Nuggets from weekend read with the Bloomberg team: -Burnham allies say policy blitz is as much about politics as policies -Comms team borrowing from Trump’s style -Some around him think he shd call an early election -It’s a possibility worrying Reform, some of whom are concerned they’re not ready

Burnham Bets a Trump-Style Show Buys Time to Fix the Hard Stuff

Andy Burnham’s first two weeks as prime minister brought a policy blitz that covered everything from social care to devolution and the cost-of-living. Inside Downing Street, his aides are candid that ...

bloomberg.com

Excellent read from my colleague Irina Anghel on the new generation of tradwife influencers who’ve found a way to make women’s invisible labour pay: bit.ly/46ZU9TM

Move Over Tradwives: Now ‘Breadmakers’ Are Making Chores Pay

Disillusioned with corporate culture, a new generation of women is using social media to monetize work that has always gone unpaid.

bit.ly

SCOOP (from last night, bit late posting): on the eve of Shabana Mahmood’s big migration speech, over 100 Labour MPs sign a letter urging her to rethink new restrictions on the immigration system bit.ly/4cZQxEX

Starmer Facing Revolt on UK Immigration Reforms From 100 MPs

More than 100 Labour Party members of parliament have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to rethink changes to the UK’s immigration system, underscoring the scale of opposition confronting...

bit.ly

SCOOP: the Green Party is climbing in UK polls, and has been criticised for not “getting” the economy. Now a Green-linked think tank is launching to help them create policy that’s radical, but still makes sense to the mainstream. Story: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

UK Greens Try to Get Serious on Economy as Party Climbs UK Polls

A new economic think tank linked to the UK’s Green Party is set to launch in the new year, as the left-wing party seeks to fend off criticism that it doesn’t understand the economy.

bloomberg.com

Ever wonder what Liz Truss is up to these days? Well: - she’s fronting a plan by Robert Tchenguiz to turn the ex MI5 HQ into a co-working space for the ultra-rich - Truss is tasked with finding 700 founding members, each to lend half a mil www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Truss Is Back With an Investment Opportunity for the Super-Rich

This week, a selection of billionaires, diplomats and royalty will see a black lacquered box land on their desks. When opened, a tablet embedded in the lid plays a video from none other than Liz Truss...

bloomberg.com

My (very talented) husband @joelotter.com has his latest (incredibly addictive) game coming out soon - watch this space! (And pls give it a play when you can to make his many late nights worth it)

Bearwaves@bearwaves.com · 9mo ago

We're announcing our new game! Dave's Word Game is a brand new daily word puzzle. We've been building it over the last year and we think it's really fun. We're releasing it for free, on iOS and Android, on December 15th. Give us a follow to see more updates, we'll be sharing more very soon!

After a few wonderful weeks of celebration with my husband (!) @joelotter.com, it’s back to the grind. If I missed your messages or calls in the chaos, my apologies - please chase!

At the first Green Party conference with Zack Polanski as leader. He’s getting rapturous applause from the packed main hall of Bournemouth’s conference centre. Speech is light on policy, but big on jibes at Nigel Farage and Labour - which he brands as full of “Reform-baiting policy-making”

PM Keir Starmer told me from Chequers today that signing the India trade deal - along with deals with the US & EU - has put the UK “back on the world stage”. So far, feedback from groups who were concerned abt the deal is relatively upbeat t.co/jl5UD8NYen

Outstanding reporting. I've seen the Zimbabwe side of this. The cognitive dissonance of the UK immigration system in a way is how much it relies on the exploitation of desperate, skilled people in many emerging markets.

Lucy White@lucygjwhite.bsky.social · last yr.

For the last year, I’ve been working on an investigation that’s left me staggered. It’s a damning indictment of the UK’s care sector, & the migration system which has allowed millions of ££s to be plundered from communities in developing countries. Free link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

This is great reporting... and honestly, every single time I try to work out how something confusing works in London (and probably therefore the UK) then to misquote Super Hans, "the secret ingredient is fraud".

Lucy White@lucygjwhite.bsky.social · last yr.

