Josiah Mortimer
@josiahmortimer.bsky.social
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.
'Fake news w*nker' - Tommy Robinson
Got a story? Get in touch.
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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
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
Eek. "In controlled experiments...AI systems successfully swayed political views in ways that should alarm anyone concerned about democratic integrity. The most unsettling part though was that the most persuasive models were also the ones spreading the most inaccurate information."
How AI Chatbots Changed 26% of Voters' Political Views
Why AI Conversations Outperform Billions in Political Advertising
substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Eek. "In controlled experiments...AI systems successfully swayed political views in ways that should alarm anyone concerned about democratic integrity. The most unsettling part though was that the most persuasive models were also the ones spreading the most inaccurate information."
I have become slightly addicted to NYT Crossplay. If any followers are on there and fancy some Definitely-Not-Scrabble, let me know.
I can't guarantee I'll be a worthy opponent, but I will engage (during baby nap hours)...
I can't guarantee I'll be a worthy opponent, but I will engage (during baby nap hours)...
February 17, 2026 at 9:37 PM
I have become slightly addicted to NYT Crossplay. If any followers are on there and fancy some Definitely-Not-Scrabble, let me know.
I can't guarantee I'll be a worthy opponent, but I will engage (during baby nap hours)...
I can't guarantee I'll be a worthy opponent, but I will engage (during baby nap hours)...
This is a pretty bizarre cock-up. "Reform UK-led North Northamptonshire Council has had to halt planning projects after publishing consultation notices in the Northamptonshire Telegraph, which doesn’t circulate locally, instead of the Peterborough Telegraph."
Planning projects halted thanks to council's local paper blunder - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPage
Councillors told of local paper blunder
www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 11:48 AM
This is a pretty bizarre cock-up. "Reform UK-led North Northamptonshire Council has had to halt planning projects after publishing consultation notices in the Northamptonshire Telegraph, which doesn’t circulate locally, instead of the Peterborough Telegraph."
Lord Northbrook was a Conservative peer but now sits as a Non-affiliated peer, Dodds reports this week. He is a hereditary peer (of the media magnate dynasty) and a fierce opponent of Lords reform. (Not sure why he's lost the whip, any ideas?)
February 17, 2026 at 10:56 AM
Lord Northbrook was a Conservative peer but now sits as a Non-affiliated peer, Dodds reports this week. He is a hereditary peer (of the media magnate dynasty) and a fierce opponent of Lords reform. (Not sure why he's lost the whip, any ideas?)
The UK Government is finally taking on Elon Musk. Quite a moment. (Now they need to ditch X, ofc)
February 16, 2026 at 9:56 PM
The UK Government is finally taking on Elon Musk. Quite a moment. (Now they need to ditch X, ofc)
New Govt amendments to the crime and policing bill:
New aggravated offences will now cover hostility based on disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity and sex (part of pledge to tackle misogyny) — extending beyond Labour manifesto commitments on LGBT+ and disability protections
New aggravated offences will now cover hostility based on disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity and sex (part of pledge to tackle misogyny) — extending beyond Labour manifesto commitments on LGBT+ and disability protections
February 16, 2026 at 8:24 PM
New Govt amendments to the crime and policing bill:
New aggravated offences will now cover hostility based on disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity and sex (part of pledge to tackle misogyny) — extending beyond Labour manifesto commitments on LGBT+ and disability protections
New aggravated offences will now cover hostility based on disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity and sex (part of pledge to tackle misogyny) — extending beyond Labour manifesto commitments on LGBT+ and disability protections
Glad to see this. The bar for delaying elections should be very high indeed, and shouldn't be done at the stroke of a ministerial pen (even if councillors have requested it) www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Starmer abandons plans to delay local elections in England in latest U-turn
PM under fire from his own MPs and opposition leaders after ditching plan to postpone elections for 30 councils
www.theguardian.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Glad to see this. The bar for delaying elections should be very high indeed, and shouldn't be done at the stroke of a ministerial pen (even if councillors have requested it) www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
I think I was Pritesh's last customer on Friday, as his news stand closed for good.
There's not many proper news stands left these days. Sad times for print lovers, and his stand will no doubt be replaced with a cookie-cutter coffee shop.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/closing-time...
There's not many proper news stands left these days. Sad times for print lovers, and his stand will no doubt be replaced with a cookie-cutter coffee shop.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/closing-time...
