Ben Quinn
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benquinn75.bsky.social
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
David Lammy standing in at PMQs describing Tory MPs defecting to Reform as “the most disgraceful” transfer saga since Sol Campbell left Spurs
January 28, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Now bigger than Sinn Fein, but smaller than the SNP
“.. in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear”
January 26, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Suella Braverman arrives ‘home’ after leaving ‘a party of left leaning social democrats’
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Tories criticised over claim Braverman defected to Reform after ‘mental health’ issues
Statement, since withdrawn, followed ex-minister becoming third Conservative MP to join Farage’s party in just over a week
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Suella Braverman has joined Nigel Farage on stage at a reform event
“I feel like I’ve come home ..”
January 26, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Reform grassroots on Jenrick:
Generally positive/minority annoyed

Farage: “I’m teaching [Zia Yusuf] forgiveness”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Enough already’: Jenrick’s defection gets mixed reception from Reform members
Some supporters are concerned about the number of Conservatives being welcomed by their party, and fear it could alienate voters
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Robert Jenrick launches his leadership campaign at Reform HQ
January 15, 2026 at 5:16 PM
A false start for the political history books ..
January 15, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Waiting for … Jenrick
January 15, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Nadia Zahawi defects to Reform
January 12, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Ok, Mayor of London is just trolling him now ..
January 9, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Greenland's energy minister is to come to Westminster next week to make a direct appeal for support from British MPs in the face of Trump's threats to annex the territory
January 7, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Nigel Farage unveils former Tory councillor Laila Cunningham as the Reform London mayoral candidate

(Not a surprise)
January 7, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Regime change
January 5, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Exc.
British far-right activist spoke at Russian extreme nationalist event convened by Putin linked oligarch

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Leading UK far-right activist spoke at Russian extreme nationalist event
Exclusive: Patriotic Alternative’s Mark Collett addressed forum along with ideologue described as ‘Putin’s brain’
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Start of year predictions are usually a mug’s game

..but Roger Boyes called it
#maduro
January 3, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Memorable 📖 this year
December 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The rise of ethno-nationalism?

Number of people who believe “Britishness” is something you are born with almost doubles in two years
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... @ecourea.bsky.social Exc
Number of people who say Britons must be born in UK is rising, study shows
Exclusive: Research finds ‘worrying’ surge in support for hard-right narratives on national identity
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Reform UK’s cash-strapped “flagship” council, Kent, condemned for pushing through plans to create 'political assistant' rolls costing tens of thousands of pounds
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform councillors in Kent condemned for spending thousands on political assistants
Party that pledged to cut waste and save money faces criticism after pushing through vote to employ advisers
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
At least 8 MEPs for blocs (UKIP.. Brexit Party) led by Nigel Farage were the focus of efforts by Reform UK’s former Wales leader Nathan Gill to co-opt them into fulfilling tasks set for him by his pro-Kremlin paymasters
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Three more Farage bloc MEPs alleged to have followed Russian asset’s script
At least eight MEPs elected for Ukip or Brexit party now known to have been focus of efforts by jailed Nathan Gill
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reported on the Your Party inaugural conference
Messy, often divided but still with flickers of being a force
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Your Party members vote to make name permanent at tense first conference
Liverpool gathering lays bare bitter divisions within new party founded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Get IN NNNNNNNNMNNNNN🦜🦜🦜

#coybig
November 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Ben Quinn
Tributes to Rachel Cooke, who sadly died last week, from TimAdams observer.co.uk/news/nationa... and many others observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Remembering Rachel Cooke | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 2:52 PM
November 13, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Classic TfL poster
Once you see notice the resemblance of the flower seller you cannot unsee it ..
November 10, 2025 at 12:22 PM
More turmoil at Nigel Farage's 'flagship' Kent County Council as Reform UK suspend yet another of its councillors

.. this time she's the person who was chairing the adult social care and public health cabinet committee.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK suspends another member of Kent county council
Isabella Kemp’s departure means party has lost nine of 57 councillors elected in May, including four after video leak
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:18 PM