Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 01/10/2026A defence minister has also told parliament that the govt is sounding out alternative suppliers for its MoD contract 0220
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 01/10/2026Ministers have identified a handful of UK technology companies they hope might be candidates to take over the health service’s Federated Data Platform, as they consider applying a break clause in Palantir’s contract in March next year, people familiar with the matter told the FT 1230
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 01/10/2026EXC: British govt is searching for a UK alternative to Palantir, as the PM’s “buy British” push triggers hunt for homegrown replacement for the controversial US software group in NHS and MoD w/ @chris-smyth.bsky.social & @laurahughesft.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/9a6e...ft.comAndy Burnham searches for UK alternative to PalantirPrime minister’s ‘buy British’ push triggers hunt to find replacement for controversial US tech group awarded health service and defence contracts 910940
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 30/09/2026NEW: There are “strong indications that Iran played a part” in the RAF Fairford incident, Andy Burnham says UK is working w/ US on the matter, which “remains an ongoing, complex & serious police investigation” PM confirms Rubio claim’s claim about role of a state actor www.ft.com/content/bb55...ft.com‘Strong indications’ Iran was involved in RAF Fairford incident, says Andy BurnhamPrime minister says UK is working closely with US administration following release of five suspects on bail 254618
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 29/09/2026"...on a long-term relationship with what is still our largest market... "Brexit has done more harm than good... "We need to restore a higher level of growth and prosperity for Britain," the PM says. 1152
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 29/09/2026Breaking: Burnham announces he will set out what the "different options are for Britain’s long-term relationship with our European partners" later this year. "We will not give Britain the clear path we need into the rest of this century until we decide... 1195
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 29/09/2026We’re recording Political Fix *live* at Labour conference later after Burnham’s speech! Biz sec Johnny Reynolds is our special guest on the pod If you’re in Liverpool & fancy listening in, come along to the inHouse lounge for 5.30pm Stephen Bush, Jen Williams & George Parker are on the panel 🎙️📻🎧 0123
Reposted by Lucy FisherFinancial Times @financialtimes.com · 28/09/2026Just in: The five men arrested near RAF Fairford over a suspected terrorist plot were all UK nationals in their twenties living in London, Counter Terrorism Policing said on Monday. ft.trib.al/ysSl5Ys 76223
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 28/09/2026Miliband has pledged that “no tech titan will stand in our way” as the govt prepares to lead global efforts “to manage AI” during Britain’s G20 presidency next year www.ft.com/content/7761...ft.comLabour conference live: John Healey gives first party speech as UK chancellorSpeech to party members comes a month before high-stakes Budget 072
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 28/09/2026John Healey to promise ‘new age of industrialisation’ with £6bn Royal Navy plan Chxwill pledge that work on building three new floating docks on the Clyde in Scotland will be carried out by British firms www.ft.com/content/46c3...ft.comHealey to promise ‘new age of industrialisation’ with £6bn Royal Navy planChancellor will pledge that work on building three new floating docks on the Clyde in Scotland will be carried out by British firms 041
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 25/09/2026People briefed on discussions say Burnham’s team is taking soundings on whether he should signal — either at conference or in “10-year plan” later this year — that the party’s next manifesto cd remove block to UK rejoining a customs union, single market or EU itself W/ @georgewparker.bsky.social 1102
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 25/09/2026👀 Andy Burnham is under mounting pressure to signal he could drop Labour’s “red lines” preventing Britain from moving closer to the EU, as party figures debate whether he should address the issue in his party conference speech next week. www.ft.com/content/a161...ft.comAndy Burnham under pressure to signal shift on Labour’s EU ‘red lines’Prime minister’s team taking soundings on whether party should move UK closer to Europe 2166
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 23/09/2026How could Chx John Healey raise tax in the Budget? Examining the for/against cases for increasing capital gains, pensions, companies & property taxation www.ft.com/content/dffc...ft.comHow could John Healey raise tax in the Budget?Given the restrictions imposed on him by Labour’s manifesto, the chancellor has limited options available to bring in money 242
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 22/09/2026Asked by travelling press pack whether Britain (which spearheaded the MDM) can be a member of both entities, PM said: “That’s what we are in discussions about at the moment” Added: “The two sides are exploring the extent to which we can bring the two initiatives together, one can support the other” 141
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 22/09/2026Last week we revealed the UK is in talks to join the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) - with one of the options being a merger of it with the Multilateral Defence Mechanism (MDM). Andy Burnham confirmed today that such discussions are underway, while speaking in NY 2143
