Ansari without a beard looks like a Backbench Tory MP
Aziz Ansari review – a hugely gifted comic who makes funny look easy
Aziz Ansari review – a hugely gifted comic who makes funny look easy
Shiny-suited and slick, the US standup fired off peppy and sometimes taboo-teasing gags about his cultural identity, married life and visits to a fertility clinic
www.theguardian.com
July 12, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Ansari without a beard looks like a Backbench Tory MP
Starmer facing growing backbench rebellion over planned disability benefit cuts
news.sky.com/story/starme...
news.sky.com/story/starme...
Starmer facing growing backbench rebellion over planned disability benefit cuts
The government has proposed tightening the eligibility requirements for the personal independent payment, known as PIP - but several backbench Labour MPs have spoken out against the plans.
news.sky.com
May 8, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Starmer facing growing backbench rebellion over planned disability benefit cuts
news.sky.com/story/starme...
news.sky.com/story/starme...
oh no not a labour backlash, how will he survive 14 backbench MPs abstaining
July 18, 2026 at 6:44 PM
oh no not a labour backlash, how will he survive 14 backbench MPs abstaining
I think there is going to be a very substantial backbench rebellion against the immigration bill. Not at all convinced it will survive without concessions.
March 1, 2026 at 10:24 PM
I think there is going to be a very substantial backbench rebellion against the immigration bill. Not at all convinced it will survive without concessions.
For someone that had never been a backbench MP, and who broadly treated backbench MPs with at best indifference and at worst contempt during his time as leader, I'm not that surprised at all though I'd hoped he might actually have a crack at it (who knows, might have even enjoyed it?)
god I'm actually quite gobsmacked by Starmer's decision, it's just so......small, so revealing of his complete and utter lack of interest in Parliament and parliamentary politics, until the very end
September 1, 2026 at 1:17 PM
For someone that had never been a backbench MP, and who broadly treated backbench MPs with at best indifference and at worst contempt during his time as leader, I'm not that surprised at all though I'd hoped he might actually have a crack at it (who knows, might have even enjoyed it?)
Keir Starmer braces for biggest backbench rebellion yet as ‘horrendous’ welfare cuts spark immediate backlash
Charities warned Starmer’s cuts will drive disabled people into poverty
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Charities warned Starmer’s cuts will drive disabled people into poverty
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
PM braces for major backbench rebellion as ‘horrendous’ welfare reforms published
Charities warned Keir Starmer’s cuts will drive disabled people into poverty
www.independent.co.uk
June 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Keir Starmer braces for biggest backbench rebellion yet as ‘horrendous’ welfare cuts spark immediate backlash
Charities warned Starmer’s cuts will drive disabled people into poverty
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Charities warned Starmer’s cuts will drive disabled people into poverty
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
It would be good if the only political pushback against Nigel Farage's plans to mass deport hundreds of thousands of our neighbours, friends, family and colleagues didn't just come from a handful of backbench MPs and one regional mayor
September 22, 2025 at 10:29 AM
It would be good if the only political pushback against Nigel Farage's plans to mass deport hundreds of thousands of our neighbours, friends, family and colleagues didn't just come from a handful of backbench MPs and one regional mayor
New from me: I wrote about the massive own goal from House Democrats to keep @aoc.bsky.social on the backbench in the upcoming Congress at a time when their base is demoralized and looking for a sign that there's a way forward
Opinion | This is the worst time for Democrats to keep AOC on the backbench
In rejecting the New York congresswoman as ranking member of the Oversight Committee, Democrats sent a depressing message about their priorities.
www.msnbc.com
December 18, 2024 at 4:59 PM
New from me: I wrote about the massive own goal from House Democrats to keep @aoc.bsky.social on the backbench in the upcoming Congress at a time when their base is demoralized and looking for a sign that there's a way forward
3/ are thus there to focus on just a few backbench members.
March 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
3/ are thus there to focus on just a few backbench members.
She's really starting to remind me of Anthony Weiner; a backbench Democrat representative who built an aggressive media personality into a national following and then completely fell apart when exposed to scrutiny, due to being an overweening narcissist without any deeper loyalties.
August 5, 2026 at 9:31 PM
She's really starting to remind me of Anthony Weiner; a backbench Democrat representative who built an aggressive media personality into a national following and then completely fell apart when exposed to scrutiny, due to being an overweening narcissist without any deeper loyalties.
Schumer/Jeffries is chaining their best fighters to the backbench and everyone can see it.
February 19, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Schumer/Jeffries is chaining their best fighters to the backbench and everyone can see it.
Two former Nationals leaders, Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce sitting it out on the backbench
May 29, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Two former Nationals leaders, Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce sitting it out on the backbench
Backbench Revolt is a particularly painful hold.
September 29, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Backbench Revolt is a particularly painful hold.
actually cool to see usually fairly generic backbench senator have some ball knowing, even if this shoulda happened this year
Dem Sen. Michael Bennet, who is running for #COGov, has come out in favor of Colorado pursuing mid-decade redistricting.
CO would need a constitutional amendment to move forward. A grassroots group is pursuing one: www.redistrict.co
CO would need a constitutional amendment to move forward. A grassroots group is pursuing one: www.redistrict.co
December 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
actually cool to see usually fairly generic backbench senator have some ball knowing, even if this shoulda happened this year
IMO at this point these candidates would rather lose at the polls than be permanently ostracized from Trump's GOP.
"No backbench congressman wants to find themselves suddenly famous because the president has singled them out for an attack on Truth Social."
