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John Rentoul

@rentouljohn.bsky.social
18K followers 80 following 5.7K posts

Chief political commentator, The Independent, and visiting professor, the Strand Group, King's College London

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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 20h
The contrary view, from @keiranpedley.bsky.social www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
politicshome.com
Don't buy shares in Prime Minister Badenoch just yet
A year ago, the Conservative Party appeared trapped in a downward spiral, squeezed by Reform UK and facing questions about its long-term viability....
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 16h
Astonishing that tags are not fitted before release from prison
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 16h
Proper journalism: how tagging works – Madeleine Spence, Sunday Times thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 15h
Old people in Japan seem to prefer robotic care – study via Tyler Cowen marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...
marginalrevolution.com
Do the elderly prefer robotic care? - Marginal REVOLUTION
The Japanese elderly, to be clear: Population aging and shortages of long-term care workers have increased interest in care-giving robots and information and communication technology (ICT). This paper...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 10h
Shabana Mahmood, interviewed by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 15h
Old people in Japan seem to prefer robotic care – study via Tyler Cowen marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...
marginalrevolution.com
Do the elderly prefer robotic care? - Marginal REVOLUTION
The Japanese elderly, to be clear: Population aging and shortages of long-term care workers have increased interest in care-giving robots and information and communication technology (ICT). This paper...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 16h
AI can’t answer this question: have any instrumental tracks featured in the UK top 100 singles chart in the 2020s?
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 16h
Proper journalism: how tagging works – Madeleine Spence, Sunday Times thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Andy Burnham, the trade magazine years the-fence.com/article/tank...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I never thought I would say it, but Kemi Badenoch really could become PM www.independent.co.uk/voices/kemi-...
independent.co.uk
I never thought I would say it, but Kemi Badenoch really could become prime minister
As the Conservative Party conference opens in Birmingham, its leader’s fortunes have been transformed, writes John Rentoul
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Answers to the i paper quiz are here docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com
i Quiz answers
3 Oct 26 Sep 19 Sep 12 Sep 5 Sep 29 Aug 22 Aug 15 Aug 8 Aug 1 Aug 25 Jul 18 Jul 11 Jul 4 Jul 27 Jun 20 Jun 13 Jun 6 Jun 30 May 23 May 16 May 9 May 2 May 25 Apr 18 Apr 11 Apr ...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I never thought I would say it, but Kemi Badenoch really could become PM www.independent.co.uk/voices/kemi-...
independent.co.uk
I never thought I would say it, but Kemi Badenoch really could become prime minister
As the Conservative Party conference opens in Birmingham, its leader’s fortunes have been transformed, writes John Rentoul
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Last word on Andy Burnham’s speech, by Ian Leslie www.ian-leslie.com/p/peak-burnham
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
4/10 in John Clarke's Saturday Quiz in the i paper (answers in the paper or here later)
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Andy Burnham, the trade magazine years the-fence.com/article/tank...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Last word on Andy Burnham’s speech, by Ian Leslie www.ian-leslie.com/p/peak-burnham
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
4/10 in John Clarke's Saturday Quiz in the i paper (answers in the paper or here later)
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Just caught up with this: lovely by Ann Treneman www.thetimes.com/life-style/h...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Polanski once hoped to replace Labour. Where has it all gone wrong for the Greens? www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
independent.co.uk
Where has it all gone wrong for the Greens?
His party has slipped to fifth place in opinion polls, its annual conference is riven by accusations of antisemitism and he is expected to lose a by-election. John Rentoul assesses the challenge facin...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Just caught up with this: lovely by Ann Treneman www.thetimes.com/life-style/h...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The View from Westminster newsletter comes from Millie Cooke tonight. Free sign-up here www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Polanski once hoped to replace Labour. Where has it all gone wrong for the Greens? www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
independent.co.uk
Where has it all gone wrong for the Greens?
His party has slipped to fifth place in opinion polls, its annual conference is riven by accusations of antisemitism and he is expected to lose a by-election. John Rentoul assesses the challenge facin...
1341
Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Catch-up: Lord Ashcroft focus groups Croydon, Crawley, Reading, 2024 weak Labour voters & ex-Tories considering Reform lordashcroftpolls.com/2026/09/your... 1/3
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Why talk of an early election won’t go away – @samfr.bsky.social samf.substack.com/p/a-journey-...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Why talk of an early election won’t go away – @samfr.bsky.social samf.substack.com/p/a-journey-...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
From the archive, 4 years ago: #Top10 extinct girls’ names independent.co.uk/voices/top-1...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
