Ben Williams
@bpwilliams72.bsky.social
Liberal sort. Rambler. Singer. Gamer. Occasional writer. Recovering politico. Former lots of things (inc. Lib Dem Leader's Chief of Staff, Cabinet Office SpAd, Head of Whips' Office). Yorkshire via Essex. Posting in a strictly personal capacity.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Nearly 700k views, 4.2k likes!
I just hope we are getting a good price for selling Canada to the Chinese!
I just hope we are getting a good price for selling Canada to the Chinese!
January 18, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Nearly 700k views, 4.2k likes!
I just hope we are getting a good price for selling Canada to the Chinese!
I just hope we are getting a good price for selling Canada to the Chinese!
Reposted by Ben Williams
How it started ... How it's going
January 17, 2026 at 9:58 PM
How it started ... How it's going
Reposted by Ben Williams
every provocateur who wangs on all the time about Britain being “broken” should be sent to an actual failed state or autocracy for a month as a learning experience, there’s no shortage of them
January 17, 2026 at 3:12 PM
every provocateur who wangs on all the time about Britain being “broken” should be sent to an actual failed state or autocracy for a month as a learning experience, there’s no shortage of them
Reposted by Ben Williams
Britain is one of the best places in recorded history to be born, live, work and grow old. Lots of room for improvement obviously but combat the pessimism, it’s the forerunner of fascism.
every provocateur who wangs on all the time about Britain being “broken” should be sent to an actual failed state or autocracy for a month as a learning experience, there’s no shortage of them
January 17, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Britain is one of the best places in recorded history to be born, live, work and grow old. Lots of room for improvement obviously but combat the pessimism, it’s the forerunner of fascism.
Reposted by Ben Williams
After having his defection ambushed, Robert Jenrick could have got onto front-foot by calling a by-election. He could dramatise his claims about a democratic shift in the right. He would have a more credible case about risk > personal ambition
(I also think he would have won it pretty comfortably)
(I also think he would have won it pretty comfortably)
January 17, 2026 at 10:07 AM
After having his defection ambushed, Robert Jenrick could have got onto front-foot by calling a by-election. He could dramatise his claims about a democratic shift in the right. He would have a more credible case about risk > personal ambition
(I also think he would have won it pretty comfortably)
(I also think he would have won it pretty comfortably)
Reposted by Ben Williams
Reposted by Ben Williams
The incoming Democratic governor of Virginia, Abigail Spanberger, has asked at least five members of the board overseeing the University of Virginia who were appointed by her Republican predecessor to resign, according to people briefed on the matter.
Some U.Va. Board Members Asked to Resign as Gov. Abigail Spanberger Takes Power
After months of upheaval at the state’s flagship university, a new Democratic governor appeared ready to shake up the school’s leadership.
nyti.ms
January 16, 2026 at 10:35 PM
The incoming Democratic governor of Virginia, Abigail Spanberger, has asked at least five members of the board overseeing the University of Virginia who were appointed by her Republican predecessor to resign, according to people briefed on the matter.
Reposted by Ben Williams
I’ve never understood why anti-vaxers distrust vaccines but were willing to let their immune systems fight what they believed to be a Chinese bio weapon.
Imagine saying that you’re “against unnatural chemicals and vaccines” and then ingesting unregulated and untested alternative medicine concoctions.
January 16, 2026 at 10:26 PM
I’ve never understood why anti-vaxers distrust vaccines but were willing to let their immune systems fight what they believed to be a Chinese bio weapon.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Explain to me how this would happen.
The fucking mechanics of it. Explain them to me.
Russia or China, storming the beaches of an EU and NATO member state terrotiry which includes a fucking US military base on it in a take and hold maneuver a bazillion miles from their nearest supply lines?
The fucking mechanics of it. Explain them to me.
Russia or China, storming the beaches of an EU and NATO member state terrotiry which includes a fucking US military base on it in a take and hold maneuver a bazillion miles from their nearest supply lines?
January 16, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Explain to me how this would happen.
The fucking mechanics of it. Explain them to me.
Russia or China, storming the beaches of an EU and NATO member state terrotiry which includes a fucking US military base on it in a take and hold maneuver a bazillion miles from their nearest supply lines?
The fucking mechanics of it. Explain them to me.
Russia or China, storming the beaches of an EU and NATO member state terrotiry which includes a fucking US military base on it in a take and hold maneuver a bazillion miles from their nearest supply lines?