Reposted by Lucy FisherChris Cook @chriscook.news · 21/09/2026A big new story from us: a big new leak means that we can put numbers on the scale of A7 -- the Kremlin's huge money-laundering machine. $6.9bn laundered through the international banking system via SWIFT, with $1.1bn sent to StanChart alone. www.ft.com/content/3848...ft.comKremlin-backed forgery scheme moved $6.9bn through global banksFT finds thousands of Russian payments handled by Standard Chartered, Citigroup and other international groups in vast leak from inside fintech A7 5276166
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 22/09/2026It’s part of a wider phenomenon across leading AI companies: staff at Anthropic, OpenAI and Google DeepMind have also publicly complained of similar issues, with many top researchers quitting due to the mental toll or coming to a belief that their work was unsafe for public release 1135
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 22/09/2026Tight schedules for testing unreleased AI models, plus alarm over rapid rollout and growing capabilities of AI, have fuelled low morale and burnout at AISI, acc to four people with knowledge of the matter 1105
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 22/09/2026EXC: AI staff complain of mental toll over fears of threat of society Multiple staff at Britain’s AI Security Institute (AISI) have been signed off work with stress and are undergoing counselling, acc to people familiar with the matter www.ft.com/content/6087...ft.comAI staff complain of mental toll over fears of threat to societyTop researchers at Aisi, OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind report burnout and stress over developing powerful AI 34219
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 21/09/2026Later this autumn Political Fix will be recorded on the bridge of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales Delighted the FT is the inaugural media partner for Atlantic Future Forum, the UK govt-led international summit for defence, security & tech leaders www.atlanticfutureforum.comatlanticfutureforum.comAtlantic Future ForumAtlantic Future Forum 1143
Reposted by Lucy FisherRobert Smith @bondhack.ft.com · 17/09/2026Ben Delo is many things: a crypto billionaire, a Reform mega-donor and a free speech advocate. @oilsheppard.bsky.social and I discovered he's also the landlord of a bankrupt academic after funding her failed libel claim against a Jewish artist who complained of antisemism www.ft.com/content/21aa...ft.comReform UK’s mega-donor backed a friend’s libel claim. Now he controls her homeCrypto billionaire Ben Delo loaned more than £300,000 to former academic Nina Power 811640
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 16/09/2026Delighted to be shortlisted for Political Journalist of the Year, in a list of such amazing reporters & great to see fantastic FT colleagues shortlisted across other categories too www.societyofeditors.org/events/media...societyofeditors.orgShortlist 2026 – Society of EditorsSociety of Editors. Protecting the freedom of the news media 3490
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 16/09/2026UK arms of General Dynamics and ARX Robotics will today unveil a plan to integrate robotic vehicles to operate around the Ajax platforms as “wingmen” in war zones 030
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 16/09/2026EXCL: US defence giant and German military start-up are joining forces to deploy autonomous “land drones” aimed at transforming the British Army’s beleaguered Ajax armoured fighting vehicles www.ft.com/content/3c38...ft.comUK looks to ‘land drones’ to transform beleaguered Ajax fighting vehiclesCollaboration between General Dynamics and ARX Robotics aimed at making armoured vehicles more lethal in war zones 160
Reposted by Lucy FisherGina Neff @ginasue.bsky.social · 16/09/2026There is something off about this NYT photo on AI development that I can't quite put my finger on. 611121
Reposted by Lucy FisherTony Tassell @tonytassell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026the Revolut hack story is quite something www.ft.com/content/97f3... 714062
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 15/09/2026Topic set to be on agenda when Burnham and Carney meet tomorrow, and Healey and his Canadian counterpart Champagne meet on Thurs 1222
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 15/09/2026EXCL: UK ‘actively’ exploring joining Canada-led global defence bank British officials examining proposals for UK to join the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) under Burnham, after proposal was rejected by Starmer W/ @pickardje.bsky.social & Ilya Gridneff www.ft.com/content/4e14...ft.comUK ‘actively’ exploring joining Canada-led global defence bankThe DSRB aims to provide low-cost financing for military initiatives 218340
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 15/09/2026Officials say they are confident that HMRC, which has undergone a digital transformation, will be able to devise a solution, though the details are yet to be worked out. 231
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 15/09/2026Tories v sceptical about the mechanism govt will use to avoid pensioners having to fill in tax returns “Reeves promised ‘a simple workaround’ last November. Ten months on there is still no mechanism in place,” said one Tory figure, warning it “doesn't really give pensioners much peace of mind” 882
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 15/09/2026... have the administrative burden of paying small amounts of tax in this Parliament. “Chx will set out further details on how that commitment will be delivered at the Budget.” 260
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 15/09/2026NEW - Pensions minister Torsten Bell confirms that pensioners who ‘just exceed’ personal allowance when state pension rises WON'T have to pay small amounts of tax this parliament “In line with the commitment made at Budget 2025, pensioners who only just exceed the personal allowance will not... 3112
