John Rentoul
@rentouljohn.bsky.social
Chief political commentator, The Independent, and visiting professor, the Strand Group, King's College London
Pinned
Keir Starmer’s power is draining away as the assumption grows that he won’t last
Speculation about a leadership challenge – unwisely stoked by the prime minister himself – is gathering momentum, writes John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
Keir Starmer’s power is draining away as the assumption grows that he won’t last www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...
Catch-up from Oct: Daniel Susskind on how to stimulate growth www.ft.com/content/1d39...
December 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Catch-up from Oct: Daniel Susskind on how to stimulate growth www.ft.com/content/1d39...
Reposted by John Rentoul
I admire this about the PM, from interview with @rachelsylvester.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
December 7, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I admire this about the PM, from interview with @rachelsylvester.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Pat McFadden’s answer when asked if Labour has made it more expensive to hire young people
December 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Pat McFadden’s answer when asked if Labour has made it more expensive to hire young people
I admire this about the PM, from interview with @rachelsylvester.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
December 7, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I admire this about the PM, from interview with @rachelsylvester.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Gregg's mince pies, £2.25 for 6, should be added to my #Top10 Inverse Price-Quality Ratios from a while back www.independent.co.uk/voices/top-1...
Top 10 inverse price-quality ratios
Sometimes, cheaper means better
www.independent.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Gregg's mince pies, £2.25 for 6, should be added to my #Top10 Inverse Price-Quality Ratios from a while back www.independent.co.uk/voices/top-1...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Keir Starmer’s power is draining away as the assumption grows that he won’t last www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...
Keir Starmer’s power is draining away as the assumption grows that he won’t last
Speculation about a leadership challenge – unwisely stoked by the prime minister himself – is gathering momentum, writes John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Keir Starmer’s power is draining away as the assumption grows that he won’t last www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Answers to the i paper quiz are here docs.google.com/document/d/1...
i Quiz answers
6 Dec 29 Nov 22 Nov 15 Nov 8 Nov 1 Nov 25 Oct 18 Oct 11 Oct 4 Oct 27 Sep 20 Sep 13 Sep 6 Sep 30 Aug 23 Aug 16 Aug 9 Aug 2 Aug 26 Jul 19 Jul 12 Jul 5 Jul 28 Jun 21 Jun 14 Jun ...
docs.google.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Answers to the i paper quiz are here docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Keir Starmer’s power is draining away as the assumption grows that he won’t last www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...
Keir Starmer’s power is draining away as the assumption grows that he won’t last
Speculation about a leadership challenge – unwisely stoked by the prime minister himself – is gathering momentum, writes John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Keir Starmer’s power is draining away as the assumption grows that he won’t last www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...
Reposted by John Rentoul
3¼/10 in John Clarke's Saturday Quiz in the i paper (answers in the paper or here later)
December 6, 2025 at 9:21 AM
3¼/10 in John Clarke's Saturday Quiz in the i paper (answers in the paper or here later)
Reposted by John Rentoul
How significant was David Lammy’s refusal to rule out a customs union with the EU? www.independent.co.uk/independentp...
How significant was David Lammy’s refusal to rule out a customs union with the EU?
The deputy prime minister and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, have hinted that Labour is tiptoeing towards reversing Brexit, writes John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 8:34 AM
How significant was David Lammy’s refusal to rule out a customs union with the EU? www.independent.co.uk/independentp...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Current average support for "rejoin" is still under 50%; I would argue that a sig part of that support is soft, easily dissuaded by Qs re free movt, budget contribs, the euro en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potenti...
December 6, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Current average support for "rejoin" is still under 50%; I would argue that a sig part of that support is soft, easily dissuaded by Qs re free movt, budget contribs, the euro en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potenti...
3¼/10 in John Clarke's Saturday Quiz in the i paper (answers in the paper or here later)
December 6, 2025 at 9:21 AM
3¼/10 in John Clarke's Saturday Quiz in the i paper (answers in the paper or here later)
How significant was David Lammy’s refusal to rule out a customs union with the EU? www.independent.co.uk/independentp...
