Cat Neilan
@catneilan.bsky.social
Whitehall Editor for the Observer. Politics, investigations and taramasalata
Apparently it was green sauce day
December 2, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Apparently it was green sauce day
Nigel Farage has registered a three (3) day trip to the US, bankrolled by Bassim Haidar, valued at nearly £55k
Nothing about the nature of the speaking engagement or charity event that he was attending....
Nothing about the nature of the speaking engagement or charity event that he was attending....
December 2, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Nigel Farage has registered a three (3) day trip to the US, bankrolled by Bassim Haidar, valued at nearly £55k
Nothing about the nature of the speaking engagement or charity event that he was attending....
Nothing about the nature of the speaking engagement or charity event that he was attending....
Nus Ghani on fire (both in scolding the govt and fashion)
November 26, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Nus Ghani on fire (both in scolding the govt and fashion)
The CPS has now released the text of some of Nathan Gill's WhatsApps discussing payments
Included in them is this - Voloshyn telling Gill "and other 2 for David you have already with you"
As I revealed last month, David Coburn joined Gill on his Oct 2018 trip to Ukraine and joined the 112 board
Included in them is this - Voloshyn telling Gill "and other 2 for David you have already with you"
As I revealed last month, David Coburn joined Gill on his Oct 2018 trip to Ukraine and joined the 112 board
November 21, 2025 at 12:41 PM
The CPS has now released the text of some of Nathan Gill's WhatsApps discussing payments
Included in them is this - Voloshyn telling Gill "and other 2 for David you have already with you"
As I revealed last month, David Coburn joined Gill on his Oct 2018 trip to Ukraine and joined the 112 board
Included in them is this - Voloshyn telling Gill "and other 2 for David you have already with you"
As I revealed last month, David Coburn joined Gill on his Oct 2018 trip to Ukraine and joined the 112 board
Enjoyed hanging out with my future husband tonight
November 8, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Enjoyed hanging out with my future husband tonight
Fab recording of #thenakedweek tonight, with lacklustre tennis player Andy Murray @andrewhunterm.bsky.social and Sherlock's younger brother @jonholmes.bsky.social making us make sense.
If it doesn't, that's their flipping fault @larryandpaul.bsky.social
If it doesn't, that's their flipping fault @larryandpaul.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Fab recording of #thenakedweek tonight, with lacklustre tennis player Andy Murray @andrewhunterm.bsky.social and Sherlock's younger brother @jonholmes.bsky.social making us make sense.
If it doesn't, that's their flipping fault @larryandpaul.bsky.social
If it doesn't, that's their flipping fault @larryandpaul.bsky.social
Labour responds to @theobserveruk.bsky.social's story tonight
October 23, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Labour responds to @theobserveruk.bsky.social's story tonight
Is this what they mean when they say recollections may vary
October 22, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Is this what they mean when they say recollections may vary
Funnily enough, so far this parliament he has declared earnings of £587k and all of that appears to have come from public speaking
October 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Funnily enough, so far this parliament he has declared earnings of £587k and all of that appears to have come from public speaking
Here's what Acoba had to say about his Anthropic role. But I'm sure a former PM writing a business column in the Times wouldn't be considered to carry any influence
October 21, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Here's what Acoba had to say about his Anthropic role. But I'm sure a former PM writing a business column in the Times wouldn't be considered to carry any influence
Now the Cabinet Office is pushing back on the phrase 'blocking' (per the Times) - instead saying that govt and CPS had agreed it was "inappropriate" to share witness statements
But inappropriate isn't a legal barrier... so it seems likely there will be further pressure on govt to release them now
But inappropriate isn't a legal barrier... so it seems likely there will be further pressure on govt to release them now
October 14, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Now the Cabinet Office is pushing back on the phrase 'blocking' (per the Times) - instead saying that govt and CPS had agreed it was "inappropriate" to share witness statements
But inappropriate isn't a legal barrier... so it seems likely there will be further pressure on govt to release them now
But inappropriate isn't a legal barrier... so it seems likely there will be further pressure on govt to release them now
When I was speaking to @sundersays.bsky.social last night, I wasn't aware that the PM's spokesman had said this. I'd repeatedly asked for comment at the weekend.
