Sebastian Payne
@SebastianEPayne
Leader writer and columnist @TheTimes
🫠 Have we entered a vibecession? We’re technically not in a recession but everywhere we look, the economic vibes are rather dire. That’s especially true when it comes to the health hospitality. Latest @thetimes column, including a farewell to Norman’s thetimes.com/article/218f5b…
TfL's ludicrous accusations against us featured by @CharlotteIvers for @thetimes Classic example of bureaucrats shirking responsibility, instead clamping down on initiative that our country badly needs Come on @TfL @SadiqKhan do the right thing and APOLOGISE to our volunteers
I see the launch going well, second time around
It’s not called Your Party!
1) Today, @Policy_Exchange publishes my paper on the Future of the Right, together with commentary by @ClaireCoutinho, @Katie_Lam_MP, @GoodwinMJ, @Ommasalma, Jean Andre Preger & Edward Barlow. Plus an afterword by @AlexanderDowner tinyurl.com/yts59yku
Farewell to Norman’s in Tufnell Park, London’s weirdest and most annoying cafe. To bastardise Kenneth Clarke: I don’t know what a functioning economy is, but I think I recognise it when I see it. And I am not looking at it when I see Norman’s. thetimes.com/comment/column…
Very important this, one to watch 👇
EXC: Veterans minister on resignation watch over Troubles legacy plans Alistair Carns has told Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland secretary, that he cannot support proposals to repeal the law that gives servicemen immunity from prosecution thetimes.com/article/bad7ac…
Rachel, I'm confused. I thought Rishi's plan to spend £1 million on chess was a fiscally irresponsible 'pet project' which you cancelled. But now you're giving chess £1.5 million of funding? For pretty much the exact same things?
Having played chess at a young age, I know the transformational impact it can have on young people. That's why today we're allocating £1.5m to help identify, support, and elevate top-tier players who have the potential to compete at a global level.
Norman Tebitt is often remembered as a cultural warrior, but he was an economics man at heart. His battles with trade unions were born of his life experience. It's something the Tories should heed to win back the voters he once spoke to. thetimes.com/comment/column…
💷 Norman Tebbit has one great lesson for the Tories of today: economics triumphs culture. The party has lost his people and his campaigning zeal. It needs this more than ever, especially with the coming fiscal crunch. Latest @thetimes column thetimes.com/article/50114a…
White collar Britain is the next political dislocation. Must read from @JamesKanag on why AI might everyone might soon make everyone feel left behind. thetimes.com/article/a0649f…
Perhaps Jake Berry's greatest contribution to politics:
Former minister Jake Berry on the return to work: “We have to end the civil service ‘woke-ing’ from home - sorry I mean working from home, but let’s be honest, it often is woke-ing.”
Norman Tebbit's first major appearance in @thetimes was in December 1975, after he accused Michael Foot of being a fascist over an employment dispute involving a closed shop. Unsurprisingly, the employment secretary did not take well to our (rather punchy) leader.
“His conservatism was that of Essex, not Eton, and he helped persuade millions of Sun-reading voters that Thatcher would advance their interests better than any trade union leader.” thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/…
To lose one MP, Mr. Farage, may be regarded as a misfortune, to lose both looks like carelessness
Further to my statement tweeted on 5th July 2025. I have now had a chance to take specialist legal advice from an expert in the relevant field. In light of that advice, which is privileged and which I choose to keep private at this time, I have decided to continue my…
New: The OBR has issued a grim warning about the UK’s public finances Debt is on track to hit 270% of GDP by 2070 The abandoning of planned spending reductions has substantially eroded the UK’s capacity to respond to shocks Another big danger sign to Labour
New: The OBR has issued a grim warning about the UK’s public finances Debt is on track to hit 270% of GDP by 2070 The abandoning of planned spending reductions has substantially eroded the UK’s capacity to respond to shocks Another big danger sign to Labour
Astounding to think that someone with Seumas Milne's worldview was once so high in the Met Police theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/j…
Something very different from my usual boring articles about polls and numbers. I wrote about grief, wearing black and returning to normal life for the @spectator
Such a beautiful piece from my dear friend @Scarlett__Mag about the comfort of observing proper mourning rituals spectator.co.uk/article/why-im…