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Ben Quinn

@benquinn75.bsky.social
6.7K followers 363 following 619 posts

Guardian Political Correspondent UK current affairs (with a fair bit on the Far Right, populism, disinfo) Irish Londoner Story? ben.quinn@theguardian.com Something sensitive? Secure drop: www.theguardian.com/tips

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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Former student of suspended Reform official James Orr ‘reopens case’ against University of Cambridge www.theguardian.com/education/20...
theguardian.com
Former student of suspended Reform official ‘reopens case’ against University of Cambridge
Cambridge previously paid £5,000 compensation after an investigation partially upheld allegations against Dr James Orr
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Burnham to tell MPs public control is only way to drive growth www.theguardian.com/politics/202... Exc via @jessicaelgot.bsky.social
theguardian.com
More public control is only way to grow UK economy, Burnham to tell MPs
Exclusive: Prime minister wants to ‘bring back hope’ by tackling cost of living as MPs call for electoral reform
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Reform UK's Summer horribilis? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Can Reform UK recover from its summer horribilis?
Clacton, funding, internal divisions – party prepares for annual conference next week after a season of missteps
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
US accused of ‘meddling in British democracy’ with $500k grants from the embassy www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... via me + @aishadown.bsky.social
theguardian.com
US accused of meddling in British politics with $500,000 grant for ‘public education’ courses
Documents published on US embassy’s website prompt claims of attempt to export Maga propaganda to UK
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Former neo nazi Conservative candidate latest Misses out on running to try to be a councillor .. but gets a plum advisor role from Kemi Badenoch www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Badenoch gives former neo-Nazi advisory role after he withdraws as Tory candidate
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who was convicted of harassing Jewish MP, says Badenoch has asked him to work with party’s culture and integration commission
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
"I don’t believe this man should have *any* role in public life – because of both his racism and his view of women.” Former MP targeted with anti-semitic abuse by neo nazi who became Tory candidate challenges Kemi Badenoch to drop him www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Ex-MP urges Tories to drop candidate jailed for campaign of antisemitic abuse against her
Luciana Berger says Joshua Bonehill-Paine should have no role in public life because of ‘his racism and his view of women’
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Analysis: Rupert Lowe's 'olive branch' & the risks for Farage in telling him to shove it where no sun shines .. Get too close & Farage alienates Reform-curious Tories .. Keep away & Farage alienates Restore-curious Reformistas www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Rupert Lowe’s ‘olive branch’ to Farage piles more pressure on Reform leader
Restore leader has countered charges he’s splitting the right while showing his party is a very real obstacle for Reform
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Former Neo Nazi activist selected to stand as a candidate for the Conservatives www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Former neo-Nazi activist selected as Tory candidate for Somerset council election
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, creator of satirical Crewkerne Gazette, has convictions including for harassing a Jewish MP
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Reform document: “We do not believe for one moment that the French Navy or Gendarmerie would open fire on Royal Marines” putting those from small boats back on French beaches. “Likelihood of tactical confrontation is incredibly low..”
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
British military personnel will escort migrants on to French beaches and “we will end up having something of an argument” if the French don’t agree - Zia Yusuf explaining new Reform channel plans on BBC R4 #today
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Groundwork for Burnham's first meeting with Trump shaping up well
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Cut to Succession theme tune as the Farage chopper lands
Cut to Succession theme tune as the chopper lands
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Andy Burnham (this month's UK prime minister) says his first action as PM will be to end rough sleeping [something which Jeremy Corbyn had said would have been his first action. Burnham also pledged it as mayor] www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
theguardian.com
Andy Burnham gives first speech after becoming UK prime minister – UK politics live
New PM delivers address at Downing Street as after meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Keir Starmer's reign of terror ends.. and he arrives at Buckingham Palace as a band plays a Bon Jovi medley www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
theguardian.com
Keir Starmer gives final speech from No 10 before Andy Burnham becomes new prime minister – UK politics live
Starmer now heading to Buckingham Palace to meet the king and formally resign
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
That World Cup half time BBC advert will be seen in some quarters .. cough.. as the Danny Boyle Olympic opening ceremony on steroids
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
World Cup Final opening so far. A *serious* amount of nip and tuck ..
