For 6 months, Byline Times has investigated Reform policy chief & Cambridge Professor James Orr's 'political pipeline' to recruit students, some of whom he houses – & his links to Palantir's Peter Thiel. Cambridge sent our queries straight on to Orr's lawyers. What's going on at the institution? 👇

WHAT A LINE UP! Quiet Riot, Lincoln Project, and Byline Times! I'm sort of annoyed not to be able just to watch. BOOK!

There's much chatter about the established media now starting to 'turn' on Nigel Farage and Reform UK, following a number of by-election defeats and questionable gifts/donations. Farage has *always* been in need of scrutiny. That the press now decide to turn the lens on him is part of the story.

I've never met a reporter with such a gleam in his eye for holding power to account in such a human and hopeful way. All of us at @bylinetimes.bsky.social are so sad to have lost David Hencke. He was a brilliant reporter, but perhaps more importantly: he was a really lovely man. Thank you, David!

10 years ago today, the Brexit Referendum marked a defining moment in our politics. In the aftermath, I explored why my Indian immigrant parents – like many others like them – voted Leave. A fascinating, complex story of Empire, loyalty, colonised mindsets, identity, reparation... Revisit it here 👇

🔴 Burnham Wins Makerfield: Can 'Politics of Place' Now Offer an Antidote to the Poverty of Possibility? "Thatcher closed the pits with little provision for alternatives. Few benefited from New Labour's aspiration. The area was abandoned to itself" @peterjukes.bsky.social @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social

Andy Burnham won in Makerfield by focusing on the 'politics of place'. A decade on from the Brexit referendum, and abandoned by both Thatcherite Conservatism and New Labour, constituencies like Makerfield *finally* need some action. New edition of Byline Times packed with reports and analysis 👇

Fear and othering are the easiest emotions to activate. They comfort – to a point. Then, constant division with no actual solutions becomes exhausting; self-defeating: keeping people trapped in a trap they start to recognise as a trap. Burnham's defeat of Reform shows endless rage doesn't win.

"Burnham is a reversion to the mid-20th Century when Labour prime ministers were men of the people. Burnham is a giant step backwards to a better sort of British politics... Blair dismantled that world, and the deep morality and wisdom that went with it" Peter Oborne's analysis for Byline Times 👇

Andy Burnham wins, warning Labour this is its "final chance". The people I met in Makerfield were engaged on local and national issues, warm, not cynical despite rightly feeling politics hadn't changed anything for them, and happy to engage. As one elderly lady said, "we all need to live together".

Byline Times' Editor in Chief @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social will be sharing her thoughts on the challenges and rewards of independent journalism tonight in this @bylinesnetwork.co.uk event. Details to join below ⬇️

On 23 June, I'll be part of the company of actors – including Joanna Scanlan – bringing to life @peterjukes.bsky.social's new play 'Trojan Horses' in a rehearsed reading at The Cockpit theatre. Hugh Grant says it's "brilliant & terrifying". Info/tickets: tickets.thecockpit.org.uk/sales/shows/...

Richard Gadd's new show 'Half Man' will stay with me for a long time. So it was a privilege to discuss where we're at with 'toxic masculinity', vulnerability & understanding the complexities of abuse with @mrmadrigalobe.bsky.social, founder of charity We Are Survivors, of which Gadd is ambassador 👇

On 23 June, I'll be part of the company of actors – including Joanna Scanlan – bringing to life @peterjukes.bsky.social's new play 'Trojan Horses' in a rehearsed reading at The Cockpit theatre. Hugh Grant says it's "brilliant & terrifying". Info/tickets: tickets.thecockpit.org.uk/sales/shows/...

As part of #IndieNewsWeek, join Bylines Network for a special webinar exploring the future of UK independent journalism. How do we tackle news deserts? What role will citizen journalism play? And how does Indi News respond to AI, disinformation, Big Tech and political extremism? bit.ly/BylinesINW26

To mark the 10th anniversary of the EU referendum - the first reading of my epic poem Trojan Horses, about the first great information war. A stellar cast playing characters like Surkov, Dugin, Putin, Bannon, Trump, Farage - and Jeffrey Epstein. www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/trojan_...