Reposted by Ben Williams
What a ridiculous person Kemi Badenoch is. Her substantial critique of Reform is “then I wouldn’t be in charge”. How can someone be so egoistical that they don’t understand that this is not persuasive?
Kemi Badenoch: I am cleaning out the rubbish from the Conservative Party
The Tory leader accuses Robert Jenrick of being a shameless liar and dismisses a deal with Reform, ‘the party of traitors’ that cannot be trusted
www.thetimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:56 PM
What a ridiculous person Kemi Badenoch is. Her substantial critique of Reform is “then I wouldn’t be in charge”. How can someone be so egoistical that they don’t understand that this is not persuasive?
Reposted by Ben Williams
This reform councillor is just out to whip up racism and division - it disgusts me. I'm a Muslim AND a proud Londoner.
A proper Londoner doesn’t tell people what they can or cannot wear! Who does she think she is?
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
A proper Londoner doesn’t tell people what they can or cannot wear! Who does she think she is?
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Exclusive: Laila Cunningham says women in burkas need to be searched
Nigel Farage’s choice for City Hall tells The Standard podcast: ‘I don't think in an open society people should cover their face. It provides a cloak of anonymity for criminals’
www.standard.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 1:28 PM
This reform councillor is just out to whip up racism and division - it disgusts me. I'm a Muslim AND a proud Londoner.
A proper Londoner doesn’t tell people what they can or cannot wear! Who does she think she is?
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
A proper Londoner doesn’t tell people what they can or cannot wear! Who does she think she is?
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Ben Williams
Any new platform being dominated by the far-right that could produce CSAM and other explicit material of women and children would not get anywhere near mainstream usage. Why does the government have to be dragged kicking and screaming into action on this?
🚨🚨"Surprise, surprise": X has continued to allow users to post highly sexualised videos of women in bikinis generated by its AI tool Grok, despite the company’s claim to have cracked down on misuse. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
X still allowing users to post sexualised images generated by Grok AI tool
Despite restrictions announced this week, Guardian reporters find standalone app continues to allow posting of nonconsensual content
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Any new platform being dominated by the far-right that could produce CSAM and other explicit material of women and children would not get anywhere near mainstream usage. Why does the government have to be dragged kicking and screaming into action on this?
Reposted by Ben Williams
Holy shit.
Renee Good was alive when the bystander physician asked to check her pulse. She was alive when ICE refused to let him help. She was alive when they told him “I don’t care.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Renee Good was alive when the bystander physician asked to check her pulse. She was alive when ICE refused to let him help. She was alive when they told him “I don’t care.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Live Updates: Newly Released Records Detail Chaos During Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:43 AM
Holy shit.
Renee Good was alive when the bystander physician asked to check her pulse. She was alive when ICE refused to let him help. She was alive when they told him “I don’t care.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Renee Good was alive when the bystander physician asked to check her pulse. She was alive when ICE refused to let him help. She was alive when they told him “I don’t care.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Reposted by Ben Williams
‘War for Greenland is boring, let’s talk about the Tories’ is genuinely the weirdest thing for a former ambassador *to Denmark* to say, apart from anything else
This intro to David Frost's Telegraph column sums up so much that is wrong with British politics.
January 16, 2026 at 9:37 AM
‘War for Greenland is boring, let’s talk about the Tories’ is genuinely the weirdest thing for a former ambassador *to Denmark* to say, apart from anything else
Reposted by Ben Williams
This intro to David Frost's Telegraph column sums up so much that is wrong with British politics.
January 16, 2026 at 8:46 AM
This intro to David Frost's Telegraph column sums up so much that is wrong with British politics.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Breaking:
Kemi Badenoch proportedly dealing today with the latest Tory defection to #ReformUKltd , bigger than Robert ‘Honest Bob’ Jenrick in Newark
Kemi’s Conservative MPs falling badly now like domino’s to Nigel Farage
The party might not come back from this one
Kemi Badenoch proportedly dealing today with the latest Tory defection to #ReformUKltd , bigger than Robert ‘Honest Bob’ Jenrick in Newark
Kemi’s Conservative MPs falling badly now like domino’s to Nigel Farage
The party might not come back from this one
January 16, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Breaking:
Kemi Badenoch proportedly dealing today with the latest Tory defection to #ReformUKltd , bigger than Robert ‘Honest Bob’ Jenrick in Newark
Kemi’s Conservative MPs falling badly now like domino’s to Nigel Farage
The party might not come back from this one
Kemi Badenoch proportedly dealing today with the latest Tory defection to #ReformUKltd , bigger than Robert ‘Honest Bob’ Jenrick in Newark
Kemi’s Conservative MPs falling badly now like domino’s to Nigel Farage
The party might not come back from this one
Reposted by Ben Williams
🇳🇴🏅🇺🇸 Norway reacted with disbelief to the news that Machado gave her award medal to Trump, - Bloomberg
“That’s completely unheard of,” Janne Haaland Matlary, professor and former politician. “It’s a total lack of respect for the award,” she said, calling the act “meaningless” and “pathetic.”
