Matthew Thompson
@mattuthompson.bsky.social
Recovering journalist. Formerly of Sky News, LBC & BBC.
Norn Irish, girl dad, linguist.
DMs open.
Norn Irish, girl dad, linguist.
DMs open.
Pinned
Some personal news.
In a couple of weeks, I am leaving Sky News. And indeed, leaving London, and journalism altogether.
It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly, but it’s one that’s best for me and my family.
I’ll be moving to Edinburgh, and into the world of finance.
In a couple of weeks, I am leaving Sky News. And indeed, leaving London, and journalism altogether.
It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly, but it’s one that’s best for me and my family.
I’ll be moving to Edinburgh, and into the world of finance.
The BBC’s best programme loses its star
Melvyn Bragg is retiring from “In Our Time”
economist.com
September 12, 2025 at 8:50 AM
So I suppose it’s about time I told those of you who still care exactly what I’m going to be doing with my life from now on 😂
In a couple of weeks, I’m incredibly fortunate to be taking up a role at investment manager Baillie Gifford.
Here’s to no more 4am alarms…
In a couple of weeks, I’m incredibly fortunate to be taking up a role at investment manager Baillie Gifford.
Here’s to no more 4am alarms…
August 18, 2025 at 9:14 AM
So I suppose it’s about time I told those of you who still care exactly what I’m going to be doing with my life from now on 😂
In a couple of weeks, I’m incredibly fortunate to be taking up a role at investment manager Baillie Gifford.
Here’s to no more 4am alarms…
In a couple of weeks, I’m incredibly fortunate to be taking up a role at investment manager Baillie Gifford.
Here’s to no more 4am alarms…
Congratulations to all those getting exam results today, but in particular my nearly 70 year old father who just smashed an A in his AS Level Irish 👊🏻🇮🇪
Still got it, Da!
Still got it, Da!
August 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Congratulations to all those getting exam results today, but in particular my nearly 70 year old father who just smashed an A in his AS Level Irish 👊🏻🇮🇪
Still got it, Da!
Still got it, Da!
I swear to God, this bloody country.
I need antibiotics. I ordinarily live in London. But am temporarily resident in Northern Ireland. My GP in England tells me they are unable to send a prescription outside of England.
So what’s the alternative? You guessed it: A&E.
No wonder there’s a crisis.
I need antibiotics. I ordinarily live in London. But am temporarily resident in Northern Ireland. My GP in England tells me they are unable to send a prescription outside of England.
So what’s the alternative? You guessed it: A&E.
No wonder there’s a crisis.
June 28, 2025 at 8:53 AM
I swear to God, this bloody country.
I need antibiotics. I ordinarily live in London. But am temporarily resident in Northern Ireland. My GP in England tells me they are unable to send a prescription outside of England.
So what’s the alternative? You guessed it: A&E.
No wonder there’s a crisis.
I need antibiotics. I ordinarily live in London. But am temporarily resident in Northern Ireland. My GP in England tells me they are unable to send a prescription outside of England.
So what’s the alternative? You guessed it: A&E.
No wonder there’s a crisis.
And that, as they say, is that.
It’s been a hell of a ride.
You stay classy, Bluesky.
It’s been a hell of a ride.
You stay classy, Bluesky.
June 8, 2025 at 7:03 PM
And that, as they say, is that.
It’s been a hell of a ride.
You stay classy, Bluesky.
It’s been a hell of a ride.
You stay classy, Bluesky.
Just had a prospective buyer massively lowball our flat, and then try and explain that he “has a LISA and won’t get the Government bonus if he buys a flat over £450k.”
Well, I mean… don’t view flats way over your budget then? It’s not my problem.
Well, I mean… don’t view flats way over your budget then? It’s not my problem.
June 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Just had a prospective buyer massively lowball our flat, and then try and explain that he “has a LISA and won’t get the Government bonus if he buys a flat over £450k.”
