Associate editor, The Observer
Joined January 2009
- Tweets 4,461
- Following 1,573
- Followers 4,232
- Likes 6,475
12 Photos and videos
Alex O'Connell retweeted
Jun 13
‘My foster parents taught me that if you are loved, you will be destroyed’: @lemnsissay
On a walk around his childhood town of Ashton-in-Makerfield, the poet and broadcaster reflects to @RSylvester1 on his time in care, why St George’s flags don’t worry him, and the country’s future ahead of the byelection
bit.ly/49SIHLe
1
7
20
3,611
Alex O'Connell retweeted
Jun 14
Ever young in spirit, Hockney never quite stopped being a new prodigy
From My Parents and A Bigger Splash to his caustic character studies and iPad inventiveness, the late artist delighted in pushing creative boundaries right to the end, writes @LauraCummingArt
bit.ly/4fKBSiC
5
12
1,026
Alex O'Connell retweeted
Jun 14
Ten years after my wife, Jo Cox, was murdered, I believe our country is in peril bit.ly/4eqHcW0
1
3
6
866
Alex O'Connell retweeted
Jun 11
GCSE, AS and A level grades are, at best, "reliable to one grade either way". How does this "maintain public confidence in regulated qualifications"?
observer.co.uk/news/opinion-…
@ObserverUK @aoconnell @CommonsEd @Appg_Schools @MarshallTitan1 @HMC_Org @miss_mcinerney @ASCL_UK
1
2
101
Alex O'Connell retweeted
Jun 4
In search of George Michael (and the fuck tree) with @Sathnam observer.co.uk/news/national…
6
18
128,139
Alex O'Connell retweeted
Jun 4
In this week’s @RSylvester1 on Politics newsletter, she explores how Restore has put Nigel Farage between a rock and a hard right place.
To read the rest of the piece, head to our link in bio, and to receive Rachel’s newsletter every week: observer.co.uk/newsletters
3
4
1,171
May 24
I went for a walk with @author_magfarr in North Berwick - we talked schooldays, the Oscars and her wonderful new novel Land - and somehow managed not to fall into the tidal pool on the seafront observer.co.uk/news/national…
1
116
Alex O'Connell retweeted
May 20
The dilemma of the three audiences Andy Burnham must win over - my piece for @ObserverUK observer.co.uk/news/politics…
2
7
5
2,098
Alex O'Connell retweeted
May 17
Britain’s fiscal position, structure of its national debt and too few natural buyers are real constraints. More state-lead growth is possible:but to lose market confidence will shatter everything.Disdain for the bond markets will soon scupper Andy Burnh... observer.co.uk/news/politics…
34
97
235
20,950
Alex O'Connell retweeted
Not so much Macbeth as The Comedy of Errors
observer.co.uk/news/politics…
7
5
23
4,544
Alex O'Connell retweeted
May 11
Starmer’s incapacities are obvious. However he has a mandate. As soon as he is replaced in however an ‘orderly fashion’ British media bias will become deadly. One rule on lack of mandates for the right: another for the left. The cabinet must plan skilfully; it could get worse.
60
78
410
81,901
Alex O'Connell retweeted
May 9
Labour’s vote share has halved in 22 months. Yes, there is anti-incumbent pressure in all democracies. The wider media ecosystem is intensely hostile. But without more sheer political craft and reasons for hope, Labour is trapped. Its task now is to change that. Can it? Will it?
34
19
77
6,764
Alex O'Connell retweeted
PM also pledges to put Europe at the heart of his premiership and says deal will be announced shortly on youth mobility scheme for 18-30 year olds starting in 2027 observer.co.uk/news/politics…
45
29
78
10,113
Alex O'Connell retweeted
Keir Starmer says he wants a decade in Downing Street and will fight any challengers - my interview for @ObserverUK observer.co.uk/news/politics…
522
100
369
152,530
Alex O'Connell retweeted
May 6
Pope backs investigative journalists against Trumpian ‘Tower of Babel’
The pontiff showed no fear of the US administration in a letter blessing attendees at the @sirharrysummit in London and praising ‘communication that is capable of listening’, Lily Isaacs reports
bit.ly/4tXNX8g
5
5
615
Alex O'Connell retweeted
May 3
One hundred years of Attenborough, the man who taught me what love is bit.ly/4w3ZLqO
8
12
887
Alex O'Connell retweeted
May 3
“The left needs to take this issue [the battle against antisemitism] seriously, to see it as intimately linked to the wider politics of freedom and equality.” My @ObserverUK column: observer.co.uk/news/columnis…
8
16
32
2,445
Alex O'Connell retweeted
May 3
Starmer must be bold on rejoining the EU bit.ly/42Kgzpq
14
32
67
1,638
Alex O'Connell retweeted
Keir Starmer urges Labour not to descend into “political infighting” as leadership speculation swirls. PM writes for @ObserverUK observer.co.uk/news/opinion-…
2
2
863