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Robert Shrimsley

@robertshrimsley.bsky.social
80K followers 210 following 1.1K posts

Chief political commentator and executive editor, Financial Times www.ft.com/robert-shrimsley www.chartwellspeakers.com/speaker/r…

PostsRepliesMedia
Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Why Burnham's Man City contortions expose Labours wider inconsistencies. Clever piece by @stephenkb.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/ffc5...
ft.com
Andy Burnham’s Manchester City problem
The prime minister’s economic vision looks dangerously like a game of two halves
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Is pneumonic plague the one where you keep deliriously muttering a sentence that reminds you of the colours of the rainbow.
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Daniel Sugarman @danielsugarman.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
You realise we all saw how an amendment specifically designed to remove the targeting of Jewish Green Party members for Synagogue attendance was rejected, right? These "assurances" are as worthless as your "solidarity".
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Timing is everything. The Labour Party has waited nearly 20 years for the type of leader Andy Burnham revealed himself to be this week, someone who could bury Blairism and still look like a winner.  www.ft.com/content/4014...
ft.com
Burnham’s wake-up call to the right
Those who oppose big-state socialism have never been more in need of a strong Conservative Party and rarely further from having one
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
If Reform did something like this with mosques we might think they were a bit racist. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
thetimes.com
Jewish Greens face sanctions for belonging to ‘Zionist’ synagogues
The Green Party rejected an amendment to protect Jewish members attending self-declared ‘Zionist’ organisations from reports of racism
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FT Edit @ftedit.ft.com · 30/09/2026
"It was a speech of confidence and political courage but it begged one question. What is the point of the rest of this parliament?" And here's UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley's take ... Read @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on #FTEdit 👉 ft.trib.al/SgvLPfm
ft.trib.al
Burnham’s brave new world — just one more election away
The starting gun for the prime minister’s real revolution will not be fired till he has gone to the country
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
But was this good growth or bad growth?
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Labour, and the country, need a Callaghan moment. Bracing column by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social:
ft.com
You want honesty, Andy? Britain is out of easy options
The prime minister must tell voters that Labour’s manifesto has been superseded by world events, both economic and military
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I don't understand why Farage is silently sympathising with the attacks on the RNLI. This feels like a disaster for Reform - exactly the kind of issue that powers the tactical voting against him and alienates soft conservatives.
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Unsurprisngly good piece from @stephenkb.bsky.social on the Ed Davey's leadership panic. But his opening par is a dream. www.ft.com/content/f309...
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
"Can we at least get that probability below 10%? One chance in ten seems like a lot. Could we get it into single figures? Five per cent, I can work with. That’s a 95 per cent chance of it not happening." Comms advice for the AI bosses competiting to wipe out humanity www.ft.com/content/780c...
ft.com
Investors need to know you are ahead in the race to destroy humanity
A behind-the-scenes look at the work of Rutherford Hall, critical communications strategist
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
There are several world leaders whose CV would definitely ensure them a final interview for the post. Is the antichrist walking among us? www.ft.com/content/91b9...
ft.com
Is the Antichrist really walking among us?
JD Vance would not be shocked. But how to spot the tell-tale signs?
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
my brilliant colleague @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on the threat from Elon Musk’s X platform www.ft.com/content/f270...
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Tony Tassell @tonytassell.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
From a @robertshrimsley.bsky.social column on how mega-donors obscure the wider threats to British democracy www.ft.com/content/f270...
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
My review of Emily St John Mandel's absorbing new novel. www.ft.com/content/bfb9...
ft.com
Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel — parallel visions of dystopia
This beautifully written novel portrays two equally terrifying views of the world in 2031 — total anarchy or safety under a repressive state
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
It's hard to think of anything less British than the morons doing this to the heroic RNLI
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The actual solution is disestablishment.
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Nothing sinister about this at all. Although the shorts inevitably make you think of Roderick Spode.
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
"It's not about seeing the Bayeaux Tapestry. It's about being seen seeing it." - Business mover and shaker, Rutherford hall, explains. www.ft.com/content/82d7...
ft.com
It’s not about seeing the Bayeux Tapestry. It’s about being seen, seeing it
A behind-the-scenes look at the work of Rutherford Hall, critical communications strategist
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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 06/09/2026
A revolt against smart glasses may not succeed — but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try, says Robert Shrimsley: ft.trib.al/rdKHRt9
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Fabulous Times explainer walking you through the Bayeux Tapestry www.thetimes.com/culture/art/...
thetimes.com
Your interactive guide to the Bayeux Tapestry
Explore the 11th-century masterpiece and its dramatic story of the conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy with our unique dynamic guide. The Times writers Richard Morrison, Laura Freeman and ...
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Terrific column by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on Burnham's theory of how you communicate and persuade in 2026:
ft.com
Britain tests the unproven ‘politics of trying’