“That’s completely unheard of,” Janne Haaland Matlary, professor and former politician. “It’s a total lack of respect for the award,” she said, calling the act “meaningless” and “pathetic.”
January 16, 2026 at 12:01 PM
🇳🇴🏅🇺🇸 Norway reacted with disbelief to the news that Machado gave her award medal to Trump, - Bloomberg
“That’s completely unheard of,” Janne Haaland Matlary, professor and former politician. “It’s a total lack of respect for the award,” she said, calling the act “meaningless” and “pathetic.”
“That’s completely unheard of,” Janne Haaland Matlary, professor and former politician. “It’s a total lack of respect for the award,” she said, calling the act “meaningless” and “pathetic.”
Reposted by Ben Williams
Adelaide and the crisis of free speech iandunt.substack.com/p/adelaide-a...
January 16, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Adelaide and the crisis of free speech iandunt.substack.com/p/adelaide-a...
Reposted by Ben Williams
Reporter: Renee Good was shot in the head and killed by an ICE Agent.
Leavitt: Why was she killed?
Reporter: Because an ICE agent acted recklessly and killed her unjustifiably
Leavitt: You’re a left-wing hack. You’re not a reporter.
Leavitt: Why was she killed?
Reporter: Because an ICE agent acted recklessly and killed her unjustifiably
Leavitt: You’re a left-wing hack. You’re not a reporter.
January 15, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Reporter: Renee Good was shot in the head and killed by an ICE Agent.
Leavitt: Why was she killed?
Reporter: Because an ICE agent acted recklessly and killed her unjustifiably
Leavitt: You’re a left-wing hack. You’re not a reporter.
Leavitt: Why was she killed?
Reporter: Because an ICE agent acted recklessly and killed her unjustifiably
Leavitt: You’re a left-wing hack. You’re not a reporter.
Reposted by Ben Williams
The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.
This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.
January 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Classic Alison! I’m sure you could mutter this now he will be sitting behind us in the Chamber 🤣
Watching the Jenrick Press Conference:
Really hoping a journalist asks him in the manner of Mrs Merton:
"What was it about losing the Tory leadership contest that helped you realise that the Tories had broken Britain?"
Really hoping a journalist asks him in the manner of Mrs Merton:
"What was it about losing the Tory leadership contest that helped you realise that the Tories had broken Britain?"
a woman with glasses is sitting in a crowd and says " what first attracted you to the millionaire paul daniels "
ALT: a woman with glasses is sitting in a crowd and says " what first attracted you to the millionaire paul daniels "
media.tenor.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Classic Alison! I’m sure you could mutter this now he will be sitting behind us in the Chamber 🤣
Reposted by Ben Williams
Big day for all the Tories surprised that the guy who sold out all of his principles to be a right wing chancer is a chancer who sold out all of his principles to be a right winger! Who saw that coming?!
January 15, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Big day for all the Tories surprised that the guy who sold out all of his principles to be a right wing chancer is a chancer who sold out all of his principles to be a right winger! Who saw that coming?!
Reposted by Ben Williams
Sums up how rubbish Badenoch is that she has been forced into a “You’re dumping me? I’m dumping you!” rather than just sacking and disbarring Jenrick over the many, many things that would have kept him out of any Tory Cabinet since 1968.
January 15, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Sums up how rubbish Badenoch is that she has been forced into a “You’re dumping me? I’m dumping you!” rather than just sacking and disbarring Jenrick over the many, many things that would have kept him out of any Tory Cabinet since 1968.
Reposted by Ben Williams
“Britain is completely broken” says Robert Jenrick whose previous party did their best to break it enabled by the likes of Robert Jenrick (does this man have any self-awareness whatsoever?)
January 15, 2026 at 4:48 PM
“Britain is completely broken” says Robert Jenrick whose previous party did their best to break it enabled by the likes of Robert Jenrick (does this man have any self-awareness whatsoever?)