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    Sebastian Payne

    Former Whitehall Editor

    Sebastian Payne wrote about British politics for the FT. He was previously political leader writer and digital opinion editor. Before he joined the FT, he was a reporter and editor at The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph.

    He also presented the weekly Payne's Politics podcast and wrote a fortnightly notebook column for the opinion pages.

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    • Monday, 26 December, 2022
      Opinion
      Year in a word: Trussonomics

      The agenda that earned Liz Truss the dubious title of shortest-ever serving British prime minister

      Liz Truss with ‘TRUSSONOMICS’ spelled out in fronts. Behind is a line showing soaring gilt yields, which only fell after Bank of England intervention
    • Saturday, 10 December, 2022
      Political Fix podcast36 min listen
      Sunak versus the strikes

      The PM confronted a growing wave of industrial unrest facing the UK with tough new proposals for anti-strike laws, but will they work?

    • Friday, 9 December, 2022
      FT Magazine
      The inside story of Liz Truss’s disastrous 44 days in office

      How a historic budget came together and fell apart, told by those who were there

    • Tuesday, 6 December, 2022
      Michelle Mone
      Michelle Mone steps back from Lords after PPE contract claims

      Tory peer takes leave of absence ‘to clear her name’ after allegations she benefited from Covid VIP procurement lanes

      Baroness Michelle Mone
    • Thursday, 1 December, 2022
      Conservative Party UK
      To woo voters, Rishi Sunak must fix the UK’s ‘palpable economy’

      The Tories may be desperate to boost the economic data, but everyday signs of improvement will be more important

      A boarded up shop on a high street
    • Thursday, 1 December, 2022
      Brexit: the next phase
      The UK-Australia trade deal: ‘too much for far too little’

      Prioritising the ‘benefits’ of Brexit over economic gain set a poor precedent for future agreements, say critics

      A montage of former UK prime minister Liz Truss and then-Australian trade minister Dan Tehan with their countries’ flags on the background
    • Tuesday, 29 November, 2022
      News in-depthConservative Party UK
      Why Rishi Sunak is struggling to impose his authority

      The UK prime minister is facing four tribes of rebellious Conservative MPs

      Montage of Dehenna Davison, Damian Green, Simon Clarke, Jake Berry and Rishi Sunak
    • Tuesday, 22 November, 2022
      Conservative Party UK
      Rishi Sunak delays critical vote on UK planning reforms

      Nearly 50 rebel ‘blue wall’ MPs sign amendment to make housebuilding targets only advisory

      A housing estate under construction: Rishi Sunak is keen to assuage ‘Blue wall’ Tories in southern seats who oppose relaxing restrictions
    • Friday, 18 November, 2022
      FT Weekend’s best long reads of 2022
      In the Bunker: Boris Johnson’s last stand

      A blow-by-blow account of the plotting that consumed the prime minister’s last day in power — climaxing with the showdown with his old rival Michael Gove

    • Wednesday, 16 November, 2022
      Autumn Statement
      Hunt prepares to step into the fiscal storm

      Chancellor bids to repair UK’s tarnished economic reputation with tax rises and spending cuts, claiming pain is necessary

      Jeremy Hunt in front of buildings in the City of London and the detail of a £50 note
    • Wednesday, 16 November, 2022
      Rishi Sunak
      Rishi Sunak agrees to publish his tax returns

      UK prime minister commits to transparency over personal finances after scrutiny of family fortune

      Rishi Sunak
    • Wednesday, 16 November, 2022
      UK Government
      Sunak to launch probe into Raab misconduct claims

      Downing Street says PM retains confidence in deputy, and ‘independent person’ will investigate bullying allegations

      Dominic Raab speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday
    • Wednesday, 16 November, 2022
      UK trade
      UK risks being too soft in India trade talks, says ex-minister

      George Eustice warns against repeating mistakes of the agreement with Australia

      George Eustice
    • Tuesday, 15 November, 2022
      UK foreign policy
      Sunak to hold surprise meeting with Chinese president at G20

      UK prime minister attempts to build ‘frank and constructive’ relationship with Beijing

      Rishi Sunak arrives for a formal dinner at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, on Tuesday
    • Tuesday, 15 November, 2022
      UK politics
      Rishi Sunak tells UK bosses to curtail their pay

      Prime minister urges executives to ‘embrace restraint’ as their workers face a cost of living crisis

      Rishi Sunak attends the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Bali
    • Tuesday, 15 November, 2022
      UK politics
      Hancock has undermined role of MP, says Sunak

      UK prime minister accuses former health secretary of debasing politics through TV show appearance

      Matt Hancock taking part in a trial on ‘I’m A Celebrity. . . Get Me Out Of Here!’
    • Monday, 14 November, 2022
      Autumn Statement
      Hunt draws up new windfall tax on UK electricity generators

      Chancellor’s plan for 40% levy on ‘excess returns’ replaces idea of industry revenue cap

      Power pylons
    • Monday, 14 November, 2022
      UK defence spending
      Sunak quiet on defence budget as he signs off on £4.2bn frigate contract

      PM refuses to be drawn on matching Truss’s promise of big boost to military spending

      HMS Glasgow being built at the BAE Systems shipyard in Govan
    • Monday, 14 November, 2022
      Autumn Statement
      Rishi Sunak must pursue Johnsonism without Johnson

      Much of the 2019 Tory manifesto is the new prime minister’s best chance to turn round the UK

      Rishi Sunak in his Downing Street office. His party is facing a slog to win a historic fifth election and its only viable path is to hold on to as much of its 2019 voter coalition as possible
    • Monday, 14 November, 2022
      Dominic Raab
      Sunak rejects claims that Raab bullied UK civil servants

      PM says he is ‘not aware’ of any formal complaints about the behaviour of his deputy

      Rishi Sunak with Dominic Raab
    • Monday, 14 November, 2022
      UK immigration
      UK and France set to unveil deal to tackle migrants crossing Channel

      Agreement is focused on efforts to curb asylum seekers arriving in small boats

      Migrants carry a boat on a beach near Dunkirk
    • Sunday, 13 November, 2022
      Autumn Statement
      Hunt given warning of £70bn rise in UK government borrowing

      Chancellor plans tax increases and spending cuts after fiscal watchdog downgrades outlook for public finances

      Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in Number 10
    • Sunday, 13 November, 2022
      Autumn Statement
      Hunt says all Britons will pay higher taxes after Autumn Statement

      Chancellor also warns of spending cuts as he seeks to fill budgetary hole

      Jeremy Hunt speaking on the BBC’s ‘Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg’ programme
    • Saturday, 12 November, 2022
      Political Fix podcast33 min listen
      Farewell Sir Gavin, for the third time

      What does it say about Rishi Sunak's judgment that he hired the controversial former chief whip in the first place?

    • Tuesday, 8 November, 2022
      UK politics
      Gavin Williamson quits over bullying allegations

      Minister says claims and investigations into his conduct ‘are becoming a distraction’

      Sir Gavin Williamson, ex-minister without portfolio
    Previous page You are on page 1 Next page

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