Jennifer Williams
@jenwilliamsft.bsky.social
Northern correspondent, Financial Times
📍Manchester
📍Manchester
Reposted by Jennifer Williams
Europe’s attempts at diplomacy and de-escalation are going well I see.
January 20, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Europe’s attempts at diplomacy and de-escalation are going well I see.
Reposted by Jennifer Williams
Nine years ago a Twitter user was sending poetry to Sadiq Khan about London’s many cultural identities. A decade on, Reform UK’s mayoral candidate doesn’t dispute it was her old account - so what’s changed?
Our profile of Laila Cunningham: www.londoncentric.media/p/laila-cunn...
Our profile of Laila Cunningham: www.londoncentric.media/p/laila-cunn...
January 18, 2026 at 7:32 AM
Nine years ago a Twitter user was sending poetry to Sadiq Khan about London’s many cultural identities. A decade on, Reform UK’s mayoral candidate doesn’t dispute it was her old account - so what’s changed?
Our profile of Laila Cunningham: www.londoncentric.media/p/laila-cunn...
Our profile of Laila Cunningham: www.londoncentric.media/p/laila-cunn...
Reposted by Jennifer Williams
It’s been one of those busy Saturdays. If you’re online news-junkie-ing this evening you’ll have seen our splash tonight already. Here are some other things you might have missed … (thread)
www.ft.com/content/6055...
www.ft.com/content/6055...
Trump to hit Europe with 10% tariffs until Greenland deal is agreed
US president said levies against eight nations would rise to 25% unless they support his acquisition of the island
www.ft.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:14 PM
It’s been one of those busy Saturdays. If you’re online news-junkie-ing this evening you’ll have seen our splash tonight already. Here are some other things you might have missed … (thread)
www.ft.com/content/6055...
www.ft.com/content/6055...
Reposted by Jennifer Williams
NEW - Trump vows tariffs on eight European nations over Greenland, including UK www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Trump vows tariffs on eight European nations over Greenland
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to purchase Greenland.
www.reuters.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:48 PM
NEW - Trump vows tariffs on eight European nations over Greenland, including UK www.reuters.com/world/europe...
An experiment.
January 17, 2026 at 2:23 PM
An experiment.
Reposted by Jennifer Williams
BREAKING: A full-scale airlift is running around the clock, transporting troops and military equipment to Greenland.
The operation is extensive, “beyond anything we’ve tried before,” a source tells DR. Danish F-35 fighter planes and warships from European allies involved.
www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...
The operation is extensive, “beyond anything we’ve tried before,” a source tells DR. Danish F-35 fighter planes and warships from European allies involved.
www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...
Stor operation i gang: Fly strømmer til Grønland med europæiske soldater
I flere døgn har militære transportfly fløjet i pendulfart mellem Danmark og Grønland. Fredag aften landede et stort antal soldater i Nuuk.
www.dr.dk
January 16, 2026 at 7:10 PM
BREAKING: A full-scale airlift is running around the clock, transporting troops and military equipment to Greenland.
The operation is extensive, “beyond anything we’ve tried before,” a source tells DR. Danish F-35 fighter planes and warships from European allies involved.
www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...
The operation is extensive, “beyond anything we’ve tried before,” a source tells DR. Danish F-35 fighter planes and warships from European allies involved.
www.dr.dk/nyheder/indl...
Reposted by Jennifer Williams
Middle of a good thread "and TPU, who DID NOT DIE!"
What remained was an isolated promise to Liverpool and Manchester mayors that they could have £17bn of HS2 money to connect their cities. Plus the Transpennine Upgrade - a v important project predating NPR that had drifted for years, but did FINALLY get off the ground - and Bradford station
January 15, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Middle of a good thread "and TPU, who DID NOT DIE!"
Reposted by Jennifer Williams
Excellent thread from @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social on Northern Powerhouse Rail (in its various guises) - do read the whole things- but as a Leeds resident this is the bit that really stands out. There is a lot of skepticism up here about pretty much any major transport announcement
So you can go out and sell a more detailed plan than Osborne ever did, but people will be far less willing to believe you
January 15, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Excellent thread from @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social on Northern Powerhouse Rail (in its various guises) - do read the whole things- but as a Leeds resident this is the bit that really stands out. There is a lot of skepticism up here about pretty much any major transport announcement
Final thing on this - if you suddenly announce the revival of a Birmingham to Manchester line at the same time as NPR, however buried it is in the press release, the headlines will become about that, at least in the first instance.