Well deserved award from President Zelenskyy for our fearless front line reporter @zarinazabrisky.bsky.social who first revealed the ‘human safari’ in Kherson, and has continued to document the war crimes for over three years www.president.gov.ua/documents/48...

"I was full of anger but thought 'Seamus, you can't kick your shit out of somebody else'. Where I've shown most courage is actually facing up to my fear and insecurity" I spoke to Seamus Doherty on his real-life speech on masculinity in new play 'Our Public House' 👇 bylinetimes.com/2026/06/02/w...

"We all have those uncles & grandparents who say these things – we still love them. Theatre allows us to look deeper, understand, put ourselves in others' shoes" I spoke to Dash Arts' Josephine Burton about her touring state-of-the-nation play 'Our Public House' on political alienation in Britain 👇

Enjoyed speaking to @bylinetimes.bsky.social to discuss ten years of championing the most open, diverse and successful city in the world. As the rise in disinformation shows - London’s enemies resent us because of our enduring success ⬇️ bylinetimes.com/2026/05/12/s...

In 2019, Republican strategist @therickwilson.bsky.social co-founded the Lincoln Project of moderate conservatives and former GOP members to oppose Trumpism. He warns Britain is further along the curve to "your Trump" than the US was. But the trajectory can be halted... New Byline Times out now 👇

"I understand why the public feels quite deep alienation from the political system. The basics they need to live their life aren't there" I sat down with Andy Burnham last summer to speak about his journey & why "politics has to get back to fixing the fundamentals everybody needs for a good life" 👇

Tonight 11 May 19:30, @bylinetimes.bsky.social are at The Cockpit. The evening includes a conversation with @labourlewis.bsky.social and @ottoenglish.bsky.social. @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social et al will also be discussing our film The Conspiracists. 🎟️ www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/the_lur...

Kind words about Byline Times in @battlegroundeu.bsky.social "Most journalists want to see themselves as crusaders taking on the rich and the powerful, but the vast majority never do. To the publication’s credit, its contributors walk the walk." thebattleground.substack.com/p/britains-n...

A year-and-a-half ago, Reform refused to explain to Byline Times why Nigel Farage posed with far-right activists. Now, after we learned one of them has been criminally convicted for storming an anti-racism church meeting (which occurred 2 weeks before the photo), still no response. Why the silence?

Really excited to be a part of this! The rise of the far-right, populism, the long shadow of Empire, race and class... How has our understanding of the appeals of the extreme evolved 50 years on? And has anything fundamentally changed? There are still a few tickets left – do come and join us 👇

🎧 I recently sat down with Josephine Burton, Artistic Director of Dash Arts, to explore what Englishness is and can be for those of us with backgrounds shaped by Empire – and how my thinking about 'identities' has shifted following personal loss. Such a privilege to have these deeper conversations.

Join us and Byline Times for the return of Britain’s most important political play with a stellar cast and renowned post-show discussion panel. 50 years on, Destiny is still the definitive analysis of far-right populism and how to stop it 3 May, The Cockpit, London. Book now: bit.ly/EdgarDestiny

"Their explanations are part of a faith-based belief, but it's also a coping mechanism, and I don't think you can see that if you're arguing with someone" @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social speaks to the creators of 'The Conspiracists' on the January 6 women who find solace in the world of conspirituality

🎭 On Sunday 3 May, the Cockpit theatre will host a rehearsed reading of extracts from David Edgar's 'Destiny' – exploring how this important play on the far-right's rise is still relevant 50 years on. Pursuing a return to my young love of acting, I'm delighted to be part of the company. Tickets:

What an amazing, insightful interview from @bylinetimes.bsky.social @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social 🤩 Definitely worth a read…

“Algorithmic conspirituality”- what a fantastic and terrifying phrase, and a desperate search for meaning. Makes more sense that tea leaves fortune telling.