The end of the line for Brixton News
Pritesh Patel was at the heart of the community for 36 years. Now he's said goodbye.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 8:10 AM
I think I was Pritesh's last customer on Friday, as his news stand closed for good.
There's not many proper news stands left these days. Sad times for print lovers, and his stand will no doubt be replaced with a cookie-cutter coffee shop.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/closing-time...
There's not many proper news stands left these days. Sad times for print lovers, and his stand will no doubt be replaced with a cookie-cutter coffee shop.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/closing-time...
Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Deputy Leader, has called on Reform UK’s candidate for Gorton and Denton, Matt Goodwin, to distance himself from "appalling extreme and racist content" shared online by members of his campaign team.
Labour brands Goodwin "Farage’s extreme Tommy Robinson-backed candidate."
Labour brands Goodwin "Farage’s extreme Tommy Robinson-backed candidate."
February 15, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Deputy Leader, has called on Reform UK’s candidate for Gorton and Denton, Matt Goodwin, to distance himself from "appalling extreme and racist content" shared online by members of his campaign team.
Labour brands Goodwin "Farage’s extreme Tommy Robinson-backed candidate."
Labour brands Goodwin "Farage’s extreme Tommy Robinson-backed candidate."
ICYMI: "Nigel Farage’s party refused to attend the Russian interference debate, called after more than 100,000 people signed a petition demanding a public inquiry into Russian interference in British politics"
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/10/r...
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/10/r...
Reform MPs Accused of Pandering to Putin After Skipping Russian Interference Debate
Nigel Farage's party refused to attend the debate, called after more than 100,000 people signed a petition demanding a public inquiry into Russian interference in British politics
bylinetimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 8:13 AM
ICYMI: "Nigel Farage’s party refused to attend the Russian interference debate, called after more than 100,000 people signed a petition demanding a public inquiry into Russian interference in British politics"
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/10/r...
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/10/r...
"Two statements by Government ministers, one private and one public, appear to acknowledge for the first time that Israel’s actions have broken international law"
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/13/d...
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/13/d...
Did Keir Starmer's Government Just Accidentally Admit Its Complicity in Israel’s War Crimes?
Two statements by Government ministers, one private and one public, appear to acknowledge for the first time that Israel's actions have broken international law
bylinetimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 8:11 AM
"Two statements by Government ministers, one private and one public, appear to acknowledge for the first time that Israel’s actions have broken international law"
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/13/d...
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/13/d...
This is big news - though note the Government plans to appeal it. Not over yet...
February 13, 2026 at 1:32 PM
This is big news - though note the Government plans to appeal it. Not over yet...
"The abuse of women by male predators and their enablers – and Britain’s as yet unacknowledged role – has shocked me to the core. It demands an in-depth police investigation, and is by far the biggest scandal of all"
This is vital stuff from Gordon Brown. Hope the police & Government listen up.
This is vital stuff from Gordon Brown. Hope the police & Government listen up.
Gordon Brown: Police need to interview Andrew
We owe it to survivors of abuse to help bring the guilty to justice
www.newstatesman.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:50 PM
"The abuse of women by male predators and their enablers – and Britain’s as yet unacknowledged role – has shocked me to the core. It demands an in-depth police investigation, and is by far the biggest scandal of all"
This is vital stuff from Gordon Brown. Hope the police & Government listen up.
This is vital stuff from Gordon Brown. Hope the police & Government listen up.
Reposted by Josiah Mortimer
Cllr David Wimble, Reform Cabinet member for economic development at Kent County Council, says he might defund Margate's Turner Contemporary Gallery to spite the local MP Polly Billington.
A pretty bleak threat from the Reform party on Kent county council...
Reform threatens to pull funding for Margate’s Turner Gallery as ‘naked retribution for local MP exposing Kent savings lies' - via Polly Billington MP
Reform threatens to pull funding for Margate’s Turner Gallery as ‘naked retribution for local MP exposing Kent savings lies' - via Polly Billington MP
February 12, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Cllr David Wimble, Reform Cabinet member for economic development at Kent County Council, says he might defund Margate's Turner Contemporary Gallery to spite the local MP Polly Billington.
