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Sophie Church

@sophiealichurch.bsky.social
1K followers 486 following 9 posts

Senior Reporter at The House magazine www.politicshome.com/news/author/so…

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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Zack Polanski has doubled the Green Party membership since taking over, with the new leader's comms strategy seen as a key reason for his early success @sophiealichurch.bsky.social goes inside to look at his acting coaching, talks with Zohran Mamdani, and the "critical" importance of social media
politicshome.com
Inside Zack Polanski's Comms Strategy
The Green Party has doubled its membership since Zack Polanski became leader. Sophie Church explores how his training in the ‘Gonsalves method’ of ...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Adam Payne @adampayne26.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Inside Polanski's comms operation: - Coached in Judie Dench-inspired acting methods - Growing dialogue with Zohran Mamdani's people - An expanding press team, including a former senior Corbyn adviser and ex-Bundesliga employee - Social media “critical” + more from @sophiealichurch.bsky.social
politicshome.com
Inside Zack Polanski's Comms Strategy
The Green Party has doubled its membership since Zack Polanski became leader. Sophie Church explores how his training in the ‘Gonsalves method’ of ...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Alan White @aljwhite.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Troubling report into the unregulated social care sector, by @sophiealichurch.bsky.social www.politicshome.com/news/article...
politicshome.com
'He'd Exposed Himself To Our Care Professional': Inside The Unregulated Care Sector
Finding care for a loved one is often difficult and expensive. Sophie Church explores the unregulated sector and its darker corners. Illustrations ...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
The Green Party is set to discuss a policy of abolishing landlords at its conference in Bournemouth Backers say “many members are still uncomfortable with the bold and decisive tone” of the proposal, but are confident it'll be adopted if put to a debate, reports @sophiealichurch.bsky.social
politicshome.com
Green Party Set To Debate Policy Of Abolishing Landlords
The Green Party is set to discuss a policy of abolishing landlords at its conference in Bournemouth.
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
British politics is "moving into" a contest between the Greens and Reform, the former's leader Zack Polanski told PolHome He said he was "very open" to “progressive, particularly left-wing" about defecting to the Greens @sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports from the party's Bournemouth conference
politicshome.com
British Politics Is Already Greens vs Reform, Says Green Leader Zack Polanski
The Green Party is already on its way to being the main opposition to Reform, leader Zack Polanski claimed in an interview with PoliticsHome at the...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
🍫 KitKat rewards for MPs 🏏 Cricket bat photo ops 🐢 A ‘more tortoise than hare’ strategy @sophiealichurch.bsky.social looks inside the Lib Dems' evolving media tactics, and who exactly the party's 'jam and Jerusalem' strategy is targeting
politicshome.com
Jam and Jerusalem: Inside the Lib Dems' media strategy
While MPs have voiced concerns over their party’s strategy, the Lib Dem media team tell Sophie Church they are sticking with the programme. Illustr...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Zoë Crowther @zoecrowther.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Exclusive by my colleague @sophiealichurch.bsky.social picked up by the nationals today The Home Office has launched an investigation after @politicshome.bsky.social revealed that asylum seekers across the UK have been using taxpayer-funded payment cards for gambling
politicshome.com
Asylum Seekers Using Taxpayer-Funded Payment Cards To Gamble
The Home Office has launched an investigation after PoliticsHome revealed that asylum seekers across the UK have been using taxpayer-funded payment...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Alan White @aljwhite.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
A FOI from @sophiealichurch.bsky.social which has had a lot of pick up
politicshome.com
Asylum Seekers Using Taxpayer-Funded Payment Cards To Gamble
The Home Office has launched an investigation after PoliticsHome revealed that asylum seekers across the UK have been using taxpayer-funded payment...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Mark Wallace @wallaceme.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Jaw-dropping scoop from @sophiealichurch.bsky.social on @politicshome.bsky.social www.politicshome.com/news/article...
