Rachel Cunliffe
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social
Associate Political Editor @NewStatesman. Devout classicist, "indulgent editrix", at one point the only Ancient Greek teacher in South Korea
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
🚨ICYMI🚨 Will Trump destroy the BBC? @jonnelledge.bsky.social, @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com & @rmcunliffe.bsky.social join @seththevoz.bsky.social to discuss 👉 linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...
#BBCUK #TheBBC #Trump #DonaldTrump #TrumpTheBBC
#BBCUK #TheBBC #Trump #DonaldTrump #TrumpTheBBC
November 15, 2025 at 7:00 AM
🚨ICYMI🚨 Will Trump destroy the BBC? @jonnelledge.bsky.social, @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com & @rmcunliffe.bsky.social join @seththevoz.bsky.social to discuss 👉 linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...
#BBCUK #TheBBC #Trump #DonaldTrump #TrumpTheBBC
#BBCUK #TheBBC #Trump #DonaldTrump #TrumpTheBBC
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
Latest Daily on Monocle Radio. @rmcunliffe.bsky.social and @ashbhardwaj.bsky.social on Russia's reluctant foreign legion, the latest Epstein-related developments and the day's other stuff, and a report from the Tourise tourism summit in Riyadh. monocle.com/radio/shows/...
Why is Russia targeting Africans to fight its war in Ukraine? - Monocle
Kenya says more than 200 of its nationals have joined Russian forces. We ask why Russia has its eyes on...
monocle.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Latest Daily on Monocle Radio. @rmcunliffe.bsky.social and @ashbhardwaj.bsky.social on Russia's reluctant foreign legion, the latest Epstein-related developments and the day's other stuff, and a report from the Tourise tourism summit in Riyadh. monocle.com/radio/shows/...
In entirely non-politics news, my husband has just coined the term "to Odysseus yourself", in the context of moving on from a breakup by blocking your ex on all communication and social media channels so they can no longer tempt or torment you
November 13, 2025 at 9:53 AM
In entirely non-politics news, my husband has just coined the term "to Odysseus yourself", in the context of moving on from a breakup by blocking your ex on all communication and social media channels so they can no longer tempt or torment you
“If people want to audition for a pantomime, I suggest you go to the Old Vic.”
At least, in a panto, Starmer wouldn’t have to ask where the biggest risk to his authority was coming from – the audience reply would have been deafening.
On today's PMQs
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
At least, in a panto, Starmer wouldn’t have to ask where the biggest risk to his authority was coming from – the audience reply would have been deafening.
On today's PMQs
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
PMQs review: Labour briefing wars hand Kemi Badenoch an easy win
When the Prime Minister tried to insist his team was “united”, the House descended into chaos
www.newstatesman.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
“If people want to audition for a pantomime, I suggest you go to the Old Vic.”
At least, in a panto, Starmer wouldn’t have to ask where the biggest risk to his authority was coming from – the audience reply would have been deafening.
On today's PMQs
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
At least, in a panto, Starmer wouldn’t have to ask where the biggest risk to his authority was coming from – the audience reply would have been deafening.
On today's PMQs
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
“Of Nigel Farage there was no sign at all, except in a question about him appearing on BBC Question Time more often than he’s appeared in his own constituency”
I watched Lisa Nandy defend the BBC in Parliament so you didn’t have to
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
I watched Lisa Nandy defend the BBC in Parliament so you didn’t have to
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Lisa Nandy's BBC balancing act
The culture secretary attempted to take the heat out of the debate
www.newstatesman.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
“Of Nigel Farage there was no sign at all, except in a question about him appearing on BBC Question Time more often than he’s appeared in his own constituency”
I watched Lisa Nandy defend the BBC in Parliament so you didn’t have to
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
I watched Lisa Nandy defend the BBC in Parliament so you didn’t have to
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
“I knew a guy who was mistakenly released and he *told* them it was early. And they ignored him and shoved him out.”
Chris Atkins recounts his time at HMP Wandsworth, where release errors came down to bad handwriting and mix-ups over which prisoner was which
www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-...
Chris Atkins recounts his time at HMP Wandsworth, where release errors came down to bad handwriting and mix-ups over which prisoner was which
www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-...
The real reason prisoners keep walking free
For one former inmate, the current swathe of wrongly freed prisoners is nothing new
www.newstatesman.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:51 AM
“I knew a guy who was mistakenly released and he *told* them it was early. And they ignored him and shoved him out.”
Chris Atkins recounts his time at HMP Wandsworth, where release errors came down to bad handwriting and mix-ups over which prisoner was which
www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-...
Chris Atkins recounts his time at HMP Wandsworth, where release errors came down to bad handwriting and mix-ups over which prisoner was which
www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-...
David Lammy will be grilled in the Commons today on mistaken prisoner releases and how and why they happen.
