Political Fix

• 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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  34:49
• 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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  28:51
• 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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  2:08
• Who’s afraid of Nigel Farage?

  Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Reform party leader Nigel Farage clashed on economic issues this week. Farage said his party was the champion of the working class, while Starmer warned Farage’s proposed spending rises amounted to “fantasy promises”. Host George Parker is joined by the FT’s Stephen Bush, Chris Giles and Anna Gross to discuss Reform’s fiscal plans. Plus, Labour’s chancellor Rachel Reeves has plenty of fiscal problems of her own. The panel discusses whether or not her economic arithmetic is adding up. Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social‬, @stephenkb; Chris @chrisgiles.ft.com‬, @ChrisGiles_; Anna @annasophiegross.bsky.social‬, @AnnaSophieGrossWhat did you think of this episode? Let us know at [email protected] Want more? Free links: Do Reform UK’s tax and spending plans add up?British politics is choice between Labour and Reform, says StarmerWill Rachel Reeves bend her fiscal rules to help balance the books?IMF gives Rachel Reeves political cover to ‘refine’ UK fiscal rulesClips from ITV News on YouTube; Reform UK on YouTubeSign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of best newsletter at the Future of Media Awards, 2023 and 2024Presented by George Parker, and produced by Ethan Plotkin. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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