Well, I mean… don’t view flats way over your budget then? It’s not my problem.
Well, I mean… don’t view flats way over your budget then? It’s not my problem.
Anyone else notice how social media is now absolutely swamped with ChatGPT guff?
Just account after account with their thoughts entirely scripted by AI.
The syntax is so obvious—not to mention the em dashes that nobody actually used until about a year ago.
Driving me mad.
Just account after account with their thoughts entirely scripted by AI.
The syntax is so obvious—not to mention the em dashes that nobody actually used until about a year ago.
Driving me mad.
June 3, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Anyone else notice how social media is now absolutely swamped with ChatGPT guff?
Just account after account with their thoughts entirely scripted by AI.
The syntax is so obvious—not to mention the em dashes that nobody actually used until about a year ago.
Driving me mad.
Just account after account with their thoughts entirely scripted by AI.
The syntax is so obvious—not to mention the em dashes that nobody actually used until about a year ago.
Driving me mad.
Some personal news.
In a couple of weeks, I am leaving Sky News. And indeed, leaving London, and journalism altogether.
It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly, but it’s one that’s best for me and my family.
I’ll be moving to Edinburgh, and into the world of finance.
In a couple of weeks, I am leaving Sky News. And indeed, leaving London, and journalism altogether.
It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly, but it’s one that’s best for me and my family.
I’ll be moving to Edinburgh, and into the world of finance.
May 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Some personal news.
In a couple of weeks, I am leaving Sky News. And indeed, leaving London, and journalism altogether.
It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly, but it’s one that’s best for me and my family.
I’ll be moving to Edinburgh, and into the world of finance.
In a couple of weeks, I am leaving Sky News. And indeed, leaving London, and journalism altogether.
It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly, but it’s one that’s best for me and my family.
I’ll be moving to Edinburgh, and into the world of finance.
BREAK: Police have charged a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap with a terror offence.
Liam O’Hanna has been charged with displaying a Hizbollah flag at the O2 Forum in London last November.
He’ll appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 18th June.
Liam O’Hanna has been charged with displaying a Hizbollah flag at the O2 Forum in London last November.
He’ll appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 18th June.
May 21, 2025 at 6:46 PM
BREAK: Police have charged a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap with a terror offence.
Liam O’Hanna has been charged with displaying a Hizbollah flag at the O2 Forum in London last November.
He’ll appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 18th June.
Liam O’Hanna has been charged with displaying a Hizbollah flag at the O2 Forum in London last November.
He’ll appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 18th June.
In the gym. Forgot headphones. Big mistake.
Now listening to two enormous blokes segway *seamlessly* from discussing the benefits of taking steroids, to how they never took the COVID jab, because, and I quote “I’m not having anyone inject any old shit into me”.
Beyond parody.
Now listening to two enormous blokes segway *seamlessly* from discussing the benefits of taking steroids, to how they never took the COVID jab, because, and I quote “I’m not having anyone inject any old shit into me”.
Beyond parody.
May 6, 2025 at 2:14 PM
In the gym. Forgot headphones. Big mistake.
Now listening to two enormous blokes segway *seamlessly* from discussing the benefits of taking steroids, to how they never took the COVID jab, because, and I quote “I’m not having anyone inject any old shit into me”.
Beyond parody.
Now listening to two enormous blokes segway *seamlessly* from discussing the benefits of taking steroids, to how they never took the COVID jab, because, and I quote “I’m not having anyone inject any old shit into me”.
Beyond parody.
It’s 5am. I’m driving to work, and there are *scores* of people out jogging. Some in fancy dress. Clearly it’s marathon related, but why?? Why are people jogging before dawn when they’re about to run a literal marathon?
April 27, 2025 at 4:08 AM
It’s 5am. I’m driving to work, and there are *scores* of people out jogging. Some in fancy dress. Clearly it’s marathon related, but why?? Why are people jogging before dawn when they’re about to run a literal marathon?
