Rachel Sylvester
@rachelsylvester.bsky.social
Political editor of The Observer. Email: [email protected]
The army is turning to gamers in the age of drone warfare - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Eyes in the sky: gamers called up as army bets on march of the drones | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM
The army is turning to gamers in the age of drone warfare - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Rachel Sylvester
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
“I like both Jeremy and Zarah both politically and personally” - I spoke to @zackpolanski.bsky.social for @theobserveruk.bsky.social about why he’d welcome Corbyn and Sultana into the Greens, being bullied at school and how he thinks Britain is ready for a gay PM observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Zack Polanski: ‘People will have to find some other way to hurt me’ | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM
“I like both Jeremy and Zarah both politically and personally” - I spoke to @zackpolanski.bsky.social for @theobserveruk.bsky.social about why he’d welcome Corbyn and Sultana into the Greens, being bullied at school and how he thinks Britain is ready for a gay PM observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Wes Streeting @wesstreeting.bsky.social promises to overturn “jaw-dropping” and “indefensible” NHS compensation scheme that means poor families of babies brain-damaged at birth get lower payouts than rich parents. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Poor families of babies brain-damaged at birth given lower payouts than richer parents | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Wes Streeting @wesstreeting.bsky.social promises to overturn “jaw-dropping” and “indefensible” NHS compensation scheme that means poor families of babies brain-damaged at birth get lower payouts than rich parents. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Rachel Sylvester
A budget swerve and a disastrous briefing lead more Labour MPs to ask if a leadership change might be due sooner than expected.
Read more as Rachel Sylvester and @catneilan.bsky.social report:
https://bit.ly/484NxTS
Read more as Rachel Sylvester and @catneilan.bsky.social report:
https://bit.ly/484NxTS
After the week No 10 lost control, warning that chaos is ‘probably fatal’ for Starmer | The Observer
bit.ly
November 16, 2025 at 10:36 AM
A budget swerve and a disastrous briefing lead more Labour MPs to ask if a leadership change might be due sooner than expected.
Read more as Rachel Sylvester and @catneilan.bsky.social report:
https://bit.ly/484NxTS
Read more as Rachel Sylvester and @catneilan.bsky.social report:
https://bit.ly/484NxTS
Along with all the hardline immigration measures the government will also this week announce 3 new “safe and legal routes” for refugees to come to the UK, Shabana Mahmood tells me. The devil will be in the detail - and the numbers - which she says have not yet been set observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Mahmood’s new asylum plan: when home is ‘safe’, we’ll send you back | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Along with all the hardline immigration measures the government will also this week announce 3 new “safe and legal routes” for refugees to come to the UK, Shabana Mahmood tells me. The devil will be in the detail - and the numbers - which she says have not yet been set observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Political authority, like market confidence, is easy to lose and hard to regain - @catneilan.bsky.social and I report on the week that No 10 lost control observer.co.uk/news/politic...
