Gaby Hinsliff
@gabyhinsliff.bsky.social
Guardian columnist & writer, author of Half a Wife, sometimes on telly/Guardian Politics Weekly podcast. No, I didn't write the headline. Event host & speaker https://www.specialistspeakers.com/?p=2705
Nearly forgot: last column of the year is on how Reform’s success has exposed its weaknesses. And now I’m dragging my flu-y self back to bed, sorry www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My lesson from 2025: Reform is much more vulnerable than it appears | Gaby Hinsliff
The party’s astonishingly speedy growth disguised shallow roots – and its success has brought a level of scrutiny for which it simply isn’t ready, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Nearly forgot: last column of the year is on how Reform’s success has exposed its weaknesses. And now I’m dragging my flu-y self back to bed, sorry www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
About to croak my flu-y way through BBC Woman’s Hour to talk about this, which is airing on Sunday very excitingly www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Currently, Left Out: the political radicalisation of young women - and the silence surrounding it
A look at the leftwards move of young women and why media and politicians are ignoring it
www.bbc.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 10:38 AM
About to croak my flu-y way through BBC Woman’s Hour to talk about this, which is airing on Sunday very excitingly www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Gaby Hinsliff
I am urgently looking for a first-time buyer to chat to me about the state of the mortgage market. What fun! Come on, get in touch - felicity.hannah@bbc.co.uk
Shares gratefully received
Shares gratefully received
December 19, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I am urgently looking for a first-time buyer to chat to me about the state of the mortgage market. What fun! Come on, get in touch - felicity.hannah@bbc.co.uk
Shares gratefully received
Shares gratefully received
This piece is billed as ‘father of girls thinks misogyny lessons are unnecessary’ but right at the end he actually asks the girls he is confidently speaking on behalf of and they…disagree. Amazing. www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
I’m a father of teen girls. I don’t want misogyny lessons for boys
The government is planning classes to combat prejudice against women. Andrew Billen isn’t sure it will work
www.thetimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:40 AM
This piece is billed as ‘father of girls thinks misogyny lessons are unnecessary’ but right at the end he actually asks the girls he is confidently speaking on behalf of and they…disagree. Amazing. www.thetimes.com/life-style/p...
You’d think by now we’d learned about mass-shaming random civilians who go viral, but apparently here we are once again www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
Coldplay kisscam HR boss Kristin Cabot on 16 seconds that ruined her life
For the first time, the former Astronomer executive speaks publicly about her panic after seeing the video, the impact on her children and the danger of the online mob
www.thetimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:24 PM
You’d think by now we’d learned about mass-shaming random civilians who go viral, but apparently here we are once again www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
Meanwhile in less important things I am currently cross about - people who’ve had flu this year, tell me it didn’t start with a sore throat??
December 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Meanwhile in less important things I am currently cross about - people who’ve had flu this year, tell me it didn’t start with a sore throat??
Suspect some female Tory MPs are quietly dying inside at this. When you’re so desperate to get in a bit of gratuitous foreigner-bashing that you find yourself arguing *against* preventative strategies that try to prevent sexual violence, ffs, what have you become?
Dog-whistle and factually incorrect. Ladies, raise your hand if you were sexually assaulted by a boy at school? I’d wager this or a family member is most women’s first experience of sexual violence
December 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Suspect some female Tory MPs are quietly dying inside at this. When you’re so desperate to get in a bit of gratuitous foreigner-bashing that you find yourself arguing *against* preventative strategies that try to prevent sexual violence, ffs, what have you become?
Ps i don't usually do this even though our causes are always very worthy, but this year's Guardian Christmas appeal is for charities promoting community cohesion & tackling polarisation and I can't think of a better time for that, so should you feel able etc www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Communities are our defence against hatred. Now, more than ever, we must invest in hope
For this year’s Guardian charity appeal we are asking readers to donate to Citizens UK, The Linking Network, Locality, Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust and Who is Your Neighbour?
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Ps i don't usually do this even though our causes are always very worthy, but this year's Guardian Christmas appeal is for charities promoting community cohesion & tackling polarisation and I can't think of a better time for that, so should you feel able etc www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Gaby Hinsliff
I'd hoped normal service might resume today. I woke up with a tight 600 words mentally typed out on the suspension of the US-UK technology deal. The subject line included a terrific pun.
