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]
Yes, yes, it's famously the case everywhere that the moment you remove cars, crime rates soar.
November 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Yes, yes, it's famously the case everywhere that the moment you remove cars, crime rates soar.
The Times has been leaked the full EHRC guidance on trans people/single sex spaces, and what it mainly confirms is that for all the calls for immediate implementation, this is still a vast, largely unresolved ethical can of worms, and a job creation scheme for lawyers.
![The EHRC document states it is “a legitimate aim” to provide single-sex spaces for “ensuring the safety of women or the privacy and dignity of women and/or men”.
The guidance said that if transgender people are excluded from a space, organisations should consider whether there is a suitable alternative for them and that it would not be proportionate to leave them without essential services, such as access to lavatories.
But it also outlines how in some cases that may not be possible owing to the physical constraints of buildings or high costs. It said: “It may be that offering alternative arrangements is not reasonably possible […] this may be because of the type of service being provided, the needs of the service users, the physical constraints of any building, or because of the disproportionate financial costs associated with making those arrangements.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:fondzonhxhlrfp777gwvfmah/bafkreid2txt5re2in7zquojrpprocctbunz4kdyiz3qx7rgku55eyfdfqq@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The Times has been leaked the full EHRC guidance on trans people/single sex spaces, and what it mainly confirms is that for all the calls for immediate implementation, this is still a vast, largely unresolved ethical can of worms, and a job creation scheme for lawyers.
Over on X, the co-founder of the Brexit Party is posting open racism about Shabana Mahmood, saying she should be "deported". Blaiklock left the Brexit Party v quickly over anti-Islam posts but now identifies herself as a supporter of Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain.
November 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Over on X, the co-founder of the Brexit Party is posting open racism about Shabana Mahmood, saying she should be "deported". Blaiklock left the Brexit Party v quickly over anti-Islam posts but now identifies herself as a supporter of Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain.
If you missed his news....
November 19, 2025 at 12:31 PM
If you missed his news....
At the Farage presser I asked him about Matthew Goodwin's comments about minority ethnic Britons not always being truly British, and whether Goodwin's appointment to lead Reform's student wing meant his bar on far right elements had gone. Farage said Goodwin's comments were "nuanced".
November 18, 2025 at 11:50 AM
At the Farage presser I asked him about Matthew Goodwin's comments about minority ethnic Britons not always being truly British, and whether Goodwin's appointment to lead Reform's student wing meant his bar on far right elements had gone. Farage said Goodwin's comments were "nuanced".
I’m back at the same Westminster venue where yesterday I saw Richard Tice to watch Nigel Farage set out plans including the unilateral removal of some benefits for EU/EAA nationals with settled status - a move Labour say could start a damaging trade war with Brussels.
November 18, 2025 at 10:03 AM
I’m back at the same Westminster venue where yesterday I saw Richard Tice to watch Nigel Farage set out plans including the unilateral removal of some benefits for EU/EAA nationals with settled status - a move Labour say could start a damaging trade war with Brussels.
At the Reform press conference I asked Richard Tice about Matthew Goodwin being made the head of the party's student wing, and Goodwin's views on some minority ethnic Britons not being British.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
November 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
At the Reform press conference I asked Richard Tice about Matthew Goodwin being made the head of the party's student wing, and Goodwin's views on some minority ethnic Britons not being British.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
Tice did *not* distance Reform from Goodwin or the views – feels like a significant moment.
I’m at a Reform UK press conference where Richard Tice is setting out how the party plans to save money in local government. On Send support he singles out what he calls “a crisis of over-diagnosis” among children.
November 17, 2025 at 11:17 AM
I’m at a Reform UK press conference where Richard Tice is setting out how the party plans to save money in local government. On Send support he singles out what he calls “a crisis of over-diagnosis” among children.
I mean, it’s quite clever politics for someone from the Greens to pretend to be Shabana Mahmood’s special adviser and brief this sort of stuff to the Times, but I’m not sure it’s especially ethical.
November 16, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I mean, it’s quite clever politics for someone from the Greens to pretend to be Shabana Mahmood’s special adviser and brief this sort of stuff to the Times, but I’m not sure it’s especially ethical.
It is so notable how the language of asylum has changed in the post-Farage/small boats world. “Illegal migrants” was once reserved for right wing papers, Now government spokespeople call basic sustenance and shelter for refugees banned from working “handouts”.
November 15, 2025 at 11:28 PM
It is so notable how the language of asylum has changed in the post-Farage/small boats world. “Illegal migrants” was once reserved for right wing papers, Now government spokespeople call basic sustenance and shelter for refugees banned from working “handouts”.
Blimey. Major new split in Your Party. Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain -who is secretary of the Your Party company - says he's quitting due to "persistent infighting, factional competition, and a struggle for power, position and influence rather than a shared commitment to the common good."
