Jessica Elgot
@jessicaelgot.bsky.social
I'm the Guardian's deputy political editor in Westminster
Story? Email - [email protected]
Signal - jessicaelgot.51
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jessica-elgot
Story? Email - [email protected]
Signal - jessicaelgot.51
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jessica-elgot
Three more school contemporaries who claim to have witnessed Nigel Farage’s alleged teenage racism have rejected the Reform UK leader’s suggestion that it was “banter”, describing it as targeted, persistent and nasty.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Three more ex-pupils at school with Nigel Farage reject ‘banter’ claims
Exclusive: Dulwich college contemporaries ‘rubbish’ Reform UK leader’s suggestion alleged racist taunts not intended to hurt
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Three more school contemporaries who claim to have witnessed Nigel Farage’s alleged teenage racism have rejected the Reform UK leader’s suggestion that it was “banter”, describing it as targeted, persistent and nasty.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
🤯
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:55 AM
🤯
All the personality comms in the final run up to this budget had baffled a lot of people in the City
“I’ll show the media, I’ll show the Tories, I’ll not let them beat me. I’ll be there on Wednesday, I’ll be there next year & I’ll be back the year after that” - Rachel Reeves urges Labour MPs to back budget @jessicaelgot.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Rachel Reeves urges Labour MPs to back her make-or-break budget
Chancellor tells parliamentary party they might not like every measure but promises budget will be ‘fair’
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:09 AM
All the personality comms in the final run up to this budget had baffled a lot of people in the City
Speaking at PLP tonight, Rachel Reeves urged Labour MPs to get behind her Budget saying “politics is a team sport” and promising them there would be a package of appealing measures in the Budget that they could promise their constituents.
November 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Speaking at PLP tonight, Rachel Reeves urged Labour MPs to get behind her Budget saying “politics is a team sport” and promising them there would be a package of appealing measures in the Budget that they could promise their constituents.
An interesting piece and the first one to properly grapple with what Nathan Gill did by a figure from within Reform
gawaintowler.substack.com/p/the-deep-b...
gawaintowler.substack.com/p/the-deep-b...
The Deep Betrayal of Nathan Gill
A Personal Reckoning
gawaintowler.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:33 PM
An interesting piece and the first one to properly grapple with what Nathan Gill did by a figure from within Reform
gawaintowler.substack.com/p/the-deep-b...
gawaintowler.substack.com/p/the-deep-b...
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
EXCL: Criminals will be stopped from “gaming the system” by choosing trial by jury to increase chances of proceedings collapsing, courts minister has said, promising to limit jury trials by next election - @jessicaelgot.bsky.social reports
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:59 PM
EXCL: Criminals will be stopped from “gaming the system” by choosing trial by jury to increase chances of proceedings collapsing, courts minister has said, promising to limit jury trials by next election - @jessicaelgot.bsky.social reports
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Exc - I spent a day this week in Wood Green Crown Court with @sarahsackman.bsky.social - looking at why the government is about to take radical action to cut jury trials and give defendants less choice.
The hearing for rape case we watched probably won’t be go to full trial for up to three years…
The hearing for rape case we watched probably won’t be go to full trial for up to three years…
November 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Exc - I spent a day this week in Wood Green Crown Court with @sarahsackman.bsky.social - looking at why the government is about to take radical action to cut jury trials and give defendants less choice.
The hearing for rape case we watched probably won’t be go to full trial for up to three years…
The hearing for rape case we watched probably won’t be go to full trial for up to three years…
‘He used to say things like “Hitler was right”’: Farage faces more allegations of racist behaviour at school
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘He used to say things like “Hitler was right”’: Farage faces more allegations of racist behaviour at school
A former friend and others who were at Dulwich college with the now Reform UK leader speak of his behaviour
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
‘He used to say things like “Hitler was right”’: Farage faces more allegations of racist behaviour at school
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
I don’t know if it’s just me but I don’t even understand what this pick up line means, I would assume I had misheard, it’s just grammatically horrible
‘May I meet you?’ is just the latest in horrible dating advice from billionaires | Arwa Mahdawi
‘May I meet you?’ is just the latest in horrible dating advice from billionaires | Arwa Mahdawi
Bill Ackman thinks his pickup line could aid population rates. Given the track record of the mega-rich, it may do the opposite
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I don’t know if it’s just me but I don’t even understand what this pick up line means, I would assume I had misheard, it’s just grammatically horrible
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
Two more former Dulwich College pupils have come forward, on the record, to say they heard Farage racially abusing Peter Ettedgui,
Latest story with Dan Boffey and @drblacklock.bsky.social
Latest story with Dan Boffey and @drblacklock.bsky.social
‘He used to say things like “Hitler was right”’: Farage faces more allegations of racist behaviour at school
A former friend and others who were at Dulwich college with the now Reform UK leader speak of his behaviour
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Two more former Dulwich College pupils have come forward, on the record, to say they heard Farage racially abusing Peter Ettedgui,
Latest story with Dan Boffey and @drblacklock.bsky.social
Latest story with Dan Boffey and @drblacklock.bsky.social
Very interesting comments over in the other place about how everyone says stuff like this at school. Well they certainly didn't at my school.
