Political Fix – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Donald Trump has stunned the world with a raft of extraordinary interventions this week, prompting Keir Starmer to keep his head down. But what happens when it’s Britain’s turn in the new US administration’s headlights? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars George Parker and Robert Shrimsley, as well as the FT’s chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman, to examine the UK government’s options. Plus, days after the first major national opinion poll put Reform ahead of both Labour and the Tories for the first time, the panel examines whether the hype over Nigel Farage’s party is outpacing reality… or whether the UK’s two-party system is in trouble. 

Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher, Robert: @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley, George: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker, Gideon: @gideonrachman.bsky.social, @gideonrachman 

Want more? Free links: 

Trump is sowing the seeds of an anti-American alliance

Is Nigel Farage’s Reform hype outpacing reality?

In charts: will Reform rock Britain’s two-party system?

Peter Mandelson’s back: The Prince of Darkness returns

Labour cannot afford to look like the status quo party  

You can listen to Gideon’s award-winning podcast The Rachman Review here. 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 Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and mixed 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.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has sought to place rocket-boosters under the UK economy this week – with a vow to prioritise growth over the environment or nimbyism. But how long will her plan take to work, is it too concentrated in the south of England, and what cabinet splits will it spark? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green, as well as the FT’s public policy editor Peter Foster, to dissect Labour’s strategy. Plus, the panel looks ahead to Sir Keir Starmer’s first meeting with EU leaders in Brussels next Monday as he seeks a fresh defence and security pact with the bloc. Will Britain acquiesce to the EU’s key demand for a youth mobility scheme? 

Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher, Robert @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, Peter @pmdfoster @pmdfoster.bskyb.social and Miranda @GreenMiranda @greenmirandahere.bskyb.social

Want more? Free links:

Labour is facing two ways on growth

The contradictions at the heart of Rachel Reeves’ growth plan

How five years of Brexit reshaped Britain

Sign 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 2024

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Laurence Knight. 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.

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.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak’s government is heading to court to challenge the Covid inquiry’s right to demand ministers’ unredacted messages, following a row over Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Miranda Green and UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley to discuss the saga. Plus, the FT’s global health editor Sarah Neville tells Lucy why more staff alone won’t solve the NHS’s problems. And the panel members reveal their musical tastes - with cultural recommendations for your own downtime. 

Follow Lucy on Twitter @LOS_Fisher

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Want more? 

UK government takes legal action over Boris Johnson’s Covid messages

NHS productivity lags as recruitment fails to keep pace with demand

How the Thatcherites lost their Brexit dream and their party

The great ‘Brexit’ and ‘coalition’ taboos are holding the Lib Dems back 

Clips from Sky News, BBC.

”Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Bob Dylan. Written by Bob Dylan.  

SME, TuneCore (on behalf of Columbia); UMPG Publishing, CMRRA, LatinAutorPerf, LatinAutor - SonyATV, UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, SOLAR Music Rights Management

Sign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics 

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said net migration is too high following data showing that it hit a record last year, but he insists it’s not out of control. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher digs into the political debate over immigration with columnist Stephen Bush and chief political commentator Rober Shrimsley. Also, what to make of the Cabinet Office referring Boris Johnson to the police over further potential breaches of coronavirus regulations? Plus, Northern England correspondent Jennifer Williams gives an update on her scoop about the government’s flagship regeneration scheme - now under scrutiny amid allegations of cronyism and waste.

Follow Lucy on Twitter @LOS_Fisher

Want more?  

UK net immigration hits record high of 606,000

The old cycle of British immigration policy is unwinding

Yes, Suella Braverman should go, but not for the reason you think

Sign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics 

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Mix by Jake Fielding and Breen Turner. 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.

Critics claim the Tories lack an industrial strategy and three former business secretaries have said that this fails to prepare Britain for the future. George Parker, the FT’s political editor, hears from Greg Clark, one of those former ministers, and industry correspondent Sylvia Pfeiffer. Plus, Labour leader Keir Starmer’s recent speeches reveal much about the conservatism of the country - an issue that will be key in the general election expected next year. Chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and the FT’s new Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher discuss.

Sign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 Best Newsletter award: https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics 

Presented by George Parker. Produced by Anna Dedhar. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer is Breen Turner and the FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

Follow @GeorgeWParker on Twitter 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cutting inflation and stopping small-boat migration are two of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s five core priorities, but there's no let-up in inflation or unhappiness with the government's policy on asylum seekers. George Parker, the FT’s political editor, discusses with economics correspondent Delphine Strauss and economics editor Chris Giles how far off target the government is. Plus, the UK’s stretched public finances are braced for a hit of up to £10bn in compensation claims for those affected by a decades-long NHS contaminated blood scandal. How did it happen? George hears from global health editor Sarah Neville and Barry Flynn, one of the victims who has severe haemophilia A and was infected with hepatitis C.

Want more?

UK faces bill of up to £10bn to cover blood scandal compensation

Inflation and NHS waiting lists threaten Rishi Sunak’s five-pledge strategy

UK borrowing costs increase to their highest level in almost 15 years

UK plans curbs on visas for overseas students’ family members

Sign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics 

Presented by George Parker. Produced by Anna Dedhar. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer is Breen Turner and the FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

Follow @GeorgeWParker on Twitter 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Prime Minister Rishi Sunak the results were ‘disappointing’, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer claimed his party was heading for power and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey wore a ‘Cheshire cat’ grin. What do this week’s local elections in England show about the likely direction of the next general election? Host George Parker discusses with columnist Stephen Bush, Northern England correspondent Jennifer Williams and the FT’s new Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher.

Presented by George Parker. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh Gabert-Doyon. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer is Breen Turner and the FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley

News clips: Sky, BBC, GB News

Sign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics 

Follow @GeorgeWParker on Twitter 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak has launched a charm offensive to win back the support of business while Labour wines and dines the financial community. Are their efforts to connect with corporate Britain convincing? Host George Parker discusses with the FT’s markets editor Katie Martin and deputy political editor, Jim Pickard. Plus, we look ahead to next week’s local elections. George and political correspondent Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe compare notes on the mood they found on the doorsteps around the country and columnist Robert Shrimsley provides his analysis.

Want more?

Why the Tories worry about Labour’s charm offensive with business

Jeremy Hunt admits UK business taxes too high as government pressed on strategy

Sunak aims to woo Britain’s business leaders in corporate reset

Sign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics 

Presented by George Parker. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh Gabert-Doyon. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer is Jan Sigsworth and the FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

Follow @GeorgeWParker on Twitter 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re bringing you an extended edition of the podcast recorded during a webinar from the FT Live events team. Host Miranda Green is joined by FT columnist Stephen Bush, the FT’s public policy editor Peter Foster and Jane Green, professor of political science at Nuffield College, University of Oxford, to answer subscribers’ questions on factors that will shape the outcome of 2024’s UK general election. How much will Brexit matter, who will be more convincing on law and order and immigration, and how will the generation divide play out? 

Presented by Stephen Bush. Produced by Anna Dedhar. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer is Breen Turner and the FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Follow @greenmiranda on Twitter 

Sign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com 

View our accessibility guide

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.