Patrick Maguire
@patrickmaguire.bsky.social
Chief political commentator, The Times
New on my similarly new Substack: why Keir Starmer needs fat men around him, the person actually doing a good job inside No 10, and the best books on Brownism
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Get some fat men around him
Keir Starmer's government is full of the wrong Brownites
substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:04 AM
New on my similarly new Substack: why Keir Starmer needs fat men around him, the person actually doing a good job inside No 10, and the best books on Brownism
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Column: not many people appreciate just how many Brownites there are at the top of this Labour government. But are they the right ones for a PM with his back to the wall?
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
It’s Browning Street revisited but where’s Starmer’s Tom Watson?
The old guard offers experience across Whitehall but the prime minister lacks the enforcers that sustained New Labour
www.thetimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Column: not many people appreciate just how many Brownites there are at the top of this Labour government. But are they the right ones for a PM with his back to the wall?
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
I've joined Substack to share more thoughts on my reading, writing and thoughts on the history that helps explain our political moment. Subscribe here, if you like.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
What I'm reading and writing
Welcome to my Substack
substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:57 PM
I've joined Substack to share more thoughts on my reading, writing and thoughts on the history that helps explain our political moment. Subscribe here, if you like.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
Nigel Farage v Keir Starmer is the only game in town | ✍️ Patrick Maguire
Nigel Farage v Keir Starmer is the only game in town
Nigel Farage v Keir Starmer is the only game in town
www.thetimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Nigel Farage v Keir Starmer is the only game in town | ✍️ Patrick Maguire
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
A podcast intro that is actually funny!
@patrickmaguire.bsky.social sings I Think We're Alone Now at Maggie Thatcher’s 100th birthday to explain Kemi’s position at conference.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
@patrickmaguire.bsky.social sings I Think We're Alone Now at Maggie Thatcher’s 100th birthday to explain Kemi’s position at conference.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Badenoch woos WhatsApp plotters
Podcast Episode · The State of It · 08/10/2025 · 37m
podcasts.apple.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:41 AM
A podcast intro that is actually funny!
@patrickmaguire.bsky.social sings I Think We're Alone Now at Maggie Thatcher’s 100th birthday to explain Kemi’s position at conference.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
@patrickmaguire.bsky.social sings I Think We're Alone Now at Maggie Thatcher’s 100th birthday to explain Kemi’s position at conference.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
Fascinating and hugely depressing stuff by @patrickmaguire.bsky.social There’s a void at the heart of Labour: it needs a battle of ideas
www.thetimes.com/article/7177...
www.thetimes.com/article/7177...
There’s a void at the heart of Labour: it needs a battle of ideas
A withering analysis shared among Keir Starmer’s MPs says his vague incrementalism and absence of critical thinking is steering the party to disaster
www.thetimes.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Fascinating and hugely depressing stuff by @patrickmaguire.bsky.social There’s a void at the heart of Labour: it needs a battle of ideas
www.thetimes.com/article/7177...
www.thetimes.com/article/7177...
Morgan McSweeney:
- broke contact with “dismissive” Mandelson on Tuesday
- resolved he should be sacked on after PMQs on Wednesday
- then went to Brussels that evening
- by the time he returned, his longtime friend and mentor was gone
Full story in today’s Times: www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
- broke contact with “dismissive” Mandelson on Tuesday
- resolved he should be sacked on after PMQs on Wednesday
- then went to Brussels that evening
- by the time he returned, his longtime friend and mentor was gone
Full story in today’s Times: www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
September 13, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Morgan McSweeney:
- broke contact with “dismissive” Mandelson on Tuesday
- resolved he should be sacked on after PMQs on Wednesday
- then went to Brussels that evening
- by the time he returned, his longtime friend and mentor was gone
Full story in today’s Times: www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
- broke contact with “dismissive” Mandelson on Tuesday
- resolved he should be sacked on after PMQs on Wednesday
- then went to Brussels that evening
- by the time he returned, his longtime friend and mentor was gone
Full story in today’s Times: www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
Terrific column this:
Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer: a sorry story that begins and ends with the incoherence of the prime minister’s political project
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Peter Mandelson embodied this muddled project
Keir Starmer’s handling of the sacked ambassador in and out of office is testament to the government’s abject incoherence
www.thetimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Terrific column this:
Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer: a sorry story that begins and ends with the incoherence of the prime minister’s political project
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Peter Mandelson embodied this muddled project
Keir Starmer’s handling of the sacked ambassador in and out of office is testament to the government’s abject incoherence
www.thetimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer: a sorry story that begins and ends with the incoherence of the prime minister’s political project
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
Really interesting by @patrickmaguire.bsky.social (apart from the unnecessary LUFC dig) www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Labour bets big on three new words this autumn
Expect to hear a lot about ‘contribution’, ‘fairness’ and ‘renewal’, but will these simply join the graveyard of Keir Starmer mantras past?