Thought I’d do a mega hread on NPR, partly because I’ve seen some London based commentary that doesn’t really get the bigger picture quite right imho
January 15, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Final thing on this - if you suddenly announce the revival of a Birmingham to Manchester line at the same time as NPR, however buried it is in the press release, the headlines will become about that, at least in the first instance.
Thought I’d do a mega hread on NPR, partly because I’ve seen some London based commentary that doesn’t really get the bigger picture quite right imho
January 15, 2026 at 7:34 AM
Thought I’d do a mega hread on NPR, partly because I’ve seen some London based commentary that doesn’t really get the bigger picture quite right imho
ID cards thing probably my biggest indication yet that the PM hasn’t watched enough yes minister
January 14, 2026 at 12:03 PM
ID cards thing probably my biggest indication yet that the PM hasn’t watched enough yes minister
Matthew Pennycook being asked whether three new towns with spades in the ground by parliament end is ambitious enough. He replies “at least” three
Still, I can think of at least two that have been under construction for some time, so it’s not a hugely stretching target
Still, I can think of at least two that have been under construction for some time, so it’s not a hugely stretching target
January 13, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Matthew Pennycook being asked whether three new towns with spades in the ground by parliament end is ambitious enough. He replies “at least” three
Still, I can think of at least two that have been under construction for some time, so it’s not a hugely stretching target
Still, I can think of at least two that have been under construction for some time, so it’s not a hugely stretching target
This weather calls for spicy meatballs
January 11, 2026 at 7:58 PM
This weather calls for spicy meatballs
Just came back in from de-icing the inside of my car again to the words “don’t read that”
What does your car say about you? A global portrait of people and their rides, from Shanghai to Santa Monica
What does your car say about you? A global portrait of people and their rides, from Shanghai to Santa Monica
You can tell a lot about someone from the vehicle they drive, as Martin Roemers’ collection of photographs show. Introduction by author William Boyd
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Just came back in from de-icing the inside of my car again to the words “don’t read that”
Coffee ✅
Lemsip ✅
Berocca ✅
Infinite supply of council agendas ✅
2026 let’s goooooo
Lemsip ✅
Berocca ✅
Infinite supply of council agendas ✅
2026 let’s goooooo
January 6, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Coffee ✅
Lemsip ✅
Berocca ✅
Infinite supply of council agendas ✅
2026 let’s goooooo
Lemsip ✅
Berocca ✅
Infinite supply of council agendas ✅
2026 let’s goooooo
Reposted by Jennifer Williams
Denmark tells Trump to stop threatening to seize Greenland ft.trib.al/Gzzizn9
Denmark tells Trump to stop threatening to seize Greenland
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says US has no right to annexe the Arctic island
ft.trib.al
January 4, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Denmark tells Trump to stop threatening to seize Greenland ft.trib.al/Gzzizn9
Forgot to put “the confidence of the former No 10 adviser” on my Christmas list again
January 2, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Forgot to put “the confidence of the former No 10 adviser” on my Christmas list again
Neatly proving McTernan’s point there
December 31, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Neatly proving McTernan’s point there
I find the half arsed podcast video conversions on Spotify actually quite mesmerising, just not in the way I imagine they were intended
‘Painful to hear!’ How podcasts’ rush to video is turning them into dreadful listens
‘Painful to hear!’ How podcasts’ rush to video is turning them into dreadful listens
From Joe Marler’s visual-only stunts to the incomprehensible shuffling sounds Steven Bartlett recently subjected headphone users to, dodgy audio experiences are on the rise
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I find the half arsed podcast video conversions on Spotify actually quite mesmerising, just not in the way I imagine they were intended
Just watched the Holdovers for the first time. After this year of politics I knew I needed a salve, but hadn’t realised it was mainly that I needed to watch people being kind to each other. Merry Christmas 🎄🙂↕️
December 27, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Just watched the Holdovers for the first time. After this year of politics I knew I needed a salve, but hadn’t realised it was mainly that I needed to watch people being kind to each other. Merry Christmas 🎄🙂↕️
Christmas chutney, ready to be dispatched to unwitting friends
December 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Christmas chutney, ready to be dispatched to unwitting friends
Ah it’s that moment of the year where I get inexplicably emotional about the hark the herald angels sing descant
December 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Ah it’s that moment of the year where I get inexplicably emotional about the hark the herald angels sing descant