# Janan Ganesh

> Janan Ganesh is the Financial Times' biweekly columnist and associate editor, one of the most widely read political essayists writing in English. Born in Nigeria, raised in South London, he reasons his way to conclusions other commentators won't reach: that Keir Starmer may need to fail, that Trump and MAGA have come apart, that the West misreads its own decline. He spent four years covering America from Washington and Los Angeles before returning to London in 2022, and his Saturday FT Weekend column ranges freely across cities, football, restaurants, art and the texture of the good life.

- **Role:** Columnist and Associate Editor at the Financial Times
- **Organizations:** Financial Times, The Economist (former), Policy Exchange (former)
- **From:** Nigeria
- **Nationality:** British
- **Education:** Secondary education, Stanley Technical School for Boys, South London, Politics (President of the Politics Society), University of Warwick, Public policy, University College London
- **Known for:** Biweekly columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times, Won the T. E. Utley Memorial Prize for young political journalists, Authored the first major biography of George Osborne (2012)

## Career timeline

- **2005-2007** — Researcher at the Westminster think tank Policy Exchange
- **2006** — Co-authored 'Compassionate Conservatism' with Jesse Norman; won the T. E. Utley Memorial Prize
- **2007-2012** — Political correspondent at The Economist
- **2012** — Joined the Financial Times; published 'George Osborne: The Austerity Chancellor'
- **2012-2018** — FT columnist on British politics; regular BBC Sunday Politics panelist (2013-2017)
- **2018-2022** — FT US political columnist, based in Washington DC then Los Angeles
- **2022** — Returned to London; biweekly FT columnist and FT Weekend culture writer

## Achievements

- Biweekly columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times
- Won the T. E. Utley Memorial Prize for young political journalists
- Authored the first major biography of George Osborne (2012)
- Covered the 2020 US presidential election, the pandemic and the Capitol siege as FT US columnist
- One of the most syndicated and widely read political columnists writing in English

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Published FT column 'Trump and the return of Great Man theory'
- **2025-07** — Published FT column 'Trump and Maga are no longer the same thing'
- **2025-09** — Published FT column arguing for the historical need for Keir Starmer to fail

## Links

- Website: https://www.ft.com/janan-ganesh
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/JananGanesh

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/janan-ganesh
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-02