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Robert Shrimsley

UK chief political commentator and UK editor at large

Robert Shrimsley is UK chief political commentator and UK editor at large of the Financial Times. He writes a weekly column on British politics and for the FT weekend magazine. Before this, he served as the FT’s chief political correspondent, news editor, managing editor of FT.com and editorial director.

Email Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley (link opens in a new browser window)
Email Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley (link opens in a new browser window)

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  • Friday, 26 February, 2021
    FT MagazineCovid-19 vaccines
    The tiresome trend of vaccine one-upmanship

    People who would once have bitten your arm off for a dose of Sputnik are now discussing the merits of various jabs with all the expertise of an oenophile

  • Wednesday, 24 February, 2021
    Technology sector
    Politicians are using yesterday’s tools for today’s tech challenges

    Regulation must address the way digital groups are reshaping our society

  • Wednesday, 17 February, 2021
    Brexit
    The equivalence tussle is giving UK a lesson in Brexit power politics

    Brussels is fighting to make the EU more competitive in financial services

  • Tuesday, 16 February, 2021
    FT MagazineLife & Arts
    Boomers, now is not the time to get stuck in a groove

    If you don’t mind lockdown, you’ll love the safe, predictable sound of Boom Radio

  • Friday, 12 February, 2021
    FT MagazineLife & Arts
    Never meet your heroes

    When screen idols turn out not to be as billed, we feel tricked — as if Vin Diesel had joined the Greens

  • Wednesday, 10 February, 2021
    Keir Starmer
    Labour’s Starmer has no quick fix; Johnson stole his story

    The UK opposition leader is struggling to articulate a compellingly different vision from the Tories’

  • Friday, 5 February, 2021
    FT MagazineLife & Arts
    How Swampy made eco-protesting into a family business

    The green warrior has taught his son GCSE tunnelling to protest HS2

  • Thursday, 4 February, 2021
    ReviewNon-Fiction
    An unheard hatred: how anti-Semitism is dangerously ignored

    Persecution of Jewish people persists — and has worsened — yet it fails to provoke outcry from progressives

  • Wednesday, 3 February, 2021
    Boris Johnson
    Boris Johnson’s vaccine win gives him a second chance. Can he take it?

    UK prime minister could emerge stronger from the pandemic despite early missteps

  • Promoted Content
  • Friday, 29 January, 2021
    FT MagazineLife & Arts
    Wanted: the corporate world’s next Big Baddie

    After Big Pharma stepped up in the pandemic, who’s the next villain? Big Meat? Big Box Set?

  • Wednesday, 27 January, 2021
    Scottish independence
    There is no cunning wheeze to stop Scottish independence

    Unionists must force an honest and realistic debate and win the argument

  • Wednesday, 20 January, 2021
    Northern Ireland
    Democratic Unionists are now Irish reunification’s secret weapon

    Strategic misjudgments are weakening not preserving Northern Ireland’s place in the UK

  • Wednesday, 20 January, 2021
    FT MagazineDonald Trump
    Trump lost the election, but he's still won in his way

    ‘It is clear he remains box office and that he understands the rules of entertainment better than any politician around’

  • Friday, 15 January, 2021
    FT MagazineCoronavirus pandemic
    Vaccinated veterans, it’s time to reclaim the cities!

    There is no longer any excuse for the new Covid-secure senior citizens not to do their bit

  • Wednesday, 13 January, 2021
    Populism
    America’s warning for British democracy

    A cavalier approach to truth and a readiness to break political norms have fomented a similar rot

  • Thursday, 7 January, 2021
    FT MagazineLife & Arts
    Who are your politicians? Better not to know

    ‘It is not a good sign that a higher than average number of people can name the health secretary’

  • Wednesday, 6 January, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    Rightwing sceptics helped deepen the UK’s Covid crisis

    Contrarian Conservatives preyed on Boris Johnson’s insecurities and slowed government response

  • Tuesday, 5 January, 2021
    ReviewNon-Fiction
    Making Britain great again

    A prospectus for the UK’s post-Brexit ‘reboot’ proves quite German in detail

  • Thursday, 24 December, 2020
    Instant InsightBrexit
    The Brexit deal is just the end of the beginning

    Shorn of the economic advantages of EU membership, the UK is going to need a more agile and effective leadership

  • Friday, 18 December, 2020
    FT MagazineSport
    Loving bad football is a hard habit to kick

    Why I’ve missed spending good money to sit in the rain and see my team lose

  • Wednesday, 16 December, 2020
    Brexit
    If self-interest is the measure, Boris Johnson will do a Brexit deal

    The UK prime minister puts himself top of his creditors, but forgets his debt to voters

  • Friday, 11 December, 2020
    FT MagazineLife & Arts
    A spell in self-isolation: the Downton Abbey experience

    After a week spent playing footman to a teenager, the novelty has worn off

  • Wednesday, 9 December, 2020
    Brexit
    Remainers must not gloat over Brexit’s failures

    The electorate will not reward those who appear to wish for disaster

  • Wednesday, 2 December, 2020
    Conservative Party UK
    Betrayalism is dragging down Boris Johnson

    The attitude sets leaders up to fail while preserving the purity of those untainted by political compromises

  • Friday, 27 November, 2020
    FT MagazineCoronavirus economic impact
    Someone forgot to tell Covid it’s Christmas

    ‘Are we really to believe Covid-19 is unaware of the festive season? Has it not seen the John Lewis ads?’

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