politicshome.com
Asylum Seekers Using Taxpayer-Funded Payment Cards To Gamble
The Home Office has launched an investigation after PoliticsHome revealed that asylum seekers across the UK have been using taxpayer-funded payment...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Alexandra Meakin @ameakin.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Brilliant scoop from the always excellent @sophiealichurch.bsky.social at @politicshome.bsky.social: The QEII Centre *finally* agreed as the decant location for the Lords during Restoration and Renewal www.politicshome.com/news/article... #WestminsterRR
politicshome.com
House of Lords To Move To QEII Centre While Parliament Restored
The House of Lords is set to move to the QEII Centre while Parliament is restored, no matter which option for the estate’s restoration is eventuall...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 Green Party at a crossroads ♻️ Green Party leadership candidate @zackpolanski.bsky.social, More in Common's @sophiestowers.bsky.social & @sophiealichurch.bsky.social join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social to discuss what the Greens can do to build on their success 🎧 Listen now: pod.fo/e/2e99f0
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
It has been derided as the Frankenstein’s monster of Whitehall. So, is DCMS really up for the chop? @siennarodgers.bsky.social and @sophiealichurch.bsky.social explore why the department and its head Lisa Nandy are being briefed against, and what is likely to happen next
politicshome.com
The Frankenstein's Monster Of Whitehall: Will Labour Really Abolish DCMS?
As briefings against DCMS and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy abound, Sophie Church and Sienna Rodgers explore why the department is so embattled and ...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Adam Payne @adampayne26.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
The best thing you'll read on the battle for future of the Greens, by colleagues @siennarodgers.bsky.social and @sophiealichurch.bsky.social A disaffected urban Corbynista takeover, or will Countryfile Tories seize the keys?
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
"If you’re in a meeting with Michael, he will be quiet and listen, and then he’ll say one or two things, and you think: ‘Yes, that sounds right.'" Friends & ex-colleagues describe Michael Ellam, the man chosen by Keir Starmer to reset the UK’s EU relationship “I don’t think we ever caught him out"
politicshome.com
Michael Ellam: The EU Sherpa Resetting The UK-EU Relationship
Having served under Gordon Brown and George Osborne, Michael Ellam is now Keir Starmer’s ‘EU sherpa’, tasked with resetting the UK’s relationship w...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
A few hours before Russian tanks entered Ukraine in February 2022, hackers disconnected thousands of satellite modems in Ukraine. This moment unveiled space as warfare’s new frontier. As a new global space race begins, can the UK lead? @sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports
politicshome.com
Space Is A Growing Battlefield. Can The UK Lead The Way?
To the anguish of the space industry, UK is the only country to have successfully developed, and then abandoned, a satellite launch capability. Tha...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
“You could see in his [Starmer's] eyes that he gets it" Louis Mosley, UK chief of tech firm Palantir, talks to @sophiealichurch.bsky.social about how his company is using AI to help make the NHS, MoD & HS2 more efficient "We are just at the beginning," says Louis, grandson of Oswald, nephew of Max
politicshome.com
Palantir Boss Louis Mosley: Keir Starmer 'Gets' AI, 'You Could See In His Eyes'
In a bid to boost growth, Labour has thrown open government’s doors to controversial US tech firm Palantir. In his first ever sit-down interview, P...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Carla Denyer @carladenyer.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Every year 100s of people die preventable deaths because it's no-one's job to make sure recommendations from inquests & inquiries happen. I put forward a bill to change this - v glad to hear govt is considering taking this matter forward @inquest-org.bsky.social www.politicshome.com/news/article...
politicshome.com
Ministers Poised To Demand Inquiry Recommendations Are Enforced
The government is considering introducing a new oversight body to ensure the recommendations of public inquiries are implemented, PoliticsHome unde...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
The government is considering introducing a new oversight body to ensure the recommendations of public inquiries are implemented, PolHome understands Ministers are looking at announcing the new mechanism alongside the Hillsborough Law @sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports
politicshome.com
Ministers Poised To Demand Inquiry Recommendations Are Enforced
The government is considering introducing a new oversight body to ensure the recommendations of public inquiries are implemented, PoliticsHome unde...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
A poll suggests a split between the Lib Dem leadership and party members ahead of a vote on proposed changes to their self-identification policy Three-quarters of members surveyed by YouGov said the process for obtaining a gender recognition certificate is “about right” or “not demanding enough”
politicshome.com
Lib Dems At Odds With Party Members Over Gender Self-ID, Poll Suggests
A new poll suggests a split between the Liberal Democrat leadership and party members as they prepare to vote on changing gender self-identificatio...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Adam Payne @adampayne26.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Colleague @sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports a row over Jonathan Powell's refusal to face questions from the committee tasked with scrutinising him Committee chair Labour MP Matt Western has complained to the PM about it, telling us that the government position “appears to depart from convention”
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Alexandra Meakin @ameakin.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
And finally, the brilliant @sophiealichurch.bsky.social has reported on growing - and understandable - frustration within the R&R Programme Board about the slow pace of the project www.politicshome.com/news/article... #WestminsterRR
politicshome.com
Growing Frustration Within Team Restoring Parliament Over Slow Progress
There is an increasing sense of frustration at the highest levels of the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) programme leadership, as the project faces y...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
There is growing frustration within the team looking at how to restore Parliament over the slow progress so far The vote on which of the options MPs prefer is thought to be scheduled for May, but insiders fear it will now not happen before the end of the year @sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports
politicshome.com
Growing Frustration Within Team Restoring Parliament Over Slow Progress
There is an increasing sense of frustration at the highest levels of the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) programme leadership, as the project faces y...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Dame Sara Khan DBE @sarakhandbe.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
I spoke to PoliticsHome / The House magazine about Prevent and the Home Office's ongoing failure to address continuing legislative, strategic and operational gaps in counter extremism - all of which I evidenced to them years ago. I hope the current Home Secretary addresses these urgent gaps.
