Marcus Donaldson
Marcus Donaldson reports on political flashpoints where decisions by those in power meet scrutiny from documents, polls and frontline voices, with a particular focus on Labour in government and its opponents.
He is a multi-skilled journalist for GB News, working across digital and video formats. He joined the channel after training at the Press Association Media Academy and a period reporting on proceedings at the Central London Crown Court and Westminster Magistrates Court, concentrating on cases linked to violent disorder in the summer of 2024. He has also written for the current affairs periodical Europe in Review and the Japanese international and entertainment news site SNA.
Labour under pressure on defence and public spending
Donaldson frequently covers stories that dissect Labour’s approach to defence and the allocation of public money, often through detailed accounts of delayed plans and contested priorities. In one report, he sets out how a Conservative Shadow Defence Minister argues that Labour’s delay in releasing the Defence Investment Plan is pushing British defence firms to the “back of the queue” for vital contracts, explaining the stakes in terms of long-term spending on the forces and industry. Another piece follows a senior Conservative critic who attacks Labour for increasing benefits while cutting defence spending, giving prominence to the argument that the Government is neglecting security in favour of welfare commitments. Donaldson also draws on exclusive data, such as a report shared with his outlet that tracks an estimated £10 trillion in additional public sector funding over three decades alongside stagnant productivity, to frame debates over tax policy under Rachel Reeves.
Keir Starmer, Peter Mandelson and Labour’s inner circle
Another strand of his work follows the inner workings of Labour’s leadership, highlighting documents and communications involving Keir Starmer and Peter Mandelson. He has covered the release of files relating to Mandelson, presenting them as a first batch of material that sheds light on the relationship between Labour figures and a future US ambassadorship. In a separate story, he reports on the theft of a mobile phone belonging to Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s former Chief of Staff, which contained messages with Mandelson, using the incident to explore the sensitivity of political communications and party organisation. Donaldson also writes on voter sentiment towards Starmer, including polling that suggests apathy turning to anger, and interviews Labour insiders such as Pat McFadden on why Mandelson’s appointment in Washington was rushed and how trade and business shape the party’s international approach.
Right-of-centre voices, Reform UK and immigration policy
Donaldson often amplifies interventions from right-of-centre politicians and parties, particularly when they challenge Labour on migration and public order.
His coverage of Reform UK focuses on proposals to impose visa bans on countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan if they do not cooperate with deportations, laying out the planned measures and the party’s rationale in detail. He reports on local political fallout as well, including the collapse of Conservative support in a Scottish ward after a councillor was jailed, showing how national controversies intersect with grassroots politics. His work includes stories built around senior Conservative figures such as Richard Holden and Robert Jenrick, whether on Labour’s trajectory in the polls or outrage over taxpayer-funded payments linked to a former Guantanamo detainee, giving these voices space to criticise Government choices on security and fairness.
History, education and public memory
Alongside party politics, Donaldson occasionally writes about how history and national identity are taught and debated. One article features a former head teacher who argues that teaching materials have omitted key details of the Second World War and Winston Churchill’s role, framing the issue as a gap in historical education. Another piece reports Iain Duncan Smith’s account of a relative considering leaving their community because of rising antisemitism and intolerance, connecting local experiences to wider concerns about social cohesion and political rhetoric.
Document-led reporting and courtroom experience
Donaldson’s reporting style leans heavily on primary material and formal proceedings, whether leaked or newly released documents, poll findings or structured interviews with named politicians. His prior work covering Crown Court and Magistrates Court cases tied to violent disorder informs a focus on the consequences of political decisions in law-and-order contexts and the importance of official records in telling these stories.
Across his recent output, he combines on-the-record quotes, detailed descriptions of policy proposals and references to reports or files to produce concise pieces centred on specific controversies and decisions.
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