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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The story of Jason Arday is the story of James Orr. Of the ideology which has found a foothold in Cambridge University, fostering the sorts of ideas that formed the undercurrents – sometimes explicit; sometimes unconscious – against Arday. I returned to my alma mater for an in-depth exploration 👇

bylinetimes.com

The Two Professors and a ‘War On Ideas’

The different stories of the Cambridge academics Jason Arday and James Orr reveal the wider cultural and ideological forces around hierarchies and structural power – and who gets to belong in our inst...

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

A new era for Byline Times goes to press! @peterjukes.bsky.social & I are proud to have worked on a print redesign with our new art director Sonny Dhamu. With your support, we continue to grow. This issue marks a story no one else can/will. Two Cambridge professors. Two very different narratives...

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Bonnie Greer was never anybody but herself. So unique. So indomitable. So unaffected by the crowd. A lover of complexities and no easy answers. We were emailing in recent weeks about Jason Arday – she had much to say which she wasn't able to in the end. A mentor who lifted us up. We will miss you.

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

This important piece by my colleague @nafeez.bsky.social aims to shed light not heat around the death of Jason Arday – which Byline Times will continue to report on, with complexity, nuance, and evidence. Like any other profession, the established press should be willing to ask questions of itself.

bylinetimes.com

Jason Arday: The Story Behind the Story of The Times’ ‘Impossible Data’

The newspaper of record failed to distinguish between corrections and retractions in the work of the late Cambridge University academic, fuelling the media firestorm that engulfed him

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

A criminal investigation is underway by Met Police into allegations Reform broke the law in relation to foreign funding, following a C4 broadcast involving James Orr. James Orr is Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the Faculty of Divinity. Any media interest in hundreds of articles?

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

After James Orr was filmed by undercover reporters, Cambridge University has told the Guardian that it "is looking into these matters". What about the other extensive concerns raised about Orr, Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the Faculty of Divinity at Cambridge, by Byline Times?

theguardian.com

Cambridge University examines conduct of academic suspended by Reform UK

James Orr, an associate professor, was shown in Channel 4 News footage apparently trying to sidestep electoral law

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Former Chief Prosecutor for North-West England @nazirafzal.bsky.social will lead part of an independent review following the death of Jason Arday, Cambridge University has announced. He will examine the support available to Jason Arday during the period prior to his death. Reporting within 3 months:

cam.ac.uk

University of Cambridge launches independent review following the death of Professor Jason Arday

The University of Cambridge is launching an independent review following the death of Professor Jason Arday. It will examine the University’s decision-making, policies and organisational processes, wi...

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Now James Orr has stepped down as Reform UK's Head of Policy after C4's report, questions remain for Cambridge – where he is Associate Professor. Byline Times revealed serious concerns about his activities there months ago. We all know there won't now be 200+ articles on him and his life don't we?

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Sally @sallyapiacere.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

An even more interesting question for @cam.ac.uk following #c4news expose of Reform, and James Orr's special role in it.

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

"They're talking about it with a polar bear on an iceberg... a fucking plastic straw? It just made no sense at all. Here's this picture of catastrophe & you've totally depoliticised it" I sat down with Friends of the Earth's Asad Rehman to explore why fighting climate crisis = fighting inequality 👇

bylinetimes.com

‘A Polar Bear on an Iceberg? Here’s This Picture of Catastrophe and You’ve Totally Depoliticised It’

The climate crisis can’t be solved without a commitment to fighting injustice at the same time – Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends of the Earth, sat down with Byline Times' Editor in Chief to ex...

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

With unprecedent El Niño announced, the fossil fuel age is burning itself alive. And yet... The new edition of Byline Times has gone to press, exploring the ultimate existential crisis of our times We also examine the story dominating our media in recent weeks instead of this crisis: Jason Arday 👇

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Jason Arday's death will/has quickly become about 'the media shouldn't be censored' & 'journalists shouldn't be condemned'. The discussion that should be had is why journalism can't calmy reflect & scrutinise itself. It's about the culture. The water we swim in. The knee-jerk response confirms this.

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

"We must rage against its cruelty, against the casual conversion of humiliation into entertainment, against the idea that because each blow can be defended in isolation no one bears responsibility for the beating" Poignant reflections by my colleague @iainoverton.bsky.social on Jason Arday's death:

bylinetimes.com

Jason Arday: We Must Rage – Rage Against the Journalism of Cruelty

The death of the academic shows the casual conversion of humiliation into entertainment by a media running on monetised hate and cruelty

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

"There will be another Jason Arday. We know this. Because the media knows this. The press isn't free if it lacks impunity to do anything it likes. It is how power protects itself. By declaring it has none. There is no check to fetter power when unfettered power resides in the check." My Editorial:

bylinetimes.com

There Will Be Another Jason Arday

There is no check to fetter power when unfettered power resides in the check

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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I don't believe Byline Times' extensive reporting on Cambridge academic - and Reform policy chief - James Orr has received a single piece of pick-up by other outlets

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

What is in the media's *own* interests versus the public interest is often a vastly different story. The defensive position of the majority of the established press – that the press isn't free if it can't do anything it likes without consequences – is defensive for a reason. Power protecting itself.

