Reposted by Ben Walker
"The problem isn’t that we have a deliberately biased BBC, it’s that we have a BBC that has been consciously reduced in its scope and bullied into dumbing down and retreating."
www.ft.com/content/676c...
www.ft.com/content/676c...
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FT.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:47 AM
"The problem isn’t that we have a deliberately biased BBC, it’s that we have a BBC that has been consciously reduced in its scope and bullied into dumbing down and retreating."
www.ft.com/content/676c...
www.ft.com/content/676c...
A likely 75 per cent of votes have already been counted and Mamdani's on course to win with half the vote.
If the figs stay then Silwa has undergone some extensive squeezing to Cuomo's benefit. But Mamdani has outperformed the polls too.
If the figs stay then Silwa has undergone some extensive squeezing to Cuomo's benefit. But Mamdani has outperformed the polls too.
November 5, 2025 at 2:39 AM
A likely 75 per cent of votes have already been counted and Mamdani's on course to win with half the vote.
If the figs stay then Silwa has undergone some extensive squeezing to Cuomo's benefit. But Mamdani has outperformed the polls too.
If the figs stay then Silwa has undergone some extensive squeezing to Cuomo's benefit. But Mamdani has outperformed the polls too.
Most important issue to voting New Yorkers who've given the win to Mamdani:
Cost of living: 56%
Crime: 22%
>> Immigration: 10%
via AP Voter Poll / SSRS
Cost of living: 56%
Crime: 22%
>> Immigration: 10%
via AP Voter Poll / SSRS
November 5, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Most important issue to voting New Yorkers who've given the win to Mamdani:
Cost of living: 56%
Crime: 22%
>> Immigration: 10%
via AP Voter Poll / SSRS
Cost of living: 56%
Crime: 22%
>> Immigration: 10%
via AP Voter Poll / SSRS
Well there we are www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 5, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Well there we are www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Decision Desk HQ calls NYC for Mamdani.
November 5, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Decision Desk HQ calls NYC for Mamdani.
Reposted by Ben Walker
If parties want credit for telling hard truths, they need to tell them when they're genuinely hard.
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
She is telling an accurate story of recent history - the triple punch of austerity, Brexit and covid. It's spot on. But it is terribly strange to say it now in government when you were not prepared to say it in opposition.
November 4, 2025 at 9:49 AM
If parties want credit for telling hard truths, they need to tell them when they're genuinely hard.
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
An election petition is being heard because the last placed candidate of the Runcorn by-election regards it as a statistical impossibility he could have got 50 votes in two separate elections.
November 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
An election petition is being heard because the last placed candidate of the Runcorn by-election regards it as a statistical impossibility he could have got 50 votes in two separate elections.
£4bn raised from 4 per cent of households
November 1, 2025 at 10:41 PM
£4bn raised from 4 per cent of households
Reposted by Ben Walker
And listen to our snap analysis after it was released on the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social Podcast:
England's most deprived areas revealed
Podcast Episode · The New Statesman: politics and culture · 30/10/2025 · 24m
podcasts.apple.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:28 AM
And listen to our snap analysis after it was released on the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social Podcast:
New deprivation data: Britain is levelling down www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Britain is levelling down
Pockets of deprivation can be found in all corners of the country
www.newstatesman.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:30 AM
New deprivation data: Britain is levelling down www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Reposted by Ben Walker
The apocalyptic scenario—another blowup in the Oval Office—was avoided, and that’s good. But the second worst possible outcome was that the European leaders who accompany Zelenskyy would breathe a sigh of relief, and I’m afraid that may be what we’re seeing.
/3
/3
August 18, 2025 at 8:14 PM
The apocalyptic scenario—another blowup in the Oval Office—was avoided, and that’s good. But the second worst possible outcome was that the European leaders who accompany Zelenskyy would breathe a sigh of relief, and I’m afraid that may be what we’re seeing.
/3
/3
Spot the election campaign britainelects.substack.com/p/who-do-you...
August 15, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Spot the election campaign britainelects.substack.com/p/who-do-you...
Reposted by Ben Walker
Truly grim analysis of Labour’s electoral prospects in Wales by @bwalker.uk. 2026 looks to be a politically explosive year.
open.substack.com/pub/britaine...
open.substack.com/pub/britaine...
Death spiral? The state of Labour in Wales
Plus: the polling which shows how bad it really is
open.substack.com
August 2, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Truly grim analysis of Labour’s electoral prospects in Wales by @bwalker.uk. 2026 looks to be a politically explosive year.
open.substack.com/pub/britaine...
open.substack.com/pub/britaine...
Reposted by Ben Walker
New post: Will Labour's trumpeted re-Brexit deal bite it in the backside? www.newstatesman.com/politics/pol...
Labour has put the EU back on the agenda. Will the party regret it?
The issue is low on the agenda for almost all British voters. But the reset could still be a political gift for the government.
www.newstatesman.com
May 29, 2025 at 12:15 PM
New post: Will Labour's trumpeted re-Brexit deal bite it in the backside? www.newstatesman.com/politics/pol...
Reform opens up a 4pt lead; Tories below 20%. Britain Elects poll tracker
britainelects.substack.com/p/whos-ahead...
britainelects.substack.com/p/whos-ahead...
May 14, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Reform opens up a 4pt lead; Tories below 20%. Britain Elects poll tracker
britainelects.substack.com/p/whos-ahead...
britainelects.substack.com/p/whos-ahead...