🚨🚨 Huge revelations about Farage from those who knew him in his youth. On the record.
"He would be sort of singing these kind of ‘gas ’em all’ sort of songs”
“I have a very strong memory of him using the W-word...and the P-word for those of south Asian origin"
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
"He would be sort of singing these kind of ‘gas ’em all’ sort of songs”
“I have a very strong memory of him using the W-word...and the P-word for those of south Asian origin"
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Very interesting comments over in the other place about how everyone says stuff like this at school. Well they certainly didn't at my school.
🚨🚨 Huge revelations about Farage from those who knew him in his youth. On the record.
"He would be sort of singing these kind of ‘gas ’em all’ sort of songs”
“I have a very strong memory of him using the W-word...and the P-word for those of south Asian origin"
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
"He would be sort of singing these kind of ‘gas ’em all’ sort of songs”
“I have a very strong memory of him using the W-word...and the P-word for those of south Asian origin"
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
🚨🚨 Huge revelations about Farage from those who knew him in his youth. On the record.
"He would be sort of singing these kind of ‘gas ’em all’ sort of songs”
“I have a very strong memory of him using the W-word...and the P-word for those of south Asian origin"
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
"He would be sort of singing these kind of ‘gas ’em all’ sort of songs”
“I have a very strong memory of him using the W-word...and the P-word for those of south Asian origin"
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
Lots of Labour MPs asking Mahmood tonight to rule out child detention. She won’t rule it out. That’s because forced removals of families will mean children in detention for periods.
Home Office ruling out deportation of lone minors but the changes will certainly mean more detention of children.
Home Office ruling out deportation of lone minors but the changes will certainly mean more detention of children.
November 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Lots of Labour MPs asking Mahmood tonight to rule out child detention. She won’t rule it out. That’s because forced removals of families will mean children in detention for periods.
Home Office ruling out deportation of lone minors but the changes will certainly mean more detention of children.
Home Office ruling out deportation of lone minors but the changes will certainly mean more detention of children.
Poor James Murray up now in the House of Commons having to answer questions about Budget leaks - which MPs intolerably describe as "briefings" when they are not "briefings" but bloody hard work by journalists to get stories.
November 17, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Poor James Murray up now in the House of Commons having to answer questions about Budget leaks - which MPs intolerably describe as "briefings" when they are not "briefings" but bloody hard work by journalists to get stories.
I asked this question because I think whether the government acts to mitigate this possibility is key to whether it can pass this policy
Asked if Keir Starmer believes British people want to "see refugee children pulled out of school and deported after 10 years in this country”, his spokesman says that “what the British public wants and what this government was elected on a mandate to deliver was to secure our borders"
November 17, 2025 at 2:52 PM
I asked this question because I think whether the government acts to mitigate this possibility is key to whether it can pass this policy
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
At the Reform press conference I asked Richard Tice about Matthew Goodwin being made the head of the party's student wing, and Goodwin's views on some minority ethnic Britons not being British.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
November 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
At the Reform press conference I asked Richard Tice about Matthew Goodwin being made the head of the party's student wing, and Goodwin's views on some minority ethnic Britons not being British.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
Labour MP Simon Opher - "We should stop the boats because it's dangerous, and we should stop the scapegoating of immigrants because it's wrong and cruel.
"Measures that create bureaucracy and insecurity do not offer clarity or strengthen control – they cost money, waste time and weaken the system."
"Measures that create bureaucracy and insecurity do not offer clarity or strengthen control – they cost money, waste time and weaken the system."
November 17, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Labour MP Simon Opher - "We should stop the boats because it's dangerous, and we should stop the scapegoating of immigrants because it's wrong and cruel.
