Michael Walker (British journalist)

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Michael Walker
Michael walker 2020 2.jpg
Michael Walker presenting TyskySour in 2020
Born1989/1990(age 34–35)
Alma mater London School of Economics (MSc)
Occupations
Known forPresenting Novara Live

Michael Walker (born 1989or1990) is a British political journalist, presenter, commentator, and activist. He is a contributing editor at Novara Media, where he hosts the organisation's flagship live news programme Novara Live (previously TyskySour).

Contents

Early life and education

Walker was born in 1989or1990. [1] Walker studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he completed a Master of Science degree in political sociology. [2]

Career

Walker joined Novara Media as a presenter and contributing editor. He hosts Novara Live, the organisation's regular live-streamed news and political commentary programme on YouTube, which was previously known as TyskySour. [3] [1] [4] Under Walker's hosting, Novara Live has been described as "the most watched online daily news show in the UK", with Novara Media's YouTube channel accumulating over 240 million total views and 739,000 subscribers. [5]

While covering the Labour Party conference in Brighton in September 2017, Walker and another journalist from Novara Media were denied entry by Sussex Police. Reportedly refused press accreditation and barred from entering the event, Walker's exclusion was criticised by media freedom advocates including the Index on Censorship, which described it as an infringement on journalistic freedom. [6]

Walker has also written articles for publications including the New Statesman, [7] Jacobin, [8] and The Independent. [9]

Walker launched the podcast Crash Course with Michael Walker in November 2022, with the first season focusing on Britain's rental crisis. [10] The podcast, described as "A crash course into the issues essential for understanding the word today", has published 52 episodes with an average length of 43 minutes. [11] In October 2024, Walker announced that the podcast would be taking a break until the new year, with plans for a relaunch featuring "a more consistent format and schedule". [12]

Walker regularly appears on television news programmes and debates, including appearances on the BBC, Sky News, and Channel 5. He has appeared on GB News, where he has been known to challenge the network's editorial stance on-air. [13] He has also appeared on Piers Morgan's programmes, including Piers Morgan Uncensored . [14]

Views

Walker's political views have evolved over time. In a 2019 podcast interview, he explained that he had "moved away from anarchism" and now identifies as a "class war social democrat". Walker's political commentary consistently focuses on economic inequality and housing policy. He has argued that "the failure of the state to build homes is the biggest cause of the affordability crisis, not restrictive planning laws". [7]

Walker was a strong supporter of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party. In a 2019 appearance on BBC's This Week, Walker defended Corbyn's Brexit policy, arguing that Remainers had "struggled to get Leavers to back their campaign for a new EU referendum" and suggesting it was time Remainers "stopped blaming Corbyn for their own failings". [15] He has written analysis defending Corbyn's electoral performance, arguing in Jacobin that "it wasn't only the media that defeated Jeremy Corbyn" but also internal party divisions. [8]

During an appearance on GB News in October 2023, Walker questioned the exclusive labelling of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, stating: "Only if we apply the same term to the Israeli government." He argued that "there are extremists on both sides," cautioning against asymmetric moral framing. The comments prompted a fierce reaction from Kelvin MacKenzie, who denounced them as "an absolute shocker." [13]

Recognition and nominations

In 2025, Walker was nominated alongside Ash Sarkar for the Amnesty International UK Media Awards' inaugural "People's Choice Award", recognising their work on Novara Live. The nomination was made by Amnesty supporters who described their work as "informative, balanced and heroic" and praised their "commitment to independent, truthful journalism". The award was established to give the public the opportunity to vote for the UK journalist they believed had made an outstanding contribution to human rights reporting over the past year. [16] [17]

Personal life

Walker is gay. [18] In a 2017 New Statesman profile, he described himself as an "activist first, journalist second" and a "class war social democrat". [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Chakelian, Anoosh (5 August 2021). ""Luxury communism now!" The rise of the pro-Corbyn media". New Statesman . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  2. ↑ "Michael Walker". Jacobin . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Tobitt, Charlotte (30 September 2022). "Youtube reinstates Novara Media channel after removing it 'without warning or explanation'". Press Gazette . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  4. ↑ Satariano, Adam (28 October 2021). "How a Mistake by YouTube Shows Its Power Over Media". The New York Times . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "Novara Media YouTube Channel Statistics". Social Blade. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Mapping Media Freedom annual report 2017". Index on Censorship. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  7. 1 2 Walker, Michael (6 December 2022). "Why is my rent so high?". New Statesman . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  8. 1 2 Walker, Michael (February 2020). "It Wasn't Only the Media That Defeated Jeremy Corbyn". Jacobin . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Walker, Michael (17 May 2019). "Brexit makes Labour look shifty and dull. This is how Momentum's policy blitz can reboot Corbynism". The Independent . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  10. ↑ "Michael Walker". Podchaser. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "Crash Course With Michael Walker". Apple Podcasts . Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Walker, Michael (20 October 2024). "Taking a break". Patreon . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  13. 1 2 Chapman, Ben (31 October 2023). "Kelvin MacKenzie rages at guest who claims Israel is guilty of terrorism". GB News. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Piers Morgan grills anti-Israel activists on Eurovision boycott ethics | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post . 17 May 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  15. ↑ Walker, Michael (8 February 2019). Brexit: Michael Walker on Labour's EU referendum policy (Video). Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Amnesty Media Awards: Public vote for new 'People's Choice Award' launches today". Amnesty International UK . 7 May 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "Amnesty nominee Michael Walker under fire for October 7 post". The Jewish Chronicle . 22 July 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  18. ↑ Michael Walker [@michaeljswalker] (5 April 2020). "I'm gay!" (Tweet). Retrieved 31 August 2025– via Twitter.
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