🧾 www.publicnotice.co/p/republican...
"No backbench congressman wants to find themselves suddenly famous because the president has singled them out for an attack on Truth Social."
🧾 www.publicnotice.co/p/republican...
"Unless you’re at a crypto convention, it’s hard to find people who feel their lives have been improved by Trump’s policies. So some candidates have decided the risk of opposing him — which could mean incurring his wrath and losing some supporters — is smaller than the risk of *not* opposing him."
The trickle of Republicans opposing Trump will become a flood
The risk of bucking him is now outweighed by the risk of NOT opposing him.
www.publicnotice.co
September 23, 2026 at 4:37 PM
IMO at this point these candidates would rather lose at the polls than be permanently ostracized from Trump's GOP.
"No backbench congressman wants to find themselves suddenly famous because the president has singled them out for an attack on Truth Social."
🧾 www.publicnotice.co/p/republican...
"No backbench congressman wants to find themselves suddenly famous because the president has singled them out for an attack on Truth Social."
🧾 www.publicnotice.co/p/republican...
If Starmer and Reeves do this, they deserve a Cabinet, backbench, and popular revolt.
"X stands to benefit if UK pulls digital services tax in trade deal with US"
It will be very hard to accept if Labour bin the digital services tax to suck up to Trump. Especially given they're slashing funding for vulnerable people and people with disabilities.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
It will be very hard to accept if Labour bin the digital services tax to suck up to Trump. Especially given they're slashing funding for vulnerable people and people with disabilities.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
X stands to benefit if UK pulls digital services tax in trade deal with US
Prominent campaigner says Elon Musk’s platform qualifies for the levy, which is on the block in negotiations
www.theguardian.com
March 24, 2025 at 9:15 PM
If Starmer and Reeves do this, they deserve a Cabinet, backbench, and popular revolt.
Starmer is to address backbench MPs in Parliament tomorrow night.
February 8, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Starmer is to address backbench MPs in Parliament tomorrow night.
As a model for dealing with backbench revolts this is a pretty good case study in how not to do it.
Starmer suggests welfare bill revolt just 'noises off' as he rejects claim row shows he is bad at politics - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Starmer ‘very confident’ he will lead Labour into next election despite party opposition to welfare plans – UK politics live
Prime minister says ‘we’re committed to reforming system’ as more Labour MPs join opposition to plan to cut universal credit and Pip
www.theguardian.com
June 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
As a model for dealing with backbench revolts this is a pretty good case study in how not to do it.
El Salvador says it’s impossible for a U.S. senator to visit or talk to a legal U.S. resident, or arrange to do so, but two Trumpist backbench reps get to pose in prison for pics.
We've reached the point where Republicans are flying to El Salvador to visit one of the most vicious prisons in the world to have photo ops so they can prove their loyalty to the President of the United States.
April 16, 2025 at 8:24 PM
El Salvador says it’s impossible for a U.S. senator to visit or talk to a legal U.S. resident, or arrange to do so, but two Trumpist backbench reps get to pose in prison for pics.
The man who said building relationships was his strength has 5 backbench MPs trying to bring down his Prime Ministership lol ok bro.
April 19, 2026 at 11:05 PM
The man who said building relationships was his strength has 5 backbench MPs trying to bring down his Prime Ministership lol ok bro.
Lib Dem proposal for proportional representation system for UK elections is passed by 137-135 votes with some Labour backbench support.
50 Labour MPs also opposed.
Labour leadership needs to table a Bill and make PR a reality, ensure Tories never form govt again
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
50 Labour MPs also opposed.
Labour leadership needs to table a Bill and make PR a reality, ensure Tories never form govt again
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
MPs back proportional representation system for UK elections in symbolic vote
Lib Dem proposal is passed by 137 votes to 135 with some Labour backbench support but is unlikely to become law
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2024 at 7:10 AM
Lib Dem proposal for proportional representation system for UK elections is passed by 137-135 votes with some Labour backbench support.
50 Labour MPs also opposed.
Labour leadership needs to table a Bill and make PR a reality, ensure Tories never form govt again
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
50 Labour MPs also opposed.
Labour leadership needs to table a Bill and make PR a reality, ensure Tories never form govt again
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Rishi Sunak on the backbench this morning
November 14, 2024 at 11:06 AM
Rishi Sunak on the backbench this morning
Backbench MPs criticise the optics of potentially slashing the tax bill paid by global tech firms like Google, Meta, and Amazon, at the same as cutting the welfare bill by billions of pounds.
One says the move would look "absolutely horrific"
news.sky.com/story/labour...
One says the move would look "absolutely horrific"
news.sky.com/story/labour...
Labour unease builds over suggestions ministers could axe digital tax on tech giants
Backbench MPs criticise the optics of potentially slashing the tax bill paid by global tech firms like Google, Meta, and Amazon, at the same as cutting the welfare bill by billions of pounds. One says...
news.sky.com
March 27, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Backbench MPs criticise the optics of potentially slashing the tax bill paid by global tech firms like Google, Meta, and Amazon, at the same as cutting the welfare bill by billions of pounds.
One says the move would look "absolutely horrific"
news.sky.com/story/labour...
One says the move would look "absolutely horrific"
news.sky.com/story/labour...
oppositionally defiant contrarians are not going to hold the reins in a house where dems have majorities to spare, they’ll just end up backbench nobodies
September 2, 2026 at 6:41 PM
oppositionally defiant contrarians are not going to hold the reins in a house where dems have majorities to spare, they’ll just end up backbench nobodies