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annasophiegross.bsky.social

@annasophiegross.bsky.social
2.5K followers 145 following 51 posts
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
NEW: Nigel Farage’s long-term aide George Cottrell had a secret Polymarket account that received nearly $20mn in cryptocurrency to place bets on Donald Trump winning the US election, at a time when he was providing gifts and benefits to the Reform UK leader. w/ @miles-johnson.bsky.social
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Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 07/08/2026
Will Farage’s gamble pay off? On Political Fix this week @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @annasophiegross.bsky.social & I discuss the Clacton by-election next Thurs and Reform’s wider fortunes Plus, lessons from Badenoch’s backing for a reformed neo-Nazi podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...
podcasts.apple.com
Will Farage’s gamble pay off?
Podcast Episode · Political Fix · 7 August · 43min
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
NEW: Reform UK volunteer George Jones who left Farage's campaign in 2024 after undercover reporters showed him calling the Pride flag “degenerate” and suggesting LGBT people are paedophiles has quietly returned to run its Patrons’ Club www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmkM...
youtube.com
Undercover Inside Reform’s Campaign - evidence of homophobia and canvasser's racism
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
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Rachel Rees @rachel-rees.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Scoop for @financialtimes.com: Robert Jenrick’s wife knew in late 2024 that her husband’s top donor received payments from a US company now at the centre of a police investigation into potentially illegal foreign donations, according to a claim by a US lawyer. as.ft.com/r/24c5822f-0...
as.ft.com
Robert Jenrick’s wife knew in 2024 about foreign payments to his top donor, lawyer claimed
Police are investigating the legality of donations to the politician during his Conservative Party leadership bid
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne was granted a lengthy pause in a legal battle because of severe illness, a period in which he gave £12mn to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, court documents show www.ft.com/content/b5b3...
ft.com
Christopher Harborne suffered serious medical issues while donating £12mn to Reform UK
Thailand-based crypto billionaire paused US lawsuit for nearly a year until January 2026
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Rachel Rees @rachel-rees.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Nigel Farage has shielded himself from public scrutiny in recent weeks, in the wake of revelations about his undeclared £5mn gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne in 2024 Farage held 20 press conferences from Jan to April — but just 1 last month w @annasophiegross.bsky.social
as.ft.com
Nigel Farage scales back press events amid scrutiny over £5mn gift from crypto investor
Senior figures suggest Reform leader has been working behind the scenes on party strategy
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Great scoop by @annasophiegross.bsky.social:
ft.com
Nigel Farage’s accounts challenge claim that he paid for £1.4mn house with TV fee
Reform UK leader has said he did not use £5mn gift from crypto billionaire to buy Surrey property
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Rachel Rees @rachel-rees.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
New for @financialtimes.com: Jenrick’s wife was the lawyer for a donor involved in an illicit funding row - and was told in February 2025 about £37,500 in alleged impermissible donations to her husband With @annasophiegross.bsky.social, edits from @kadhim.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/f86b774e-c...
as.ft.com
Robert Jenrick’s wife was lawyer for donor at centre of illicit funding row
Former Tory leadership contender who defected to Reform UK faces renewed scrutiny
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
In the same month Nigel Farage bought a £1.4mn house in cash - weeks after he got a £5mn gift from Christopher Harborne for his "security" (h/t @alifortescuenews.bsky.social ), Farage put in an app to rebuild his house in New Romney into a modern three-storey home with a basement conversion
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
NEW: On the £5mn Harborne gift (which Farage says he didn’t have to declare because it was to cover his security before he became an MP) Farage did declare a donation from George Cottrell in mid-April 2024, which covered his accommodation and travel and “security provision”.
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
We’ve been working on a series to help you understand Nigel Farage's insurgent party. The first introduces six Reform (or Reform-curious) voters from across the country in the run-up to crucial elections on May 7, showing just how broad the party’s coalition has become. as.ft.com/r/9c1432fe-1...
as.ft.com
Who are Reform UK’s voters?