November 14, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Blimey. Major new split in Your Party. Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain -who is secretary of the Your Party company - says he's quitting due to "persistent infighting, factional competition, and a struggle for power, position and influence rather than a shared commitment to the common good."
Someone on the Telegraph picture desk is enjoying themselves today.
November 13, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Someone on the Telegraph picture desk is enjoying themselves today.
Spectator running a piece by Daniel Hannan which leans heavily into the inferred idea that you're not necessarily British if you come from a migrant background, even if you were born and brought up here.
November 12, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Spectator running a piece by Daniel Hannan which leans heavily into the inferred idea that you're not necessarily British if you come from a migrant background, even if you were born and brought up here.
This is notable in the light of Goodwin’s recent arguments on X that people from minority ethnic background are not British even if they were born and brought up here. I asked the Reform press office last week if they had a response to Goodwin’s views; silence so far.
November 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM
This is notable in the light of Goodwin’s recent arguments on X that people from minority ethnic background are not British even if they were born and brought up here. I asked the Reform press office last week if they had a response to Goodwin’s views; silence so far.
While ostensibly about one academic’s experiences with the NYT, the central point about the sheer, relentless march of, “critics say”, false-balance journalism should be read and understood by anyone involved in or just interested in the news.
November 9, 2025 at 10:16 AM
While ostensibly about one academic’s experiences with the NYT, the central point about the sheer, relentless march of, “critics say”, false-balance journalism should be read and understood by anyone involved in or just interested in the news.
For anyone still tempted to take Dominic Cummings at all seriously, he's now an advocate of Donald Trump-style open racism.
November 6, 2025 at 2:26 PM
For anyone still tempted to take Dominic Cummings at all seriously, he's now an advocate of Donald Trump-style open racism.
The Conservatives are trying to frame moves towards pay per mile driving as an unacceptable tax raid. But Rishi Sunak’s No 10 drew up plans for a consultation on road pricing that was only pulled at the last minute. There was even a press release already written.
November 6, 2025 at 8:28 AM
The Conservatives are trying to frame moves towards pay per mile driving as an unacceptable tax raid. But Rishi Sunak’s No 10 drew up plans for a consultation on road pricing that was only pulled at the last minute. There was even a press release already written.
I'm a couple of days late to this ConHome piece, but in awe of the sheer brass neck of a Conservative councillor in Wales writing 1,000 words on how the Caerphilly by-election was terrible for Labour without mentioning the fact that his own party got a 2% vote share and 690 votes.
November 5, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I'm a couple of days late to this ConHome piece, but in awe of the sheer brass neck of a Conservative councillor in Wales writing 1,000 words on how the Caerphilly by-election was terrible for Labour without mentioning the fact that his own party got a 2% vote share and 690 votes.
Ah, OK. So here we are.
November 5, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Ah, OK. So here we are.
The full transcript of Zohran Mamdani's acceptance speech is very much worth reading in full. Even if you don't agree with your politics, it's very beautifully put together.
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
November 5, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The full transcript of Zohran Mamdani's acceptance speech is very much worth reading in full. Even if you don't agree with your politics, it's very beautifully put together.
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
I was cycling behind a bus yesterday which had this sticker on it. It’s great to see, and I remain slightly baffled why all London buses (in fact all public motor vehicles) aren’t already tweaked to do the same thing.
November 4, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I was cycling behind a bus yesterday which had this sticker on it. It’s great to see, and I remain slightly baffled why all London buses (in fact all public motor vehicles) aren’t already tweaked to do the same thing.
This is an interesting argument. Unless you're a top tier minister, or you have something big to announce, is there much point in doing a traditional "speech to lectern followed by media Q&A"? Kemi Badenoch does it all the time. Zack Polanski almost never. Tories and Greens currently tied on 16%.
November 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
This is an interesting argument. Unless you're a top tier minister, or you have something big to announce, is there much point in doing a traditional "speech to lectern followed by media Q&A"? Kemi Badenoch does it all the time. Zack Polanski almost never. Tories and Greens currently tied on 16%.
Headline of the Labour response to Badenoch's speech is certainly blunt.
November 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Headline of the Labour response to Badenoch's speech is certainly blunt.
Badenoch is thus far mainly castigating Reeves. She calls Reeves’ speech “a masterclass in managed decline” and “a laundry list of excuses”. As with last week’s outdoor speech a whole load of Tory MPs are here, and so we have a regular chorus of approving mutters and applause.
November 4, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Badenoch is thus far mainly castigating Reeves. She calls Reeves’ speech “a masterclass in managed decline” and “a laundry list of excuses”. As with last week’s outdoor speech a whole load of Tory MPs are here, and so we have a regular chorus of approving mutters and applause.
Speaking of the Conservatives, I’m in central London where Kemi Badenoch is about to make a speech on welfare (and will presumably be reacting to Reeves’ comments earlier).
November 4, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Speaking of the Conservatives, I’m in central London where Kemi Badenoch is about to make a speech on welfare (and will presumably be reacting to Reeves’ comments earlier).