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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · Jun 18

Starmer's decision to treat Farage as "the real opposition"; the political calculation, the risks, the polling. Contributions from @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social John Curtice and Nigel Farage "laughing his socks off"
www.ft.com/content/2715...

Why Keir Starmer made Nigel Farage Britain’s ‘real opposition’

PM’s decision was controversial with some Labour strategists fearing it gave Reform UK too much credibility

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · Jun 10

on.ft.com/4jHhvkF
Rachel Reeves and a defining moment for her chancellorship - analysis of the Spending Review with Sam Fleming

‘Her challenge is the voters’: Can Rachel Reeves’ spending review rebuild her reputation?

[FREE TO READ] UK chancellor has seen her approval ratings plunge since taking office

on.ft.com

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Reposted by George Parker

Andy Gibson (@AndyGibsonTV) / InformingBritain.com @informingbritain.com · Jun 9

"REEVES RETREAT RESTORES WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS TO PENSIONERS"

@georgewparker.bsky.social for @financialtimes.com.

Chancellor #RachelReeves will restore Winter Fuel Payments to all but 2 million pensioners with income of more than £35,000.

#FinancialTimes
#IBPAPERS
#TomorrowsPapersToday

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · Jun 6

Rachel Reeves and the spending review bunfight. Excellent chat with @robertshrimsley.bsky.social @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social and Sam Fleming
www.ft.com/content/892d...

Facing down a fiscal firestorm

A look ahead to the spending review

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · Jun 3

New - Big Reeves announcement coming on transport, including new line from Manchester to Liverpool, ahead of Spending Review on June 11. @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social and me
www.ft.com/content/9e2d...

Rachel Reeves to back Manchester-Liverpool rail link in transport spending boost

Chancellor lines up £113bn infrastructure investment package as part of next week’s government spending review

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 30

Starmer v Farage and Reeves’s fiscal fix, dissected by the brilliant @stephenkb.bsky.social @chrisgiles.ft.com and @annasophiegross.bsky.social - plus hot @lucyfisher.ft.com baby news
www.ft.com/content/c005...

Who’s afraid of Nigel Farage?

Plus: Rachel Reeves’ problems are piling up ahead of the autumn budget

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 29

great story from @annasophiegross.bsky.social

annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · May 29

NEW: Ministers are considering a softening of their contentious welfare reforms that could allow up to 200,000 people to keep their disability benefits, as the government seeks to stave off a backbench rebellion.

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 29

"Crossing the Rubicon"? Treasury confirms it will legislate for "reserve powers" to tell pension funds to put billions of pounds of savers' money into private assets. Good move to get more cash into the British economy or a dangerous state power grab?
www.ft.com/content/a637...

UK confirms powers to force pension funds to back British assets

Chancellor hopes plan to establish ‘megafunds’, circumscribed by binding allocation targets, will drive returns for savers

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 29

New Big cuts to civil service on the way as part of the spending review squeeze (but only heading back towards where numbers were before Brexit and Covid)
www.ft.com/content/1311...

One in 10 UK civil service jobs facing axe

About 50,000 Whitehall posts set to be cut in ‘brutal’ public spending review, officials say

www.ft.com

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Reposted by George Parker

Miranda Green @greenmirandahere.bsky.social · May 25

📻Starmer - happier on the world stage? @georgewparker.bsky.social in the hotseat with @pmdfoster.bsky.social and myself, plus @andybounds.bsky.social in Brussels on all this hyperactive dealmaking. www.ft.com/content/1789...

Is Labour’s post-Brexit reset a victory or a betrayal?

Plus: Starmer’s Chagos deal

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 20

Gimps, overnight train journeys to Kyiv, late steel deals, 11th hour Macron blessings, commas. Inside the EU deal with @andybounds.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4j6oVNT

How the UK and EU thrashed out a post-Brexit reset in relations

[FREE TO READ] Starmer’s big concession on fishing came as bloc offered better trade terms for British food exporters

on.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 19

New: Deal done. All the details. @andybounds.bsky.social and me. EU diplomats say Britain has agreed a 12-year extension of fisheries access to UK waters..but disappointed by wording on youth mobility. Big econ win for UK - unlimited agrifood trade deal
www.ft.com/content/78f1...

UK and EU agree post-Brexit reset after ‘breakthrough’ in talks

Deals reached on fisheries and agriculture in late-night haggling ahead of summit in London

www.ft.com

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Reposted by George Parker

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · May 16

What you really want, when you want your opponents to stay divided, is to give a clear steer as to which one the main rival is. All that and more in this terrific read by @georgewparker.bsky.social:

Starmer sees Farage as ‘real opponent’ in new political landscape

UK prime minister has told allies that the Tories are heading for the ‘end of the road’

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 8

New - latest on today's US/UK trade deal. Limited focus on most affected areas - cars and steel - but hopes in London that Britain might swerve future Trump tariffs on pharma. Cuts to UK tariffs on US goods, inc cars/meat expected. Details about 3pm
www.ft.com/content/8115...

