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Robert Shrimsley

@robertshrimsley.bsky.social

2607 followers 70 following 24 posts

Chief political commentator and executive Editor, Financial Times

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Reposted by Robert Shrimsley

Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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The rain that soaked Sunak as he announced the election, struggling to be heard over an old Labour song, seemed a portent for what is coming. Things can only get wetter. The PM is rushing his MPs towards the guns But the calculation is that this is as good as it will get

www.ft.com/content/030a...

2 replies 5 reposts 18 likes

Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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Like so many of the prime minister’s gambits, this move is a product of his political weakness. It is the play of a man who has run out of ideas and run out of options. A last gamble for a prime minister who has run out of road www.ft.com/content/030a...

0 replies 2 reposts 6 likes

Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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If you seek the fabled Deep State, here it is.
From infected blood to the Post Office to Winrush and beyond, while other countries face up to their mistakes Britain stalls, denying responsibility, hiding the truth and doing all it can to avoid paying compensation
www.ft.com/content/ab5a...

1 replies 4 reposts 11 likes

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Stephen Bush's avatar Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social
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“This week, Rishi Sunak promised both compensation and change. The money will be forthcoming. I wish we could be so confident about change.” fantastic column by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on the golden thread linking infected blood, Daniel Morgan, Grenfell, and more:

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Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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Allows for the paranoid tendency, attacks on institutions and appeal to direct democracy, will of the people- still within a broadly democratic party framework

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Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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I agree re hard right. Rob Ford uses the term radical right which I think captures this better.

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Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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Broadly agree but think there has been overlap in conspiratorial rhetoric stirring people up against institutions

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Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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Question: what do people mean when they use the term “far right”.? What do people see as its defining characteristics which separate it from the right, or the right with opinions I hate. I know what it means to me but am seeing the term much more widely used.

5 replies 1 reposts 7 likes

Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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Yes I discuss that but that’s why it has to be secured because they profit most from it

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Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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In the tussle between good intentions and bad actors, Britain is in danger of losing sight of what it most needs to protect and undermining the fabric of civil society

The frightening chill on free speech www.ft.com/content/97fa...

1 replies 1 reposts 1 likes

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Paul J Davies's avatar Paul J Davies @pauljdavies.bsky.social
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🤣 “For Labour is adopting Muhammed Ali’s rope-a-dope strategy... (This metaphor, I accept, is not perfect. Keir Starmer is no Ali and, in this case, George Foreman has spent the last four years punching himself.)” @robertshrimsley.bsky.social

on.ft.com/49FOGkm

0 replies 1 reposts 3 likes

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Huw Sayer's avatar Huw Sayer @huwsayer.bsky.social
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Reassuring by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on why aspirational manifesto is probably enough (sort of what I've been saying on here).

Just think Labour should make more of Starmer's "guiding values" and those overarching ambitions, particularly growing and greening the economy.

@financialtimes.com

1 replies 2 reposts 4 likes

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Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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"I could pay $1000 for an AI-powered anti-snoring pillow or stick with the actually intelligent device known as a wife who digs you in the ribs when you get too loud. I am told that all models come with this function as standard"

The AI rebrand rip-off

on.ft.com/48E0seD

0 replies 0 reposts 6 likes

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Stephen Bush's avatar Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social
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My column in tomorrow’s FT: on the modern Conservative party and its uneasy transition from being perfectly honed around a near-zero-interest rate world to, well, what we have now:

1 replies 7 reposts 29 likes

Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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Ooh just seen the new Blue Sky logo - reminds me of something, can’t think what

5 replies 9 reposts 44 likes

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Reposted by Robert Shrimsley

Sam Freedman's avatar Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social
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It's a warning word from the reviewer, there are lots: "Exhaustive" = too long "Sweeping" = simplistic "Quirky" = bonkers "Eccentric" = really bonkers "Challenging" =wrong "Polemical" = angry and wrong "Thorough" = boring "Elegiac" = boring but someone dies Etc

13 replies 39 reposts 144 likes

Robert Shrimsley's avatar Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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"Over a light lunch of silicon wafers and 6.4mn cubic metres of water, leading AI systems met for two days of brainstorming over how best to regulate humans." - Reporting live from AI's human safety summit
on.ft.com/40DuJHj

0 replies 5 reposts 13 likes