Great fun appearing at the #ftweekendfestival for a Political Fix / Swamp Notes mash up today @georgewparker.bsky.social, Brooke Masters, Marc Filippino & I chatted Anglo-American politics and podcasts (And away from a snotty 3 month old & a sticky-fingered 3 year old, I dared to wear cream…)

🎧The Afghan data breach, super-injunctions, scandal, scrutiny... With @lucyfisher.ft.com dialling up to the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast studio to join @cathhaddon.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social & @gemmatetlow.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

in this week’s FT Political Fix podcast our Whitehall editor @lucyfisher.ft.com explains how she was one of the journalists to find out about the Afghan files, only to get hit with the government’s unprecedented super-injunction www.ft.com/content/46bf...

🤔 Curious that No 10 briefed today that Kemi Badenoch, as leader of opposition, turned down a briefing on the Afghan data leak When Labour were in opposition, a briefing on the same data breach was offered to Keir Starmer in December 2023... and John Healey turned it down on his behalf

NEW: ‘Confusion’ reigns over cost of UK’s Afghan rescue scheme, warns chair of parliament’s spending watchdog Alongside muddle between £850mn and £7bn figures, govt has failed to give costings for a cohort of 1,000 Afghans relocated to UK due to data leak www.ft.com/content/03f5...

EXC: Official govt auditor has questioned MoD’s handling of Afghan data leak NAO told me the MoD did not inform it about data breach in “the established way for sensitive defence matters” MoD did not give NAO full information about leak & implications www.ft.com/content/00b8...

How one of the gravest security lapses in history was kept secret The story of the super-injunction: the global gagging order sought by successive UK govts to silence media over leak that put thousands at risk of Taliban reprisals By Alistair Gray & me 👇 #AfghanFiles www.ft.com/content/dbba...

The British state’s battle to contain the fallout from catastrophic Afghan data leak The full story of how the crisis unfolded over several years by @nyalistair and me 👇 #AfghanFiles www.ft.com/content/ac73...

🚨 🚨 🚨 UK govt set up a secret multibillion-pound scheme to relocate thousands of Afghans to Britain after a data leak put them at risk of murder and torture by the Taliban... Then gagged the media with a super-injunction for almost two years www.ft.com/content/f6b4...

These awards recognise the razor-sharp political analysis and unrivalled insight of the panel each week: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @pickardje.bsky.social, , @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, @annasophiegross.bsky.social, @stephenkb.bsky.social & more 💪

Beyond thrilled that Political Fix has won both ‘political podcast of the year’ AND ‘podcast of the year’ at Publisher Podcast Awards tonight!🏆 Alongside amazing FT panel you hear each week, big props to incredible team @manuelasaragosa.bsky.social @lulusmyth.bsky.social, Flo Phillips, Breen Turner

A note to say I'm now on maternity leave until the end of the year, after my baby son arrived last week Until then, @georgewparker.bsky.social has hopped into the hot seat hosting Political Fix🎙️📻 And @oilsheppard.bsky.social is acting Whitehall Editor at FT Huge thanks to both! See you in 2026 👋

I've met some incredible people during my 25 year+ career, but these four top the lot. A butcher, a machinist, a tour guide, a botany lecturer...oh, and all WW2 veterans alive today and each with an amazing story. With @lucyfisher.ft.com via @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/f7e8... #WW2 #VEDay

Excl: Lower US tariffs on UK exports unlikely to take effect for weeks, say British officials UK companies complain about continued uncertainty around levies despite the bilateral trade deal Via me, @aimewilliams.bsky.social & colleagues www.ft.com/content/1b71...

Kemi Badenoch pivots to economy, amid signs her attempt to fight Reform UK on immigration and “woke” issues is floundering Via George Parker and me 👇 www.ft.com/content/05bc...

You asked and we delivered... ‘Ask Political Fix‘, a new semi-regular Q&A format for the podcast! Of course I had the easy job filleting your fiendish questions... This week @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social & @stephenkb.bsky.social answered them Tell us what you think!

