Robert Shrimsley

Must we really ‘do lunch’?

Yes we’re late to this. But no one has solved it yet, so here goes

Thursday, 30 April, 2026

The problematic inevitability of Andy Burnham

Labour’s assumptions about its leader-in-waiting are logical but no guarantee of success

Friday, 24 April, 2026

Too ugly. Too dangerous. But can I really afford not to go big?

Is my SUV large enough?

Thursday, 23 April, 2026

Labour is being destroyed by its former saviours

Factionalism effectively quashed the Corbynites but has undermined Keir Starmer’s leadership of party and country

Labour lambasted over defence

Friday, 17 April, 2026

Political Fix podcast35 min listen

Plus, will nationalist wins lead to independence calls in Scotland and Wales?

Friday, 17 April, 2026

Is it wrong to beg for freebies?

What’s a Binky? And isn’t blagging part of the job of an influencer?

The great independence charade

Thursday, 16 April, 2026

Scottish independence

Scottish and Welsh election results may reignite the debate but it is all one big pantomime

Friday, 10 April, 2026

How can I sound more presidential?

Forget strong, silent leadership. These days you’re going to need to swear. Bigly

Thursday, 9 April, 2026

Britain is in the grip of the fed-up-niks

What voters are really being drawn to is confident leadership that appears to offer new solutions

Friday, 3 April, 2026

What’s so sexy about vampires?

Yes, there’s the thrill of forbidden love and Robert Pattinson. But there’s also the bit where your throat gets ripped out

Trump taunts drive Starmer into EU’s arms

Thursday, 2 April, 2026

Political Fix podcast41 min listen

Plus, lessons in handling a fuel crisis

Thursday, 2 April, 2026

Ask an Expert. Can Starmer get his government back on track? You asked, we answered

The FT’s Stephen Bush, Miranda Green and Robert Shrimsley replied to reader questions

Friday, 27 March, 2026

FT Magazine. Do you really want your travel spots unspoilt?

The view from that remote beach is unimprovable — or is it?

Thursday, 26 March, 2026

The case for keeping Keir Starmer a little longer

Panic-buying a slightly less unpopular rival will not help Labour face its real challenges

Trump lambasts Starmer over UK airbase access; plus Labour’s hard line on immigration

Friday, 6 March, 2026

Political Fix podcast35 min listen

Iran shock for Starmer

Friday, 6 March, 2026

Can I avoid disappointing Donald Trump?

Many have tried but few succeed

In defence of hand-wringers and pearl-clutchers

Thursday, 5 March, 2026

Middle East war

To surrender the fight for international law is to accept worse outcomes and more civilian deaths

Friday, 27 February, 2026

Have you got your 10,000 steps in?

Becoming a pointless pacer is one thing, telling people about it is quite another

British politics gets religion

Thursday, 26 February, 2026

Reform UK

In Reform, socially conservative Christianity has finally found a UK vehicle for its agenda on traditional families

Farage against the machine

Friday, 20 February, 2026

Political Fix podcast37 min listen

Plus, a new cabinet secretary (and a major arrest) took centre stage

Friday, 20 February, 2026

Artificial intelligence

Can AI improve my personal life?

Face-recognition tech is to be avoided, but there could be other potential wins

Thursday, 19 February, 2026

The Conservatives’ foundational sin

A party that once mocked the ‘magic money tree’ appears to have built its own house in the branches

Friday, 13 February, 2026

Should restaurants crack down on the elderly?

Where you stand on aged diners complaining about kids may depend on what life stage you are at