Peter Walker
@peterwalker99.bsky.social
Guardian senior political correspondent. New book, Stress tested, out now: https://tinyurl.com/mhn82a7m
Email: [email protected] Secure email if needed: [email protected]
Email: [email protected] Secure email if needed: [email protected]
Robert Jenrick proving about as popular with his former colleagues as Nadhim Zahawi.
January 16, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Robert Jenrick proving about as popular with his former colleagues as Nadhim Zahawi.
I missed this yesterday, but very much file under: oh, fancy that.
January 16, 2026 at 9:18 AM
I missed this yesterday, but very much file under: oh, fancy that.
Can’t believe I have *one* day off and I miss this.
January 15, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Can’t believe I have *one* day off and I miss this.
I mean, it feels to me like it's mainly a case of waiting till enough time passes, but what do I know.
January 14, 2026 at 2:14 PM
I mean, it feels to me like it's mainly a case of waiting till enough time passes, but what do I know.
This is from yesterday but I've only just seen it and it's pretty extraordinary. Rachel Maclean, Tory peer who was an MP and minister alongside Nadhim Zahawi, and was until recently a key aide to Kemi Badenoch, saying he was:
• Universally disliked
• Never in his constituency
• Can't be trusted.
• Universally disliked
• Never in his constituency
• Can't be trusted.
January 13, 2026 at 5:43 PM
This is from yesterday but I've only just seen it and it's pretty extraordinary. Rachel Maclean, Tory peer who was an MP and minister alongside Nadhim Zahawi, and was until recently a key aide to Kemi Badenoch, saying he was:
• Universally disliked
• Never in his constituency
• Can't be trusted.
• Universally disliked
• Never in his constituency
• Can't be trusted.
Ed Davey is making his big kicking-off-the-new-year speech in London, with - as you can see - a focus on the NHS. Can he seize some attention amid all the chaos and the endless focus on Reform?
January 13, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Ed Davey is making his big kicking-off-the-new-year speech in London, with - as you can see - a focus on the NHS. Can he seize some attention amid all the chaos and the endless focus on Reform?
Robert Jenrick's views increasingly give the impression that he's just reading out the "for you" feed on X.
January 9, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Robert Jenrick's views increasingly give the impression that he's just reading out the "for you" feed on X.
NEW: Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, says Ofcom would have the "full backing" of government if it opted to block access to X in the UK (but it's a decision for Ofcom)
January 9, 2026 at 3:39 PM
NEW: Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, says Ofcom would have the "full backing" of government if it opted to block access to X in the UK (but it's a decision for Ofcom)
According to David Frost, a road casualty toll which involves an average of 80+ people *every single day* either dying or suffering injuries which could change their life forever is an "utter non-problem".
January 9, 2026 at 11:11 AM
According to David Frost, a road casualty toll which involves an average of 80+ people *every single day* either dying or suffering injuries which could change their life forever is an "utter non-problem".
Very much off the point of this article, but I do enjoy the way some newspapers have stretched the definition of "midlife". I mean, Fiona off Traitors *might* live to be 124, but the demographic odds are against her.
January 8, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Very much off the point of this article, but I do enjoy the way some newspapers have stretched the definition of "midlife". I mean, Fiona off Traitors *might* live to be 124, but the demographic odds are against her.
Amazingly, this was not even the cheekiest thing @roberthutton.co.uk said about Nigel Farage today.
From his excellent sketch: thecritic.co.uk/politics-on-...
From his excellent sketch: thecritic.co.uk/politics-on-...
January 7, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Amazingly, this was not even the cheekiest thing @roberthutton.co.uk said about Nigel Farage today.
From his excellent sketch: thecritic.co.uk/politics-on-...
From his excellent sketch: thecritic.co.uk/politics-on-...
If you missed this question to Nigel Farage from The Critic's Rob Hutton – and it was over an hour into the press conference – then it was a particularly good one. The answer was... vague.
January 7, 2026 at 11:50 AM
If you missed this question to Nigel Farage from The Critic's Rob Hutton – and it was over an hour into the press conference – then it was a particularly good one. The answer was... vague.
