Marina Hyde backs J K Rowling for PM

[Secretsquirrelshh]

Marina Hyde in the Guardian today is asked who she would choose for Prime Minister. Her answer (and an excellent idea all-round) is J K Rowling.

A nod, perhaps, to Hyde's opinion on current issues - and as far as I'm aware, she hasn't entered the debate previously.

And this in The Grauniad too!

Lord, I wouldn't wish the PM-ship on JK.

What has she done to deserve that punishment?

Oh dear, Marina is about to feel some wrath.

I laughed at a headline the other day that said something like choosing to watch the new HBO HP was a moral failing or words to that effect. People are completely mad.

I knew she was one of us!

Here’s the link so you don’t have to waste 5 seconds of your life Googling it.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/05/marina-hyde-guardian-columnist-answers-readers-questions

I think JKR is great but she'd make a terrible PM. She might do OK as a benign dictator/absolute monarch whereby shexoukd just issue commands and require civil servants to enact policies without all that messy democracy, because generaly she knows what the right decisions are and can just make them without pandering to people who disagree with her. A PM doesn't have that power. A PM has to hold the confidence of the house and she can only do the job if every time she says "we need to jump that way, this high" the house of commons will, after a suitable period to discuss it, agree and vote to do exactly that. It's a difficult job and hasn't been done reliably and competently for a while but I don't agree that JKR has what it takes to be that kind of unifying force.

Pretty sure that the suggestion isn't meant to be taken that seriously.

Agreed. I see it as her way of saying where she stands on A Certain Issue without actually saying where she stands on said issue.

Yes I think so. She didn't elucidate at all so she can laugh off any criticism saying it was clearly a joke and she doesn't actually want to give the job to JKR.

Tell me you're a TERF without telling me you're a TERF!

Yes, exactly.

Can we hope that it’s a sign of the times that (a) she was prepared to say it - for she will not be unaware of the ramifications - and (b) that the Graun published it?

Whether intentional or not, I read that answer in conjunction with her response to the question about what qualities she values in a person:

Compassion, tolerance, wisdom, kindness, bravery, strength of character. And GSOH.

That's excellent!

I'm hoping that she's sufficiently immersed in the world of popular culture to understand the situation backlash that she will get for this. I think that she'll be strong enough to withstand it.

I love Marina Hyde and knew she was a sensible one. She is probably what I miss most since I stopped reading the Guardian.

Archive link for anyone who doesn’t want to give the Graun any clicks:

https://archive.ph/uGXRa

(and for posterity, obvs)

Marina Hyde is smart and insightful. I would find it hard to believe that she doesn't t understand where JKR is coming from. I'm sure she has taken the time to read what JKR has actually said, rather than accept the "progressive" narrative that JKR hates trans people and wants them genocided.

Plus, like JKR, Marina doesn't mind daft people being gently mocked. Still, it's good to see her come out batting for JKR.

yep, love Marina. Lost in Showbiz was always my favourite bit of the Guardian back when I read it and it didn't fill me with despair. she's clever and interesting.

Another person here who has given up on the Guardian but still misses Marina Hyde - and I loved that article which I would not have seen otherwise, so thanks!

The JKR bullseye was great and I think the Twitter/Bluesky “comparison” was also relevant: still on Twitter even if not much used as social media in general is a massive time‑sink (true) but this “I hear Bluesky is truly ghastly, but have never visited” pleased me A LOT.

A good few other gems too but not directly relevant to the OP. But yeah, great article.

I knew she was a good ‘un!

You can still read Marina’s articles for free on the Guardian website. Her podcast with Richard Osman ‘The Rest is Entertainment’ is worth a listen even if they both prostitute themselves voicing breathy adverts for whatever is product of the week.

Wasn't she just being facetious? That's the problem with Marina Hyde. Her facetiousness becomes tedious.

good article too, and she's plugging her book which reminds me to put it on my list for payday

Honestly, I think she’s got her finger far too much on the pulse to just pull a name out of the air for the sake of a joke.

I liked Marina on the "Rest is Entertainment" podcast but had to stop listen to it as it was 50% adverts.

yeah, I spend half my time fast forwarding the ads. while I greatly admire their naked capitalism, the fact that it appears there is literally nothing they won't shill for is starting to get to me a bit