Author | Lightnews

Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · 1d

I've joined Substack to share more thoughts on my reading, writing and thoughts on the history that helps explain our political moment. Subscribe here, if you like.

substack.com/home/post/p-...

What I'm reading and writing

Welcome to my Substack

substack.com

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · 25d

State comprehensive actually, great guess, you muppet 👍🏻

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Reposted by Patrick Maguire

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 26d

Nigel Farage v Keir Starmer is the only game in town | ✍️ Patrick Maguire

Nigel Farage v Keir Starmer is the only game in town

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by Patrick Maguire

Joshi Herrmann @joshiherrmann.bsky.social · 28d

A podcast intro that is actually funny!

@patrickmaguire.bsky.social sings I Think We're Alone Now at Maggie Thatcher’s 100th birthday to explain Kemi’s position at conference.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Badenoch woos WhatsApp plotters

Podcast Episode · The State of It · 08/10/2025 · 37m

podcasts.apple.com

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Oct 3

Start taking the Beano if you don't like it pal

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Oct 3

Nigel Farage is leading Labour round in circles

www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Labour has a new leader. His name is Nigel Farage

Sir Keir Starmer displayed multiple personalities at his party conference, which shows you that Reform is making the political weather

www.thetimes.com

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Oct 1

?

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Reposted by Patrick Maguire

Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · Sep 27

Fascinating and hugely depressing stuff by @patrickmaguire.bsky.social There’s a void at the heart of Labour: it needs a battle of ideas

www.thetimes.com/article/7177...

There’s a void at the heart of Labour: it needs a battle of ideas

A withering analysis shared among Keir Starmer’s MPs says his vague incrementalism and absence of critical thinking is steering the party to disaster

www.thetimes.com

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Sep 13

Morgan McSweeney:
- broke contact with “dismissive” Mandelson on Tuesday
- resolved he should be sacked on after PMQs on Wednesday
- then went to Brussels that evening
- by the time he returned, his longtime friend and mentor was gone

Full story in today’s Times: www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Sep 11

Where's the propaganda

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Sep 11

Cheers mate

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Reposted by Patrick Maguire

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · Sep 11

Terrific column this:

Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Sep 11

Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer: a sorry story that begins and ends with the incoherence of the prime minister’s political project

www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Peter Mandelson embodied this muddled project

Keir Starmer’s handling of the sacked ambassador in and out of office is testament to the government’s abject incoherence

www.thetimes.com

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Sep 11

Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer: a sorry story that begins and ends with the incoherence of the prime minister’s political project

www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Peter Mandelson embodied this muddled project

Keir Starmer’s handling of the sacked ambassador in and out of office is testament to the government’s abject incoherence

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by Patrick Maguire

Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · Aug 15

Really interesting by @patrickmaguire.bsky.social (apart from the unnecessary LUFC dig) www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Labour bets big on three new words this autumn

Expect to hear a lot about ‘contribution’, ‘fairness’ and ‘renewal’, but will these simply join the graveyard of Keir Starmer mantras past?

www.thetimes.com

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Aug 12

I love the presumably unconscious Wodehouse tribute here. Cosy Moments cannot be muzzled!

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Reposted by Patrick Maguire

Nick Garland @npjgarland.bsky.social · Aug 10

Don't think I'm being overly precious to say not enough made of the booing of the minute's silence for Jota. TNT coverage seemed desperate to move on and be able to talk about how wonderful and deserving the Palace fans were. Yes, I know, a minority etc.

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Jul 25

It was literally the founding principle of the NHS after all…

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Reposted by Patrick Maguire

Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · Jul 25

The central issue for parties now is fairness. For Labour that means cost of living, good public services, social justice. But Farage has defined it on crime, immigration, welfare bills and voters being played for mugs. And right now he is winning that fight
www.ft.com/content/e153...

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Jul 25

Column: Labour should beware Mums for Reform

www.thetimes.com/article/160a...

Labour should beware Mums for Reform

Constrained by Westminster, Nigel Farage is taking his anti-crime drive around the country — Keir Starmer knows he can’t ignore it

www.thetimes.com

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Jul 21

EXC: Ministers and civil servants are deliberately misleading the public with “false” and “unfounded” briefings about the Hillsborough Law, Andy Burnham tells The Times

KC who wrote draft bill says officials are seeking to “subvert and destroy the entire process”

www.thetimes.com/article/a220...

Andy Burnham: Officials misleading public over Hillsborough Law

The mayor of Greater Manchester accused parts of Whitehall of making ‘false’ and ‘unfounded’ claims about legislation to stop state cover-ups

www.thetimes.com

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Jul 18

Full piece: www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Keir Starmer doesn’t yet have whip hand over his MPs

A tough autumn awaits when Keir Starmer will need new powers of persuasion to sell the vision he’s beginning to articulate

www.thetimes.com

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Jul 18

Is Keir Starmer planning a progressive pivot?

He made a class-conscious speech to cabinet last week.

But the justice secretary asked whether Labour could really claim to represent the working class...

...and then his policy chief sketched out a tougher direction of travel.

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Jul 18

Column in this morning's Times:
- How four MPs ended up without the Labour whip – and why No 10 wanted more
- Shabana tells Keir: no point having a working class cabinet the working class hate
- Liz Lloyd tells cabinet: social cohesion under threat due to migration

www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Keir Starmer doesn’t yet have whip hand over his MPs

A tough autumn awaits when Keir Starmer will need new powers of persuasion to sell the vision he’s beginning to articulate

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by Patrick Maguire

Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · Jul 1

Danger is welfare rows + winter fuel and coming rows on SEND etc recreates sense of chaos voters thought they’d got rid of with the Tories. Damaging in two ways 1. Annoys exhausted electorate 2. Derisks Reform - people think (fairly or not) if current lot already chaotic how bad can Reform be.

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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · Jun 29

This guy

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