For the last year, I’ve been working on an investigation that’s left me staggered. It’s a damning indictment of the UK’s care sector, & the migration system which has allowed millions of ££s to be plundered from communities in developing countries. Free link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Such an interesting piece - and she's right, if the flipside of a 'tough on immigration' policy is being tough on fraudsters who exploit wouldbe migrants, then there should be HO/police resources behind it

Lucy White@lucygjwhite.bsky.social · last yr.

What would I like to see? An effort led by the Home Office/National Crime Agency to investigate these cases, trace the money involved and return it to victims. A recognition that the UK has let down thousands of would-be migrants who just wanted to work. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

The way the skilled worker visa and sponsorship system was run by the Home Office immediately post-Brexit was absolutely appalling. The UK government enabled industrial-scale exploitation of migrants.

Lucy White@lucygjwhite.bsky.social · last yr.

For the last year, I’ve been working on an investigation that’s left me staggered. It’s a damning indictment of the UK’s care sector, & the migration system which has allowed millions of ££s to be plundered from communities in developing countries. Free link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

For the last year, I’ve been working on an investigation that’s left me staggered. It’s a damning indictment of the UK’s care sector, & the migration system which has allowed millions of ££s to be plundered from communities in developing countries. Free link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

UK Visa Scams Squeeze Millions From Would-Be Care Workers

Recent changes to immigration policy won’t do anything for people who’ve been exploited while seeking jobs in the UK. But they may worsen the care-worker shortage.

bloomberg.com

UK farmers' attitudes towards Labour have tanked in recent months, to say the least. Now we hear some are planning to challenge through judicial review the government's decision to suddenly shutter the SFI subsidy scheme. Story here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

UK Farmers Plan Legal Challenge Over Canceled Subsidy Program

British farmers are planning to mount a legal challenge against the government for its unexpected decision to shutter a grant program for farms, in the latest sign of growing tensions between the ruli...

bloomberg.com

Poppy Gustafsson becomes the latest UK minister to insist the govt won’t have to choose between deepening relations with allies such as the US and EU, saying there’s a “clear opportunity” now to “recalibrate” relationship with EU. Speaking at British Chambers of Commerce trade conference.

Finally the Home Office are cracking down on rogue employers in the UK care sector - but is it enough? Over the last few months I’ve heard evidence from many migrant care workers about how they’ve been exploited/abused by employers. More coming soon… t.co/SbKCzGkulS

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...

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.

bloomberg.com

Nigel Farage was the special guest on our UK Politics pod today. He’s aiming to present Reform UK as a mature, serious politician contender - denies he’s anti-immigration and says he’s “non sectarian, non racist”. My writeup here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Trump Ally Nigel Farage Changes Tone on UK Migration in Bid for Power

Nigel Farage said Reform UK isn’t anti-immigration and advocated a mixture of tax and spending cuts as he sought to put a more moderate face on his insurgent party in a bid to take it from the politic...

bloomberg.com

Great explainer from @tomreesjournalist.bsky.social on why recent UK market turmoil isn’t quite another Liz Truss moment - but is still causing headaches for Chancellor Rachel Reeves www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Is Britain’s Labour Party Facing a Liz Truss Moment?

A rout in UK bonds has evoked memories of the market crisis during Liz Truss’s calamitous premiership and raised questions over Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves’ budget plans.

bloomberg.com

Important story from Abhinav Ramnarayan and @sabahmeddings.bsky.social on concerns around private equity’s grip on child social care, and the profits being made www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Private Equity Is Making Big Money From UK’s Most Vulnerable

As critics debate the cost of private capital’s inroads into many corners of the economy and public services, children’s homes have become a flashpoint.

bloomberg.com

Our weekend story with top team @joemayes.bsky.social @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social @lucygjwhite.bsky.social

Alex Wickham@alexwickham.bsky.social · 2y ago

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...

Campaigners for and against the assisted dying bill facing off across Parliament Square today as the vote in the Commons takes place. Speaking to representatives from both sides, am struck by how each sees their stance as a protest against potential state tyranny.

Huge upward revision in migration stats this morning from the ONS - now saying net migration was 906,000 in the yr to June 2023, up from previous estimates of 740,000. Fallen to 728,000 in yr to June 2024.