Editing Financial Times (section)

==Editorial stance==
[[File:Vladimir Putin with The Financial Times (2019-06-27) 07.jpg|thumb|Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] in controversial interview by [[Lionel Barber]] and Henry Foy of the ''Financial Times'' in 2019]]
The ''FT'' advocates [[free market]]s, and is in favour of [[Globalization|globalisation]]. During the 1980s, it supported [[Margaret Thatcher]] and [[Ronald Reagan]]'s [[Monetarism|monetarist]] policies.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021|reason=Previous source was an opinion piece}} It has supported the UK [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in the past, including at the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|general election in 1992]] when [[Neil Kinnock]] was Labour leader. The ''FT''{{'s}} editorials tend to be [[Pro-Europeanism|pro-European]].<ref name="125years">{{cite news |title=FT at 125: The world in focus |author=Lionel Barber |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/6fce6e6e-711c-11e2-9d5c-00144feab49a.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/6fce6e6e-711c-11e2-9d5c-00144feab49a.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|newspaper=Financial Times |date= 12 February 2013|access-date=12 February 2013}}</ref> The ''FT'' was firmly opposed to the [[Iraq War]].<ref name="125years"/> Due to its advocacy of free markets and free trade, it is often identified as [[Centrism|centrist]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Royale |first=Oxford |date=28 March 2018 |title=Black and White and Read All Over: A Guide to British Newspapers |url=https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/a-guide-to-british-newspapers/ |access-date=16 March 2023 |website=Oxford Royale Academy |language=en-US |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317095302/https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/a-guide-to-british-newspapers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> to [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Schaeffner |first=Christina |title=Political Discourse, Media and Translation. |date=2010 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Pub |isbn=978-1-4438-1793-6 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |oclc=827209128}}</ref> in its political positions.

The modern ''FT'' is a product of a merger of two smaller newspapers in [[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945]]; since that time, the paper had backed the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] fairly consistently, but Labour's tacking to the centre, combined with the Conservatives' embrace of Euroscepticism, led the ''FT'' to reverse course and back Labour from [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]] until [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]], when the ''FT'' returned to the Conservative Party. Euroscepticism further drove a wedge between the ''FT'' and the Conservatives in [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019]], when the paper refused to make an endorsement, opposed to Labour's [[List of Labour Party (UK) general election manifestos|socialist economic policies]] (for wanting to "reverse, not revise, the Thatcherite revolution of the 1980s") and the Conservatives' commitment to a [[hard Brexit]].<ref>{{cite web |date=6 December 2019 |title=Britain's fateful election offers no good choices |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d4868a48-169d-11ea-9ee4-11f260415385 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/d4868a48-169d-11ea-9ee4-11f260415385 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |access-date=2 March 2021 |website=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Deacon |first1=David |title=The British General Election of 2019 |date=2021 |chapter-url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74254-6_10 |pages=347–385 |editor-last=Ford |editor-first=Robert |editor1-link=Robert Ford (academic)|access-date=13 January 2024 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-74254-6_10 |isbn=978-3-030-74254-6 |last2=Smith |first2=David |last3=Wring |first3=Dominic |chapter=Enduring Brands: The Press |editor2-last=Bale |editor2-first=Tim |editor3-last=Jennings |editor3-first=Will |editor4-last=Surridge |editor4-first=Paula}}</ref>

In respect of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], FT commentator [[Martin Wolf]] expressed support for Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wolf |first=Martin |date=28 February 2023 |title=The west must give Ukraine what it needs |url=https://www.ft.com/content/53804bd6-7e07-45f5-b650-d5a841db2c50 |work=The Financial Times |location= |access-date=1 May 2023 |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505131719/https://www.ft.com/content/53804bd6-7e07-45f5-b650-d5a841db2c50 |url-status=live }}</ref> 
Two years before the invasion of Ukraine by [[Russia]], the FT offered an interview to the Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>{{cite news|last= Barber|first= Lionel|date= 7 April 2021|title= Did Vladimir Putin win Cold War 2.0?|url= https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/putin-and-the-liberal-west/|work= The New European|location= |access-date= 1 May 2013|archive-date= 28 January 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220128104256/https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/putin-and-the-liberal-west/|url-status= live}}</ref> The interview received praise, as it offered an unusual access to the Russian leader's thinking.<ref>{{cite news |last1= Laurenson|first1= Jack |last2=Kupfer |first2= Matthew |date= 1 July 2019 |title= Financial Times interview with Putin sparks backlash, debate|url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/world/financial-times-interview-with-putin-sparks-backlash-debate.html |work=Kyiv Post |location= |access-date=1 May 2023}}</ref> President Putin used the interview to state his opinions about the value of liberal democracy.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bennetts |first=Marc |date=28 June 2019 |title=Western liberalism is obsolete, warns Putin, ahead of May meeting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/27/putin-skripal-attack-should-not-affect-uk-russia-relations |work=The Guardian |location= |access-date=1 May 2023 |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213024354/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/27/putin-skripal-attack-should-not-affect-uk-russia-relations |url-status=live }}</ref> The Ukrainian newspaper [[Kyiv Post]] accused the FT of asking President Putin softball questions, and said the interviewers failed to hold Putin to account.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=5 July 2019 |title=Dictators are obsolete |url=https://archive.kyivpost.com/article/opinion/editorial/dictators-are-obsolete.html |work=Kyiv Post |location= |access-date=1 May 2023 |archive-date=25 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825200406/https://archive.kyivpost.com/article/opinion/editorial/dictators-are-obsolete.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== United Kingdom politics ===
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+''FT'' endorsements<br>(1979–2024)
|[[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]]
| {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]
| {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987]]
| {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]]
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]
| {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]
| {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]
| {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019]]
|
|No endorsement
|-
|[[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]
| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|}

