Political Fix Financial Times

Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled his party’s six core pledges ahead of the general election – in the same week that Rishi Sunak claimed the country would be less safe under a Labour government. As both parties kick off their election campaigns, the FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by Jim Pickard and Miranda Green to examine the battle lines being drawn up. Plus, the FT’s public policy editor Peter Foster outlines the dangers facing the UK’s university sector if the government decides to axe the graduate visa route that allows foreign students to stay on after graduation.
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Miranda @greenmiranda, Jim @PickardJE, Peter @pmdfoster
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Keir Starmer unveils 6 election ‘first steps’ for a Labour government
Sunak claims UK will be less safe under Labour in pre-election speech 
The think-tank laying the groundwork for a Labour government
Union leader urges backing for Keir Starmer over diluted worker rights
Sketchy Politics: Sunak’s sinking feeling
England’s universities face ‘closure’ risk after student numbers dive

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. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 


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As politicians and commentators digest the disastrous Tory local election results, FT experts answer subscribers’ questions about what this might mean for the forthcoming general election – and beyond. The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by colleagues Stephen Bush, George Parker and Camilla Cavendish for their take on the upcoming general election and the government that will take shape after it. The team tackle your toughest questions during a special FT Political Fix Inside Politics subscriber webinar.
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher
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Are Labour and the Conservatives adopting ‘Heevesian’ economics?
Labour defends decision to admit ex-Tory MP Natalie Elphicke
What we learn from Andy Street’s narrow loss in the West Midlands
Rishi Sunak told to show some vision as local polls leave Tories in a hole 
We’ve made this subscribers-only FT webinar free to everyone and you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/zp0UXwc7DTs?si=E3w2xBAEYfug00U6
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. Andrew Georgiadis and Rod Fitzgerald were the studio engineers. 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

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The Tories suffered sobering losses in local elections across England in the last big electoral test before a general election.
Labour also trounced the Tories in the parliamentary by-election in Blackpool South - with Reform running a close third in that seat. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green to comb through the results.
Plus, the team is joined by James Kanagasooriam, chief research officer at polling firm Focaldata to dive into the details.
Join Lucy and colleagues for an FT subscriber webinar on May 8 to discuss what the local election results tell us about who will win the UK general election. Get your pass now at ft.com/ukwebinar
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Robert @robertshrimsley, Miranda @greenmiranda, James @JamesKanag

Want more? Free links:
Rishi Sunak on rack as Tory election losses mount
The big messages from the local elections 
Is Rishi Sunak in trouble after the local elections?
Political gravity catches up with the SNP
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.
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


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‘In a world that is the most dangerous it has been since the end of the cold war, we cannot be complacent,’ Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said at a news briefing alongside Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg during a visit to Poland this week. The PM mentioned the threat from Russia but also from China and pledged to boost defence spending by £75bn over the next six years. Lucy Fisher is joined by colleagues George Parker and Jim Pickard to discuss whether this pledge will lead to deep spending cuts to unprotected government departments and James Kynge, the FT’s China editor, drops in to talk about allegations of Chinese espionage in the UK and beyond. Plus, will Labour’s plan to fully renationalise the UK’s passenger rail network if it wins the next general election translate into better train services for customers?
Join Lucy and colleagues for an FT subscriber webinar on May 8 to discuss what the local election results tell us about who will win the UK general election. Get your pass now at ft.com/ukwebinar
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George @GeorgeWParker, Jim @PickardJE, James @JKynge
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Labour plans to retain key private sector role in nationalised railways
Sunak pledge to boost defence spending raises prospect of cuts elsewhere
Former UK parliamentary aide charged with spying for China
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. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer with production help from Leah Quinn. 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

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Rishi Sunak has had an eye on his legacy this week with his flagship smoking ban clearing another hurdle in the Commons – though not without a Tory backlash. Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Miranda Green and Stephen Bush to discuss what Sunak will leave behind if he loses the election. The group also turns its attention to two very different former PMs, as the FT publishes major interviews with both Liz Truss and Gordon Brown this week. Political editor George Parker reveals what he learned during a Norfolk pub lunch with Truss, while the FT’s chief features writer Henry Mance talks about his impressions of Brown during a day in Fife.
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Miranda @greenmiranda, George @GeorgeWParker, Stephen @stephenkb, Henry @henrymance
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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The raw sewage being pumped into rivers and seas in England has become a seismic election issue. The musician turned environmentalist Feargal Sharkey joins the FT’s Lucy Fisher, George Parker and Robert Shrimsley to assess how we got here, while the FT’s infrastructure correspondent Gill Plimmer analyses Thames Water’s woes. Plus, the team looks at scandals in Westminster and considers how much William Wragg’s honeytrap debacle and allegations that Angela Rayner failed to pay the right tax on a former house sale – which she denies – might damage their parties’ chances in this election year.
Since recording, Greater Manchester Police have launched an investigation into allegations that Angela Rayner potentially broke electoral law by failing to properly disclose her main residence in official documents.
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Robert @robertshrimsley, George @GeorgeWParker, Gill @gillplimmer1, Feargal @Feargal_Sharkey,
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The great stink of Thames Water
Raw sewage discharges in England and Wales hit record levels 
UK seeks to quell public anger on sewage with £11mn restoration fund 
Senior MP quits Tory parliamentary party amid sexting scandal
Labour’s Angela Rayner refuses to publish tax records as police probe house sale
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 Qiunn. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. 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.