Ian Birrell

Ian Birrell writes a weekly column for i. He is a former deputy editor of the Independent and an award-winning foreign correspondent. He was awarded Health Journalist of the year in the 2018 Press Awards and was highly commended in the feature writing category.

Starmer can learn from the Tory disaster – do not pander to the fringes

We must hope he stands firm on his stated desire to banish tribalism – populism is on the march and needs to be defeated

I play football with Keir Starmer. We enjoy deluding ourselves about our age

Tories deserve to be kicked as hard as possible into the history books

Article thumbnail: LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: (EDITORS NOTE: This handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images??? editorial policy) (NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.) In this handout photo provided by the BBC, Reform UK Party leader Nigel Farage is interviewed by Nick Robinson during the The Panorama Interviews on June 21, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Overs/BBC via Getty Images)

Nigel Farage's attempts at damage limitation aren't fooling anyone

South Africa offers Donald Trump one crucial lesson

How Norway’s calm, cushy prisons put Britain’s model to shame

There is only one way to stop Donald Trump now

Sunak's national service proposal is a ludicrous, desperate stunt

I helped the Tories get elected – I can’t wait to see the back of them

Slovakia is on the front line of Putin’s war to destroy our values