Peter Foster
@pmdfoster.bsky.social
Brighton-dwelling World Trade Editor at the Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/peter-foster
Sometime Brexit nerd & author of 'What Went Wrong with Brexit' https://t.co/VsIipD7JBr
https://www.ft.com/peter-foster
Sometime Brexit nerd & author of 'What Went Wrong with Brexit' https://t.co/VsIipD7JBr
This is a lot of ‘fun’🙈 — which is to say, genius illumination of fiscal drag effects. Dragging stealth tax out of the shadows, into the light.
New: 'Shark's fin' chart reveals the uneven impact of 'fiscal drag', the stealth tax beloved of recent chancellors. Plus use our interactive calculator to see how fresh freezes announced by Rachel Reeves at todays Budget could affect you on.ft.com/3KqOYUL
November 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
This is a lot of ‘fun’🙈 — which is to say, genius illumination of fiscal drag effects. Dragging stealth tax out of the shadows, into the light.
Reposted by Peter Foster
New: 'Shark's fin' chart reveals the uneven impact of 'fiscal drag', the stealth tax beloved of recent chancellors. Plus use our interactive calculator to see how fresh freezes announced by Rachel Reeves at todays Budget could affect you on.ft.com/3KqOYUL
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 AM
New: 'Shark's fin' chart reveals the uneven impact of 'fiscal drag', the stealth tax beloved of recent chancellors. Plus use our interactive calculator to see how fresh freezes announced by Rachel Reeves at todays Budget could affect you on.ft.com/3KqOYUL
Reposted by Peter Foster
Lords Heseltine & Kinnock seem more alive to these self-evident truths than most members of the Commons. Similarly, I find thinkers with direct lived experience of far right dictatorship, Greeks of a certain age for example, crystal clear about what’s happening now.
“You described Reform and other parties across Europe today as among the 'right wing equivalents of the fascists in the 1930s'. Why?”
“Because that’s what they are”
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference.
#Newsnight
“Because that’s what they are”
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference.
#Newsnight
October 8, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Lords Heseltine & Kinnock seem more alive to these self-evident truths than most members of the Commons. Similarly, I find thinkers with direct lived experience of far right dictatorship, Greeks of a certain age for example, crystal clear about what’s happening now.
AI pushers talk about it "augmenting" capacity, but that ignores human nature. Why walk or bike, when you can drive? It's easier, so most of us do, but you get fat & lazy. AI will do the same to a lot of people's brains, I fear. Via @financialtimes.com piece on AI habits
ig.ft.com/ai-personal-...
ig.ft.com/ai-personal-...
October 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
AI pushers talk about it "augmenting" capacity, but that ignores human nature. Why walk or bike, when you can drive? It's easier, so most of us do, but you get fat & lazy. AI will do the same to a lot of people's brains, I fear. Via @financialtimes.com piece on AI habits
ig.ft.com/ai-personal-...
ig.ft.com/ai-personal-...
Reposted by Peter Foster
WTO clings to signs Donald Trump still needs it — sometimes—While the US President’s unilateral tariffs have ridden roughshod over the WTO’s core principle of reciprocity in trade, diplomats argue… www.ft.com/content/15a9... @pmdfoster.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
WTO clings to signs Donald Trump still needs it — sometimes
US takes ‘à la carte’ approach to global trade body, suggesting it has not completely turned its back on rules-based order
www.ft.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:00 AM
WTO clings to signs Donald Trump still needs it — sometimes—While the US President’s unilateral tariffs have ridden roughshod over the WTO’s core principle of reciprocity in trade, diplomats argue… www.ft.com/content/15a9... @pmdfoster.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
Brutal BBC piece on how fast Switzerland’s glaciers are melting.
Drill baby drill. 🎶🎵
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Drill baby drill. 🎶🎵
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
October 5, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Brutal BBC piece on how fast Switzerland’s glaciers are melting.
