures despite uncertainty caused by pre Budget media speculation. Britain’s turning a corner. emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A... emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Biggest fall in #NHS waiting times for 15 years & strong November growth figures despite uncertainty caused by pre Budget media speculation. Britain’s turning a corner. emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A... emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
Reposted by Ben Bradshaw
Sharing, or threatening to share, a deepfake intimate image without consent is a criminal offence.
This offence, created by the Data Act last year, will be brought into force this week, and I will make it a priority offence in the Online Safety Act too.
www.gov.uk/government/s...
This offence, created by the Data Act last year, will be brought into force this week, and I will make it a priority offence in the Online Safety Act too.
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Secretary of State statement to the House of Commons: 12 January 2026
DSIT Secretary of State statement after concerns over Grok AI.
www.gov.uk
January 13, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Sharing, or threatening to share, a deepfake intimate image without consent is a criminal offence.
This offence, created by the Data Act last year, will be brought into force this week, and I will make it a priority offence in the Online Safety Act too.
www.gov.uk/government/s...
This offence, created by the Data Act last year, will be brought into force this week, and I will make it a priority offence in the Online Safety Act too.
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Ben Bradshaw
Keir Starmer skewers Tories over shadow cabinet member who represents Roman Abramovich
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
PM skewers Tories over shadow cabinet member who represents Roman Abramovich
Keir Starmer lashed out at Kemi Badenoch in a tense PMQs clash after it emerged Tory shadow cabinet member Lord Wolfson is representing Roman Abramovich in a legal case in Jersey
www.mirror.co.uk
January 7, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Keir Starmer skewers Tories over shadow cabinet member who represents Roman Abramovich
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Ben Bradshaw
I really welcome the new National Road Safety Strategy.
With 28,000 people killed or serious injured on GB roads each year, it's astonishing there's been no new strategy since 2011.
The plan's ambitious with policies that'll help save lives in London too.
👏 @transportgovuk.bsky.social
With 28,000 people killed or serious injured on GB roads each year, it's astonishing there's been no new strategy since 2011.
The plan's ambitious with policies that'll help save lives in London too.
👏 @transportgovuk.bsky.social
January 7, 2026 at 2:27 PM
I really welcome the new National Road Safety Strategy.
With 28,000 people killed or serious injured on GB roads each year, it's astonishing there's been no new strategy since 2011.
The plan's ambitious with policies that'll help save lives in London too.
👏 @transportgovuk.bsky.social
With 28,000 people killed or serious injured on GB roads each year, it's astonishing there's been no new strategy since 2011.
The plan's ambitious with policies that'll help save lives in London too.
👏 @transportgovuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Bradshaw
🇪🇺From 1993 until 2016, UK per capita GDP growth was 46%, better than America’s 44%, Germany’s 37%, France’s 31% and Italy's 11% .
❌Between 2016-2024, UK real GDP per capita rose by 4.4%, compared with 7.5% for France, and an astonishing 11% for Italy.
https://bit.ly/450lOmF
❌Between 2016-2024, UK real GDP per capita rose by 4.4%, compared with 7.5% for France, and an astonishing 11% for Italy.
https://bit.ly/450lOmF
Europe solved our growth problem once. Could it do so again?
Almost ten years after the Brexit referendum, closer economic relations with the EU are certainly worth cultivating. But don’t expect them to be a panacea
www.thetimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:04 PM
🇪🇺From 1993 until 2016, UK per capita GDP growth was 46%, better than America’s 44%, Germany’s 37%, France’s 31% and Italy's 11% .
❌Between 2016-2024, UK real GDP per capita rose by 4.4%, compared with 7.5% for France, and an astonishing 11% for Italy.
https://bit.ly/450lOmF
❌Between 2016-2024, UK real GDP per capita rose by 4.4%, compared with 7.5% for France, and an astonishing 11% for Italy.
https://bit.ly/450lOmF
Reposted by Ben Bradshaw
It has become increasingly clear that X - a platform now actively producing explicit and abusive material against women and children - is not an appropriate platform to be using for our comms.
I will keep pushing for action from the govt & relevant authorities in this area.
I will keep pushing for action from the govt & relevant authorities in this area.
January 7, 2026 at 4:16 PM
It has become increasingly clear that X - a platform now actively producing explicit and abusive material against women and children - is not an appropriate platform to be using for our comms.
I will keep pushing for action from the govt & relevant authorities in this area.
I will keep pushing for action from the govt & relevant authorities in this area.
There’s been so much ill informed & opportunistic criticism of the Government’s approach to Trump over Venezuela, Greenland etc. This wise piece concludes, correctly, it’s all, quite rightly, about #Ukraine.
Why won’t Yvette Cooper criticise Trump over Venezuela? Look no further than Ukraine
The foreign secretary faces a tight balancing act between keeping the US involved in peace talks, and trying to maintain international order
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:42 PM
There’s been so much ill informed & opportunistic criticism of the Government’s approach to Trump over Venezuela, Greenland etc. This wise piece concludes, correctly, it’s all, quite rightly, about #Ukraine.
A seasoned commentator who *is* preparared to give the Government some credit for what it’s done in 2025.
Let me tell you the good things the government has done in 2025 – because it certainly won’t | Polly Toynbee
It’s all there: more apprenticeships, more rights for workers and renters – and most of all, a focus on children. What a shame Labour wavers about saying so, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:25 AM
A seasoned commentator who *is* preparared to give the Government some credit for what it’s done in 2025.
Ignore the BBC’s headline, this interview on #PM with Nato General Secretary, Mark Rutte, is a must-listen in a “shaking people out of their complacency” way. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApFG...
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Ignore the BBC’s headline, this interview on #PM with Nato General Secretary, Mark Rutte, is a must-listen in a “shaking people out of their complacency” way. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApFG...
Great news, if confirmed today. Now for a full youth exchange programme please. Why should young Brits today be denied the freedoms my generation enjoyed before? #Brexit.
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Great news, if confirmed today. Now for a full youth exchange programme please. Why should young Brits today be denied the freedoms my generation enjoyed before? #Brexit.
Reposted by Ben Bradshaw
Brexit was one of Russia's proudest achievements - splitting Europe and spreading misinformation.
https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/putin-never-stop-export-chaos-g87brj805
https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/putin-never-stop-export-chaos-g87brj805
Putin will never stop trying to export chaos
The Ukraine peace talks rest on a fallacy: that you can simply cut a deal with the Russian president and all will be well
www.thetimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Brexit was one of Russia's proudest achievements - splitting Europe and spreading misinformation.
https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/putin-never-stop-export-chaos-g87brj805
https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/putin-never-stop-export-chaos-g87brj805