Ben Dickenson
@benjitoon.bsky.social
Dad. Hat wearer. Creative type. Lesser half of Nathalie. Grownup who annoys teenage son.
MD @bylinesnetwork.co.uk
Associate @alphabettitheatre.bsky.social
Trustee @bohoarts.bsky.social
Read my “50 by 50” here: https://substack.com/@bendickenson
MD @bylinesnetwork.co.uk
Associate @alphabettitheatre.bsky.social
Trustee @bohoarts.bsky.social
Read my “50 by 50” here: https://substack.com/@bendickenson
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
The edge of the visible: Cambois data centre
A new hyperscale data centre is emerging in Northumberland
northeastbylines.co.uk/business/tec...
A new hyperscale data centre is emerging in Northumberland
northeastbylines.co.uk/business/tec...
The edge of the visible: Cambois data centre
A new hyperscale data centre is emerging in Northumberland
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:20 AM
The edge of the visible: Cambois data centre
A new hyperscale data centre is emerging in Northumberland
northeastbylines.co.uk/business/tec...
A new hyperscale data centre is emerging in Northumberland
northeastbylines.co.uk/business/tec...
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
Intriguing, challenging and informing. For a century, the BBC has been our classroom, our concert hall, our stage, our storyteller and our window on the world. Politicians need reminding: its much more than a news channel.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @stephenmcnair.bsky.social
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @stephenmcnair.bsky.social
Defending our national treasure: the voice of the nation
Politicians see the BBC through the lens of TV news, but those who want to undermine it threaten a central plank of our national culture
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Intriguing, challenging and informing. For a century, the BBC has been our classroom, our concert hall, our stage, our storyteller and our window on the world. Politicians need reminding: its much more than a news channel.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @stephenmcnair.bsky.social
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @stephenmcnair.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
I’m beyond proud of Peter Ettedgui speaking out about Farage and the vile antisemitic abuse he endured. I first heard Peter’s story nearly 20 years ago when Farage was a virtual nobody. It’s not a hit job. Just the truth
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
I’m beyond proud of Peter Ettedgui speaking out about Farage and the vile antisemitic abuse he endured. I first heard Peter’s story nearly 20 years ago when Farage was a virtual nobody. It’s not a hit job. Just the truth
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
🚨WOW! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 47,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 50,000 tonight. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM
🚨WOW! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 47,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 50,000 tonight. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
Good morning folks! Thanks for supporting #CitizenJournalism! There’s some great reading and listening on the website. Huv a great weekend! Oh, by the way… we qualified for The World Cup!🏴
Bylines Scotland - Powerful Citizen Journalism
Nurturing democracy through not-for-profit citizen journalism
bylines.scot
November 22, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Good morning folks! Thanks for supporting #CitizenJournalism! There’s some great reading and listening on the website. Huv a great weekend! Oh, by the way… we qualified for The World Cup!🏴
Brilliant story this. Shows what journalism and investigation can achieve.
🚨 SCOOP: Toyota and Aston Martin secretly lobbied a Conservative cabinet minister to weaken Britain’s climate policy.
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
Victory! We’ve won major legal battle exposing car industry lobbying
After two years we can finally reveal “backdoor channels where corporate money hijacks our democracy.”
democracyforsale.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Brilliant story this. Shows what journalism and investigation can achieve.
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
People are ready to make hope normal again.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
(Source: Evening Standard from YouGov Data)
Join.greenparty.org.uk
(Source: Evening Standard from YouGov Data)
November 22, 2025 at 11:18 AM
People are ready to make hope normal again.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
(Source: Evening Standard from YouGov Data)
Join.greenparty.org.uk
(Source: Evening Standard from YouGov Data)
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
The Confidence Trick That Put Boris Johnson Into Power Is Now Being Used on Nigel Farage
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 11:12 AM
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
"You can agree or disagree with him, but Polanski does not pretend to be something he is not.
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Zack Polanski: ‘People will have to find some other way to hurt me’ | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 11:29 AM
"You can agree or disagree with him, but Polanski does not pretend to be something he is not.
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
As imperfect as the BBC is, it still strives for impartiality | Peter Taylor-Gooby
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/uk-news...
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/uk-news...
The BBC drama
As imperfect as the BBC is, it still strives for impartiality
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 8:14 AM
As imperfect as the BBC is, it still strives for impartiality | Peter Taylor-Gooby
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/uk-news...
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/uk-news...
Wow. I want Clive Lewis in parliament though. He and Burnham could work together.
This is important. Clive Lewis has said he'd stand down to make way for Andy Burnham. Nice to know that some of them still put the country ahead of their private ambitions. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Labour MP says he'd stand down for Andy Burnham Westminster return
The Greater Manchester Mayor has long been linked with a return to Westminster, and at Labour party conference repeatedly refused to answer if he hoped to be Prime Minister or Labour leader
www.mirror.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Wow. I want Clive Lewis in parliament though. He and Burnham could work together.
Some words about my Dad, who has just been diagnosed with cancer. A better man than many - a better, fairer and kinder human.
Stop by my Substack to read more - including two poems in the latest post and a brand new post every week: substack.com/@bendickenso...
