Ben Bloch
@realBenBloch
Followers
5K
Following
23K
Media
1K
Statuses
10K
Politics Hub / Politics Reporter @SkyNews | Insta: realBenBloch | 🇬🇧🇫🇷🇪🇸 | RT ≠ endorsement | Views mine | [email protected] | [email protected]
Joined November 2010
“You are now connected to Air Force One.”. “Mr Prime Minister, congratulations…”
153
1K
13K
“There is no state in this country where it’s legal to kill a baby after it’s born.”. What a fact check for ABC to have to make during a debate…. #Debate2024
1K
1K
11K
Downing Street has released some photos of Prime Minister Keir Starmer walking up the No 10 staircase, surrounded by the portraits of his predecessors.
200
464
8K
Charlotte Leeming is no longer able to broadcast for Sky News in Middlesbrough because of threats the team faces on the ground. In *Britain*.
When journalists have to wear PPE to report on the streets of Britain, you know things are really bad…
361
917
3K
🚨 BREAK: Brianna Ghey's father has told Sky News that Rishi Sunak should apologise for his "degrading comments". Peter Spooner said the PM's comments in parliament were "absolutely dehumanising". More here:
196
924
3K
🚨 Peter Kyle’s first official duty as science secretary?. Handing Sir Lewis Hamilton the 1st place trophy at Silverstone as he breaks yet another record by becoming the first driver in F1 history to win 9 races at the same circuit. #F1 #BritishGP
21
253
3K
@RachBlevins @TwitterGov @TwitterSupport You literally host a show on RT - Russian state media. Not entirely sure how you can complain that you don't speak for the Russian government when it literally pays your wages.
20
58
3K
🚨 BREAKING: NUS president Shaima Dallali has been SACKED following an independent investigation into allegations of antisemitism, the JC understands. It is thought to be the first time in the 100-year history of the NUS that a president has been fired.
201
614
3K
Here is James Cleverly telling parliament in a written statement in November 2022 that the Conservative government - in which he was then Foreign Secretary - was starting negotiations with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands.
Weak, weak, weak!. Labour lied to get into office. Said they’d be whiter than white, said they wouldn’t put up taxes, said they’d stand up to the EU, said that they be patriotic. All lies! .
112
1K
3K
What’s interesting here is that this statement implies Lee Anderson MP would not have been suspended had he apologised. But not even two weeks ago, the Tories were demanding (rightly) that Labour suspend Azhar Ali, despite a grovelling public apology….
💥Lee Anderson suspended . A spokesperson for Chief Whip Simon Hart said: . "Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the Chief Whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.".
65
626
2K
Putting aside that this is not how democracy works in any way, shape, or form - the government needs to figure out how to deal with Elon Musk and his interventions, because this is not sustainable.
68
360
2K
Today, the UK government:. - Insisted Ukraine's path to NATO is 'irreversible'.- Said no talks about Ukraine, without Ukraine.- Announced new sanctions on Putin's inner circle.- Said the Foreign Sec will meet with Navalny's widow . Keir Starmer pushing back against Donald Trump.
0
431
2K
🚨 BREAKING: Rabbi Alex Goldberg has resigned from the FA's Faith group. He said: "After 16 years at the FA, I resign, not in retreat but in protest. "For in silence, we sideline solidarity, and in omission, we risk our morality. "May our separate paths prompt reflection and.
BREAKING: Wembley Stadium arch not set to be lit in colours of Israeli flag .
136
362
2K
🚨 BREAKING: Speaker Lindsay Hoyle blasts Sunak for failing to make his statement on net zero policies in Parliament. Spox: “If he had the power, the Speaker would recall the House immediately.”. 🔥 “Ministers are answerable to MPs - we do not have a presidential system here.”.
81
413
2K
Photos from Southampton games attended by Rishi Sunak do NOT show him sitting in the stands among the general public, but in cordoned off seats, as Sir Keir Starmer does now. (Deleted previous tweet for accuracy).
283
491
2K
Important to say - the prime minister did not say that it is “far right to stand up for victims of mass rape”. He said some politicians are “amplifying what the far right is saying” because they are “so desperate for attention”. There is a huge difference.