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
From DC with love.. Trump administration to grant $12m to groups founded by Jacob Rees-Mogg & Toby Young www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... scoop by @aishadown.bsky.social
theguardian.com
Trump administration to grant $12m to groups founded by UK conservatives Jacob Rees-Mogg and Toby Young
Exclusive: Controversial grants are part of package criticised as misuse of public money to influence European politics
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Reposted by Ben Quinn
Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
So much for protecting Britain from hybrid threats! The owner of X and friend of the President of our number 1 ally pays to send an extremist English nationalist to Russia to collude against British democracy… Try defending against that! 🙄 www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Elon Musk’s family foundation took Tommy Robinson to Russia, says Musk’s father
Errol Musk says far-right activist is ‘a fine young man’ and held meetings with Russian business figures
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
EXC. from me Tommy Robinson was brought to Russia by the Musk family, according to Elon Musk's father www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Elon Musk’s family foundation took Tommy Robinson to Russia, says Musk’s father
Errol Musk says far-right activist is ‘a fine young man’ and held meetings with Russian business figures
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Just a volunteer ? George Cottrell was introduced as Nigel Farage’s ‘chief of staff’ we’re told www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
George Cottrell referred to Nigel Farage as ‘daddy’, says ex-Reform candidate
Exclusive: Questions grow over convicted fraudster’s role in Reform UK as party says he has never held official position
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Serious interview here by me with @countbinface.bsky.social Prediction: Nigel Farage may struggle to keep a lid on his Clacton rival www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Count Binface on Clacton byelection: ‘I didn’t know old Farage was going to self-detonate’
Parody candidate, expected to be Reform leader’s only challenger for seat, suggests ‘perhaps it’s all a fever dream’
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
.. and a full list of candidates will be published on the BBC website
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Breaking: Now Greens say they won’t stand in Clacton Farage V Binface is ON🚨 greenparty.org.uk/2026/07/07/g...
greenparty.org.uk
Green Party of England and Wales announce they will not stand in Clacton by-election - Green Party
Green Party Leader Zack Polanski said, “This is a desperate stunt from a desperate politician whose lifetime of grifting is finally catching up with him. Greens will play no part in his political circ...
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Interesting to hear Andy Burnham use a term like 'reindustrialisation' in his Manchester speech One that's been heavily associated with the populist right in the US, UK and elsewhere (pushing back against the 'terrible net zero green agenda' ) Not a phrase associated with, say, Keir Starmer
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
That Andy Burnham speech - covered & analysed by @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social on the Guardian's liveblog www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
theguardian.com
Andy Burnham to propose devolution plan in first major policy speech since launching bid for No 10 – UK politics live
Makerfield MP and hopeful prime minister to pledge ‘growth in every postcode’
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
UK govt rejects claims in London by Trump official that UK police make ‘thousands’ of ‘speech arrests’ www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Senior Trump official’s claims about UK free speech arrests rejected by No 10
Sarah B Rogers speech at conference in London included far-right memes and conspiracy theories about ‘Da Yookay’
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
The international new right met up in London this week at ARC. Re-industrialisation? Just one of the themes they’re successfully getting right wing parties to adopt
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Nigel Farage at the ARC conference in London "family breakdown is pretty much the same as community breakdown"
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Spent time today at ARC - meeting point for the global new right - half way between party conference & evangelical Christian rally .. the name of one favourite villain in particular kept coming up www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Hard-right figures take aim at Ed Miliband and UK net zero policies at ‘anti-woke Davos’
Kemi Badenoch, who joined US anti-abortion activists and European far-right parties at ARC, described energy secretary as a ‘villain’
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
‘Rome is saved’ shouts Tory MP Desmond Swayne as Andy Burnham is sworn in as an MP again
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
'Andy Burnham arrives at Euston Station' - June 2026
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
How Belfast knife attack became latest Far Right ‘trigger event’ .. including for Tommy Robinson, in Moscow www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
How Belfast knife attack became the latest far-right ‘trigger event’
The rapid spread of footage shows how social media is pivotal in enabling far-right agitators to mobilise internationally
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Reposted by Ben Quinn
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Spent the day in parts of Ashton and Orrell where Labour canvassers are targeting the 16% of undecided voters in Makerfield by-election. A few observations (from a single day) I found surprising - A lot of people who voted Reform just weeks ago say they are prepared to vote for Burnham
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Women accusing Andrew Tate criticise UK extradition delay as influencer appears in Russia www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ju...
