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...
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/tgbSign 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.
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37:54
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 @PickardJEWant 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 USLammy 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/insidepoliticsofferPresented 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.
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44:29
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 @SoumayaKeynesWant more? Free links:Budget poses new challenge for UK public finances, Moody’s warnsBusiness and wealthy bear brunt of £40bn tax increases in UK BudgetThe Budget in brief: what you need to knowReeves has made her choice — but success is not guaranteedRachel Reeves defiant after historic tax and spend BudgetSign 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.
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58:18
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/ukgrowthFollow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb, Anna @AnnaSophieGross and Lauren @LaurenFedorWant more? Rachel Reeves confirms change to UK fiscal rules to help fund £20bn of annual investmentRachel Reeves: My fiscal rules will provide the stability on which growth dependsKeir Starmer flies to Samoa to answer tricky questions from Commonwealth alliesDonald Trump accuses UK Labour party of interference in White House race Labour paid for top Starmer aide to attend Democratic National ConventionA Trump victory would end ‘normal’ politics between UK and USSign 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.
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37:13
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/ukgrowthFollow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George @GeorgeWParker, Robert @robertshrimsley, Henry @henrymanceWant more? Read Henry’s report here: How the English courts reached breaking pointKeir Starmer and Rachel Reeves face down cabinet revolt over spending cutsRachel Reeves looking at sweeping inheritance tax changes in BudgetUK innovation will be undermined by science department Budget squeeze, industry leaders warnRobert Jenrick vs Kemi Badenoch: meet the next Conservative leaderDavid Lammy to raise human rights and support for Russia on China tripSign 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.
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.