Political Fix

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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.

6 HR AGO

Labour’s beef with farmers

After winning swaths of rural seats in the general election, Labour’s relationship with the countryside has nosedived, amid a row over the government’s plan to impose inheritance tax on some farms. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regular Jim Pickard and political correspondent Anna Gross to discuss the changes to agricultural property relief and the wider political fallout. The team also dissects the row over Rachel Reeves’ CV edit and scrutinises her past remarks about her career. Plus, FT foreign editor Alec Russell joins to discuss what happens next in the Ukraine war after Kyiv fired US and UK-made long-range missiles into Russia for the first time this week. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Jim @PickardJE, Anna @AnnaSophieGross, Alec @AlecuRussell Want more? Thousands of farmers protest in London against tax changes Ukraine fires British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia Russia fires intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for first time, Kyiv says New book from UK shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves lifts from Wikipedia UK government borrowing for October exceeds forecasts at £17.4bn Join Lucy Fisher, Peter Foster, Stephen Bush and Miranda Green for a Political Fix Live session on December 5, where they will assess Labour's record after five months in office as part of the FT's Global Boardroom online conference. The three-day event features high-level interviews on the big issues of the day and is being held on December 4-6. Register for your free pass at ft.com/tgb Read the FT’s Best Politics Books of the Year 2024 list, curated by the FT’s chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman. 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. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiadis and Petros Giumpassis. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

36 min
6 DAYS AGO

EU or US? UK plays piggy in the middle

As Donald Trump makes his first appointments, speculation in Whitehall grows: will the UK move closer to the US or cosy back up with the EU? The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars George Parker and Robert Shrimsley, as well as Peter Foster, the FT’s public policy editor, to discuss how Britain might successfully balance its two most important relationships. Plus the panel also discusses Rachel Reeves’s pension megafund reform, and assesses the damage Labour’s employment reforms are doing to the relationship with British business. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George @GeorgeWParker, Peter Foster @pmdfoster, Robert @robertshrimsley Want more? Join Lucy Fisher, Peter Foster, Stephen Bush and Miranda Green for Political Fix Live session on December 5, where they will assess Labour's record after five months in office as part of the FT's Global Boardroom online conference. The three-day event features high-level interviews on the big issues of the day and is being held on December 4-6. Register for your free pass at ft.com/tgb 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 by Sean McGarrity and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiadis and Petros Giumpassis. 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
8 NOV

The UK in Trump’s world

Despite past criticism of Donald Trump, Sir Keir Starmer has sent ‘hearty’ praise to the president-elect for his victory this week. But what will transatlantic relations be like in 2025 and what does a Trump presidency mean for a Labour government? And, after Kemi Badenoch won the Tory leadership contest, we assess her first days in the job. Political Fix host Lucy Fisher is joined by US national editor and columnist Ed Luce, Deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor, Jim Pickard and Katy Balls, political editor of the Spectator. Follow Lucy on Twitter @LOS_Fisher, Ed @EdwardGLuce, Lauren @LaurenFedor, Jim @PickardJE Want more? America wants Trump — no ifs or buts ‘They don’t understand my life’: what the Democrats misread about America ‘Brave new world’: Donald Trump’s victory signals end of US-led postwar order Trade, tech, defence: UK braces for policy flashpoints with Trump’s US Lammy seeks to repair Trump relationship after ‘Nazi’ jibe Kemi Badenoch rewards early backers with shadow cabinet posts 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. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix by Simon Panayi. 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.

44 min
1 NOV

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

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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.