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 11/09/2026Quick links here to Political Fix, the FT’s multi-award-winning weekly podcast on all things Westminster... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0LWx... FT: www.ft.com/content/4fcc... Pocket Casts: pocketcasts.com/podcast/poli...podcasts.apple.comAI: Is Britain prepared?Podcast Episode · Political Fix · 11 September · 41min 010
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 11/09/2026AI: Is Britain prepared? On Political Fix this week the FT’s AI editor Madhu Murgia, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @greenmirandahere.bsky.social & I discuss tech doomerism, the UK-Israel reset, and the Met police probe into Reform… Out now! 🎙️📻🎧 2224
Reposted by Lucy FisherMiranda Green @greenmirandahere.bsky.social · 11/09/2026To explain P-doom and the AI extinction scares Madhumita Murgia joined @lucyfisher.ft.com on Pol Fix this week with @robertshrimsley.bsky.social and I sitting quaking beside her - a great expert witness www.ft.com/content/4fcc...ft.comAI: Is Britain prepared?Plus, Burnham breaks with Starmer over Israel 081
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 10/09/2026EXCL: Lindy Cameron, UK high commissioner to India, is set to become first female perm sec at the Foreign Office, @FT told Cameron, an ex-chief exec of the National Cyber Security Centre, beat Karen Pierce and Barbara Woodward in the final round www.ft.com/content/360d...ft.comForeign Office to appoint first female head after Mandelson turmoilLindy Cameron becomes top civil servant at the department that was rocked by the sacking of predecessor Olly Robbins 0253
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 10/09/2026EXC: Dorchester hotel to sell Qatari sheikh’s car over unpaid £460,000 bill www.ft.com/content/031b...ft.comThe Dorchester hotel to sell Qatari sheikh’s car over unpaid £460,000 billMember of ruling family ran up debt at Mayfair institution equivalent to stay of up to several months 2336
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 09/09/2026He swerved commenting on Anthropic withholding access to its latest model from the UK’s AI Security Institute before release, but insisted AISI is ‘a world leader and is in daily conversation with industry partners including Anthropic’ 050
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 09/09/2026Andy Burnham was challenged on our FT scoop about Anthropic by Lib Dem leader Ed Davey at PMQs today The PM warned AI ‘poses risks to our national security’, but insisted it ‘could also be the source of solutions’ 11910
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 09/09/2026Offences related to alleged contact with a representative of the GRU Volunteer Corps - a group controlled by Russia’s military intelligence agency 2203
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 09/09/2026BREAKING: British man charged under the National Security Act on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence The 31-year-old male was arrested in Swindon last week and has been charged by CPS with assisting a foreign intelligence service and 'preparatory conduct' against the law 15718
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 09/09/2026Comes after Jaguar Land Rover this week confirmed plans to cut 4K jobs (nearly 10% of global workforce) over next two years due to falling sales 040
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 09/09/2026EXC: McLaren will create 1k jobs in the UK as part of a £450mn investment in its technology centre in Woking, in a boost to the country’s struggling automotive industry www.ft.com/content/6f71...ft.comMcLaren to create 1,000 UK jobs in product overhaulCarmaker will give boost to automotive sector as part of £450mn investment in its Woking technology centre 1143
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 09/09/2026EXC: Anthropic declined to submit its latest model to Britain’s AI Security Institute for testing before release, the first time a major model withheld from AISI Move has prompted fears in UK govt that tech firms are falling into line with Trump admin’s AI protectionism www.ft.com/content/560e...ft.comAnthropic withheld latest AI model from UK testing agencyDecision to exclude Aisi has prompted fears inside British government of protectionist shift among tech groups 14243135
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 08/09/2026NEW: Britain announces trade ban on goods and some services linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank Plus accuses settlers of “ethnically cleansing” Palestinians in parts of the territory, in a major reset of UK-Israeli relations www.ft.com/content/990e...ft.comUK announces import ban on goods linked to Israeli settlements in West BankAction planned against companies and individuals involved in settlement expansion, Miliband tells MPs 1014534
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 05/09/2026Plus, @georgewparker.bsky.social and Sam Fleming joined the pod fresh from their interview with Chx John Healey 061
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 05/09/2026This ‘back to school week’ in Westminster has been so busy we’ve had to record *two* episodes of Political Fix! In the latest, we discuss Reform battling scandal - again - with @oilsheppard.bsky.social, who brought us the latest from their conference in B’ham open.spotify.com/episode/7M0Z...open.spotify.comReform in hot water … againPolitical Fix · Episode 281
Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · 02/09/2026Kemi Badenoch sharpens her attack on Andy Burnham as a “people pleaser” with weak leadership skills and a 1970s-obsessed politician “living in the past”. Tory leader has sought to regain front foot at the start of the parliamentary term, incl via her frontbench shake up www.ft.com/content/c939...ft.comBadenoch sharpens her attack on Burnham by calling him the ‘people pleaser’Tory leader persists with her pugilistic strategy in the House of Commons after shaking up her top team 1384