Will Coldwell
@willcoldwell.bsky.social
1.9K followers 890 following 170 posts
Freelance journalist. Words in The Guardian, GQ, FT Mag, Wired, 1843 Magazine, Prospect, The Observer and beyond Get in touch: [email protected] willcoldwell.com
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willcoldwell.bsky.social
So much more than St George's Crosses out here, you know
Reposted by Will Coldwell
jonfeatonby.bsky.social
The idea that being a refugee is somehow a “golden ticket” is genuinely awful. These are people who the government have recognised are in need of protection. Do they think people chose that? That that’s what people wanted?

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Starmer to end asylum ‘golden ticket’ of resettlement and family reunion rights
People granted asylum will have to earn right to invite family in plan charities call ‘straight from populist playbook’
www.theguardian.com
willcoldwell.bsky.social
V nice to be shortlisted in the Freelance Journalism Awards in the best investigation category, among some fantastic freelance journalists
Reposted by Will Coldwell
akcmacleod.bsky.social
This is a ridiculously good read
willcoldwell.bsky.social
When Daniel Khalife, a British soldier accused of spying for Iran, escaped from Wandsworth Prison, he became a social media celebrity... Was he a threat to national security? Or just a mixed up kid?

My latest for GQ, a story of angst and espionage...

www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/dani...
Daniel Khalife: Fugitive, Traitor? Soldier, Spy
When Daniel Khalife, a British soldier accused of spying for Iran, escaped from Wandsworth Prison, he became a social media celebrity. But the wild true story of his arrest, escape and recapture revea...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
Reposted by Will Coldwell
rachel-rees.bsky.social
A final little bit from me in today's edition: the south London flagger who told the BBC he was one of many “hardworking business people” hanging British flags -- and his £98,000 false injury claim

When I called him, he gave this gem of a quote
Reposted by Will Coldwell
amitkatwala.bsky.social
Really great story!
willcoldwell.bsky.social
When Daniel Khalife, a British soldier accused of spying for Iran, escaped from Wandsworth Prison, he became a social media celebrity... Was he a threat to national security? Or just a mixed up kid?

My latest for GQ, a story of angst and espionage...

www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/dani...
Daniel Khalife: Fugitive, Traitor? Soldier, Spy
When Daniel Khalife, a British soldier accused of spying for Iran, escaped from Wandsworth Prison, he became a social media celebrity. But the wild true story of his arrest, escape and recapture revea...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
willcoldwell.bsky.social
According to my local parent WhatsApp group, the new school playground insult is: "Your dad paints roundabouts"
Reposted by Will Coldwell
olifranklinwallis.bsky.social
This is an insane caper (emailing Mi5 from the Apple Store! A fake bomb hoax! Dead-drops in poo bags!). Make time to read it.
willcoldwell.bsky.social
When Daniel Khalife, a British soldier accused of spying for Iran, escaped from Wandsworth Prison, he became a social media celebrity... Was he a threat to national security? Or just a mixed up kid?

My latest for GQ, a story of angst and espionage...

www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/dani...
Daniel Khalife: Fugitive, Traitor? Soldier, Spy
When Daniel Khalife, a British soldier accused of spying for Iran, escaped from Wandsworth Prison, he became a social media celebrity. But the wild true story of his arrest, escape and recapture revea...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
willcoldwell.bsky.social
Hat tip to @olifranklinwallis.bsky.social for patient edits and brill advice throughout, and Zinya Salfiti for such diligent fact checking 🙏
willcoldwell.bsky.social
When Daniel Khalife, a British soldier accused of spying for Iran, escaped from Wandsworth Prison, he became a social media celebrity... Was he a threat to national security? Or just a mixed up kid?

My latest for GQ, a story of angst and espionage...

www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/dani...
Daniel Khalife: Fugitive, Traitor? Soldier, Spy
When Daniel Khalife, a British soldier accused of spying for Iran, escaped from Wandsworth Prison, he became a social media celebrity. But the wild true story of his arrest, escape and recapture revea...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
willcoldwell.bsky.social
Was in rural Ireland last week. Even in tiny villages you could see the Palestinian colours flapping in the wind.

Get home to find people have scribbled red crosses on the zebra crossing.

Flags!
Reposted by Will Coldwell
henrymance.ft.com
the juxtaposition of 'let's enjoy Paddington bear!' and 'let's deport human migrants to the Taliban!' is too perfect
Reposted by Will Coldwell
simonfrcox.bsky.social
The Labour response to Farage policy of leaving the Refugee & Humam Rights Convention should not be “he won’t deliver”.

It should be “this is not morally right” (not “British values” even).

Voters want to see authentic consistent leadership. Not debate the workability of cruelty.
Reposted by Will Coldwell
wmarybeard.bsky.social
Daily Telegraph today refers to A Rayner’s property “empire”. Whatever you think of her housing arrangements, I don’t think constituency house (bought for 375k in 2016), house in Hove, plus use of ministerial flat in London is an “empire”. Duke of Westminster wont fear a rival!
willcoldwell.bsky.social
Which could be quite likely, considering how often I get messages on LinkedIn from marketers offering money to pitch/place stories about their clients
willcoldwell.bsky.social
Leftfield theory: someone is testing out an AI system capable of planting stories in mainstream media, as a for-profit enterprise...
willcoldwell.bsky.social
So if not, is it about building a profile as a writer? Except she doesn't appear to have one - so is she even real? (Lovely name though)
willcoldwell.bsky.social
Weird, this Margeux Blanchard AI journalism thing...

Freelance rates for writers are pretty poor, so seems like a fairly high-labour, low-reward scam if it's just about the money...

pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...
Wired and Business Insider remove 'AI-written' freelance articles
Wired and Business Insider have removed freelance articles over concerns they were written by AI under a fake name.
pressgazette.co.uk
Reposted by Will Coldwell
youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com
you rarely encounter a perfect intro..........but when you do