Leigh Jones
@leighsus.bsky.social
Freelance journalist. Investigations, writing, broadcast, newsreading, BBC Radio Newcastle etc
Editor, The Teesside Lead.
🔗 https://theteessidelead.substack.com
Used to work in music. Ex-Yorkshire Post Teesworks expert. Oh, and once I saw a blimp.
Editor, The Teesside Lead.
🔗 https://theteessidelead.substack.com
Used to work in music. Ex-Yorkshire Post Teesworks expert. Oh, and once I saw a blimp.
Pinned
Leigh Jones
@leighsus.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Subscribe to The Teesside Lead
The Teesside Lead is news that's on your side - a new voice to connect, enable and help find solutions. Click to read The Teesside Lead, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
teesside.thelead.uk
Forgive me for indulging myself with some self-promotion.
I edit The Teesside Lead, a twice-weekly newsletter providing original news, investigations and features from the area.
Sign up on Substack to get it for free.
Teesside is a bit of bellwether for the UK. Maybe useful if you live elsewhere!
I edit The Teesside Lead, a twice-weekly newsletter providing original news, investigations and features from the area.
Sign up on Substack to get it for free.
Teesside is a bit of bellwether for the UK. Maybe useful if you live elsewhere!
Reposted by Leigh Jones
I do like how, in the bit of Prescott's memo where he criticises the BBC for editing together different parts of Trump's speech, his own quote of "what Trump actually said" is... edited together from different parts of his speech.
November 10, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I do like how, in the bit of Prescott's memo where he criticises the BBC for editing together different parts of Trump's speech, his own quote of "what Trump actually said" is... edited together from different parts of his speech.
Reposted by Leigh Jones
The BBC will fuck things up from time to time. Lots of major news organisations do; just look at The Times having to memoryhole several fake news stories in a matter of weeks.
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
UK newspaper editor calls Bill de Blasio fake interview blunder ‘humiliating’
A Times associate editor reportedly addressed situation in an email to staff, saying: ‘We should have been on our guard’
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 AM
The BBC will fuck things up from time to time. Lots of major news organisations do; just look at The Times having to memoryhole several fake news stories in a matter of weeks.
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
It's proper David Cameron the day after the Brexit vote stuff, isn't it?
"This is hard, but I can just leave".
"This is hard, but I can just leave".
🔴 Breaking I Davie faced mounting criticism that a Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by Donald Trump
➡️ Read more: trib.al/I0iw7aP
➡️ Read more: trib.al/I0iw7aP
November 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
It's proper David Cameron the day after the Brexit vote stuff, isn't it?
"This is hard, but I can just leave".
"This is hard, but I can just leave".
Reposted by Leigh Jones
Reposted by Leigh Jones
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 6, 2025 at 6:10 PM
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
I'm terrified of even expressing a personal opinion in the newsroom, and yet...
The BBC has upheld 20 impartiality complaints after presenter Martine Croxall changed a script she was reading live from "pregnant people" to "women". The BBC complaints unit said her "exasperated" facial expression gave an impression of her personal view bbc.com/news/articles/c3epwz08ewzo
Martine Croxall broke rules over 'pregnant people' facial expression, BBC says
The BBC newsreader was reading out a news bulletin about research on groups most at risk during UK heatwaves.
bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I'm terrified of even expressing a personal opinion in the newsroom, and yet...
They say kids keep you younger but my six year old just asked me "what does 6-7 mean?" and I've never felt older in my life.
November 6, 2025 at 8:09 AM
They say kids keep you younger but my six year old just asked me "what does 6-7 mean?" and I've never felt older in my life.
Reposted by Leigh Jones
An exchange about Karl Marx that absolutely reads like a Groucho Marx bit. Amazing.
good morning specifically to the FBI agent who introduced Mamdani’s dad to Marx
November 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM
An exchange about Karl Marx that absolutely reads like a Groucho Marx bit. Amazing.
Reposted by Leigh Jones
Amassing succulent vibes.
November 1, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Amassing succulent vibes.
