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alexwickham.bsky.social
Political Editor at Bloomberg in London
218 posts 8,208 followers 137 following
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Scoop w/ @alexwickham.bsky.social The UK is drawing up plans for a new investor visa targeted at strategic industries www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NEW: Ukrainian and European officials have told the US that a ceasefire and clarity on security guarantees for Kyiv should precede any peace deal with Russia involving negotiations over territory, sources tell @albertonardelli.bsky.social, Daryna Krasnolutska & me www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive with @albertonardelli.bsky.social Trump is prepared to recognise Crimea as Russian in a peace deal, according to people familiar with the matter www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The US is prepared to accept Vladimir Putin’s demands to recognize Russia’s control over the Ukrainian region of Crimea as part of a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, a move that would undermine international law and treaties www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive: Chinese drones were used to survey UK critical national infrastructure including National Grid substations and Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, going against official advice from MI5 and raising concerns from government officials www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Scoop: The government is "very seriously considering" nationalising Chinese-owned British Steel, two sources tell Bloomberg, as it scrambles to save the last UK steelmaker from closure. w/ @alexwickham.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive: Trump’s tariffs have put the UK and EU back on course for a reset deal in May Progress made on defence/security Desire for an elegant solution on fish Youth visa scheme and more on table With @albertonardelli.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive: US officials today told the UK they’re open to talking about Britain’s proposal to reduce tariffs below 10%, but they also warned Trump may decide that number is his permanent baseline for all countries. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NEW: US officials are frustrated Russia isn’t sticking to commitments it’s made, sources tell @natdroz.bsky.social @albertonardelli.bsky.social and me Officials from the US and Europe suggest Putin is playing games and wonder how long Trump will tolerate it www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NEW The moment is now approaching where Donald Trump faces a choice: stand up to Putin or make major concessions to Russia to stop the fighting, senior European officials said. State of play with @albertonardelli.bsky.social and team >>> www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Bloomberg Spring statement preview with @joemayes.bsky.social @philaldrick.bsky.social >>> www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive with Bloomberg colleagues: Vladimir Putin is demanding a suspension of all weapons deliveries to Ukraine during any ceasefire, according to people with knowledge of the matter. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

EXCLUSIVE — Vladimir Putin has made deliberately maximalist demands ahead of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, which he knows are likely to be unacceptable to Kyiv and Europe, Western security officials told Bloomberg. With @albertonardelli.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NEW: US Presses Ukraine for Quick Ceasefire to Go With Minerals Deal With @albertonardelli.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive details from Sunday’s summit: *UK forging Europe Plus coalition *Canada in talks to join *Trump admin made private asks post Zelenskiy, inc he apologises *one camp in White House is extremely anti-Ze, others more measured *WH expect Ze to go after deal www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Brilliant and must-read piece by @albertonardelli.bsky.social Europe’s nightmare is here. The continent is confronting its worst-case scenario: that it may have to fight Putin alone www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NEW: Keir Starmer will today tell European leaders to get real on defence spending, military support and security guarantees for Ukraine He’ll tell them the “brutal reality” is their “carefully crafted speeches” are not enough and they need action now www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

** NEW: The Trump administration has made clear it wants a public apology from Zelenskiy to mend relations after the Oval Office row, sources say In latest Bloomberg story here >>> www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NEW: What Keir Starmer is trying to do, according to senior government sources www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive with @albertonardelli.bsky.social UK Plans European Leaders’ Meeting to Talk Ukraine and Defense Could be as soon as Sunday to debrief Trump convos www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive The US will commit to a “free, sovereign and secure” Ukraine and a “lasting peace” as part of a minerals deal that now appears imminent, according to a recent draft text seen by Bloomberg US will agree a “durable partnership” between Washington and Kyiv www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Bloomberg Saturday read Trump crisis sets Starmer a defining test of leadership With @ellenmilligan.bsky.social >>> www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive with @ellenmilligan.bsky.social Military chiefs have told Keir Starmer he needs to raise defense spending to 2.5% as soon as possible before 2030, then ramp it up further toward 3% in the years after. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive with @ellenmilligan.bsky.social in Munich Donald Trump’s administration has told the UK and EU it wants them to buy American weapons, military equipment and energy in order to maintain the NATO alliance, sources say www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive with @ellenmilligan.bsky.social Military chiefs have told Starmer and Reeves that raising defence spending to 2.5% will only see UK capabilities “stand still” Improving the military will require a significant uplift beyond that, they’ve said privately www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Ukraine Seeks $300 Billion of Russian Assets to Buy US Weapons www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Top exclusive by @philaldrick.bsky.social @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @joemayes.bsky.social Reeves in the red after the OBR downgraded its growth forecast to the Treasury last week While bond market moves have stabilised, growth downgrade is a bigger problem www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive: Heathrow airport will unveil a short-term expansion plan including a timely commitment to prioritize British steel under threat from Donald Trump’s tariffs, offering the hub a potential boost before a third runway is built. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Story on why the UK govt wants to do the Chagos deal, why Diego Garcia is so important, and the agreement secured with Mauritius that officials say would keep China out >>> Exclusive: Control of US-UK Military Satellite System Is Key to Chagos Deal www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Keir Starmer is for the first time facing criticism from within his cabinet over the Chagos deal www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

