Jim Pickard
@pickardje.bsky.social
Deputy political editor, Financial Times. Also amateur iphone photographer and some-time musician.
Pinned
Jim Pickard
@pickardje.bsky.social
· Nov 17
this isn’t a new photo - I took it a few years ago - but wanted to share it regardless
our BBC analysis:
“Insiders admit the BBC has often been at fault. But the scandals have been amplified by a hostile cohort of rightwing politicians and media allies”
www.ft.com/content/28b4...
“Insiders admit the BBC has often been at fault. But the scandals have been amplified by a hostile cohort of rightwing politicians and media allies”
www.ft.com/content/28b4...
BBC faces ‘existential’ threat after exit of top executives
Broadcaster’s deepest crisis in recent history comes amid fresh questions over its future role in British society
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
our BBC analysis:
“Insiders admit the BBC has often been at fault. But the scandals have been amplified by a hostile cohort of rightwing politicians and media allies”
www.ft.com/content/28b4...
“Insiders admit the BBC has often been at fault. But the scandals have been amplified by a hostile cohort of rightwing politicians and media allies”
www.ft.com/content/28b4...
Westminster this evening
November 10, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Westminster this evening
this is brilliant satire:
“Given what I took to be the anti-Trump nature of the Sketch, I of course assumed there would be a similar, balancing Sketch discussing the possibility that the Capitol building had attacked the rioters....."
“Given what I took to be the anti-Trump nature of the Sketch, I of course assumed there would be a similar, balancing Sketch discussing the possibility that the Capitol building had attacked the rioters....."
Crisis at the Critic Sketchcasting Corporation!
Crisis at the CSC | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine
From the desk of Lord Kronsteen, founder and proprietor of the Critic Sketchcasting Corporation. To all staff, It is with a heavy heart that I take pen in hand to inform you of the resignation of both…
thecritic.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
this is brilliant satire:
“Given what I took to be the anti-Trump nature of the Sketch, I of course assumed there would be a similar, balancing Sketch discussing the possibility that the Capitol building had attacked the rioters....."
“Given what I took to be the anti-Trump nature of the Sketch, I of course assumed there would be a similar, balancing Sketch discussing the possibility that the Capitol building had attacked the rioters....."
Rachel Reeves lets the cat out of the (already threadbare) bag about the looming break to the manifesto:
“It would of course be possible to stick with the manifesto commitments but that would require things like deep cuts in capital spending.”
www.ft.com/content/a502...
“It would of course be possible to stick with the manifesto commitments but that would require things like deep cuts in capital spending.”
www.ft.com/content/a502...
Rachel Reeves signals she will break manifesto pledge with Budget tax rises
Chancellor hopes to win support from Labour MPs by lifting two-child benefit cap
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Rachel Reeves lets the cat out of the (already threadbare) bag about the looming break to the manifesto:
“It would of course be possible to stick with the manifesto commitments but that would require things like deep cuts in capital spending.”
www.ft.com/content/a502...
“It would of course be possible to stick with the manifesto commitments but that would require things like deep cuts in capital spending.”
www.ft.com/content/a502...
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Absolutely right. I criticise BBC News, because we need it to be as good as we know it can be. People like Farage criticise the BBC, because they work for its competitors and don't want it to exist.
🎯 Davey is spot on. "We can have criticism of the BBC, but within that, we need to recognise how valuable an institution it is [and how] precious to our country. And that's one of the reasons why people like President Trump and Nigel Farage, want to undermine the BBC." 👏🏽~AA
November 10, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Absolutely right. I criticise BBC News, because we need it to be as good as we know it can be. People like Farage criticise the BBC, because they work for its competitors and don't want it to exist.
The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Interesting paragraph from a long tweet just posted by Nick Robinson.
November 10, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Interesting paragraph from a long tweet just posted by Nick Robinson.
not only was Prescott’s former employer Hanover Communications a Tory outfit, it also represented Sky News for many years….