Technology secretary Liz Kendall says the mass of indecent and child sexual abuse material on X via Grok is "absolutely appalling, and unacceptable in decent society". No new action for now, but govt will back any Ofcom enforcement.
January 6, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Technology secretary Liz Kendall says the mass of indecent and child sexual abuse material on X via Grok is "absolutely appalling, and unacceptable in decent society". No new action for now, but govt will back any Ofcom enforcement.
In other news from the register, Geoffrey Cox is finally managing to dig himself out of poverty.
January 6, 2026 at 11:34 AM
In other news from the register, Geoffrey Cox is finally managing to dig himself out of poverty.
Nigel Farage's visit last month to the F1 finale was paid for by the government of Abu Dhabi, the new register of MPs' interests says. He also had "meetings" there.
January 6, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Nigel Farage's visit last month to the F1 finale was paid for by the government of Abu Dhabi, the new register of MPs' interests says. He also had "meetings" there.
“It’s interesting from a legal perspective”. Prize for the best use of understatement so far on Venezuela goes to Priti Patel on Sky.
January 4, 2026 at 10:35 AM
“It’s interesting from a legal perspective”. Prize for the best use of understatement so far on Venezuela goes to Priti Patel on Sky.
While I completely get the rationale for some UK politicians to not want to openly criticise a capricious US president, at some point reality was going to intrude, and it feels like we are at that point now.
January 3, 2026 at 6:03 PM
While I completely get the rationale for some UK politicians to not want to openly criticise a capricious US president, at some point reality was going to intrude, and it feels like we are at that point now.
One thing that perhaps hasn’t been factored enough into UK political predictions is how much an increasingly off-piste, lame duck Trump could harm Nigel Farage, both in terms of their closeness and voters being perhaps less minded to try a government of novices amid global chaos.
January 3, 2026 at 1:33 PM
One thing that perhaps hasn’t been factored enough into UK political predictions is how much an increasingly off-piste, lame duck Trump could harm Nigel Farage, both in terms of their closeness and voters being perhaps less minded to try a government of novices amid global chaos.
What the actual fuck.
January 3, 2026 at 9:47 AM
What the actual fuck.
In a remote jungle in the Philippines, one combatant is still doggedly waging a conflict that actually ended years before.
January 2, 2026 at 5:45 PM
In a remote jungle in the Philippines, one combatant is still doggedly waging a conflict that actually ended years before.
Over on X it’s not just the guests on certain right wing TV stations who are now being openly racist. This sort of thing would have been career-ending not so long ago.
December 21, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Over on X it’s not just the guests on certain right wing TV stations who are now being openly racist. This sort of thing would have been career-ending not so long ago.
Fascinating thread about a fascinating poll on Welsh voting intentions. I was particularly struck by these two vignettes.
December 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Fascinating thread about a fascinating poll on Welsh voting intentions. I was particularly struck by these two vignettes.
Very pugnacious official response by Reform to this mass letter about Nigel Farage's actions at school. Calling the allegations of racism "smears" and "a naked attempt to discredit Reform and Nigel Farage" echoes the Richard Tice "made-up twaddle" line. The defence does seem to change weekly.
December 17, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Very pugnacious official response by Reform to this mass letter about Nigel Farage's actions at school. Calling the allegations of racism "smears" and "a naked attempt to discredit Reform and Nigel Farage" echoes the Richard Tice "made-up twaddle" line. The defence does seem to change weekly.
A mini-story to cheer you up this morning. The other day my teenage son returned to his locked bike to find the back wheel nicked. We went back yesterday to rescue it - and found this note taped to the frame. We have the wheel again. A very happy Xmas to Ollie and his note-writing other half.
December 17, 2025 at 8:11 AM
A mini-story to cheer you up this morning. The other day my teenage son returned to his locked bike to find the back wheel nicked. We went back yesterday to rescue it - and found this note taped to the frame. We have the wheel again. A very happy Xmas to Ollie and his note-writing other half.
This isn't bad either.
December 16, 2025 at 4:14 PM
This isn't bad either.