Stephen Bush
@stephenkb.bsky.social
Associate editor and columnist @financialtimes.com. Post too often about culture, public policy, management, politics, nerd stuff, Arsenal, wosoc. Try my UK politics newsletter for free here: www.ft.com/tryinsidepolitics
Pinned
Stephen Bush
@stephenkb.bsky.social
· Feb 22
I sat through that so when my column gets factchecked I can say “yes, that line is accurate”. Such is the FT’s commitment to bringing you our best understanding of the truth. Subscribe here: subs.ft.com/products
Reposted by Stephen Bush
So one of the great fantasy literature ironies is that Martin rags on Tolkien about tax policy and military structure but his is just as flimsy if not worse
I’m half tempted to say the only Iron Throne contender who was a competent administrator was Margeary.
February 5, 2026 at 9:45 PM
So one of the great fantasy literature ironies is that Martin rags on Tolkien about tax policy and military structure but his is just as flimsy if not worse
I like how her complaint is just "yeah, I admit that I in fact *did* the thing I'm being fined for, I just disagree with it".
![“I was in the car park twice within one hour. I think the policy at the time was no return within [four] hours. That’s ridiculous for a place with five shops. If you forget something, you go back. I wasn’t trying to exploit the car park and go to the beach or something.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xbnsfdtxoothg654ujxe3p25/bafkreibvknl3fa4cuodmwtd52wop2adpkpdmengy3uargzhmh25erje5bq@jpeg)
February 5, 2026 at 11:41 PM
I like how her complaint is just "yeah, I admit that I in fact *did* the thing I'm being fined for, I just disagree with it".
Reposted by Stephen Bush
this is such a weird story:
An influential Labour-aligned think-tank previously run by Morgan McSweeney, now Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, paid a public affairs company to identify the source of leaks to journalists about the group’s funding.
www.ft.com/content/dca0...
An influential Labour-aligned think-tank previously run by Morgan McSweeney, now Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, paid a public affairs company to identify the source of leaks to journalists about the group’s funding.
www.ft.com/content/dca0...
UK think-tank close to Labour paid firm to identify source of leaks to media
Labour Together, previously run by Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, commissioned APCO Worldwide
www.ft.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:19 PM
this is such a weird story:
An influential Labour-aligned think-tank previously run by Morgan McSweeney, now Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, paid a public affairs company to identify the source of leaks to journalists about the group’s funding.
www.ft.com/content/dca0...
An influential Labour-aligned think-tank previously run by Morgan McSweeney, now Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, paid a public affairs company to identify the source of leaks to journalists about the group’s funding.
www.ft.com/content/dca0...
The blunt truth is that if Karen Pierce had been a man, then she would still be US ambassador now and Keir Starmer's government would not be on the brink of death.
February 5, 2026 at 11:16 PM
The blunt truth is that if Karen Pierce had been a man, then she would still be US ambassador now and Keir Starmer's government would not be on the brink of death.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
My read tonight including what I think is an growing belief among the 2024 intake that none of current options for leadership are up to it, and they are starting to look among their own ranks
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘If someone had pulled the trigger’: MPs rue lack of challenger to oust Starmer
PM clings to power after a day when Commons mutiny filled the air, as fallout over Mandelson appointment continues
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:52 PM
My read tonight including what I think is an growing belief among the 2024 intake that none of current options for leadership are up to it, and they are starting to look among their own ranks
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
My economic anxiety!
Immigration salience in the Jan 2026 Ipsos issues index
Most affluent areas (least deprived): 47%
2nd most affluent: 38%
3rd (middle) quintile: 44%
2nd most deprived: 38%
Most deprived quintile: 44%
Most affluent areas (least deprived): 47%
2nd most affluent: 38%
3rd (middle) quintile: 44%
2nd most deprived: 38%
Most deprived quintile: 44%
February 5, 2026 at 10:04 PM
My economic anxiety!
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Helena Kennedy QC made a similar very astute comment tonight on Sky News, saying “on listening to the PM’s answers to journalists questions, what struck me was his constant use of the phrase “my team” not “I” in terms of vetting, interviewing, scrutinising Mandelson’s apt“.