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:40 AM
not only was Prescott’s former employer Hanover Communications a Tory outfit, it also represented Sky News for many years….
this is my favourite comment of the day on an FT story
November 9, 2025 at 7:45 PM
this is my favourite comment of the day on an FT story
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
the biggest question: did the former BBC director-general fall on his sword because of fears (either in the corporation or in Westminster) about Trump's wrath
www.ft.com/content/ccc0...
www.ft.com/content/ccc0...
BBC boss Tim Davie resigns
Exit comes after broadcaster was accused of bias on Trump, the Gaza war and coverage of transgender rights
www.ft.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:04 PM
the biggest question: did the former BBC director-general fall on his sword because of fears (either in the corporation or in Westminster) about Trump's wrath
www.ft.com/content/ccc0...
www.ft.com/content/ccc0...
Reposted by Jim Pickard
only in the small print of this article do they make clear that the pensioners paying an extra £2,500 of tax would have to have
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
only in the small print of this article do they make clear that the pensioners paying an extra £2,500 of tax would have to have
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
only in the small print of this article do they make clear that the pensioners paying an extra £2,500 of tax would have to have
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
only in the small print of this article do they make clear that the pensioners paying an extra £2,500 of tax would have to have
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
Reposted by Jim Pickard
NEW POD! FT's 📻 @pickardje.bsky.social @katie0martin.ft.com and Sam Fleming pick over the taxes Reeves might raise and how; the political damage thereof; crucially from Katie, what the markets *really* think of the UK, Reeves and Farage; PLUS how to pronounce smorgasbord www.ft.com/content/359e...
To tax, but who to tax, that is the question
What are Rachel Reeves’ options?
www.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
NEW POD! FT's 📻 @pickardje.bsky.social @katie0martin.ft.com and Sam Fleming pick over the taxes Reeves might raise and how; the political damage thereof; crucially from Katie, what the markets *really* think of the UK, Reeves and Farage; PLUS how to pronounce smorgasbord www.ft.com/content/359e...
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Get your colleagues and friends off it, folks.
must-read analysis of how Musk's twitter is drenching new users with right-wing propaganda
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Get your colleagues and friends off it, folks.
Reposted by Jim Pickard
it's beyond time to leave X; anybody still there ... unless you're a journalist or researcher who studies right-wing misinformation or whatever, why ...
must-read analysis of how Musk's twitter is drenching new users with right-wing propaganda
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:43 AM
it's beyond time to leave X; anybody still there ... unless you're a journalist or researcher who studies right-wing misinformation or whatever, why ...
must-read analysis of how Musk's twitter is drenching new users with right-wing propaganda
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:39 AM
must-read analysis of how Musk's twitter is drenching new users with right-wing propaganda
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
I never get bored of this silhouette
November 6, 2025 at 10:06 AM
I never get bored of this silhouette
David Lammy at PMQs attacks Reform MP Sarah Pochin for her “disgraceful racist language…that belongs on the Dark Ages” and - curiously - Nigel Farage nods along
November 5, 2025 at 12:19 PM
David Lammy at PMQs attacks Reform MP Sarah Pochin for her “disgraceful racist language…that belongs on the Dark Ages” and - curiously - Nigel Farage nods along
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Outstanding, no notes
November 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Outstanding, no notes
Reposted by Jim Pickard
terrific couple of paragraphs here
November 4, 2025 at 5:50 PM
terrific couple of paragraphs here
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Notable in today's YouGov that the centre/left bloc - Lab/Green/LD/SNP are on 54%. With Reform/Tories on 43%. That's the biggest differential in a long time.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
November 4, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Notable in today's YouGov that the centre/left bloc - Lab/Green/LD/SNP are on 54%. With Reform/Tories on 43%. That's the biggest differential in a long time.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Comedy is the UK's superpower.
November 4, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Comedy is the UK's superpower.