Then, I went for a walk in Sydney.
Then, I went for a walk in Sydney.
I'm exhausted
And this was a fairly light day
www.linestotake.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I'd hoped normal service might resume today. I woke up with a tight 600 words mentally typed out on the suspension of the US-UK technology deal. The subject line included a terrific pun.
Then, I went for a walk in Sydney.
Then, I went for a walk in Sydney.
This is an extremely classy thing for a newspaper to do and I’m not just saying it because there are some great Guardian pieces here, honest. (Also good showing for Substacks)
The FT's favourite non-FT articles of 2025 www.ft.com/content/72d0...
FT journalists pick their favourite non-FT articles of the year
Everything you should read that we didn’t write
www.ft.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:39 AM
This is an extremely classy thing for a newspaper to do and I’m not just saying it because there are some great Guardian pieces here, honest. (Also good showing for Substacks)
If you were wondering why there’s suddenly been a lot of military-adjacent types warning publicly about the very real threat from Russia, this (along more obviously with events in Ukraine) is useful context
Defence Investment Plan due date: Autumn, before Xmas and now next year.
And this isn’t an especially hopeful sounding para.
www.ft.com/content/6e96... Defence spending plan delayed over Starmer concerns
And this isn’t an especially hopeful sounding para.
www.ft.com/content/6e96... Defence spending plan delayed over Starmer concerns
December 17, 2025 at 11:09 AM
If you were wondering why there’s suddenly been a lot of military-adjacent types warning publicly about the very real threat from Russia, this (along more obviously with events in Ukraine) is useful context
Behind this mad headline is an interesting eg of Reform coming a cropper by talking glibly about SEND & so having to backtrack fast. It’s a good eg of the particular weakness rapid growth creates: you stop knowing your base as well as you did, cos your base changes www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Empty churches could be used for pupils with SEND, says Reform
A working group on tackling the SEND crisis is launched by Reform UK, to be led by former DfE minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns
www.tes.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Behind this mad headline is an interesting eg of Reform coming a cropper by talking glibly about SEND & so having to backtrack fast. It’s a good eg of the particular weakness rapid growth creates: you stop knowing your base as well as you did, cos your base changes www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Terrific Danny Finkelstein column on Nick Fuentes, Bondi Beach, and why antisemitism in all its various forms isn’t just dangerous to Jews www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
What I learnt when I took on Nick Fuentes
Extremists walk among us — and trying to ignore them won’t help. This is a fight for the future of liberal democracy
www.thetimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Terrific Danny Finkelstein column on Nick Fuentes, Bondi Beach, and why antisemitism in all its various forms isn’t just dangerous to Jews www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Reposted by Gaby Hinsliff
NEW PODCAST!
To take on the end of the year - and figure out just what on earth went on in 2025 - we had @labourlist.bsky.social's Editor @emmaburnell.bsky.social and Guardian columnist @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social join our director, Neal Lawson.
Available wherever you get your podcasts!
To take on the end of the year - and figure out just what on earth went on in 2025 - we had @labourlist.bsky.social's Editor @emmaburnell.bsky.social and Guardian columnist @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social join our director, Neal Lawson.
Available wherever you get your podcasts!
December 16, 2025 at 12:07 PM
NEW PODCAST!
To take on the end of the year - and figure out just what on earth went on in 2025 - we had @labourlist.bsky.social's Editor @emmaburnell.bsky.social and Guardian columnist @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social join our director, Neal Lawson.
Available wherever you get your podcasts!
To take on the end of the year - and figure out just what on earth went on in 2025 - we had @labourlist.bsky.social's Editor @emmaburnell.bsky.social and Guardian columnist @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social join our director, Neal Lawson.
Available wherever you get your podcasts!
this is a clever idea for a podcast episode & an interesting listen
December 12, 2025 at 2:55 PM
this is a clever idea for a podcast episode & an interesting listen
I cannot lie, I am endlessly fascinated by the runaway horse that is Liz Truss’s post prime ministerial career and just want to know when her bitcoin is coming
Liz Truss is back.
The short-lived UK prime minister and businessman Robert Tchenguiz are launching an ultra-exclusive club in London.