The new intl development minister is taking a strikingly tough line on aid cuts, amid Labour’s wider rightward tack Bns Jenny Chapman will tell MPs later that the days of British govt being “a global charity are over”, as she mulls ending cash for projects supporting education & feminist orgs

EXCL: Head of Royal Navy stepped back from his role after MoD launched an investigation into his conduct relating to a relationship with female subordinate, acc to people familiar with matter MoD probe is ongoing into First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key www.ft.com/content/95a4...

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

EXC: Head of Royal Navy has stepped down and his deputy is in charge of service Adm Sir Ben Key notified CDS & def sec last autumn that he would leave this summer for personal reasons, acc to ppl familiar w/ matter Not related to govt strategic defence review, they said www.ft.com/content/0582...

Looking forward to joining the BBCR4 Week in Westminster panel from 11am 🎙️ @pronouncedalva.bsky.social, Henry Hill and I will be discussing what happens next for Reform, Lab & the Tories after these dramatic local election results 📻

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

It is, of course, a local election results special on Political Fix this week 🎙️ @stephenkb.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social & @georgewparker.bsky.social join me to discuss the ‘reformquake’ and whether it’s the end of the two-party duopoly… Out now, wherever you get your podcasts! 📻🎧

UK military is shrinking by 200-300 personnel a month, says chief of defence staff It will take up to 3 years for British armed forces to start growing in size, acc to Adm Radakin enterprise-sharing.ft.com/redeem/bf2a2...

🎙️ Political Fix has recorded a handy local elections guide this week 🗳️ I'm joined by @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social & Anna Gross to discuss Reform’s momentum, the races to watch, and the stakes at play for the main parties Available wherever you get your podcasts! 📻🎧

Scotland stands to gain from Trump’s clean energy rollback, says Scottish secretary Ian Murray tells FT that investors spooked by Trump’s unpredictability are looking favourably at UK as an alt destination for their cash - especially Scotland for its renewables sector www.ft.com/content/ae0d...

NEW: Veteran NHS manager with private health sector experience is to be the next perm sec at Dept of Health, as civil service prepares for extensive churn at top of Whitehall Samantha Jones in at DHSC, as MoJ, DfT & DSIT seek new perm secs Story from me & Sarah Neville www.ft.com/content/e062...

EXC: Britain must expand its military footprint in Arctic and High North as region becomes increasingly contested due to melting sea ice, govt’s strategic defence review set to advise Story from me, @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social & Charles Clover on.ft.com/4jhnrBp

🎙️What is a ‘woman’ in law? The Supreme Court ruling Plus: the British Steel debacle’s impact on UK-China investment & diplomatic ties @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @annasophiegross.bsky.social & @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social are on Political Fix this week Available wherever you get your podcasts! 📻🎧

Exquisite read Theresa May has Lunch with FT @georgewparker.bsky.social

EXC: Jeremy Hunt, James Cleverly and Andrew Mitchell are to get knighthoods in Rishi Sunak’s resignation list Theresa Villiers will get a damehood Raft of Sunak former staffers in line for CBEs and OBEs on.ft.com/3G2ETe9

EXCL: Michael Gove set to receive peerage in Rishi Sunak’s resignation list tomorrow Fellow ex-cabinet ministers Simon Hart and Alister Jack, plus ex-Tory CEO Stephen Massey, are also on the 7-person strong list, acc to sources on.ft.com/4jkEYs2

Interesting that Rachel Reeves swerves backing a “buy British” campaign, warning against UK “becoming inward-looking” amid US-sparked market turmoil She tells MPs: “If every country in the world decided that they only wanted to buy things produced in their country, that’s not a good way forward”

Keir Starmer is often criticised for his lack of political moorings/vision, but is an absence of ideology helpful in the Trump 2.0 era? Flexibility is helpful when leaders can do little more than brace & react to US Standing in for @stephenkb.bsky.social in his Inside Politics newsletter today 👇

EXC: Tories and Reform have kept open door to limited co-operation in town halls after local elections, say officials in both parties Prospect of ‘confidence & supply’ deals is likely to bolster ‘unite the right’ enthusiasts... Via me & @annasophiegross.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/63c6...

