Tom Hayes
@tomhayes.bsky.social
Irish, lives in France, labour relations consultant, writes about Brexit, the world of work, and EU issues.
Surprisingly, if the UK were still a member of the EU, this problem would not arise. Who could have guessed that the EU would want to look after its own in an increasingly fragmenting world?
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
UK Fears ‘Made in Europe’ Plan Will Hit Car, Tech, Green Sectors
The UK government is increasingly concerned that more protectionist policies pursued by the European Union could exclude British companies from supply chains in key sectors, derailing a reset in post-...
www.bloomberg.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:11 AM
Surprisingly, if the UK were still a member of the EU, this problem would not arise. Who could have guessed that the EU would want to look after its own in an increasingly fragmenting world?
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Is this not just a new variant of the old approach? We want to be in, but with all these opt-outs? www.ft.com/content/b14f...
Rushing Brexit reset deal risks costing British farmers, Keir Starmer told
MP says such an agreement would come with trade-offs
www.ft.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:18 AM
Is this not just a new variant of the old approach? We want to be in, but with all these opt-outs? www.ft.com/content/b14f...
All I can say is this. What the f**k is a 19-year-old doing leading a council? He can hardly know his arse from his elbow. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘I had to learn very quickly’: Reform UK leader, 19, defends council tax rise
Party accused of breaking election promise – but officials in Warwickshire say George Finch’s 3.89% rise still not enough to balance budget
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:42 PM
All I can say is this. What the f**k is a 19-year-old doing leading a council? He can hardly know his arse from his elbow. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
What utter bollix. The only good Brexit is no Brexit. The sooner the Labour government admits that, the better. www.ft.com/content/3be7...
This is what a proper Brexit looks like
Prosperity and security will be driven by removing unnecessary barriers that hold businesses back
www.ft.com
February 2, 2026 at 6:19 PM
What utter bollix. The only good Brexit is no Brexit. The sooner the Labour government admits that, the better. www.ft.com/content/3be7...
I see lots of stuff like across the newspapers. One thing I have not seen is a detailed account of how Epstein got his money. Where did it come from? Who was bankrolling him or doing business with him? observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Files suggest Epstein had close links to Branson as Starm...
Newly released documents turn the spotlight back onto the former prince, whom the prime minister says ‘should be prepared’ to speak before the US Congress
observer.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 8:00 AM
I see lots of stuff like across the newspapers. One thing I have not seen is a detailed account of how Epstein got his money. Where did it come from? Who was bankrolling him or doing business with him? observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Britain has had a proper Brexit. It is no longer a member of the EU. That's what Brexit meant. Leaving the EU. What the Express really means by a "Proper Brexit" is a suite of right-wing policies that would further impoverish the country and isolate it even further from its neighbours.
January 31, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Britain has had a proper Brexit. It is no longer a member of the EU. That's what Brexit meant. Leaving the EU. What the Express really means by a "Proper Brexit" is a suite of right-wing policies that would further impoverish the country and isolate it even further from its neighbours.
What is there to say? I can but agree with this. When you are adrift in a sea of political sin, and you have no moral compass, you will always be off-course because you have no course. @alanbeattie.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/1683...
The abandonment of Labour’s moral crusade
The UK is taking a cynical but fruitless turn to the reactionary and insular on aid, immigration and trade
www.ft.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:56 AM
What is there to say? I can but agree with this. When you are adrift in a sea of political sin, and you have no moral compass, you will always be off-course because you have no course. @alanbeattie.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/1683...
They will suggest anything, anything, to boost economic growth, except for the one thing guaranteed to do so: rejoin the EU. Oh, and by the way, what Kyle suggests is for the birds. www.ft.com/content/e401...
Link MPs’ pay to GDP, says UK business secretary
Peter Kyle calls on government departments to do more to boost economic growth
www.ft.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:34 AM
They will suggest anything, anything, to boost economic growth, except for the one thing guaranteed to do so: rejoin the EU. Oh, and by the way, what Kyle suggests is for the birds. www.ft.com/content/e401...
After the week that was at Davos, some thoughts on negotiations. Key takeaway. Best never to reward bad behaviour.
hayest.substack.com/p/scribbling...
hayest.substack.com/p/scribbling...
