After a few wonderful weeks of celebration with my husband (!) @joelotter.com, it’s back to the grind. If I missed your messages or calls in the chaos, my apologies - please chase!

At the first Green Party conference with Zack Polanski as leader. He’s getting rapturous applause from the packed main hall of Bournemouth’s conference centre. Speech is light on policy, but big on jibes at Nigel Farage and Labour - which he brands as full of “Reform-baiting policy-making”

PM Keir Starmer told me from Chequers today that signing the India trade deal - along with deals with the US & EU - has put the UK “back on the world stage”. So far, feedback from groups who were concerned abt the deal is relatively upbeat t.co/jl5UD8NYen

Outstanding reporting. I've seen the Zimbabwe side of this. The cognitive dissonance of the UK immigration system in a way is how much it relies on the exploitation of desperate, skilled people in many emerging markets.

This is great reporting... and honestly, every single time I try to work out how something confusing works in London (and probably therefore the UK) then to misquote Super Hans, "the secret ingredient is fraud".

Such an interesting piece - and she's right, if the flipside of a 'tough on immigration' policy is being tough on fraudsters who exploit wouldbe migrants, then there should be HO/police resources behind it

The way the skilled worker visa and sponsorship system was run by the Home Office immediately post-Brexit was absolutely appalling. The UK government enabled industrial-scale exploitation of migrants.

For the last year, I’ve been working on an investigation that’s left me staggered. It’s a damning indictment of the UK’s care sector, & the migration system which has allowed millions of ££s to be plundered from communities in developing countries. Free link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

UK farmers' attitudes towards Labour have tanked in recent months, to say the least. Now we hear some are planning to challenge through judicial review the government's decision to suddenly shutter the SFI subsidy scheme. Story here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Poppy Gustafsson becomes the latest UK minister to insist the govt won’t have to choose between deepening relations with allies such as the US and EU, saying there’s a “clear opportunity” now to “recalibrate” relationship with EU. Speaking at British Chambers of Commerce trade conference.

Finally the Home Office are cracking down on rogue employers in the UK care sector - but is it enough? Over the last few months I’ve heard evidence from many migrant care workers about how they’ve been exploited/abused by employers. More coming soon… t.co/SbKCzGkulS

The prospect of a US-EU trade war is causing worries in Northern Ireland. Some fear it cd reopen Brexit wounds, as EU tariff retaliation would likely mean tariffs on US imports to NI - but not GB. Story with @oliviafletcher.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Nigel Farage was the special guest on our UK Politics pod today. He’s aiming to present Reform UK as a mature, serious politician contender - denies he’s anti-immigration and says he’s “non sectarian, non racist”. My writeup here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Great explainer from @tomreesjournalist.bsky.social on why recent UK market turmoil isn’t quite another Liz Truss moment - but is still causing headaches for Chancellor Rachel Reeves www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Important story from Abhinav Ramnarayan and @sabahmeddings.bsky.social on concerns around private equity’s grip on child social care, and the profits being made www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Our weekend story with top team @joemayes.bsky.social @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social @lucygjwhite.bsky.social

Campaigners for and against the assisted dying bill facing off across Parliament Square today as the vote in the Commons takes place. Speaking to representatives from both sides, am struck by how each sees their stance as a protest against potential state tyranny.

Huge upward revision in migration stats this morning from the ONS - now saying net migration was 906,000 in the yr to June 2023, up from previous estimates of 740,000. Fallen to 728,000 in yr to June 2024.