Drill baby drill. 🎶🎵
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Drill baby drill. 🎶🎵
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Magnificent peroration to Simon Schama’s @financialtimes.com weekend essay on defending freedom of speech in the era of Trump - with help from Milton, Jefferson et al.
on.ft.com/4gSqvDw Simon Schama: What America’s Founders can teach Trump about liberty
on.ft.com/4gSqvDw Simon Schama: What America’s Founders can teach Trump about liberty
October 4, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Magnificent peroration to Simon Schama’s @financialtimes.com weekend essay on defending freedom of speech in the era of Trump - with help from Milton, Jefferson et al.
on.ft.com/4gSqvDw Simon Schama: What America’s Founders can teach Trump about liberty
on.ft.com/4gSqvDw Simon Schama: What America’s Founders can teach Trump about liberty
Living. Working. Paying taxes. Contributing. This is a desperately poor editorial.
The Times finds it "unacceptable" that people who came here legally in 2021 and have been living and working here since should allowed to stay.
The sad decline of a once great newspaper into ignorant xenophobia and casual racism
archive.ph/TFZY9
The sad decline of a once great newspaper into ignorant xenophobia and casual racism
archive.ph/TFZY9
October 2, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Living. Working. Paying taxes. Contributing. This is a desperately poor editorial.
Reposted by Peter Foster
The Times finds it "unacceptable" that people who came here legally in 2021 and have been living and working here since should allowed to stay.
The sad decline of a once great newspaper into ignorant xenophobia and casual racism
archive.ph/TFZY9
The sad decline of a once great newspaper into ignorant xenophobia and casual racism
archive.ph/TFZY9
October 2, 2025 at 8:51 AM
The Times finds it "unacceptable" that people who came here legally in 2021 and have been living and working here since should allowed to stay.
The sad decline of a once great newspaper into ignorant xenophobia and casual racism
archive.ph/TFZY9
The sad decline of a once great newspaper into ignorant xenophobia and casual racism
archive.ph/TFZY9
Brutal new MRP poll out today showing Reform at 311 and Labour support collapsing.
Worth reading steaming @financialtimes.com column on Starmer by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
“Starmer can’t afford to wait for reckless Reform to implode”
on.ft.com/3VxxCaR
Worth reading steaming @financialtimes.com column on Starmer by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
“Starmer can’t afford to wait for reckless Reform to implode”
on.ft.com/3VxxCaR
September 26, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Brutal new MRP poll out today showing Reform at 311 and Labour support collapsing.
Worth reading steaming @financialtimes.com column on Starmer by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
“Starmer can’t afford to wait for reckless Reform to implode”
on.ft.com/3VxxCaR
Worth reading steaming @financialtimes.com column on Starmer by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
“Starmer can’t afford to wait for reckless Reform to implode”
on.ft.com/3VxxCaR
Reposted by Peter Foster
Financing infrastructure without unnerving the bond market @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social @tonytassell.bsky.social @pickardje.bsky.social @marymcd.bsky.social @pmdfoster.bsky.social @greenmirandahere.bsky.social
My latest @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk piece on how the Chancellor can finance the next wave of infrastructure without unnerving the bond market. The Chancellor’s attempt to increase capital investment resulted in a negative reaction from the bond market. As www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/financi...
Financing infrastructure without unnerving the bond market - Bennett School of Public Policy
The Chancellor’s attempt to increase capital investment in her first budget resulted in a negative reaction from the bond market. As growth slows, the Chancellor needs to fundamentally rethink her app...
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk
September 23, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Financing infrastructure without unnerving the bond market @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social @tonytassell.bsky.social @pickardje.bsky.social @marymcd.bsky.social @pmdfoster.bsky.social @greenmirandahere.bsky.social
Reposted by Peter Foster
'Tylenol' is known in the civilised world as Paracetamol
2.4 million children born in Sweden between 1995 and 2019. Studied 186,000 children whose mothers were treated with paracetamol during pregnancy.
news.ki.se/no-link-betw...
2.4 million children born in Sweden between 1995 and 2019. Studied 186,000 children whose mothers were treated with paracetamol during pregnancy.
news.ki.se/no-link-betw...
No link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children
In the largest epidemiologic study to date of the risk of giving birth to a child with autism, ADHD or intellectual disability following acetaminophen use during pregnancy, researchers found no associ...
news.ki.se
September 22, 2025 at 9:05 AM
'Tylenol' is known in the civilised world as Paracetamol
2.4 million children born in Sweden between 1995 and 2019. Studied 186,000 children whose mothers were treated with paracetamol during pregnancy.
news.ki.se/no-link-betw...
