Tim Shipman featured in Guido’s runners and riders list for the next Spectator pol-ed after the venerable Katy Balls announced her imminent departure to Washington with The Times. Rumours abounded that the Sunday Times’ Chief Political Commentator was scoping out the job for a couple of weeks with some success…
George Osborne weighed in late last week to say the move was taking place. A non-denial from Shipman in response:
“The only problem with this revelation is that I have neither accepted a new job nor resigned from my current one. As I explained to GO when I heard he was planning to broadcast this. If I behaved like this as a journalist I would very quickly be out of business.”
Guido hears that Shippers has told staff at The Times that the move is all but secured. He is expected to cross over shortly…
Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”