Tom Collins

‘Drinking from a fetid pond’: superbug-creating genes found in UK’s largest lake Exclusive: Lough Neagh, which supplies drinking water for 40% of NI, contains genes resistant to last-resort antibiotics

Superbugs resistant to antibiotics are rising fast. I tested water at Lough Neagh (40% of Northern Ireland’s drinking water) & found high levels of antibiotic-resistant genes from human & livestock poo. If we treat waterways like sewers, this is what we get. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Tom Collins: Public ownership is only viable option for dying Lough Neagh If anything shows an abject failure of political leadership, it is the response to this crisis

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... Why Lough Neagh needs to be brought into public ownership.

Tom Collins: Public ownership is only viable option for dying Lough Neagh If anything shows an abject failure of political leadership, it is the response to this crisis

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... My column in today’s @irishnews.com online and in the shops.

Stephen Fry: “I’m deeply worried by the darkening shadow that’s going over the world, a shadow that we have to call fascism”

Laura Kuenssberg: “You would use that word?”

Stephen Fry: “Oh absolutely. It’s a cult of power; and power only speaks to power”

#bbclaurak

Tom Collins: Enough is enough – It’s time for the world to stand up to Trump Cold-blooded murder of a country’s leader must be condemned

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... My column in today’s @irishnews.com online and in the shops.

As journalists working today many of us are taught to recognise disinformation when we see it and fight back against it.

Unfortunately there are some who willingly seek it out and put it on their front pages. A disgrace to the profession.

Police and MI5 waged campaign of illegal interference against ex-BBC journalist, tribunal told Former Northern Ireland correspondent Vincent Kearney subjected to ‘unprecedented’ surveillance, says lawyer

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Wickes kitchen fitting was a recipe for disaster I’ve been without a hob in my new kitchen for three months after an emergency engineer was forced to disconnect it

www.theguardian.com/money/2026/f...

Tom Collins: If ever we needed inspiration from St Francis, it is now The Italian saint’s bones have been put on public display for the first time in 800 years in Assisi

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... There’s something off about the display of holy relics, but perhaps the display of St Francis’s mortal remains is the exception that proves the rule. My column in today’s @irishnews.com online and in the shops.

A note to folk who care about journalism: stories are behind paywalls for a reason. It’s how people like me - whose work some of you seem to appreciate - get paid. If I’m not paid, I don’t write. If you like a story I’ve written post a link. If you post screenshots you’re literally picking my pocket

Tom Collins: If ever we needed inspiration from St Francis, it is now The Italian saint’s bones have been put on public display for the first time in 800 years in Assisi

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... My column in today’s @irishnews.com online and in the shops.

Tom Collins: This ‘Fat Tuesday’, it’s time to start the fightback Global crisis summed up in simple recipe for pancakes

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... Today’s column in @irishnews.com Enjoy your pancakes.

I am heart sore this morning at the death of Jeane Freeman, a wonderful Cabinet colleague.

Jeane gave selfless service to Scotland especially as Health Secretary during Covid. In designing Scotland’s social security system, she put dignity and respect at its heart. (1/2)

Anas Sarwar says today of Peter Mandelson: “I'm utterly disgusted and furious about the entire situation … He never should have been the ambassador to the US.”

For context, here’s Sarwar in April 2025 love-bombing his ‘old friend’.

They think we are stupid.

He is an amoral opportunistic chancer.

Cardinal Conway Attends Funeral of Anthony Reavey and Praises Family’s Forgiveness - On This Day in 1976 Funeral of third Reavey brother - February 5 1976

www.irishnews.com/news/norther...

Tom Collins: All hail Ireland’s patron saint of female power Alongside Patrick and Columba, Brigid is one of the most important Irish saints. Yet you would be hard-pressed to know it

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... My column in today’s @irishnews.com online and in the shops.

Another performer withdraws from the Kennedy Center.

Tom Collins: Time for us all to stand up to Trump and his ‘American Carnage’ When Trump spoke of “American carnage” in his first inauguration address, who knew he was exercising his gift of prophesy, for that is what we are seeing now

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... From today’s @irishnews.com online and in the shops

Deacon Blue ‘appalled’ by Reform UK’s Scottish leader quoting their song lyrics Exclusive: Band hit out at party’s ‘poisonous rhetoric’ after Malcolm Offord makes reference to Dignity during speech

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Tom Collins, 2015 Tom chose an event in 2015 when we asked which moment in the last 26 years shaped the person you are today. He had just 46 words, 20:26. Here's how he responded...

open.substack.com/pub/26writer... Honoured to be part of this great project.

Wow— “Cardinal Tobin told hundreds of faithful gathered online that now is the time to say no — no to violence, no to indifference, and no to funding the U.S. government’s own “machinery of death.”

www.thelettersfromleo.com/p/pope-leos-...

Tom Collins: Time for us all to stand up to Trump and his ‘American Carnage’ When Trump spoke of “American carnage” in his first inauguration address, who knew he was exercising his gift of prophesy, for that is what we are seeing now

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-...

Here’s the lesson of the Andy Burnham saga: Labour needs a new leader – fast | Polly Toynbee Keir Starmer’s dismal decision to block the Greater Manchester mayor has bought him time, but it won’t change his fate, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Tom Collins: Nothing Jon Burrows says or does will matter unless unionism is ready to change The UUP is little more than a social club for dinosaurs who still believe they will inherit the earth while everyone else can see they are destined for extinction

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... My column in today’s @irishnews.com online and in the shops.

Francis Urquhart or Baldrick? | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine I should begin with an apology. Last month, I described Robert Jenrick as “the most shameless man in parliament”. His office complained at the time, but I was stubborn and refused to back down. Well…

Like so many MPs, Jenrick 'thinks he’s Francis Urquhart, when in fact he’s Baldrick'.

Marvellous from @roberthutton.co.uk

thecritic.co.uk/francis-urqu...

Tom Collins: Palestine Action hunger strikers expose sham of British justice What we are seeing is the demonisation of people involved in legitimate protest, the undermining of basic freedoms under the law, and a steady slide into authoritarianism

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... My column today.

Tom Collins: Palestine Action hunger strikers expose sham of British justice What we are seeing is the demonisation of people involved in legitimate protest, the undermining of basic freedoms under the law, and a steady slide into authoritarianism

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... my column in today’s @irishnews.com online and in the shops.

Tom Collins: Is that Three Wise Men, or the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? We think we are making free choices; in reality, we are in chains

www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-... My take on the beginning of the new year in @irishnews.com - check it out online