February 5, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Helena Kennedy QC made a similar very astute comment tonight on Sky News, saying “on listening to the PM’s answers to journalists questions, what struck me was his constant use of the phrase “my team” not “I” in terms of vetting, interviewing, scrutinising Mandelson’s apt“.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
This is also why I’m baffled at the Al Cairns speculation.
We’ve just seen what happens when you make someone with a great pre-politics CV (but little to no political experience) Prime Minister.
We’ve just seen what happens when you make someone with a great pre-politics CV (but little to no political experience) Prime Minister.
February 5, 2026 at 9:46 PM
This is also why I’m baffled at the Al Cairns speculation.
We’ve just seen what happens when you make someone with a great pre-politics CV (but little to no political experience) Prime Minister.
We’ve just seen what happens when you make someone with a great pre-politics CV (but little to no political experience) Prime Minister.
Absolutely brilliant column by @patrickmaguire.bsky.social: every word of it true:
Keir Starmer’s hollowness is clear for all to see
The PM’s distaste for politics means he has outsourced every significant decision and now finds he’s left to pay the bill
www.thetimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Absolutely brilliant column by @patrickmaguire.bsky.social: every word of it true:
One of the things I never understood about Lisan al Gaib was his obsession with the importance of Labour being “a party of the future”. Now I realise that Tony’s neophillia is the only way to push back against Labour’s hankering for a past when men were men, women were women, and Labour always lost.
Who is Paul Ovenden and how did such a nationalist reactionary end up in a serious position in a Labour government? Just reading his article for last week's New Statesman, and it reveals a level of ignorance about the world that is dismal if unsurprising.
February 5, 2026 at 9:07 PM
One of the things I never understood about Lisan al Gaib was his obsession with the importance of Labour being “a party of the future”. Now I realise that Tony’s neophillia is the only way to push back against Labour’s hankering for a past when men were men, women were women, and Labour always lost.
This one is quite disappointing in that the actual answer in this case (“the person replying is a crashing bore”) feels like it should be an illegal move.
Bluesky is like those word ladders you get in newspaper crossword sections. This is literally how your post appeared on my feed, like "Can you get from CUTE DOG to FASCISM in only 14 reply rungs?"
February 5, 2026 at 9:01 PM
This one is quite disappointing in that the actual answer in this case (“the person replying is a crashing bore”) feels like it should be an illegal move.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
this, to me, is blueskyism
Bluesky is like those word ladders you get in newspaper crossword sections. This is literally how your post appeared on my feed, like "Can you get from CUTE DOG to FASCISM in only 14 reply rungs?"
February 5, 2026 at 5:46 PM
this, to me, is blueskyism
Reposted by Stephen Bush
🔴 BREAKING: Labour Together paid controversial PR firm £30k to investigate journalists who were digging into how its undeclared funding
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
BREAKING: McSweeney’s think tank paid PR firm to investigate journalists
Labour Together put private investigators onto journalists writing about its funding. Starmer's right-hand man knew.
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:01 PM
🔴 BREAKING: Labour Together paid controversial PR firm £30k to investigate journalists who were digging into how its undeclared funding
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
You have to laugh really.
Trump rows back his criticism of UK’s Chagos Islands deal
But US president says he retains right to ‘militarily secure’ American base on Diego Garcia
www.ft.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:56 PM
You have to laugh really.
Enjoyable poll finding. c25 per cent of people have an unfavourable opinion of of Keir Starmer’s performance as prime minister but think he should stay as prime minister.
February 5, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Enjoyable poll finding. c25 per cent of people have an unfavourable opinion of of Keir Starmer’s performance as prime minister but think he should stay as prime minister.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Choice of books in years 7 & 8 had a big influence on my kids love of reading. Specifically it completely squashed it.
I don't know who chose them, or the additional reading list the school sent, but they were all very... weepy isn't quite the right word. Heavy on loss and having a difficult time.
I don't know who chose them, or the additional reading list the school sent, but they were all very... weepy isn't quite the right word. Heavy on loss and having a difficult time.