Stop by my Substack to read more - including two poems in the latest post and a brand new post every week: substack.com/@bendickenso...
November 19, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Some words about my Dad, who has just been diagnosed with cancer. A better man than many - a better, fairer and kinder human.
Stop by my Substack to read more - including two poems in the latest post and a brand new post every week: substack.com/@bendickenso...
Stop by my Substack to read more - including two poems in the latest post and a brand new post every week: substack.com/@bendickenso...
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
50 by 50 #2 is here.
About the shock of my Dad’s recent cancer diagnosis, masculinity, parenthood and why younger men need better role models.
It includes two poems I wrote for Dad in times past. Do they work? Does form matter more than emotion? You tell me.
open.substack.com/pub/bendicke...
About the shock of my Dad’s recent cancer diagnosis, masculinity, parenthood and why younger men need better role models.
It includes two poems I wrote for Dad in times past. Do they work? Does form matter more than emotion? You tell me.
open.substack.com/pub/bendicke...
50 by 50 #2: dads, lads and better role models
Sometimes the algorithms, cliches and shouting voices are silenced. My Dad has cancer. I have poems. Here are some words for the man who taught me how to care, parent and be a better human.
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:01 AM
50 by 50 #2 is here.
About the shock of my Dad’s recent cancer diagnosis, masculinity, parenthood and why younger men need better role models.
It includes two poems I wrote for Dad in times past. Do they work? Does form matter more than emotion? You tell me.
open.substack.com/pub/bendicke...
About the shock of my Dad’s recent cancer diagnosis, masculinity, parenthood and why younger men need better role models.
It includes two poems I wrote for Dad in times past. Do they work? Does form matter more than emotion? You tell me.
open.substack.com/pub/bendicke...
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
A tiny bit of one of my poems for my Dad. Cancer is a bastard huh?
Revisiting a lot of words I’ve written for him right now.
He might well be ok. He could survive this. His legacy - of kindness, humanity and good values - certainly will.
Revisiting a lot of words I’ve written for him right now.
He might well be ok. He could survive this. His legacy - of kindness, humanity and good values - certainly will.
November 19, 2025 at 12:29 PM
A tiny bit of one of my poems for my Dad. Cancer is a bastard huh?
Revisiting a lot of words I’ve written for him right now.
He might well be ok. He could survive this. His legacy - of kindness, humanity and good values - certainly will.
Revisiting a lot of words I’ve written for him right now.
He might well be ok. He could survive this. His legacy - of kindness, humanity and good values - certainly will.
Two images that felt relevant on International Men’s Day.
We need more good men, not toxically masculine but driven by kindness and hope.
We need more good men, not toxically masculine but driven by kindness and hope.
November 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Two images that felt relevant on International Men’s Day.
We need more good men, not toxically masculine but driven by kindness and hope.
We need more good men, not toxically masculine but driven by kindness and hope.
A tiny bit of one of my poems for my Dad. Cancer is a bastard huh?
Revisiting a lot of words I’ve written for him right now.
He might well be ok. He could survive this. His legacy - of kindness, humanity and good values - certainly will.
Revisiting a lot of words I’ve written for him right now.
He might well be ok. He could survive this. His legacy - of kindness, humanity and good values - certainly will.
November 19, 2025 at 12:29 PM
A tiny bit of one of my poems for my Dad. Cancer is a bastard huh?
Revisiting a lot of words I’ve written for him right now.
He might well be ok. He could survive this. His legacy - of kindness, humanity and good values - certainly will.
Revisiting a lot of words I’ve written for him right now.
He might well be ok. He could survive this. His legacy - of kindness, humanity and good values - certainly will.
If you’re not busy right now, hop over to Substack and give my publication - 50 by 50 - a subscribe.
Post 2 of the 50 I’m writing over the next year just landed. It’s about my Dad, roles models and cancer. Features thoughts on all this and two poems.
substack.com/@bendickenso...
Post 2 of the 50 I’m writing over the next year just landed. It’s about my Dad, roles models and cancer. Features thoughts on all this and two poems.
substack.com/@bendickenso...
Ben Dickenson - 50 by 50 | Substack
Creative, strategist, storyteller. Dad, husband, hat wearer. Turned 50, saw the state of the world, decided it was time to write again. Weekly content on making, leading, losing, learning and living w...
substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:19 PM
If you’re not busy right now, hop over to Substack and give my publication - 50 by 50 - a subscribe.
Post 2 of the 50 I’m writing over the next year just landed. It’s about my Dad, roles models and cancer. Features thoughts on all this and two poems.
substack.com/@bendickenso...
Post 2 of the 50 I’m writing over the next year just landed. It’s about my Dad, roles models and cancer. Features thoughts on all this and two poems.
substack.com/@bendickenso...
50 by 50 #2 is here.
About the shock of my Dad’s recent cancer diagnosis, masculinity, parenthood and why younger men need better role models.
It includes two poems I wrote for Dad in times past. Do they work? Does form matter more than emotion? You tell me.
open.substack.com/pub/bendicke...
About the shock of my Dad’s recent cancer diagnosis, masculinity, parenthood and why younger men need better role models.
