Matthew Holehouse
@matthewholehouse.bsky.social
British political correspondent at The Economist. Comment journalist of the year, British Journalism Awards 2023.
Weeks, months of finger-wagging that No 10's internal enemies were ignorant of the bond markets and that they alone stood against the tide. Ah well.
Oof. That’s a proper move in UK yields.
November 14, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Weeks, months of finger-wagging that No 10's internal enemies were ignorant of the bond markets and that they alone stood against the tide. Ah well.
"No major tax rises" wasn't a pledge, but the project www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Blighty newsletter: Labour retreats to its comfort zone
What might a broken promise tell us about Sir Keir Starmer’s party?
www.economist.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:34 PM
"No major tax rises" wasn't a pledge, but the project www.economist.com/britain/2025...
typically generous of @georgeeaton.bsky.social not to quote the full Belloc
November 14, 2025 at 10:22 AM
typically generous of @georgeeaton.bsky.social not to quote the full Belloc
A passage that does indeed read rather differently to the "indivisibility of the internal market" positions of the past
I did not have insider knowledge. I have just been around Brussels negotiations for a long time...
EU agrees a mandate for UK negotiations as I predicted. With the bonus that the future path becomes clearer - if you pay you can have more. www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
EU agrees a mandate for UK negotiations as I predicted. With the bonus that the future path becomes clearer - if you pay you can have more. www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
November 12, 2025 at 8:40 PM
A passage that does indeed read rather differently to the "indivisibility of the internal market" positions of the past
From Bosh Britain to Bosch Britain www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Sir Keir Starmer is a prisoner of the politics he pledged to end
When rigmarole becomes reality
www.economist.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:38 PM
From Bosh Britain to Bosch Britain www.economist.com/britain/2025...
The US ambassador attacks the UK government over Wylfa nuclear energy decision
November 12, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The US ambassador attacks the UK government over Wylfa nuclear energy decision
More than tax or public services, Labour’s singular pitch - to the electorate, investors and allies - was the promise of a decade of stable technocratic leadership after the “Tory psychodrama”. A party incapable of delivering that is going to have to find better pretexts than “but my activists”
November 12, 2025 at 8:50 AM
More than tax or public services, Labour’s singular pitch - to the electorate, investors and allies - was the promise of a decade of stable technocratic leadership after the “Tory psychodrama”. A party incapable of delivering that is going to have to find better pretexts than “but my activists”
Hiking tax is much more than merely the breach of a manifesto commitment. It is the death of the idea at the heart of Starmer’s project: that Labour would leave its comfort zone and govern by reform and growth, not tax and spend.
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
November 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Hiking tax is much more than merely the breach of a manifesto commitment. It is the death of the idea at the heart of Starmer’s project: that Labour would leave its comfort zone and govern by reform and growth, not tax and spend.
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
After having the whip restored after a rebellion on welfare cuts, Rachael Maskell says that a higher tax burden on working people would be an "absolute red line".
November 10, 2025 at 6:02 PM
After having the whip restored after a rebellion on welfare cuts, Rachael Maskell says that a higher tax burden on working people would be an "absolute red line".
Reposted by Matthew Holehouse
Britain's biggest political party...
November 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Britain's biggest political party...
Really raher bold of this administration to patronise backbenchers about "Economics 101" and the bond markets, given the backbenchers didn't write the manifesto, or the first budget... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
November 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Really raher bold of this administration to patronise backbenchers about "Economics 101" and the bond markets, given the backbenchers didn't write the manifesto, or the first budget... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reform's fiscal rules still a work in progress, it seems. Richard Tice asked at Bloomberg to provide a definition tonight: "We’ve got to keep it simple folks: we must not go bust. We’ve got to starting earning more than we’re spending…. Let’s keep it simple. Basic housekeeping.”
November 5, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reform's fiscal rules still a work in progress, it seems. Richard Tice asked at Bloomberg to provide a definition tonight: "We’ve got to keep it simple folks: we must not go bust. We’ve got to starting earning more than we’re spending…. Let’s keep it simple. Basic housekeeping.”
