Political Fix

4.3 (41)
POLITICS
UPDATED WEEKLY

The Financial Times takes you into the corridors of power to unwrap, analyse and debate British politics with a regular lineup of FT correspondents and informed commentators. New episodes available every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 DAYS AGO

Live Budget special: How will the UK secure growth?

It’s been two days since chancellor Rachel Reeves put a £40bn tax increase at the heart of a plan to fix the country’s “broken” finances and public services, and unveiled a sharp increase in borrowing to fund an extra £100bn of capital spending. But will these measures bolster investment and growth in the UK economy? And what does the Budget tell us about the country’s economic direction over the next five years? The FT’s Lucy Fisher discusses these questions and more with UK political editor George Parker, columnist and host of The Economics Show Soumaya Keynes and economics editor Sam Fleming. This is a recording of an FT Live subscribers’ webinar, recorded on Friday, November 1. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George on @GeorgeWParker, Sam @Sam1Fleming and Soumaya @SoumayaKeynes Want more? Free links: Budget poses new challenge for UK public finances, Moody’s warns Business and wealthy bear brunt of £40bn tax increases in UK Budget The Budget in brief: what you need to know Reeves has made her choice — but success is not guaranteed Rachel Reeves defiant after historic tax and spend Budget Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

58 min
25 OCT

New chancellor, new rules

Rachel Reeves has rewritten her fiscal rules on the eve of her seismic first Budget next week. She says her new borrowing rule will help get Britain building, but how will it go down with voters – and the markets? Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer is in Samoa, where a debate about reparations for slavery has threatened to overshadow the Commonwealth summit. Plus, the PM has had to grapple with Donald Trump’s allegations of illegal election interference by Labour. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regular Stephen Bush and FT political correspondent Anna Gross, along with the FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor. Will Labour’s budget boost growth? Ask the FT’s economics editor Sam Fleming and colleagues at a Political Fix live subscriber webinar, hosted by Lucy Fisher, on Nov 1 at 1300 GMT. Register for your free pass at ft.com/ukgrowth Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb, Anna @AnnaSophieGross and Lauren @LaurenFedor Want more? Rachel Reeves confirms change to UK fiscal rules to help fund £20bn of annual investment Rachel Reeves: My fiscal rules will provide the stability on which growth depends Keir Starmer flies to Samoa to answer tricky questions from Commonwealth allies Donald Trump accuses UK Labour party of interference in White House race Labour paid for top Starmer aide to attend Democratic National Convention A Trump victory would end ‘normal’ politics between UK and US Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

37 min
18 OCT

Cabinet fightback: the revolt over spending

Rachel Reeves’s plans for a tough spending round later this month have sparked a fierce revolt among a raft of cabinet ministers. But will their protests make a difference? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley and George Parker to discuss. They also hear from the FT’s chief features writer Henry Mance about the cash-strapped and crumbling English justice system. Plus, the panel considers whether Labour’s investment summit was a success and who is shaping up to win the Tory leadership contest. Will Labour’s Budget boost growth? Ask the FT’s economics editor Sam Fleming and colleagues at a Political Fix live subscriber webinar, hosted by Lucy Fisher, on Nov 1 at 1300 GMT Register for your free pass at ft.com/ukgrowth Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George @GeorgeWParker, Robert @robertshrimsley, Henry @henrymance Want more? Read Henry’s report here: How the English courts reached breaking point Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves face down cabinet revolt over spending cuts Rachel Reeves looking at sweeping inheritance tax changes in Budget UK innovation will be undermined by science department Budget squeeze, industry leaders warn Robert Jenrick vs Kemi Badenoch: meet the next Conservative leader David Lammy to raise human rights and support for Russia on China trip Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Tamara Kormornick. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Andrew Giorgiades and Rod Fitzgerald were the studio engineers. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

38 min
14 OCT

Martin Wolf on the UK economy: ‘Why I’m worried’

What kind of economy did Labour inherit this summer, and how does Britain measure up to international comparators? Political Fix host Lucy Fisher sits down with Martin Wolf to examine the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the UK’s economy as Rachel Reeves prepares for her seismic first Budget on October 30. Wolf assesses the options facing the chancellor on tax, spending and debt. Want more? Free links: Keir Starmer vows to rip up bureaucracy to unleash ‘shock and awe’ of investment Rachel Reeves’s Budget must rescue Britain from its growth trap Reeves struggles to escape from self-imposed restraints Rachel Reeves needs a credible growth plan You too can step into the chancellor’s shoes and find out if you can run the UK economy with the FT’s new Budget game. Go to ft.com/chancellor-game and play from Tuesday, October 15 Follow Lucy on X @LOS_Fisher Sign up for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: https://ft.com/insidepoliticsoffer Presented by Lucy Fisher. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com View our accessibility guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