It includes two poems I wrote for Dad in times past. Do they work? Does form matter more than emotion? You tell me.
open.substack.com/pub/bendicke...
50 by 50 #2: dads, lads and better role models
Sometimes the algorithms, cliches and shouting voices are silenced. My Dad has cancer. I have poems. Here are some words for the man who taught me how to care, parent and be a better human.
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:01 AM
50 by 50 #2 is here.
About the shock of my Dad’s recent cancer diagnosis, masculinity, parenthood and why younger men need better role models.
It includes two poems I wrote for Dad in times past. Do they work? Does form matter more than emotion? You tell me.
open.substack.com/pub/bendicke...
About the shock of my Dad’s recent cancer diagnosis, masculinity, parenthood and why younger men need better role models.
It includes two poems I wrote for Dad in times past. Do they work? Does form matter more than emotion? You tell me.
open.substack.com/pub/bendicke...
November 16, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
Samir Zitouni a Muslim Immigrant from Algeria left hospital today, 2 weeks after being the first person to try stop the attack in Huntingdon train attack.
They won't want to talk about this immigrant.
They won't want to talk about this immigrant.
November 15, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Samir Zitouni a Muslim Immigrant from Algeria left hospital today, 2 weeks after being the first person to try stop the attack in Huntingdon train attack.
They won't want to talk about this immigrant.
They won't want to talk about this immigrant.
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
The next Budget could define Rachel Reeves’ legacy – and maybe Labour’s future.
Rumours are she's backing off balancing the books with one bold move, favouring a dozen small ones that will anger everyone.
Here’s a menu of her choices.
Rumours are she's backing off balancing the books with one bold move, favouring a dozen small ones that will anger everyone.
Here’s a menu of her choices.
Rachel Reeves’ budget options: nothing popular
Reeves inherited a nightmare: austerity, Brexit, Covid, ageing population. Now she must balance the books. Here are some of the options.
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The next Budget could define Rachel Reeves’ legacy – and maybe Labour’s future.
Rumours are she's backing off balancing the books with one bold move, favouring a dozen small ones that will anger everyone.
Here’s a menu of her choices.
Rumours are she's backing off balancing the books with one bold move, favouring a dozen small ones that will anger everyone.
Here’s a menu of her choices.
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
Freshly posted this evening.
50 by 50 post #1:
Trains, shame and school toilets.
——————
Including mentions for @bylinesnetwork.co.uk @mediareformuk.bsky.social
@femi-oluwole.bsky.social
@lner.co.uk
And some other people and places I can’t tag.
50 by 50 post #1:
Trains, shame and school toilets.
——————
Including mentions for @bylinesnetwork.co.uk @mediareformuk.bsky.social
@femi-oluwole.bsky.social
@lner.co.uk
And some other people and places I can’t tag.
50 by 50 #1: Trains, shame and school toilets – on guilt, heroism and connection
When a stranger risked his life to stop a knife attack on a train, something deep stirred in me. This is a journey through trauma and identity, and a reminder that we are one humanity.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Freshly posted this evening.
50 by 50 post #1:
Trains, shame and school toilets.
——————
Including mentions for @bylinesnetwork.co.uk @mediareformuk.bsky.social
@femi-oluwole.bsky.social
@lner.co.uk
And some other people and places I can’t tag.
50 by 50 post #1:
Trains, shame and school toilets.
——————
Including mentions for @bylinesnetwork.co.uk @mediareformuk.bsky.social
@femi-oluwole.bsky.social
@lner.co.uk
And some other people and places I can’t tag.
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
Oh the canny wee cards Substack makes for your posts! Here’s one for this piece: bendickenson.substack.com/p/50-by-50-1...
Any reads, shares, comments and feedback welcome. And please do hop over there and subscribe to 50 by 50 when you feel so inclined. You’ll be very welcome.
Any reads, shares, comments and feedback welcome. And please do hop over there and subscribe to 50 by 50 when you feel so inclined. You’ll be very welcome.
November 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Oh the canny wee cards Substack makes for your posts! Here’s one for this piece: bendickenson.substack.com/p/50-by-50-1...
Any reads, shares, comments and feedback welcome. And please do hop over there and subscribe to 50 by 50 when you feel so inclined. You’ll be very welcome.
Any reads, shares, comments and feedback welcome. And please do hop over there and subscribe to 50 by 50 when you feel so inclined. You’ll be very welcome.
Reposted by Ben Dickenson
Reform UK energy plans crumble under scrutiny
Reform UK Ltd rails against net zero, but the evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy
By Brian McHugh
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@brianmchugh.bsky.social
Reform UK Ltd rails against net zero, but the evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy
By Brian McHugh
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@brianmchugh.bsky.social
Reform UK’s energy plans crumble under scrutiny
Reform UK rails against net zero, but the evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Reform UK energy plans crumble under scrutiny
Reform UK Ltd rails against net zero, but the evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy
By Brian McHugh
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@brianmchugh.bsky.social
Reform UK Ltd rails against net zero, but the evidence shows green jobs and growth are already powering the UK economy
By Brian McHugh
@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@brianmchugh.bsky.social