Hmm, I wonder if there is some kind of lesson/ message in this.

To no-one's deep surprise, the Charlie Kirk aftermath shows Repubicans and conservatives never really believed in free speech after all. Which is a pity, because their criticism had a point. My latest. www.ft.com/content/2dcc...

"What makes the Republican and conservative hypocrisy so depressing is that, at a time when free speech in the west needs thoughtful defenders, its self-proclaimed champions have revealed themselves as posturing partisans." @robertshrimsley.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/2dcc...

Opinion: What makes the Republican and conservative hypocrisy so depressing is that, at a time when free speech in the west needs thoughtful defenders, its self-proclaimed champions have revealed themselves as posturing partisans. on.ft.com/46aEwsF

It should be obvious that a march whose organising principle is that the mere existence of Badenoch is a crisis and that Starmer needs to be overthrown can’t be beaten by either politician equivocating on whether they are wrong Excellent from @stephenkb.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/fbbd...

If only there had been some clues about Mandy’s past

Lammy getting the Raab combo of DPM and justice confirms the constitutional role of DPM as demotion blow softener

“Unpopularity can be overcome but irrelevance is fatal”. www.ft.com/content/a741...

The curious incident of the Conservative party in the night-time. www.ft.com/content/a741...

This is very good

My column in today's FT: on the problems of letting your plans to reform and your plans to save money crowd each other out

There's a lot that looks sensible in the No 10 reshuffle but I can't help thinking that Starmer getting rid of aides because of dleivery issues is a bit like blaming the Ocado man because you forgot to order the chicken

💯

"Only the intervention of the editors stopped this column being entitled “Are pedantry doomed?” - @robertshrimsley.bsky.social here www.ft.com/content/fd81...

"Coming soon from the people who brought you Brexit — mass deportations, withdrawal from human rights treaties and Trumpist assaults on the judiciary. What could possibly go wrong?" - excellent, bracing column by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social:

This made me laugh

This made me laugh

If u r coming to the FT Weekend Festival on September 6 you'll see me and @robertshrimsley.bsky.social messing about in Sketchy Politics LIVE - who knows how that's going to work. But the geniuses in the FT video dept will sort us out. Or we can all sniff marker pens www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u1o...

At least there is one journalist out there ready to talk abot the big scandal in society. Snotty up-themselves restuarants refusing to serve Coke and Diet Coke www.ft.com/content/9040...

"The angry left is prone to tickling its own tummy... [but] the main beneficiary of an angry nation will be Nigel Farage."

"Fury and fatalism colour politics. Unpopular and embattled, the beached whales of the Labour and Conservative parties look out on a political sea where waves are made by those they once saw as the fringe. " Why the left can't compete at populism www.ft.com/content/2754...

This is a truly excellent piece by @stephenkb.bsky.social Face it guys, you have to pay the doctors www.ft.com/content/e263...

What a wonderful series. Gutted England could not get over line but just a fabulous run of matches. Test cricket providing entertainment from first to last.

Terrific column by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social: on the two bad reasons for Labour to recognise Palestine and the two good ones:

If you say you’re English these days you get arrested and thrown in jail

🥲 Tom Lehrer, Musical Satirist With a Dark Streak, Dies at 97 www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/a...

On the internet and the Coldplay couple www.ft.com/content/88f2...

I and a bunch of other FT journalists reveal our “sound of the summer”: feat. @henrymance.ft.com, @jemima.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social and more:

Every day the Corbyn party doesn't have a name is another day it is known as the Corbyn party. Jezza's played a blinder

The central issue for parties now is fairness. For Labour that means cost of living, good public services, social justice. But Farage has defined it on crime, immigration, welfare bills and voters being played for mugs. And right now he is winning that fight www.ft.com/content/e153...

In their search for story for voters, Labour leaders are lighting upon two words - fairness and contribution. The ony problem is that Reform wants them too and has its own definitions. www.ft.com/content/e153...

Kemi Badenoch says she would be Britain's Javier Milei. She also wants Tories not to follow Reform down the rabbit hole of rage - "We can't be a repository for disenchantment" Her end of term interview with the FT. www.ft.com/content/7108...

I which I reveal my shallow moral core.

The first industrial revolution built the middle class. What if the next hollows it out? If the next political revolt comes from the liberal establishment? www.ft.com/content/50e0...

Meant to push this earlier in week. @stephenkb.bsky.social How magical thinking is expanding its remit in politics www.ft.com/content/c40f...

This is a fabulous test series

Among the many things wrong with this is the nudge nudge use of the word “jihad”

To lose 40 per cent of your MPs returned at the election is quite impressive

You can't say this, but being an MP is both poorly paid and not really a full time job. So, best to give the more able ones a proper job.

A couple of thoughts on this: It has some appeal and more expertise would be good. But 1: It is a presidential model so a PM Farage just appoints an sacks who he likes. 1/n

If the double act is not working, the core problem may not be Reeves www.ft.com/content/c047...

I'm not sure this is less humiliating than pulling the vote.

“We have a wartime consigliere . . . but we’re losing the war.” @stephenkb.bsky.social nails it on what is going wrong for Labour. www.ft.com/content/46ba...

Such a good piece and so true by @sarahoconnorft.ft.com www.ft.com/content/4688...

I’ve seen people not even bother to do up the fastenings on their too-tight jeans. Less muffin top, more entire bakery on show. Love this from @greenmirandahere.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/aaa2...

Another tough night not at Glastonbury

The striking thing about this is that this is supposedly a former Tory MP who thinks they are calling for tough but principled action but without the guts to put his/her name to the piece