James Forsyth

The Newport decision marked a shift in UK thinking. Previously takeovers had been blocked on national security grounds because of the tech involved. This time the decision took into account the risk of China owning too many of the world’s chipmaking plants thetimes.co.uk/article/britai…

As one influential figure put it to me: “This is the year the post-Cold War world came to an end.” thetimes.co.uk/article/britai…

The political question is who will the travelling public blame for the strike? Will they think the RMT is being unreasonable? Or will these strikes add to the general sense that things simply aren’t working properly in Britain? spectator.co.uk/article/rishi-…

Nicola Sturgeon’s Stephen Flynn-sized headache 👇 ✍️ Stephen Daisley spectator.co.uk/article/nicola…

Three reasons Labour wants to talk about Lords reform spectator.co.uk/article/three-…

A battle royal is raging for America — and, so far, Harry and Meghan are outgunning William and Kate at every turn mailplus.co.uk/edition/commen… via @mailplus

The cause of the current problem is obvious: inflation at a 40-year high of 11 per cent thetimes.co.uk/article/sunak-…

Increasing all public sector wages in line with inflation would cost an extra £18 billion thetimes.co.uk/article/sunak-…

🚨 Ian Blackford has resigned after five years as Westminster leader of the SNP Just 13 days ago Blackford survived a challenge from Aberdeen South MP, Stephen Flynn, who attempted to overthrow him. More by Michael Simmons here 👇 spectator.co.uk/article/ian-bl…

Knowing Hancock, it would be foolish to conclude that he thinks his career is over: he is far too politically ambitious for that. But it is easier to imagine him coming back in some extra-parliamentary role than climbing the Westminster greasy pole again spectator.co.uk/article/why-to…

A Tory first elected in 2010 has campaigned in four general elections, two referendums and four Tory leadership contests spectator.co.uk/article/why-to…

‘“You’ll have to go to your nearest A&E,” the woman on the line told me. A&E? I had a rash on my nose.’ ✍️ Lucy Dunn spectator.co.uk/article/why-no…

One of the striking things about the Tory retirees is how young some of them are. Their average age is below 50, which is 20 years younger than their Labour equivalents spectator.co.uk/article/why-to….

PM Kishida sets FY2027 as target to raise Japan’s defence spending to 2%. Will incl recateg of existing spend categories, but still historic - wld take 🇯🇵defence budget to ¥11trn (~$80bn). 岸田首相「防衛費GDP2%、27年度に」　財源は年内決着：日本経済新聞 nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO…

Striking how adamant @edballs was to @afneil that Labour’s green investment plan is now going to have to be scaled back so the party can say it will get debt falling as a percentage of GDP

China’s zero Covid anger is erupting ✍️ Cindy Yu spectator.co.uk/article/chinas…

What should the UK government do following the Supreme Court verdict? Be calm and reasonable and take a leaf out of Potter Stewart’s book spectator.co.uk/article/sunak-…

BREAKING: Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland @DehennaDavison announces she will stand down at the next general election

Better for unionists to strike a reasonable tone, make clear they are not saying never and take an“I know it when I see it” attitude to the circumstances in which the UK government would agree to a referendum thetimes.co.uk/article/sturge…

It’s absurd to suggest Scotland is being held captive. The best way for the British government to show that is to be calm, ignore nationalist rhetoric or rallies, and carry on showing that it wants to make devolution work thetimes.co.uk/article/sturge…