David Leigh
@davidleighx.bsky.social
Journalist.
Author of "Investigative Journalism: a survival guide" ( Palgrave) http://bit.ly/2lLQhSy.
Was Guardian Investigations Editor; ex-IMPRESS.
Posts are news not endorsements.
Author of "Investigative Journalism: a survival guide" ( Palgrave) http://bit.ly/2lLQhSy.
Was Guardian Investigations Editor; ex-IMPRESS.
Posts are news not endorsements.
Reposted by David Leigh
Overseas tycoons such as Elon Musk would be barred from giving substantial donations to UK political parties under new legislation to block companies making gifts if they do not have British owners or make sufficient revenue in the country
www.ft.com/content/f4ed...
www.ft.com/content/f4ed...
UK to ban political party donations from foreign-owned companies
Government says new legislation will curb overseas interference in elections
www.ft.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Overseas tycoons such as Elon Musk would be barred from giving substantial donations to UK political parties under new legislation to block companies making gifts if they do not have British owners or make sufficient revenue in the country
www.ft.com/content/f4ed...
www.ft.com/content/f4ed...
Reposted by David Leigh
Breaking news: A federal grand jury refused the Justice Department’s attempts to indict six Democratic lawmakers over their comments to military service members — the latest rebuke of the Trump administration’s push to prosecute the president’s foes.
D.C. grand jury declines to indict six Democratic lawmakers
Federal prosecutors launched an investigation into the lawmakers after they released a short video advising current military members to reject “illegal orders.”
www.washingtonpost.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Breaking news: A federal grand jury refused the Justice Department’s attempts to indict six Democratic lawmakers over their comments to military service members — the latest rebuke of the Trump administration’s push to prosecute the president’s foes.
Reposted by David Leigh
The daft thing is that with Proportional Representation there'd be no need for this self-destructive war within Labour. It could split into its component parts - left and right - and people could vote for what they wanted. It's only First-Past-the-Post that forces these irreconcilables together.
February 9, 2026 at 8:51 AM
The daft thing is that with Proportional Representation there'd be no need for this self-destructive war within Labour. It could split into its component parts - left and right - and people could vote for what they wanted. It's only First-Past-the-Post that forces these irreconcilables together.
"He's a coward etc". The Guardian used to ban unattributed pejorative quotes about political rivals
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
For some, McSweeney resignation removes obstacle to eventual downfall of Starmer
Those pushing to oust the prime minister are unlikely to be deterred by his right-hand man’s departure
www.theguardian.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:19 PM
"He's a coward etc". The Guardian used to ban unattributed pejorative quotes about political rivals
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by David Leigh
This is mainly a fairly routine request for media to contact a PR representative rather than the person directly. They’re more routinely sent by grieving families etc, because it’s fairly widely known that otherwise it will just look bad if it leaks. This is Mandelson once again sucking at PR.
Ipso have today circulated a memo from Peter Mandelson saying he wants no further contact via phone, email or in person; he does provide a contact.
Journalists "must not persist in questioning him once asked to desist, unless justified in the public interest"
www.thenational.scot/news/2583451...
Journalists "must not persist in questioning him once asked to desist, unless justified in the public interest"
www.thenational.scot/news/2583451...
Peter Mandelson issues secret notice demanding press leave him alone – read in full
LATE on Friday evening, this notice was circulated from representatives of Peter Mandelson, via press regulator IPSO and the Press Association news…
www.thenational.scot
February 6, 2026 at 8:01 PM
This is mainly a fairly routine request for media to contact a PR representative rather than the person directly. They’re more routinely sent by grieving families etc, because it’s fairly widely known that otherwise it will just look bad if it leaks. This is Mandelson once again sucking at PR.
"the BBC understands his position is....".
My position is that the BBC shouldn't fawningly run off-the- record mandelson-adjacent quotes.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
My position is that the BBC shouldn't fawningly run off-the- record mandelson-adjacent quotes.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Police search properties linked to Mandelson over Epstein investigation
The former US ambassador and Labour minister is under investigation for misconduct in a public office.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 6:49 PM
"the BBC understands his position is....".
My position is that the BBC shouldn't fawningly run off-the- record mandelson-adjacent quotes.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
My position is that the BBC shouldn't fawningly run off-the- record mandelson-adjacent quotes.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by David Leigh
so a month ago I was reading @markpackuk.bsky.social’s speech on Twitter in the lords and there were obviously fake stats the government used to justify Twitter’s UK reach and its continued importance to British audiences
Rob has now found the source of the data was… Twitter
Rob has now found the source of the data was… Twitter
UPDATE: I've had a response from the Cabinet Office!