We've been able to do a deep dive into what drives conspiratorial beliefs in this article in @bylinetimes.bsky.social Starting tonight we have a week long run of cinema screenings of the film, The Conspiracists, with Q&As in London. 🎟️ Linktr.ee/TheConspiracists

"Trump could leave today and this doesn't change – because it became a community, and then it's people's identities" My fascinating interview with @noellecook.com and Liz Smith on their film 'The Conspiracists' – following why women attracted to MAGA and 'conspirituality' believe what they do 👇

NEW: The importance of the human factor - and how to hold on to it in the age of AI, apps and tech. @goldbergradio.bsky.social hears from @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social pod.fo/e/402a74

"Loneliness is bad for the body politic… conspires to create the impression that the minds of others are frightening" Jay Griffiths "Do we risk automating our search for love so much so that love will no longer be felt at all?" Iain Overton New Byline Times print edition has gone to press 👇

📽️ Our Editor in Chief @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social will be hosting a Q&A with Noelle Cook and Liz Smith at the London premiere of their thought-provoking film 'The Conspiracists' – following the lives of women involved in the Jan 6 insurrection – at the Bertha Dochouse on 21 April. Book your ticket:

Thrilled to be hosting the Q&A with Noelle Cook and Liz Smith at the London premiere of 'The Conspiracists' at the Bertha Dochouse on 21 April. A deep, thought-provoking, and very human piece of work I recommend watching – it will stay with you. Join us – tickets here: dochouse.org/event/the-co...

“A few weeks before the Second World War, nobody thought we would go into a war that would kill between 60 and 85 million people in less than five years. That’s why authoritarians want you to forget history.”

"The picture of Orwell with his Indian nanny is the most violent image of the absurdity of racism. In that colonial relationship, the woman you despise, you give your most trusted being – it doesn't make sense" Very insightful to speak to the acclaimed Raoul Peck about his new film, Orwell: 2+2=5 👇

Look I'm not saying you need to drop everything and immediately go out and buy the @bylinetimes.bsky.social but... Drop everything and do it.

"The cradle of civilisation is turned into a fireball wasteland to resemble the arid deserts our aggressors have in their own hearts and minds" – Kamin Mohammadi "Trump is a master of chaos. It's where he finds meaning and strength" – Peter Jukes The new Byline Times print edition out now 👇

Powerfully struck by @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social piece in this month’s @bylinetimes.bsky.social Particularly the gathering-in of ideas around ‘hypernormalisation’. How we come over all passive re #Epstein & #Cummings. Power. & lies.

Striking 👀 Ex-BBC News CEO: "I personally overruled internal editorial policy to give Nigel Farage primetime exposure... he ought to be on Question Time... to get a big Panorama interview. Even though the math didn't say he earned it... look at the polling. We will be out of step with the public."

Subscribed a little too late to get this months edition so got @bylinetimes.bsky.social from Sainsbury’s

This week's topic: 'The Lure of Perfection' The aesthetic rat race on social media takes a toll on us all. What do the cultivated vignettes of people's lives online do to our minds and our society? And how do people end up "looksmaxing" or on raw meat diets? 👇 www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/the_lur...

Latest in my ‘Unofficial Byline Times Public Transport Giveaway’ campaign… 💜 🚆 Very useful look at the Greens - @adambienkov.bsky.social’s piece particularly - which may give clues as to why the party (whether you like them or not) has won its first UK by-election @bylinetimes.bsky.social

Odd: lots of talk in the media about how the press should be more critical of Royals and less collusive (a "conspiracy" says David Dimbleby). But no mention I've heard of Prince Harry's sustained critique of the relationship between the Palace and the tabloids which is a notable theme of Spare.

I see so much of this—people shutting out politics because they feel helpless. The politicians are fine with that, because it lightens their responsibility, takes the spotlight off their weaknesses or criminal behavior.

Don’t think I’ve read an issue of @bylinetimes.bsky.social so quickly before! This is outstanding! Do get a copy if you can. 👍