John O’Farrell is a writer and author. His latest book is Family Politics
July 2024
Are you suffering from symptoms of hope? Here’s how to cope with the prospect of a Labour victory
John O'Farrell
Friday could be one of the best days ever – but only if we vote Labour, says the author John O’Farrell
September 2017
Polite thuggery: that's the essence of the people who rule over us
John O'Farrell
For all my lifetime, the Conservative party has pulled off a con-trick of claiming social respectability while behaving like the worst kind of hooligans
September 2016
Dear Theresa May, here’s what grammar schools did to my family
John O'Farrell
‘Inclusive grammars’ is an oxymoron, like ‘fun run’ or ‘compassionate Conservatism’ – selective education only creates divisions
April 2016
Never mind the EU arguments, just look who’s talking
John O'Farrell
Confused about Brexit? Aren’t we all. So sticking with the people we trust might be all we can do
January 2016
A no-strings basic income? If it works for the royal family, it can work for us all
John O'Farrell
Don’t choke at the idea of a universal basic income. It benefits many – from beggars to entrepreneurs
November 2015
Top 10s
John O’Farrell’s top 10 celebrity appearances in fiction
Risking recrimination and lawsuits, some novelists have inserted real life public figures into their books. Here are my favourite star appearances
September 2015
Swing left or tack right, Labour will be sunk without unity
John O'Farrell
There’s so much public feuding going on in the party at the moment, it’s as if Labour has an emotional problem with popularity
May 2015
If I were prime minister for a day, I’d make Chris Grayling a prison librarian
John O'Farrell
Buckle up for a zero-tolerance approach to barbarism that starts in our cinemas and theatres, and ends in a new job for our justice secretary
April 2015
Something Rotten! Or how I created a Broadway musical
The best song had to go, as did a beloved (by the writer, anyway) song-and-dance number in the stocks. But finally, after four years of rewrites and cuts, a musical set in Tudor London is set to face the critics and audiences of New York
February 2015
The new Spitting Image? Maybe not, but Newzoids could be the political comedy we’ve been crying out for
John O'Farrell
It’s more difficult for a satire show to shock today than in the 80s. Maybe it should claim politicians are honest and hardworking
January 2015
A seven-leader debate only benefits David ‘the chicken’ Cameron
John O'Farrell
John O’Farrell: It may seem like healthy democracy having so many leaders in the broadcast, but the big questions will be drowned out in the noise
May 2013
If Andy Coulson were still working for David Cameron …
John O'Farrell
John O'Farrell: Why has the ex-No 10 spin doctor broken cover in GQ? Is it just to share his glossy fantasy re-election plan with the PM?
March 2013
How Eastleigh gave me reasons to be cheerful about the next general election
John O'Farrell
My Eastleigh experience was enough – I won't stand for election in 2015
John O'Farrell
February 2013
John O'Farrell: why I'm standing for Labour in the Eastleigh byelection
John O'Farrell
John O'Farrell: I feel really lucky to have an outlet for the profound sense of outrage I feel about this coalition government
November 2012
Twitter fiction
Twitter fiction: John O'Farrell
The author, broadcaster and comedy scriptwriter takes up our Twitter-based challenge to come up with a story in 140 characters or fewer
July 2012
Why I choose state education over private school
John O'Farrell explains why he chose a state school to give his children the very best education
May 2012
Heard the one about the rise of the political comedian?
John O'Farrell
John O'Farrell: The disillusioned public is welcome to elect a comedian, but political office must still be taken seriously
March 2012
What I see in the mirror
What I see in the mirror: John O'Farrell
'I have laughter lines from watching other people's comedy and worry lines from rereading my own'
July 2011
Not poke fun at Parliament? That's a laugh
John O'Farrell
John O'Farrell: How could we possibly make MPs look more undignified than they do already?