“The chancellor has spoken previously about getting value for money,” the PM’s spokesman says when asked about this @bloomberg.com story. Says No10 will not provide a running commentary ahead of spending review negotiations.

Treasury has told unprotected depts to prepare for ‘flat cash’ budgets at spending review Would mean big cuts after inflation Likely worst-case model in event of another bond rout But threatens austerity 2.0 w/ @philaldrick.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Bloomberg Saturday read: Rachel Reeves races to find a growth miracle before the next election Her speech was broadly welcomed by business But executives, economists, Labour MPs and aides ask if it’s enough to turn the economy around this year www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NEW: Read this from @philaldrick.bsky.social on Rachel Reeves’ speech today Business welcomes the chancellor’s promise to build Britain back to growth, but it won’t happen fast www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The UK economy is starting to turn around, Keir Starmer tells @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Some Cabinet ministers are questioning whether proposed expansion to Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton would have the growth impact intended, @pronouncedalva.bsky.social reports >>> www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

British businesses have seen the biggest hit to output and profit since the pandemic www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

How Rachel Reeves Decided UK Needs to Bet Big on Economic Growth With @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social @joemayes.bsky.social >>> www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Keir Starmer tells Bloomberg he is “putting builders first, not the blockers” as he announces curbs on judicial reviews delaying major infrastructure projects PM says he’s “disarming the NIMBYs who are hell-bent on slowing down our progress as a nation” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NEW: Rachel Reeves Bloomberg interview in Davos Asked about Heathrow rebels, chancellor says: “The answer can’t always be no” “This was the problem with the last govt” Clearest indication yet that she’ll back airport expansion and face down internal Labour opposition

New: The UK’s budget deficit has soared more than forecast Big overshoot. Deficit was £17.8 billion in December, was estimated to be £14.2b Driven by debt costs Highlights the fiscal challenge facing Reeves www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

This is genuinely disturbing. Removal of security for people known to be assassination targets in order to punish them for their political opposition. It is not a threat of violence, but it amounts to a threat to allow violence against political opponents.

Keir Starmer faces a damaging Labour split over expansion plans for Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton Sadiq Khan says he will launch a fresh legal challenge. Cabinet divided and feel bounced by Treasury Story with @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social > www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

No10 say they haven't seen the Musk salute and offer no view on Trump pulling out of the Paris climate agreement

New: The next big problem for the govt The City warns Reeves that simply tweaking spending plans to add in more delayed cuts (the trick the Tories used to get round the fiscal rules) will struggle to convince investors and risk an adverse market response www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive with @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social UK Poised to Back Heathrow Airport Expansion in Push for Growth Gatwick, Luton projects also set for approval As well as Lower Thames Crossing and Universal Studios theme park www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The new kaleidoscopic No10 comms grid now has a record 8 (eight) different colour-coded sub-sections to cover all the missions and foundations, with 8 colours including 2 shades of blue and 2 shades of purple At least means it should be easier to sneak your announcement thru

🚨 NEW: UK mortgage borrowers are now £500-a-year worse off than before the Reeves budget as a result of turbulence in the bond market 5-year fixed rate mortgages have hit 5.3%, the highest in 5 months Means those remortgaging this year face a big hit www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Martin Ivens gets to the point for Bloomberg Opinion: He says Rachel Reeves has to stay as chancellor because if she doesn’t then Starmer’s own position is in jeopardy www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Damning assessment of Rachel Reeves’ new Office for Value for Money by the Treasury select committee “the Office for Value for Money is an understaffed, poorly defined organisation which has been set up with a vague remit and no clear plan” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...