Laurence Fletcher
@journofletcher.bsky.social
Deputy Markets News Editor @FinancialTimes.com. Covered hedge funds for a long time. Contributor @SeenUnseenMag.bsky.social. Ex-WSJ, Reuters. laurence.fletcher@ft.com
Pinned
WTW celebrates 20th anniversary of its annual Media Awards
WTW celebrated the 20th anniversary of its annual WTW Media Awards last night, announcing the winners at London’s Hispania restaurant.
www.wtwco.com
🚨Delighted to be named Institutional Investment Journalist of the Year at this year's WTW Media Awards this week! Also picking up an award for @financialtimes.com were the talented Claer Barrett and freelancer Moira O'Neill. www.wtwco.com/en-gb/news/2... #journalism
What do Lady Gaga, billionaire Facebook investor Sean Parker, cigar-smoking rogue financier Florian Homm and #pharma fraudster Martin Shkreli all have in common? My deep dive into an unusual biopharma firm working on a potentially blockbuster product www.ft.com/content/9272... via @alphaville.ft.com
Skin in the game: one biotech’s quest to invent the sunless tan cream
‘Fantasy captivates investors’
www.ft.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:14 AM
What do Lady Gaga, billionaire Facebook investor Sean Parker, cigar-smoking rogue financier Florian Homm and #pharma fraudster Martin Shkreli all have in common? My deep dive into an unusual biopharma firm working on a potentially blockbuster product www.ft.com/content/9272... via @alphaville.ft.com
'The government’s “policies that were meant to help working people risk hurting the people they want to help”'
Yet more evidence that increasing tax on firms to take on workers surprisingly isn't encouraging firms to take on workers #NICs #jobs #uk via @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/6f92...
Yet more evidence that increasing tax on firms to take on workers surprisingly isn't encouraging firms to take on workers #NICs #jobs #uk via @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/6f92...
Retail and hospitality chains air concern over UK jobs market
Vacancies are falling while number of applicants rise as sector bears brunt of tax and minimum wage changes
www.ft.com
September 22, 2025 at 12:05 PM
'The government’s “policies that were meant to help working people risk hurting the people they want to help”'
Yet more evidence that increasing tax on firms to take on workers surprisingly isn't encouraging firms to take on workers #NICs #jobs #uk via @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/6f92...
Yet more evidence that increasing tax on firms to take on workers surprisingly isn't encouraging firms to take on workers #NICs #jobs #uk via @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/6f92...
Reposted by Laurence Fletcher
I see your "chaos with Miliband" and raise you a "Man Utd would never collapse like Liverpool". www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...
August 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
I see your "chaos with Miliband" and raise you a "Man Utd would never collapse like Liverpool". www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...
Bitcoin Jesus, Hope, Bitcoin Salvation... Why are some crypto advocates so keen to draw on religious language? My latest article for website Seen & Unseen -'Do you believe in a coin called hope? From fiat to faith: the rise of crypto evangelism' www.seenandunseen.com/do-you-belie... #bitcoin #crypto
Do you believe in a coin called hope? | Seen & Unseen
www.seenandunseen.com
August 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Bitcoin Jesus, Hope, Bitcoin Salvation... Why are some crypto advocates so keen to draw on religious language? My latest article for website Seen & Unseen -'Do you believe in a coin called hope? From fiat to faith: the rise of crypto evangelism' www.seenandunseen.com/do-you-belie... #bitcoin #crypto
“Why would a government which has almost certainly lost revenue on its non-dom reforms open up a new front on footloose billionaires?" www.ft.com/content/3357... via @financialtimes.com #nondoms #tax
Labour declines to rule out wealth tax
Downing Street says ‘those with the broadest shoulders should carry the largest burden’
www.ft.com
July 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
“Why would a government which has almost certainly lost revenue on its non-dom reforms open up a new front on footloose billionaires?" www.ft.com/content/3357... via @financialtimes.com #nondoms #tax
🚨Delighted to be named Institutional Investment Journalist of the Year at this year's WTW Media Awards this week! Also picking up an award for @financialtimes.com were the talented Claer Barrett and freelancer Moira O'Neill. www.wtwco.com/en-gb/news/2... #journalism
WTW celebrates 20th anniversary of its annual Media Awards
WTW celebrated the 20th anniversary of its annual WTW Media Awards last night, announcing the winners at London’s Hispania restaurant.
