Matthew Holehouse
@matthewholehouse.bsky.social
British political correspondent at The Economist. Comment journalist of the year, British Journalism Awards 2023.
It's really not all that much to ask from a government with a 170-majority and 3+ years on the clock.
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
November 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
It's really not all that much to ask from a government with a 170-majority and 3+ years on the clock.
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
typically generous of @georgeeaton.bsky.social not to quote the full Belloc
November 14, 2025 at 10:22 AM
typically generous of @georgeeaton.bsky.social not to quote the full Belloc
Otoh the rest of it is refreshingly candid
November 14, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Otoh the rest of it is refreshingly candid
The US ambassador attacks the UK government over Wylfa nuclear energy decision
November 12, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The US ambassador attacks the UK government over Wylfa nuclear energy decision
More than tax or public services, Labour’s singular pitch - to the electorate, investors and allies - was the promise of a decade of stable technocratic leadership after the “Tory psychodrama”. A party incapable of delivering that is going to have to find better pretexts than “but my activists”
November 12, 2025 at 8:50 AM
More than tax or public services, Labour’s singular pitch - to the electorate, investors and allies - was the promise of a decade of stable technocratic leadership after the “Tory psychodrama”. A party incapable of delivering that is going to have to find better pretexts than “but my activists”
The rate at which gap is narrowing is pretty striking
November 11, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The rate at which gap is narrowing is pretty striking
Hiking tax is much more than merely the breach of a manifesto commitment. It is the death of the idea at the heart of Starmer’s project: that Labour would leave its comfort zone and govern by reform and growth, not tax and spend.
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
November 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Hiking tax is much more than merely the breach of a manifesto commitment. It is the death of the idea at the heart of Starmer’s project: that Labour would leave its comfort zone and govern by reform and growth, not tax and spend.
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
After having the whip restored after a rebellion on welfare cuts, Rachael Maskell says that a higher tax burden on working people would be an "absolute red line".
November 10, 2025 at 6:02 PM
After having the whip restored after a rebellion on welfare cuts, Rachael Maskell says that a higher tax burden on working people would be an "absolute red line".
Really raher bold of this administration to patronise backbenchers about "Economics 101" and the bond markets, given the backbenchers didn't write the manifesto, or the first budget... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
November 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Really raher bold of this administration to patronise backbenchers about "Economics 101" and the bond markets, given the backbenchers didn't write the manifesto, or the first budget... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
fascinating use of the passive voice by Cambridgeshire police. Self-raising crime, perhaps
November 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM
fascinating use of the passive voice by Cambridgeshire police. Self-raising crime, perhaps
This was Zia Yusuf's response to Archie's reporting at the time.
November 3, 2025 at 11:17 AM
This was Zia Yusuf's response to Archie's reporting at the time.
Sandringham sounds rather like a Kolyma labour colony
October 31, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Sandringham sounds rather like a Kolyma labour colony
General election 2028 as a choice of two Powellisms
October 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
General election 2028 as a choice of two Powellisms
A touch of l’esprit d’escalier as Starmer remembers a bunch of things he meant to say about digital ID two weeks ago
October 23, 2025 at 6:37 PM
A touch of l’esprit d’escalier as Starmer remembers a bunch of things he meant to say about digital ID two weeks ago
It is the same circular handwaving logic that underpinned Braverman's legal advice on the UKIM Bill
October 22, 2025 at 1:35 PM
It is the same circular handwaving logic that underpinned Braverman's legal advice on the UKIM Bill
If the line of succession is all that matters (and it ultimately is) then entries 5-8 suggest the last decade of Royal Drama has been a nothing burger.
October 20, 2025 at 1:25 PM
If the line of succession is all that matters (and it ultimately is) then entries 5-8 suggest the last decade of Royal Drama has been a nothing burger.
good analogy from @georgeeaton.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 9:38 AM
good analogy from @georgeeaton.bsky.social
a *subscription* to some pieces of paper
October 16, 2025 at 8:59 PM
a *subscription* to some pieces of paper
The curtains have been measured and a large order placed at the drapers
October 15, 2025 at 10:28 AM
The curtains have been measured and a large order placed at the drapers
Jenrick channeling Keats and Housman. Things must be serious
October 7, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Jenrick channeling Keats and Housman. Things must be serious
Similarly: the consequences for Northern Ireland are ultimately political questions not legal ones
October 6, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Similarly: the consequences for Northern Ireland are ultimately political questions not legal ones
Wolfson’s advice on which Badenoch relied to announce ECHR withdrawal: it’s possible this results in parts of the EU TCA being terminated, but it’s a political question
October 6, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Wolfson’s advice on which Badenoch relied to announce ECHR withdrawal: it’s possible this results in parts of the EU TCA being terminated, but it’s a political question
These three were full of spirit
October 5, 2025 at 4:07 PM
These three were full of spirit