Jonn Elledge
@jonnelledge.bsky.social
#1 Sunday Times bestselling author, because apparently that matters. New Statesman, New World, Oh God What Now, The Newsletter of (Not Quite) Everything, Paper Cuts (RIP). Londoner. *Not* an American.
Pinned
A History of the World in 47 Borders by Jonn Elledge signed & dedicated edition. DISPATCHES PRE-CHRISTMAS
Only available to order until 5 December. Jonn will sign and dedicate all the books at Backstory and they will be dispatched to arrive by Christmas. People have been drawing lines on maps for as long ...
backstory.london
Last night at a fashionable media party (tm) someone introduced me to their dad, for whom she'd bought a copy of 47 Borders and got me to sign it. Happy smiles all round! Aww.
If a dad YOU know would like a signed book this Christmas, then the lovely people at Backstory Balham can help:
If a dad YOU know would like a signed book this Christmas, then the lovely people at Backstory Balham can help:
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
The artificial island where The Bridge becomes The Tunnel is named Peberholm, to complement the preexisting island of Saltholm, which lies next door.
Something thematically appropriate I released from the paywall while in Copenhagen
Something thematically appropriate I released from the paywall while in Copenhagen
A Dispatch From the Øresund
Bron/Broen and other fixed links. Also: Britain’s lost helicopter network.
jonn.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The artificial island where The Bridge becomes The Tunnel is named Peberholm, to complement the preexisting island of Saltholm, which lies next door.
Something thematically appropriate I released from the paywall while in Copenhagen
Something thematically appropriate I released from the paywall while in Copenhagen
Thinking about it, we never did find out what Fenchurch was doing in that cafe in Rickmansworth, did we
December 2, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Thinking about it, we never did find out what Fenchurch was doing in that cafe in Rickmansworth, did we
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
Still need to get some presents for loved ones (or yourself)?
Get free shipping, 20% off a future order, and the knowledge that your purchase supports indie bookstores 💜
Get free shipping, 20% off a future order, and the knowledge that your purchase supports indie bookstores 💜
December 1, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Still need to get some presents for loved ones (or yourself)?
Get free shipping, 20% off a future order, and the knowledge that your purchase supports indie bookstores 💜
Get free shipping, 20% off a future order, and the knowledge that your purchase supports indie bookstores 💜
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Watched BBC 6 o clock news. Just a completely unserious broadcast. Chris Mason, acting like a children's entertainer, giving a prolonged impenetrable editorial. Not a whiff of informative content about the Budget or what it means for the country. Just playschool blah blah bollocks.
December 1, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
got my friend back
December 1, 2025 at 9:23 PM
got my friend back
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
In 2017 I travelled round the world by train and every single one ran, every connection was made. Until I got back to London and Thameslink was shut.
December 1, 2025 at 6:59 PM
In 2017 I travelled round the world by train and every single one ran, every connection was made. Until I got back to London and Thameslink was shut.
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
"immigration has to go up for our growth goals, but our policy is to bring it down"
uk politics in a nutshell
uk politics in a nutshell
There is an actual interesting little deceit in the budget, namely ther have the OBR still forecasting based on increasing net immigration back to 300-350k whilst the Home Secretary is promising to bring it down from 200k, which does dissolve about half the headroom, but somehow we're doing vibes.
Think this is exactly right - political journalism that is completely abstracted from policy, which was not the norm before 2017, has become the default. Impossible to have a serious attempt to either shrink what the state does or widen the tax base (have to do at least one) on that basis.
December 1, 2025 at 6:15 PM
"immigration has to go up for our growth goals, but our policy is to bring it down"
uk politics in a nutshell
uk politics in a nutshell
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
AND it’s the 59th anniversary of the first appearance of the Gävle Goat, which has been erected every year since and only burnt down a mere 42 times. More on that from @jonnelledge.bsky.social
The Swedish town where every Christmas brings goat arson
The parable of the Gävle Goat.
