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Ellen Milligan

@ellenmilligan.bsky.social
464 followers 92 following 17 posts

Political Correspondent for @bloomberg.com covering UK foreign policy and defence. Email: emilligan11@bloomberg.net

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Reposted by Ellen Milligan
UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
🌹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
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Jorge Valero @europressos.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
❗️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...
bloomberg.com
Spain Gets New Powers Over Visas, Residence Permits in Gibraltar
The European Union and UK agreed to give Spain new powers over the issuance of residency permits, visas and asylum in Gibraltar, as part of an accord to settle the post-Brexit border arrangements for ...
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
UK Confronts Hard Reality of Rebuilding Its Military Prowess
Years of underinvestment, botched contracts and poor recruitment have hollowed out what was once a superpower.
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Jorge Valero @europressos.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
❗️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.com
UK Signals Openness to EU Court Oversight of Key Food Checks
The UK is prepared to retain some regulatory alignment with the European Union and accept supervision of the bloc’s court over a deal to cut checks on imports of foods and agricultural products, a mov...
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Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Bloomberg Saturday read Trump crisis sets Starmer a defining test of leadership With @ellenmilligan.bsky.social >>> www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Starmer Faces Defining Moment in Campaign to Sway Trump
The last time Keir Starmer crossed the Atlantic to meet Donald Trump the British prime minister needed to show he could avoid a personality clash with the once and future president. The stakes are con...
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Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
UK Military Chiefs Warn Treasury 2.5% Spending Goal Falls Short
UK defense chiefs have privately warned the government that plans to raise military funding to 2.5% of economic output won’t be enough, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to make a budget decisio...
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Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
Reeves Gives Whitehall Departments ‘Flat Cash’ Austerity Warning
The UK Treasury has told several government departments to prepare for their budgets to be frozen in cash terms ahead of a major spending review planned in June.
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Lucy White @lucygjwhite.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
Northern Ireland Sizes Up Exposure to Trump Trade War With EU
Donald Trump’s trade war is threatening to open fresh Brexit wounds in Northern Ireland.
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
UK Considers Making Netflix Users Pay License Fee to Fund BBC
The UK is considering making households who only use streaming services such as Netflix and Disney pay the BBC license fee, as part of plans to modernize the way it funds the public-service broadcaste...
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Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
How Rachel Reeves Decided UK Needs to Bet Big on Economic Growth
Soon after her UK budget on Oct. 30, as economic sentiment plummeted and businesses protested higher taxes, an under-pressure Rachel Reeves had one key message for Treasury officials: “We need to go f...
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Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
Starmer Faces Labour Party Split Over Heathrow Airport Expansion Plan
Keir Starmer’s plans to green-light a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport risk triggering a damaging split within his governing Labour Party amid concerns that extend into his own cabinet about ...
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Reposted by Ellen Milligan
Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
UK Poised to Back Heathrow Airport Expansion in Push for Growth
Keir Starmer’s government is preparing to approve controversial expansions to three London airports as part of a push to spur growth that’s become more urgent this month after international markets ca...
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Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
Europe Grows More Optimistic Trump Won’t Abandon Ukraine
Ukraine’s European allies have become cautiously optimistic that US President-elect Donald Trump won’t force Kyiv into premature negotiations with Russia.
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
Keir Starmer to Visit Ukraine to Discuss Postwar Peacekeeping Force
Keir Starmer will travel to Ukraine in the coming weeks to discuss the possibility of deploying an international peacekeeping force there after the conflict with Russia has ended, his first visit to t...
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Mauritian officials, led by its Attorney General, have arrived in the UK for further negotiations this week. The UK hopes that offering to front-load the payments will help clinch the deal www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
UK Weighs Front-Loading Payments for Mauritius in Chagos Deal
The UK is considering front-loading its funding package for Mauritius as part of a sweetened deal ceding sovereignty of the Chagos islands, including a key UK-US military base, to the Indian Ocean nat...
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
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...
bloomberg.com
UK Weighs Front-Loading Payments for Mauritius in Chagos Deal
The UK is considering front-loading its funding package for Mauritius as part of a sweetened deal ceding sovereignty of the Chagos islands, including a key UK-US military base, to the Indian Ocean nat...
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
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...
youtube.com
How An Unemployed Trader Became a $700 Million Exile
YouTube video by Bloomberg Originals
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
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
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
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...
bloomberg.com
UK Gives £75 Million to Veterans Who Faced Decades of Homophobia
The UK government set aside £75 million ($96 million) for gay veterans who suffered decades of homophobic abuse in the British military, a 50% increase on previously-planned compensation.
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
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...
bloomberg.com
UK Explores Joining €1.5 billion EU Fund to Boost Defense Sector
The UK is considering participating in a €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) fund being set up by the European Union to bolster the regional defense industry, people familiar with the matter said.
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
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...
bloomberg.com
Starmer Looks to Revive Post-Brexit School Trips From Europe
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to smooth post-Brexit travel requirements for school trips from individual European nations, in what would be one of the first tangible outcomes of his proposed ...
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Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
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...
bloomberg.com
UK Warns Assad Downfall Could Trigger European Migration Crisis
Bashar al-Assad’s fall from power in Syria could spark a fresh migration crisis across Europe, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned, as Britain paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims.
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Reposted by Ellen Milligan
Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
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...
bloomberg.com
Starmer Triggers Labour Alarm After Early Reset Bid Falls Flat
Keir Starmer is facing calls from across his Labour Party for bolder policies and sharper messaging to reconnect with voters, after a major speech aimed at rebooting his stuttering UK premiership flop...
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
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...
bloomberg.com
Starmer Reset Bid Underscores UK Government’s Early Struggles
Keir Starmer pledged to fast-track the approval of at least 150 major infrastructure projects as one of a series of milestones he wants his new UK government to measured by, as the prime minister trie...
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Reposted by Ellen Milligan
Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
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...
bloomberg.com
UK Won’t Choose Between Trump and European Allies, Starmer Says
The UK doesn’t need to trade off its special relationship with the US against its European alliances, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, despite concern that President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to to ...
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Starmer also uses a keynote foreign policy speech to say the end of the Russia-Ukraine war will need to be negotiated + that the UK “must be prepared to talk to a wider range of countries” including China. More here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
UK Won’t Choose Between Trump and European Allies, Starmer Says
The UK doesn’t need to trade off its special relationship with the US against its European alliances, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, despite concern that President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to to ...
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
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...
bloomberg.com
UK Won’t Choose Between Trump and European Allies, Starmer Says
The UK doesn’t need to trade off its special relationship with the US against its European alliances, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, despite concern that President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to to ...
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
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.
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
First cabinet resignation just five months into Keir Starmer’s administration:
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
The Downing Street christmas tree is going up outside Number 10!
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Adam Payne @adampayne26.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
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!
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Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Apparently I'm late to the party...
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Ailbhe Rea @pronouncedalva.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Woop the Bloomberg lobby team is here! Welcome Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social and Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social
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