"the statistics cited ‘19.2 million British citizens registered with X and 10.8 million families using the platform’ were provided by OmniGov, the government's media buying agency, who received this data directly from X itself."
"the statistics cited ‘19.2 million British citizens registered with X and 10.8 million families using the platform’ were provided by OmniGov, the government's media buying agency, who received this data directly from X itself."
February 6, 2026 at 9:50 AM
so a month ago I was reading @markpackuk.bsky.social’s speech on Twitter in the lords and there were obviously fake stats the government used to justify Twitter’s UK reach and its continued importance to British audiences
Rob has now found the source of the data was… Twitter
Rob has now found the source of the data was… Twitter
Reposted by David Leigh
An absolute scandal. Who wrote the brief for this public lie about X?
And Baroness Anderson has clarified her use of 'primary news source' - basically she misspoke.
data.parliament.uk/DepositedPap...
data.parliament.uk/DepositedPap...
February 6, 2026 at 10:58 AM
An absolute scandal. Who wrote the brief for this public lie about X?
Reposted by David Leigh
Labour MPs & party insiders tell me they’ve never seen Keir Starmer so angry as over Mandelson’s lies about Epstein links.
But those who know him well say that anger has now turned inwards. That Starmer is, above all else, a man of public service, and will be grappling with his conscious this w/e.
But those who know him well say that anger has now turned inwards. That Starmer is, above all else, a man of public service, and will be grappling with his conscious this w/e.
February 6, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Labour MPs & party insiders tell me they’ve never seen Keir Starmer so angry as over Mandelson’s lies about Epstein links.
But those who know him well say that anger has now turned inwards. That Starmer is, above all else, a man of public service, and will be grappling with his conscious this w/e.
But those who know him well say that anger has now turned inwards. That Starmer is, above all else, a man of public service, and will be grappling with his conscious this w/e.
Completely insane expendtirue plans. Keep Westmnster Hall and Big Ben. Just demolish the rest of the Victorian rubbish
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Restoring Palace of Westminster could cost £40bn and take 61 years
Home of UK parliament spends £1.5m a week on repairs but critics say restoration proposals lack accountability
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Completely insane expendtirue plans. Keep Westmnster Hall and Big Ben. Just demolish the rest of the Victorian rubbish
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
An absolute scandal. Who wrote the brief for this public lie about X?
And Baroness Anderson has clarified her use of 'primary news source' - basically she misspoke.
data.parliament.uk/DepositedPap...
data.parliament.uk/DepositedPap...
February 6, 2026 at 10:58 AM
An absolute scandal. Who wrote the brief for this public lie about X?
Reposted by David Leigh
More from @markpackuk.bsky.social on his question about the government use of X: government will carry on prioritising X for government comms, despite the evidence about X's promotion + protection of unlawful activity. It no longer pays to advertise there
lordseyeview.substack.com/p/will-the-g...
lordseyeview.substack.com/p/will-the-g...
Will the government reduce its reliance on Elon Musk's X?
Welcome
lordseyeview.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:51 PM
More from @markpackuk.bsky.social on his question about the government use of X: government will carry on prioritising X for government comms, despite the evidence about X's promotion + protection of unlawful activity. It no longer pays to advertise there
lordseyeview.substack.com/p/will-the-g...
lordseyeview.substack.com/p/will-the-g...
Reposted by David Leigh
If there is an argument then this is the argument. But lol I can’t find where this obviously false stat is coming from. And if the government does believe more than half the families in the UK are using it as their primary news source then woah maybe time to up the scrutiny of it!
January 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM
If there is an argument then this is the argument. But lol I can’t find where this obviously false stat is coming from. And if the government does believe more than half the families in the UK are using it as their primary news source then woah maybe time to up the scrutiny of it!
Reposted by David Leigh
UPDATE: I've had a response from the Cabinet Office!
"the statistics cited ‘19.2 million British citizens registered with X and 10.8 million families using the platform’ were provided by OmniGov, the government's media buying agency, who received this data directly from X itself."
"the statistics cited ‘19.2 million British citizens registered with X and 10.8 million families using the platform’ were provided by OmniGov, the government's media buying agency, who received this data directly from X itself."
February 6, 2026 at 9:47 AM
UPDATE: I've had a response from the Cabinet Office!
"the statistics cited ‘19.2 million British citizens registered with X and 10.8 million families using the platform’ were provided by OmniGov, the government's media buying agency, who received this data directly from X itself."
"the statistics cited ‘19.2 million British citizens registered with X and 10.8 million families using the platform’ were provided by OmniGov, the government's media buying agency, who received this data directly from X itself."