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Cat Neilan

@catneilan.bsky.social
32K followers 1.1K following 1.5K posts

Whitehall Editor for the Observer & chief investigative reporter for BBC R4's The Naked Week. Politics, investigations and taramasalata

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Reposted by Cat Neilan
Rachel Sylvester @rachelsylvester.bsky.social · 22h
Andy Burnham says UK authorities are “clear” there was Russian interference in the Brexit referendum as @catneilan.bsky.social reports in today’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk
From Russia with interference: Burnham first PM to confir...
The prime minister has revealed UK authorities told him there was ‘clear evidence’ that Moscow meddled in the referendum
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
All my imagined AI scenarios end in some form of violence
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Why does 'you already have the face' sound so ominous...?
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Very sad and terrible timing for those of us who will need @ukandeu.bsky.social's steady expert view in the coming months (years)
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Edward Luce @edwardluce.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
This is where we are. Live stream executions for Maga porn. Such barbarism is not easily wiped away.
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Kate Bevan @katebevan.com · 05/10/2026
European Greens not fucking around here: this is a very strong statement.
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I did not care for it
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
They probably won't let me back on the Naked Week for admitting it, but I *may* have chuckled at some of this
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
It's hard to see how the Green party's motion today will avoid an investigation by the EHRC, given Labour was previously found in breach.
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy of the Movement for Progressive Judaism have released this statement, arguing that by adopting this motion, "the Green Party has made antisemitism party policy and become a racist party" progressivejudaism.org.uk/statement-co...
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The statement also says they oppose "genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and the illegal occupation" as well as "the heinous crimes of the Netanyahu government". Adds: "We know there is no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people."
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Green MPs have issued a joint statement following the Zionism is racism motion, saying they "will never tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment", and work to ensure the party is "an anti-racist party in every way" (1/2)
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
From an activist: "[Amendment] 3 [falling] was the most brutal imo. It is proposed by a Jewish member who has already been victimised and called for a clause that protects Jewish members from being targeted because they belong to a synagogue or other group that identifies as Zionist."
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
It's from this www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Conversely, they clearly find Angela Rayner iconic
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
"Turncoat" Robert Jenrick appears (at least) six times in the Tory tapestry. Bearing in mind he's not the only defector, that's quite a hit rate...
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Phil Brickell MP @philbrickellmp.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Bit rich with the Russian stamp on that envelope, coming from the Tories who were more than happy to accept sizeable donations from Lubov Chernukhin, Alexander Temerko etc. Unforgivable and unforgettable.
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Burnham's eyes really *pop* on the label for the sweets (aka my lunch)
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Farage's "funny money" in the press room goodie bags at Tory party conference...
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
As well as appearing with the UAE ambassador on a panel at Labour’s party conf last Monday, the pair spoke for a "matter of minutes" at other conference events It is also understood AD is seeking a "top to top" call with Burnham himself Comes amid widespread criticism of PM's comments
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Exc: Abu Dhabi has held talks with at least one minister since reports of the Man City verdict first surfaced Foreign office minister Stephen Doughty is among those understood to have been called by UAE officials, along with some of the UK's most senior diplomats observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk
Burnham’s former deputy says Manchester City ‘will prove ...
The former deputy mayor of Manchester criticises the Premier League investigation into the football club’s finances, after it was found guilty of numerous breaches
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
static.klipy.com
Schitt's Creek: Crows Released
ALT: Schitt's Creek: Crows Released
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Also unprepared for the inevitable polarisation as camps coalesce around rejoin Vs reject
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Matthew Holehouse @matthewholehouse.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The PM has fired the starting gun on the rejoin debate, 22% of electorate are undecided and there’s lot of evidence that the Rejoin side is much less sure of its arguments, and much less prepared for the debate, than Stay Out
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Can't have awkward moments at the summit if the summit never happens!
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Given C4 sting and police investigation, I'm not sure "You can prove what you want with opinion polls" is the line I would be leading with
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The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Burnham’s Labour finds its pulse, but Unite row lingers Delegates rallied around the Labour leader at the party conference on Sunday. Meanwhile the Unite general secretary hit back at Len McCluskey’s claims of ‘innuendoes and smears’ ✍️ @catneilan.bsky.social
observer.co.uk
Burnham’s Labour finds its pulse, but Unite row lingers
Delegates rallied around the Labour leader at the party conference on Sunday. Meanwhile the Unite general secretary hit back at Len McCluskey’s claims of ‘innuendoes and smears’
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
But as @hackblackburn.bsky.social has already pointed out, the conference slogan does feel somewhat like an order bsky.app/profile/hack...
