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Alexandra Topping

@lexytopping.bsky.social
1.5K followers 333 following 141 posts

Political correspondent at the Guardian. Northerner stranded in the South. Long-suffering Evertonian. Views are mine alone. Got a story? alexandra.topping@theguardian.com

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Reposted by Alexandra Topping
Guardian NUJ @gonuj.org · 19/08/2026
Statement from the Guardian NUJ chapel on the death of professor Jason Arday
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
It's incredible that the @ukhomeoffice have DOUBLED the amount of paid paternity leave police officers are entitled to after campaigning from @dadshiftuk.bsky.social +others ..and they still only get 2 wks. But it's a start! Better paternity leave = more equality www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Paid police paternity leave to double after fathers reported being ‘ostracised’
Exclusive: Pay increases to two weeks in England and Wales after Guardian revealed officers ‘mocked’ for taking time off
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
What makes the most Brits feel proud to live in the UK today? Iconic products like tea and fish and chips? The NHS? British humour? Our sporting achievements? Take our SUPER FUN British values quiz! (so, so fun) >> www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Hard work or humour? Take the British values quiz
Poll finds consensus on what makes people proud to be British but deep divisions on issues such as immigration
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Cpac (Conservative Political Action Conference) in London’s dockands: Restoring Sovereignty and Integrity to Jorunalism (but not subediting, apparently)
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
I’m biased but this Today in Focus on Andy Burnham is brilliant- so insightful and compelling, brilliant voices - including that of our @helenpidd.bsky.social over her years as the Guardian’s chief Butnham watcher. That question about Manchester lungs is Peak Pidd open.spotify.com/episode/3zZc...
open.spotify.com
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
I met Julie and Carole in 2022 when they were setting up @killedwomennw.bsky.social with 9 other families. There are few women I admire more. Here's the story of how they changed the law in honour of their murdered daughters >> www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
‘Imagine this was your daughter’: how grieving mothers campaigned to close sentencing gap
David Lammy’s decision to increase minimum sentence for domestic murder victims follows years of tireless lobbying
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Reposted by Alexandra Topping
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
This kind of crap from the BoD really undermines those of us who are trying to push against antisemitism across the political spectrum. Infuriating.
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
This is so blatantly sexist. Poor men, don't they play football too?
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Without minimising the dire results for Labour, it’s extraordinary how chipper the Tories are. They’ve lost 500 seats from a low watermark, lost historic major councils to Lib Dems and Reform, show no signs of recovery in the esp LD areas they need to win. But MPs seem to think it’s going well.
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
I can’t believe you noticed!!! 😍
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
I chatted to Lucy Hough before we really knew what was going on and talked about goats 🤷‍♀️>> What next for Labour as Reform wins big in elections? - The Latest www.theguardian.com/politics/vid...
theguardian.com
What next for Labour as Reform wins big in elections? - The Latest
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has made substantial gains in local elections while Labour suffered heavy losses. So can the prime minister fight on? Lucy Hough speaks to political correspondent Alexandra To...
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Excl: Women will be massively underrepresented on ballot papers across the UK next week, with research revealing that almost twice as many men as women are standing as candidates across the local, mayoral and devolved elections www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Nearly twice as many men as women standing in May elections in UK
Exclusive: women ‘massively underrepresented’ in next week’s local and devolved elections, campaigners say
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Exclusive with @peterwalker99.bsky.social - big shake up in British EU stance as minsters introduce bill which would enable the gov to adopt single market rules without a full MPs’ debate and vote as part of UK-EU reset >> www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Britain could adopt single market rules without MPs’ vote as part of UK-EU reset
Exclusive: Ministers planning new legislation for alignment without full parliamentary scrutiny if in national interest
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
In this week's Politics Weekly UK hosted by me and @peterwalker99.bsky.social >> Has Trump taken us to peak Emperor's New Clothes? War ...and could it shift the dial in the local elections www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...
theguardian.com
Trump and the Middle East: can Starmer do anything? – podcast
Peter Walker and Alexandra Topping look at how the UK government is responding to Donald Trump’s fast changing position on the Middle East
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Reposted by Alexandra Topping
Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
In this week's Politics Weekly UK, me & @lexytopping.bsky.social talk war, how on earth you deal with Donald Trump, and how, if at all, this affects the crucial elections in May. Contains a touch of swearing - mainly Trump's own language. www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...
theguardian.com
Trump and the Middle East: can Starmer do anything? – podcast
Peter Walker and Alexandra Topping look at how the UK government is responding to Donald Trump’s fast changing position on the Middle East
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Great to meet James Timpson for this story. A man in a hurry to try and reform prisons while he can >> www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
‘Second chance’: why minister wants to jail fewer women in England and Wales
James Timpson believes many women in prison shouldn’t be there – and a new board aims to bring about change
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Yes Baz!!!! This is a totally mental game but you know you love to see us score on the back of a Gordon mistake #NEWEVE
media.tenor.com
a man in a blue shirt is standing on a field with his fist in the air .