fascinating use of the passive voice by Cambridgeshire police. Self-raising crime, perhaps
November 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM
fascinating use of the passive voice by Cambridgeshire police. Self-raising crime, perhaps
Farage's jettisoning of the 2024 manifesto in favour of what promises to be a much more fiscally-conservative approach is a significant moment. My colleague @archiehall.bsky.social ran the rule over the policybook as late as May. It wasn't pretty. www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Nigel Farage’s economic plans are a disaster
Three choices: fiscal implosion, deep austerity or a hasty U-turn
www.economist.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Farage's jettisoning of the 2024 manifesto in favour of what promises to be a much more fiscally-conservative approach is a significant moment. My colleague @archiehall.bsky.social ran the rule over the policybook as late as May. It wasn't pretty. www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Reposted by Matthew Holehouse
Come work for us. The Economist is hiring a Britain political correspondent. Make the sample piece original and Economisty
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
The Economist is hiring a Britain political correspondent
Join The Economist’s Britain team
economist.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Come work for us. The Economist is hiring a Britain political correspondent. Make the sample piece original and Economisty
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
Sandringham sounds rather like a Kolyma labour colony
October 31, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Sandringham sounds rather like a Kolyma labour colony
i think it was @joelbudd.bsky.social who coined the analogy of post-Brexit Britain taking the controls of immigration policy like someone flying a plane for the first time - first pulling back hard on the yoke and then pushing hard down. That noise is the stall alarm...
Net migration to the UK is falling rapidly. But how far will it fall? A new, detailed estimate by @jamesbowes01.bsky.social projects net migration in 2026 will be 70K to 170K.
This will have significant consequences, both economic and political.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
This will have significant consequences, both economic and political.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
October 29, 2025 at 4:30 PM
i think it was @joelbudd.bsky.social who coined the analogy of post-Brexit Britain taking the controls of immigration policy like someone flying a plane for the first time - first pulling back hard on the yoke and then pushing hard down. That noise is the stall alarm...
Apply for my job
Join The Economist’s Britain team
The Economist is hiring a Britain political correspondent
Join The Economist’s Britain team
econ.st
October 29, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Apply for my job
Imagine explaining to a Gen Z the concept of getting angry about the content of adverts on linear tv
Danny Kruger just told Nick Robinson that Sarah Pochin’s remarks weren’t racist because she was “driven mad” not by seeing Black and Asian people on TV but by their “over-representation”. Robinson didn’t ask what’s so maddening about over-representation. Is there a rule adverts have to reflect life?
October 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Imagine explaining to a Gen Z the concept of getting angry about the content of adverts on linear tv
A pro-monarchy case for parliament to step in and fix an institution apparently incapable of fixing itself
🔺UPDATED: Prince Andrew ‘in talks to leave Royal Lodge for Frogmore Cottage’ ⬇️
Prince Andrew ‘wants Frogmore Cottage’ if he leaves Royal Lodge
Prince Andrew ‘in talks to leave Royal Lodge for Frogmore Cottage’
www.thetimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A pro-monarchy case for parliament to step in and fix an institution apparently incapable of fixing itself
Reposted by Matthew Holehouse
Delighted to be nominated for comment journalist of the year at the British Journalism Awards, alongside some fantastic peers 🎈🍾 pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
October 23, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Delighted to be nominated for comment journalist of the year at the British Journalism Awards, alongside some fantastic peers 🎈🍾 pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
General election 2028 as a choice of two Powellisms
October 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
General election 2028 as a choice of two Powellisms
A touch of l’esprit d’escalier as Starmer remembers a bunch of things he meant to say about digital ID two weeks ago
October 23, 2025 at 6:37 PM
A touch of l’esprit d’escalier as Starmer remembers a bunch of things he meant to say about digital ID two weeks ago
Reposted by Matthew Holehouse
Delighted to share that several brilliant colleagues from @economist.com have been shortlisted for the British Journalism Awards 2025 🏆
Congratulations @matthewholehouse.bsky.social, @duncanrobinson.bsky.social and @sondreus.bsky.social!
Read the full shortlist:
pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
Congratulations @matthewholehouse.bsky.social, @duncanrobinson.bsky.social and @sondreus.bsky.social!
Read the full shortlist:
pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
British Journalism Awards 2025: Finalists revealed
Press Gazette is proud to reveal the shortlist for the British Journalism Awards 2025, with links to all of the winning work.
pressgazette.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Delighted to share that several brilliant colleagues from @economist.com have been shortlisted for the British Journalism Awards 2025 🏆
Congratulations @matthewholehouse.bsky.social, @duncanrobinson.bsky.social and @sondreus.bsky.social!
Read the full shortlist:
pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
Congratulations @matthewholehouse.bsky.social, @duncanrobinson.bsky.social and @sondreus.bsky.social!
Read the full shortlist:
pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...