2.4 million children born in Sweden between 1995 and 2019. Studied 186,000 children whose mothers were treated with paracetamol during pregnancy.
news.ki.se/no-link-betw...
Reposted by Peter Foster
I use this graph a lot.
September 23, 2025 at 6:39 AM
I use this graph a lot.
Reposted by Peter Foster
I see the CPS is desperately trying to repair the damage.
The claim that their clear errors were down to "changes in definitions" is a lie. Journalists should treat any new estimates with appropriate scepticism.
archive.ph/JSo7O#select...
The claim that their clear errors were down to "changes in definitions" is a lie. Journalists should treat any new estimates with appropriate scepticism.
archive.ph/JSo7O#select...
September 23, 2025 at 6:46 AM
I see the CPS is desperately trying to repair the damage.
The claim that their clear errors were down to "changes in definitions" is a lie. Journalists should treat any new estimates with appropriate scepticism.
archive.ph/JSo7O#select...
The claim that their clear errors were down to "changes in definitions" is a lie. Journalists should treat any new estimates with appropriate scepticism.
archive.ph/JSo7O#select...
The data is in -- tourism to US dropped after Trump came in, while tourism recovered in rest of world...foreign arrivals at American airports down 3.8% compared with 2024, or 1.3m fewer people. With more Americans going the other way. See charts via @economist.com
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
September 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The data is in -- tourism to US dropped after Trump came in, while tourism recovered in rest of world...foreign arrivals at American airports down 3.8% compared with 2024, or 1.3m fewer people. With more Americans going the other way. See charts via @economist.com
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
To even allow the appearance of this — Starmer’s No 10 adopting Trumpian media management policies — seems extraordinary to me. Very depressing.
September 18, 2025 at 11:35 AM
To even allow the appearance of this — Starmer’s No 10 adopting Trumpian media management policies — seems extraordinary to me. Very depressing.
Passion from WTO founder James Bacchus at @wto.org panel on “The WTO without the United States?”
“I have a message for 165 of the 166 members of the WTO: ‘stop letting the United States of America push you around. Stand up for your rights under the WTO treaty’. …’use it or lose it’”
Cue applause.
“I have a message for 165 of the 166 members of the WTO: ‘stop letting the United States of America push you around. Stand up for your rights under the WTO treaty’. …’use it or lose it’”
Cue applause.
September 18, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Passion from WTO founder James Bacchus at @wto.org panel on “The WTO without the United States?”
“I have a message for 165 of the 166 members of the WTO: ‘stop letting the United States of America push you around. Stand up for your rights under the WTO treaty’. …’use it or lose it’”
Cue applause.
“I have a message for 165 of the 166 members of the WTO: ‘stop letting the United States of America push you around. Stand up for your rights under the WTO treaty’. …’use it or lose it’”
Cue applause.
on.ft.com/4nhvSyM NEW: Trump tariffs on EU medical devices will drive up US patient bills, industry claims
…with a very testy White House response, which usually means they’re worried about it.
Me and @judewebber.bsky.social for @financialtimes.com
…with a very testy White House response, which usually means they’re worried about it.
Me and @judewebber.bsky.social for @financialtimes.com
September 18, 2025 at 7:08 AM
on.ft.com/4nhvSyM NEW: Trump tariffs on EU medical devices will drive up US patient bills, industry claims
…with a very testy White House response, which usually means they’re worried about it.
Me and @judewebber.bsky.social for @financialtimes.com
…with a very testy White House response, which usually means they’re worried about it.
Me and @judewebber.bsky.social for @financialtimes.com
Spending a couple of days at the @wto.org in Geneva taking the pulse at the annual Public Forum — the “Woodstock of world trade” as one rather enthusiastic participant put it.
Lots of jokes about whether WTO even has a pulse these days.
Might be on life support, but not dead quite yet…
Lots of jokes about whether WTO even has a pulse these days.
Might be on life support, but not dead quite yet…
September 18, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Spending a couple of days at the @wto.org in Geneva taking the pulse at the annual Public Forum — the “Woodstock of world trade” as one rather enthusiastic participant put it.
Lots of jokes about whether WTO even has a pulse these days.