ALT: a man in a blue shirt is standing on a field with his fist in the air .
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
“I blame Thatcher”. After months of acrimonious infighting, what now for Your Party? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
The leadership issue may be settled, but Your Party’s struggle for electoral relevance has only just begun
Incessant infighting has decimated his supporter base, leaving Jeremy Corbyn with an uphill battle to unite the left
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
🚨 Jeremy Corbyn set to become the parliamentary leader of Your Party, after an election which also saw his rival Zarah Sultana voted onto the party’s leadership committee.
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
As a lot of people had expected given their name recognition Zarah Sultana AND Jeremy Corbyn are BOTH voted onto Your Party's leadership committee as "public office holders" As my piece explains below, that's going to make things interesting www.theguardian.com/politics/202... 🍿
theguardian.com
Zero hour: Corbyn and Sultana duke it out in battle for the soul of Your Party
After eight months of rows and rifts, results of leadership election offering ‘fundamentally differing visions’ are due
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Well, I say we're off...lot of process being explained here. 25,347 people voted in the Your Party elections... a 61% turnout
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
And we're off! Andrew Jordan apologises for the delay in the start and says Your Party has achieved something "extraordinary" in building a new socialist movement .... but admits "it's not always been plain sailing"
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Enjoying the Your Party members bantz as they wait tho
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
We were told "The results of the inaugural leadership elections for Your Party will be announced tomorrow, Thursday 26 February at 11am." Well....it's now 11.36, 1,500 are waiting on YouTube and Your Party are promising that the results will be coming shortly
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
“Anyone that’s chosen can speak,” declared the voice. “Anyone else I will fucking throw out.”>> irate hustings and flying accusations, inside the battle for Your Party >> www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Zero hour: Corbyn and Sultana duke it out in battle for the soul of Your Party
After eight months of rows and rifts, results of leadership election offering ‘fundamentally differing visions’ are due
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Reposted by Alexandra Topping
Avert Your Eyes, Pamela Ganache! @pressfuturist.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Unusually, a rhetorical question in a newspaper article to which the answer is undoubtedly yes.
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
This week Nigel Farage was accused of patronising a female journalist, hired a hardline anti-abortion theologian as his head of policy and promised to repeal the Equality Act on his party’s first day in government. Does he have a women problem? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Does Nigel Farage have a problem with women?
Critics say Reform leader’s patronising rhetoric is part of worrying trend. He says scrutiny is a two way street.
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Sam Freedman is one of the people everyone in Westminster, no matter what their political persuasions, listens to 👀
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
This interview by Charlotte Higgins with Tracey Emin in today’s Guardian is really a masterclass in arts journalism. She provides content, structure and the space for Emin to breathe, elucidate, be without ever clumsily inserting herself. It is just brilliant www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
theguardian.com
‘Regrets? Number one: smoking. Number two: taking it up the wrong hole’: Tracey Emin on reputation, radical honesty – and Reform
She scandalised the art world in the 1990s with her unmade bed, partied hard in the 2000s – then a brush with death turned the artist’s life upside down. Now she’s as frank as ever
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
As someone who plays a LOT of guess who, this really made me belly laugh
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Reposted by Alexandra Topping
Andy Gibson (@AndyGibsonTV) / InformingBritain.com @informingbritain.com · 12/02/2026
"SELECT FEMALE DEPUTY TO END 'BOYS CLUB' IN NO 10, PM TOLD" @lexytopping.bsky.social for @theguardian.com Full Story: t.ly/1mvB8 Female Labour MPs have demanded #KeirStarmer appoint a senior woman as his deputy to oversee a culture change. #TheGuardian #TomorrowsPapersToday #IBPAPERS
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
This is such a great scoop by our @pippacrerar.bsky.social the 👸
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Pippa Crerar @pippacrerar.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
ANALYSIS: Anas Sarwar has shown his ruthless streak. But will his swipe at Keir Starmer mean anything to voters? - by @severincarrell.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Sarwar has shown his ruthless streak. But will his swipe at Starmer mean anything to voters?
