Ben Gartside
@bengartside.bsky.social
š¤ 864
š„ 451
š 75
Investigative Reporter. Politics, Policy, Business, News. Email:
[email protected]
pinned post!
Exclusive: The Attorney General is a defendant in a torture claim from a Libyan military commander and sanctioned āterroristā that he represented until weeks before the 2024 election
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
loading . . .
The Attorney General Is A Defendant In A Torture Claim From A Libyan Military Commander That He Drafted
Exclusive: Lord Hermer is a defendant in a civil suit he drafted and represented until weeks before the 2024 election, which implicates the previou...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/attorney-general-defendant-torture-claim-libyan-military-commander-authored
2 months ago
1
3
6
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Secrets & Spies Podcast: Global Affairs | Intelligence
9 days ago
Ex-UK ambassadors are lobbyists for sanctioned pro-Russia genocide deniers
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ex-uk-amba...
loading . . .
Ex-UK ambassadors are lobbyists for sanctioned pro-Russia genocide deniers
Labour MP calls for rules to be tightened after Democracy for Sale finds former diplomats paid to lobby for Republika Srpska
https://democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ex-uk-ambassadors-are-lobbyists-for
1
6
6
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Jasmin MujanoviÄ
12 days ago
Troubling new reporting on the effort of the Kremlin-backed Bosnian Serb secessionist regime in Banja Luka to secure the lifting of UK sanctions, after the US already lifted its own measures following a multimillion dollar lobbying campaign by Dodikās proxies in Washington.
add a skeleton here at some point
0
42
20
My latest!
add a skeleton here at some point
12 days ago
0
3
0
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Peter Geoghegan
12 days ago
Remember Starmer's "urgent" review into foreign interference after Nathan Gill? Well, there's already two ex-UK ambassadors working in Westminster on behalf of a pro-Russian foreign government whose de facto leader is under UK sanctions... New on D4S:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ex-uk-amba...
loading . . .
Ex-UK ambassadors are lobbyists for sanctioned pro-Russia genocide deniers
Labour MP calls for rules to be tightened after Democracy for Sale finds former diplomats paid to lobby for Republika Srpska
https://democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ex-uk-ambassadors-are-lobbyists-for
13
372
232
Exc with
@petergeoghegan.bsky.social
: Former British ambassadors are being paid to lobby for pro-Putin, genocide deniers in Srpska.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ex-uk-amba...
loading . . .
Ex-UK ambassadors are lobbyists for sanctioned pro-Russia genocide deniers
Labour MP calls for rules to be tightened after Democracy for Sale finds former diplomats paid to lobby for Republika Srpska
https://democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ex-uk-ambassadors-are-lobbyists-for
12 days ago
0
4
1
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Jolyon Maugham KC
19 days ago
Hmm. The amount of money spent by Reform Councils with the private sector has doubled since the local elections. Wonder what's going on here...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
loading . . .
Reform's "DOGE" yet to tame outsourcers
Reform councils have spent twice as much on private sector contracts in the six months since the election compared to a year previously
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/12/reforms-doge-yet-to-tame-outsourcers
15
204
96
I've written for the New Statesman on Reform's troubles cutting outsourcing spending:
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
loading . . .
Reform's "DOGE" yet to tame outsourcers
Reform councils have spent twice as much on private sector contracts in the six months since the election compared to a year previously
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/12/reforms-doge-yet-to-tame-outsourcers
14 days ago
0
2
1
Canāt get too much into this for ~reasons~ but this is a massive thing in the UK especially. In coming years reporters will expected to be their own distribution channel more and more, and imv this will have a huge impact on media ethics going forward.
25 days ago
1
6
0
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Jonathan Liew
about 2 months ago
the west australian newspaper said they couldnāt do it. and they were correct. honestly great call by the west australian newspaper
1
35
2
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Sanya Burgess
about 2 months ago
I don't have the words to describe how much I love this story from
@bengartside.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
loading . . .
The Home Office Secretly Funded A Boyband To Sing Songs About 7/7 In Muslim Areas
Exclusive: A secretive Home Office department funded a little-known boyband to travel around Muslim areas of the UK and sing songs with anti-radica...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/home-office-secretly-funded-boyband-sing-songs-london-attacks-muslim-areas?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
1
1
1
A reader writes in; the Flight of the Conchords did an anti-knife crime song parody of the same nameā¦almost a decade previously.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
0
3
0
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Marie Le Conte
about 2 months ago
add a skeleton here at some point
5
189
29
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Exclusive: The Home Office secretly funded a boyband to tour schools in Muslim areas and sing songs about 7/7. By me, for PoliticsHome.
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
loading . . .