After the week No 10 lost control, warning that chaos is ‘probably fatal’ for Starmer | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Political authority, like market confidence, is easy to lose and hard to regain - @catneilan.bsky.social and I report on the week that No 10 lost control observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Rachel Sylvester
Starmer's removal is "inevitable now," says one minister
The chaos united previously "mutually suspicious" people against the PM, says another
But what caused it? Sources say a row between Wes Streeting and Morgan McSweeney weeks ago may have been key 👇
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
The chaos united previously "mutually suspicious" people against the PM, says another
But what caused it? Sources say a row between Wes Streeting and Morgan McSweeney weeks ago may have been key 👇
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
After the week No 10 lost control, warning that chaos is ‘probably fatal’ for Starmer | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Starmer's removal is "inevitable now," says one minister
The chaos united previously "mutually suspicious" people against the PM, says another
But what caused it? Sources say a row between Wes Streeting and Morgan McSweeney weeks ago may have been key 👇
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
The chaos united previously "mutually suspicious" people against the PM, says another
But what caused it? Sources say a row between Wes Streeting and Morgan McSweeney weeks ago may have been key 👇
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Thousands to lose right to a jury trial as government backs new intermediate court to help tackle the backlog - my story for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Thousands to lose the right to trial by jury in drive to fix court logjam | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Thousands to lose right to a jury trial as government backs new intermediate court to help tackle the backlog - my story for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
“A process of intimidation that the BBC’s supporters have long feared has been playing out behind closed doors is now unfolding in plain sight” - @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the “political interference” that led to the departure of two most senior figures at the BBC observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:01 PM
“A process of intimidation that the BBC’s supporters have long feared has been playing out behind closed doors is now unfolding in plain sight” - @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the “political interference” that led to the departure of two most senior figures at the BBC observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
Reposted by Rachel Sylvester
An important call for more radical education exam reform from leading scientists.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Broken education system is holding back the young, top scientists warn PM | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 4:04 PM
An important call for more radical education exam reform from leading scientists.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Britain’s top scientists have written to the PM warning that the education system is holding back children and the country and expressing concern about the timidity of the government’s curriculum and assessment review @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Broken education system is holding back the young, top scientists warn PM | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Britain’s top scientists have written to the PM warning that the education system is holding back children and the country and expressing concern about the timidity of the government’s curriculum and assessment review @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Rachel Sylvester
‘This is a politics built on authenticity, straight talking and straight action’
✍️ Zack Polanski on Zohran Mamdani
https://bit.ly/49CGAeW
✍️ Zack Polanski on Zohran Mamdani
https://bit.ly/49CGAeW
Zack Polanski: ‘Hope has just won in New York – it can win here too' | The Observer
opinion and ideas
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 7:17 PM
‘This is a politics built on authenticity, straight talking and straight action’
✍️ Zack Polanski on Zohran Mamdani
https://bit.ly/49CGAeW
✍️ Zack Polanski on Zohran Mamdani
https://bit.ly/49CGAeW
Reposted by Rachel Sylvester
This article says what needs to be said about the appalling Curriculum and (forgotten) Assessment review. Well done @rachelsylvester.bsky.social
Bit.ly/4oqbHio
Bit.ly/4oqbHio
The government has flunked its curriculum review
Keir Starmer promised radical change to an outdated education system that fails our children and our employers. This is not it
Bit.ly
November 5, 2025 at 5:54 PM
This article says what needs to be said about the appalling Curriculum and (forgotten) Assessment review. Well done @rachelsylvester.bsky.social
Bit.ly/4oqbHio
Bit.ly/4oqbHio
The government’s curriculum and assessment review is a huge missed opportunity but it’s not too late for the PM to champion radical reform. My piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on why education should be Keir Starmer’s overriding mission observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The government has flunked its curriculum review
Keir Starmer promised radical change to an outdated education system that fails our children and our employers. This is not it
observer.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The government’s curriculum and assessment review is a huge missed opportunity but it’s not too late for the PM to champion radical reform. My piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on why education should be Keir Starmer’s overriding mission observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Rachel Sylvester
NEW: At least five of England’s top-rated maternity units have been forced to turn pregnant women away because of “significant and unanticipated increases in demand", despite birth rates falling across the country.
@theobserveruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@theobserveruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Top hospitals turn away pregnant women too scared to use ...
Low care ratings at maternity wards across the country have put immense strain on a small number of units
observer.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 1:40 PM
NEW: At least five of England’s top-rated maternity units have been forced to turn pregnant women away because of “significant and unanticipated increases in demand", despite birth rates falling across the country.
@theobserveruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@theobserveruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Rachel Sylvester
Also in the paper this weekend:
@rachelsylvester.bsky.social on how to fix the fact that the NHS is spending almost as much on clinical negligence claims related to maternity care as it does on maternity care itself
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@rachelsylvester.bsky.social on how to fix the fact that the NHS is spending almost as much on clinical negligence claims related to maternity care as it does on maternity care itself
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Clinical negligence costs NHS almost the same as it spend...