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Labour conference vibe: Hopey-changey, with a side order of indie/synth pop
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
But those who do know Lewis, a former exec at video platform Cameo, were full of praise noting she was "no Dan Jukes". One said: “At Cameo she managed celebrities and that’s how she fits into Nigel’s world: he loved her, because she’s a reliable and sensible pair of hands"
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
At Reform party conference a few weeks ago, I caught wind of a fascinating member of the team who "keeps [the top donors] happy". Katie Lewis has a super low profile - and as I started asking around about her, posts were deleted or edited to keep it that way observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk
‘Nigel loved her’: the mystery woman looking after Reform...
Former Cameo executive Katie Lewis has flown under the radar since working with the party’s crypto donors, with online posts that mention her name being swiftly deleted
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Chris Philp's new job title just dropped
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Emma Yeomans @yeomans.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
6. As far as we can see, the rescuer was okay - though this is bordering on attempted murder. RNLI then headed towards the Solent, AIS off and chased by the far-right. Authorities in Portsmouth likely were warned that people would be offloaded and processed at Gosport, so Thomas rallied activists.
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Emma Yeomans @yeomans.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
5. After around 30 hours at sea, the dinghy was intercepted by the RNLI and those on board transferred to two lifeboats. Two lifeboat personnel tried to secure the empty dinghy. Thomas yelled abuse and knifed the dinghy to deflate it - with a rescuer still on board.
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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.
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Miles Ellingham @milesellingham.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I wanted to write about the end of world but I didn’t know how. So @observeruk.bsky.social sent me Iceland to meet the extraordinary writer, @andrimagnason.bsky.social . Four days, one frozen helicopter ride and one dead glacier later I started work on this. observer.co.uk/style/featur...
observer.co.uk
Epitaph for a glacier | The Observer
Glaciers are not supposed to stop moving, but in 2014 one did. Miles Ellingham travels to Iceland to see it and meet the activist who believes its death should shock us into taking action
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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...
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Interesting piece about growing unease over the repeat spoiler tactics Reform and the Tel have been taking over big stories. Notable that Ben Riley Smith has criticised it, given that he was until fairly recently political editor of the Telegraph
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
When I went to Reform to ask why Tice had not declared his trip properly, Tice's response was to ask if I was antisemitic This is a vindication of sorts (also for @garethceredig.bsky.social, and the Naked Week team who had to reassure me that I wasn't) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Richard Tice apologises for not declaring Israel trip during debate
The visit, funded by Reform Friends of Israel, was declared in his register of interests but not during the debate.
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Who Targets Me @whotargets.me · 14/09/2026
New Reform ad campaign, calling on Labour to rule out tax rises at the Budget next month. Seems likely there will be lots of these to come, petition after petition, building an ever bigger email list of potential supporters.
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Chris Cook @chriscook.news · 14/09/2026
…CookCoins, sells them for a pound a throw to a pal occupying Crimea and - so long as I was willing to argue it was a commercial operation akin to other memecoins - I wouldn’t have to disclose the donors.
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Chris Cook @chriscook.news · 14/09/2026
Conversely: (b) we have already seen memecoins used to fund anti-democratic movements in the UK, and it’s not clear to me that a sale of a memecoin would count as a “donation” that requires registration rather than proceeds of the commercial activity of the party. So I could issue a billion…
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Phil Brickell MP @philbrickellmp.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Today I’ve written to the Electoral Commission asking them to investigate whether the recent donations to Reform UK are permissible. More here ⬇️
huffingtonpost.co.uk
Exclusive: Elections Watchdog Could Investigate Crypto Billionaires' £72m To Reform UK
Labour MP Phil Brickell has asked the Electoral Commission to clarify whether Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne’s donations are permissible.
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Chip in £3! 🤡
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
You’ll never guess what the call to action is? Is it use their massive majority to? … no not that
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Have a feeling ministers are being awoken by the sound of a horse bolting
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
As reported in @theobserveruk.bsky.social, Reform aides were briefing that the KC who advised that no laws were broken (described to me as "pre-eminent" in electoral law) would "reveal" themselves early this week. Same aides have gone v quiet since observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk
‘Farage has got to wake up and get rid of Zia Yusuf’: Ref...
Tensions with Reform’s home affairs spokesman, plus the expulsion of two senior advisers over another donations row, have created internal turmoil
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Statement from Progressive Judaism leaders - Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky “Holding an Israeli government accountable for its actions does not cause antisemitism. Antisemites cause antisemitism. progressivejudaism.org.uk/rabbi-charle...
progressivejudaism.org.uk
Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy: No single response can speak for British Jews - The Movement for Progressive Judaism
As we approach the High Holy Days, we enter a season of teshuvah, of looking honestly at ourselves, taking responsibility and asking what must change. Yet there is a temptation, on days like these, to...
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