The Financial Times’ chief foreign affairs columnist Gideon Rachman has won the 2016 Orwell Prize for journalism, along with independent journalist Iona Craig. The Orwell Prize recognises writers that come closest to achieving Orwell’s ambition to ‘make political writing an art’ in three categories: journalism, books and social reporting.

Frances Cairncross, one of the judges, commented: “The winners demonstrate the very best of two distinct schools of journalism. Gideon Rachman, on the staff of the Financial Times, reflects with Olympian perception on the larger currents of the news, moving thoughtfully between continents and countries.

“The Orwell Prize attracts much of the best political writing in the UK – of every kind,” said John Lloyd, one of the judges. “Gideon Rachman provides dispassionate and acutely observed views of the world’s large events, providing the reader with some orientation in a world undergoing rapid transformations”.

Gideon Rachman has been the FT’s chief foreign affairs columnist and an associate editor of the Financial Times since 2006. Based in London, he writes a weekly column in the newspaper and for The World blog on FT.com. His particular interests include American foreign policy, the European Union and globalisation. Recent columns have included an examination into the stylistic links between Putin and Trump, the upcoming Brexit vote, and a creeping isolationism in American politics.

Rachman and Craig share the £3000 prize, which was presented on May 26 at a ceremony in Fyvie Hall at the University of Westminster. Richard Blair, George Orwell’s son, presented each winner with a trophy exclusively designed and made by three second-year design students at Goldsmiths University: Tom Morgan, Archie Harding and Panaigiotis Tzortzopolous.