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
"I genuinely don't know what the role of Prevent is anymore," the former counter extremism tsar has said In a candid interview with @sophiealichurch.bsky.social, Dame Sara Khan said the UK's counter-radicalisation programme is "so confused" and that the Home Office is particularly to blame
politicshome.com
'I Genuinely Don't Know What The Role Of Prevent Is Anymore', Says Former Counter-Extremism Tsar
Britain’s counter-radicalisation programme Prevent is mired in confusion, a former government advisor who was once among its most prominent support...
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Sophie Church @sophiealichurch.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
🤝NEW: TUC general secretary Paul Nowak says "pressure points" exist between the union and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband But while Labour's ERB faces delays, he is "confident that the bill is going to be delivered and delivered in full" www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...
politicshome.com
''Employment Rights Bill Lite' won't cut it': Paul Nowak
The Employment Rights Bill is facing further delays, yet TUC general secretary Paul Nowak tells Sophie Church he expects it to be delivered in full...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
A Labour MP has called for CCTV in Parliament's bars following a recent alleged spiking Rachel Blake, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said it'd bring the bars used by MPs, journalists and staffers in line with other premises in her constituency @sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports
politicshome.com
Westminster MP Calls For CCTV In Parliament’s Bars
Labour’s Westminster MP has said she supports CCTV being installed in Parliament’s bars after a woman’s drink was allegedly spiked on the parliamen...
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Mark Wallace @wallaceme.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Following @sophiealichurch.bsky.social’s exclusive the other day, my @inews.co.uk column today is on the damage done by delays to the Strategic Defence Review. Uncertainty today hurts Ukraine tomorrow, and weakens the U.K. and NATO’s capacity for any future inews.co.uk/opinion/brit...
inews.co.uk
Britain’s delay on defence will cost us tomorrow
The truth is that we have struggled to increase capacity anything like fast enough
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Reposted by Sophie Church
Matilda Martin @matildamartin.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Could the way MPs vote change? -New Labour MP @samcarling.bsky.social calls for "voting terminals" around Parliament -Backbenchers plan modernisation drive -"A lot of people" looking to see reform to voting system Story with @sophiealichurch.bsky.social www.politicshome.com/news/article...
politicshome.com
Youngest MP Calls For 'Voting Terminals' Around Parliament As Backbenchers Plan Modernisation Drive
Labour MP Sam Carling has called for the Modernisation Committee to consider reform of Parliament's voting system to make MPs 'more productive'
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Sophie Church @sophiealichurch.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
🟩Plaid Cymru's Baroness Smith of Llanfaes says she personally wishes she "didn’t believe in Welsh independence" Adds she is “looking to speak to the Modernisation Committee in the Commons” to mirror for the Lords www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...
politicshome.com
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes: “I personally wish that I didn’t believe in Welsh independence”
Baroness Smith of Llanfaes tells Sophie Church why she thinks Westminster will never work for Wales, and how politics is changing from being a ‘pla...
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Sophie Church @sophiealichurch.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Writing before start of Southport trial, Patrick Hurley MP says speculating about outcome will risk seeing case thrown out, and justice denied www.politicshome.com/news/article...
politicshome.com
Speculating On Southport Trial Risks Seeing Case Thrown Out, Warns Town’s MP
Speculating on the investigation into the Southport murders risks seeing the case thrown out, the MP for the town has warned.
