James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 06/10/2026And here it is…The i Paper @theipaper.comThe Conservative Party has quietly been losing touch with reality, writes James O'Brien. Read more: trib.al/ZMoqhjG 44645142
Reposted by James O’BrienArthur Snell @snellarthur.bsky.social · 7hBoris Johnson’s claims about asking whether Russia interfered in Brexit are misleading. He didn’t ask for any formal assessment and nor did he receive a categorical response. Anyone printing a notorious liar’s disingenuous comments is engaged in deliberate obfuscation. 9724179
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 12hInterference is easy to prove or disprove if, unlike Boris Johnson, you can be bothered to investigate, influence almost impossible. The average Brexit voter would not be able to tell you which lies - or liars - they found most persuasive. Many of them still claim they didn't fall for any of them. 48724115
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 12hMuch of the coverage today is absolutely nuts. The facts are on Wikipedia. The full Intelligence and Security Committee (Russia) Report is online. Tory media & politicians once again banking on their average consumer/voter being too daft/busy/blinkered to notice... 571149385
Reposted by James O’BrienArthur Snell @snellarthur.bsky.social · 12/10/2026British Conservatives: "Russia has disgracefully interfered in politics in France, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Moldova, Romania and invaded Ukraine. They even meddled in the US elections." Also British Conservatives: "What? Russia! Interfere in Brexit? Ridiculous! Just a tired old conspiracy theory." 91184344
Reposted by James O’BrienHenry Dyer @direthoughts.com · 12/10/2026Exclusive: Do you remember the polling company Redfield and Wilton, which appeared from nowhere in early 2020, whose polls quickly appeared in lots of publications? The company’s director is a registered solicitor, prompting questions over where the polling expertise came from. Here’s the answer…theguardian.comNigel Farage adviser had unpublicised role at polling firmExclusive: Chris Bruni-Lowe used Redfield & Wilton Strategies role to develop potential campaign tactics, sources say 6489252
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 12/10/2026Trump backs Putin backs Farage backs Trump backs Farage backs Putin backs Trump. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...podcasts.apple.comPutin wanted Brexit - now we know whyPodcast Episode · James O'Brien Daily · 12 October · 57min 25464151
Reposted by James O’BrienSimon Marks @simonmarksfsn.bsky.social · 12/10/2026This is flatly untrue. As of July 11th more than 70% of people detained had no criminal record. The data is here: tracreports.org/immigration/... 12335117
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 12/10/2026It’s actually easier to work out why Putin wanted Brexit than it is many of the more culpable culprits Oliver identifies here… 31518102
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Trump’s obeisance to Putin has been established beyond even the vaguest scintilla of doubt; the possibility of another January 6-style assault on US democracy after/during the mid-terms is clearly acute and ‘we’ are still wary of calling fascism fascism. These are the moments… 611669435
Reposted by James O’BrienScott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 11/10/2026The backstory: Ukrainian drones struck a Yandex supercomputer facility in Vladimir, taking it out. Suddenly, bot activity in US social media fell by 49%, confirming suspicions that this was the site of a massive Russian influence operation targeting US social media—mostly targeting MAGA. 501428606
Reposted by James O’BrienAlina Pereverzieva 🇺🇦 @perevaa.bsky.social · 11/10/2026And now the best part: Bot traffic from the #Yandex network has plunged to near zero following the strike on its Vladimir data center. Bot traffic includes automated requests from search crawlers, scrapers and other online services. Twitter must be a ghost town by now. 14652471504
Reposted by James O’BrienRuth Deyermond @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social · 10/10/2026To repeat: diesel prices and the mid-terms are the excuse, not the reason, for the Trump administration lifting sanctions on Russia. No-one should take the excuse at face value. bsky.app/profile/meid... 1826370
Reposted by James O’BrienRuth Deyermond @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social · 10/10/2026Tl;dr: the Trump administration lifting sanctions against Russia in the week that Russia escalates its campaign of war crimes against Ukrainian civilians is disgusting but it shouldn't be remotely surprising. It's what Trump and his circle have always wanted to do. 528963
Reposted by James O’BrienRuth Deyermond @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social · 10/10/2026I don't see anything erratic here. For over a decade, Trump has prioritised "getting along with Russia"; since 20 January 2025, Trump administration policy has reflected that priority. It's perhaps the most consistent aspect of Trump foreign policy. 🧵on Trump and sanctions. 23430133
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 10/10/2026If you’re thinking that *this time* they will have to admit Trump’s depravity & their hideous folly in supporting him. Then I’m afraid you’re in for another nasty surprise… 1061535232
Reposted by James O’BrienYair Wallach @yairwallach.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Haaretz's detailed story on the Israeli gulags, in which nearly 10,000 Palestinians are held, vast majority of them have not been charged or convicted. These are crimes against humanity. archive.ph/LdVXQarchive.ph 12518283
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Live-streaming an execution. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...podcasts.apple.comTrump is turning execution into entertainmentPodcast Episode · James O'Brien Daily · 9 October · 58min 5319146
Reposted by James O’BrienThe Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 09/10/2026As @mrjamesob.bsky.social was saying… Hegseth is literally doing ISIS things in our name… 28642220
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Another resounding victory for Kemi Badenoch. They’ll have to extend the tapestry now… 941361189
Reposted by James O’BrienAdil Ray @adilray.bsky.social · 08/10/2026I cannot stand by and see Muslims treated this way when I have a privileged platform. And it’s telling who offers support, who justifies being a part of the hate and who allows their careers to benefit from it. This isn’t just a test for Muslims. It’s a test for all our humanity. 1130828