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

The Jason Arday story is by no means the biggest scandal at Cambridge University. I'm sure the media is going to pick this up and run with it in just the same way ... Or is the exaggerated CV of one Black professor somehow more important than this?

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

When are journalists in the established press and elsewhere going to openly admit that journalists and their publications are invested in their own power to shape and influence how stories unfold and what happens to people's lives? This isn't a position of neutrality. And it is the starting point.

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Jason Arday's utterly sad death holds a stark mirror up to the dehumanising political-media-societal culture we are in – one we must all be honest about being complicit in – which forgets there is a human being at the centre of a story, a case study, an issue, a scandal. It is dehumanising.

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

It remains striking that Cambridge University – which has rightly found itself subject to immense scrutiny in recent days over its academic appointments process – did not answer any of Byline Times' questions re Cambridge Professor James Orr, Reform's Head of Policy, and his activities there. Why?

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

A politician – the Prime Minister, no less – talking about failure, self-worth, human vulnerability, and poetry? We shall wait and see what Andy Burnham does in office, but this *more human* approach is what politics really needs. It's not just a language to be used; it's a lens to look through.

youtube.com

Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Imposter Syndrome, Failed Leadership Bids and Finding Hope

YouTube video by How To Fail with Elizabeth Day

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

How the established media is itself a power bloc – given the influence it can have on how a politician/party/issue is seen/positioned – is, and always has been in cases beyond Farage, part of the story. This has to be the starting point, and not only a state of affairs observable after the event.

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Count Binface was a surprise guest at Byline Times' event exploring parallels in US and UK politics with @lincolnproject.us and @quietriotpod.bsky.social in Leicester Square. His message to Clacton and beyond? Vote! And value a (flawed) democracy where he can take on – and laugh at – Nigel Farage.

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

"The Westminster media bubble's assumptions about how people live are deeply destructive – which is exactly why we need independent media like Byline Times" Green Leader @zackpolanski.bsky.social was just one of my interesting in-depth interviewees at the 2026 Womad festival. What did he tell me? 👇

bylinetimes.com

Green Leader Zack Polanski Calls for ‘Reset’ in Relations With Labour Party Under Andy Burnham

Polanski says he is open to working with Labour's more 'left-wing' leader Andy Burnham, following years of "toxic" relations between the two parties under Keir Starmer

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Steve B @stevebasnett.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Insightful article and accompanying thread from @bylinetimes.bsky.social editor Hardeep Matharu: "LLMs are designed to make stuff up and I don't know people always remember that. …designed to sound convincing… bullshit machines... just spouting anything they want out of their head" - Kate Devlin

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

"There's a value in what we produce because we feel – and an AI chatbot can't feel... But I don't find anything wrong with someone who finds genuine happiness with an AI companion" For my new 'Human Interview', I met AI & Society Prof at KCL @drkatedevlin.bsky.social to explore connection & tech 👇

bylinetimes.com

‘There’s a Value in What We Produce Because We Feel – and an AI Chatbot Can’t Feel’

Byline Times' Editor in Chief meets Kate Devlin, Professor of AI and Society at King’s College London, to explore how relationships with AI companions aren’t particularly new, why she believes the und...

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Another new PM, another edition of Byline Times goes to press... Read our exclusive investigation on James Orr, head of policy at Reform & Cambridge professor in print - what's happening at the world-renowned university refusing to answer any of our questions? In shops / subscribe.bylinetimes.com 👇

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

For 6 months, Byline Times has investigated Reform policy chief & Cambridge Professor James Orr's 'political pipeline' to recruit students, some of whom he houses – & his links to Palantir's Peter Thiel. Cambridge sent our queries straight on to Orr's lawyers. What's going on at the institution? 👇

bylinetimes.com

Palantir Co-Founder Peter Thiel and Reform UK's Cambridge University Recruitment Pipeline Project Revealed

The world-renowned academic institution has nothing to say in response to a six-month investigation by Byline Times raising serious concerns about the safeguarding of students and foreign influence at...

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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

WHAT A LINE UP! Quiet Riot, Lincoln Project, and Byline Times! I'm sort of annoyed not to be able just to watch. BOOK!

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

There's much chatter about the established media now starting to 'turn' on Nigel Farage and Reform UK, following a number of by-election defeats and questionable gifts/donations. Farage has *always* been in need of scrutiny. That the press now decide to turn the lens on him is part of the story.

bbc.co.uk

Chris Mason: Accusations around Farage leave him looking vulnerable to his rivals

The Reform UK leader is in the news and at the heart of the headlines are questions about power, transparency and money.

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I've never met a reporter with such a gleam in his eye for holding power to account in such a human and hopeful way. All of us at @bylinetimes.bsky.social are so sad to have lost David Hencke. He was a brilliant reporter, but perhaps more importantly: he was a really lovely man. Thank you, David!