Scribblings
Don’t Reward Bad Behavior
hayest.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 5:43 AM
After the week that was at Davos, some thoughts on negotiations. Key takeaway. Best never to reward bad behaviour.
hayest.substack.com/p/scribbling...
hayest.substack.com/p/scribbling...
The War of Jenkins' Ear was fought between Great Britain and Spain from 1739 to 1748, after Jenkins showed his allegedly severed ear to Parliament.
It would now appear we are about to have the Invasion of the Denied Nobel because Trump is piqued that he was not awarded the Peace Prize.
It would now appear we are about to have the Invasion of the Denied Nobel because Trump is piqued that he was not awarded the Peace Prize.
January 20, 2026 at 6:27 AM
The War of Jenkins' Ear was fought between Great Britain and Spain from 1739 to 1748, after Jenkins showed his allegedly severed ear to Parliament.
It would now appear we are about to have the Invasion of the Denied Nobel because Trump is piqued that he was not awarded the Peace Prize.
It would now appear we are about to have the Invasion of the Denied Nobel because Trump is piqued that he was not awarded the Peace Prize.
Some thoughts on the emerging standoff between President Trump and European countries over Greenland.
hayest.substack.com/p/scribbling...
hayest.substack.com/p/scribbling...
Scribblings
A Hard Rain May be About to Fall
hayest.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Some thoughts on the emerging standoff between President Trump and European countries over Greenland.
hayest.substack.com/p/scribbling...
hayest.substack.com/p/scribbling...
I'll post a new Scribblings tomorrow, but in light of what is happening over Greenland, I thought I would repost last Sunday's Scribblings. When I wrote it I never thought that what I feared was going to happen would happen within just a week. hayest.substack.com/p/scribblings
Scribblings
Back Home Again
hayest.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:02 PM
I'll post a new Scribblings tomorrow, but in light of what is happening over Greenland, I thought I would repost last Sunday's Scribblings. When I wrote it I never thought that what I feared was going to happen would happen within just a week. hayest.substack.com/p/scribblings
Trump threatens to tax Americans with more tariffs on imports if other countries do not support his Greenland lunacy. But then again, he still thinks it is exporting countries that pay his beloved tariffs. www.rte.ie/news/world/2...
Trump threatens tariffs on those opposing Greenland plans
US President Donald Trump has said he may impose trade tariffs on countries that do not support his plans to take over Greenland.
www.rte.ie
January 16, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Trump threatens to tax Americans with more tariffs on imports if other countries do not support his Greenland lunacy. But then again, he still thinks it is exporting countries that pay his beloved tariffs. www.rte.ie/news/world/2...
She gave me her Nobel Peace Prize because she knew she did not deserve it, but that I did. I have stopped 279 wars. What! Another one? Where? In the other quadrant of Orion.
I have brought peace on Earth. You rude and horrible person. Do not ask me about Ukraine. Putski, as I call him, is great.
I have brought peace on Earth. You rude and horrible person. Do not ask me about Ukraine. Putski, as I call him, is great.
January 16, 2026 at 4:14 PM
She gave me her Nobel Peace Prize because she knew she did not deserve it, but that I did. I have stopped 279 wars. What! Another one? Where? In the other quadrant of Orion.
I have brought peace on Earth. You rude and horrible person. Do not ask me about Ukraine. Putski, as I call him, is great.
I have brought peace on Earth. You rude and horrible person. Do not ask me about Ukraine. Putski, as I call him, is great.
Back after my Christmas break in New Zealand. Some New Year thoughts about the future for us Europeans.
hayest.substack.com/p/scribblings
hayest.substack.com/p/scribblings
Scribblings
Back Home Again
hayest.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Back after my Christmas break in New Zealand. Some New Year thoughts about the future for us Europeans.
hayest.substack.com/p/scribblings
hayest.substack.com/p/scribblings
Going into a pawn shop and finding that someone had hocked their Nobel Prize and deciding to buy it is not the same thing as being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. It is just a piece of tat you bought. It brings no honor. Just a shiny bauble.
You would think a 79 year old man would know the difference between receiving an award that is deserved and taking an award by extortion.
The latter is the opposite of "an honor."
The latter is the opposite of "an honor."
January 10, 2026 at 6:09 AM
Going into a pawn shop and finding that someone had hocked their Nobel Prize and deciding to buy it is not the same thing as being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. It is just a piece of tat you bought. It brings no honor. Just a shiny bauble.
