Political Nerdery at Sky News. Views own etc. Tweets not subed. 🇬🇧⚽ 🇳🇿🏉. Timothy.baker2@sky.uk

Joined March 2011
862 Photos and videos
Tim Baker retweeted
I do find it extraordinary that current events in AI don’t make the top ~30 stories on the BBC News homepage
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Tim Baker retweeted
The thing that is so bewildering is that in Munich in February Keir Starmer gave one of his best speech as PM where he appeared to define his premiership on rebuilding UK defence credibility and taking a leadership role in Europe. Time and time again Starmer has said security is the point of his premiership. Insecurity is his main argument against changing leader. Rather than find a few extra billion to meet that rhetoric he has taken a political decision not to, siding not only with the Treasury but also inexplicably with the Labour welfare rebels who sunk his premiership. It means he is left with Ed Miliband in his cabinet, who has agitated for his downfall, and no John Healey. How has he managed that?
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*ahem* had their days flipped upside down
Spare a thought for the Australian press pack. They had already travelled to Portsmouth for a joint press conference between John Healey and Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles. After Healey's resignation, the press conference has been cancelled and Marles is doing no media. Along way to come for a no-show.
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Good thread on industry reaction to Healey
A senior defence source said Healey "hardened" his demand for more cash some time ago, telling Starmer and Reeves "I absolutely need this spending” Source suggested he wanted “around the £18 billion mark” and was not prepared to accept much less
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Tim Baker retweeted
Rachel Reeves was said to have consistently argued that the SDR had been costed and therefore "refused to give a penny more” despite world events "War in the Middle East, Trump drawing back from Nato, Ukraine not getting easier... She completely ignores what's changed" - source
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Doesn't feel like any former soldier (to wit, Al Carns) would stomach imposing DiP as def sec... at least with credibility in tact
Fmr MOD and NATO official Nicholas Williams says on increasing gvt funding for defence - “if John Healey couldn’t do it, then I don’t think any successor can do it.”
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Treasury trying to blame Healey and say they're avoiding cots. Other (No 10)sources saying No 10 is hard nosed and making cuts elsewhere to fund defence
Replying to @e_casalicchio
HMT official: Reeves "will always do what is right and needed to keep this country safe" ... notes that she has been working with Starmer to make cuts across govt to fund DIP. Adds: "Let's be clear on what John is asking for: cuts to schools and hospitals."
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Given the subject matter and comparing it to the psychodrama that often governs cabinet resignations, Healey's decision to quit feels like the most consequential departure of the last 25 years
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Tim Baker retweeted
My letter to the Prime Minister
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Tim Baker retweeted
Andy Burnham seeks to clarify his stance on WASPI compensation, after backing "recompense" yesterday. A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester mayor says he won't back "financial compensation" nationally and the issue is settled - but backs regional schemes to support women affected. Full statement: “Andy has always recognised the unfair way in which state pension equalisation was introduced. "As Mayor of Greater Manchester, he supported WASPI women in the city-region with early access to concessionary travel, providing some recompense to them within affordability limits. "He accepts the final decision has been made in relation to financial compensation but has indicated an openness to considering similar schemes on the Greater Manchester model.”
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Tim Baker retweeted
Jun 11
I have genuine sympathy for the BBC with this. If they’d gone out and spent the same amount of money ITV have on a studio like that, they’d get ripped apart for wasting Licence Fee money, so they stay in a UK studio and get laughed at for it. It’s impossible for them to win.
Two different budgets for the FIFA World Cup 2026! Two studios ITV= New York Skyline- whole production team out their for Six Weeks BBC= Virtual Reality studio in Salford Really dissapointing from the BBC😬
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Small state advocate tells Greggs to put in bigger bins or face losing their licence 🥟
Richard Tice unveiling a new Reform slogan… “Cleaning up Britain”. He says it will happen “in so many ways”.
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put THAT on your weird unlabelled axis graph, economists
💉🛒Impact of weight loss jabs in UK – Food shopping has fallen by £780m a year – 6.3% of GB households include at least 1 current fat jab user, up from 4.1% in 2025, 2.3% in 2024 Fascinating stats from respected Worldpanel, based on survey of 11,500 supermarket shoppers
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Tim Baker retweeted
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Strong work from the justice secretary here
A productive meeting with @JuliaKloeckner this week, discussing opportunities for further UK-Germany collaboration, as well as foreign policy priorities & tackling shared challenges. Stronger relationships with allies & partners mean a more prosperous future for our nation.
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Tim Baker retweeted
The Rutland Sea Dragon belongs here in Rutland. This once-in-a-generation find is part of our local story, and should be accessible for future generations to learn from and enjoy. Please sign the Friends of Rutland Museum and Oakham Castle and I’s petition today to help show that Rutlanders want this extraordinary piece of our heritage returned to where it was found. ✍🏻 You can add your name here: aliciakearns.com/rutland-sea… Together, let’s bring the Sea Dragon Home.
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Tim Baker retweeted
Company boss tried to torch Parliament courtnewsuk.co.uk/company-bo…
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Here I was thinking American Football songs are actually miserable middle aged men with jazzy drum beats
American football songs: “Yay, we like our team! They’re good! Go team!” British football songs: “Your granny has herpes, and she’d still be better than your striker.”
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Tim Baker retweeted
Does any story truly exist until it has been slagged off by Tom?
I’m sure @spectator will protect their source” but the suspicion is this was from Mandelson himself. If so, it’s a bit creepy that those who loudly condemn the government for having had anything to do with Mandelson will then take their “exclusives” from him - and “protect” - him
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