A reminder of what James Timpson said in the Lords yesterday: our prisons system relies on “boxes and boxes of paperwork”
A reminder of what James Timpson said in the Lords yesterday: our prisons system relies on “boxes and boxes of paperwork”
“Anyone wondering how the prisons system could fail – multiple times – at the most basic task of ensuring the right individuals are incarcerated at any one time might want to take note”
Some thoughts on Lord Timpson’s answers on prisons in the HoL today…
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Some thoughts on Lord Timpson’s answers on prisons in the HoL today…
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
“Boxes of paperwork” to blame for mistaken prisoner releases
Prisons minister Lord Timpson reveals how the system is stuck in the pre-computer era
www.newstatesman.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:46 AM
David Lammy will be grilled in the Commons today on mistaken prisoner releases and how and why they happen.
A reminder of what James Timpson said in the Lords yesterday: our prisons system relies on “boxes and boxes of paperwork”
A reminder of what James Timpson said in the Lords yesterday: our prisons system relies on “boxes and boxes of paperwork”
“Anyone wondering how the prisons system could fail – multiple times – at the most basic task of ensuring the right individuals are incarcerated at any one time might want to take note”
Some thoughts on Lord Timpson’s answers on prisons in the HoL today…
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Some thoughts on Lord Timpson’s answers on prisons in the HoL today…
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
“Boxes of paperwork” to blame for mistaken prisoner releases
Prisons minister Lord Timpson reveals how the system is stuck in the pre-computer era
www.newstatesman.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
“Anyone wondering how the prisons system could fail – multiple times – at the most basic task of ensuring the right individuals are incarcerated at any one time might want to take note”
Some thoughts on Lord Timpson’s answers on prisons in the HoL today…
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Some thoughts on Lord Timpson’s answers on prisons in the HoL today…
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
📕 With the Booker Prize winner set to be announced tonight, how does voting intention vary by favourite book genre. Reform’s highest score is with fans of horror, while Labour enjoys a landslide lead among fans of self-help books. *Read* into that what you will.
November 10, 2025 at 12:19 PM
📕 With the Booker Prize winner set to be announced tonight, how does voting intention vary by favourite book genre. Reform’s highest score is with fans of horror, while Labour enjoys a landslide lead among fans of self-help books. *Read* into that what you will.
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
Bloody hell www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Bloody hell www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
“I knew a guy who was mistakenly released and he *told* them it was early. And they ignored him and shoved him out.”
Chris Atkins recounts his time at HMP Wandsworth, where release errors came down to bad handwriting and mix-ups over which prisoner was which
www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-...
Chris Atkins recounts his time at HMP Wandsworth, where release errors came down to bad handwriting and mix-ups over which prisoner was which
www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-...
The real reason prisoners keep walking free
For one former inmate, the current swathe of wrongly freed prisoners is nothing new
www.newstatesman.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:51 AM
“I knew a guy who was mistakenly released and he *told* them it was early. And they ignored him and shoved him out.”
Chris Atkins recounts his time at HMP Wandsworth, where release errors came down to bad handwriting and mix-ups over which prisoner was which
www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-...
Chris Atkins recounts his time at HMP Wandsworth, where release errors came down to bad handwriting and mix-ups over which prisoner was which
www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-...
New cat spotted in the garden! Very elegant black and white female (we think), who looks like she might be full of kittens.
Since the Duke of Chesterton moved house we’ve been a bit short on nobility. So obviously we have named her the Duchess of Meowlfy.
Photo to come at the first opportunity
Since the Duke of Chesterton moved house we’ve been a bit short on nobility. So obviously we have named her the Duchess of Meowlfy.
Photo to come at the first opportunity
November 8, 2025 at 2:11 PM
New cat spotted in the garden! Very elegant black and white female (we think), who looks like she might be full of kittens.
Since the Duke of Chesterton moved house we’ve been a bit short on nobility. So obviously we have named her the Duchess of Meowlfy.
Photo to come at the first opportunity
Since the Duke of Chesterton moved house we’ve been a bit short on nobility. So obviously we have named her the Duchess of Meowlfy.
Photo to come at the first opportunity
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
only in the small print of this article do they make clear that the pensioners paying an extra £2,500 of tax would have to have
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
only in the small print of this article do they make clear that the pensioners paying an extra £2,500 of tax would have to have
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
Going down a rabbit hole of mistaken prison releases. They've definitely got up recently, but between 40 and 115 offenders were incorrectly released *every year* from 2011 to 2024 (so over 800 while the Tories were in government).
It just doesn't normally make the news
news.sky.com/story/how-ma...
It just doesn't normally make the news
news.sky.com/story/how-ma...
How many prisoners are released by mistake?
Politicians and the public have reacted with fury after it emerged a second and third prisoner had been released in error from HMP Wandsworth - but it's not as rare as some might think.
news.sky.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Going down a rabbit hole of mistaken prison releases. They've definitely got up recently, but between 40 and 115 offenders were incorrectly released *every year* from 2011 to 2024 (so over 800 while the Tories were in government).
It just doesn't normally make the news
news.sky.com/story/how-ma...
It just doesn't normally make the news
news.sky.com/story/how-ma...
I loved Othello. David Harewood: phenomenal. Toby Jones: captivating. The set, music and acting all round: absolutely brilliant.