February 5, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Choice of books in years 7 & 8 had a big influence on my kids love of reading. Specifically it completely squashed it.
I don't know who chose them, or the additional reading list the school sent, but they were all very... weepy isn't quite the right word. Heavy on loss and having a difficult time.
I don't know who chose them, or the additional reading list the school sent, but they were all very... weepy isn't quite the right word. Heavy on loss and having a difficult time.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
An Inspector Calls is absolutely tailor made for "here are Themes (tm) to discuss", but is absolutely dire. Im not sure its should necessarily be excluded from classrooms, but I cant see any reason to perform or watch it *except* for an exam.
February 5, 2026 at 4:26 PM
An Inspector Calls is absolutely tailor made for "here are Themes (tm) to discuss", but is absolutely dire. Im not sure its should necessarily be excluded from classrooms, but I cant see any reason to perform or watch it *except* for an exam.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
I quite like how half the country has read that and the other half the great gatsby depending on which English class they were in
February 5, 2026 at 4:26 PM
I quite like how half the country has read that and the other half the great gatsby depending on which English class they were in
Reposted by Stephen Bush
See also: Of Mice and Men
February 5, 2026 at 4:18 PM
See also: Of Mice and Men
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Distinguished man to Sir Thomas Beecham. ‘I believed you conducted before my brother recently.’
Beecham, who has no idea: ‘ah yes and how is your brother?’
Distinguished man: ‘oh, still King.’
Beecham, who has no idea: ‘ah yes and how is your brother?’
Distinguished man: ‘oh, still King.’
February 5, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Distinguished man to Sir Thomas Beecham. ‘I believed you conducted before my brother recently.’
Beecham, who has no idea: ‘ah yes and how is your brother?’
Distinguished man: ‘oh, still King.’
Beecham, who has no idea: ‘ah yes and how is your brother?’
Distinguished man: ‘oh, still King.’
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Know you are not a Tennessee Williams fan anyway but if you are going to teach him, probably not Streetcar.
February 5, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Know you are not a Tennessee Williams fan anyway but if you are going to teach him, probably not Streetcar.
This is a fun game - good summary here of why while I love Much Ado About Nothing it is incredibly high up my list of 'plays that absolutely should not be taught in school'. (In English. As theatre, fine)
Trying to think what the other 'god don't try and *teach* that' classics are for me.
Trying to think what the other 'god don't try and *teach* that' classics are for me.
Less of a fan of Much Ado About Nothing because we did it at school and B&B insist upon themselves especially when you have to read their stuff a lot.
February 5, 2026 at 4:05 PM
This is a fun game - good summary here of why while I love Much Ado About Nothing it is incredibly high up my list of 'plays that absolutely should not be taught in school'. (In English. As theatre, fine)
Trying to think what the other 'god don't try and *teach* that' classics are for me.
Trying to think what the other 'god don't try and *teach* that' classics are for me.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
For anyone having a bad day: have you seen the bitcoin price?
February 5, 2026 at 3:53 PM
For anyone having a bad day: have you seen the bitcoin price?
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Had the same problem when I worked opposite Talkback Thames.
Would pop out for lunch and only just avoid eternal embarrassment thanks to my brain intervening, at the last second, with 'no he's not someone you know. He's Jeremy Irons.'
Would pop out for lunch and only just avoid eternal embarrassment thanks to my brain intervening, at the last second, with 'no he's not someone you know. He's Jeremy Irons.'
February 5, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Had the same problem when I worked opposite Talkback Thames.
Would pop out for lunch and only just avoid eternal embarrassment thanks to my brain intervening, at the last second, with 'no he's not someone you know. He's Jeremy Irons.'
Would pop out for lunch and only just avoid eternal embarrassment thanks to my brain intervening, at the last second, with 'no he's not someone you know. He's Jeremy Irons.'
Reposted by Stephen Bush
My mum did this to David Harewood about 10 years ago and I don't think she's recovered yet
February 5, 2026 at 3:22 PM
My mum did this to David Harewood about 10 years ago and I don't think she's recovered yet