Sign in

Adam Bienkov

@adambienkov.bsky.social
100K followers 1.5K following 3.2K posts

Political Editor of Byline Times and Online Editor of BylineTimes.com. Lobby journalist in the House of Commons. 📩Adam@bylinetimes.com Subscribe to my Substack ⬇️ www.adambienkov.co.uk

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
🔴 Reform UK Mayor Has Firm Struck off as Another Files No Accounts in Six Years Exclusive: Reform UK’s Sam Journet branded “Britain’s worst councillor” as opponents demand he be suspended as Mayor of Basildon Council bylinetimes.com/2026/10/02/r...
bylinetimes.com
Reform UK Mayor Has Firm Struck off as Another Files No Accounts in Six Years
Exclusive: Reform UK's Sam Journet branded "Britain's worst councillor" as opponents demand he be suspended as Mayor of Basildon Council
7305134
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 21h
The Conservative party Shadow Culture Secretary to speak at conference tomorrow about how to "defend press freedom", whilst her own party bans journalists whose coverage they don't like
21534220
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Great stuff from Adam, and thanks to @mrjamesob.bsky.social for being pretty much the only non-Byline journalist to pick this story up
119455
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The Labour Party are now polling on average ten points higher under Andy Burnham than they were at the turn of the year under Keir Starmer. Reform are polling on average eight points lower than they were this time last year.
38625123
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
One of two Labour gains from Reform in Northumberland by-elections yesterday. Too early to know for sure we've passed peak Reform, but another encouraging sign.
24787148
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
"Picking on Byline Times sends a message to other political journalists: Be careful. Don't be too critical. We can do the same to you." @adambienkov.bsky.social speaks to LBC's @mrjamesob.bsky.social about Byline Times' ban from Conservative Party Conference.
20407166
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
On LBC talking about Kemi Badenoch's banning of @bylinetimes.bsky.social from Conservative conference after calling such bans of journalists by Reform UK "authoritarian" and an assault on free speech www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps4T...
youtube.com
Adam Bienkov on LBC with James O'Brien talking about being banned from Conservative conference
YouTube video by Adam Bienkov
614539
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Jordan @jordanpfot.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Omg Kate Garraway gagged her with that question
1262092400
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Was just on LBC with @mrjamesob.bsky.social to discuss Kemi Badenoch's banning of @bylinetimes.bsky.social from attending Conservative conference after calling such bans by Reform "authoritarian" and an assault on free speech bylinetimes.com/2026/09/30/k...
bylinetimes.com
Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives Block Byline Times From Conference After Condemning Reform for Journalist Ban
The ban comes just weeks after the Conservative leader called Reform's barring of critical journalists from their conference an "authoritarian" attack on the free press
18433151
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
if true this is bonkers for a party supposedly committed to defending free speech
22385100
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Hugo Rifkind @hugorifkind.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I cannot think of one good reason they could have for doing this. Nor even a bad one. They should fix it.
1119838
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I've been a member of the lobby for well over a decade. Not a single one of my lobby colleagues has said a word about the Conservatives banning me from their conferences, without any explanation. Contrast with the US where even Fox News stood in solidarity when Trump banned news outlets he disliked
bylinetimes.com
Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives Block Byline Times From Conference After Condemning Reform for Journalist Ban
The ban comes just weeks after the Conservative leader called Reform's barring of critical journalists from their conference an "authoritarian" attack on the free press
841502614
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Gavin Esler @gavinesler.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I do wonder what some politicians are scared of ….
