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
Marvellous and thought-provoking piece this on what the policy lessons for today from the period when cities grew at pace are:
Urban expansion in the age of liberalism
Many Victorian cities grew by tenfold in a century. Could ours ever do the same?
worksinprogress.co
February 4, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Marvellous and thought-provoking piece this on what the policy lessons for today from the period when cities grew at pace are:
Reposted by Stephen Bush
All to get this level of sparkling insight.
"remind the Lib Dems who got more votes" yeah I'm sure it hasn't occurred to either party to check that, great job Jeffrey
"why not let the Tories govern in a minority" a decision entirely in the gift of the Labour Party, yes
"remind the Lib Dems who got more votes" yeah I'm sure it hasn't occurred to either party to check that, great job Jeffrey
"why not let the Tories govern in a minority" a decision entirely in the gift of the Labour Party, yes
February 3, 2026 at 7:58 PM
All to get this level of sparkling insight.
"remind the Lib Dems who got more votes" yeah I'm sure it hasn't occurred to either party to check that, great job Jeffrey
"why not let the Tories govern in a minority" a decision entirely in the gift of the Labour Party, yes
"remind the Lib Dems who got more votes" yeah I'm sure it hasn't occurred to either party to check that, great job Jeffrey
"why not let the Tories govern in a minority" a decision entirely in the gift of the Labour Party, yes
Managing women's football teams on Football Manager is a lot more painful, because not renewing the contract of a 33-year old who has won titles for you six years in a row* hits differently when they're paid £120k a year.
*In this house, the NWSL Shield is the superior trophy.
*In this house, the NWSL Shield is the superior trophy.
February 4, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Managing women's football teams on Football Manager is a lot more painful, because not renewing the contract of a 33-year old who has won titles for you six years in a row* hits differently when they're paid £120k a year.
*In this house, the NWSL Shield is the superior trophy.
*In this house, the NWSL Shield is the superior trophy.
Even at the other end, where frankly everything that happens in the far away goal looks scary it did not look that scary.
February 4, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Even at the other end, where frankly everything that happens in the far away goal looks scary it did not look that scary.
Would have needed to do *something* to make nerves grow a bit, though.
February 4, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Would have needed to do *something* to make nerves grow a bit, though.
He's blocked me and also basically anyone who says anything other than 'UBI can cure cancer', so it lists as blocked for everyone.
February 4, 2026 at 12:09 AM
He's blocked me and also basically anyone who says anything other than 'UBI can cure cancer', so it lists as blocked for everyone.
If Rosenoir does that the Emirates in the league then he gets a point nine times out of ten, but he…needed a win? In a much more important game for them than the PL fixture.
February 3, 2026 at 11:38 PM
If Rosenoir does that the Emirates in the league then he gets a point nine times out of ten, but he…needed a win? In a much more important game for them than the PL fixture.
The thousand years to take a free kick, which they then blasted into the *middle* of the wall was a real high point, tactically.
February 3, 2026 at 11:21 PM
The thousand years to take a free kick, which they then blasted into the *middle* of the wall was a real high point, tactically.
Reading some of the coverage on the Tube back, there are some real “the operation to remove his teeth was a success, but the patient died on the table, and also at no point did we try and treat the bullet wound he came in with”.
That was a truly horrible game of football made hilarious by the late Havertz goal.
Sky waxing lyrical over Chelsea and Rosenior playing the long game when they just wasted at least an hour of a game when they were a goal down and had to score.
Tactical disasterclass imo.
Arsenal go to Wembley!
Sky waxing lyrical over Chelsea and Rosenior playing the long game when they just wasted at least an hour of a game when they were a goal down and had to score.
Tactical disasterclass imo.
Arsenal go to Wembley!
February 3, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Reading some of the coverage on the Tube back, there are some real “the operation to remove his teeth was a success, but the patient died on the table, and also at no point did we try and treat the bullet wound he came in with”.
Tho the “he did well at EuCo” is pretty much a myth made in SW1, though, per @alanbeattie.bsky.social. And Blair is also on the short list on this one! They’re both culpable.
February 3, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Tho the “he did well at EuCo” is pretty much a myth made in SW1, though, per @alanbeattie.bsky.social. And Blair is also on the short list on this one! They’re both culpable.
I doubt he was given the opportunity.
February 3, 2026 at 10:26 PM
I doubt he was given the opportunity.