The Unite union is grappling with extraordinary twin scandals Masterful reporting from @pickardje.bsky.social lifting the lid on it all www.ft.com/content/9e17...

🎙️ Trump’s trade war: trouble ahead for Britain @pickardje.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social & @pmdfoster.bsky.social are on Political Fix this week, discussing Starmer’s options re US tariffs Plus, we ask on the pod if the govt’s pro-growth measures are gimmicks or good tactics 📻 🎧

Falklands toothfish caught in Trump’s tariff dragnet The British overseas territory now faces a 42% levy — the 8th most punitive rate on US ‘worst offenders’ list I spoke to Falklands govt rep about their surprise at move against their succulent, deep-sea fish export www.ft.com/content/d869...

💥 Scoop - Nato to play key command & control role under proposed European military mission to post-conflict Ukraine being discussed by UK-France led coalition, five officials told @financialtimes.com w @lucyfisher.ft.com & Ben Hall www.ft.com/content/ce15...

Interesting to be at the London Stock Exchange today for opening of the market Confetti cannons and soaring music marked the Chinese finance vice-minister’s visit to launch new renminbi sovereign green bonds… As VIPs watched screen show FTSE tumbling post Trump tariff bombshell

David Miliband warns the UK govt aid cuts are a “blow to Britain’s reputation” globally & there “couldn’t be a worse time” for funding to fall because humanitarian need is growing and extreme poverty is on the rise Interview with @financialtimes.com 👇 www.ft.com/content/f0ea...

EXC: Govt has launched independent probe into leadership, culture & structure at ONS, to fathom why official data sets have gone awry Cab Office & UK Stats Authority have commissioned ex-mandarin Sir Robert Devereux to lead inquiry Story via me & Sam Fleming 👇 on.ft.com/41XCdao

Excl: Pat McFadden has tasked Cabinet Office perm sec Cat Little with investigating the problems with data produced by the ONS Concerns are growing in govt over reliability of numbers used to steer UK economy www.ft.com/content/b8db...

Increase the pay & number of spads, in a bid to attract more experts to Whitehall who can help ministers overhaul the state, urge Labour MPs Labour Growth Group (@labourgrowth.bsky.social) & @reformthinktank.bsky.social publish report today on bolstering govt Via @ft 👇 www.ft.com/content/1b75...

Rachel Reeves announces new defence growth board, under plans to make the UK a ‘defence industrial superpower’ Chx confirms extra £2.2bn for defence in 2025/26... & that aid cuts start next year (pot reduced by £200m) Story from me & @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social 👇 www.ft.com/content/c1a2...

Exc: MI5 warned UK energy industry last Nov about credible intelligence of threat from Russia 👀 However, investigators examining fire behind Heathrow closure don’t believe hostile state actor/criminals were involved, acc to ppl familiar with the matter via Rachel Millard and me 👇

At popular request, we’re intro-ing a semi-regular Political Fix Q&A episode from next month 💪 So pls get in touch! Send a voicenote with your name & Q to [email protected] - and we'll play it on the podcast 🤳 🗣️ ✉️ I'll field Qs to Stephen, Jim, Robert, Miranda, George, Anna & other FT experts!

Austerity redux? On Political Fix this week, we look ahead to downgraded growth & spending cuts in the Spring statement w/ @pickardje.bsky.social, @mirandagreen.bsky.social & Sam Fleming Plus @henryjfoy.ft.com joins pod to discuss Europe’s mounting security crisis – and its impact on UK-EU reset

Great to join BBC Newscast last night to discuss the week in politics: defence spending, benefit cuts & a Spring statement preview With @bbcjamescook.bsky.social, Chris Mason & @stephanomics.bsky.social 📻🎧 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

EU: The UK is a critical partner and ally in the coalition of the willing to defend Ukraine and support Europe Also EU: The UK can't help us arm this coalition until you agree to French demands on fishing and migration