Opinion | For much of the last century, Britain was the dominant power in the Middle East. As the last few days have made clear, it is now almost entirely irrelevant 🖋 @benkentish.bsky.social Read more: trib.al/kODbut4

Caller Simon would quite like to move to France. But when a 'scrounger' on a small boat does it, he takes issue. 'So are you just jealous?' @benkentish.bsky.social asks.

But the wild slanders against all asylum seekers had nothing to do with people trying to burn down their hotels, apparently

Anyone (legit) selling any Coldplay tickets for this weekend?

Given that Jeremy Hunt is at it again, my recent column on politicians pontificating about mental health diagnoses from a position of complete ignorance. Read here: inews.co.uk/opinion/no-j...

❌ Cost of living crisis ❌ NHS ❌ Youth unemployment ✅ Migration @benkentish.bsky.social challenges Lord Blunkett’s assertion that, of all the issues, migration must be Keir Starmer’s ‘top priority’.

‘Do we need to stop the boats? Of course.’ ‘Is shredding human rights laws worthwhile? Of course it isn’t.’ @benkentish.bsky.social says current migration discourse is ‘bordering on collective hysteria’.

“Trump ended 6 wars.” “Name 2.” “Russia Russia Russia… fake news….” A+ exchange on British 🇬🇧 radio

"There's no evidence for that is there?" "That's not true. There is real concern out there." Is the Lucy Connolly case an example of 'two-tier justice'? @benkentish.bsky.social debates Richard Holden.

"I'm not going to answer your stupid childish questions." Seb Gorka demands @benkentish.bsky.social 'grow up' after asking about Trump's promise to end the war in Ukraine 'on his first day'.

Inheritance tax only affects the wealthiest 4.6% and is paid on wealth being transferred to people who haven’t themselves earned it.

'Can we at least agree that inheritance tax is on unearned wealth?' '...no, we can't.' @benkentish.bsky.social tries repeatedly to explain how inheritance tax works, but caller John isn't having any of it.

Bluesky was a really refreshing place for a while - much friendlier and with people more open to discussion rather than abuse. It’s a real shame that people like this have quickly made it barely any better than X.

“Don’t you think it’s a great idea?” “No.” Caller Colin thinks he’s solved the prisons crisis. @benkentish.bsky.social points out the flaws in his plans.

Saying that a country needs rules, norms and shared values to be united rather than a collection of strangers really does not make you Enoch Powell.

Six hours of live election results show done alongside @natashaclark.bsky.social! Huge thank you to the whole team for a stellar effort. The coverage continues on @lbc.co.uk

Really looking forward to hosting @lbc.co.uk election night special tonight, with @natashaclark.bsky.social guiding us through all the results and reaction. Join us 10pm to 4am for breaking news, analysis, discussion of what it all means - and of course plenty of calls. There's a lot to talk about!

Opinion | Reform UK does not have serious solutions - they often do not even have serious candidates. And yet they are increasingly seen as the best option 🖋️ @BenKentish.bsky.social

Had the strangest dream last night that Barnet won the league and were promoted as champions to the EFL.

On the show tonight: 🔴 How will history judge Donald Trump’s handling of the war in Ukraine? 🔵 Why has celebrating Englishness become so controversial - and should it be? 🌑 Calls for the police to clamp down on people playing loud music in public. What’s gone wrong to make this necessary?

A real pleasure to be sitting in for @mrjamesob.bsky.social this morning - join us from 10 @lbc.co.uk

Opinion | Dire predictions about their fate have not come to pass - this is what it tells us about British society 🖋 @BenKentish.bsky.social inews.co.uk/opinion/we-w...

NEW: My latest @theipaper column on why alarmist, exaggerated warnings from private schools about Labour’s VAT policy were given so much attention - and what it says about Britain. Read here👇

"You might think that private school leaders...will now be written off as the unreliable fearmongers they appear to be. Don’t bank on it. That they were given so much credence for so long shows where power and influence lies in our broken political and media world." 👏 @benkentish.bsky.social

Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours and peerages list: 18 x former Tory advisers 11 x Tory and former Tory MPs 2 x Tory councillors 1 x Tory party Chief Executive 1 x England cricketer 1 x filmmaker Gongs for your mates. A ridiculous system.

fascinating discussion on smartphone usage right now on @lbc with @benkentish.bsky.social (not just because I’ve been part of it) Should phones be banned, or should society be better trained and educated?