Might be on life support, but not dead quite yet…
Lots of jokes about whether WTO even has a pulse these days.
Might be on life support, but not dead quite yet…
Tariff exemptions to follow? 😏
September 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Tariff exemptions to follow? 😏
Reposted by Peter Foster
Even Trump has had to walk back on this a bit, but the wider point as we've seen before is that raising barriers harms investment because companies need access to imports and skills. There's no new economic paradigm being created in the US.
Something folks are missing here: this raid wasn’t about “illegals taking American jobs.” It was about ICE storming the Hyundai–LG battery plant in Georgia, part of a $7.6B Metaplant project that isn’t even operational yet.
🧵
🧵
September 8, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Even Trump has had to walk back on this a bit, but the wider point as we've seen before is that raising barriers harms investment because companies need access to imports and skills. There's no new economic paradigm being created in the US.
The data that shows the internet removes guardrails and fuels populism — it’s either the unfiltered “will of the people” or digital mob rule. Take your pick.
Grabs from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com piece here:
on.ft.com/45WUaGw The end of the gatekeepers
Grabs from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com piece here:
on.ft.com/45WUaGw The end of the gatekeepers
September 5, 2025 at 11:01 AM
The data that shows the internet removes guardrails and fuels populism — it’s either the unfiltered “will of the people” or digital mob rule. Take your pick.
Grabs from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com piece here:
on.ft.com/45WUaGw The end of the gatekeepers
Grabs from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com piece here:
on.ft.com/45WUaGw The end of the gatekeepers
Reposted by Peter Foster
What stood out to me from Richard Tice’s interview on #BBCR4Today was his praise of the economic policies of… George Osborne.
I wonder if that stood out for @nadinedorries.bsky.social too?
I wonder if that stood out for @nadinedorries.bsky.social too?
September 5, 2025 at 7:32 AM
What stood out to me from Richard Tice’s interview on #BBCR4Today was his praise of the economic policies of… George Osborne.
I wonder if that stood out for @nadinedorries.bsky.social too?
I wonder if that stood out for @nadinedorries.bsky.social too?
Indeed: the populists do make people poorer, but then they blame anyone but themselves: immigrants, unions, foreign wars etc.
Poor people are disgruntled.
Ripe for exploitation by populists.
Rinse and repeat. (As we’re seeing now)
Poor people are disgruntled.
Ripe for exploitation by populists.
Rinse and repeat. (As we’re seeing now)
As we prepare for the next tidal wave of nonsense around Reform in the UK, two points should stand out as the core rebuttal
- economic issues the UK faces are the same as many other countries
- populist right policies have made those issues worse
- economic issues the UK faces are the same as many other countries
- populist right policies have made those issues worse
Honking endorsement for Farage, Johnson et la, without a moment’s reflection that 10 years of UKIPified Tory govt created the mess they’re railing about — booming benefits bills, bond market routs, immigration surges, trade slump and investment slumps. Bring back Boris and Nadine! That’ll fix it. 🙈
September 5, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Indeed: the populists do make people poorer, but then they blame anyone but themselves: immigrants, unions, foreign wars etc.
Poor people are disgruntled.
Ripe for exploitation by populists.
Rinse and repeat. (As we’re seeing now)
Poor people are disgruntled.
Ripe for exploitation by populists.
Rinse and repeat. (As we’re seeing now)
Reposted by Peter Foster
As we prepare for the next tidal wave of nonsense around Reform in the UK, two points should stand out as the core rebuttal
- economic issues the UK faces are the same as many other countries
- populist right policies have made those issues worse
- economic issues the UK faces are the same as many other countries
- populist right policies have made those issues worse
Honking endorsement for Farage, Johnson et la, without a moment’s reflection that 10 years of UKIPified Tory govt created the mess they’re railing about — booming benefits bills, bond market routs, immigration surges, trade slump and investment slumps. Bring back Boris and Nadine! That’ll fix it. 🙈
September 5, 2025 at 6:44 AM
As we prepare for the next tidal wave of nonsense around Reform in the UK, two points should stand out as the core rebuttal
- economic issues the UK faces are the same as many other countries
- populist right policies have made those issues worse
- economic issues the UK faces are the same as many other countries
- populist right policies have made those issues worse