How significant was David Lammy’s refusal to rule out a customs union with the EU?
The deputy prime minister and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, have hinted that Labour is tiptoeing towards reversing Brexit, writes John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 8:34 AM
How significant was David Lammy’s refusal to rule out a customs union with the EU? www.independent.co.uk/independentp...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Catch-up: Peter Hyman says Starmer is stuck in the strategy that got him to be PM, and it will be hard for him to change
peterhyman21.substack.com/p/when-your-...
peterhyman21.substack.com/p/when-your-...
December 5, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Catch-up: Peter Hyman says Starmer is stuck in the strategy that got him to be PM, and it will be hard for him to change
peterhyman21.substack.com/p/when-your-...
peterhyman21.substack.com/p/when-your-...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Reform juggernaut rolls on: local council by-elections since May local elections, compiled by David Cowling docs.google.com/document/d/1...
December 5, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Reform juggernaut rolls on: local council by-elections since May local elections, compiled by David Cowling docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by John Rentoul
I think this is based on the “energise the base” fallacy set out by James Carville; Labour’s campaign should and will be aimed at the median voter, who does not want to re-open the EU debate
December 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I think this is based on the “energise the base” fallacy set out by James Carville; Labour’s campaign should and will be aimed at the median voter, who does not want to re-open the EU debate
Reposted by John Rentoul
Catch-up: Janan Ganesh says Labour should & Daniel Finkelstein says Labour will promise to rejoin EU single market in 2nd term
ft.com/content/ef94...
thetimes.com/comment/colu...
ft.com/content/ef94...
thetimes.com/comment/colu...
December 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Catch-up: Janan Ganesh says Labour should & Daniel Finkelstein says Labour will promise to rejoin EU single market in 2nd term
ft.com/content/ef94...
thetimes.com/comment/colu...
ft.com/content/ef94...
thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Reposted by John Rentoul
Here is @patrickmaguire.bsky.social on “Whatever It Takes” politics www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
December 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Here is @patrickmaguire.bsky.social on “Whatever It Takes” politics www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Reposted by John Rentoul
Death by Lightning, Netflix 4-parter on the assassination of James Garfield, reviewed by @helenlewis.bsky.social helenlewis.substack.com/p/the-bluest...
December 5, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Death by Lightning, Netflix 4-parter on the assassination of James Garfield, reviewed by @helenlewis.bsky.social helenlewis.substack.com/p/the-bluest...
Reposted by John Rentoul
What does Reform’s £9m donation from Christopher Harborne mean? www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
What does Reform’s £9m donation from Christopher Harborne mean?
A record single donation has shifted assumptions about the next election, writes John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 8:31 AM
What does Reform’s £9m donation from Christopher Harborne mean? www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Gregg's mince pies, £2.25 for 6, should be added to my #Top10 Inverse Price-Quality Ratios from a while back www.independent.co.uk/voices/top-1...
Top 10 inverse price-quality ratios
Sometimes, cheaper means better
www.independent.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Gregg's mince pies, £2.25 for 6, should be added to my #Top10 Inverse Price-Quality Ratios from a while back www.independent.co.uk/voices/top-1...
Welfare reform is not impossible, argues @stephenkb ep.ft.com/permalink/em...
December 5, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Welfare reform is not impossible, argues @stephenkb ep.ft.com/permalink/em...
Death by Lightning, Netflix 4-parter on the assassination of James Garfield, reviewed by @helenlewis.bsky.social helenlewis.substack.com/p/the-bluest...
December 5, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Death by Lightning, Netflix 4-parter on the assassination of James Garfield, reviewed by @helenlewis.bsky.social helenlewis.substack.com/p/the-bluest...
Here is @patrickmaguire.bsky.social on “Whatever It Takes” politics www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
December 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Here is @patrickmaguire.bsky.social on “Whatever It Takes” politics www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...