The Home Office Secretly Funded A Boyband To Sing Songs About 7/7 In Muslim Areas
Exclusive: A secretive Home Office department funded a little-known boyband to travel around Muslim areas of the UK and sing songs with anti-radica...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/home-office-secretly-funded-boyband-sing-songs-london-attacks-muslim-areas
about 2 months ago
2
24
35
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Alan White
about 2 months ago
Wildest
@politicshome.bsky.social
headline Iāve seen for a long time
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
loading . . .
The Home Office Secretly Funded A Boyband To Sing Songs About 7/7 In Muslim Areas
Exclusive: A secretive Home Office department funded a little-known boyband to travel around Muslim areas of the UK and sing songs with anti-radica...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/home-office-secretly-funded-boyband-sing-songs-london-attacks-muslim-areas
3
16
14
reposted by
Ben Gartside
PoliticsHome
about 2 months ago
A secretive Home Office department funded a little-known boyband ā trio, Mr Meanor ā to travel around Muslim areas of the UK and sing songs with anti-radicalisation themes during the height of ISIS terror attacks, PolHome can reveal Ben Gartside reports
loading . . .
The Home Office Secretly Funded A Boyband To Sing Songs About 7/7 In Muslim Areas
Exclusive: A secretive Home Office department funded a little-known boyband to travel around Muslim areas of the UK and sing songs with anti-radica...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/home-office-secretly-funded-boyband-sing-songs-london-attacks-muslim-areas
0
4
1
Exclusive: The Home Office secretly funded a boyband to tour schools in Muslim areas and sing songs about 7/7. By me, for PoliticsHome.
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
loading . . .
The Home Office Secretly Funded A Boyband To Sing Songs About 7/7 In Muslim Areas
Exclusive: A secretive Home Office department funded a little-known boyband to travel around Muslim areas of the UK and sing songs with anti-radica...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/home-office-secretly-funded-boyband-sing-songs-london-attacks-muslim-areas
about 2 months ago
2
24
35
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Exclusive: The Attorney General is a defendant in a torture claim from a Libyan military commander and sanctioned āterroristā that he represented until weeks before the 2024 election
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
loading . . .
The Attorney General Is A Defendant In A Torture Claim From A Libyan Military Commander That He Drafted
Exclusive: Lord Hermer is a defendant in a civil suit he drafted and represented until weeks before the 2024 election, which implicates the previou...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/attorney-general-defendant-torture-claim-libyan-military-commander-authored
2 months ago
1
3
6
reposted by
Ben Gartside
PoliticsHome
2 months ago
Exclusive: Lord Hermer is a defendant in a civil suit he drafted and represented until weeks before the 2024 election, which implicates the previous Labour government in complicity in torture
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
loading . . .
The Attorney General Is A Defendant In A Torture Claim From A Libyan Military Commander That He Drafted
Exclusive: Lord Hermer is a defendant in a civil suit he drafted and represented until weeks before the 2024 election, which implicates the previou...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/attorney-general-defendant-torture-claim-libyan-military-commander-authored
1
9
7
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Paul F Scott
2 months ago
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
0
1
2
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Alan White
2 months ago
Quite the story:
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
loading . . .
The Attorney General Is A Defendant In A Torture Claim From A Libyan Military Commander That He Drafted
Exclusive: Lord Hermer is a defendant in a civil suit he drafted and represented until weeks before the 2024 election, which implicates the previou...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/attorney-general-defendant-torture-claim-libyan-military-commander-authored
3
11
4
Exclusive: The Attorney General is a defendant in a torture claim from a Libyan military commander and sanctioned āterroristā that he represented until weeks before the 2024 election
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
loading . . .
The Attorney General Is A Defendant In A Torture Claim From A Libyan Military Commander That He Drafted
Exclusive: Lord Hermer is a defendant in a civil suit he drafted and represented until weeks before the 2024 election, which implicates the previou...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/attorney-general-defendant-torture-claim-libyan-military-commander-authored
2 months ago
1
3
6
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Molly Blackall
3 months ago
Ben is a phenomenal reporter. Commissioning editors are in luck - he's now available for freelance work. Do reach out to him below if you're on the hunt for scoops š
add a skeleton here at some point
1
1
1
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Unfortunately The i Paper is making several reporters redundant today, and my role is one of them. I'm very proud of the work I've published over the last three years, and I'm looking forward to continuing my reporting freelance. Want to chat? Drop me an email, text or DM.
3 months ago
3
49
29
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Sanya Burgess
3 months ago
Can not recommend Ben MORE highly - he brings in some jaw dropping scoops. Hire this man:
add a skeleton here at some point
0
3
1
Unfortunately The i Paper is making several reporters redundant today, and my role is one of them. I'm very proud of the work I've published over the last three years, and I'm looking forward to continuing my reporting freelance. Want to chat? Drop me an email, text or DM.