A special edition of the Commons Confidential newsletter has gone out to Independent members. Sign up here www.independent.co.uk/subscribe
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Catch-up: Lord Ashcroft focus groups Croydon, Crawley, Reading, 2024 weak Labour voters & ex-Tories considering Reform lordashcroftpolls.com/2026/09/your... 1/3
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
From the archive, 10 years ago: #Top10 Undelivered Speeches independent.co.uk/voices/top-1...
independent.co.uk
Top 10 undelivered speeches
From the D-Day landings to Clive Lewis’s autocue edit this week, those momentous words we never heard
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
A special edition of the Commons Confidential newsletter has gone out to Independent members. Sign up here www.independent.co.uk/subscribe
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
From the archive, 4 years ago: #Top10 extinct girls’ names independent.co.uk/voices/top-1...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
My contribution to Louise Casey’s social care consultation: a proposal by Daniel Dennis for a govt-backed insurance scheme johnrentoul1.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is good by @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social www.independent.co.uk/voices/andy-...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Excellent discussion of Labour conference and Andy Burnham’s speech by Cleo Watson & Helen MacNamara open.spotify.com/episode/0TUv...
open.spotify.com
Andy Burnham waited his whole life to deliver this speech – here's how it landed
In The Room · Episode
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The View from Westminster newsletter comes from Athena Stavrou tonight. Free sign-up here independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is good by @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social www.independent.co.uk/voices/andy-...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Andy Burnham is not really interested in growth, says Janan Ganesh www.ft.com/content/3b92...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
My contribution to Louise Casey’s social care consultation: a proposal by Daniel Dennis for a govt-backed insurance scheme johnrentoul1.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Victory for The Independent! The PM has broken the spell on Europe www.independent.co.uk/voices/burnh...
independent.co.uk
Victory for The Independent! The PM has broken the spell on Europe
By saying that all options for Britain’s future with the EU are back on the table – including rejoining – the prime minister has supercharged the Brexit debate, says John Rentoul
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The real lessons of the last 40 years, by Daniel Finkelstein www.thetimes.com/article/f16d...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Andy Burnham is not really interested in growth, says Janan Ganesh www.ft.com/content/3b92...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Victory for The Independent! The PM has broken the spell on Europe www.independent.co.uk/voices/burnh...
independent.co.uk
Victory for The Independent! The PM has broken the spell on Europe
By saying that all options for Britain’s future with the EU are back on the table – including rejoining – the prime minister has supercharged the Brexit debate, says John Rentoul
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Reposted by John Rentoul
Andrew Sparrow @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Tories rule out taking party in Burnham's proposed cross-party commission on electoral reform - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The real lessons of the last 40 years, by Daniel Finkelstein www.thetimes.com/article/f16d...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
That was a big, brave speech from Andy Burnham – with one problem www.independent.co.uk/voices/andy-...
independent.co.uk
That was a big, brave speech from Andy Burnham – with one problem
The idea of ‘more public control’ is not strong enough to bear the weight of a 10-year programme for government, writes John Rentoul
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I'm going to be answering questions from Independent members this afternoon – if there's anything you want to know about Labour conference, Burnham's big gamble on pensions, or anything else in the world of politics, please get in touch. Submit your question at www.independent.co.uk/voices/ask-m...
independent.co.uk
Ask Me Anything: submit your question
Got a question for one of our journalists? This is where you ask it – submit yours below and look out for the answer in an upcoming Ask Me Anything episode
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I'm going to be answering questions from Independent members tomorrow – so if there's anything you want to know about Labour conference, Burnham's big gamble on pensions, or anything else in the world of politics, please get in touch. Submit your question at independent.co.uk/ama
independent.co.uk
Ask Me Anything: submit your question
Got a question for one of our journalists? This is where you ask it – submit yours below and look out for the answer in an upcoming Ask Me Anything episode
100
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
That was a big, brave speech from Andy Burnham – with one problem www.independent.co.uk/voices/andy-...
independent.co.uk
That was a big, brave speech from Andy Burnham – with one problem
The idea of ‘more public control’ is not strong enough to bear the weight of a 10-year programme for government, writes John Rentoul
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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The View from Westminster newsletter comes from @Athena_Stavrou tonight. Free sign-up here independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
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Reposted by John Rentoul
John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I will be here today
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