Truss and Tchenguiz are hoping to recruit 700 founding members — each paying £500,000. Find out more here: on.ft.com/493H1hI
The short-lived UK prime minister and businessman Robert Tchenguiz are launching an ultra-exclusive club in London.
Truss and Tchenguiz are hoping to recruit 700 founding members — each paying £500,000. Find out more here: on.ft.com/493H1hI
December 11, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I cannot lie, I am endlessly fascinated by the runaway horse that is Liz Truss’s post prime ministerial career and just want to know when her bitcoin is coming
anyway, leaving you with the news that Bonnie Blue has come out for Reform, unclear if before/after getting arrested in Bali (if you don't know who Bonnie Blue is i do not recommend googling) www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
How Bonnie Blue made her political bed with Nigel Farage
Plus: resignations from Boris Johnson’s cabinet; Starmer’s Christmas parties; a mistaken political identity; and when Rick Astley didn’t let down his audience
www.thetimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:12 AM
anyway, leaving you with the news that Bonnie Blue has come out for Reform, unclear if before/after getting arrested in Bali (if you don't know who Bonnie Blue is i do not recommend googling) www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Would absolutely go to an octopus concert
December 9, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Would absolutely go to an octopus concert
This post is about twice as long as it should be, but it’s an interesting attempt to explain themselves at greater length and to a v different audience than on X at greater open.substack.com/pub/keirstar...
Politics that makes a difference
Over half a million children, lifted out of poverty
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This post is about twice as long as it should be, but it’s an interesting attempt to explain themselves at greater length and to a v different audience than on X at greater open.substack.com/pub/keirstar...
This chart is about tactical voting, but looking at it from the perspective of ‘would it be easier for labour to get voters back from Reform, or from literally anyone else’ is quite revealing
If voters could vote against a party (More in Common)
December 5, 2025 at 9:13 AM
This chart is about tactical voting, but looking at it from the perspective of ‘would it be easier for labour to get voters back from Reform, or from literally anyone else’ is quite revealing
does anyone have any good thriller recommendations? one genre i don't ever read, so clueless. something extremely pacey though. (Yes it is xmas shopping, be nice)
December 4, 2025 at 10:14 PM
does anyone have any good thriller recommendations? one genre i don't ever read, so clueless. something extremely pacey though. (Yes it is xmas shopping, be nice)
This will be unbelievably controversial but *if* it's a genuine clinical review getting at all the unanswered questions about what's driving anxiety/depression/mh in young people, (incl relationships to phones, access to services & much more) then cd be useful www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
Wes Streeting orders inquiry into mental health ‘overdiagnosis’
Health secretary wants clinical review of the rise in conditions such as ADHD and autism that cause people to drop out of the workforce
www.thetimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:41 PM
This will be unbelievably controversial but *if* it's a genuine clinical review getting at all the unanswered questions about what's driving anxiety/depression/mh in young people, (incl relationships to phones, access to services & much more) then cd be useful www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
and again, in case anyone thought i was exaggerating (ok i'll stop now like a sensible person. But Bluesky, sometimes you have to recognise that you can be just as bad as the other place
December 3, 2025 at 10:00 PM
and again, in case anyone thought i was exaggerating (ok i'll stop now like a sensible person. But Bluesky, sometimes you have to recognise that you can be just as bad as the other place
just in case anyone thought i was exaggerating, btw
December 3, 2025 at 9:57 PM
just in case anyone thought i was exaggerating, btw
Labour: let people use nectar points to buy baby formula, it'd be slightly cheaper
The very online right: THIS IS COMMUNISM
The very online left: NATIONALISE BABY FORMULA NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT
Just need 'everyone should breastfeed anyway' to complete the deck
The very online right: THIS IS COMMUNISM
The very online left: NATIONALISE BABY FORMULA NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT
Just need 'everyone should breastfeed anyway' to complete the deck
The right wing British politics twitter reaction/the policy.
I wish I was making this up.
I wish I was making this up.
December 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Labour: let people use nectar points to buy baby formula, it'd be slightly cheaper
The very online right: THIS IS COMMUNISM
The very online left: NATIONALISE BABY FORMULA NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT
Just need 'everyone should breastfeed anyway' to complete the deck
The very online right: THIS IS COMMUNISM
The very online left: NATIONALISE BABY FORMULA NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT
Just need 'everyone should breastfeed anyway' to complete the deck