Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Cat Neilan

@catneilan.bsky.social

30K followers 1K following 830 posts

Whitehall Editor for the Observer. Politics, investigations and taramasalata

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 7d

Exclusive: Nigel Farage has not updated his register since May, despite continuing to present his GB News show, record Cameo videos and being a verified X user

Qus are now being asked about the non-registration of his shareholding in GB parent co All Perspectives

observer.co.uk/news/politic...

‘Nine-jobs Nigel’ Farage denies not declaring extra earni...

Roles outside Parliament make Reform leader the highest-earning MP, but register of interests has not been updated since end of May

observer.co.uk

21 240 490

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 10h

However there are concerns that the legislation, which was expected in the next month, has been pushed back to the spring - lengthening the period in which crypto donations could be made under the existing checks imposed for fiat currency donations

1 4

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 10h

Meanwhile MPs including @liambyrnemp.bsky.social are planning to mount a cross-party campaign to force the government to include an outright ban on crypto in the Elections Bill

1 2 20

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 10h

The donation is seen as a potential "watershed moment" in political funding.

@suehawley.bsky.social of @spotlightcorruption.org warned that neither parties nor the EC have the expertise to prevent anonymous donations, leaving the UK "extremely vulnerable" to hostile states and organised crime

2 4 8

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 10h

Exc: The Electoral Commission has been given early notice of the UK's first ever crypto donation

The has been "made, but not declared", to a party understood to be Reform

Reform spox said: "All donations above the reporting limit will be disclosed in the usual way"

share.google/VvtjBjEjEjRa...

Calls for transparency on political funding after first c...

Electoral Commission notified of financial contribution, which is rumoured to have been handed to Reform UK

share.google

9 39 47

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 2d

Days after we revealed that it had been months since Farage last updated his register, he has done so - adding £190,000 worth of earnings going back as far as early May in some cases

The update is registered 3rd Oct - the day we went to his team for a right of reply

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 7d

‘Nine-jobs Nigel’ Farage denies not declaring extra earni...

Roles outside Parliament make Reform leader the highest-earning MP, but register of interests has not been updated since end of May

observer.co.uk

2 30 70

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 4d

When I was speaking to @sundersays.bsky.social last night, I wasn't aware that the PM's spokesman had said this. I'd repeatedly asked for comment at the weekend.

Fwiw I think this is pretty underwhelming

1 1 5

Reposted by Cat Neilan

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 5d

Good to hear this from Shadow Minister James Cleverly say this. Government has yet to comment, says @catneilan.bsky.social but should surely say so too

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

Cleverly says it is an "error" for the Israeli minister to have invited Tommy Robinson in the wake of last week's attack.

Says Robinson is "no friend to Jews, here in the UK or elsewhere".

2 9 77

Reposted by Cat Neilan

George Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 5d

This isn’t a picture of Mel Stride and the shadow chancellor being misidentified on ConHome feels quite indicative of where the Tories are at.

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 5d

Not sure I would have gone with headline - unless I actually wanted people to laugh out loud....

Mel Stride: Conservatives are the only people who tell the truth, and have a plan for growth that means something | Conservative Home

It falls to us, the Conservatives, to win back the country’s trust and reverse the economic vandalism of this Labour government. We can and we will.

conservativehome.com

7 73 240

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

And they said fewer businesses were taking stands this year 🤷‍♀️

1 1 6

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

3 1

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

1 1

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

No, *you* can't quit her

4 14

Reposted by Cat Neilan

APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax @appgonacrt.bsky.social · 5d

🤝 He was joined for a wide-ranging discussion by @catneilan.bsky.social, @danieljbruce.bsky.social and former UK Anti-Corruption Champion John Penrose.

🏝️ Sir Andrew was passionate about the need for British Overseas Territories like the British Virgin Islands to open up their corporate registries.

1 1

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

Burnham says the Manchester baccalaureate or MBacC could be replicated in other cities - an LBacC in Liverpool or a BBacC in Birmingham - with some tweaks to reflect local industries

1 4

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

He praises the T level courses, with a 45 day placement being long enough for young people to lose their "imposter syndrome" about entering the workforce longer term

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

Burnham says he never supported the 50% university "Blair target", which became "hardwired" by Michael Gove's reforms

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

*Cates

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

Mariam Cares welcomes Andy Burnham to Tory party conference saying it's "your native city, if not your native conference".

Burnham jokes that he will get "a better reception here"

2 2 4

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

On the China spy case, Philp says he's had assurance than no Home Office ministers were involved but he "would be astonished" if the PM hadn't been made aware.

Says Starmer has some very serious questions to answer on it

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

Philp says "more political appointees at the top" of the civil service "would help" ministers get things done.

Stresses that officials work hard but "a few dozen people" would make a big difference

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

Philp says they also discussed Ukraine-Russia, geopolitics more generally and other dictators

He says he told Vance that Putin couldn't be trusted to respect a peace deal

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

Just a coffee for Chris Philip as he says he was able to chat about the Tories' ICE-style policy and others with JD Vance this summer.

Says there are instances where the US has been "too heavy handed, where families have been separated" but the broad principle is right

4 1 1

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

Cleverly says it is an "error" for the Israeli minister to have invited Tommy Robinson in the wake of last week's attack.

Says Robinson is "no friend to Jews, here in the UK or elsewhere".

2 2 19

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

Of Labour's response to BLM specifically, he says "Instead of celebrating what we're good at they were amplifying someone else's problems"

1 2

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 5d

Cleverly acknowledges that the racism "situation has got worse"

Says "some of the tone" that Labour frontbench has used - cites BLM and response to Southport riots - has been "counterproductive"

1 5