Scottish Labour leader is gambling that by declaring his loyalty to Scotland, the electorate will rally behind him
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Pippa Crerar @pippacrerar.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
EXCL: Chris Wormald, the most senior civil servant in Downing Street, is negotiating his exit as part of a wider shakeup of Keir Starmer’s operation after dramatic day - @kiranstacey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Top civil servant could become third key No 10 departure in days
Exclusive: Cabinet secretary Chris Wormald is expected to follow Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan out the door
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
@gmpolice.bsky.social will investigate Reform UK after the party admitted to “inadvertently” breaking electoral law in Gorton and Denton www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Reform faces police investigation over ‘concerned neighbour’ byelection letters
Material distributed in Gorton and Denton did not have legally required imprint stating it was funded by party
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Is the end for Starmer? - catch up with @theguardian.com The Latest in which I call @kiranstacey.bsky.social the baby-faced assassin. Sorry Kiran. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/vide...
theguardian.com
Is Mandelson scandal the end for Starmer? - The Latest
Keir Starmer’s days as prime minister are numbered, Labour MPs have warned, after a week of fury over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
NEW: Tories will tomorrow try and use the “humble address” - an arcane parliamentary procedure used by Labour during the Brexit arguments - to expose documents about the vetting of Peter Mandelson for US ambassador www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Tories seek disclosure of vetting process for Mandelson’s ambassador role
Kemi Badenoch plans to force release of files to reveal what was known about links to Jeffrey Epstein
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Send reform one of the government’s biggest challenges this year, ministers at the DfE have been lobbying ferociously to head off a repeat of the welfare rebellion. Will a restless PLP stay on side? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Ministers on lobbying blitz to avoid Labour rebellion over Send changes
Government has ‘learned lesson’ of botched welfare overhauls but MPs say they will not back cost-saving measures
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Labour's flagship draft planning document - its planning rulebook - published two days before the home office's Violence Against Women and Girls strategy - doesn't mention the words "women" or "girls" once www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
England planning proposals fail to mention safety of women and girls, say critics
Draft proposals likely to ‘embed risk and inequality’, campaigners and urban planners say
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Lammy taking no prisoners today. “He’s not going to get this gig again is he, let’s face it”. #PMQs
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Oh what lols in the chamber as Griffiths says: “It’s our party that’s getting stronger”. Cue hysterical laughing in Labour ranks
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
David Lammy up for PMQs while Keir Starmer is in China. Looks wildly relaxed and kicks off with a comment on how Reform continue to spring clean the Conservatives “garbage”
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 27/01/2026
Reform byelection candidate refuses to disown claim that people born in UK not necessarily British
theguardian.com
Reform byelection candidate refuses to disown claim that people born in UK not necessarily British
Matthew Goodwin, who is standing in Gorton and Denton, said UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds were not always British * UK politics live – latest updates The Reform UK candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection has refused to disown his claim that UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds are not necessarily British. Matthew Goodwin, a hard-right activist, was unveiled on Tuesday as the party’s candidate in the demographically diverse seat in south-east Manchester. Continue reading...
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Preno @preno67.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL Evertonwill stage its first senior men’s international football fixture on Tuesday 31 March 2026, when Scotland face Côte d’Ivoire The pub landlords of Liverpool city centre currently...
media.tenor.com
a baby is sitting in a car seat holding a piece of paper
ALT: a baby is sitting in a car seat holding a piece of paper
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Pippa Crerar @pippacrerar.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
With Keir Starmer flying out to Beijing this week, this is a must read from our China correspondent @amyhawk.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
theguardian.com
Advantage China: Trump’s tantrums push US allies closer to Beijing
In the search for stability, some western nations are turning to a country that many in Washington see as an existential threat
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Alexandra Topping @lexytopping.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
This is a really fascinating dispatch from @rjpartington.bsky.social from his deeply unsexy, but really very well-connected, home town of Warrington www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
‘A southern economy in the north’: how Warrington has adapted to change
Good transport links and the quietly booming nuclear sector are helping the Cheshire town to thrive
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 22/01/2026
Trump’s rambling Davos speech rehashes warped ideas of US supremacy
theguardian.com
Trump’s rambling Davos speech rehashes warped ideas of US supremacy
The president’s fixation on ‘piece of ice’ Greenland carries an echo of Vladimir Putin’s claims about Crimea
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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 21/01/2026
"Really enjoying this, President Trump, but we're actually going to move onto our next speaker..."
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