Ouch. But also: fair!
February 3, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Ouch. But also: fair!
Reposted by Stephen Bush
At least Starmer can probably say with all honesty it wasn't his decision to bring him back last time.
February 3, 2026 at 10:24 PM
At least Starmer can probably say with all honesty it wasn't his decision to bring him back last time.
This is pretty rich. The list of people who have a reasonable argument to get in the government’s face on this is long but surely does not include “the guy who brought him back after his last two scandals”.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Brown accuses No10 of cover-up #TomorrowsPapersToday
February 3, 2026 at 10:22 PM
This is pretty rich. The list of people who have a reasonable argument to get in the government’s face on this is long but surely does not include “the guy who brought him back after his last two scandals”.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Ha, I had exactly the same thought. I was like “erm, excuse me, that’s Champions of Europe Arsenal Women’s song”
February 3, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Ha, I had exactly the same thought. I was like “erm, excuse me, that’s Champions of Europe Arsenal Women’s song”
Reposted by Stephen Bush
It’s what the FT sings to the Mail
February 3, 2026 at 10:15 PM
It’s what the FT sings to the Mail
Reposted by Stephen Bush
A good piece, revealing some alarming attitudes & ideas in government. I think a universal basic income is an excellent idea, but its purpose should not be to end work. As Stephen argues, work provides many people with meaning.
My column today: on why if AI creates a world where almost everyone has to live off UBI, we should throw away the machine instead:
UBI fans must remember a job is about more than the money
The value of work often gets left out of discussions about AI
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:05 PM
A good piece, revealing some alarming attitudes & ideas in government. I think a universal basic income is an excellent idea, but its purpose should not be to end work. As Stephen argues, work provides many people with meaning.
Would be a pretty funny way to get beaten up by accident, at least.
February 3, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Would be a pretty funny way to get beaten up by accident, at least.
Enjoyment of watching the other Arsenal only slightly tempered by having to remind myself “oh, no, ‘champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that’ is the song the bad guys sing”
February 3, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Enjoyment of watching the other Arsenal only slightly tempered by having to remind myself “oh, no, ‘champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that’ is the song the bad guys sing”
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Every post-AGI explosion scenario reads like feudal communism. Why would I want to live under that?
February 3, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Every post-AGI explosion scenario reads like feudal communism. Why would I want to live under that?
Reposted by Stephen Bush
FT exclusive
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor discussed ways round restrictions on his making investments while an official UK trade representative and shared official documents from the role with Jeffrey Epstein, files released by the US Department of Justice show
www.ft.com/content/6b2f...
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor discussed ways round restrictions on his making investments while an official UK trade representative and shared official documents from the role with Jeffrey Epstein, files released by the US Department of Justice show
www.ft.com/content/6b2f...
Former prince discussed with Jeffrey Epstein ways to get round investment rules
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared official documents while serving as a UK trade envoy
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:30 PM
FT exclusive
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor discussed ways round restrictions on his making investments while an official UK trade representative and shared official documents from the role with Jeffrey Epstein, files released by the US Department of Justice show
www.ft.com/content/6b2f...
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor discussed ways round restrictions on his making investments while an official UK trade representative and shared official documents from the role with Jeffrey Epstein, files released by the US Department of Justice show
www.ft.com/content/6b2f...
Reposted by Stephen Bush
It's Elmo's birthday
February 3, 2026 at 5:58 PM
It's Elmo's birthday
Reposted by Stephen Bush
search.savills.com/property-det... scroll through the pictures and admire the photographer's valiant effort to downplay the most noticeable feature of the back garden not mentioned in the property description.
Durford Wood, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 5AW | Property for sale | Savills
Property details for Durford Wood. One of many properties for sale in Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 5AW from Savills, world leading estate agents.
search.savills.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:54 PM
search.savills.com/property-det... scroll through the pictures and admire the photographer's valiant effort to downplay the most noticeable feature of the back garden not mentioned in the property description.
Sorry, that illustrative example was a really unhelpful one, in that I really don't believe anyone is ever going to go 'watch AI on stage'. It's IMO the job with the biggest moat against AI.
February 3, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Sorry, that illustrative example was a really unhelpful one, in that I really don't believe anyone is ever going to go 'watch AI on stage'. It's IMO the job with the biggest moat against AI.