3 months ago
3
49
29
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
3 months ago
Mansions, Horses, and Designer Bags: How the Ruling Family of Iraqi Kurdistan Splurged in the U.S.
www.occrp.org/en/investiga...
loading . . .
Mansions, Horses, and Designer Bags: How the Ruling Family of Iraqi Kurdistan Splurged in the U.S.
The five sons of Iraqi Kurdistanās founding president acquired real estate across the United States and went on luxury shopping sprees. At least some of the money came from major Kurdish conglomerates...
https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/mansions-horses-and-designer-bags-how-the-ruling-family-of-iraqi-kurdistan-splurged-in-the-us?utm_source=social&utm_medium=bluesky
0
7
5
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Exc: 13 Afghans who worked with the British Army are being deported back to Afghanistan despite being under the care of the British High Commission in Pakistan after delays getting them to the UK.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
loading . . .
Afghans who worked for the British Army are deported back to the Taliban
Pakistan expels 13 Afghans despite them being under the care of the UK's relocation scheme 
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/afghans-who-worked-british-army-deported-back-taliban-3920231
4 months ago
0
19
34
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Sanya Burgess
4 months ago
Brilliant but troubling scoop from Ben here:
add a skeleton here at some point
0
11
13
Exc: 13 Afghans who worked with the British Army are being deported back to Afghanistan despite being under the care of the British High Commission in Pakistan after delays getting them to the UK.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
loading . . .
Afghans who worked for the British Army are deported back to the Taliban
Pakistan expels 13 Afghans despite them being under the care of the UK's relocation scheme 
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/afghans-who-worked-british-army-deported-back-taliban-3920231
4 months ago
0
19
34
Remember this? Well, the Government have quietly scrapped it. Read our story here:
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
0
1
0
A revealing quote (from a well-sourced piece). Some of the transfers in and out are virtually identical by CV: fmr senior Blair adviser in, one out too. Youngish Treasury bod out, one in too. Quote (and the piece) speaks to āphase 2ā feeling quite aimless.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
4 months ago
0
1
0
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Jonathan Liew
5 months ago
here's the crowd at the zimbabwe v new zealand test last week. test cricket *is* dying. it's just dying in the bits nobody wants to speak up about
4
36
3
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Exc: Millions in benefits intended for carers, disabled people and pensioners has been stolen by DWP staff. Ā£1.7m ā the highest figure in years ā was stolen last year, with Ā£6m taken since 2020. The Government says itās reviewing its processes.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
loading . . .
DWP staff stole benefits that should have gone to pensioners and disabled people
Some DWP staff have been diverting benefits payments for vulnerable people into their own bank accounts
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/dwp-staff-stole-benefits-that-should-have-gone-to-pensioners-and-disabled-people-3810495
6 months ago
0
3
2
Exc: Millions in benefits intended for carers, disabled people and pensioners has been stolen by DWP staff. Ā£1.7m ā the highest figure in years ā was stolen last year, with Ā£6m taken since 2020. The Government says itās reviewing its processes.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
loading . . .
DWP staff stole benefits that should have gone to pensioners and disabled people
Some DWP staff have been diverting benefits payments for vulnerable people into their own bank accounts
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/dwp-staff-stole-benefits-that-should-have-gone-to-pensioners-and-disabled-people-3810495
6 months ago
0
3
2
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Duncan Robinson
6 months ago
The great question of our age: WHERE are all the briefcase wankers?
economist.com/britain/2025...
loading . . .
Where are all the briefcase wankers?
The nerd:jock ratio in government is askew
https://economist.com/britain/2025/07/09/where-are-all-the-briefcase-wankers
12
59
27
Nothing like the sound of the MoJ's earsplitting flute tunes while you're on hold on a warm friday afternoon
6 months ago
1
3
0
Given the chat around air conditioning: worth reading this report from Bloomberg from 2023. Highlights clearly how new build homes, especially flats with floor to ceiling windows, are uniquely awful for overheating. More AC needed, but also better design.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
loading . . .
āI Donāt Want to Go Home.ā Europeās Housing Is Not Heat-Ready
Millions of people on the worldās fastest-warming continent live in houses and apartments ill-equipped for rising temperatures.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-08-24/europe-s-heat-waves-are-making-its-housing-uninhabitable
7 months ago
0
3
0
Good take. I thought it was notable that a few of the ministers who had seen more speculation and briefing had ended up with better settlements.
add a skeleton here at some point
7 months ago
0
3
0
reposted by
Ben Gartside
The i Paper
8 months ago
Exclusive | Dozens of council workers across Britain have been paid for multiple full-time jobs they held in local authorities at the same time
loading . . .
