Ben Dickenson

You're invited to join me on my 50 by 50 journey.

This is post #3 - all about racism, journalism and the questions storytellers should be asking.

bendickenson.substack.com/p/50-by-50-3...

You make a very good point Jacky. It shouldn’t be waved away. It should shouted, loudly. Exposed for what it is.

50 by 50 #3: What a schoolboy antisemite, a BBC interview, and a nearly awful play, taught me about storytelling In a world that prioritises niche over truth, we need storytellers who ask the right questions, pursue answers with courage, and shape narratives that resist hate.

50 by 50 #3

What happened when I saw THAT Farage interview; the impact of antisemitism when I was at school; and a play that was nearly bad.

This is about stories. Why they matter, and why writers must ask the right questions till the truth comes out.

open.substack.com/pub/bendicke...

About time.

Nigel Farage says he's 'never directly racially abused anybody' The Reform UK leader was responding to reports he made racist remarks to his peers in school in the 1970s.

And here's a link to an article & the footage you're talking about.
You're right, it was an excellent interview.
Ffarij thinks he's a master storyteller - but in this case, the story fell apart under pressure.
There's a lot more to come out, I'm sure.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I’m sure you’re right. @peterjukes.bsky.social said the other day there were dozens of people from the school who verified what he did. This story has a way to go.

Hats off to the BBC Wales journalist who didn’t let him off the hook.

50 by 50 #3: What a schoolboy antisemite, a BBC interview, and a nearly awful play, taught me about storytelling In a world that prioritises niche over truth, we need storytellers who ask the right questions, pursue answers with courage, and shape narratives that resist hate.

50 by 50 #3

What happened when I saw THAT Farage interview; the impact of antisemitism when I was at school; and a play that was nearly bad.

This is about stories. Why they matter, and why writers must ask the right questions till the truth comes out.

open.substack.com/pub/bendicke...

What he said: 💯 🎯

The Real 'Benefits Street' Protecting Britain's Wealthiest The sheer scale of outrage about plans to lift children out of poverty, by taxing millionaire homeowners, tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of the British press

The sheer scale of media outrage this week about plans to lift hundreds of thousands children out of poverty, by taxing millionaire homeowners, tells you everything you need to know about the real priorities of the British press
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-real-b...

Happening now Newcastle’s Grainger Market - Midsommar Bakery grand opening!

Queues formed early, and have been running out the door all day. Buns, open sandwiches, cakes flying into happy bellies.

It already feels like a hub of lovely humans. Fika has been enjoyed by all!

Scandinavian bakery and café opening in Newcastle offering a 'slice of heaven' Scandinavian bakery and café opening in Newcastle offering a 'slice of heaven'

Midsommar Bakery will serve baked delicacies and introduce Newcastle to the coffee and cake tradition of fika

Totally missed @northeastbylines.co.uk writing about our family bakery. Lush. Come join the gang on Saturday.

Reeves aims a searing ‘Russian assets’ gibe at Farage Rachel Reeves used her Budget speech to jab at Nigel Farage, invoking Russia amid renewed security concerns

“We are ramping up sanctions on Russia…

We are freezing known Russian assets…

But let me be clear, I don’t actually mean the right honourable member for Clacton.”

Nigel Farage to address far-right rally in Germany Former Ukip leader accepts invitation by the granddaughter of Hitler's finance minister, Beatrix von Storch, to speak at Spandau Citadel in Berlin

Nigel Farage to address far-right rally in Germany www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...

The edge of the visible: Cambois data centre A new hyperscale data centre is emerging in Northumberland

The edge of the visible: Cambois data centre
A new hyperscale data centre is emerging in Northumberland

northeastbylines.co.uk/business/tec...

Defending our national treasure: the voice of the nation Politicians see the BBC through the lens of TV news, but those who want to undermine it threaten a central plank of our national culture

Intriguing, challenging and informing. For a century, the BBC has been our classroom, our concert hall, our stage, our storyteller and our window on the world. Politicians need reminding: its much more than a news channel.

@eastangliabylines.co.uk @stephenmcnair.bsky.social

I’m beyond proud of Peter Ettedgui speaking out about Farage and the vile antisemitic abuse he endured. I first heard Peter’s story nearly 20 years ago when Farage was a virtual nobody. It’s not a hit job. Just the truth

🚨WOW! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 47,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 50,000 tonight. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...

Bylines Scotland - Powerful Citizen Journalism Nurturing democracy through not-for-profit citizen journalism

Good morning folks! Thanks for supporting #CitizenJournalism! There’s some great reading and listening on the website. Huv a great weekend! Oh, by the way… we qualified for The World Cup!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Brilliant story this. Shows what journalism and investigation can achieve.

One in five voters see green party leader Zack Polanski favourably, three points since mid October.

People are ready to make hope normal again.

Join.greenparty.org.uk

(Source: Evening Standard from YouGov Data)

The Confidence Trick That Put Boris Johnson Into Power Is Now Being Used on Nigel Farage The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage

The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage

www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...

Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.

Zack Polanski: ‘People will have to find some other way to hurt me’ | The Observer

"You can agree or disagree with him, but Polanski does not pretend to be something he is not.

He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.

Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

The BBC drama As imperfect as the BBC is, it still strives for impartiality

As imperfect as the BBC is, it still strives for impartiality | Peter Taylor-Gooby

northeastbylines.co.uk/news/uk-news...

Fingers crossed.

Who knows. Maybe. But either way, it’s telling that a sitting Labour MP is willing to step down to allow space for someone who pulls left of Starmer on almost every policy issue, and knows how to connect with working people.

Wow. I want Clive Lewis in parliament though. He and Burnham could work together.

Thank you Bruce.

Some words about my Dad, who has just been diagnosed with cancer. A better man than many - a better, fairer and kinder human.

Stop by my Substack to read more - including two poems in the latest post and a brand new post every week: substack.com/@bendickenso...