Ben Riley-Smith,

Ben Riley-Smith is a political correspondent for The Telegraph, covering Westminster and national politics. He has been with the newspaper since 2018 and has previously worked for The Times and the Financial Times. His reporting focuses on the Conservative Party, Brexit, and British politics more broadly. Riley-Smith is known for his in-depth analysis of political events and policies, often providing insightful commentary on current affairs. He has a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford.

Biography:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/b/ba-be/ben-riley-smith/

84%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermines the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
Analysis.OverallConflictOfInterestScore * 0.3F + Analysis.OverallBiasScore * 0.3F + Analysis.DeceptivenessScore * 0.3F + Analysis.ReadabilityScore * 0.1F

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The Daily's Verdict

This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.

Bias

86%

Examples:

  • For more than a year, the Conservatives have been chipping away at the flagship Labour green promise,

Conflicts of Interest

92%

Examples:

No current examples available.

Contradictions

85%

Examples:

  • Ed Miliband, the shadow net zero secretary, remained in post after Labour ditched its £28 billion green investment pledge.
  • Labour's policy turmoil was music to Tory ears
  • Next week three days are metaphorically circled in red, the danger of a damaging triple whammy looming large. On Wednesday, inflation figures for the year to January are released. Treasury estimates suggest it will be around 4.4 per cent which, critically, is higher than the previous month.
  • Rishi Sunak pointedly declined to apologise for his jokey comment during PMQs about Sir Keir's past remark that '99.9 per cent of women do not have a penis'
  • Sir Keir Starmer's slow-motion flip-flop had echoes of dialogue once penned by Ernest Hemingway
  • That morning the public will learn if Britain is in a technical recession when the growth figure for the fourth quarter of 2023 is released.
  • The political damage, as Tory strategists see it, is twofold. First, gone is the money but the policies to bring about clean energy by 2030 remain.
  • The Prime Minister must beware the enemy within
  • The Tories are planning their election campaign with two proven winners: Lord Cameron and Boris Johnson.
  • The Tory whips have not issued the usual orders for MPs to campaign at least three times in this case for Tory-held Kingswood and Wellingborough
  • The volume of Conservative crowding at Sir Keir Starmer's switch in position distracted what even those supportive of the Prime Minister admitted were two unforced errors this week.
  • Treasury officials who were ordered by their Tory special advisers to cost up a pledge to insulate 19 million homes this week will now be turning their attention on other Labour green policies

Deceptions

78%

Examples:

  • Ben Riley-Smith quotes Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns who calls for Mr Sunak to be replaced by a different leader without providing any evidence or context about why she believes he should go. This statement is misleading as it implies that there are other viable options available when in reality the Conservative Party may not have many choices left if they decide to replace their current leader.
  • The article quotes Nigel Farage who has been an ally of Reform and suggests that his involvement could lead to a surge in support for this party which is misleading as it implies that he will become party leader which is unlikely to happen.
  • The title of the article implies that the Conservative Party is facing an extinction-level event if they do not change course. This statement is exaggerated and misleading as it suggests that a loss of two by-elections means that the party will be wiped out entirely at the general election which is unlikely to happen.

Recent Articles

Keir Starmer Confirms Abandonment of Rwanda Asylum Deportation Scheme: A Dead and Buried Policy

Keir Starmer Confirms Abandonment of Rwanda Asylum Deportation Scheme: A Dead and Buried Policy

Broke On: Saturday, 06 July 2024 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the end of the Rwanda asylum deportation scheme during his first news conference, describing it as ineffective and a gimmick. The controversial policy, which aimed to deport asylum seekers arriving by small boats to Rwanda, faced criticism for potential human rights violations and lack of deterrent effect. With no flights taking off and the UK able to leave the related treaty with three months notice, Starmer's Labour Party will focus on domestic issues instead.
Rishi Sunak's Claim of an Incoming Hung Parliament Challenged by Sir John Curtice: A Look at the Local Election Results and the Future of British Politics

Rishi Sunak's Claim of an Incoming Hung Parliament Challenged by Sir John Curtice: A Look at the Local Election Results and the Future of British Politics

Broke On: Monday, 06 May 2024 Rishi Sunak faces challenges to his claims of an incoming hung parliament, as local election results show significant gains for Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Despite Tory losses, Sunak remains in a strong position as Prime Minister, with no serious attempts to oust him before the autumn general election.
Labour Wins By-Elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood, Dealing a Blow to Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party

Labour Wins By-Elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood, Dealing a Blow to Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party

Broke On: Friday, 16 February 2024 Labour has won two by-elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood, dealing a significant blow to Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party. The size of the victories is becoming routine but represents a deep-rooted rejection of the Tory era.
UK's Net Zero Emissions Target: A Major Focus for Both Parties

UK's Net Zero Emissions Target: A Major Focus for Both Parties

Broke On: Saturday, 10 February 2024 Rishi Sunak has an opportunity to seize political initiative after a week of missteps by Sir Keir Starmer and Labour Party. The Conservatives have been criticized for their handling of climate change policies in recent years, but with the UK's net zero emissions target set at 2050 and another goal to cut emissions by nearly 70% by 2030, it is clear that this issue will continue to be a major focus for both parties.