Reporting European, U.K., global politics for @POLITICOEurope. Latest book ‘Landslide: The inside story of the 2024 election’. Also @timross1.bsky.social
In our POLITICO focus group in Makerfield, we found traffic jams and everything they represent were among the biggest concerns for voters. So I went out and found one.
This is the best summary of the current geopolitical situation I have seen. Sir Alex Younger was head of MI6 between 2014 and 2020. Really worth watching.
Brutal verdict on Starmer: 'Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift. This was underscored by your speech on Monday...'
But, no immediate challenge - and a call for the 'best possible field of candidates' in any contest
Buckingham Palace: Are we really still doing the State Opening?
No10: Yes please 👍
Palace: Ok. Please could we try to keep the King out of this leadership mess?
No10: 💯. The king’s speech will show the PM is still the man with the plan. 🙌💪
politico.eu/article/kings-sp…
SCOOP by @TimRoss_1
Buckingham Palace privately asked whether Charles should proceed as planned with the king's speech
People familiar say the king’s team made clear the importance of protecting the monarch from any impression that he is being used for political ends
Keir Starmer’s answer on EU is a shift from his rhetoric on this topic last year
Asked then by @TimRoss_1 if he could see a situation where the red lines might be reconsidered in future, PM said: “No"
He said the “framework” for his reset “in relation to the red lines is clear"
Keir Starmer did not rule out a return to the EU single market or customs union going into Labour’s 2029 manifesto. He talked the idea both up and down in his answer to Jim Pickard. (I would have followed this up if he had taken my question)
Forgive the auto transcript
Far-right firebrand George Simion is surging ahead in the polls and causing mayhem inside Romania’s parliament, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the EU’s sixth-most populous country.
We walk you through what’s happening in Bucharest 👇
🔗 politico.eu/article/how-to-w…
After Simon Case said wait, No10 officials also told Starmer to wait for security clearances before announcing US ambassador appointment… from an internal No10 note to the PM in #Mandelson files
politico.eu/article/note-sho…
On Keir Starmer's working style:
“He delegates so much responsibility.”
“He is fundamentally pretty uninterested in people.”
“His team don’t trust him because he throws other people under the bus.”
by @TimRoss_1@danbloom1 and me politico.eu/article/keir-sta…
Feels like No10 getting their timings wrong: too slow to come clean about Mandelson failing vetting (Lab MPs wonder why Starmer didn’t update them at PMQs). And too quick to fire Robbins — with the story less than a day old, all the heat is now on the PM…
EXCLUSIVE: Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has told POLITICO an expert he trusts warned him the economic impact of the Iran war “could be worse than Covid.”
The world, he argues, should listen.
politico.eu/article/iran-war…
The U.S. president’s European golf buddy calls for extra efforts to stop regional conflicts from spiraling toward World War III.
Exclusive interview with @alexstubb by @TimRoss_1:
politico.eu/article/iran-war…
The chaotic state of the world should prompt a radical rethink of the EU-U.K. relationship, Finnish President Alexander Stubb has said.
“I am too diplomatic to express exactly what I think about those who promoted Brexit during the campaign.”
🔗 politi.co/4bNz0Pj
We wanted to sign a big drone production deal with the United States, but we needed the approval from the White House. It was about different kinds of drones and air defense. They operate as one system and can defend against hundreds or thousands of Iranian “shaheds“ and missiles.
We didn't have the opportunity to sign this document yet. I hope that maybe American friends will be closer to this decision now, especially after such challenges as we see in the Middle East.
From an interview with Gordon Repinski (1/2).
Just days into the war, Trump is demanding the use of joint bases in Europe & asking Ukraine for help w Iranian drone attacks.
But after a year of tormenting allies, all he still thinks he’s owed isn’t forthcoming.
A hard lesson on the value of friends.
w @TimRoss_1
The U.S. assault on Iran has hammered another bruise into the transatlantic relationship as the French, British and Spanish leaders resist Donald Trump’s demands to back his war.
🔗 politi.co/4l7QIQB
The U.S. assault on Iran has hammered another bruise into the transatlantic relationship as the French, British and Spanish leaders resist Donald Trump’s demands to back his war.
🔗 politi.co/4l7QIQB