This is why the EU will never cut a big, new deal with the UK. The UK position is "we want what's yours, but what is mine is my own". It is hokey cokey negotiations - we want the right leg in but the left leg out. No deal on this basis.
www.ft.com/content/8d9a...
www.ft.com/content/8d9a...
UK to exclude financial services from push for closer EU alignment
City of London firms have been lobbying against a return to Brussels rules
www.ft.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:55 AM
This is why the EU will never cut a big, new deal with the UK. The UK position is "we want what's yours, but what is mine is my own". It is hokey cokey negotiations - we want the right leg in but the left leg out. No deal on this basis.
www.ft.com/content/8d9a...
www.ft.com/content/8d9a...
The key comment is in the last para of this article. The EU will not want to do business with a politically unstable UK. www.ft.com/content/8d9a...
UK to exclude financial services from push for closer EU alignment
City of London firms have been lobbying against a return to Brussels rules
www.ft.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:43 AM
The key comment is in the last para of this article. The EU will not want to do business with a politically unstable UK. www.ft.com/content/8d9a...
It would appear that Trump has now appointed himself as chair and sole member of the compensation committees in defense contract companies. Just imagine the outcry if a Democratic president had issued such an edict. Indeed, we live in strange times.
At least he apparently cares about allies again …
JUST IN
#Trump issues stmt re: defense companies:
• Won't "permit" defense companies to issue shareholder dividends and stock buybacks as well as companies' executive salary and compensation to be as high as they are until changes are made to improve investment in equipment and manufacturing plants
#Trump issues stmt re: defense companies:
• Won't "permit" defense companies to issue shareholder dividends and stock buybacks as well as companies' executive salary and compensation to be as high as they are until changes are made to improve investment in equipment and manufacturing plants
January 7, 2026 at 8:40 PM
It would appear that Trump has now appointed himself as chair and sole member of the compensation committees in defense contract companies. Just imagine the outcry if a Democratic president had issued such an edict. Indeed, we live in strange times.
Brexit for slow learners. In the words of Theresa May: Brexit means Brexit. Now, it is the turn of the EU to say to the UK: Brexit means Brexit. You made your choice. Live with it. www.ft.com/content/0808...
Starmer may want closer ties with the EU — but will Brussels play ball?
The PM is trying to reassure pro-Europeans in Labour that a reset is coming, but EU officials say the timing is poor
www.ft.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:13 AM
Brexit for slow learners. In the words of Theresa May: Brexit means Brexit. Now, it is the turn of the EU to say to the UK: Brexit means Brexit. You made your choice. Live with it. www.ft.com/content/0808...
Encroaching Christian Nationalism in the US. Coming close to saying that if you are not a Christian, you are not a true American.
December 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Encroaching Christian Nationalism in the US. Coming close to saying that if you are not a Christian, you are not a true American.
Einstein said that doing the same thing over and over in the hope of expecting a different result is insanity. Labour repeating over and over that it is going to "reset" economic relations with the EU is likewise insane. Nothing of substance will come of it.
www.ft.com/content/b3d3...
www.ft.com/content/b3d3...
UK exporters increasingly dissatisfied with EU trade terms, survey finds
More than half of those contacted by British Chambers of Commerce criticised the post Brexit arrangements
www.ft.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Einstein said that doing the same thing over and over in the hope of expecting a different result is insanity. Labour repeating over and over that it is going to "reset" economic relations with the EU is likewise insane. Nothing of substance will come of it.
www.ft.com/content/b3d3...
www.ft.com/content/b3d3...
Presumably, what this means is that if you have expressed an unfavourable opinion on Trump, you will be refused entry. www.ft.com/content/683b...
US to require social media disclosure for visa-waiver requests
Change would affect visitors from countries including the UK, France and Australia
www.ft.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Presumably, what this means is that if you have expressed an unfavourable opinion on Trump, you will be refused entry. www.ft.com/content/683b...
Who would want to travel to the US if this is what you have to do? They want you to walk socially naked through frontier control. Who needs this indignity? Will this apply to every soccer player in next year's World Cup? These are the policies of Donald "FIFA Peace Prize" Trump.
December 10, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Who would want to travel to the US if this is what you have to do? They want you to walk socially naked through frontier control. Who needs this indignity? Will this apply to every soccer player in next year's World Cup? These are the policies of Donald "FIFA Peace Prize" Trump.