Reposted by Leigh Jones
are you guys ready for the worst divorce music ever recorded
Arcade Fire co-founders Win Butler and Régine Chassagne have announced their separation after over 20 years of marriage
Arcade Fire’s Win Butler And Régine Chassagne Are Separating
Arcade Fire co-founders Win Butler and Régine Chassagne have announced their separation after over 20 years of marriage. The disgraced indie group, whose latest album Pink Elephant was met with a not-...
www.stereogum.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:45 PM
are you guys ready for the worst divorce music ever recorded
In Oaxaca for Day of the Dead.
Very hard to describe just how incredible the vibe is. Every corner you turn there's a band and a load of people blocking the road, dancing.
Children and adults alike dressed up and in make up.
Incredible.
Very hard to describe just how incredible the vibe is. Every corner you turn there's a band and a load of people blocking the road, dancing.
Children and adults alike dressed up and in make up.
Incredible.
October 30, 2025 at 4:36 PM
In Oaxaca for Day of the Dead.
Very hard to describe just how incredible the vibe is. Every corner you turn there's a band and a load of people blocking the road, dancing.
Children and adults alike dressed up and in make up.
Incredible.
Very hard to describe just how incredible the vibe is. Every corner you turn there's a band and a load of people blocking the road, dancing.
Children and adults alike dressed up and in make up.
Incredible.
Reposted by Leigh Jones
pessimists say it’s 50% empty
The piss tank on the ISS is now 50% full.
October 28, 2025 at 6:13 PM
pessimists say it’s 50% empty
The state of local journalism...
Council tax increases could be seen because Cleveland Fire Authority has a £3m funding black hole.
This story makes no mention of the fact the authority owned a company which collapsed this year leaving 38 people out of work and owing taxpayers more than £1.5m.
Council tax increases could be seen because Cleveland Fire Authority has a £3m funding black hole.
This story makes no mention of the fact the authority owned a company which collapsed this year leaving 38 people out of work and owing taxpayers more than £1.5m.
Councillors were warned cuts and council tax rises may be on the way
Concerns raised over financial pressures facing Cleveland Fire Authority
Councillors were warned cuts and council tax rises may be on the way
www.gazettelive.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The state of local journalism...
Council tax increases could be seen because Cleveland Fire Authority has a £3m funding black hole.
This story makes no mention of the fact the authority owned a company which collapsed this year leaving 38 people out of work and owing taxpayers more than £1.5m.
Council tax increases could be seen because Cleveland Fire Authority has a £3m funding black hole.
This story makes no mention of the fact the authority owned a company which collapsed this year leaving 38 people out of work and owing taxpayers more than £1.5m.
Reposted by Leigh Jones
It’s impossible to avoid the conclusion that large parts of Westminster remaining on X - a platform that tolerates and amplifies extremism and racism - has led a great many people to normalise what previously was unacceptable.
October 28, 2025 at 7:50 AM
It’s impossible to avoid the conclusion that large parts of Westminster remaining on X - a platform that tolerates and amplifies extremism and racism - has led a great many people to normalise what previously was unacceptable.
There's no energy or creativity left at the top of broadcast journalism.
The very worst sort of "this'll do", when it actually, really won't.
Give new people these jobs.
The very worst sort of "this'll do", when it actually, really won't.
Give new people these jobs.
I wrote a piece last week about how the Far Right since Trump/Brexit have normalised discussing in public previously unacceptable things.
Tonight’s Peston show: “Is the Reform MP who says she’s driven mad by TV adverts full of Black and Asian people a racist or realist?”
Tonight’s Peston show: “Is the Reform MP who says she’s driven mad by TV adverts full of Black and Asian people a racist or realist?”
October 27, 2025 at 10:35 PM
There's no energy or creativity left at the top of broadcast journalism.
The very worst sort of "this'll do", when it actually, really won't.
Give new people these jobs.
The very worst sort of "this'll do", when it actually, really won't.
Give new people these jobs.
Here's how the Pacific is looking this morning.
(Moments later I was bitten by a dog)
(Moments later I was bitten by a dog)
October 26, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Here's how the Pacific is looking this morning.