www.wtwco.com
July 4, 2025 at 11:49 AM
🚨Delighted to be named Institutional Investment Journalist of the Year at this year's WTW Media Awards this week! Also picking up an award for @financialtimes.com were the talented Claer Barrett and freelancer Moira O'Neill. www.wtwco.com/en-gb/news/2... #journalism
Great piece by Jonathan: "The #NHS doesn’t prescribe, let alone pay for, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, and Nice hasn’t approved some drugs used effectively (often off-label) in other countries. That leaves sufferers with Dr Google, their families and a collection of Facebook groups"
Jonathan Eley has written today’s Inside Politics and it is very good indeed:
UK benefits bill will keep rising without NHS reform
Ministers want to get the sick into work, but without proper support for chronic illness the costs will increase elsewhere
www.ft.com
July 2, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Great piece by Jonathan: "The #NHS doesn’t prescribe, let alone pay for, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, and Nice hasn’t approved some drugs used effectively (often off-label) in other countries. That leaves sufferers with Dr Google, their families and a collection of Facebook groups"
Reposted by Laurence Fletcher
Good note in @stephenkb.bsky.social’s daily email (from Jonathan Eley) on what the NHS does and what it doesn’t do.
This absolutely matches my experience of having a bad knee.
This absolutely matches my experience of having a bad knee.
July 2, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Good note in @stephenkb.bsky.social’s daily email (from Jonathan Eley) on what the NHS does and what it doesn’t do.
This absolutely matches my experience of having a bad knee.
This absolutely matches my experience of having a bad knee.
Reposted by Laurence Fletcher
The ancient epigram (penned by Polybius in his "Histories", Book 10, Ch. 31) that kicks off my "The Conservative Party after Brexit" book applies equally to Labour - namely:
"Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories."
"Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories."
Labour had a theory for acquiring power, but none for how to wield it
A lack of interest in the real meat of policy helps to explain why Starmer’s first year in government has gone so badly
www.ft.com
July 1, 2025 at 9:55 AM
The ancient epigram (penned by Polybius in his "Histories", Book 10, Ch. 31) that kicks off my "The Conservative Party after Brexit" book applies equally to Labour - namely:
"Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories."
"Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories."
Reposted by Laurence Fletcher
SCOOP! Sachin Duggal, founder and "chief wizard" of the now defunct tech unicorn Builder.ai, made $20mn from selling shares in the company
Builder.ai collapsed last month, after raising half a billion dollars, when revenues had to be dramatically restated
With @bondhack.ft.com
on.ft.com/4k8t44A
Builder.ai collapsed last month, after raising half a billion dollars, when revenues had to be dramatically restated
With @bondhack.ft.com
on.ft.com/4k8t44A
Builder.ai ‘Chief Wizard’ Sachin Dev Duggal made $20mn in share sales
[FREE TO READ] Former chief executive of collapsed Microsoft-backed start-up also borrowed against holdings
on.ft.com
June 25, 2025 at 12:25 PM
SCOOP! Sachin Duggal, founder and "chief wizard" of the now defunct tech unicorn Builder.ai, made $20mn from selling shares in the company
Builder.ai collapsed last month, after raising half a billion dollars, when revenues had to be dramatically restated
With @bondhack.ft.com
on.ft.com/4k8t44A
Builder.ai collapsed last month, after raising half a billion dollars, when revenues had to be dramatically restated
With @bondhack.ft.com
on.ft.com/4k8t44A
Reposted by Laurence Fletcher
The winners of Wimbledon this year will walk away with £3mn each. But down the pecking order, for players outside the top 100, just breaking even each week can be a challenge. https://on.ft.com/4kU185J
June 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The winners of Wimbledon this year will walk away with £3mn each. But down the pecking order, for players outside the top 100, just breaking even each week can be a challenge. https://on.ft.com/4kU185J
Reposted by Laurence Fletcher
After months of reporting (and even my own attempt at a jiu jitsu class), my FT Magazine cover story on Mark Zuckerberg’s metamorphosis to red-blooded “Maga Mark” is out!
Is this political expediency, a midlife crisis or who Zuck has been all along?
on.ft.com/4nsoktx
Is this political expediency, a midlife crisis or who Zuck has been all along?
on.ft.com/4nsoktx
How Mark Zuckerberg unleashed his inner brawler
[FREE TO READ] The boss’s transformation shocked liberals at Meta, but his closest allies say this is who he was all along
on.ft.com
June 20, 2025 at 10:05 AM
After months of reporting (and even my own attempt at a jiu jitsu class), my FT Magazine cover story on Mark Zuckerberg’s metamorphosis to red-blooded “Maga Mark” is out!