Reposted by Matthew Thompson
Just amazing how American liberals can essentialise weird racialised views about being British in ways they would never never tolerate in America.
April 18, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Just amazing how American liberals can essentialise weird racialised views about being British in ways they would never never tolerate in America.
By “token immigrants” do you mean… British people born and raised in Britain?
Weird “progressive” opinion to have, tbh.
Weird “progressive” opinion to have, tbh.
April 18, 2025 at 9:20 AM
By “token immigrants” do you mean… British people born and raised in Britain?
Weird “progressive” opinion to have, tbh.
Weird “progressive” opinion to have, tbh.
Football. Bloody hell.
April 17, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Football. Bloody hell.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court unanimously rules that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex. Ruling against the Scottish Government.
But Lord Hodge cautions against seeing this as a victory for one side or the other. Suggests some nuance to follow.
But Lord Hodge cautions against seeing this as a victory for one side or the other. Suggests some nuance to follow.
April 16, 2025 at 8:57 AM
BREAKING: The Supreme Court unanimously rules that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex. Ruling against the Scottish Government.
But Lord Hodge cautions against seeing this as a victory for one side or the other. Suggests some nuance to follow.
But Lord Hodge cautions against seeing this as a victory for one side or the other. Suggests some nuance to follow.
The Irish Daily Star wins.
April 10, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The Irish Daily Star wins.
Reposted by Matthew Thompson
TL;DR: The new U.S. tariff rate against our two largest trading partners is either 10%, 25% or 35%, and so far no one I've reached out to at the White House is able to tell me which.
So the White House says the 10% baseline tariff also applies to Canada & Mexico. It has not said whether that's the effective new rate itself; whether it adds to the 25% fentanyl tariff, making the new rate 35%; or whether it kicks in only if the fentanyl tariff falls away
April 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
TL;DR: The new U.S. tariff rate against our two largest trading partners is either 10%, 25% or 35%, and so far no one I've reached out to at the White House is able to tell me which.
Markets be like:
ellen degeneres is wearing a neck brace and talking on a stage .
ALT: ellen degeneres is wearing a neck brace and talking on a stage .
media.tenor.com
April 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Markets be like:
As a rule, democracies ought not to fight trade wars with autocracies.
See this Economist piece from 2019:
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
TL;DR:
Regimes with no voters don’t much care about imposing tariffs that hurt their own economies.
See this Economist piece from 2019:
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
TL;DR:
Regimes with no voters don’t much care about imposing tariffs that hurt their own economies.
Why you should never start a trade war with an autocracy
Unlike the EU, China seems willing to pay any price to punish Donald Trump’s voters
www.economist.com
April 9, 2025 at 11:31 AM
As a rule, democracies ought not to fight trade wars with autocracies.
See this Economist piece from 2019:
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
TL;DR:
Regimes with no voters don’t much care about imposing tariffs that hurt their own economies.
See this Economist piece from 2019:
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
TL;DR:
Regimes with no voters don’t much care about imposing tariffs that hurt their own economies.
I have just encountered the phrase “picking up nickels in front of a steamroller” to describe the strategies hedge funds often use to make small profits, but on the kinds of trades that may now crash the whole system.
And thought I would share, because it’s brilliant.
on.ft.com/429y43e
And thought I would share, because it’s brilliant.
on.ft.com/429y43e
US Treasuries sell-off deepens as ‘safe haven’ status challenged
Investors say misfiring ‘basis trades’ piling pressure on US government bond market
on.ft.com
April 9, 2025 at 9:09 AM
I have just encountered the phrase “picking up nickels in front of a steamroller” to describe the strategies hedge funds often use to make small profits, but on the kinds of trades that may now crash the whole system.
And thought I would share, because it’s brilliant.
on.ft.com/429y43e
And thought I would share, because it’s brilliant.
on.ft.com/429y43e