www.thetimes.com
August 15, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Really interesting by @patrickmaguire.bsky.social (apart from the unnecessary LUFC dig) www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
Don't think I'm being overly precious to say not enough made of the booing of the minute's silence for Jota. TNT coverage seemed desperate to move on and be able to talk about how wonderful and deserving the Palace fans were. Yes, I know, a minority etc.
August 10, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Don't think I'm being overly precious to say not enough made of the booing of the minute's silence for Jota. TNT coverage seemed desperate to move on and be able to talk about how wonderful and deserving the Palace fans were. Yes, I know, a minority etc.
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
The central issue for parties now is fairness. For Labour that means cost of living, good public services, social justice. But Farage has defined it on crime, immigration, welfare bills and voters being played for mugs. And right now he is winning that fight
www.ft.com/content/e153...
www.ft.com/content/e153...
July 25, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The central issue for parties now is fairness. For Labour that means cost of living, good public services, social justice. But Farage has defined it on crime, immigration, welfare bills and voters being played for mugs. And right now he is winning that fight
www.ft.com/content/e153...
www.ft.com/content/e153...
EXC: Ministers and civil servants are deliberately misleading the public with “false” and “unfounded” briefings about the Hillsborough Law, Andy Burnham tells The Times
KC who wrote draft bill says officials are seeking to “subvert and destroy the entire process”
www.thetimes.com/article/a220...
KC who wrote draft bill says officials are seeking to “subvert and destroy the entire process”
www.thetimes.com/article/a220...
Andy Burnham: Officials misleading public over Hillsborough Law
The mayor of Greater Manchester accused parts of Whitehall of making ‘false’ and ‘unfounded’ claims about legislation to stop state cover-ups
www.thetimes.com
July 21, 2025 at 11:05 AM
EXC: Ministers and civil servants are deliberately misleading the public with “false” and “unfounded” briefings about the Hillsborough Law, Andy Burnham tells The Times
KC who wrote draft bill says officials are seeking to “subvert and destroy the entire process”
www.thetimes.com/article/a220...
KC who wrote draft bill says officials are seeking to “subvert and destroy the entire process”
www.thetimes.com/article/a220...
Is Keir Starmer planning a progressive pivot?
He made a class-conscious speech to cabinet last week.
But the justice secretary asked whether Labour could really claim to represent the working class...
...and then his policy chief sketched out a tougher direction of travel.
He made a class-conscious speech to cabinet last week.
But the justice secretary asked whether Labour could really claim to represent the working class...
...and then his policy chief sketched out a tougher direction of travel.
July 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Is Keir Starmer planning a progressive pivot?
He made a class-conscious speech to cabinet last week.
But the justice secretary asked whether Labour could really claim to represent the working class...
...and then his policy chief sketched out a tougher direction of travel.
He made a class-conscious speech to cabinet last week.
But the justice secretary asked whether Labour could really claim to represent the working class...
...and then his policy chief sketched out a tougher direction of travel.
Column in this morning's Times:
- How four MPs ended up without the Labour whip – and why No 10 wanted more
- Shabana tells Keir: no point having a working class cabinet the working class hate
- Liz Lloyd tells cabinet: social cohesion under threat due to migration
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
- How four MPs ended up without the Labour whip – and why No 10 wanted more
- Shabana tells Keir: no point having a working class cabinet the working class hate
- Liz Lloyd tells cabinet: social cohesion under threat due to migration
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Keir Starmer doesn’t yet have whip hand over his MPs
A tough autumn awaits when Keir Starmer will need new powers of persuasion to sell the vision he’s beginning to articulate
www.thetimes.com
July 18, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Column in this morning's Times:
- How four MPs ended up without the Labour whip – and why No 10 wanted more
- Shabana tells Keir: no point having a working class cabinet the working class hate
- Liz Lloyd tells cabinet: social cohesion under threat due to migration
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
- How four MPs ended up without the Labour whip – and why No 10 wanted more
- Shabana tells Keir: no point having a working class cabinet the working class hate
- Liz Lloyd tells cabinet: social cohesion under threat due to migration
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
Danger is welfare rows + winter fuel and coming rows on SEND etc recreates sense of chaos voters thought they’d got rid of with the Tories. Damaging in two ways 1. Annoys exhausted electorate 2. Derisks Reform - people think (fairly or not) if current lot already chaotic how bad can Reform be.
