John Rentoul
@rentouljohn.bsky.social
Chief political commentator, The Independent, and visiting professor, the Strand Group, King's College London
Pinned
Read her lips: Rachel Reeves means tax rises
This was the week that sealed Labour’s fate: it would now take a miracle to avoid defeat at the next election, writes John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
This was the week that sealed Labour’s fate: it would now take a miracle to avoid defeat at the next election. Me for
@the-independent.com www.independent.co.uk/voices/rache...
@the-independent.com www.independent.co.uk/voices/rache...
From the archive, 3 years ago: #Top10 royalty who became elected leaders independent.co.uk/voices/top-1...
November 11, 2025 at 8:39 AM
From the archive, 3 years ago: #Top10 royalty who became elected leaders independent.co.uk/voices/top-1...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Terrific interview with Nick Mohammed re Celeb Traitors by Alice Jones www.thetimes.com/article/0391...
November 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Terrific interview with Nick Mohammed re Celeb Traitors by Alice Jones www.thetimes.com/article/0391...
Reposted by John Rentoul
“I don’t think that it's right that a child is penalised because they are in a bigger family through no fault of their own.” Reeves. For me, this outweighs the argument that taxpayers should not subsidise parents to have children they can’t afford
November 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
“I don’t think that it's right that a child is penalised because they are in a bigger family through no fault of their own.” Reeves. For me, this outweighs the argument that taxpayers should not subsidise parents to have children they can’t afford
Reposted by John Rentoul
“It would, of course, be possible to stick with the manifesto commitments, but that would require things like deep cuts in capital spending.” Rachel Reeves to @mattchorley.bsky.social docs.google.com/document/d/1...
November 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
“It would, of course, be possible to stick with the manifesto commitments, but that would require things like deep cuts in capital spending.” Rachel Reeves to @mattchorley.bsky.social docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by John Rentoul
“I believe that having a chancellor who is determined to turn the country around & acting in the interests of ordinary working people is even more important when it’s a challenging moment rather than when it is easy to make the sums add up.” Rachel Reeves to @mattchorley.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
“I believe that having a chancellor who is determined to turn the country around & acting in the interests of ordinary working people is even more important when it’s a challenging moment rather than when it is easy to make the sums add up.” Rachel Reeves to @mattchorley.bsky.social
Reposted by John Rentoul
BBC-style wording from YouGov! Britons don’t agree, but significantly more think the BBC is biased to the left than to the right
Is BBC News politically biased? 50% of Britons say yes - but they don't agree on how
Biased in favour of left: 31%
Biased in favour of right: 19%
Not biased: 19%
Bias belief by party
Reform: 73% biased to left / 4% to right
Con: 52% / 5%
LD: 19% / 22%
Lab: 16% / 31%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Biased in favour of left: 31%
Biased in favour of right: 19%
Not biased: 19%
Bias belief by party
Reform: 73% biased to left / 4% to right
Con: 52% / 5%
LD: 19% / 22%
Lab: 16% / 31%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
BBC-style wording from YouGov! Britons don’t agree, but significantly more think the BBC is biased to the left than to the right
The View from Westminster newsletter has gone out. Free sign-up here www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
November 10, 2025 at 7:19 PM
The View from Westminster newsletter has gone out. Free sign-up here www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Westminster this evening
November 10, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Westminster this evening
BBC-style wording from YouGov! Britons don’t agree, but significantly more think the BBC is biased to the left than to the right
Is BBC News politically biased? 50% of Britons say yes - but they don't agree on how
Biased in favour of left: 31%
Biased in favour of right: 19%
Not biased: 19%
Bias belief by party
Reform: 73% biased to left / 4% to right
Con: 52% / 5%
LD: 19% / 22%
Lab: 16% / 31%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Biased in favour of left: 31%
Biased in favour of right: 19%
Not biased: 19%
Bias belief by party
Reform: 73% biased to left / 4% to right
Con: 52% / 5%
LD: 19% / 22%
Lab: 16% / 31%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
BBC-style wording from YouGov! Britons don’t agree, but significantly more think the BBC is biased to the left than to the right
“I believe that having a chancellor who is determined to turn the country around & acting in the interests of ordinary working people is even more important when it’s a challenging moment rather than when it is easy to make the sums add up.” Rachel Reeves to @mattchorley.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
“I believe that having a chancellor who is determined to turn the country around & acting in the interests of ordinary working people is even more important when it’s a challenging moment rather than when it is easy to make the sums add up.” Rachel Reeves to @mattchorley.bsky.social
Reposted by John Rentoul
Absolutely. And the BBC claimed that No 10 inserted the 45-minute intel in the dossier knowing it to be untrue – that did not reflect a “wider truth”
November 10, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Absolutely. And the BBC claimed that No 10 inserted the 45-minute intel in the dossier knowing it to be untrue – that did not reflect a “wider truth”
Terrific interview with Nick Mohammed re Celeb Traitors by Alice Jones www.thetimes.com/article/0391...
