🌹Got your agenda sorted for Labour Party Conference? Don't miss our panel on the future of UK-EU relations with the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, @jillongovt.bsky.social, @jannikewachowiak.bsky.social, @ellenmilligan.bsky.social, @almutm.bsky.social & Tobias Cremer MEP 📍Mon 29 Sept, 11:15am, Hilton Hotel

❗️NEW Spain obtains powers in permits for Gibraltar Special role is foreseen for Madrid in issuing visas, residence & asylum, EC told us. Gibraltar could only grant visas for limited cases & will keep a say in asylum, we’re told. With @ellenmilligan.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Years of underinvestment, botched contracts and poor recruitment have hollowed out what was once a military superpower, forcing the UK to confront the hard reality of rebuilding its defences. Our big paywall-free feature is out today: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

❗️NEW: UK has signaled to EU an openness to accept the dynamic alignment of rules on agrifood standard and oversight of EU court on this in signal of growing closeness between both sides, we’re told By @ellenmilligan.bsky.social, @albertonardelli.bsky.social & me www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Bloomberg Saturday read Trump crisis sets Starmer a defining test of leadership With @ellenmilligan.bsky.social >>> www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive with @ellenmilligan.bsky.social Military chiefs have told Starmer and Reeves that raising defence spending to 2.5% will only see UK capabilities “stand still” Improving the military will require a significant uplift beyond that, they’ve said privately www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Treasury has told unprotected depts to prepare for ‘flat cash’ budgets at spending review Would mean big cuts after inflation Likely worst-case model in event of another bond rout But threatens austerity 2.0 w/ @philaldrick.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The prospect of a US-EU trade war is causing worries in Northern Ireland. Some fear it cd reopen Brexit wounds, as EU tariff retaliation would likely mean tariffs on US imports to NI - but not GB. Story with @oliviafletcher.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Scoop with @pronouncedalva.bsky.social: The government is considering making households who exclusively use streaming services like Netflix + Disney pay the BBC licence fee. It's one of a series of options being looked at to modernize the way the BBC is funded www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

How Rachel Reeves Decided UK Needs to Bet Big on Economic Growth With @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social @joemayes.bsky.social >>> www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Keir Starmer faces a damaging Labour split over expansion plans for Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton Sadiq Khan says he will launch a fresh legal challenge. Cabinet divided and feel bounced by Treasury Story with @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social > www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive with @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social UK Poised to Back Heathrow Airport Expansion in Push for Growth Gatwick, Luton projects also set for approval As well as Lower Thames Crossing and Universal Studios theme park www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

European officials are increasingly optimistic Trump won’t completely pull the plug on Ukraine, after private talks Bloomberg pre-inauguration deep dive with @ellenmilligan.bsky.social and team >>> www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NEW: Keir Starmer will travel to Ukraine in the coming weeks for the first time since becoming PM. He's expected to discuss the possibility of British troops participating in a post-war peacekeeping force in Ukraine: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

New: The UK will tell Mauritius it's open to front-loading payments as part of a sweetened Chagos deal in fresh talks this week No more money will be offered but the UK could pay the 1st tranche upfront or condense the annual payments so more is paid earlier: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Big news from my old financial crime beat: A British trader has been sentenced (while wearing a xmas elf hat) to 12 years in Danish prison for orchestrating a billion-dollar tax scam www.bloomberg.com/news/article... Video investigation w/ @donalgriffin.bsky.social : www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHfL...

New: Keir Starmer will attend a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels in February, focused on defence cooperation It follows two Bloomberg scoops on the UK eyeing access to the EU’s weapons fund + EU members wanting to accelerate talks on a joint defence pact after Trump’s election

New: LGBT veterans who suffered decades of homophobic abuse will be compensated by up to £70,000 each, totaling £75 million Many of them endured electric-shock conversion therapy, blackmail + sexual assault, as I revealed in a series of stories last year www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Scoop: The UK is considering participating in a €1.5 billion defence fund the EU is setting up to allow British firms to bid for funding. Rachel Reeves told commissioner Piotr Serafin yesterday that the UK is open to joining the European Defence Investment Program. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Scoop with @alexwickham.bsky.social: The UK is in talks with Germany to expand a passport/visa-free deal with France for school visits It’s one of the first tangible outcomes of the EU reset, with other member states eyeing similar deals www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Story with @ellenmilligan.bsky.social UK warns Assad’s downfall could trigger another migration crisis at it suspends asylum claims for Syrians www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NEW: Bloomberg Saturday read Keir Starmer has triggered alarm across Labour over his poor performance in his first 5 months as PM, after Thursday’s reset speech flopped His party wants bolder policies, a clearer purpose and much sharper messaging www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Mine + @alexwickham.bsky.social’s take on Starmer’s speech: The immediate confusion over his messaging + whether these milestones are consistent with previous pledges shows he has more to do to overcome teething problems already at risk of defining his government www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

New: Keir Starmer foreign policy speech tonight He says for the first time the Russia-Ukraine war will need a negotiated settlement And that he won’t choose between Trump and EU But PM again v v light on detail or strategy… With @ellenmilligan.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

New: Starmer says the UK doesn’t need to trade off its relationship with the US under Trump against its European alliances:   “The idea that we must choose between our allies, that somehow we’re with either America or Europe, is plain wrong: I reject it utterly” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The assisted dying bill passes its second reading, paving the way to allow terminally ill people given less than six months to live the option of legally ending their lives. A huge achievement for Kim Leadbeater and campaigners.

First cabinet resignation just five months into Keir Starmer’s administration:

The Downing Street christmas tree is going up outside Number 10!

It's cool to see lots of excellent lobby colleagues join the party in the last few days. You could do much worse than follow @ecasalicchio.bsky.social, @saschaosullivan.bsky.social and @ellenmilligan.bsky.social!

Apparently I'm late to the party...

Woop the Bloomberg lobby team is here! Welcome Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social and Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social