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
The boundary review has made it harder to provide service to constituents, MPs warn They said the Boundary Commission's focus on electors ignores the size of local populations One MP said casework had increased from 40 to 50 new cases a month to 150 to 200 @sophiealichurch.bsky.social reports
politicshome.com
Boundary Changes Have Made It Harder to Provide Service To Constituents, Warn MPs
Providing a consistent level of service to constituents is proving “very challenging” for MPs after boundary changes at the last election increased...
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Sophie Church @sophiealichurch.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
💥NEW: MPs have warned of "explosion" in casework, after boundary changes failed to factor in true size of constituencies An MP said they have an added 20,000 constituents following the changes, with casework increasing from 50 new cases a month to 200 www.politicshome.com/news/article...
politicshome.com
Boundary Changes Have Made It Harder to Provide Service To Constituents, Warn MPs
Providing a consistent level of service to constituents is proving “very challenging” for MPs after boundary changes at the last election increased...
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Sophie Church @sophiealichurch.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
NEW: Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge says UK risks losing race to rearm - Replacing Watchkeeper drone programme "certainly something" he will quiz government on - Germany backfilling UK stocks with Taurus missiles an option to "urgently" explore www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...
politicshome.com
'Defence should be the number-one priority': James Cartlidge
With Europe racing to procure arms against the threat of widespread war on the continent, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge tells Sophie Chu...
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Sophie Church @sophiealichurch.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
NEW: Standards Chair Alberto Costa says we shouldn't expect MPs to be "saints" He is "not very comfortable" with the 28 day limit for declaring interests "It might be a little bit too easy to complain that an MP is bullied, or somebody else is bullied" www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...
politicshome.com
'I am not and never have been a saint': Alberto Costa
New Standards Committee chair Alberto Costa tells Sophie Church why punishments for MPs breaking minor rules should be less severe
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Sally Dawson @sallydawson.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
“Asked whether he sympathises with MPs being held to a higher standard than the public, Costa laughed: ‘Well, I am one of them, so I sympathise with myself.’” Some cracking quotes in this @sophiealichurch.bsky.social interview with Standards Committee chair Alberto Costa
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
🗣️ Tory MP and Standards Committee chair Alberto Costa said punishments for "administrative errors" by MPs were too severe He told @sophiealichurch.bsky.social: “I am a fallible human being like anyone else. To err is human.”
politicshome.com
We Shouldn't Expect MPs To Be “Saints”, Says Standards Chair
People who stand to be MPs should not be expected to be “saints”, the recently-elected Standards Committee chair has said, adding that punishments ...
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Sophie Church @sophiealichurch.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
NEW: Green Party leader Adrian Ramsay speaks out about the "ridiculous" notion he is anti net-zero "We do need to be able to have a grown-up discussion on issues like this without people trying to overly simplify it and produce simplistic headlines" www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...
politicshome.com
Adrian Ramsay: “We need less of the horrific yah-boo style approach that we see in the Chamber'
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay speaks to Sophie Church about why Labour should take ‘another look’ at its tax on farming, and the ‘ridiculous’...
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Reposted by Sophie Church
PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
A long-serving Labour MP has criticised what he described as "hypocritical" disinterest in UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia Fabian Hamilton said UK arms sales to Israel are "tokenistic”, whereas they are making a “very real” impact for Saudi Arabia in Yemen www.politicshome.com/news/article...
politicshome.com
Labour MP Criticises 'Hypocritical' Disinterest In UK Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia
A Labour MP has said outrage over arms exports to Israel is “hypocritical” given the UK exports a higher volume of arms to Saudi Arabia which is cu...
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Sophie Church @sophiealichurch.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Labour MP Fabian Hamilton says outrage over UK arms exports to Israel is "hypocritical" when higher volume of exports are sent to Saudi Arabia Calls for "consistency" in UK's approach to arms exports www.politicshome.com/news/article...
politicshome.com
Labour MP Criticises 'Hypocritical' Disinterest In UK Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia
A Labour MP has said outrage over arms exports to Israel is “hypocritical” given the UK exports a higher volume of arms to Saudi Arabia which is cu...
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Sophie Church @sophiealichurch.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
🚜 NEW: Greens join growing rebellion against Labour’s tax on farming Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay tells me the government should take “another look” at their plans to introduce IHT for farmers www.politicshome.com/news/article...
politicshome.com
Greens Join Growing Rebellion Against Labour’s Tax On Farming
The Green Party has urged the government to take “another look” at its plans to introduce inheritance tax on farm land, as farmers prepare protests...
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