In Parliament today. It is not “far right” to stand up for victims of mass rape, as the prime minister wrongly said this morning. That kind of comment enabled this scandal to be covered up in the first place
0
458
2K
🚨 The first foreign leader Sir Keir Starmer is meeting as PM?. The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz. The pair are having breakfast in DC as the NATO summit kicks off. 📸 Stefan Rousseau/PA
9
142
2K
🚨 “The country is not stupid.”. Rishi Sunak is confronted by someone who appears to be a GP at a campaign event in Wiltshire on the state of general practice:
147
353
1K
PM Sir Keir Starmer pictured on the plane to Washington DC in a huddle with the travelling media pack. Pics: @StefanRousseau /PA
2K
235
1K
The PM's spokesperson was asked repeatedly by lobby journalists if the UK would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he landed on UK soil. He could not answer - and nor could he answer any questions on the UK process for enforcing ICC warrants. It is understood that a domestic legal.
158
437
1K
I really hope that Jeremy Clarkson hears this call to @mrjamesob. If the pain in this mother's voice doesn't make him realise just how utterly despicable his column was, I really don't know what will.
This James O'Brien caller says Jeremy Clarkson is 'attention-seeking' and 'arrogant' just like boys who threw excrement at her black daughter when she was 14. 'I hope you are listening Jeremy Clarkson. I hope you are listening The Sun editors. You are bullies.'. @mrjamesob
27
249
1K
🚨 NEW: Labour lead stands at 27 points in the first exclusive poll for Sky News of the election campaign. Full results:. Lab: 47%.Con: 20%.Reform: 12%.Lib Dem: 9%.Green: 7%. More here:
60
243
982
🚨 BREAKING: Scott Benton, the MP for Blackpool South, has been caught indicating that he would be willing to break parliamentary lobbying rules for money in an undercover sting operation by the Times. Read more:
49
395
962
Not sure that Alan Dershowitz is the best choice for impartial analysis on the Ghislaine Maxwell verdict @BBCNews…
51
149
888
This is definitely the best meme going round the Department for Health's group chats right now 👇. #matthancock
8
158
998
🚨 BREAK: Three people have been found guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court of a terror offence after they displayed images of paragliders at a pro-Palestine march in central London a week after Hamas militants attacked Israel. Via PA.
134
182
959
@MattP1Gallagher FIA trying to avoid giving Pierre Gasly a race ban for having too many penalty points?!. Only thing I can think of.
7
0
982
🚨 Let’s move beyond the headline figure and take a look at some of the detail from the Sky News / YouGov poll…. (Spoiler: Sir Keir Starmer wins every single section) 🧵. #BattleForNo10.
🚨 BREAKING: A YouGov snap poll for Sky News has given Sir Keir Starmer a clear win. Sir Keir Starmer: 64%.Rishi Sunak: 36%. #BattleForNo10.
4
177
795
🚨BREAKING: The CPS has DROPPED drop hate charges against two men on the May 2021 “Convoy for Palestine”. This means that no one is currently charged for the incident that saw protesters honk horns and scream “F*** their mothers, rape their daughters.”.
125
489
829
Ok. I really don’t know what going on at the Olympics #ClosingCeremony. I tuned in an hour and a half ago for Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg. Instead there’s a golden person and a big wheel. What is happening?!.
31
53
856
“That was Liz Truss, wasn’t it? This market could crash any minute!”. Brutal
7
71
788
Tory MP Mark Pritchard (@MPritchardUK) has just said in the Commons that he has supported Israel for 20 years at "pretty much at all costs". "But today, I want to say that I got it wrong. And I condemn Israel for what it is doing to the Palestinian people in Gaza and indeed in
35
317
854
🚨 Labour REJECTS Tory push for multiple election debates to claw back their poll deficit. Sources say they "won’t be tearing up the format established in previous elections just to suit this week’s whims of the Tory party". Starmer will take part in two debate - BBC and ITV.
35
96
682
Students from the Arab Society at Leeds University refused to play against the Jewish football team as part of a regularly scheduled fixture. "To us, this is a blatant act of antisemitism," the Jewish society says.
The football team I used to manage at uni (Hapoel Hyde Park of @Leeds_JSoc) had their game on Wednesday postponed as some of the Arab Society players refused to play against them because they are Jewish! That is outrageous!
135
218
761
📸 PM Sir Keir Starmer working on board the plane en route to the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. More here: Images: Stefan Rousseau/PA
1K
73
716
I just received this disgusting statement from David Miller, a lecturer at @BristolUni. @TheTab could not publish it in full, but everyone needs to see this. As a Jewish student myself, I cannot tell you hard it is to read this from a staff member at my own uni. #antisemitism
Yesterday, Prof. David Miller, a lecturer from the @BristolUni , criticised Jewish students and the Jewish society for daring to speak out about antisemitism. His comments will only succeed in making our campus a more hostile environment for Jewish students.
