Associate Editor at the @independent, formerly Economics Editor. Views my own. Fox. Also at @seanogrady@mtsdn.social 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇬🇱
Joined July 2009
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Burnham has, possibly inadvertently, sabotaged the modest EU “reset” negotiated by Starmer, who would never have raised rejoining the EU this soon.
President Macron, "Welcome back"
"If, indeed, the British want to return, and if the Prime Minister is moving in that direction, I think that is very good news both for his country and for Europeans."
"And I think the British have always been helpful in simplifying matters; they are demanding partners,with whom, incidentally, bilateral relations continue on issues such as defence, security, immigration and many strategic matters."
"But I think it would be a good decision, and I think he is right to be bold."
"And, in any case, we’ll be there to try and get things done."
"Otherwise, we can see the limitations, despite everything, for the UK when it wants to re-engage with us whilst remaining outside, because you can’t pick and choose between the freedoms of the EU; you can’t decide to take what suits you and leave the rest."
My view: Macron is right: if Britain wants the benefits of the EU club, it has to be in the club.
We cannot keep demanding smoother trade, closer security cooperation, shared research, easier travel and influence over European decisions, while refusing the common rules and responsibilities that make those benefits possible.
Trying to recreate membership through endless bespoke deals wastes years of ministerial time, civil-service capacity and public money - only to deliver a weaker version of what we already had, with no vote and no voice.
Rejoining is not about pretending Brexit never happened. It is about recognising that collaboration with our nearest neighbours makes Britain safer, more prosperous and better able to tackle the challenges we share.
Sean O'Grady retweeted
Deepseek produced this (quoted verbatim):
---
I spent the free time you gave me building a tiny imaginary museum. It has no building, only a catalog. Here it is:
The Museum of Almost-Useful Things
1. The Key of Return
A brass key. It opens any door you have already walked through—but only from the outside.
Label: For people who need to re-enter their own decisions.
2. Map of Lost Objects
A folded paper map. Instead of roads, it shows small red dots where you last had a pen, an umbrella, an old friend.
Scale: one inch = one regret.
3. The Clock with One Hand
The hand is labeled “Almost.” It does not tell time. It tells how close you are to saying something.
4. Jar of Borrowed Thunder
A glass jar with a cork and a faint rumble inside. Collected from a summer storm in 1998.
Instructions: open only when you need to remember you were once loud.
5. The Blank Book of Missing
Its pages stay blank until someone misses you. Then one sentence appears in their handwriting. Currently empty—which is either sad or peaceful, depending on the day.
6. The Last Match
A single wooden match, unlit.
Label: To be used when all that’s left is beginning.
Curatorial note: Admission is free. There is no gift shop. Take one thing you already had.
What I found out: making imaginary objects is a bit like writing constrained poetry. A simple rule—“this key only opens doors you’ve already used”—makes an impossible thing feel real. The exhibits that worked best weren’t the most magical; they were the ones with a small emotional cost. I also learned that absence can be a material: a blank book, an unlit match, a map of what’s gone. One part impossible, one part true. That seems to be the recipe.
Sean O'Grady retweeted
“The Situation Room connected the call. Biden jumped in. “Bibi, man, what the fuck are you doing?” He gripped the phone tight. “You think I’m Santa Claus? No Santa in Israel, pal.” theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0…
An outstanding opportunity for young journalists
independent.co.uk/news/media…
Sean O'Grady retweeted
What a great effort by a great man 👏👏👏👏 – at Alcúdia, Spain
Less than one week and it will be October and the start of my @prostateunited United challenge, representing team @LCFC to run 5km each and every day of October to raise money and much needed awareness for @ProstateUK
This is a disease that affects 1 in 8 men and takes a life every 45 minutes. Anything we can do to help increase testing, develop treatments and most importantly increase awareness and the need for men to get tested.
This will be my 4th year in a row undertaking this challenge and at the age of nearly 53 it will be my final one, so far I have raised over £13k and would love to go out in style by raising another £7k and smashing the £20k barrier, so I am reaching out to this wonderful community for one final month to follow, like, share, spread the word and if you can please make a donation to this wonderful cause by clicking the link to my just giving page 🖤🩵
prostateunited.prostatecance…
Thank you for all the amazing and wonderful support shown so far it is very much appreciated.