Is this political expediency, a midlife crisis or who Zuck has been all along?
on.ft.com/4nsoktx
Is this political expediency, a midlife crisis or who Zuck has been all along?
on.ft.com/4nsoktx
Reposted by Laurence Fletcher
Lars Windhorst’s Tennor Holding, which borrowed billions from investors and was once at the heart of the German financier’s business empire, has been declared bankrupt at the request of Dutch tax authorities
Full story w/ longtime fellow Lars chronicler @cynthiao.bsky.social here: on.ft.com/3HLyjcY
Full story w/ longtime fellow Lars chronicler @cynthiao.bsky.social here: on.ft.com/3HLyjcY
Lars Windhorst’s Tennor Holding declared bankrupt
[FREE TO READ] Company that borrowed billions from investors collapses into insolvency over unpaid Dutch tax
on.ft.com
June 18, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Lars Windhorst’s Tennor Holding, which borrowed billions from investors and was once at the heart of the German financier’s business empire, has been declared bankrupt at the request of Dutch tax authorities
Full story w/ longtime fellow Lars chronicler @cynthiao.bsky.social here: on.ft.com/3HLyjcY
Full story w/ longtime fellow Lars chronicler @cynthiao.bsky.social here: on.ft.com/3HLyjcY
Why has it taken so long to realise this and did the government not think this was bound to happen? #nondoms #tax #rachelreeves www.ft.com/content/ba78... via @financialtimes.com
Rachel Reeves considers changes to non-dom inheritance tax amid UK ‘exodus’
Chancellor is being lobbied by the City following a spate of departures by wealthy people
www.ft.com
June 17, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Why has it taken so long to realise this and did the government not think this was bound to happen? #nondoms #tax #rachelreeves www.ft.com/content/ba78... via @financialtimes.com
'"Hope you get cancer," said one message.
Another - laced with expletives - referenced damaging her "grandmother's grave if she's not dead by tomorrow" and "candles and a coffin for your entire family".' www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis...
Another - laced with expletives - referenced damaging her "grandmother's grave if she's not dead by tomorrow" and "candles and a coffin for your entire family".' www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis...
Katie Boulter: British tennis player reveals social media abuse she has received
Britain's Katie Boulter speaks exclusively to BBC Sport about the levels of social media abuse she receives.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 17, 2025 at 12:16 PM
'"Hope you get cancer," said one message.
Another - laced with expletives - referenced damaging her "grandmother's grave if she's not dead by tomorrow" and "candles and a coffin for your entire family".' www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis...
Another - laced with expletives - referenced damaging her "grandmother's grave if she's not dead by tomorrow" and "candles and a coffin for your entire family".' www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis...
Re: the £22bn #blackhole - 'This “black hole” — as Alphaville also reported in July — was in fact in large part the product of public sector pay decisions taken by Reeves herself, which represented £9.4bn of the pressures' (from @alphaville.ft.com in Nov) www.ft.com/content/2e32... #spendingreview
Peering inside a (fiscal) black hole
Come for the snark, stay for the Soundgarden puns
www.ft.com
June 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Re: the £22bn #blackhole - 'This “black hole” — as Alphaville also reported in July — was in fact in large part the product of public sector pay decisions taken by Reeves herself, which represented £9.4bn of the pressures' (from @alphaville.ft.com in Nov) www.ft.com/content/2e32... #spendingreview
'One reason for the emergence of a slightly naive account of what drives #economicgrowth is that a generation of policy wonks grew up playing games in which, if you simply push the button marked “invest”, you are rewarded at every turn' via @stephenkb.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/e4e8...
If you don’t understand Nintendo Switch 2, you won’t understand the modern world
No savvy politician can get away with treating gaming as if it were a passing fad
www.ft.com
June 10, 2025 at 1:21 PM
'One reason for the emergence of a slightly naive account of what drives #economicgrowth is that a generation of policy wonks grew up playing games in which, if you simply push the button marked “invest”, you are rewarded at every turn' via @stephenkb.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/e4e8...
Reposted by Laurence Fletcher
"We exposed fraud at Enron and WorldCom. Don’t let history repeat itself" - NYTimes oped by Sherron Watkins and Cynthia Cooper arguing against Republican proposals to eliminate the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/o...
May 28, 2025 at 9:53 AM
"We exposed fraud at Enron and WorldCom. Don’t let history repeat itself" - NYTimes oped by Sherron Watkins and Cynthia Cooper arguing against Republican proposals to eliminate the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/o...
I've met some incredible people during my 25 year+ career, but these four top the lot. A butcher, a machinist, a tour guide, a botany lecturer...oh, and all WW2 veterans alive today and each with an amazing story. With @lucyfisher.ft.com via @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/f7e8... #WW2 #VEDay
‘I don’t think anybody went to bed that night’: VE veterans share their stories
Eighty years after Victory in Europe, servicemen and women look back on the conflict
www.ft.com
May 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I've met some incredible people during my 25 year+ career, but these four top the lot. A butcher, a machinist, a tour guide, a botany lecturer...oh, and all WW2 veterans alive today and each with an amazing story. With @lucyfisher.ft.com via @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/f7e8... #WW2 #VEDay