295
301
619
NEW from @MarkKleinmanSky - Starmer will hail more than £50bn in investment at their flagship summit tomorrow. That's roughly twice the £28bn unveiled at the previous comparable gathering held under the former Tory administration. In full:
187
175
568
🚨 Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey did not hold back on the SNP when speaking to @KamaliMelbourne just now. He said the SNP yesterday was "more interested in domestic political politics in Scotland than in making sure the House could come together". More:
30
147
541
The Liz Truss lettuce is truly a global meme….
3
48
465
Senior government minister Michael Gove mobbed by protesters at Victoria Station in London to chants of “shame on you”.
380
256
548
🚨 NEW: Antisemitic incidents in the UK are up by 324% since Hamas attacked Israel, @CST_UK says. *This is a provisional number*. - 6 Assaults.- 3 Damage & Desecration to Jewish property.- 14 direct Threats.- 66 Abusive Behaviour. 56% of incidents were in Greater London.
64
385
571
We have just left Auschwitz I. The silence on the bus is palpable. Everyone knows what happened at Auschwitz, but to see it in person, to stand in the exact spots where tens of thousands of Jews, Poles, Roma, and more were exterminated…. @HolocaustUK @UJS_UK #Antisemitism
11
95
516
After being hammered twice - by @BethRigby and @bbcquestiontime - on his previous public support for Jeremy Corbyn, Sir Keir Starmer has finally given a substantive answer. He said he voted against Corbyn for leader twice, but had to respect the membership vote. He preferred to
184
107
517
BREAKING: David Miller has been FIRED from Bristol Uni. He has a right of appeal, but the university has terminated his employment. @SabriSun_Miller @michaeldickson @CST_UK @UJS_UK.
47
68
546
The Comcast president, Mike Cavanagh, explicitly praised Starmer, Reeves, Nandy, Gustafsson, and Reynolds for the Universal theme park investment. He said they were the "amazing partners" that "brought [the investment] over the finish line". Kick in the teeth to the Tories.
1
168
543
🚨 BREAKING: Inquiry into the National Union of Students brands it a "hostile environment" for Jews. The NUS itself described the report as “a detailed and shocking account of antisemitism” and has pledged to implement the KC’s recommendations in full.
32
174
487
🚨 Starmer agrees to Sky News leader's event in Grimsby during the campaign. Sky spox : "Sky News is delighted that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to travel to Grimsby and answer voters questions in a Sky News leader's special event. "Negotiations are ongoing for
15
80
441
🚨Second year @BristolUni student, Olisa Odukwe, is missing. Last seen leaving his house in Redland yesterday (Saturday) on a bike at 7am wearing all black. Contact 101 & quote case number 5221094539 with any info on Olisa's whereabouts. PLEASE RT!.
9
2K
445
After condemning the October 7 massacre, Jeremy Corbyn refused multiple times to label Hamas a terror group and nor would he acknowledge Hamas’s goal of eradicating Israel. All amid a blazing row with @piersmorgan!.
105
57
428
Anthony Hamilton consoling a distraught Isack Hadjar. Sheer decency and humanity from Lewis’s father. #F1 #AustralianGP
0
16
460
“Today’s been quite a good day for Rishi Sunak - he hasn’t punched a pensioner or kicked a golden labrador.”. @kitty_donaldson on Sky News just now - high bar indeed 😬😂 . Do tune in!. #BattleForNo10
15
41
398
I’m not sure @jessphillips was particularly impressed with the Home Secretary’s performance in the Commons…
100
40
360
🚨 BREAKING: No10 Downing Street and UK government buildings will be lit up in blue and white tonight to show solidarity with Israel. Public buildings have also been asked to fly the Israeli flag.
NEW . London’s City Hall will be lit up in white and blue tonight, the Mayor’s office confirm. Follows displays for 🇮🇱 in Germany, Italy and the European Union.
23
106
408
“A line has been crossed”: PM Sir Keir Starmer has responded after days of attacks from Elon Musk on himself and Jess Phillips. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Starmer speak in this way before, clearly denouncing Musk, Robinson, those amplifying misinformation, and politicians, as.
