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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. Interested in democracy & protest. 'Fake news w*nker' - Tommy Robinson Content may include my cat, and bits of music. 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 · 30m

Correction: The email address - and I think admin - refers to the campaign manager

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 35m

Advance UK is the far-right party backed by Tommy Robinson (and it seems Elon Musk too)

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 36m

Chichester Reform's Facebook page appears to have rebranded to Ben Habib's Advance UK...

The page URL (and email) mentions Teresa De Santis who was Reform UK's candidate in the 2024 General Election. She came third with 15% of the vote.

Chichester Reform UK
434 followers • 14 following
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Our Aim

A proud, independent and prosperous United Kingdom.

We stand for nation, freedom, democracy and equality under the law.

Page · Political candidate

Chichester, United Kingdom

Lydia@lydiabaker.co.uk

Always open

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Chichester Reform UK updated their cover photo to Advance UK

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1h

"The very people who pledged that Brexit would result in surging levels of non-white immigration, now froth with rage that their promise came true." open.substack.com/pub/writesbr...

Has Farage forgotten his own immigration promises?

We have the receipts, Nigel...

open.substack.com

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 2h

"Non-voters stand out as consistently the most anti-growth group across nearly every question. After them, the next most anti-growth groups are either Green or Reform UK supporters"

Tldr: Talking non-stop about "growth" probably isn't doing the Govt many favours
open.substack.com/pub/jamesbre...

What Do The Public Actually Think About Economic Growth, Technological Change and "Abundance"?

There's an "anti-growth coalition" and a “pro-growth coalition” out there, it’s just not necessarily the people you think it is

open.substack.com

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 13h

No it's GB as a whole, but it raises a good point re devolution

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 15h

"A new YouGov survey [shows] the public verdict on today’s NHS: local service, good 55 per cent, bad 38 per cent; national service, good 27 per cent, bad 63 per cent. Another example of ministers not getting their message across as well as they might hope."
open.substack.com/pub/kellnerp...

Voters are not listening

New research uncovers the gap between what politicians say and what voters notice

open.substack.com

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 19h

B&NES Council’s planning committee has blocked plans for a major solar farm, despite the local authority declaring a climate emergency

Planning committee member Councillor Paul Crossley (Southdown, Liberal Democrat) said the scheme was “just far too large, far too impactful on the rural landscape.”

Plans for major solar farm near Bath refused over landscape harm

People in neighbouring Burnett said their landscape would be “blighted with an industrial scale eyesore”.

www.bathecho.co.uk

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Reposted by Josiah Mortimer

Chaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 22h

But at least Ofcom's going after the real troublemakers... right?

Right?? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 22h

"Complaint considered resolved with no further sanction due to apology and discussion broadcast on GB News."

Ofcom doesn't even merit the phrase "paper tiger". It's a paper kitten.
pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/new...

GB News comment about LGBTQ+ including 'paedos' in breach of Ofcom code

A GB News presenter saying “full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons” at a church would “include paedos” breached the Broadcasting Code, Ofcom said.

pressgazette.co.uk

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 22h

"Stories sent out by this AI-powered PR writing and distribution tool have already landed coverage in outlets including the Daily Mail, Nottingham World, Lancs Live and GB News"
pressgazette.co.uk/news/automat...

Automated PR tool is bombarding UK media with AI-generated content

'Olivia Brown' reads websites, writes press releases then 'relentlessly' sends emails.

pressgazette.co.uk

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Reposted by Josiah Mortimer

Molly Scott Cato @greenpartymolly.bsky.social · 1d

'Posh George': a gambling addict who spent 8 months in jail in the US

'part of Farage’s inner circle when it comes to policy, party funding and political strategy – particularly its growing presence on social media.'

By their friends shall ye know them

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Tax authorities examine finances of key Nigel Farage ally

Exclusive: HMRC conducts scoping exercise into Reform UK backer ‘Posh George’ Cottrell’s income from business and wealth

www.theguardian.com

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

The inevitable conclusion is that the Tories will move further to the right of Reform, and shed any remaining potential Lib Dem voters.

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Politico: "The new Conservative attack appears to be that Farage is a raging Pinko. “Reform want to get back to the days of nationalisation and state control,” Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said in his low-turnout speech. “They are marching to the left."

The Tories now think Reform are socialists.

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Former Cabinet Minister - and GB News host - Jacob Rees-Mogg 'told Times Radio he’s skipping Tory conference this year despite making the journey to Birmingham for Reform’s bash' (Via Politico)

I wonder why that could be?...

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Quite an odd headline even the hyper-cautious BBC. That isn't the main line he's defending: he had attacked a supposed total lack of white people in the area

Catio Miles @catiomiles.bsky.social · 1d

This is how propaganda at Tory BBC works.

The story for them is not that the Tory politician is racist.

For the BBC the story is how to defend him.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Jenrick defends calling Handsworth 'worst-integrated'

The shadow justice secretary stands by his comments about the Birmingham area amid sharp criticism.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Jenrick's "team have compiled and passed to the Telegraph a mega dossier of 35 judges he reckons have “pro-migration bias” — and he wants to sack ‘em all"

This is a Trump tribute act. Dangerous "enemy of the people" stuff here.
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

"A New Statesman profile of Jenrick in July 2025 referred to his visit to Handsworth. It said Jenrick “agreed that there was an English ethnicity” but suggested he was concerned with “Britain’s cultural identity, not questions of race & religion”"

Clearly untrue.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Robert Jenrick complained of ‘not seeing another white face’ in Birmingham neighbourhood

Shadow justice secretary criticised for suggesting he could tell how integrated Handsworth was based on short visit

www.theguardian.com

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

They've deleted and reposted a correction
bsky.app/profile/whot...

Who Targets Me @whotargets.me · 1d

bsky.app/profile/whot...

Who Targets Me @whotargets.me · 1d

They've now changed their EU ad library too:
- No specific searches for political ads
- Only "all time" spending reports available (to Oct 3rd)
- No audience tab/targeting data

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Thanks! Mildly reassuring

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Ok thanks

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

It's a fair bet. I'd imagine Zoe Garbett would go for one of them?

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

Lib Dems on Kent's Reform council: "It turns out cribbing the notes of dodgy American tech billionaires is no way to run a council.

"Zia Yusuf should personally apologise to the people of Kent."

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

On reports that Reform’s DOGE unit in Kent has found no savings and is set to hike council tax, Lib Dem Daisy Cooper MP:

"Reform's pledge to slash millions...has turned out to be nothing but smoke & mirrors

"Like his idol Elon Musk, Zia Yusuf has spectacularly failed to deliver what DOGE promised"

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Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 1d

A Conservative councillor has quit the party "with profound regret" after Kemi Badenoch said a future Tory government would withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

He says it's a "fundamental departure from the principles that have long defined our party"

North Northants Conservative party veteran quits over ECHR stance

Scott Brown says he leaves the party with

www.bbc.co.uk

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