Six Britons tell the FT about what attracts them to Nigel Farage’s populist party, which is ahead in opinion polls
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
FT exclusive: “The US state department is set to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities across Europe to disseminate Washington’s policy positions and challenge perceived threats to free speech.” via @annasophiegross.bsky.social and colleagues
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
NEW: Wes Streeting has issued a private ultimatum to pharmaceutical companies to accept the government’s latest offer on drug pricing by Friday or he will publicly end the talks, raising the stakes in negotiations over how much the NHS should pay for treatments. With @hannahkuchler.bsky.social
ft.com
Wes Streeting issues private ultimatum to pharma groups in NHS pricing talks
UK health secretary has warned sector he will publicly walk away from negotiations if his offer is not accepted
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
NEW: Several councils run by Reform UK have resisted efforts by the party’s Elon Musk-style “Doge” unit to access personal and commercially sensitive data, slowing the progress of the highly controversial cost-cutting drive. www.ft.com/content/2019...
ft.com
Reform UK’s ‘Doge’ unit battles councils for access to sensitive data
Senior lawyers and data handlers at some councils have so far blocked access to restricted information
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
A supercomputer at Edinburgh university is set to receive £750mn as part of Wednesday’s spending review, reversing a contentious decision to suspend funding made in the early days of Sir Keir Starmer’s government Scoop via @annasophiegross.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/b1e9...
ft.com
Edinburgh supercomputer to get £750mn in spending review
Funding comes after Labour initially pulled money for the project last July
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
SCOOP: A supercomputer at Edinburgh university is set to receive £750mn as part of Wednesday’s spending review, reversing a contentious decision to suspend funding made in the early days of Sir Keir Starmer’s government. www.ft.com/content/b1e9...
ft.com
Edinburgh supercomputer to get £750mn in spending review
Funding comes after Labour initially pulled money for the project last July
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
NEW: Ministers are considering a softening of their contentious welfare reforms that could allow up to 200,000 people to keep their disability benefits, as the government seeks to stave off a backbench rebellion.
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
NEW: England’s drug approval body has resisted pressure from pharmaceutical companies to loosen its process for recommending drugs and is pressing instead for the NHS to speed up the rollout of approved medicines. W/ @hannahkuchler.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/4aa1...
ft.com
England’s drug approval body resists pharma pressure to loosen processes
Nice urges NHS to speed up distribution of approved medicines, showing economic benefits of efficient rollout
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Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 15/04/2025
This is a great piece by @annasophiegross.bsky.social, who is dead right about Labour's messaging. But it would seem that the economic arrangements that have served politicians - and many voters - well for decades are no longer fit for purpose. But what comes next? on.ft.com/3ReNrRA
on.ft.com
Labour must spell out what UK growth will pay for
Focusing on benefits to voters’ wallets would help blunt the threat posed by the likes of Nigel Farage
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
NEW: Border security tsar Martin Hewitt told me slashing small boat crossings by half over the next three years would count as a success. He said "there will always be people who seek to move" but denied that cracking down on people smuggling was as futile as the War on Drugs.
ft.com
UK border security chief aims to cut small boat crossings by half
Martin Hewitt says there is ‘no quick answer’ to problems of irregular migration to Britain
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
NEW: Senior figures around Reform UK have drawn up plans for a think-tank called RESOLUTE 1850 that aims to attract Maga donors from America, according to a 17-slide presentation leaked to me TWO SLIDES BELOW
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Excellent piece by @annasophiegross.bsky.social and @amyborrett.ft.com:
ft.com
What went wrong with the UK’s welfare system?
Factors behind sharp rise in incapacity and disability benefits are complex and at times counterintuitive
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
It was great to chat about welfare, the NHS and whether Keir Starmer has betrayed the left on this episode of Political Fix!