41 min
11 OCT

100 days of Labour: Starmer’s stuttering start

As Labour reaches 100 days in government we take stock of how Sir Keir Starmer and his team have performed. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley, Miranda Green and Jim Pickard to assess Labour’s stumbles – as well as its achievements – as the party gets to grips with power. The panel also examines what made it into Labour's flagship workers’ rights legislation – finally published this week. Plus, after the surprise elimination of moderate candidate James Cleverly from the Tory leadership race, how is the final stretch of the contest shaping up between rightwingers Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick? Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Jim on X: @PickardJE, Robert @robertshrimsley, Miranda @greenmiranda Want more? Keir Starmer looks to Morgan McSweeney to fix Labour teething troubles UK ministers fire starting gun on landmark worker rights reform Robert Jenrick vs Kemi Badenoch: meet the next Conservative leader The battle of Labour’s three brains This Tory leadership ballot suits nobody, only perhaps Keir Starmer Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson with Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Andrew Giorgiades and Rod Fitzgerald were the studio engineers. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

38 min
4 OCT

‘Let’s be more normal’ – and rival Tory strategies

Who’s up and who’s down in the Tory leadership race after the four-day beauty parade at the party’s conference in Birmingham? Host Lucy Fisher and Political Fix regulars George Parker and Stephen Bush assess the four contenders’ performances, as Conservative MPs prepare to whittle down the field to two next week. The panel are also joined by the FT’s public policy editor Peter Foster to discuss Sir Keir Starmer’s first step on the road to resetting UK-EU relations. Plus, the group discusses the latest twist in freebiegate. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher; George on X @GeorgeWParker, Stephen @stephenkb and Peter @pmdfoster Want more? Tories embrace life in opposition at party conference Conservatives should pick James Cleverly. Here’s why they won’t Keir Starmer to repay £6,000 for gifts including Taylor Swift tickets Keir Starmer looks for post-Brexit ‘reset’ in meeting with EU leaders US and G7 warn Israel against strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

38 min
27 SEPT

Starmer’s ‘weird’ week: from Liverpool to New York

Labour’s conference in Liverpool should have been a celebratory event after its landslide win in the July election. Political editor George Parker, standing in for Lucy Fisher, is joined by Miranda Green and Robert Shrimsley to discuss why the mood was anything but triumphant. Plus, economics editor Sam Fleming explains how the government might increase capital spending despite Labour’s repeated warnings that the state coffers are empty; and chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman steps into the studio to assess Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s debut on the world stage at the UN general assembly this week. Lucy Fisher is back next week. Follow George on X: @GeorgeWParker, Robert @robertshrimsley, Miranda @greenmiranda, Sam @Sam1Fleming and Gideon @gideonrachman. Want more? Keir Starmer struggles to fix morale at ‘weird’ Labour conference Rachel Reeves paves way for capital spending increase Gilt investors urge Reeves to keep investment ambitions in check Keir Starmer meets Donald Trump in New York Keir Starmer plays down significance of Storm Shadow decision for Ukraine Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Presented by George Parker. Produced by Tamara Kormornick. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers were Rod Fitzgerald and Andrew Georgiadis. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 min
20 SEPT

Is the shine coming off Saint Starmer?

A growing controversy around Lord Waheed Alli’s donations to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria risks tarnishing the new government, while propelling the normally discreet Labour donor into the public eye. Lucy Fisher discusses the saga with Political Fix regulars Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard. Plus, the panel is joined by chief business correspondent Michael O’Dwyer as business leaders warn that the UK government’s tax-raising plans and negativity about its economic inheritance risk undermining its efforts to boost private sector investment. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb, Jim @PickardJE, Michael @_MODwyer Want more? Labour denies ‘transparency’ issue after clothing donation to Keir Starmer’s wife Waheed Alli: How Labour donor’s largesse tarnished government’s squeaky clean image UK government borrowing overshoots in blow to Rachel Reeves Why has Sue Gray’s salary stoked unease and vicious briefings? Lib Dems to press Rachel Reeves to raise taxes on banks and wealthy Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 “Best Newsletter” award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Tamara Kormornick with help from Leah Quinn. The broadcast engineers were Rod Fitzgerald and Andrew Georgiadis. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 min

See All (504)

4.3

out of 5

41 Ratings

Best UK politics podcast

23/02/2022

Diego9797

Best UK politics podcast, Sebastian and his guests provide an outstanding coverage of the week. One of my favourite podcasts, well done Seb.
Gone Downhill

07/07/2023

Musso Rich

This was a great podcast when presented by Sebastian Payne however, since his departure it lacks quality and is not nearly as engaging. Have stopped listening.
From half-way around the world

27/12/2021

CJP1976whitlam

Left, right. blue, pink, green. An intelligent, entertaining, insightful podcast I look forward to. And I’m an Australian republican (not in the American sense!)
Great Show

20/11/2021

Dave 5032

keeps me updated on UK politics

The Financial Times takes you into the corridors of power to unwrap, analyse and debate British politics with a regular lineup of FT correspondents and informed commentators. New episodes available every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.