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Josiah Mortimer

@josiah.writes.news

49K followers 3.5K following 24K posts

Chief Reporter at UK political outlet Byline Times. I write the 'On the Ground' column in our print edition. Covering democracy, campaigning, and Britain's media. 'Fake news w*nker' - Tommy Robinson Got a story? Get in touch.

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · Jul 19

Sharing this to pin it: For non/new followers, hello!

I'm Josiah. I'm a UK political journalist from Cornwall & based in the South West. I also report regularly from Westminster.

My work focuses on democracy, social movements, & Britain's political system.

Get in touch: linktr.ee/josiahmortimer

Me in the sun with a newspaper. My natural habitat. Pinky purple t-shirt and shades.

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 7h

Ooh. Toothless political revolving-door regulator ACOBA is being abolished on Monday.

Here's hoping the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and the Civil Service Commission show more genuine anti-corruption grit
www.gov.uk/government/n...

ACOBA’s closure: the new process and contact details for applications under the Business Appointments Rules as of Monday 13 October 2025

ACOBA is no longer in operation. Applications for ministers should be sent to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards. Applications for Crown servants should be sent to the Civil service Comm...

www.gov.uk

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 7h

Politico: "Boris Johnson breached anti-sleaze rules (again) after failing to come clean about work he is said to have done for two firms without consulting regulators...Johnson sought to link firms up with foreign government representatives & entered into contracts without consulting the watchdog."

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 17h

It would be more predictable - you'd know that vote shares would roughly equal results, and you'd know that Labour, Lib Dems and Greens would likely work together (even if only in a minority / small majority coalition). Right now a few points difference could mean an enormous Reform majority

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 17h

Indeed!

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 20h

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey: "A stonker of a night for us. Three huge wins, Reform nowhere near us and the Tories down to ten percent in Mel Stride’s own seat.

"We are the only party taking Farage on and the only party beating him."

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 20h

Only one by-election, but there's no doubt Lib Dems are performing strongly in many (previously) Conservative areas right now

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 1d

Kenn Valley (Teignbridge) Council By-Election Result:

🔶 LDM: 50.4% (+11.0)
➡️ RFM: 23.1% (New)
🌳 CON: 9.6% (-19.0)
🙋 Ind: 8.2% (New)
🌍 GRN: 5.5% (-13.9)
🌹 LAB: 2.7% (-9.9)
🙋 Ind: 0.5% (New)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Conservative.
Changes w/ 2023.

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Reposted by Josiah Mortimer

James Medlock @jdcmedlock.bsky.social · 1d

“I’ll declare war on you if you don’t give me the peace prize” is an incredible bit

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

I think it's quite obvious, sadly, that Reform really are sweeping up huge amounts of support (even if it's "just" as two fingers up to the political system)

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Here's the ten latest GE polls, from 7 pollsters. All the polls are pointing to the party system fragmenting.

Ten polls all showing Reform around 30%, Labour 20ish, Cons 17ish, LDs 14ish, Greens 10ish etc

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Indeed. But the fundamentals are right. All signs point to the party system fragmenting into smithereens.

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

We're a long way off an election, and I'm not one to focus on polls.

But I'll take a rare break from that to say: Good grief, it is going to be carnage if anything like this is put through the meat grinder of First Past the Post...

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 1d

Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 32% (-3)
LAB: 17% (-2)
CON: 17% (+3)
GRN: 15% (+4)
LDM: 12% (=)
SNP: 3% (=)

Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 8 Oct.
Changes w/ 1 Oct.

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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 1d

Nigel Farage accuses teachers of "poisoning our kids" on race issues.

Here's a reminder of what teachers and fellow pupils at Farage's own school remember of his own views on that subject.

www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/nigel-fara...

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Reposted by Josiah Mortimer

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

The UK is in collective denial about the damage a populist nationalist government could do given thd absence of checks and balances in our system. Not sure why, since we had a pretty close run a few years ago.

Melissa Jo Peltier @melissjpeltier.bsky.social · 1d

As an American watching our best & most crucial institutions crumble in less than a year under Trump, I suggest you make as many of these changes now, while you can.
We didn’t, obviously.

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Yep end of November

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Thanks!

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Thanks, yes let me know!

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Ben Fenton @benfenton.bsky.social · 1d

If a news organisation is making -200% margin after five years, it is not a commercial operation and should be assumed to have a different purpose.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

The channel lost £33 million to communicate its content to a large audience
www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/g...

GB News suffers huge loss despite doubling revenue and growing audience

The TV channel, whose well-known presenters include Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, fell to a pre-tax loss of £33.4m in the year to 31 May, 2024

www.business-live.co.uk

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

2. How many councillors does Your Party have so far (through defections)? There was talk of 200 councillors being involved - but I'm intrigued by how many have formally changed their party group.

Good info on the new left party is hard to come by. I'll do more digging if it's all still unclear...

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Two Qs for UK politics nerds:

1. Is Zarah Sultana still the co-leader of Your Party?

Their Electoral Commission filing only listed Corbyn (co-leaders not allowed on EC docs, mind). The launch vid only had Corbyn in it. But I've just had a presser from a YP branch saying she's still co-leader (1/2)

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

These aren't really 'losses'. Spending on GB News, including ~£1,000,000 a year to Nigel Farage - looks and operates more like a political donation. And it's clearly working judging by how UK politics is shifting.

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

For GB News' ideological backers, it's money well spent.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

The channel lost £33 million to communicate its content to a large audience
www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/g...

GB News suffers huge loss despite doubling revenue and growing audience

The TV channel, whose well-known presenters include Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, fell to a pre-tax loss of £33.4m in the year to 31 May, 2024

www.business-live.co.uk

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 2d

Looks like the Greens are likely to hit 100,000 members pretty soon. Quite an astonishing growth rate.

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 2d

We just hit 93,000 members.

We're polling on average higher than we have ever before.

Over 1000 people joining a day!

Join our movement.

Join.greenparty.org.uk

Join the Green Party

Join the Green Party from just £6 a year. Become a member today - join the only party standing up for people and planet.

Join.greenparty.org.uk

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Reposted by Josiah Mortimer

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 2d

The Conservative party's treatment of David, who exposed the cash for questions scandal, is a former political journalist of the year, and has been covering party conferences for almost 40 years, is a disgrace
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/c...

Conservatives Accused of ‘Trumpian’ Tactics After Barring Second Byline Times Journalist From Conference

Veteran award-winning investigative journalist David Hencke has attended Conservative party conference since 1987 but is now hundreds of pounds out of pocket after being blocked from attending

bylinetimes.com

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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 2d

🔴America Must Save Britain’: MAGA-Mania and Conspiracy Theories Broadcast Nightly on GB News’ New US Show

It features climate denial, vaccine misinformation, and non-stop praise for Donald Trump as its hosts tell the American audience that the UK needs to be ‘saved’
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/a...

'America Must Save Britain': MAGA-Mania and Conspiracy Theories Broadcast Nightly on GB News' New US Show

A new daily GB News programme broadcast from Washington features climate denial, vaccine misinformation, and non-stop praise for Donald Trump – as its hosts tell the American audience that the UK need...

bylinetimes.com

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 2d

Thanks Politico for the link here this PM - another tiny win for adopting Bluesky for UK political news...

SCROLLING DEFECTIONS: The Chichester Reform U.K. Facebook page appears to have defected to Advance UK — the movement ex-Reform chair Ben Habib created after falling out with Nigel Farage. (H/t Josiah Mortimer from Byline Times.) With link

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