Dozens of council workers caught doing multiple jobs - with WFH blamed
Increased home and hybrid working is leading to more public sector workers being paid for doing several jobs at the same time
https://inews.co.uk/news/council-workers-caught-multiple-jobs-at-once-3671136?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_bluesky_posts
4
3
1
Excl: At least 37 suspected cases of local government staff members working multiple full-time jobs at once have been identified, The i Paper can reveal
inews.co.uk/news/council...
loading . . .
Dozens of council workers caught doing multiple jobs - with WFH blamed
Increased home and hybrid working is leading to more public sector workers being paid for doing several jobs at the same time
https://inews.co.uk/news/council-workers-caught-multiple-jobs-at-once-3671136
8 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Last year, my dear friend David Knowles passed away. He was 32, and had an undiagnosed heart condition. This weekend, the cricket team he founded will be playing a game to raise money for the BHF, to help fund their research. Please share and donate if you can
www.justgiving.com/page/rhcc-vs...
8 months ago
2
66
29
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Olivia Rudgard
8 months ago
David's cricket team is playing the Royal Household CC in Windsor in his memory on Saturday, and they're hoping to raise money to support the British Heart Foundation, to help others like him. Please donate if you can.
add a skeleton here at some point
0
4
1
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Mark OāNeill š»
8 months ago
www.justgiving.com/page/rhcc-vs...
loading . . .
Memorial Cricket Match for David Knowles. Larkhall Wanderers CC vs Royal Household CC. Fundraising for the British Heart Foundation.
Help Larkhall Wanderers raise money to support British Heart Foundation
https://www.justgiving.com/page/rhcc-vs-lwcc
0
2
1
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Marie Le Conte
8 months ago
www.justgiving.com/page/rhcc-vs...
loading . . .
Memorial Cricket Match for David Knowles. Larkhall Wanderers CC vs Royal Household CC. Fundraising for the British Heart Foundation.
Help Larkhall Wanderers raise money to support British Heart Foundation
https://www.justgiving.com/page/rhcc-vs-lwcc?utm_source=IG&utm_campaign=015&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadBnyzU-u6VImRHkaAQe8MRgO_HVGOxQ6BfZv-9LCDTu1PkbQhPysIiDcGaUg_aem_4TIwOUlGO6-L1nrZNm7m-Q
0
24
14
Last year, my dear friend David Knowles passed away. He was 32, and had an undiagnosed heart condition. This weekend, the cricket team he founded will be playing a game to raise money for the BHF, to help fund their research. Please share and donate if you can
www.justgiving.com/page/rhcc-vs...
8 months ago
2
66
29
reposted by
Ben Gartside
The i Paper
10 months ago
š“ Exclusive | UK's biggest builders warn Nimby MPs growth is at risk if they wreck planning laws Some of the UK's largest construction firms have warned any changes to the planning bill would kill growth and leave the UK 'tied up in bureaucratic red tape'
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
loading . . .
UK's biggest builders warn Nimby MPs growth is at risk if they wreck planning laws
Some of the UK's largest construction firms have warned any changes to the planning bill would kill growth and leave the UK 'tied up in bureaucratic red tape'
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/building-firms-nimby-mps-growth-planning-laws-3599978
0
2
1
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Exc: The UKās biggest construction firms have urged MPs not to block or amend the Planning Bill. The letter also urges the Government to push ahead with reforms cutting red tape. Read more here:
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
loading . . .
UK's biggest builders warn Nimby MPs growth is at risk if they wreck planning laws
Some of the UK's largest construction firms have warned any changes to the planning bill would kill growth and leave the UK 'tied up in bureaucratic red tape'
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/building-firms-nimby-mps-growth-planning-laws-3599978
10 months ago
0
2
1
Exc: The UKās biggest construction firms have urged MPs not to block or amend the Planning Bill. The letter also urges the Government to push ahead with reforms cutting red tape. Read more here:
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
loading . . .
UK's biggest builders warn Nimby MPs growth is at risk if they wreck planning laws
Some of the UK's largest construction firms have warned any changes to the planning bill would kill growth and leave the UK 'tied up in bureaucratic red tape'
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/building-firms-nimby-mps-growth-planning-laws-3599978
10 months ago
0
2
1
Huge scoop from
@sanyaburgess.bsky.social
add a skeleton here at some point
10 months ago
0
2
2
reposted by
Ben Gartside
Jessica Elgot
10 months ago
Cracking story from
@bengartside.bsky.social
Civil servant held three jobs in different departments at the same time
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
loading . . .
Civil servant held three Government jobs at same time - with WFH blamed
WFH culture in the Civil Service has led to a rise in āpolygamous workingā, according to a damning report
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/civil-servant-three-government-jobs-wfh-3571131
22
20
16
Load more
feeds!
log in