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Sebastian Payne

Whitehall Editor

Sebastian Payne writes about British politics for the FT. He was previously political leader writer and digital opinion editor. Before he joined the FT, he was a reporter and editor at The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph.

He also presents the weekly Payne's Politics podcast and writes a fortnightly notebook column for the opinion pages.

Email Sebastian Payne @SebastianEPayne (link opens in a new browser window)
Email Sebastian Payne @SebastianEPayne (link opens in a new browser window)

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  • Friday, 5 March, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    Mystery person with P.1 coronavirus variant in UK found

    Health secretary Matt Hancock praises NHS test and trace for ‘dogged determination’ in tracking individual down

  • Thursday, 4 March, 2021
    Global trade
    US suspends tariffs on UK exports in Airbus-Boeing trade dispute

    Biden administration moves to de-escalate long running trade row with temporary measure

  • Thursday, 4 March, 2021
    News in-depthUK regional policy
    Relocating UK’s civil service is crucial to Johnson’s levelling-up agenda

    Prime minister hopes shifting thousands of public workers outside London will help cut regional inequalities

  • Wednesday, 3 March, 2021
    UK Budget
    Eight bidders gain freeport approval in move to boost English regions

    Chancellor says special economic zones will unlock billions of pounds in private sector investment

  • Wednesday, 3 March, 2021
    UK regional policy
    Sunak chooses Darlington as Treasury’s northern hub

    Chancellor’s move is part of levelling-up agenda for the north of England

  • Tuesday, 2 March, 2021
    UK retail industry
    Local governments need the power to save their high streets

    Whitehall should let UK communities decide how best to save jobs and shape town centres

  • Monday, 1 March, 2021
    Coronavirus treatment
    Johnson defends UK border regime amid hunt for Covid patient

    News about P.1 variant balanced by data confirming vaccines highly effective at preventing disease

  • Thursday, 25 February, 2021
    UK regional policy
    Darlington emerges as most likely location for Treasury’s northern base

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak expected to rebuff last-ditch pleas from senior civil servants to pick a city

  • Monday, 22 February, 2021
    UK politics & policy
    Johnson insists ‘end is in sight’ for Covid restrictions

    Easing of restrictions for England to take place in 4 stages with Sunak to extend economic aid

  • Promoted Content
  • Sunday, 21 February, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    Schools in England to reopen on March 8 under easing of lockdown

    Rules on outdoor socialising to be relaxed as Johnson sets out four tests to measure progress in tackling Covid-19

  • Friday, 19 February, 2021
    UK Government
    Johnson’s plan to safeguard the union in chaos as key aide quits

    Pro-Brexit adviser Oliver Lewis appointed just two weeks ago to oversee strategy to counter Scottish independence

  • Friday, 19 February, 2021
    The Big Read
    Escaping lockdown: when will life return to normal?

    Boris Johnson reveals his road map for lifting restrictions on Monday. The world will be watching to see how far he goes

  • Thursday, 18 February, 2021
    UK business & economy
    Sunak delays business rates review until autumn

    Holiday on paying levy expected to be extended in Budget along with extensions to other Covid aid measures

  • Thursday, 18 February, 2021
    UK politics & policy
    Diplomats and business express caution over Frost cabinet role

    Fears appointment of former Brexit negotiator could impede efforts to improve trading in Northern Ireland

  • Wednesday, 17 February, 2021
    Brexit
    Brexit negotiator Frost to take charge of UK-EU relations

    Architect of Johnson’s ‘hard Brexit’ strategy gets seat in cabinet after internal fight

  • Tuesday, 16 February, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    UK anticipating dip in Covid vaccine supply in coming weeks

    At current rates, all over-50s could be inoculated by end of March

  • Tuesday, 16 February, 2021
    Liverpool
    Liverpool’s ‘levelling up’ is a model for other regions

    Once deemed a ‘hellhole’, the city has undergone an economic revival

  • Monday, 15 February, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    UK looks at rapid testing to allow return of mass gatherings

    Plan would enable venues that cannot comply with social distancing to resume events

  • Friday, 12 February, 2021
    UK schools
    Johnson looks at staggering school reopening with secondaries delayed

    Scientists have warned that simultaneous move could push R number back above 1

  • Friday, 12 February, 2021
    Boris Johnson
    Covid variants and new advisers curb Boris Johnson’s natural optimism

    UK prime minister has become much more reluctant to over promise on when the pandemic crisis will ease

  • Friday, 12 February, 2021
    Coronavirus pandemic
    UK scientists call for debate on allowing ‘big wave of infection’

    Advisers to government warn of national discussion after most vulnerable are vaccinated

  • Friday, 12 February, 2021
    Brexit
    UK and EU to seek ‘workable solutions’ on Northern Ireland protocol

    Talks ‘lower the temperature’ with pledge to consult more with business on impact of deal

  • Wednesday, 10 February, 2021
    Covid-19 vaccines
    Single dose of Pfizer vaccine shows signs of success in UK

    Early data need confirmation but government push to extend gap between jabs receives a boost

  • Wednesday, 10 February, 2021
    Brexit
    Northern Ireland ports to resume checks after security fears

    Move comes ahead of UK-EU meeting to thrash out post-Brexit border problems

  • Wednesday, 10 February, 2021
    UK Government
    Travel bosses fear summer season at risk after UK warns on holidays

    Tough new quarantine measures come into force in England from Monday

Previous You are on page 1 Next

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