922080
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Kemi Badenoch condemned Reform's ban on critical journalists covering their conference as "authoritarian", saying her own party would never do the same as "we believe in free speech. We believe in a free press." Now the Conservatives have banned Byline Times from their conference
bylinetimes.com
Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives Ban Byline Times From Conference After Condemning Reform for Journalist Ban
The ban comes just weeks after the Conservative leader called Reform's barring of critical journalists from their conference an "authoritarian" attack on the free press
651067538
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
bylinepodcast.bsky.social @bylinepodcast.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🟢 New Podcast... Andy Burnham's 'Honest Gov' Conference Speech. @goldbergradio.bsky.social is joined by @adambienkov.bsky.social and @josiahmortimer.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/2dc2...
open.spotify.com
Andy Burnham's 'Honest Gov' Speech
Byline Times Podcast · Episode
145
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Despite all the talk about him being 'Starmer with a Northern accent,' Andy Burnham's conference speech suggests he is set to be a very different prime minister from his predecesssor bylinetimes.com/2026/09/29/a...
bylinetimes.com
Andy Burnham's Labour Conference Speech Offers a Clear Break From the Politics of Despair
The Prime Minister's emotional and expansive speech opened the door to a genuine shift in our politics, argues Adam Bienkov
56650120
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
It will never not be wild to me that the Russians attacked Keir Starmer's home, successfully spread falsehoods about Starmer's love life, and this didn't changed British politics and British political elite behaviour *at all*.
471177350
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"We deserve to be told the truth..."
3840470
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Times this morning. Me in December last year. It was pretty damn obvious this would happen to anyone who did the maths. samf.substack.com/p/the-oversh...
22696195
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
"In order to deliver the PM's promise to save social care we need a permanent class of indentured migrant workers without labour rights".
28462180
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Why Reform UK's increasing embrace of the 'blackshorts' is likely to kill off Nigel Farage's last remaining hopes of ever becoming Prime Minister adambienkov.substack.com/p/how-the-fa...
adambienkov.substack.com
How the Fascist ‘BlackShorts’ Will Bring Down Nigel Farage
Reform’s embrace of this new violent racist street movement risks ending Farage’s last remaining hopes of ever becoming Prime Minister
26374110
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Why Reform UK's increasing embrace of the 'blackshorts' is likely to kill off Nigel Farage's last remaining hopes of ever becoming Prime Minister adambienkov.substack.com/p/how-the-fa...
adambienkov.substack.com
How the Fascist ‘BlackShorts’ Will Bring Down Nigel Farage
Reform’s embrace of this new violent racist street movement risks ending Farage’s last remaining hopes of ever becoming Prime Minister
26374110
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
"The one thing your viewers can know for sure is that we believe in controlling spending and reducing taxes, not increasing taxes," says Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, whose own government raised taxes to their highest level in more than 70 years, just two years ago.
78941295
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Luke LeBrun @lukelebrun.ca · 26/09/2026
Tech companies suddenly decide they can, in fact, moderate content on their platforms after all
7359792004
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🔴 Rupert Murdoch Flew Kemi Badenoch and Her Deputy to Mediterranean for Summer Trips Worth £12,000 The Conservative leader and Alex Burghart MP held “off-site meetings” with the billionaire media mogul in August bylinetimes.com/2026/09/25/r...
bylinetimes.com
Rupert Murdoch Flew Kemi Badenoch and Her Deputy to Mediterranean for Summer Trips Worth £12,000
The Conservative leader and Alex Burghart MP held "off-site meetings" with the billionaire media mogul in August
11192116
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Shot (BBC) / chaser (Basingstoke Gazette)
422775
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Ash Oro @ashoro.co.uk · 25/09/2026
Why have we reached a stage where people call in to @natashadevon.bsky.social and say they want people to drown? Well headlines like this don’t help. Let’s forget that numbers are way down on years previous and just keep stoking fear and division. This is why the RNLI is under attack.
61596146
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🟡 Print Edition Money Talks By @adambienkov.bsky.social Adam Bienkov explores what the downfall of Reform senior advisor James Orr means for the future viability of the Nigel Farage project
subscribe.bylinetimes.com
Money Talks
Adam Bienkov explores what the downfall of Reform senior advisor James Orr means for the future viability of the Nigel Farage project
16115
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 25/09/2026
Think it shows both the confused position of the govt and the relative powers of new/old media that the PM won't speak to The Sun but still uses the CSAM & disinformation app owned by the guy who advocates for the overthrow of the government.