Mine for @benkentish.bsky.social's programme on the UK's @lbc.co.uk audioboom.com/posts/869946...

First the Post Office scandal, now it’s alienated and angry young men - wouldn’t it be nice if our politicians responded to major issues before, not just after, TV networks chose to make series about them?

12pm: Darren Jones compares cutting disabled people’s benefits to taking a child’s pocket money away. 7pm: Asked about the analogy, Jones’ boss Rachel Reeves completely doubles down, repeating it herself. 9pm: Jones apologises, admitting the comparison was “tactless”. What a mess.

Number of people forecast to be worse off because of government cuts to PIP: 3.2 million Number of current job vacancies in UK: 816,000 This isn’t about getting people into work.

Coming up: tonight at 10pm on @lbc.co.uk Christina McAnea talks to @benkentish.bsky.social about UNISON's reaction to the spring statement. Listen: www.lbc.co.uk/radio/

Column on why US allies should not make the mistake of trusting Donald Trump www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-trum...

Imagine being a Labour Chancellor who repeatedly rules out a wealth tax and instead slashes the benefits of people too disabled to feed, wash and dress themselves. www.thetimes.com/article/d902...

There are conspiracy theorists everywhere these days. When presented with cold hard facts they just see the facts as more evidence of the original conspiracy. We’re truly living in a post-truth world. Wild.

Evening! On the show: 10pm: As Kyle Clifford is sentenced, why is violence against women and girls in Britain still so common? 11pm: The government faces a backlash over Britain’s lack of patentity rights. Does this country undervalue dads? 12am: What’s it like living with dementia?

Evening! On the show: 10pm: As Kyle Clifford is sentenced, why is violence against women and girls in Britain still so common? 11pm: The government faces a backlash over Britain’s lack of patentity rights. Does this country undervalue dads? 12am: What’s it like living with dementia?

Dozens of world leaders tweeting their support for Zelensky after yesterday’s disgrace from Trump and Vance. Very notable contrast: Downing Street relying on a comment from an unnamed spokesperson so that Keir Starmer doesn’t have to. Not a good look, tbh.

History will be kind to Zelensky for standing up to a bunch of Putin-sympathising, hectoring bullies rather than trying to appease them. What a refreshing contrast to the sycophantic fawning, pandering and grovelling we’ve seen from so many other world leaders so far.

📻 It’s another high! After record-breaking figures last time around, absolutely thrilled to have added a further 33,000 listeners in the last quarter and a total of 111,000 more (⬆️29%) in the last year. Thank you to everyone who joins us each night and to the brilliant team who make it all happen.

AS IT BROKE: Trump says US will seize Gaza, depopulate it of Palestinians, and turn it into the next Dubai. Mine for @benkentish.bsky.social's late night programme on the UK's @lbc.co.uk 🎧: audioboom.com/posts/864872...

This week’s @inews.co.uk column, on why Rachel Reeves slashing disability benefits even further would be a disaster👇 inews.co.uk/opinion/rach...

'You want your own nephew to be put to death?' 'Yes!' Caller Matt leaves @benkentish.bsky.social shocked, after saying his criminal nephew should be given the death penalty.

Just listened to @benkentish.bsky.social on @lbc with Faron Paul. Listen back to it on Global player, you won’t be sorry A softly spoken intelligent and thoughtful giant of a man ! www.gov.uk/government/n...

The point isn’t whether or not Elon Musk did a Nazi salute at the inauguration - it’s that it’s completely believable that this immensely powerful man, who’s accountable to no one yet seems to be the unofficial VP of the United States, might have done a Nazi salute at the inauguration. Terrifying.

‼️Listened to @benkentish.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk show last night and was transfixed. Excellent discussion about #Musk and the threat he poses. Appreciate you joining the dots, and I wonder too what his ultimate objective is? ‼️https://youtube.com/watch?v=RERPuI3Nhr8

"It's the best thing that's happened to the world." "What we really need is a benign dictator." "He won't be greedy. He's a good man." Three jubilant Trump fans call @benkentish.bsky.social.

Reasons for Keir Starmer to stop and think before racing into Trump's embrace. My live chat last night on the President's inaugural address with @benkentish.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk 🎧: audioboom.com/posts/864067...

Very glad I live in a country where the head of state can’t overrule the judiciary to pardon convicted criminals or unilaterally withdraw the country from international organisations. What a ridiculous political system.

@benkentish.bsky.social getting ready to face angry pensioners on @lbc.co.uk !