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Jennifer Williams

@jenwilliamsft.bsky.social
28K followers 436 following 3.8K posts

Northern correspondent, Financial Times Experimental cook, purveyor of Andy Burnham content “Cynical” - Boris Johnson 📍Manchester

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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 5h
From asking around today the sense seems to be that he’s genuinely worried about the impact on Mcr - he also said something about wanting to “review” decision when it first leaked - and has made an unusual error in not reading the room (+mistakenly equated it too closely to the Everton situation)
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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 18h
The chairman of Manchester City was granted diplomatic immunity in 2020. The investigation into the club began in December 2018. www.ft.com/content/1256...
ft.com
Manchester City chair shielded by diplomatic immunity
Khaldoon al-Mubarak was granted immunity six years ago, protecting him from potential legal proceedings in the UK
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
There is a quiet but live debate among many people I know here atm about the fallout from this for the city’s reputation, exactly at the point it’s been talked up to the nth degree
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Stuart Hoddinott @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
NEW: Burnham made a strong case for adult social care reform at conference, but pushed the National Care Service into next parliament I argue he should get on with it, use his majority and 2024 mandate and establish the NCS in this parliament 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Andy Burnham should establish the National Care Service this parliament | Institute for Government
There is no reason to delay plans for potentially three years.
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Tides of History @tidesofhistory.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
As Burnham promises to repeal Thatcher's Water Bill, a look back at the original Labour fight against privatiastion It was led by a rising Labour star who warned it had no public support: "Under public ownership the industries are more accountable” 👇 yesterdaypapers.substack.com/p/tony-blair...
yesterdaypapers.substack.com
Tony Blair and the Battle to stop Water Privatisation
In the 1980s Tony Blair argued that “under public ownership the industries are more accountable”
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This was my feeling when I heard AB’s social care speech in the summer. Political argument can change the consensus if done right (which is not to say he will, but it’s striking to see a politician try)
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Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
such a good eg of why political argument matters - polling previously showed over 60% support for keeping triple lock. Argue to unlock it *for something people also want* & numbers can change. (Obv can change back again if someone makes a good argument against, but either way, politics=argument)
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A win and a loss for me on the prediction front. Didn’t think he’d scrap the triple lock today but weirdly did predict the Farm
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Burnham has just confirmed our scoop
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
My personal issue with these products (I think the jab veers into this too) is the link into mental health - it encourages obsessive thinking at a time when generalised anxiety is high. Mental and physical health are so connected, yet these things are treated in isolation
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Another excellent piece by @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social (English) Devolution, like so much else is turning into a binary issue where you either think it a waste of time and money, or a silver bullet to solve all our problems. www.ft.com/content/067a... The dangers of devolution dogma
ft.com
The dangers of devolution dogma
Viewing decentralisation as a silver bullet could lead to an unthinking rush to pass down power as fast as possible
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This finding underlines why we should not take precise MRP numbers v seriously at this stage - huge numbers of seats are projected to be v close - a small shift in national sentiment or a modest and plausible level of tactical switching could dramatically change seat numbers
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Watching an old old Nigella episode to soothe my brain and she’s just put a whole bottle of gin and a whole bottle of what looks distinctly like apple sourz in a jug. If you ever want a night out on Canal St @nigella.bsky.social just name the date
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
The telly is “upgrading” itself again. Last time its performance dramatically declined so I’m fully expecting it to imminently be black and white
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George Potter 🔶 @georgepotter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
As a former council portfolio holder for waste services, I find this side of EPR maddening. Glass is by far one of the easiest things to recycle, while paper and plastic packaging, despite being theoretically recyclable, are normally too contaminated to do anything with. Glass should be encouraged!
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I wrote something about the prolonged screams from British - ergo mostly northern - glass container manufacturers, which tick pretty much every box of the Burnham/No 10 North agenda as.ft.com/r/3a568260-c...
as.ft.com
Why the British glass industry could be Number 10 North’s first major test
Heavily northern-based sector says intervention by Burnham is needed to reverse ‘dramatic decline’ caused by new packaging levies
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Anna H @athenepallas.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
From the local paper on Portsmouth (local press can often be far more useful in these kinds of situations, I'm finding) - the RNLI were denied entry to both Portsmouth and Southampton ports and according to this piece were threatened with legal action: www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politic...
portsmouth.co.uk
RNLI 'disappointed' with ports' communication over migrant rescue
The RNLI were denied entry to Southampton and Portsmouth ports
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Emma Yeomans @yeomans.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Extreme right-wing protesters are in a stand-off with the RNLI in Portsmouth. The group, led by Danny Tommo, are waist-deep in the sea and threatening to go "under the water" if police try to arrest them. Six lifeboats monitoring. Volunteer rescuers giving up their evening for this.
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Kate Allen @kateallen.ft.com · 06/09/2026
Police are facing growing questions over how up to 500 masked activists dressed in black brought parts of Dover to a standstill on Saturday. Authorities have been accused of failure to act, intelligence failures and being ‘caught on the hoof’. www.ft.com/content/f244...
ft.com
Police face questions over Dover disruption caused by masked protesters
Up to 500 activists dressed in black with their faces covered brought part of UK port town to a standstill on Saturday
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Had a lovely time at the @financialtimes.com weekend festival yesterday, talking Burnham and generally saying hello to people. If you came along to listen to me ramble about the PM, thankyou
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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 06/09/2026
No busking, no drinking: councils hire private groups to enforce growing list of rules ft.trib.al/3noe48d
ft.trib.al
