Deputy political editor, Financial Times. Also amateur iphone photographer and some-time musician.https://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3ml7oddisjc2ifascinating analysis from Lyse Doucet suggesting Iran now has inflation at 72% and has lost a million jobs due to the US:Israeli invasion06 May 2026 21:44 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7oddisjc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3ml3jainhws22Reeves responded angrily by telling Bessent she did not work for him and disliked how he had spoken to her. [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 May 2026 06:03 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml3jainhws22https://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3ml3m2rzkls2jThe UK is particularly vulnerable to shortages of jet fuel caused by the Iran war and there is a risk of rationing as supplies fall to “critically low levels”, according to analysis by one of the world’s largest investment banks. https://www.thetimes.com/business/energy/article/uk-most-exposed-jet-fuel-shortage-iran-war-0c3dpfpkv05 May 2026 06:53 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml3m2rzkls2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3ml3jainhws22Reeves responded angrily by telling Bessent she did not work for him and disliked how he had spoken to her. [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 May 2026 06:03 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml3jainhws22https://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3ml3iyh2cos22FT exclusive: US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent had a fierce row with UK chancellor Rachel Reeves in Washington last month over her outspoken criticism of the Iran war, according to people familiar with the matter https://www.ft.com/content/85f851c6-3cc2-44ee-b527-5a1136f851e7?syn-25a6b1a6=105 May 2026 05:58 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml3iyh2cos22https://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkzuewlhek2jthe fact that a drone was able to reach the heart of the Russian capital will exacerbate fears in Moscow before Saturday’s Victory Day parade, which will be overseen by President Putin https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/ukraine-drone-strikes-moscow-near-red-square-l82qmpc6j04 May 2026 14:17 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzuewlhek2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkwn3dqk622his Britain heading for a seven-party political future? https://www.ft.com/content/6d97d894-3fd8-4517-9464-3d956073e347?syn-25a6b1a6=103 May 2026 07:28 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkwn3dqk622hhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkwyqu3u4s2zit’s worth reading every word of this brilliant, excoriating column by Fraser Nelson03 May 2026 10:57 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkwyqu3u4s2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkwyqu3u4s2zit’s worth reading every word of this brilliant, excoriating column by Fraser Nelson03 May 2026 10:57 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkwyqu3u4s2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkwn3dqk622his Britain heading for a seven-party political future? https://www.ft.com/content/6d97d894-3fd8-4517-9464-3d956073e347?syn-25a6b1a6=103 May 2026 07:28 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkwn3dqk622hhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkuoi3tsks2qas Mrs Merton might say: what first attracted you to the phenomenally generous crypto industry? https://www.ft.com/content/6a56c3fb-07c9-42c2-902a-3b6294640b0a?syn-25a6b1a6=102 May 2026 12:48 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkuoi3tsks2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkuoi3tsks2qas Mrs Merton might say: what first attracted you to the phenomenally generous crypto industry? https://www.ft.com/content/6a56c3fb-07c9-42c2-902a-3b6294640b0a?syn-25a6b1a6=102 May 2026 12:48 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkuoi3tsks2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkszn4cmp22lA shell company backed by Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump has agreed to merge with a critical minerals group that last year secured up to $1.6bn in US government support to mine tungsten in Kazakhstan. https://www.ft.com/content/d99f6f75-931a-42e5-9111-0dc0acc4368c?syn-25a6b1a6=101 May 2026 21:02 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkszn4cmp22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkszn4cmp22lA shell company backed by Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump has agreed to merge with a critical minerals group that last year secured up to $1.6bn in US government support to mine tungsten in Kazakhstan. https://www.ft.com/content/d99f6f75-931a-42e5-9111-0dc0acc4368c?syn-25a6b1a6=101 May 2026 21:02 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkszn4cmp22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkszc7tjqc2lI’m sorry but this has been the case for at least six months, maybe a year [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 May 2026 20:56 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkszc7tjqc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkrp5zntvc23inside Reform-led Staffordshire council: "By December, leader Ian Cooper had quit as leader and been expelled from the party following allegations of racism. His replacement was also accused of racism & quit within days of being chosen." via @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social https://www.ft.com/content/3c059192-9a75-485e-b7cd-541ba2fae729?syn-25a6b1a6=101 May 2026 08:22 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkrp5zntvc23https://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkrjdl6bbk2wExclusive: The Green Party will seek to outflank Labour from the left on employment rights today with a promise to lift the minimum wage to £15 and end Margaret Thatcher’s ban on “secondary picketing”.  https://www.ft.com/content/431a161b-6e8e-4b2b-ac19-62d34644d5c3?syn-25a6b1a6=101 May 2026 06:38 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkrjdl6bbk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkpa7kj4fk2kour FT analysis on how Labour’s vote is being eaten from both left and right https://www.ft.com/content/27dc18fa-2b52-4340-8ea2-45899a6cdbf9?syn-25a6b1a6=130 Apr 2026 08:49 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpa7kj4fk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/pickardje.bsky.social/post/3mkpa7kj4fk2kour FT analysis on how Labour’s vote is being eaten from both left and right https://www.ft.com/content/27dc18fa-2b52-4340-8ea2-45899a6cdbf9?syn-25a6b1a6=130 Apr 2026 08:49 +0000at://did:plc:vqka4tmwebdtqdtt63jbnx4v/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpa7kj4fk2k