Maternal death rate has risen 42% in a decade, while ombudsman reports a culture of cover-ups
observer.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Also in the paper this weekend:
@rachelsylvester.bsky.social on how to fix the fact that the NHS is spending almost as much on clinical negligence claims related to maternity care as it does on maternity care itself
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@rachelsylvester.bsky.social on how to fix the fact that the NHS is spending almost as much on clinical negligence claims related to maternity care as it does on maternity care itself
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
It’s shocking that the NHS spends almost as much on clinical negligence claims related to maternity care as it does on maternity care itself - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the crisis in maternity services and how to fix it observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Clinical negligence costs NHS almost the same as it spend...
Maternal death rate has risen 42% in a decade, while ombudsman reports a culture of cover-ups
observer.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 8:18 AM
It’s shocking that the NHS spends almost as much on clinical negligence claims related to maternity care as it does on maternity care itself - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the crisis in maternity services and how to fix it observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
“Silence is not being neutral - it’s an act of collusion” former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman tells @theobserveruk.bsky.social as calls grow for (former Prince) Andrew to testify before a US congressional committee observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Stripped of his titles, Andrew faces calls to testify to ...
Senior UK politicians join American panel in urging former prince to help bring justice for abused women
observer.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 11:33 AM
“Silence is not being neutral - it’s an act of collusion” former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman tells @theobserveruk.bsky.social as calls grow for (former Prince) Andrew to testify before a US congressional committee observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
This is great from @peterhyman.bsky.social . The government mantra should be “education education education” not “immigration immigration immigration”. Change is urgently needed and it’s what genuinely animates Starmer peterhyman21.substack.com/p/make-educa...
Make education the number one priority again
Bold curriculum and assessment reform is essential if we want to thrive in a fast-changing world
peterhyman21.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:45 AM
This is great from @peterhyman.bsky.social . The government mantra should be “education education education” not “immigration immigration immigration”. Change is urgently needed and it’s what genuinely animates Starmer peterhyman21.substack.com/p/make-educa...
I love this fascinating detective story by @vanessathorpe.bsky.social that reveals the identity of The Girl With The Pearl Earring observer.co.uk/culture/art/... @theobserveruk.bsky.social
Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring finally gets a name
Historian Andrew Graham-Dixon has a radical new theory about the life and beliefs of the Dutch master
observer.co.uk
October 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I love this fascinating detective story by @vanessathorpe.bsky.social that reveals the identity of The Girl With The Pearl Earring observer.co.uk/culture/art/... @theobserveruk.bsky.social
Reposted by Rachel Sylvester
@rachelsylvester.bsky.social thank you. There is so little to be cheerful about, but your piece on Prince William brightened my Sunday observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
As his uncle is banished, the heir prepares for a downsiz...
Prince William has made clear he does not seek the historic trappings or grandeur of a life lived in the royal spotlight
observer.co.uk
October 19, 2025 at 8:10 AM
@rachelsylvester.bsky.social thank you. There is so little to be cheerful about, but your piece on Prince William brightened my Sunday observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
“Everything must change so that everything can stay the same” - how the mantra of The Leopard drives the future King. My piece on Prince William for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
As his uncle is banished, the heir prepares for a downsiz...
Prince William has made clear he does not seek the historic trappings or grandeur of a life lived in the royal spotlight
observer.co.uk
October 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
“Everything must change so that everything can stay the same” - how the mantra of The Leopard drives the future King. My piece on Prince William for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
From secure school doors that break to prison windows that melt, something is going very wrong with Whitehall procurement - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Faulty towers: Whitehall loses its grip on the £400bn bus...
Whether it’s doors for high-security schools or windows for jails, bureaucrats are likely to bungle the order
observer.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 6:44 AM
From secure school doors that break to prison windows that melt, something is going very wrong with Whitehall procurement - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Labour is axing funding for the International Baccalaureate in state schools - seems an odd decision that will only widen the gap between state and private sector observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Labour cuts funding for state school IB diplomas
The sudden decision may mean the IB program is only available in private schools
observer.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Labour is axing funding for the International Baccalaureate in state schools - seems an odd decision that will only widen the gap between state and private sector observer.co.uk/news/nationa...