November 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Terrific interview with Nick Mohammed re Celeb Traitors by Alice Jones www.thetimes.com/article/0391...
The "wider truth" argument was used by Piers Morgan to justify fake photos of British soldiers abusing Iraqis on the front of the Mirror – not acceptable in any case but also wrong re Hutton
Hutton report — The last time two BBC leaders resigned for warped editorialising on a point of detail in exposing a wider truth
After the Chilcot report some years later, it became tough to recall exactly which claim about “sexing up” the dossier had been wrong
After the Chilcot report some years later, it became tough to recall exactly which claim about “sexing up” the dossier had been wrong
November 10, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The "wider truth" argument was used by Piers Morgan to justify fake photos of British soldiers abusing Iraqis on the front of the Mirror – not acceptable in any case but also wrong re Hutton
Reposted by John Rentoul
It would now take a miracle for Labour to avoid defeat at the next election
November 9, 2025 at 9:45 AM
It would now take a miracle for Labour to avoid defeat at the next election
Reposted by John Rentoul
This was the week that sealed Labour’s fate
November 9, 2025 at 9:42 AM
This was the week that sealed Labour’s fate
Reposted by John Rentoul
My admiration for Pat McFadden is also extreme, & this approach shows some tact & skill, but Labour is 16 months in now
November 9, 2025 at 3:32 PM
My admiration for Pat McFadden is also extreme, & this approach shows some tact & skill, but Labour is 16 months in now
Reposted by John Rentoul
My admiration for Alan Milburn knows no bounds, but he can’t do everything www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
November 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
My admiration for Alan Milburn knows no bounds, but he can’t do everything www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Priceless comment from Ed Miliband’s aides re claim he asked to be DPM: they are “99 per cent sure it’s not true” www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
David Lammy urged Starmer to scale back his overseas travel
Last week the PM marked his 40th foreign trip since the election, and he is due for plenty more travel before Christmas
www.thetimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Priceless comment from Ed Miliband’s aides re claim he asked to be DPM: they are “99 per cent sure it’s not true” www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Read her lips: Rachel Reeves means tax rises www.independent.co.uk/voices/rache...
November 9, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Read her lips: Rachel Reeves means tax rises www.independent.co.uk/voices/rache...
Reposted by John Rentoul
PM’s objection to a mansion tax overcome by need to appease Labour backbenchers – Glen Owen, Mail on Sunday www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
November 9, 2025 at 11:48 AM
PM’s objection to a mansion tax overcome by need to appease Labour backbenchers – Glen Owen, Mail on Sunday www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
My admiration for Alan Milburn knows no bounds, but he can’t do everything www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
November 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
My admiration for Alan Milburn knows no bounds, but he can’t do everything www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
PM’s objection to a mansion tax overcome by need to appease Labour backbenchers – Glen Owen, Mail on Sunday www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
November 9, 2025 at 11:48 AM
PM’s objection to a mansion tax overcome by need to appease Labour backbenchers – Glen Owen, Mail on Sunday www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by John Rentoul
“You can win by making impossible promises, but in Britain this week we’ve been reminded that there’s usually a bill to pay.” @ianleslie.bsky.social on Mamdani www.ian-leslie.com/p/are-parent...
November 8, 2025 at 9:57 AM
“You can win by making impossible promises, but in Britain this week we’ve been reminded that there’s usually a bill to pay.” @ianleslie.bsky.social on Mamdani www.ian-leslie.com/p/are-parent...
Read her lips: Rachel Reeves means tax rises www.independent.co.uk/voices/rache...
November 9, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Read her lips: Rachel Reeves means tax rises www.independent.co.uk/voices/rache...
Priceless comment from Ed Miliband’s aides re claim he asked to be DPM: they are “99 per cent sure it’s not true” www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
David Lammy urged Starmer to scale back his overseas travel
Last week the PM marked his 40th foreign trip since the election, and he is due for plenty more travel before Christmas
www.thetimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Priceless comment from Ed Miliband’s aides re claim he asked to be DPM: they are “99 per cent sure it’s not true” www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...