Political Fix

• Starmer’s welfare woes

  Sir Keir Starmer faced a huge rebellion from within his own party this week after scores of MPs opposed changes to make it tougher to collect some disability benefits. This episode — recorded just before the prime minister’s concessions on welfare reform — unpacks why the rebellion took place, what it says about Starmer’s leadership and where next for Labour. Host Miranda Green is joined by Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard — check out their recent articles below for fresh analysis on the government climbdown. Plus, FT chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman on Starmer’s performance at the Nato summit and the impact on the UK of global uncertainty. Follow Miranda on Bluesky: @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; Jim @pickardje.bsky.social; Stephen on Bluesky or X @stephenkb.bsky.social‬, @stephenkb; Gideon @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachmanWhat did you think of this episode? Let us know at [email protected] Want more? Free links: How Starmer averted ‘civil war’ with Labour MPs after diluting welfare cuts Welfare U-turn permanently alters Labour’s playbookMorgan McSweeney: Labour’s election fixer under fire as welfare rebellion loomsA defeat Keir Starmer cannot affordThe latest episode of The Rachman Review: ‘Too soon to celebrate peace between Israel and Iran?’ To mark one year of the Labour government, Political Fix regulars Stephen Bush, Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green will be answering readers' questions on July 3 at 1pm. Take part in our live Q&A by going to FT.com/labouryear. Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter. Presented by Miranda Green, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music by Breen Turner, mix by Jean-Marc Ek. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. Read a transcript of this podcast on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Starmer on standby

  Will he? Won’t he? President Donald Trump has given little indication as to whether America will join in the conflict between Israel and Iran. So where does this leave the UK and its assets in the region? How does the prime minister play his hand with the president, and what does that mean for his relationship with his own party, especially given Labour's track record? Host George Parker is joined by the FT’s Middle East editor Andrew England, alongside regular guests Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green, to discuss Sir Keir Starmer's options.Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Robert @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.socialWhat did you think of this episode? Let us know at [email protected] Want more? Free links: Starmer puts UK cabinet on alert for potential US attack on IranThe implosion of Iran’s ‘no peace, no war’ strategy Europe set for Iran talks as Trump signals 2-week window to decide on attackTrump says he ‘may or may not’ strike IranTo mark one year of the Labour government, Political Fix regulars Stephen Bush, Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green will be answering reader questions about what's coming next on July 3 at 1pm. Take part in our live Q&A by going to FT.com/labouryear. Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter. Presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. Read a transcript of this podcast on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Reeves sets Labour’s course – but what will it deliver?

  Labour’s long-awaited spending review dropped this week. Rachel Reeves unveiled funding settlements for government departments – and a newly upbeat tone after the gloomy promise of hard times in her previous Commons set pieces. The NHS and defence were prioritised but other departments and services face a squeeze. Are dividing lines now clear as Labour fights for a second term in power? Why did even the experts call Reeves’ speech “baffling”? Will voters notice any benefit – and in time for an electoral dividend? Host Miranda Green is joined by regular panellists Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard, as well as the FT’s economics commentator Chris Giles, to discuss. Follow Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, Jim @pickardje.bsky.social, Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social‬, @stephenkb; Chris @chrisgiles.ft.com‬, @ChrisGiles_What did you think of this episode? Let us know at [email protected] Want more? Free links: Rachel Reeves will be forced to raise taxes in autumn, economists predict Only a crisis will wean the west off debt England’s social housing funds ‘less generous’ than £39bn settlement suggestsUK suffers worst monthly contraction since 2023Labour has made its big play. Are you not convinced? Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. And here’s Chris Giles’ latest newsletter. Presented by Miranda Green, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.Read a transcript of this podcast on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Facing down a fiscal firestorm

  UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has had an action-packed week. She made a U-turn on winter fuel payments, announced plans to spend billions of pounds on new transport schemes and, following the prime minister’s latest announcement, she now has to find yet more money to fund a rise in defence spending. So where does this leave the chancellor ahead of the spending review next Wednesday? And who will be the winners and losers? Host George Parker is joined by the FT’s Robert Shrimsley, Sam Fleming and Jennifer Williams to discuss. Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Sam Fleming @Sam1Fleming, Robert @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft, @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social What did you think of this episode? Let us know at [email protected] Want more? Free links: ‘Accept it or you have to walk’: Labour’s UK spending review battles enter final stage Rachel Reeves to back Manchester-Liverpool rail link in transport spending boost Reeves can no longer outrun Labour’s early choices Rachel Reeves vows to reinstate some winter fuel payments this year Reform UK chair Zia Yusuf resigns from party Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineer is Rod Fitzgerald. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. Read a transcript of this podcast on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Coming soon: The Wolf-Krugman Exchange

  In a special six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discuss the economic events reshaping the world in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s election. Subscribe and listen to this series on The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Episodes will also be available on the FT’s YouTube channel.If you’d like to get in touch and ask Martin and Paul a question, please email [email protected] Read Martin’s FT column hereSubscribe to Paul’s substack here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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