Svenja O'Donnell
@svenjaodonnell.bsky.social
Journalist, writer, editor. Reformed lobby hack. Owned by dachshund.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
The fact that in both 2019 and 2024, the winning party did so with a set of manifesto promises that could not be kept and dissolved upon contact with actual office is something that as an industry we should be much more bothered by than we are.
November 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The fact that in both 2019 and 2024, the winning party did so with a set of manifesto promises that could not be kept and dissolved upon contact with actual office is something that as an industry we should be much more bothered by than we are.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Incredible. Grab the data whilst you can this won’t be up for long
X has changed their policy and now you can see where the accounts are based.
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
November 21, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Incredible. Grab the data whilst you can this won’t be up for long
A bit of political nerdery to brighten your day Quiz: How well do you know your Budgets? on.ft.com/3LFKSbP
Quiz: How well do you know your Budgets?
Test your knowledge of the set-piece political event with our questions on the financial statements of yesteryear
on.ft.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:44 AM
A bit of political nerdery to brighten your day Quiz: How well do you know your Budgets? on.ft.com/3LFKSbP
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
From the piece about the Olivia Nuzzi book.
I am trying to remain calm.
I am trying to remain calm.
November 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM
From the piece about the Olivia Nuzzi book.
I am trying to remain calm.
I am trying to remain calm.
Starting to wonder whether Reeves was behind the Louvre heist, and that’s why they have decided not to raise income tax any more. It would genuinely make more sense than the current directionless clusterfuck this government seems to be inhabiting.
November 13, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Starting to wonder whether Reeves was behind the Louvre heist, and that’s why they have decided not to raise income tax any more. It would genuinely make more sense than the current directionless clusterfuck this government seems to be inhabiting.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Yay, the even worse option of lots of small taxes upsetting noisy lobby groups.
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Yay, the even worse option of lots of small taxes upsetting noisy lobby groups.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Big scoop by my colleagues, this:
Starmer and Reeves ditch Budget plan to increase income tax rates
Chancellor explores alternative ways to raise revenue to fill fiscal hole estimated at up to £30bn
www.ft.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Big scoop by my colleagues, this:
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Reading about the rapid collapse of Eastern European governments in 1989 as completely rotten and corrupt leaderships disintegrated when people realised fear was all that was holding them up. Apropos of nothing.
November 12, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Reading about the rapid collapse of Eastern European governments in 1989 as completely rotten and corrupt leaderships disintegrated when people realised fear was all that was holding them up. Apropos of nothing.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
The answer to this question is that British people could discuss this question till the end of time and not be done.
Could someone explain to me what is meant when a British person refers to "the middle class" ? Like, in the US, as I hear it, it basically just means a person who makes a certain amount of money, not too far below and not wildly above the median. Seems like a complex concept when UK writers use it?
November 10, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The answer to this question is that British people could discuss this question till the end of time and not be done.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
I wish I could write this fast.
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I wish I could write this fast.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Maybe Nigel Farage should refuse to appear on the BBC in protest.
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Maybe Nigel Farage should refuse to appear on the BBC in protest.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
This is an outstanding post on the criminal justice system. Do read.
New post just out:
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Flashing Red
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list"
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:22 AM
This is an outstanding post on the criminal justice system. Do read.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Another huge victory for mad shrieking about irrelevant rubbish
November 9, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Another huge victory for mad shrieking about irrelevant rubbish
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
There's lots to be written and read about Jim Crow in the US army in WW2. But this is good on how local Brits often refused to accept it.
Experiences Of Black Americans In Britain During World War 2 share.google/39ZYPKITB1c9...
Experiences Of Black Americans In Britain During World War 2 share.google/39ZYPKITB1c9...
“They treated us royally” The experiences of black Americans in Britain during the Second World War
During the Second World War, about 1.5 million American servicemen and women visited British shores. Around 150,000 of the US troops who came to Britain were black. Their arrival was heralded as a ‘fr...
share.google
November 9, 2025 at 11:49 AM
There's lots to be written and read about Jim Crow in the US army in WW2. But this is good on how local Brits often refused to accept it.
Experiences Of Black Americans In Britain During World War 2 share.google/39ZYPKITB1c9...
Experiences Of Black Americans In Britain During World War 2 share.google/39ZYPKITB1c9...
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Where's your fucking poppy
November 9, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Where's your fucking poppy
How many more bloody nights of fireworks does my poor dog have to endure?
November 8, 2025 at 7:23 PM
How many more bloody nights of fireworks does my poor dog have to endure?
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
perfect, no notes
Kwasi Kwarteng, the former UK chancellor whose infamous “mini” Budget under then-Prime Minister Liz Truss triggered a crisis in the gilts market, is backing the launch of a bitcoin investment company.
www.ft.com/content/c5a6...
www.ft.com/content/c5a6...
Former UK chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng backs bitcoin investment company
Ex-politician infamous for 2022 mini-Budget will become non-executive director of Stack Bitcoin Treasury
www.ft.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
perfect, no notes
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
November 6, 2025 at 1:16 AM
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Every single woman you know has had this happen to her. Even the goddamn president of Mexico.
Brava: “If I don’t file a complaint, then what message does that send to all Mexican women?” Ms. Sheinbaum said at her daily news conference, noting sexual harassment was a crime… “If this can happen to the president, what’s going to happen to all the young women & women across our country?”
Mexico’s President Presses Charges Against Man Who Groped Her on the Street
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Every single woman you know has had this happen to her. Even the goddamn president of Mexico.
YES!!!!
November 5, 2025 at 10:24 AM
YES!!!!
I rushed my dog, who is not, to put it mildly, a stoic, to a specialist vet for a £2.5k CT scan (thank god for insurance). Turns out there is nothing at all wrong save for a “slightly sprained” muscle. But she still welcomes all your treats and strokes.
November 4, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I rushed my dog, who is not, to put it mildly, a stoic, to a specialist vet for a £2.5k CT scan (thank god for insurance). Turns out there is nothing at all wrong save for a “slightly sprained” muscle. But she still welcomes all your treats and strokes.