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Zach Boren @zdboren.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
great story by @annasophiegross.bsky.social
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
NEW: Elon Musk has expressed an interest in backing an alternative to Reform UK, following a spat that erupted last week between Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe, sources tell me 1/5
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Edward Luce @edwardluce.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Very reassuring to see traditional conservatives like Jeb Bush and David Cameron getting their priorities straight in these dangerous times. Oh wait. www.ft.com/content/9fab...
ft.com
David Cameron joins Jeb Bush’s private equity firm
Former UK prime minister takes up part-time, paid advisory role at ex-Florida governor’s Finback Investment Partners
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Robert Smith @bondhack.ft.com · 05/03/2025
Lord Cameron of Greensill is becoming an adviser to Jeb Bush’s private equity firm Story from @annasophiegross.bsky.social, @cynthiao.bsky.social & @antoinegara.bsky.social on.ft.com/3QMvJVh
on.ft.com
David Cameron joins Jeb Bush’s private equity firm
[FREE TO READ] Former UK prime minister takes up part-time, paid advisory role at ex-Florida governor’s Finback Investment Partners
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Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Superb chart.
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Jeremy Konyndyk @jeremykonyndyk.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
So - I've actually led Ebola outbreak response at USAID. This is bunk from Elon. They have laid off most of the experts, they're bankrupting most of the partner orgs, have withdrawn from WHO, and muzzled CDC. What's left is a fig-leaf effort to cover their asses politically.
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
NEW: Nigel Farage’s personal media company made £1.25mn in profits last year bolstered by his lucrative gig on I'm a Celebrity. The MPs' register of interests shows that Farage has been paid £265,000 for his work presenting on GB News since July, roughly £38,000 a month. www.ft.com/content/42c5...
ft.com
Nigel Farage’s media company records £1.25mn profit
Reform UK leader’s earnings boosted by reality show appearance in late 2023
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
NEW: Wes Streeting plans to ask employers to invest in vaccinations and medical check-ups for staff as he looks to reduce ballooning government spending on hospital care. Full story : www.ft.com/content/8acd...
ft.com
Wes Streeting to ask employers to pay for more staff medical checks
UK government wants to boost workplace preventive health measures to cut spending on hospital care
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
NEW: Nigel Farage has given up ownership of Reform UK and created a new structure for his rightwing political outfit, according to corporate filings, as he seeks to professionalise the party ahead of local elections in May. Full story here: www.ft.com/content/527b...
ft.com
Nigel Farage relinquishes ownership of Reform UK
Existing rightwing political outfit will be taken over by a newly registered business called Reform 2025 Ltd
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
NEW: Two former employees of Reform UK party have filed legal complaints against the party in a row over money they say the party owes them. Reform flatly denies the money is owed, claiming the contracts were 'forged'. Full story here: www.ft.com/content/072e...
ft.com
Ex-Reform UK employees issue claims for alleged unpaid wages
Reform says claims brought by former workers — who say they were dismissed after the election — are ‘fraudulent’
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
While as an all-purpose nerd, I became very angry reading @annasophiegross.bsky.social's excellent piece on what is IMO the biggest and most important two mistakes Labour has made in office thus far:
ft.com
Failed AstraZeneca deal is no way to sell Labour’s pro-growth ambitions
On supercomputers and life sciences, listening to Treasury naysayers risks letting work and political capital slip away
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Labour MPs have set up an internal group to focus on the rising threat from Reform UK as Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist party this week took the lead in a major national opinion poll for the first time.  www.ft.com/content/ffde...
ft.com
Financial TimesFinancial Times
News, analysis and opinion from the Financial Times on the latest in markets, economics and politics
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
NEW: Steve Reed will spend an extra £200mn on England’s flood defences to shore up crumbling infrastructure. The move follows intense wrangling last year over funding allocated to flood defences in the October budget w/ @pickardje.bsky.social @pmdfoster.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/4d8a...
ft.com
Government to spend extra £200mn on flood defences in England
Environment secretary Steve Reed tells FT previous Tory administration committed a ‘dereliction of duty’
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
NEW: Ofsted is pressing ahead with plans for a colour-coded scorecard to assess school performance that critics have compared to a Nando’s spice chart. Single-word judgments will be replaced with one- or two-word judgments across eight main areas. 1/2 www.ft.com/content/32e4...