jonn.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:32 PM
AND it’s the 59th anniversary of the first appearance of the Gävle Goat, which has been erected every year since and only burnt down a mere 42 times. More on that from @jonnelledge.bsky.social
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
He wasn't actually due to resign until an hour later
December 1, 2025 at 4:44 PM
He wasn't actually due to resign until an hour later
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
For all that has happened since, my Joker moment on UK politics media remains Boris taking office and immediately breaking every single red line he had laid down on Northern Ireland to accept a deal that had been on the table for years, then being hailed as a visionary who proved the doubters wrong
Everything that happened around the handling of the NI protocol in late 2019 was my “Oh wow we are just in a whole new world here, huh?” moment and it has never actually reverted from that
December 1, 2025 at 2:17 PM
For all that has happened since, my Joker moment on UK politics media remains Boris taking office and immediately breaking every single red line he had laid down on Northern Ireland to accept a deal that had been on the table for years, then being hailed as a visionary who proved the doubters wrong
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
Millionaire Tory frontbencher Robert Jenrick billed the taxpayer £24,587.67 in rent expenses in 2024/25 for his constituency home in Newark, Notts
His monthly claim is 77% higher than the average privately rented four-bed home in the Newark and Sherwood local authority area
His monthly claim is 77% higher than the average privately rented four-bed home in the Newark and Sherwood local authority area
Revealed: MPs rack up huge rent expenses while pushing through cuts to benefits
MPs are allowed to rent a second home, but while they are simultaneously cutting benefits for the vulnerable, the cost feels hard to swallow.
www.bigissue.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Millionaire Tory frontbencher Robert Jenrick billed the taxpayer £24,587.67 in rent expenses in 2024/25 for his constituency home in Newark, Notts
His monthly claim is 77% higher than the average privately rented four-bed home in the Newark and Sherwood local authority area
His monthly claim is 77% higher than the average privately rented four-bed home in the Newark and Sherwood local authority area
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
Senior MPs including Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick and Darren Jones are claiming tens of thousands of pounds a year in taxpayer-funded rent expenses while either calling for or implementing benefit cuts on the poorest
By me, for the Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
By me, for the Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
Revealed: MPs rack up huge rent expenses while pushing through cuts to benefits
MPs are allowed to rent a second home, but while they are simultaneously cutting benefits for the vulnerable, the cost feels hard to swallow.
www.bigissue.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Senior MPs including Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick and Darren Jones are claiming tens of thousands of pounds a year in taxpayer-funded rent expenses while either calling for or implementing benefit cuts on the poorest
By me, for the Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
By me, for the Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
The artificial island where The Bridge becomes The Tunnel is named Peberholm, to complement the preexisting island of Saltholm, which lies next door.
Something thematically appropriate I released from the paywall while in Copenhagen
Something thematically appropriate I released from the paywall while in Copenhagen
A Dispatch From the Øresund
Bron/Broen and other fixed links. Also: Britain’s lost helicopter network.
jonn.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The artificial island where The Bridge becomes The Tunnel is named Peberholm, to complement the preexisting island of Saltholm, which lies next door.
Something thematically appropriate I released from the paywall while in Copenhagen
Something thematically appropriate I released from the paywall while in Copenhagen
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
I should at least glance at the possibility that it’s less about the technology itself than it is about my own inexorable journey towards the grave.
But I don’t actually believe that one second, because here are all the real and important reasons that AI makes my teeth itch.
But I don’t actually believe that one second, because here are all the real and important reasons that AI makes my teeth itch.
The Bullshit Maximiser
This week, a very quick take on what the Budget says about the state we are in; but mostly, a not-at-all quick list of all the reasons I despise AI.
jonn.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I should at least glance at the possibility that it’s less about the technology itself than it is about my own inexorable journey towards the grave.
But I don’t actually believe that one second, because here are all the real and important reasons that AI makes my teeth itch.
But I don’t actually believe that one second, because here are all the real and important reasons that AI makes my teeth itch.
GAVLE GOAT GAVLE GOAT GAVLE GOAT GAVLE GOAT
AND it’s the 59th anniversary of the first appearance of the Gävle Goat, which has been erected every year since and only burnt down a mere 42 times. More on that from @jonnelledge.bsky.social
The Swedish town where every Christmas brings goat arson
The parable of the Gävle Goat.
jonn.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:34 PM
GAVLE GOAT GAVLE GOAT GAVLE GOAT GAVLE GOAT
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
"The PM wanted today to talk about... benefits reform and the UK's relationship with the EU and about regulation, which were interesting in and of themselves, but all of the questions were about the pre-budget process."
A neat summary by Mason - but he led that questioning. ~AA #PoliticsLive
A neat summary by Mason - but he led that questioning. ~AA #PoliticsLive
December 1, 2025 at 12:42 PM
"The PM wanted today to talk about... benefits reform and the UK's relationship with the EU and about regulation, which were interesting in and of themselves, but all of the questions were about the pre-budget process."
