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Sebastian Payne

Whitehall Editor

Sebastian Payne writes about British politics for the FT. He was previously political leader writer and digital opinion editor. Before he joined the FT, he was a reporter and editor at The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph.

He also presents the weekly Payne's Politics podcast and writes a fortnightly notebook column for the opinion pages.

Email Sebastian Payne @SebastianEPayne (link opens in a new browser window)
Email Sebastian Payne @SebastianEPayne (link opens in a new browser window)

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  • Thursday, 25 February, 2021
    UK regional policy
    Darlington emerges as most likely location for Treasury’s northern base

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak expected to rebuff last-ditch pleas from senior civil servants to pick a city

  • Monday, 22 February, 2021
    UK politics & policy
    Johnson insists ‘end is in sight’ for Covid restrictions

    Easing of restrictions for England to take place in 4 stages with Sunak to extend economic aid

  • Sunday, 21 February, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    Schools in England to reopen on March 8 under easing of lockdown

    Rules on outdoor socialising to be relaxed as Johnson sets out four tests to measure progress in tackling Covid-19

  • Friday, 19 February, 2021
    UK Government
    Johnson’s plan to safeguard the union in chaos as key aide quits

    Pro-Brexit adviser Oliver Lewis appointed just two weeks ago to oversee strategy to counter Scottish independence

  • Friday, 19 February, 2021
    The Big Read
    Escaping lockdown: when will life return to normal?

    Boris Johnson reveals his road map for lifting restrictions on Monday. The world will be watching to see how far he goes

  • Thursday, 18 February, 2021
    UK business & economy
    Sunak delays business rates review until autumn

    Holiday on paying levy expected to be extended in Budget along with extensions to other Covid aid measures

  • Thursday, 18 February, 2021
    UK politics & policy
    Diplomats and business express caution over Frost cabinet role

    Fears appointment of former Brexit negotiator could impede efforts to improve trading in Northern Ireland

  • Wednesday, 17 February, 2021
    Brexit
    Brexit negotiator Frost to take charge of UK-EU relations

    Architect of Johnson’s ‘hard Brexit’ strategy gets seat in cabinet after internal fight

  • Tuesday, 16 February, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    UK anticipating dip in Covid vaccine supply in coming weeks

    At current rates, all over-50s could be inoculated by end of March

  • Promoted Content
  • Tuesday, 16 February, 2021
    Liverpool
    Liverpool’s ‘levelling up’ is a model for other regions

    Once deemed a ‘hellhole’, the city has undergone an economic revival

  • Monday, 15 February, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    UK looks at rapid testing to allow return of mass gatherings

    Plan would enable venues that cannot comply with social distancing to resume events

  • Friday, 12 February, 2021
    UK schools
    Johnson looks at staggering school reopening with secondaries delayed

    Scientists have warned that simultaneous move could push R number back above 1

  • Friday, 12 February, 2021
    Boris Johnson
    Covid variants and new advisers curb Boris Johnson’s natural optimism

    UK prime minister has become much more reluctant to over promise on when the pandemic crisis will ease

  • Friday, 12 February, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    UK scientists call for debate on allowing ‘big wave of infection’

    Advisers to government warn of national discussion after most vulnerable are vaccinated

  • Friday, 12 February, 2021
    Brexit
    UK and EU to seek ‘workable solutions’ on Northern Ireland protocol

    Talks ‘lower the temperature’ with pledge to consult more with business on impact of deal

  • Wednesday, 10 February, 2021
    Covid-19 vaccines
    Single dose of Pfizer vaccine shows signs of success in UK

    Early data need confirmation but government push to extend gap between jabs receives a boost

  • Wednesday, 10 February, 2021
    Brexit
    Northern Ireland ports to resume checks after security fears

    Move comes ahead of UK-EU meeting to thrash out post-Brexit border problems

  • Wednesday, 10 February, 2021
    UK Government
    Travel bosses fear summer season at risk after UK warns on holidays

    Tough new quarantine measures come into force in England from Monday

  • Monday, 8 February, 2021
    Covid-19 vaccines
    Johnson confident in AstraZeneca vaccine after S Africa move

    UK prime minister insists jab effective in preventing death and serious illness from new variants

  • Friday, 5 February, 2021
    News in-depthCovid-19 vaccines
    How AstraZeneca’s vaccine was hit by flawed trials, defects and politics — but might still save the world

    Vaccine maker under pressure over clinical trial data and manufacturing problems

  • Friday, 5 February, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    UK targets early May to vaccinate all over 50s against Covid-19

    Deadline announced as ministers confirm local elections will go ahead

  • Thursday, 4 February, 2021
    UK business & economy
    Treasury economists work on plan for phased lifting of Covid restrictions

    Tory MPs call on government to get rid of curbs completely by end of May, assuming vaccine supplies remain steady

  • Thursday, 4 February, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    Johnson remains cautious on easing England’s lockdown

    Prime minister warns infections remain high despite 10m Britons getting first dose of vaccine

  • Wednesday, 3 February, 2021
    UK Government
    Johnson’s adviser on the union departs following No 10 clash

    Prime minister turns to pro-Brexit aide to build support for the UK as calls for Scottish independence grow

  • Wednesday, 3 February, 2021
    Office of Communications
    Boris Johnson eyes ex-Mail editor Paul Dacre to run media watchdog

    Next Ofcom chair could be handed additional powers to supervise tech platforms like Facebook and Google

Previous You are on page 1 Next

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