But taken altogether... Jones as Iago was too entertaining, the play too much fun to watch. In the end, it's meant to be a tragedy
www.newstatesman.com/culture/2025...
But taken altogether... Jones as Iago was too entertaining, the play too much fun to watch. In the end, it's meant to be a tragedy
www.newstatesman.com/culture/2025...
Othello is missing the tragedy
Tom Morris's production starring David Harewood makes the audience side with the wrong character
www.newstatesman.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I loved Othello. David Harewood: phenomenal. Toby Jones: captivating. The set, music and acting all round: absolutely brilliant.
But taken altogether... Jones as Iago was too entertaining, the play too much fun to watch. In the end, it's meant to be a tragedy
www.newstatesman.com/culture/2025...
But taken altogether... Jones as Iago was too entertaining, the play too much fun to watch. In the end, it's meant to be a tragedy
www.newstatesman.com/culture/2025...
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
David Lammy’s first PMQs as deputy prime minister will be remembered for a question that wasn't even part of the actual session. Did the government know that a police manhunt had been launched for an asylum seeker wrongly released from HMP Wandsworth last week? @RMCunliffe.bsky.social
PMQs review: David Lammy brawls with the house
The deputy prime minister went where Starmer does not
www.newstatesman.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:32 PM
David Lammy’s first PMQs as deputy prime minister will be remembered for a question that wasn't even part of the actual session. Did the government know that a police manhunt had been launched for an asylum seeker wrongly released from HMP Wandsworth last week? @RMCunliffe.bsky.social
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
🚨ICYMI🚨 Starmer’s dilemma – Electoral reform or Farage in No.10? @dmk1793.bsky.social joins @rmcunliffe.bsky.social and @nndroid.bsky.social to discuss ➡️ linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...
November 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
🚨ICYMI🚨 Starmer’s dilemma – Electoral reform or Farage in No.10? @dmk1793.bsky.social joins @rmcunliffe.bsky.social and @nndroid.bsky.social to discuss ➡️ linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
So a weird thing happened to me in Aldi that I cdn't quite place until I was listening to Gabby Bertin talking about choking in porn on the radio this am. (NB: this is 100% not a sex thing). Having the usual polite chitchat with the cashier who is tired from working extra shifts to make £ for xmas..
November 4, 2025 at 9:22 AM
So a weird thing happened to me in Aldi that I cdn't quite place until I was listening to Gabby Bertin talking about choking in porn on the radio this am. (NB: this is 100% not a sex thing). Having the usual polite chitchat with the cashier who is tired from working extra shifts to make £ for xmas..
Absolutely crucial piece for understanding how knife crime is changing, and why perceptions don’t always line up with what the data is saying
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Knife crime is creeping into Middle England
Overall knife crime is down. But Huntingdon’s attack symbolises its commute from the cities to the suburbs and shires
www.newstatesman.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Absolutely crucial piece for understanding how knife crime is changing, and why perceptions don’t always line up with what the data is saying
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Reposted by Rachel Cunliffe
This from Policy Exchange is a good example of the spending cuts Reform and the Tories would need to back to match their rhetoric. www.newstatesman.com/politics/mor...
November 3, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This from Policy Exchange is a good example of the spending cuts Reform and the Tories would need to back to match their rhetoric. www.newstatesman.com/politics/mor...
How does one move to this fuzzy city? Asking out of pure curiosity and in no way making concrete plans
To put the size of London into even more perspective:
If all the cats in London moved to the countryside and founded a city...
...it would INSTANTLY be the second or third largest in the UK.
(Allowing for general fuzziness on "metropolitan areas")
If all the cats in London moved to the countryside and founded a city...
...it would INSTANTLY be the second or third largest in the UK.
(Allowing for general fuzziness on "metropolitan areas")
November 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
How does one move to this fuzzy city? Asking out of pure curiosity and in no way making concrete plans
If you haven't been listening to The House at Number 48 on Radio 4, you must.
Historical epic told through one man's quest to find out who his father really was. Nazis, mysterious suitcases, a painting full of secrets... The best thing I've listened to all year
www.newstatesman.com/culture/radi...
Historical epic told through one man's quest to find out who his father really was. Nazis, mysterious suitcases, a painting full of secrets... The best thing I've listened to all year
www.newstatesman.com/culture/radi...
The House at Number 48 is a gripping tale of real-life history
A suitcase found after the death of Anthony Easton's father leads us down a path worthy of a bestselling Second World War thriller
www.newstatesman.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
If you haven't been listening to The House at Number 48 on Radio 4, you must.
Historical epic told through one man's quest to find out who his father really was. Nazis, mysterious suitcases, a painting full of secrets... The best thing I've listened to all year
www.newstatesman.com/culture/radi...
Historical epic told through one man's quest to find out who his father really was. Nazis, mysterious suitcases, a painting full of secrets... The best thing I've listened to all year
www.newstatesman.com/culture/radi...
I went to see what Kamala Harris had to say to London.
Answer: what if it’s all about love?
Answer: what if it’s all about love?
October 29, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I went to see what Kamala Harris had to say to London.
Answer: what if it’s all about love?
Answer: what if it’s all about love?