*looking at divisions which changed hands*
Oh, there's a Labour one over there. What happened?
*looks*
ah
Oh, there's a Labour one over there. What happened?
*looks*
ah
May 4, 2025 at 9:50 AM
*looking at divisions which changed hands*
Oh, there's a Labour one over there. What happened?
*looks*
ah
Oh, there's a Labour one over there. What happened?
*looks*
ah
Re-upping what I wrote in January now there's 600+ Reform councillors:
"The left" (Labour or otherwise) does not know how to debate immigration
open.substack.com/pub/britaine...
"The left" (Labour or otherwise) does not know how to debate immigration
open.substack.com/pub/britaine...
Does the left know how to debate immigration?
Labour's deference to Reform narratives on boats and borders is losing them the debate from the get-go.
open.substack.com
May 3, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Re-upping what I wrote in January now there's 600+ Reform councillors:
"The left" (Labour or otherwise) does not know how to debate immigration
open.substack.com/pub/britaine...
"The left" (Labour or otherwise) does not know how to debate immigration
open.substack.com/pub/britaine...
10 o'clock streaming service over at @britainelects.com
May 1, 2025 at 6:46 PM
10 o'clock streaming service over at @britainelects.com
Reposted by Ben Walker
What I like about role-playing games is that they allow you to act out power fantasies that you could never achieve in real life.
April 29, 2025 at 6:50 PM
What I like about role-playing games is that they allow you to act out power fantasies that you could never achieve in real life.
Reposted by Ben Walker
A nugget in this story:
Defence Secretary John Healey this week told the PLP that Runcorn was too tight to call and urged Labour MPs to get up to Cheshire before polls close on Thursday
@bwalker.uk modelling suggests there could be just a few hundred votes in it between Labour and Reform
Defence Secretary John Healey this week told the PLP that Runcorn was too tight to call and urged Labour MPs to get up to Cheshire before polls close on Thursday
@bwalker.uk modelling suggests there could be just a few hundred votes in it between Labour and Reform
A spokesperson for Starmer said they had "nothing to add" when pushed on whether the PM would visit Runcorn before Thursday's by-election
The Labour v Reform contest is believed to be very close, and Labour MPs fear the Prime Minister would do “more harm than good” by turning up to campaign
The Labour v Reform contest is believed to be very close, and Labour MPs fear the Prime Minister would do “more harm than good” by turning up to campaign
Keir Starmer Would Harm Labour’s Chances In Runcorn By-Election, Say Labour MPs
Keir Starmer would do “more harm than good” if he visited Runcorn and Helsby before the by-election on Thursday, Labour MPs who have campaigned the...
www.politicshome.com
April 30, 2025 at 2:25 PM
A nugget in this story:
Defence Secretary John Healey this week told the PLP that Runcorn was too tight to call and urged Labour MPs to get up to Cheshire before polls close on Thursday
@bwalker.uk modelling suggests there could be just a few hundred votes in it between Labour and Reform
Defence Secretary John Healey this week told the PLP that Runcorn was too tight to call and urged Labour MPs to get up to Cheshire before polls close on Thursday
@bwalker.uk modelling suggests there could be just a few hundred votes in it between Labour and Reform
Reviewing our local election forecast
April 30, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Reviewing our local election forecast
Okay interesting. More in Common polling gives us some variation on the mayorals.
Greens ahead by 4 or behind by 5 in the West of England.
Reform ahead by 15 or 3 in Lincolnshire.
Cons ahead by 12 or 7 in Cambs and P'borough.
& Reform ahead by 13 or 3 in Hull and E Yorks.
Greens ahead by 4 or behind by 5 in the West of England.
Reform ahead by 15 or 3 in Lincolnshire.
Cons ahead by 12 or 7 in Cambs and P'borough.
& Reform ahead by 13 or 3 in Hull and E Yorks.
April 27, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Okay interesting. More in Common polling gives us some variation on the mayorals.
Greens ahead by 4 or behind by 5 in the West of England.
Reform ahead by 15 or 3 in Lincolnshire.
Cons ahead by 12 or 7 in Cambs and P'borough.
& Reform ahead by 13 or 3 in Hull and E Yorks.
Greens ahead by 4 or behind by 5 in the West of England.
Reform ahead by 15 or 3 in Lincolnshire.
Cons ahead by 12 or 7 in Cambs and P'borough.
& Reform ahead by 13 or 3 in Hull and E Yorks.
Britain Elects stream this weekend.
April 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Britain Elects stream this weekend.
I think all mention of the Lord Ashcroft poll should note the glaring undersampling of the rural (less Reform friendly) third of the constituency. It accounts for just 2% of the weighted sample!
New post just out:
My preview of the local elections which includes predictions for every council, mayoral election, and the Runcorn by-election.
I've sub-titled it "Tory cataclysm edition" which will give you a bit of a clue...
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/l...
My preview of the local elections which includes predictions for every council, mayoral election, and the Runcorn by-election.
I've sub-titled it "Tory cataclysm edition" which will give you a bit of a clue...
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/l...
Local Elections 2025: The Preview
Tory cataclysm edition
open.substack.com
April 23, 2025 at 10:31 AM
I think all mention of the Lord Ashcroft poll should note the glaring undersampling of the rural (less Reform friendly) third of the constituency. It accounts for just 2% of the weighted sample!