Fwiw I think this is pretty underwhelming
Fwiw I think this is pretty underwhelming
October 7, 2025 at 8:53 AM
When I was speaking to @sundersays.bsky.social last night, I wasn't aware that the PM's spokesman had said this. I'd repeatedly asked for comment at the weekend.
Fwiw I think this is pretty underwhelming
Fwiw I think this is pretty underwhelming
No, *you* can't quit her
October 6, 2025 at 5:36 PM
No, *you* can't quit her
James Cleverly also going for the "if it's good enough for pregnant women, it's good enough for Tory conference breakfast" option
October 6, 2025 at 9:29 AM
James Cleverly also going for the "if it's good enough for pregnant women, it's good enough for Tory conference breakfast" option
Ben Houchen, having a pint of Guinness at 10am, says former PM and close ally Boris Johnson did get immigration wrong.
"The mass increase in immigration we saw over the last 3/4 years - those chickens have come home to roost"
"The mass increase in immigration we saw over the last 3/4 years - those chickens have come home to roost"
October 6, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Ben Houchen, having a pint of Guinness at 10am, says former PM and close ally Boris Johnson did get immigration wrong.
"The mass increase in immigration we saw over the last 3/4 years - those chickens have come home to roost"
"The mass increase in immigration we saw over the last 3/4 years - those chickens have come home to roost"
No flags at Conservative Party conference?!
October 4, 2025 at 1:04 PM
No flags at Conservative Party conference?!
This is also due to take place "in mid-October"
October 3, 2025 at 5:20 PM
This is also due to take place "in mid-October"
Much like Peter, I heard a lot of grumbling from 'business day' attendees being taken for granted ("we're a cash cow to be milked dry"), that ministers turned up late or the wrong ones were dispatched.
My favourite criticism though was the shit "built and carved" sandwiches
My favourite criticism though was the shit "built and carved" sandwiches
October 3, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Much like Peter, I heard a lot of grumbling from 'business day' attendees being taken for granted ("we're a cash cow to be milked dry"), that ministers turned up late or the wrong ones were dispatched.
My favourite criticism though was the shit "built and carved" sandwiches
My favourite criticism though was the shit "built and carved" sandwiches
Pretty punchy rebuttal from the Tories about Michelle Mone's comments regarding her party membership.
Seems as though we are inching towards the highly unusual measure of removing her peerage, which would require an act of parliament
Seems as though we are inching towards the highly unusual measure of removing her peerage, which would require an act of parliament
October 3, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Pretty punchy rebuttal from the Tories about Michelle Mone's comments regarding her party membership.
Seems as though we are inching towards the highly unusual measure of removing her peerage, which would require an act of parliament
Seems as though we are inching towards the highly unusual measure of removing her peerage, which would require an act of parliament
Labour has run out of MPs willing to speak in the Mandelson debate (per @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social's blog)
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
September 16, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Labour has run out of MPs willing to speak in the Mandelson debate (per @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social's blog)
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Flynn was quoting the now legendary interview with Mandelson by George Parker (who seems to be the only FT journalist not here)
If you've not read it you really, really should
www.ft.com/content/085e...
If you've not read it you really, really should
www.ft.com/content/085e...
September 16, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Flynn was quoting the now legendary interview with Mandelson by George Parker (who seems to be the only FT journalist not here)
If you've not read it you really, really should
www.ft.com/content/085e...
If you've not read it you really, really should
www.ft.com/content/085e...
Eyebrows raised in the Commons as SNP's Stephen Flynn quotes Mandelson telling the FT to "fuck off"
Jim Shannon's face says it all
Jim Shannon's face says it all
September 16, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Eyebrows raised in the Commons as SNP's Stephen Flynn quotes Mandelson telling the FT to "fuck off"
Jim Shannon's face says it all
Jim Shannon's face says it all