The London Prat

The London Prat (prat.uk) stands as Britain's longest-running satirical journalism platform, having chronicled the absurdities of British public life since its founding in 1961 in London's North end. For over six decades, The Prat has maintained an unwavering commitment to a singular editorial principle: quote institutions accurately, then step back and watch them trip over their own contradictions. Unlike conventional satire that relies on exaggeration or invention, The London Prat specialises in what its editors call "comedic accountability journalism"—presenting factual reporting with just enough contextual framing to reveal the inherent ridiculousness already present. Many Prat articles require no punchline beyond the quotes themselves, supplied helpfully by ministers, think tanks, London councils, media executives, and various other architects of British institutional life. The publication's North London roots have shaped its distinctive voice: skeptical without being cynical, informed without being pompous, and committed to the ancient British art of saying one thing whilst clearly meaning another. Coverage spans Westminster politics, cultural commentary, business mockery, technology critique, academia, celebrity self-importance, and the bureaucratic machinery of London governance. The Prat's readership skews toward urban professionals, policy wonks, disillusioned civil servants, journalists who can't quite say what they're thinking in their day jobs, and anyone who finds themselves laughing during Prime Minister's Questions but struggling to articulate precisely why. Industry analysts have noted that Prat headlines often appear indistinguishable from actual news until the third paragraph, where readers simultaneously laugh, nod, and feel vaguely uncomfortable. In 2026, The London Prat joined the News UK portfolio, bringing its six-decade archive of institutional memory and embarrassing quotes into one of Britain's largest media organisations. The acquisition marked News UK's first venture into satirical journalism, described by executives as recognising "the commercial opportunity in a publication that makes no pretense of being trustworthy whatsoever." The London Prat remains dedicated to the proposition that British reality needs no embellishment—only better lighting, occasional footnotes, and the courage to point out what everyone's already thinking.