In the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], the ''FT'' was receptive to the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]' positions on civil liberties and political reform, and praised the then [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] leader [[Gordon Brown]] for his response to the global [[2008 financial crisis]], but on balance it backed the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], while questioning their tendency to [[Euroscepticism]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE64304Z20100504 |title=Financial Times backs Conservatives |work=Reuters |access-date=28 February 2011 |date=4 May 2010 |archive-date=3 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103134750/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE64304Z20100504 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], the ''FT'' called for the continuation of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition that had governed for the previous five years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 April 2015 |title=General election: The compelling case for continuity in Britain |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e61ce174-ea94-11e4-96ec-00144feab7de |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=Financial Times}}</ref> In the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], an ''FT'' editorial reluctantly backed Conservative [[Theresa May]] over Labour [[Jeremy Corbyn]], while warning about her stance on immigration and the Eurosceptic elements in her party.<ref>{{cite news|title=Election 2017: The safer bet of a Conservative vote|url=https://www.ft.com/content/67949e4a-45e2-11e7-8d27-59b4dd6296b8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/67949e4a-45e2-11e7-8d27-59b4dd6296b8 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|website=Financial Times |date=31 May 2017 |access-date=1 June 2017}}</ref> The ''FT'' declared [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]] a "fateful election" that "offers no good choices".<ref>{{cite news |date=5 December 2019 |title=Britain's fateful election offers no good choices |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d4868a48-169d-11ea-9ee4-11f260415385 |access-date=12 March 2023 |archive-date=1 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301134641/https://www.ft.com/content/d4868a48-169d-11ea-9ee4-11f260415385 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], the ''FT'' endorsed the Labour Party again, expressing the need for a "fresh start", while cautioning "Labour's interventionist instincts and fervour for regulation".<ref>{{Cite news |last=board |first=The editorial |date=30 June 2024 |title=Britain needs a fresh start |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2290c1f7-a4cb-4fe1-9b69-b0c8ca17f070 |access-date=30 June 2024 |work=Financial Times}}</ref>

===United States politics===
In the [[2008 United States presidential election]], the ''Financial Times'' endorsed [[Barack Obama]]. While it raised concerns over hints of [[protectionism]], it praised his ability to "engage the country's attention", his calls for a bipartisan politics, and his plans for "[[Healthcare reform in the United States|comprehensive health-care reform]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama is the better choice|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1d0b127c-a380-11dd-942c-000077b07658.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1d0b127c-a380-11dd-942c-000077b07658.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=Financial Times|access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref> The ''FT'' favoured Obama again in the [[2012 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f11742fa-2501-11e2-8924-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f11742fa-2501-11e2-8924-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|title=Obama the wiser bet for crisis-hit US|work=Financial Times|date=5 November 2012|access-date=5 November 2012}}</ref> The ''FT'' endorsed Democratic candidates [[Hillary Clinton]] in the run-up to the [[2016 United States presidential election]], [[Joe Biden]] in the [[2020 United States presidential election]], and [[Kamala Harris]] in the [[2024 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=FT endorsement: For all her weaknesses, Clinton is the best hope |url=https://www.ft.com/content/f61b93c8-9f5a-11e6-891e-abe238dee8e2?tagToFollow=TnN0ZWluX1BOX0FGVE1fUE5fMzgwODQ2-UE4= |website=Financial Times |date=31 October 2016 |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108125549/https://www.ft.com/content/f61b93c8-9f5a-11e6-891e-abe238dee8e2?tagToFollow=TnN0ZWluX1BOX0FGVE1fUE5fMzgwODQ2-UE4= |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=5 November 2020|title=A historic US vote provides few certainties|url=https://www.ft.com/content/76c3db04-75e7-462d-82e0-94473e6a354d |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/76c3db04-75e7-462d-82e0-94473e6a354d |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=2 March 2021|website=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=board |first=The editorial |date=1 November 2024 |title=America's fateful choice between Trump and Harris |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3db1db35-f536-4efc-b463-a1fc98a785b0?accessToken=zwAGJd9TnSBIkc89sds19TZO_NO0Y6H8mKeFsA.MEYCIQC0EEXu7TcBDz5__5zP6fv9FbbcnwuZPE6JzoUL-WsNTAIhAJzSJKBfj2ywhBMCh4kyMlBr6c5A4BSinfhW0TQXraD6&sharetype=gift&token=66e83c17-c218-4800-8698-5d3a2df00274 |access-date=1 November 2024 |work=Financial Times}}</ref>