July 1, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Danger is welfare rows + winter fuel and coming rows on SEND etc recreates sense of chaos voters thought they’d got rid of with the Tories. Damaging in two ways 1. Annoys exhausted electorate 2. Derisks Reform - people think (fairly or not) if current lot already chaotic how bad can Reform be.
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
Excellent piece by @patrickmaguire.bsky.social. Starmer is entering one of his 'hmm, things aren't working how they should' contemplative modes - will be big personnel changes in the coming weeks and months I think:
A year on, is the Starmer project doomed or can he claw it back?
Elected with a huge majority, Labour rapidly squandered it through internal spats and misjudged policy. The PM must redefine himself before it’s too late
www.thetimes.com
June 28, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Excellent piece by @patrickmaguire.bsky.social. Starmer is entering one of his 'hmm, things aren't working how they should' contemplative modes - will be big personnel changes in the coming weeks and months I think:
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
Tomorrow’s Times column:
- The key segments of the electorate in No 10’s new poll of trust in government
- Farage planning a ‘Robin Hood’ intervention on the cost of living next Monday
- What Orban’s aides have told Reform on welfare
- Who’s debating a wealth tax?
www.thetimes.com/article/eed0...
- The key segments of the electorate in No 10’s new poll of trust in government
- Farage planning a ‘Robin Hood’ intervention on the cost of living next Monday
- What Orban’s aides have told Reform on welfare
- Who’s debating a wealth tax?
www.thetimes.com/article/eed0...
Keir Starmer’s fate lies with strivers and grafters
If the Labour Party is to see off Reform, it must reach hard-working voters disillusioned with mainstream politics
www.thetimes.com
June 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Tomorrow’s Times column:
- The key segments of the electorate in No 10’s new poll of trust in government
- Farage planning a ‘Robin Hood’ intervention on the cost of living next Monday
- What Orban’s aides have told Reform on welfare
- Who’s debating a wealth tax?
www.thetimes.com/article/eed0...
- The key segments of the electorate in No 10’s new poll of trust in government
- Farage planning a ‘Robin Hood’ intervention on the cost of living next Monday
- What Orban’s aides have told Reform on welfare
- Who’s debating a wealth tax?
www.thetimes.com/article/eed0...
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
It's quite remarkable that the elite of the British right has chosen *now* as the moment to go blood-and-soil. When the actual public have probably never been as un-racist as they are.
June 19, 2025 at 9:05 PM
It's quite remarkable that the elite of the British right has chosen *now* as the moment to go blood-and-soil. When the actual public have probably never been as un-racist as they are.
Reposted by Patrick Maguire
This from @patrickmaguire.bsky.social captures UK politics in 2025 better than anything I’ve read & this para hits it on the head. People we speak to every week in focus groups largely don’t give a stuff about left and right, they want life to be less of a struggle www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
June 19, 2025 at 9:04 PM
This from @patrickmaguire.bsky.social captures UK politics in 2025 better than anything I’ve read & this para hits it on the head. People we speak to every week in focus groups largely don’t give a stuff about left and right, they want life to be less of a struggle www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Tomorrow’s Times column:
- The key segments of the electorate in No 10’s new poll of trust in government
- Farage planning a ‘Robin Hood’ intervention on the cost of living next Monday
- What Orban’s aides have told Reform on welfare
- Who’s debating a wealth tax?
www.thetimes.com/article/eed0...
- The key segments of the electorate in No 10’s new poll of trust in government
- Farage planning a ‘Robin Hood’ intervention on the cost of living next Monday
- What Orban’s aides have told Reform on welfare
- Who’s debating a wealth tax?
www.thetimes.com/article/eed0...
Keir Starmer’s fate lies with strivers and grafters
If the Labour Party is to see off Reform, it must reach hard-working voters disillusioned with mainstream politics
www.thetimes.com
June 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Tomorrow’s Times column:
- The key segments of the electorate in No 10’s new poll of trust in government
- Farage planning a ‘Robin Hood’ intervention on the cost of living next Monday
- What Orban’s aides have told Reform on welfare
- Who’s debating a wealth tax?
www.thetimes.com/article/eed0...
- The key segments of the electorate in No 10’s new poll of trust in government
- Farage planning a ‘Robin Hood’ intervention on the cost of living next Monday
- What Orban’s aides have told Reform on welfare
- Who’s debating a wealth tax?
www.thetimes.com/article/eed0...