YouGov: "Keir Starmer’s standing with the public has improved by ten points since January"
"The proportion of Britons with a favourable view of the prime minister now stands at 22%, up four points since last month, while the number seeing the Labour leader unfavourably has fallen six points to 69%"
"The proportion of Britons with a favourable view of the prime minister now stands at 22%, up four points since last month, while the number seeing the Labour leader unfavourably has fallen six points to 69%"
February 12, 2026 at 10:45 PM
YouGov: "Keir Starmer’s standing with the public has improved by ten points since January"
"The proportion of Britons with a favourable view of the prime minister now stands at 22%, up four points since last month, while the number seeing the Labour leader unfavourably has fallen six points to 69%"
"The proportion of Britons with a favourable view of the prime minister now stands at 22%, up four points since last month, while the number seeing the Labour leader unfavourably has fallen six points to 69%"
A pretty bleak threat from the Reform party on Kent county council...
Reform threatens to pull funding for Margate’s Turner Gallery as ‘naked retribution for local MP exposing Kent savings lies' - via Polly Billington MP
Reform threatens to pull funding for Margate’s Turner Gallery as ‘naked retribution for local MP exposing Kent savings lies' - via Polly Billington MP
February 12, 2026 at 9:57 PM
A pretty bleak threat from the Reform party on Kent county council...
Reform threatens to pull funding for Margate’s Turner Gallery as ‘naked retribution for local MP exposing Kent savings lies' - via Polly Billington MP
Reform threatens to pull funding for Margate’s Turner Gallery as ‘naked retribution for local MP exposing Kent savings lies' - via Polly Billington MP
Reform MP Sarah Pochin has just doubled down on her 'racist remarks on TV adverts,' Labour says.
Labour chair Anna Turley: “It is utterly grotesque that Nigel Farage tolerates this flagrant racism in Reform"
Instead of sacking her, Reform are "offering more of the same" via candidate Matt Goodwin.
Labour chair Anna Turley: “It is utterly grotesque that Nigel Farage tolerates this flagrant racism in Reform"
Instead of sacking her, Reform are "offering more of the same" via candidate Matt Goodwin.
February 12, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Reform MP Sarah Pochin has just doubled down on her 'racist remarks on TV adverts,' Labour says.
Labour chair Anna Turley: “It is utterly grotesque that Nigel Farage tolerates this flagrant racism in Reform"
Instead of sacking her, Reform are "offering more of the same" via candidate Matt Goodwin.
Labour chair Anna Turley: “It is utterly grotesque that Nigel Farage tolerates this flagrant racism in Reform"
Instead of sacking her, Reform are "offering more of the same" via candidate Matt Goodwin.
The fate of the 2,787 people arrested for terrorism offences for peacefully holding signs saying “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” in silent vigils will be decided this Friday.
The long-awaited Judicial Review ruling will be read out at 10am in the Royal Courts of Justice.
The long-awaited Judicial Review ruling will be read out at 10am in the Royal Courts of Justice.
February 12, 2026 at 9:41 PM
The fate of the 2,787 people arrested for terrorism offences for peacefully holding signs saying “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” in silent vigils will be decided this Friday.
The long-awaited Judicial Review ruling will be read out at 10am in the Royal Courts of Justice.
The long-awaited Judicial Review ruling will be read out at 10am in the Royal Courts of Justice.
"The Bill still leaves the door wide open to foreign money. It is just that the foreign billionaire or government will need someone in the UK to cooperate with them. Which is no real barrier at all."
open.substack.com/pub/lordseye...
open.substack.com/pub/lordseye...
Millions of pounds flow into elections without proper transparency
Welcome
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:50 PM
"The Bill still leaves the door wide open to foreign money. It is just that the foreign billionaire or government will need someone in the UK to cooperate with them. Which is no real barrier at all."
open.substack.com/pub/lordseye...
open.substack.com/pub/lordseye...
"Reform UK last year received £200,000 from a tiny UK firm run by a churchwarden in Potters Bar who has worked for an Iranian-Kazakh billionaire who recently bankrolled Nigel Farage’s trip to Davos...It listed tax debts totalling more than its political contributions"
Revealed: Corporate donations to British politics have tripled
Influential Labour committee chairs call on government to clean up politics as our new analysis finds record £42 million in company donations ahead of last election
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:13 PM
"Reform UK last year received £200,000 from a tiny UK firm run by a churchwarden in Potters Bar who has worked for an Iranian-Kazakh billionaire who recently bankrolled Nigel Farage’s trip to Davos...It listed tax debts totalling more than its political contributions"
Nigel Farage has just moved his company address to...Mayfair. As Private Eye notes, nothing says 'man of the people' like it.
