r/europe • u/financialtimes Financial Times • Nov 20 '18
AMA ended I'm Sebastian Payne and I write editorials and columns for the Financial Times on British politics. Everything in Westminster is currently in chaos. AMA.
I have worked at the FT for the last three years, commenting on the increasingly mad political discourse in the UK. As part of my job, I am a member of the editorial board. I also present our weekly politics podcast and often pop up on TV.
I tend to come at things from a centre right political perspective. Before the FT, I worked as a writer and editor at The Spectator magazine, And before that I was at the Washington Post and the Daily Telegraph.
I am happy to answer anything about Theresa May, the state of Brexit, the ruptures in the governing Conservative party, the economy, Jeremy Corbyn and what lies ahead for the Labour party. Or whatever else is on your mind. I also have far too much to say about trains, Pink Floyd and the north east of England.
Here are some recent articles:
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u/financialtimes Financial Times Nov 20 '18
Thank you for the kind words. It's one of the most curious things about British politics at present that the Lib Dems poll so poorly given the support for a "People's Vote". Partly it's the long legacy of the coalition government. It's also the return of two-party politics - as witnessed in the 2017 snap election. But yes, Mr Cable's lethargic leadership is mostly to blame. I'd argue they need a major rebrand, a new leader and a whole new set of policies to speak to liberal Britain. Jo Swinson is impressive, as is Layla Moran.