Reposted by James O’BrienAdil Ray @adilray.bsky.social · 08/10/2026There is without question a global campaign to demonise and weaken Muslims. It’s horrific. But it’s having an opposite effect. It’s bringing Muslims together. I have never felt more connected and obligated to my faith or my Muslim community. 938339
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Wall-to-wall praise for the policy in today’s papers but they either don’t understand it or don’t care. We’ve been here before, of course. Bexit, Boris Johnson, Truss… all bigged up by the media despite, all obviously awful. 29693156
Reposted by James O’BrienTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 07/10/2026🤣👏 @mrjohncrace.bsky.social 161126224
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Rachel is absolutely brilliant. But don’t take my word for it, buy a ticket & find out for yourself! 11325106
Reposted by James O’BrienGraemeCP 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🐸 @graemecp.bsky.social · 07/10/2026😂 sacking too good for him make him suffer. Keep him. 0542
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Keith’s on holiday. He just sent this with the caption ‘Thinking of you’. Might sack him when he gets back. Too cruel to do it now. 3841322
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 07/10/2026No doubt all the people who printed, posted or broadcast this now disproved story respect their readers/viewers/listeners/followers enough to correct the record asap… www.theguardian.com/news/2026/oc...theguardian.com‘I reside in Monaco’: billionaire said to have quit UK over potential wealth tax had already leftTaxWatch contradicts claims about David Reuben’s departure and questions stories of super-rich exodus 33747229
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Inheritance tax & the cushioning of the already comfortable. open.spotify.com/episode/08nl...open.spotify.comInheritance tax is the price of being luckyJames O'Brien Daily · Episode 2427870
Reposted by James O’BrienDave Haslam @davehaslam.bsky.social · 07/10/2026London people, please note there are two events there next week - Hatchards Piccadilly and the Rock n Roll Book Club in E17 1185
Reposted by James O’Brienigyphoto @geoffyoungphoto.bsky.social · 07/10/2026The worst part about that awful speech by Kemi 'no gaffs' Badenoch was the eating into of 90 (yes, 90) minutes of @mrjamesob.bsky.social show. I want a refund... 41018
Reposted by James O’BrienOdd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Almost forgot: happy That Tom Hollander Interview Day to all who celebrate 1340485
Reposted by James O’BrienRob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 07/10/2026This is a positive development, full stop. Anti-racism norms matter, elite cues on anti-racism norms matter, a broad political consensus on anti-racism norms matter so a strong signal from the leader of a party which has been blurring red lines lately is good news. 1738667
Reposted by James O’BrienSunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Kemi Badenoch accurately notes that the common sense consensus that black people can be Englsh was pretty settled by the early 1990s. It was being contested vocally by the NF in 1984 (when Barnes scored in Brazil) with the Daily Mail vocal against the NF but much less by 1993 (when Ince was captain) 311822
Reposted by James O’BrienPeter Kay @theonlypeterkay.bsky.social · 07/10/2026This bit is genuinely good. Badenoch on Reform scandals and identity: any prospect of an electoral pact on the right now looks dead in the water. A genuinely impassioned defence of her right, and her children’s, to identify as English with pride. Standing ovation. @mrjamesob.bsky.social @lbc.co.uk 2110518
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 07/10/2026“Whether policies, polls or performances, the gulf between the reality I think I inhabit and the world according to Kemi seems almost inconceivably enormous, and yet so complete is her belief in her own brilliance that I frequently find myself checking whether my own memory of events is accurate.” 53633133
Reposted by James O’BrienThe i Paper @theipaper.com · 06/10/2026The Conservative Party has quietly been losing touch with reality, writes James O'Brien. Read more: trib.al/ZMoqhjG 1816325
Reposted by James O’BrienPrivate Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Archer’s resignation from the London mayoral race after it was revealed he lied in court was the thing that got Paul Foot up from his sickbed and contributing again, having first started chronicling Archer’s lies and misdemeanours in 1969. From the Private Eye archive. Issue 992, December 1999. 311480461
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Sensational. Can’t believe it dropped just after I filed a column about her epic ridiculousness, though. 82595110
Reposted by James O’BrienAdam Macqueen @adammacqueen.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Just as a counterpoint to some of the obituaries this morning, here's the start of the Archer chapter in my history of political lying, The Lies of the Land: 31403105
Reposted by James O’BrienHenry Morris @mrhenrymorris.substack.com · 06/10/2026Come say hello on Friday if you're in Carmarthen! 0205
Reposted by James O’BrienSimon Marks @simonmarksfsn.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Mine earlier today with @mrjamesob.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk 📺: youtu.be/7eltBhn7WV4?...youtu.beTrump suggests he'd let Iran 'take out' Los Angeles or San DiegoYouTube video by LBC 2016239
Reposted by James O’BrienLBC @lbc.co.uk · 05/10/2026'It is rooted in absurd defence of Adolf Hitler!' @simonmarksfsn.bsky.social and @mrjamesob.bsky.social dissect the 'childish' questions that Tucker Carlson asked Jacob Rees-Mogg. 1618549
James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Zionism, racism & the Greens. Shabana Mahmood & the myth of the unemployed welders. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...podcasts.apple.comThe Green Party vote that has alarmed Jewish membersPodcast Episode · James O'Brien Daily · 5 October · 1hr 1812824
Reposted by James O’BrienJames Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 05/10/2026The pitch here seems to be, ‘we’ll build the houses and infrastructure we failed to build during the 14 years we were in government, but we’ll do it in the most damaging and lowest quality way possible’. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...theguardian.comTories to pledge to scrap Environment Agency and Natural EnglandShadow chancellor will also promise to scrap affordable homes regulations as part of strategy to refocus on growth 771395441
Reposted by James O’BrienPeter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 04/10/2026I'm told that some Greens are already looking at legal action over worries that the 'Zionism is racism' motion is likely to be illegal under equality laws. This is a view shared by some lawyers. More soon. 2318229