Donald Trump to announce trade deal with UK

Limited agreement is expected to be focused on UK steel and car exports

www.ft.com

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Reposted by George Parker

Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · May 7

EXC: Pentagon wants UK military to focus more on Europe and less on Asia, in a major policy shift from Biden administration, which pushed European allies to boost Indo-Pac activity to send a strong signal to China

From Demetri Sevastopulo & me 👇

on.ft.com/4iTeDRi

US wants UK military to focus more on Europe and away from Asia

[FREE TO READ] Pentagon believes British should place more emphasis on their own region in policy shift from Biden administration

on.ft.com

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Reposted by George Parker

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · May 7

FT leak from imminent immigration white paper:

“Migrants in the UK would need to wait longer before they could apply to make their residency permanent under plans being drawn up by the Labour government as part of a crackdown on foreigners coming to work in Britain.”

www.ft.com/content/afa1...

UK set to limit permanent residency for some migrants

Labour seeks to show voters it is getting to grips with number of foreigners coming to work in Britain

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 7

New - Keir Starmer's vaunted industrial strategy targets sky high industrial energy costs. “If we don’t deal with uncompetitive energy prices, it doesn’t really matter what else we do,” said one government official.
www.ft.com/content/7c49...

Industrial strategy aims to tackle UK’s sky-high energy costs

Shielding industry from inflated prices is centrepiece of next month’s announcement

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 7

New - EU negotiations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds tells the FT a "smart, controlled" youth mobility scheme is on the table as part of a big package. “I don’t worry about selling something that we believe would make the UK more secure and more prosperous,” he said.
www.ft.com/content/d2d9...

UK looking at setting up youth mobility scheme with EU, minister says

Ahead of key summit, Nick Thomas-Symonds tells FT that a ‘smart’ programme would benefit young people

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 7

Great scoop by @pickardje.bsky.social and @pmdfoster.bsky.social

Peter Foster @pmdfoster.bsky.social · May 7

UK closes in on US trade pact with lower tariff *quotas* for cars and steel — lowering the 25% headline tariff is still a hope (but I’m told tough) and US still pushing hard on agri & pharma issues.

Scoop with @pickardje.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

on.ft.com/3RR7UMw

UK closes in on US trade pact with lower tariff quotas for cars and steel

[FREE TO READ] London to offer concessions on digital services tax in deal that could be agreed this week

on.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 2

Apocalypse now. Analysis with @lucyfisher.ft.com on what Farage’s advance means for Starmer and Badenoch
on.ft.com/42Zq6ZA

‘Apocalyptic’: Tory wipeout as Nigel Farage storms English councils

[FREE TO READ] Reform party’s rout in local elections poses huge challenges for Conservatives and Labour

on.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 2

Farage declares end of two party politics on day of electoral destruction for Starmer and Badenoch. News wrap at end of a big day with @pickardje.bsky.social and @lucyfisher.ft.com

on.ft.com/44lfwyh

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK hammers Tories and Labour in local election rout

[FREE TO READ] Big two parties lose ground while rightwing rival surges in council and mayoral polls

on.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · May 2

Analysis of a transformational night in British politics
www.ft.com/content/59d1...

Nigel Farage shakes British politics with local election surge

Reform wins more local council seats than every other party put together

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · Apr 30

New - Jamie Dimon boost for Reeves' new bid to talk up the economy: "They have reinforced their commitments to an open economy, strengthening of infrastructure and the stability of markets — all of which is good for investor confidence.”
www.ft.com/content/95ab...

JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon backs Rachel Reeves’ ‘pro-growth agenda’

Comments from boss of biggest US bank come as UK chancellor seeks to ‘talk up’ economy

www.ft.com

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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · Apr 30

“I asked if we could get a cherrypicker so I could fix the church roof here." Ed Davey on the trail, admitting some self-doubt about all the stunts. “It was outside of my comfort zone. I would come back in the evening and ask: “Are you sure this is right?”
www.ft.com/content/8089...

The battle for England’s southern shires

Lib Dems seek to repeat last year’s general election success and win scores of council seats in the Tory party’s heartland

www.ft.com

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Reposted by George Parker

Miranda Green @greenmirandahere.bsky.social · Apr 11

🌟 Latest FT Political Fix features a star turn re the bond markets from @katie0martin.ft.com as @georgewparker.bsky.social and I plus host @lucyfisher.ft.com hang on her every word www.ft.com/content/30ca... - plus a chat on Starmer's Q1 performance

Markets or Trump: who’s in charge?

Plus: a stocktake of the political year so far

www.ft.com

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