"Child sexual exploitation is utterly sickening.". Sir Keir Starmer answers a question from Sky's @BethRigby. Latest: 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
304
103
384
When journalists have to wear PPE to report on the streets of Britain, you know things are really bad…
65
51
350
The format of the Sky News leaders’ special will be different to what we saw on ITV last night. Sunak and Starmer will look to pitch to voters in an in-depth interview, before answering questions from the audience. More:
BREAKING: Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have agreed to take part in The Battle for Number 10, a Sky News election leaders' special event, on Wednesday 12 June. It will be the second televised event with the two party leaders of the campaign. Details:
37
35
332
🚨 FYI: Sky News will publish the first YouGov poll-based projection of the campaign at *5PM*. It will be an MRP poll, and we'll bring you YouGov's projected winner and the size of the majority - plus the names of any big beasts set to lose their seats.
13
65
320
Someone at CCHQ has done an *excellent* job in these official pics photoshopping the rain the rain that drenched Rishi Sunak during the election announcement…
9
19
340
We've known for a few days that the benefits reforms were coming today. So why you would decide to give your first major policy speech on a day that absolutely no one will be talking about it is just bizarre.
Let’s face it - Net Zero by 2050 is impossible. The whole thing needs a total rethink. Have your say on this and more:
0
13
361
🚨 NEW: The UK Parliament will be lit up in blue and white tonight to show solidarity with Israel. It follows No10 being lit up last night with the Israeli flag.
17
48
307
🚨NEW: A Twitter spokesperson has confirmed that Kanye West’s account has been locked. “The account in question has been locked due to a violation of Twitter’s policies.”. This follows a tweet where he said that he’ll go to “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE”. #Kanye #Antisemitism
23
86
279
🚨 BREAKING: A YouGov snap poll for Sky News has given Sir Keir Starmer a clear win. Sir Keir Starmer: 64%.Rishi Sunak: 36%. #BattleForNo10.
3
54
281
Even non-political friends are texting me saying they’ve seen the election will be 4 July. The rumours are cutting through. If Sunak isn’t calling an election today, No10 needs to shut them down or it’ll look like he’s bottled it. Missed a golden opportunity to do so at #PMQs….
11
51
275
This woman signing “My Way” is utterly phenomenal. No words - just stunning. #ClosingCeremony.
7
15
277
This is turning rapidly into a serious crisis for Rishi Sunak. Not two weeks ago, his ministers and MPs were on the airwaves criticising Labour for being slow to act on Azhar Ali’s comments. Sunak is very close to making the exact same mistake himself….
Current ministers are now pushing for Anderson to be suspended and believe Truss should be too….
17
86
258
🚨 PM Sir Keir Starmer has written to Gareth Southgate and the England team ahead of tomorrow’s Euros final. “As you did three years ago, you've made the country proud. Whatever happens, you should know that you have united the country, and we are all behind you.”
8
39
257
@ElizabethDrewOH A lapse?! Are you shitting us?! Apologise for the disgusting sentiment, not just a brain fart. Have some decency.
0
6
258
📸 PM Sir Keir Starmer welcomes Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Downing Street. They stood talking in the street for an unusually long time in front of the world’s media. The pair will hold talks following the extraordinary row with Trump yesterday. Images: Reuters
0
50
287
🚨 Sir Keir Starmer has given his reaction to Anderson's defection exclusively to @SophyRidgeSky. Starmer said this is "not just about Lee Anderson -it's about 14 years of failure". "Forget about Lee Anderson. Let's have a general election.". In full:
16
59
226
@MarcusRashford @JewishChron Hey @MarcusRashford - I’m a fan of yours and a lifelong fan of Man United, but what is the context?? You don’t explain it in your statement, and all I’m seeing right now is you posing next to a man who hates me and other Jewish people to his core. Please help me understand.
68
13
228
.@wesstreeting clearly feeling punchy at the @JewishLabour conference today. He blasted both the hard-right and hard-left, describing @jeremycorbyn and @Nigel_Farage as "two cheeks of the same backside". More:
417
54
214
Who came across as more in touch with ordinary people?. Sir Keir Starmer: 71%.Rishi Sunak: 13%.
2
31
223
🚨 ITV’s Paul Brand confirms that Rishi Sunak did the interview with him *today*. “Today was the slot we were offered. We don’t know why. Obviously it’s not our choice.”. Sunak is reported to have returned early from D-Day commemorations in France.
4
84
215
EXCL: Labour Against Antisemitism (@LabourAgainstAS) has filed a complaint w/ the party over a tweet they say blames Jews for the riots. Director @hearnimator says @labourlewis’s post should result in his “immediate suspension”. Story w/ @journoamrogers:.
