Political Fix Financial Times

The Conservatives’ embattled campaign suffered yet another setback this week, as the betting scandal escalated and the party finally suspended two candidates ensnared by the row. But when did it first start to go wrong for the Tories? Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s chief data reporter John Burn-Murdoch, who charts the beginning of the party’s descent back to 2019. The pair are joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley and George Parker to discuss whether Britain’s “first past the post system” will lead to the biggest ever mismatch between parties’ share of the vote and their share of Westminster seats. 
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher
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How the Conservatives lost touch with England’s prosperous south 
No, Keir, the real opposition is behind you 
Brace for the most distorted election result in British history
The seeds of the Tory collapse were sown in 2019
Starmer will be centrism’s last chance
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 Persis Love and Audrey Tinline.
Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix 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.

An election-betting scandal is sending the Tory campaign into freefall. The latest blow to the Conservatives comes as some polls predict a wipeout for the party on July 4. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard to discuss this latest blow in a campaign littered with blunders. Plus, the team analyses the effect of the Reform party on the Tory vote and what might happen after the election. 
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Jim @PickardJE. Stephen @stephenkb
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Unusual burst of bets preceded Rishi Sunak’s election announcement
‘Every Tory I know is angry’: betting scandal sends election campaign into ‘freefall’
Potential routes forward for the Tories post-election
Tory leadership hopefuls jostle to replace Rishi Sunak
Keir Starmer: ‘People need hope, but it needs to be realistic hope’
Sketchy Politics: the extinction election?
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 Audrey Tinline with Leah Quinn and Josh Gabert-Doyon.
Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix 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.

Labour is promising voters not to raise a raft of taxes, not to borrow to fund day-to-day spending and not to return to austerity with major cuts to public services. How will it manage this? Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves insists economic growth will square the circle. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher asks economics editor Sam Fleming, who interviewed Reeves this week, whether her plans to increase UK output stack up. Plus, Helen Miller from the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank joins with her assessment of the “conspiracy of silence” by both big parties over tax and spend after the election. 
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Sam @Sam1Fleming, Helen @TheIFS
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A dash for growth: the shadow chancellor prepares for government
Rachel Reeves to seek ‘improved’ UK-EU trade terms if Labour wins election 
The Labour party’s uncertain certainty dividend
Labour’s EU plan will have ‘minimal’ impact on cost of Brexit, says think-tank
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 Audrey Tinline with Leah Quinn. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix 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.

Keir Starmer has unveiled Labour’s manifesto - declaring that his is the “party of wealth creation”. But while the plans combine sweeping aspirations for growth with modest tax and spending measures, there are a host of questions about how exactly a future Labour government would fix the public finances. The FT’s political editor George Parker is joined by colleagues Miranda Green and Rafe Uddin to scrutinise Labour’s pledges. Plus, FT consumer editor Claer Barrett gives her analysis of the levers Labour could pull if they need to raise more money - and who would be affected.
Follow George on X @GeorgeWParker, Miranda @greenmiranda, Claer @ClaerB, Rafe @rafeuddin_
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Labour manifesto targets wealthy even as Keir Starmer woos business
Keir Starmer sets out plans to raise £8.6bn in tax at Labour manifesto launch
Party manifestos and the British economic reality 
Have the Tories squandered their years in power?

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 Audrey Tinline. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix 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.

Rishi Sunak has pledged more than £17bn in tax cuts as the Tories attempt to revive their stalled election campaign. But will it be enough to override questions about the party’s record in office, or the prime minister’s D-Day disaster? The FT’s Lucy Fisher fillets the Tories’ manifesto promises with colleagues Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard. Plus, what to make of the Lib Dem election pledges and their leader’s attention-grabbing stunts?
Clips: BBC, ITN
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb and Jim @PickardJE
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Rishi Sunak pledges £17bn in tax cuts to revive Tory election bid
The Lib Dem strategy to restore their third party status
Tory ads warn voters of Labour landslide as election bid falters

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 Audrey Tinline. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix 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.

Morale within the Conservative campaign is low and was damaged further this week after the party chair became the fifth Tory MP to abandon his seat in the north to fight for a safer seat in the south of England. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher gets round the table with colleagues Robert Shrimsley and Jim Pickard to reflect on the damage done and on those tax claims made by Rishi Sunak during the first leaders’ TV debate. Plus, the FT’s Michael Peel joins to discuss how the rest of the world views the UK.
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher
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‘Morale is shot’: Tory campaign mood sapped by candidate row
Rishi Sunak apologises for leaving D-Day commemorations early
Keir Starmer accuses Rishi Sunak of ‘lying’ over Labour £2,000 tax claim
Behold the final casualties of Brexit 
More than half of British universities slip down global rankings

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 Audrey Tinline. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix 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.