No busking, no drinking: councils hire private groups to enforce growing list of rules
Crackdown by local officials in England has raised concerns about infringements on civil liberties
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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 04/09/2026
EVENT | Andy Burnham, Manchester and No.10 North: How can the PM make his devolution agenda succeed? 📅 Tuesday 8 Sept, 12:30 Join @tompope.bsky.social @lukeraikes.bsky.social @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social in Manchester www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/andy-b...
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Hive mind! I’m on the lookout for people who have moved to Manchester from London and bought a house, for a piece on the market here. If you’ve done that and fancy a chat about your experience (where you bought, why, how it compares to London etc) please do shout me
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Column, on Burnham’s free-range style about to collide with the battery farm politics of Westminster www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Burnham’s ambitious plans need room to breathe – and Westminster suffocates change | Rafael Behr
A summer on the road suited the prime minister’s open style, but now the walls of conventional politics are closing in, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
This journey has continued to get worse. Crewe station is chaos, everything being re routed or platforms changed or cancelled or indefinitely delayed. Plus my handy guide to apparently minor but actually important British infrastructure continues
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Thought this train was the exception to all the delayed trains I’ve seen today, so notwithstanding from the sweltering temperature and the weird smell of onions I took it as a win. Now at a standstill, maybe because of a defective track and maybe because of “something to do with the level crossing”
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Seems that in the two days I’ve been away London newsdesks have discovered crime exists in the north and especially in poor bits of the north
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
General state of British infrastructure still going well. I play bingo at Piccadilly now to see which moving walkways are broken (currently two escalators and two travelators) and the Transport for Wales train I’m on is standing room only because, and I quote the conductor, “it is half a train”
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
100%. Not the experience in Greater Manchester…
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Jules Birch @julesbirch.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Feels like there’s an untested assumption here that mayors will only use their new powers in favour of development www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Mayors to get powers to overrule local councils on planning decisions
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the change was "essential" for helping mayors "effectively deliver new homes".
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Prawn cocktail on chips 👌
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I’ll take Manchester being mentioned in the same breath as Oxbridge and go from there
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Nadine Batchelor-Hunt @nadinebh.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Can the government launch a campaign on this for non-refugee men as well, please? Because the statistics show it’s badly needed
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
If anyone knows what the gigantic Thing was that was just being escorted by police motorcade through the centre of Stretford I have a deep need to know. Big military looking Thing on the back of probably the longest vehicle I’ve ever seen
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Interesting seeing the govt line on why rough sleeping continued rising in GM after Covid. There may have been some pull factor from the idea the city had support and provision, but a big - if not the biggest - reason was asylum decisions as.ft.com/r/2936a80d-0...
as.ft.com
Andy Burnham failed to end rough sleeping as a mayor — can he succeed as prime minister?
Charities who worked with him in Greater Manchester believe PM enters Number 10 understanding what drives the crisis
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Think I said this on here on Sunday although it was more re council housing in that instance. This is a tension that’s going to run and run if No 10 hasn’t thought/doesn’t think through the relationship between devo and priority national policy objectives
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Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
This looks like another one for the #devowatch Team. You cannot both want meaningful devolution and abhor postcode lotteries. Discuss.
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Only just clocked this was the BBC. Come on, there’s no excuse for this
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
V interesting this. AB will be heavily influenced by his time here, during which he successfully lobbied for emergency nationalisation at Northern and TPE. Both have improved (partly bc of better TU relations/resolution). But not everywhere starts from such a low bar as.ft.com/r/6e08dbbb-a...
as.ft.com
Why nationalise the railways if nothing really changes?
Since operator C2C was brought into public hands last year, outcomes have yet to see much improvement
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
I am off this week avoiding news but my insta, which I jealously guard from news in favour of salad recipes and intensely stupid shit, is full of Andy content because it now thinks that’s what I want after the last feel months. It is increasingly amounting to violation
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I hope this isn’t the new stage of the Burnham comms strategy
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Visit Wakefield @visitwakefield.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Tomorrow Wakefield will definitely invade Leeds, barring any major omens tonight.
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
A hazy day over Morecambe Bay
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Salad and chips.
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
It has been correctly pointed out that the Eastern Daily Press is engaged in proper local journalism on this troubling violence www.edp24.co.uk/news/2644627...
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Final newsletter before I lie down in a darkened room Tried to explain the genesis of Burnham’s skills policy so far, including what it is and isn’t (I think) as.ft.com/r/bffeca37-3...
as.ft.com
The Manchester roots of Andy Burnham’s skills revolution
An early political dividing line on technical education risks obscuring the case for which he has long argued
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Robert Smith @bondhack.ft.com · 05/08/2026
‘Tice said, however, that it was “not surprising no one reads the FT”, adding: “it’s so boring”.’ www.ft.com/content/4abf...
ft.com
Reform repaid Tice loan on same day £1mn donated by mother of Farage aide Cottrell
Transactions fuel criticism of the party’s lack of transparency over its financing
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Thomas Aubrey @thomasaubreycca.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Great piece by Jen. The Alfred Waterhouse piece is a must read! And thanks for the reference to my @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk piece on public corporation debt.
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
A bit from me on devo max and the outlines of an emerging question: what will councils be for? as.ft.com/r/731ed47f-f...
as.ft.com
Andy Burnham rewires the ‘unaccountable’ state
Prime minister’s opening devolution gambit does not lack ambition
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