828583
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Andy Burnham tells BBC North West that he won't do any favours for the Sun Newspaper, as Prime Minister, due to its actions over Hillsborough
2822831
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Alasdair Mackenzie @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
You know that saying about how the way they treat asylum seekers is the way they’d treat everyone else if they thought they could get away with it? Well,
The Tories said the reduced subsistence allowance would be loaded onto pre-paid card that would not allow cash withdrawals, and would "prevent spending" on alcohol, cigarettes, or gambling.
The party is yet to detail how its proposal would work, but shadow welfare secretary Helen Whately said it would be "a version" of the pre-paid Aspen card issued to asylum seekers living in government-funded accommodation.
These cards cannot be used to make contactless, telephone or internet payments, whilst asylum seekers whose applications have failed cannot withdraw cash.
25378181
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
You have to get a very long way through this BBC report before you learn which party runs the council which took the decision to close all these nurseries www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
South Tyneside Council nursery closures decision 'devastating'
Councillors confirm that all 10 Stanley's nurseries in South Tyneside will close by July 2027.
78903329
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Tice isn't as clever as Farage, who understands that he has to at least pretend not to support these thugs
49477104
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
EXC - We *also* have an MRP out today - which has some very striking findings. Progressives who vote tactically to stop Nigel Farage’s Reform UK could push his party into FOURTH place. The poll also shows Burnham’s Labour is winning back left-leaning voters. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
3331193
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Finally
1622325401
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Reform would only be the third largest party in a hung parliament, were an election held today, according to a new YouGov MRP. Labour would likely need the support of the Lib Dems and SNP in order to govern
6626671
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The British right has now descended to the point where 'the England team are not English' is becoming the consensus position
4031409315
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Quite the contrast between the PM’s words in NY last night (left) and those of the govt’s spokesperson in response to the latest Daniel Thomas outrage
1119249
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Great to hear the PM say “We are going to be much prouder in standing up for our values and the rule of law” re foreign information warfare. I wonder if he or the Home Secretary might consider doing the same when it comes to masked vigilantes shutting down infrastructure and harassing the RNLI
301470412
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
something has gone very, very wrong with the UK
1143334751
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Emma Yeomans @yeomans.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Worrying scenes in the Channel today, for all interested in asylum policy and maritime tactics. A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
1042174958
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Started watching Sky’s War Game last night where Michael Gove is the PM during the Russian attack and I’m afraid it is just very difficult to watch it without thinking of this, one of the great cartoons ever published
541632391
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This is the lowest that Reform UK have polled with YouGov in well over two years
4537482
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
This wouldn't happen in the UK. Reform and the Conservatives have been banning journalists and news organisations they don't approve of for years now and the lobby has done absolutely nothing about it
21563124
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
All these platforms were originally sold to us as being liberating tools of free speech and expression. Now they're being actively used by their owners to suppress it www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
33601263
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
🟡 MAGAZINE Money Talks By @adambienkov.bsky.social Read below. ↓
subscribe.bylinetimes.com
Money Talks
Adam Bienkov explores what the downfall of Reform senior advisor James Orr means for the future viability of the Nigel Farage project
24511
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
my brilliant colleague @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on the threat from Elon Musk’s X platform www.ft.com/content/f270...
6428091169
Reposted by Adam Bienkov
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
How the BBC’s latest platforming of the bigoted views of the anti-migrant billionaire tax exile Jim Ratcliffe is the sign of a national broadcaster that is increasingly losing its way www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/how-the-bb...
adambienkov.co.uk
How the BBC Mainstreams the Right’s Anti-Migrant, Anti-British Agenda
The BBC’s platforming of the bigoted views of billionaire tax exile Jim Ratcliffe is just the latest sign of a national broadcaster that has lost its way
901260405
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
How the BBC’s latest platforming of the bigoted views of the anti-migrant billionaire tax exile Jim Ratcliffe is the sign of a national broadcaster that is increasingly losing its way www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/how-the-bb...
adambienkov.co.uk
How the BBC Mainstreams the Right’s Anti-Migrant, Anti-British Agenda
The BBC’s platforming of the bigoted views of billionaire tax exile Jim Ratcliffe is just the latest sign of a national broadcaster that has lost its way
901260405