Andy Burnham is attempting to demonstrate he understands the priorities of voters who feel unheard
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
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Laura Gordon @lauragordon.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Agree with this. When someone resigns or is fired that's them tapping out. From that point on they are a private citizen and the justification for writing about them needs to be higher.
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
No one deserves and end like that, especially not for these kind of failings. Who knows if it might have ended differently if media let him be after he quit but it is worth thinking about.
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Andy Burnham - money saving expert www.ft.com/content/74ab...
ft.com
Is Andy Burnham the new Money Saving Expert?
Our latest PM is laser-focused on the cost of living but here’s how he could go even further
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Farage's win reminds me of the scene in the Office where they claim to have won a quiz they lost because Chris Finch managed to throw a shoe over a building www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-2B...
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Some fantastic blue sky advice for Infantino revealed in private advice from communications guru Rutherford Hall (link below)
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
This article is all the more powerful for being written by such a tribune of the right. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08...
telegraph.co.uk
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
"I’d be a lot more confident about the future if it wasn’t in the hands of people who seem to think Brave New World is a parenting manual" www.ft.com/content/3350...
ft.com
Can AI improve my parenting?
There are genuinely useful ways the technology can help with this. But Sam Altman’s ChatGPT tips are not among them
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
As a Cambridge graduate I'd just like to take this opportunity to say "as a Cambridge graduate". (im not actually)
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Let us honor if we can the vertical man, though we value none but the horizontal one
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Well this is obviously nothing to worry about
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
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Richard Delevan @richard.wickedproblems.earth · 06/08/2026
Don't agree with 100% of this @robertshrimsley.bsky.social analysis but it's the best I've seen on diagnosing Badenoch's climate dilemma. And I would love to see more on the "climate hushing" that is an increasingly worrying part of Burnhamism. Gift link: giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
The good, the bad and the green of Badenoch
The Tory leader’s stance on climate exposes her greatest strength and weaknesses
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Over at the Telegraph Allister Heath - not widely seen asn one of the world's woke socialists - has written a piece arguing quite modestly against bigotry and the Telegraph readers are going mad at him.
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Andy Burnham has redefined Dad tweeting -
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FT Weekend @ftweekend.com · 01/08/2026
The whole middle-aged working stiff genre is being redefined. You can’t afford not to be involved, writes Robert Shrimsley: ft.trib.al/ldDCWoD
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Manchester mayoral count has so far lasted around 14 hours - but hey this is Manchester we do things differently here.
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Since 2025, America has had more cases of measles (4,500), than in the previous 25 years combined after the disease had been declared eradicated. Almost all the US measles outbreaks have been in unvaccinated communities. Most of its fatalities are children www.ft.com/content/570e...
ft.com
The twilight of Dr Fauci
Scientist’s congressional testimony came amid the most sustained assault on US public service since the McCarthy era
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
How to TikTok like Andy: "Perhaps you are not doing TikTok and Instagram videos at all because you’re, well, an adult. But now you see that even PMs are Tiking, or Toking, and you realise that lying on LinkedIn is no longer enough of a social media offering." www.ft.com/content/57ec...
ft.com
How can I TikTok like Andy Burnham?
The whole middle-aged working stiff genre is being redefined. You can’t afford not to be involved
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
This is a really important point from Jen. All those of us who started out on local or regional papers know the vital role they played holding local authorities to scrutiny (also teaching generations of journalists how to do the job!) Powerful mayors will need a media they can't just ignore.
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Not only is the right decision in principle it's smart politics to go straight in for the kill - its the best chance of stopping the whole plan before it gathers any traction in other parts of the world.
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
The Farage drop is, I think, potentially more consequential medium term than the Burnham bounce (which will fade I'm sure). Reform are a one man band, built around Farage's brand. If he becomes toxic (a) he might quit politics (as he has before) (b) whether he does or not they have no plan B.
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Miranda Green @greenmirandahere.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
And here is @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on a pre-holiday roll pointing out the right sound a bit delusional (also IMHO hoping for the country to fail is neither a strategy nor very attractive) www.ft.com/content/5fa1...
ft.com
There is no modern-day Maggie to save Britain from Burnhamism
The right hopes that Labour’s new leader will fail, but who exactly is going to step in and shake things up?
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Dunwich Heath is so beautiful. This fire is tragic.
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I enjoyed Power Trip but it is telling how much the lobby adores this book. It's largely process over ideas, dirty tricks over policy, tactics over strategy and of course its hugely about us.
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Started writing on Andy Burnham’s education proposal thinking “not sure about this”. Realised in writing “no, I am sure: it sucks!”
ft.com
Education is not to blame for England’s Neet crisis
Andy Burnham’s schools overhaul risks throwing babies out with the bathwater, as changes will probably require cuts elsewhere
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