13
67
233
BREAKING: Adidas has terminated its partnership with Kanye West. The company said: "Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous.". #KanyeWest.
13
47
217
🚨Grant Shapps just called @SamCoatesSky while he was live on @SkyNews. But he decided not to tell us how he is feeling about potentially losing his seat, and put the phone down. .
🚨 12 of 26 Cabinet ministers in "deep trouble" and are projected to lose their seats, says @SamCoatesSky. Including:. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.Commons leader Penny Mordaunt.Attorney General Victoria Prentis.Justice Secretary Alex Chalk.Armed forces.
9
47
209
@MarcusRashford @JewishChron Thank you, Marcus. That makes total sense. I really appreciate you replying. All the very best.
5
1
209
NEW: Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds has written to Lancashire Police demanding an investigation into Mark Menzies MP for fraud and misconduct in public office. Sky News understands the letter says there is a "clear public interest" in a probe. More:
9
48
188
🚨 BREAKING: All four of the Colston 4 have been CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES at trial. They were charged with criminal damage in regards to the toppling of the statue of slave-trader Edward Colston in Bristol in June 2020, but have been cleared. #colston4.
10
44
179
Full clip of Kim Johnson MP apologising "unreservedly" for her comments at #PMQs describing the Israeli government as "fascist" and calling it an "apartheid state". I understand the apology follows a meeting with the Labour Chief Whip.
171
74
193
This public embrace and display of warmth from Starmer was designed to show Washington (and Moscow) where the UK stands - with Ukraine.
📸 PM Sir Keir Starmer welcomes Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Downing Street. They stood talking in the street for an unusually long time in front of the world’s media. The pair will hold talks following the extraordinary row with Trump yesterday. Images: Reuters
0
25
208
Who came across as more trustworthy?. Sir Keir Starmer: 58%.Rishi Sunak: 28%.
1
24
171
UJS cont: "Jewish students across the country will be asking how an individual deemed unfit for office by NUS was elected in the first place. We await the findings of the substantive inquiry into NUS’ treatment of Jewish students.". 2/2.
2
19
187
Sir Ed Davey also told Sky News that the Liberal Democrats DO have confidence in Sir Lindsay Hoyle as Speaker.
🚨 Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey did not hold back on the SNP when speaking to @KamaliMelbourne just now. He said the SNP yesterday was "more interested in domestic political politics in Scotland than in making sure the House could come together". More:
10
32
173
@piersmorgan What exactly was incendiary? I'm asking in all seriousness. I watched the speech in full, and I really don't understand what was so controversial.
28
1
175
🚨 NEW: Reform UK is just one point off Labour in a new Sky News/The Times/YouGov poll. The Tories have tumbled to third. Labour has retained just 54% of its voters from July's general election. More:
0
49
197
On face value, I cannot see how Sir Keir Starmer justifies meeting a vocal coach in person (rather than on Zoom, for example) while most of the country was in lockdown. Tomorrow’s lobby briefing should be interesting….
So Starmer, who lectured constantly on Covid rules, appointed his own personal voice coach as a ‘key worker’ during the pandemic per @Gabriel_Pogrund @patrickkmaguire . This makes no sense - critical workers were defined in govt guidance and included only those required. OOPS
0
61
199
Who came across as more likeable?. Sir Keir Starmer: 56%.Rishi Sunak: 29%.
1
21
171
In a statement, the Union of Jewish Students said: "UJS respects the decision of the National Union of Students to dismiss their President. Antisemitism in the student movement goes beyond the actions of any one individual and this case is a symptom of a wider problem. 1/2.
3
15
177
Who came across better on…. The NHS?. Sir Keir Starmer: 70%.Rishi Sunak: 20%. Issues facing young people?. Sir Keir Starmer: 58%.Rishi Sunak: 27%. The economy?. Sir Keir Starmer: 49%.Rishi Sunak: 42%. Tax?. Sir Keir Starmer: 42%.Rishi Sunak: 41%.
2
32
168
Who came across more prime ministerial?. Sir Keir Starmer: 50%.Rishi Sunak: 35%.
1
21
163
In good news, a Channel 4 spokesperson has just confirmed that David Baddiel's Jews Don't Count will not be removed from All4 and will remain on platform. #jewsdontcount @Baddiel.
7
11
163
Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, told the JC: “The CPS have a job to do, and whilst they may think the case does not have a realistic chance of success, sometimes we should take a chance and let a jury decide. [1/3].
5
45
178