A neat summary by Mason - but he led that questioning. ~AA #PoliticsLive
A neat summary by Mason - but he led that questioning. ~AA #PoliticsLive
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
There is also a very good chance she blames shadowy left-wing forces for not letting her join Reform
December 1, 2025 at 11:40 AM
There is also a very good chance she blames shadowy left-wing forces for not letting her join Reform
I feel like we're moving closer to the inevitable day when Liz Truss announces she's defected to Reform, and Reform frantically spins that she absolutely has not
December 1, 2025 at 11:32 AM
I feel like we're moving closer to the inevitable day when Liz Truss announces she's defected to Reform, and Reform frantically spins that she absolutely has not
I should at least glance at the possibility that it’s less about the technology itself than it is about my own inexorable journey towards the grave.
But I don’t actually believe that one second, because here are all the real and important reasons that AI makes my teeth itch.
But I don’t actually believe that one second, because here are all the real and important reasons that AI makes my teeth itch.
The Bullshit Maximiser
This week, a very quick take on what the Budget says about the state we are in; but mostly, a not-at-all quick list of all the reasons I despise AI.
jonn.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I should at least glance at the possibility that it’s less about the technology itself than it is about my own inexorable journey towards the grave.
But I don’t actually believe that one second, because here are all the real and important reasons that AI makes my teeth itch.
But I don’t actually believe that one second, because here are all the real and important reasons that AI makes my teeth itch.
this, but for Jonathan Gullis defecting to Reform
You know when a famous person dies and you're surprised because you'd assumed they must already be dead? That, but for Nadine Dorries defecting to Reform.
December 1, 2025 at 10:53 AM
this, but for Jonathan Gullis defecting to Reform
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
I am consistently amazed the Building Safety Regulator isn’t a much bigger story. It’s brought house building in London to a total halt, but it’s also brought cladding remedy works to a halt, too. Which is costing leaseholders FORTUNES, halting sales, and leaving people living in unsafe buildings.
... at the Building Safety Regulator - which has lead to 9 month delays at this stage alone:
www.building.co.uk/news/nine-mo...
www.building.co.uk/news/nine-mo...
Nine month wait to get building safety sign-off for new builds, regulator admits
When new regulations were introduced 18 months, planned target was to get decisions made with 12 weeks
www.building.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 9:28 AM
I am consistently amazed the Building Safety Regulator isn’t a much bigger story. It’s brought house building in London to a total halt, but it’s also brought cladding remedy works to a halt, too. Which is costing leaseholders FORTUNES, halting sales, and leaving people living in unsafe buildings.
the big problem with holidays is that they end
December 1, 2025 at 9:27 AM
the big problem with holidays is that they end
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
What we're seeing is exactly what we saw in the late 1940s, the late 1960s and the mid- to late 1970s: a concerted and hysterical campaign to delegitimise a Labour government, and indeed the very idea of Labour governments at all.
December 1, 2025 at 8:44 AM
What we're seeing is exactly what we saw in the late 1940s, the late 1960s and the mid- to late 1970s: a concerted and hysterical campaign to delegitimise a Labour government, and indeed the very idea of Labour governments at all.
Reposted by Jonn Elledge
🚨 JOB ALERT 🚨
We’re looking for a brilliant producer to lead my @LBC Sunday show
Come and help make news, provide the best insight, digital content and prove Sunday political shows aren’t boring
Link below. Any Qs get in touch 👇
careers.global.com/jobs/R0009023
We’re looking for a brilliant producer to lead my @LBC Sunday show
Come and help make news, provide the best insight, digital content and prove Sunday political shows aren’t boring
Link below. Any Qs get in touch 👇
careers.global.com/jobs/R0009023
Producer
Find your next move. Join our talented and passionate Globallers doing the best work of their career.
careers.global.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:15 PM
🚨 JOB ALERT 🚨
We’re looking for a brilliant producer to lead my @LBC Sunday show
Come and help make news, provide the best insight, digital content and prove Sunday political shows aren’t boring
Link below. Any Qs get in touch 👇
careers.global.com/jobs/R0009023
We’re looking for a brilliant producer to lead my @LBC Sunday show
Come and help make news, provide the best insight, digital content and prove Sunday political shows aren’t boring
Link below. Any Qs get in touch 👇
careers.global.com/jobs/R0009023
the one thing we didn't want to happen
November 30, 2025 at 11:05 PM
the one thing we didn't want to happen