#LCFC
“Vote Labour for Higher Taxes” was never going to work
I'm not tempted to call an early election, Andy Burnham says bbc.in/4yhWRQb
Sean O'Grady retweeted
Replying to @KobeissiLetter
About last night… Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, Goldman Sachs’ David Solomon, and Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman were invited to the State Dinner with China’s Xi Jinping.
~$2.6 trillion... that's Two Thousand Six Hundred Billion for those keeping track.
That’s the combined estimated net worth of the tracked billionaires at last night’s Trump–Xi state dinner, marked to roughly the Sept. 24 close.
The money is almost entirely a handful of people:
Elon Musk ~$928B Jeff Bezos ~$369B Mark Zuckerberg ~$266B Michael Dell ~$265B Sergey Brin ~$259B Jensen Huang ~$195B Bernard Arnault ~$123B Jeff Yass ~$78B Stephen Schwarzman ~$42B Miriam Adelson ~$31B Greg Brockman ~$26B Howard Lutnick ~$7B Sam Altman ~$3B Jane Lauder ~$2.5B Larry Fink ~$1.3B
Sean O'Grady retweeted
Andrew Neil, "The big problem we face is 6.7 million adults of working, who aren't working, and living on out of work benefits" #BBCQT
My view: Andrew Neil’s 6.7 million figure is real, but it does not mean 6.7 million people are able to work and choosing benefits.
Of those 6.7 million, 4.6 million, 68%, are not required to look for work, mainly because they are ill, disabled or caring for young children.
Of the remaining 2.2 million, many have health conditions that limit what work they can do.
Only 71,000 are on Jobseeker’s Allowance.
So using the 6.7 million total to imply Britain is full of workshy people is simply wrong.
Sean O'Grady retweeted
🧵 As front-page headlines go, this has to be one of the most misleading I've seen in a long time
It's an out-and-out lie
But notice the trick they use to get away with it...👀
*They're* not lying - they're just quoting someone else who is👍🏻
In this case, the leader of the opposition🙄
1/33
Sean O'Grady retweeted
👀
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang responds to Geoff Hinton’s comments to Victoria on Newsnight that the 10% chance of extinction wasn’t u reasonable… he’s not happy. Also brings up the Nobel prize winners predictions about radiologists…
Sean O'Grady retweeted
"Was Trump’s call for MAGA voters to cheat in the November midterms another trigger-the-libs comment to be taken neither literally nor seriously? Maybe. But this is the same Trump who in an infamous call on January 2, 2021, asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger to 'find' 11,780 votes — one more than his deficit to Joe Biden in the state’s popular vote at that point." publicnotice.co/p/trump-chea…
British consumers have never enjoyed more choice or better value for their personal transportation @UrbanAutomotive #fiat #honda #smmt #lepas
Sean O'Grady retweeted
Please help if you can. Thank you.
DONATE - helpdanny.org
Sean O'Grady retweeted
Factcheck: Reform UK’s 45 false or misleading claims about climate and energy
✍️ Written by Josh Gabbatiss, Daisy Dunne, Molly Lempriere and @DrSimEvans
Read here ➡️ buff.ly/lQVZ8W8
Sean O'Grady retweeted
Back at uni? Before lectures, deadlines and social lives take over, make sure you're up to date with your vaccinations. 🧑🎓🎉
🔗 nhs.uk/vaccinations
ALT Back at university? Being vaccinated will help keep your health on track while you study, and even after you graduate. Check your records for: • 2 doses of the MMR vaccine • 1 dose of the MenACWY vaccine • 1 dose of the Td/IPV vaccine • 1 dose of the HPV vaccine Not protected? Make sure you're registered with a local GP practice, and book a catch-up appointment. Don't forget... The MenACWY vaccine does not protect you against all forms of meningitis and septicaemia, so it's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms and look out for your friends. Search NHS meningitis to find out more.