(The office appears to belong, through a complex web, to Reform treasurer Nick Candy's firm)
(The office appears to belong, through a complex web, to Reform treasurer Nick Candy's firm)
February 11, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Nigel Farage has just moved his company address to...Mayfair. As Private Eye notes, nothing says 'man of the people' like it.
(The office appears to belong, through a complex web, to Reform treasurer Nick Candy's firm)
(The office appears to belong, through a complex web, to Reform treasurer Nick Candy's firm)
Lord Doyle, Keir Starmer's former director of comms, has had the Labour whip removed over his continued friendship with convicted sex offender Sean Morton.
Sky News: Labour chair Anna Turley said that Doyle should be stripped of his peerage.
Labour literally made him a Lord for life a month ago.
Sky News: Labour chair Anna Turley said that Doyle should be stripped of his peerage.
Labour literally made him a Lord for life a month ago.
February 11, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Lord Doyle, Keir Starmer's former director of comms, has had the Labour whip removed over his continued friendship with convicted sex offender Sean Morton.
Sky News: Labour chair Anna Turley said that Doyle should be stripped of his peerage.
Labour literally made him a Lord for life a month ago.
Sky News: Labour chair Anna Turley said that Doyle should be stripped of his peerage.
Labour literally made him a Lord for life a month ago.
Reposted by Josiah Mortimer
Toby Young, Matthew Elliott, Daniel Moylan, Claire Fox, Daniel Hannan, Michael Gove, Therese Coffey (a Brexit convert), Paul Goodman, John Moynihan, Ruth Lea, Stewart Jackson, Michael Hintze, Charles Moore, David Frost, Theo Agnew; & now John Redwood.
Rewarded for the Brexit calamity with peerages.
Rewarded for the Brexit calamity with peerages.
Ex Tory MP John Redwood has been made a peer, as Lord Redwood on 31 January, and was formally introduced in the Lords on Tuesday
February 11, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Toby Young, Matthew Elliott, Daniel Moylan, Claire Fox, Daniel Hannan, Michael Gove, Therese Coffey (a Brexit convert), Paul Goodman, John Moynihan, Ruth Lea, Stewart Jackson, Michael Hintze, Charles Moore, David Frost, Theo Agnew; & now John Redwood.
Rewarded for the Brexit calamity with peerages.
Rewarded for the Brexit calamity with peerages.
The "members oversight committee" for Your Party's internal elections is...anonymous.
Members (to many of their horrors) do not know who sits on the five member panel, it seems 😆 actionnetwork.org/petitions/me...
Members (to many of their horrors) do not know who sits on the five member panel, it seems 😆 actionnetwork.org/petitions/me...
![To: Members' Oversight Committee (Your Party)
From: [Your Name]
Open letter to the Members' Oversight Committee: transparency, independence, and answers
The party's own ratified strategy promised elections "run by a trusted independent, third-party company" and proposed a Members' Oversight Committee of five ordinary members selected by sortition. The MOC was the guardrail meant to make that manageable. Instead, the committee met once, without minutes, and its five members remain unnamed. The party has now published a page for the MOC — but without names, records, or any account of what happened after the lottery. This letter asks for the minimum.
We call on the Members' Oversight Committee to publish its members' names, clarify how it was formed and who runs its communications, and commit to a public report before it dissolves.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6laekojw3whqu64tlaxopvgx/bafkreicmk4jz4grigf4633sbgylyja2feebm3tp4qriqbxldv5slh2s4mi@jpeg)
February 11, 2026 at 10:09 AM
The "members oversight committee" for Your Party's internal elections is...anonymous.
Members (to many of their horrors) do not know who sits on the five member panel, it seems 😆 actionnetwork.org/petitions/me...
Members (to many of their horrors) do not know who sits on the five member panel, it seems 😆 actionnetwork.org/petitions/me...
Reposted by Josiah Mortimer
Redwood stepped down as an MP before the last election because he had "other things I wish to do" (than lose his seat to a Lib Dem after holding it for 37 years)
Ex Tory MP John Redwood has been made a peer, as Lord Redwood on 31 January, and was formally introduced in the Lords on Tuesday
February 11, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Redwood stepped down as an MP before the last election because he had "other things I wish to do" (than lose his seat to a Lib Dem after holding it for 37 years)