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

10 years ago today, the Brexit Referendum marked a defining moment in our politics. In the aftermath, I explored why my Indian immigrant parents – like many others like them – voted Leave. A fascinating, complex story of Empire, loyalty, colonised mindsets, identity, reparation... Revisit it here 👇

bylinetimes.com

The Story of Brexit is the Story of Empire: Why Did Asian Immigrants Vote to Leave the EU?

The complicated love-hate relationship of immigrants from former colonies with the British Empire cannot be ignored if lessons are to be learned in post-Brexit Britain

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Andy Burnham won in Makerfield by focusing on the 'politics of place'. A decade on from the Brexit referendum, and abandoned by both Thatcherite Conservatism and New Labour, constituencies like Makerfield *finally* need some action. New edition of Byline Times packed with reports and analysis 👇

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Fear and othering are the easiest emotions to activate. They comfort – to a point. Then, constant division with no actual solutions becomes exhausting; self-defeating: keeping people trapped in a trap they start to recognise as a trap. Burnham's defeat of Reform shows endless rage doesn't win.

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

"Burnham is a reversion to the mid-20th Century when Labour prime ministers were men of the people. Burnham is a giant step backwards to a better sort of British politics... Blair dismantled that world, and the deep morality and wisdom that went with it" Peter Oborne's analysis for Byline Times 👇

bylinetimes.com

'Burnham is a Giant Step Backwards to a Better Sort of British Politics'

Makerfield’s new MP will face deep challenges if he makes it to Downing Street – but he can succeed where others haven't been able to

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Andy Burnham wins, warning Labour this is its "final chance". The people I met in Makerfield were engaged on local and national issues, warm, not cynical despite rightly feeling politics hadn't changed anything for them, and happy to engage. As one elderly lady said, "we all need to live together".

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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Byline Times' Editor in Chief @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social will be sharing her thoughts on the challenges and rewards of independent journalism tonight in this @bylinesnetwork.co.uk event. Details to join below ⬇️

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

On 23 June, I'll be part of the company of actors – including Joanna Scanlan – bringing to life @peterjukes.bsky.social's new play 'Trojan Horses' in a rehearsed reading at The Cockpit theatre. Hugh Grant says it's "brilliant & terrifying". Info/tickets: tickets.thecockpit.org.uk/sales/shows/...

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

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Bylines Network @bylinesnetwork.co.uk · 15/06/2026

As part of #IndieNewsWeek, join Bylines Network for a special webinar exploring the future of UK independent journalism. How do we tackle news deserts? What role will citizen journalism play? And how does Indi News respond to AI, disinformation, Big Tech and political extremism? bit.ly/BylinesINW26

Meme for the latest Bylines Webinar

📢 As part of #IndieNewsWeek, join Bylines Network for a special webinar exploring the future of independent journalism in the UK. Featuring Jonathan Heawood, Hardeep Matharu, Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana, Jaldeep Katwala and Sameer Padania, plus audience Q&A.

🎟️ Book your place: http://bit.ly/BylinesINW26

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Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

To mark the 10th anniversary of the EU referendum - the first reading of my epic poem Trojan Horses, about the first great information war. A stellar cast playing characters like Surkov, Dugin, Putin, Bannon, Trump, Farage - and Jeffrey Epstein. www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/trojan_...

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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Well deserved award from President Zelenskyy for our fearless front line reporter @zarinazabrisky.bsky.social who first revealed the ‘human safari’ in Kherson, and has continued to document the war crimes for over three years www.president.gov.ua/documents/48...

president.gov.ua

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

"I was full of anger but thought 'Seamus, you can't kick your shit out of somebody else'. Where I've shown most courage is actually facing up to my fear and insecurity" I spoke to Seamus Doherty on his real-life speech on masculinity in new play 'Our Public House' 👇 bylinetimes.com/2026/06/02/w...

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Hardeep Matharu @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

"We all have those uncles & grandparents who say these things – we still love them. Theatre allows us to look deeper, understand, put ourselves in others' shoes" I spoke to Dash Arts' Josephine Burton about her touring state-of-the-nation play 'Our Public House' on political alienation in Britain 👇

bylinetimes.com

‘We Can See Beyond the Surface and Understand that this Character, this Person, is Much More Complicated… Theatre Can Give You That’

Byline Times’ Editor in Chief speaks to Josephine Burton – creator and director of a new play ‘Our Public House’ by Dash Arts which examines political alienation in Britain today – and two real-life s...

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Sadiq Khan @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Enjoyed speaking to @bylinetimes.bsky.social to discuss ten years of championing the most open, diverse and successful city in the world. As the rise in disinformation shows - London’s enemies resent us because of our enduring success ⬇️ bylinetimes.com/2026/05/12/s...

bylinetimes.com

Sadiq Khan Interview: 'I Know I'm Clickbait, I Know I'm Being Monetised'

The London Mayor talks to Byline Times about how ten years of rising algorithmic online hate has transformed our politics and put his own safety at risk

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