(Moments later I was bitten by a dog)
(Moments later I was bitten by a dog)
There's no hyperbole when I say going to Arena Mexico tonigbt to watch lucha libre was bucket list stuff for me.
Bonus to see Hechicero (even though for some weird reason he was performing in Wolverhampton just six days ago).
Bonus to see Hechicero (even though for some weird reason he was performing in Wolverhampton just six days ago).
October 25, 2025 at 5:37 AM
There's no hyperbole when I say going to Arena Mexico tonigbt to watch lucha libre was bucket list stuff for me.
Bonus to see Hechicero (even though for some weird reason he was performing in Wolverhampton just six days ago).
Bonus to see Hechicero (even though for some weird reason he was performing in Wolverhampton just six days ago).
If you are into Modernism and anti-colonial art, get yourself to Mexico.
October 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM
If you are into Modernism and anti-colonial art, get yourself to Mexico.
Here I am after 24 hours if travelling to get to Mexico City going straight out to get some tacos.
October 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Here I am after 24 hours if travelling to get to Mexico City going straight out to get some tacos.
In Charles de Gaulle Airport a week before Halloween, and in the French dedication to absolutely-not-doing-that-yank-shit they've got their Christmas trees up.
Even more miraculously, Shakin Stevens' Merry Christmas Everyone is playing.
Even more miraculously, Shakin Stevens' Merry Christmas Everyone is playing.
October 23, 2025 at 9:34 AM
In Charles de Gaulle Airport a week before Halloween, and in the French dedication to absolutely-not-doing-that-yank-shit they've got their Christmas trees up.
Even more miraculously, Shakin Stevens' Merry Christmas Everyone is playing.
Even more miraculously, Shakin Stevens' Merry Christmas Everyone is playing.
Reposted by Leigh Jones
Most of Westminster is still on X.
This is a "recommended" tweet pushed to a (very much not-Nazi) contact's iPhone lockscreen last week.
Who knows how many millions it was pushed to by Musk's platform, including in this case, in the UK?
It's now been deleted, but only after getting thousands of RTs.
Who knows how many millions it was pushed to by Musk's platform, including in this case, in the UK?
It's now been deleted, but only after getting thousands of RTs.
October 22, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Most of Westminster is still on X.
Reposted by Leigh Jones
I've got an eleven hour flight on Thursday. What podcasts/audiobooks do I need to download?
Things I like: The Behind the Bastards Kissinger episodes, pro wrestling, heavy metal.
Things I like: The Behind the Bastards Kissinger episodes, pro wrestling, heavy metal.
October 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I've got an eleven hour flight on Thursday. What podcasts/audiobooks do I need to download?
Things I like: The Behind the Bastards Kissinger episodes, pro wrestling, heavy metal.
Things I like: The Behind the Bastards Kissinger episodes, pro wrestling, heavy metal.
Reposted by Leigh Jones
Yes, they are actually saying that a "foreigner" who has worked here for decades, paid National Insurance, & is entitled BECAUSE OF THAT to a state pension, would be deported for the crime of claiming it.
Via @sundersays.bsky.social the Conservatives' draft legislation - absolutely clear that it applies to (and is intended to apply to) legal permanent residents claiming state pension (on the basis of their contributions) or child benefit for British kids.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
October 22, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Yes, they are actually saying that a "foreigner" who has worked here for decades, paid National Insurance, & is entitled BECAUSE OF THAT to a state pension, would be deported for the crime of claiming it.
I've got an eleven hour flight on Thursday. What podcasts/audiobooks do I need to download?
Things I like: The Behind the Bastards Kissinger episodes, pro wrestling, heavy metal.
Things I like: The Behind the Bastards Kissinger episodes, pro wrestling, heavy metal.
October 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I've got an eleven hour flight on Thursday. What podcasts/audiobooks do I need to download?
Things I like: The Behind the Bastards Kissinger episodes, pro wrestling, heavy metal.
Things I like: The Behind the Bastards Kissinger episodes, pro wrestling, heavy metal.