"Measures that create bureaucracy and insecurity do not offer clarity or strengthen control – they cost money, waste time and weaken the system."
"Measures that create bureaucracy and insecurity do not offer clarity or strengthen control – they cost money, waste time and weaken the system."
Madness when ministers don’t know their own policies. This temporary protection even applies to those who arrive via the newly created legal routes.
Alex Norris just said on Today the temporary protection is just for those who arrive illegally. That is not his policy.
But the policy of reassessment at 30 months will apply to those on controlled, legal routes (for 10 years, not 20 years)
But the policy of reassessment at 30 months will apply to those on controlled, legal routes (for 10 years, not 20 years)
November 17, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Madness when ministers don’t know their own policies. This temporary protection even applies to those who arrive via the newly created legal routes.
More Labour MPs starting to express public unease at these proposals. Lots more saying so privately...
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:57 PM
More Labour MPs starting to express public unease at these proposals. Lots more saying so privately...
Devastating to hear about Rachel Cooke, a generational talent whose writing was often an inspiration, especially her political interviews. So much more she could have written.
November 14, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Devastating to hear about Rachel Cooke, a generational talent whose writing was often an inspiration, especially her political interviews. So much more she could have written.
Rachel Reeves plans £7.5bn tax rise in budget after U-turn on income tax rates
Chancellor expected to freeze level at which people start paying income tax for two years rather than putting rates up
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Chancellor expected to freeze level at which people start paying income tax for two years rather than putting rates up
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Rachel Reeves plans £7.5bn tax rise in budget after U-turn on income tax rates
Chancellor expected to freeze level at which people start paying income tax for two years rather than putting rates up
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Rachel Reeves plans £7.5bn tax rise in budget after U-turn on income tax rates
Chancellor expected to freeze level at which people start paying income tax for two years rather than putting rates up
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Chancellor expected to freeze level at which people start paying income tax for two years rather than putting rates up
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Two things seem to be true this morning -
1/ That the politics of breaking the manifesto pledge was too difficult
2/ Reeves has received much more optimistic forecasts, likely to he wage growth and inflation related
The combination means they can reverse their plans
1/ That the politics of breaking the manifesto pledge was too difficult
2/ Reeves has received much more optimistic forecasts, likely to he wage growth and inflation related
The combination means they can reverse their plans
November 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Two things seem to be true this morning -
1/ That the politics of breaking the manifesto pledge was too difficult
2/ Reeves has received much more optimistic forecasts, likely to he wage growth and inflation related
The combination means they can reverse their plans
1/ That the politics of breaking the manifesto pledge was too difficult
2/ Reeves has received much more optimistic forecasts, likely to he wage growth and inflation related
The combination means they can reverse their plans
Gonna have to be fuel duty and the triple lock then
November 14, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Gonna have to be fuel duty and the triple lock then
Absolute bombshell report in the FT tonight that Reeves has effectively ripped up her entire Budget and abandoning plans to raise income tax.
Means a lot of disparate, smaller measures now on the table.
Just yesterday morning I was told they were desperate to avoid that.
Means a lot of disparate, smaller measures now on the table.
Just yesterday morning I was told they were desperate to avoid that.
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Absolute bombshell report in the FT tonight that Reeves has effectively ripped up her entire Budget and abandoning plans to raise income tax.
Means a lot of disparate, smaller measures now on the table.
Just yesterday morning I was told they were desperate to avoid that.
Means a lot of disparate, smaller measures now on the table.
Just yesterday morning I was told they were desperate to avoid that.
Why is Wes Streeting in the spotlight as a leadership challenger, when almost everyone agrees there is no organised plot?
There are clues in how Streeting has spoken out in recent months which show how he would run an eventual bid to be PM.
Read here www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
There are clues in how Streeting has spoken out in recent months which show how he would run an eventual bid to be PM.
Read here www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Why some in No 10 think Wes Streeting is plotting to become prime minister
Health secretary has always been open about his ambitions but recent actions hinted at reasons for potential coup plot
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Why is Wes Streeting in the spotlight as a leadership challenger, when almost everyone agrees there is no organised plot?
There are clues in how Streeting has spoken out in recent months which show how he would run an eventual bid to be PM.
Read here www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
There are clues in how Streeting has spoken out in recent months which show how he would run an eventual bid to be PM.
Read here www.theguardian.com/politics/202...