ft.com
Ofsted to press ahead with ‘Nando’s-style’ scorecard for schools
Proposed assessment of 8 core areas would replace regulator’s controversial single-word judgments
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
NEW: AstraZeneca has ditched plans to build a new vaccine manufacturing plant in Merseyside, less than a year after it was first announced by Jeremy Hunt. The pharma giant blamed a low offer of state support from the new gov. W/⁦‪ @hannahkuchler.bsky.social on.ft.com/4hDRdPv
on.ft.com
AstraZeneca ditches plan to build new UK vaccine plant
[FREE TO READ] Officials had put forward increased financial support after initially lowering offer
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
latest FT political podcast in which we discuss Trump’s second presidency - with @lucyfisher.bsky.social @edwardluce.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com
Trump turbulence: How should Labour play it?
Podcast Episode · Political Fix · 24/01/2025 · 39m
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
NEW: X has refused to remove a video that Axel Rudakubana watched minutes before murdering three young children, despite numerous requests from authorities in Australia and the UK who have appealed to Elon Musk about the dangers of keeping it online. www.ft.com/content/3c89...
ft.com
X refuses to remove stabbing video watched by Southport killer
Axel Rudakubana was able to view Australian clip before murdering three young children despite pleas from authorities
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
NEW: Elon Musk has privately downplayed the chances of donating to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, telling an associate it would not be easy after he joined the US gov. But there's no law blocking a donation, and he still may decide to make one. W/ @joemillerjr.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/634e...
ft.com
Elon Musk says Reform UK donation may be difficult with Donald Trump in office
Tech billionaire warns an associate that any funding would be harder after this week’s inauguration
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
NEW: Officials have discussed funding a supercomputer at Edinburgh Uni, just six months after axing the major "Exascale" project there. One official told me the gov has been searching for ways to reverse their decision to pull the plug 1/2
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Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 10/01/2025
Why is Musk fixated with Britain? Could his online hostility spill over into the offline world? & how should UK/European govts respond? The tech billionaire is our focus on Political Fix this week, feat @pickardje.bsky.social, @joemillerjr.bsky.social, @annasophiegross.bsky.social & Miranda Green
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Important story from @annasophiegross.bsky.social:
ft.com
Limit foreign political donations, says UK government’s ethical adviser
Call comes after reports that Elon Musk could make large gift to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Terrific piece by @georgewparker.bsky.social and @annasophiegross.bsky.social on Reform’s ambitions:
ft.com
Can Nigel Farage turn Reform into a serious contender for government?
Support for the rightwing populist party is growing fast but its path to power remains rocky
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
NEW: Nigel Farage has momentum, but can he turn a start-up party into a serious vehicle for power? Reform aims to raise at least £10mn a year outside of elections. It also plans to field candidates in 90% of 2,200 council elections next year - and win at least 200 of them
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Nigel Farage’s biggest backer asked an associate to donate £50,000 on his behalf so that it would appear that the Brexit party had a broader donor base, according to messages seen by the Financial Times scoop via @annasophiegross.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/8977...
ft.com
Financial TimesFinancial Times
News, analysis and opinion from the Financial Times on the latest in markets, economics and politics
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George Parker @georgewparker.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Great scoop by @annasophiegross.bsky.social
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annasophiegross.bsky.social @annasophiegross.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
NEW: Nigel Farage’s biggest backer Christopher Harborne asked an associate to donate £50,000 on his behalf so that it would appear that the Brexit party had a broader donor base, according to messages seen by the FT. www.ft.com/content/8977...
ft.com
Nigel Farage’s biggest backer tried to send donation via associate
Christopher Harborne wanted to avoid perception that party only had one big supporter, according to messages
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
some of you may not know that FT does a political podcast but here it is really enjoyed chatting to @annasophiegross.bsky.social and host @lucyfisher.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com
Labour’s beef with farmers
Podcast Episode · Political Fix · 21/11/2024 · 36m
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