theguardian.com
Women accusing Andrew Tate criticise UK extradition delay as influencer appears in Russia
Lawyer for British women attacks ‘extraordinary spectacle’ of Tate’s arrival in Moscow
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Nigel Farage at PMQs: ".. the anger which we saw spilling out in Southampton last night"
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Henry Nowak.. Under pressure from the ethnonationalist right, Nigel Farage tries to tap into public anger. Analysis: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Faced with being outflanked by those to his right, Farage seeks to channel public anger
As ethnonationalist far right drives racist agenda, Reform UK leader felt need to weigh in on murder of Henry Nowak
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
L’Ajuntament de Tarragona
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Relaxed holiday mode on..
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Tommy Robinson's low energy Far Right Glastobury www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...
theguardian.com
Tommy Robinson’s ‘far-right Glastonbury’: a distinctly lower energy affair
Smaller and lacking in high-profile speakers, this year’s rally included white nationalists, families with children and people saying they felt ‘silenced’
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Matt Goodwin rules himself out of being the Reform candidate to take on (likely) Andy Burnham in Makerfield “I look forward to supporting a local Reform candidate and doing whatever I can to bring Andy Burnham back down to earth" www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
theguardian.com
Starmer ally admits prime minister is ‘unpopular’ but warns of ‘chaos’ if leadership contest triggered – UK politics live
Pressure is intensifying on Keir Starmer after Andy Burnham was given a route back to parliament
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Parliament's standards watchdog confirms today Nigel Farage is under investigation over a £5m gift from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
West Streeting allies say he’s preparing to resign and launch leadership challenge as early as tomorrow – Live updates www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
theguardian.com
Streeting’s allies say he’s preparing to resign and launch leadership challenge as early as tomorrow – UK politics live
Health secretary met with Keir Starmer this morning in brief meeting at No 10 ahead of the king’s speech
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
"Think Spurs will stay up then?"
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Farage faces questions over failure to declare use of donor’s helicopter www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Farage faces questions over failure to declare use of donor’s helicopter
Reform UK leader has used the helicopter to attend rallies across the country, most recently on Friday
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Tension and dissent: inside the Green party’s antisemitism struggle www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Tension and dissent: inside the Green party’s antisemitism struggle
With a fast-expanding membership and historic electoral gains in sight, the Israel–Palestine debate is testing party unity
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Brief moment of hope Mishal Husain actually had returned to Today
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
EXC. MP at threat from Far Right gets... bodyguard from Far Right vigilante group Security vetting tightened for MPs www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Security vetting stepped up after MP is given bodyguard with far-right links
Extra social media checks brought in amid growing threat to politicians from extremists
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
End of the Orban € forces Hungarian0-funded think tanks & fellows to look el$where? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Orbán’s defeat threatens to halt Hungarian support of populist right
Individuals such as Matt Goodwin and Lord Frost benefited from largesse of self-styled ‘illiberal democracy’
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
@jonworth.eu Hi Jon.. can I get in touch?
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Ben Quinn @benquinn75.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
It was Troy Parrott wot won it ?
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