This week we analyse the new measures abruptly imposed in England in response to the alarming rise in Omicron coronavirus cases. What spooked the government?  Science reporter Oliver Barnes and special guest science commentator Anjana Ahuja explain. Plus, the prime minister faces a Tory rebellion not only over the new Covid rules, but whether parties were held at No 10 last Christmas that broke lockdown rules, and who paid for the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat. Political editor George Parker and political correspondent Laura Hughes look at the scale of the trouble Johnson is in. 
Audio: Sky News   Presented by Sebastian Payne. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity, 
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Boris Johnson encounters turbulent times

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.

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Politics

Introducing Power for Sale, a new season of Untold from the Financial Times. In Untold: Power for Sale, host Valentina Pop and a team of FT correspondents from all over Europe investigate what happened in the Qatargate scandal, where EU lawmakers were accused of accepting payments from Qatar to whitewash its image.
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Introducing Untold: Power for Sale



As the gloves come off and the parties swing into full campaign mode, Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s Miranda Green and Stephen Bush to consider – with five weeks to go – who’s pushing ahead. Has Labour’s very public row over whether Diane Abbott should be allowed to stand dented its prospects? And Lucy takes a trip west, to test the water in Bristol Central, a seat the Green Party has firmly in its sights. The team asks: can the Greens pose a threat to Labour?
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher
Want more? Free links:
Greens aim to win voters ‘utterly uninspired’ by Starmer
Rishi Sunak’s spaghetti strategy
‘True blue’ turns Green as party rides countryside wave
Sketchy Politics: Starmy weather

 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 Philippa Goodrich with Leah Quinn. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music by Breen Turner and audio mix by Simon Panayi. 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.

Labour’s messy campaign week

Rishi Sunak shocked Westminster with the decision to hold a snap general election on July 4. As the parties launch their campaigns, Lucy Fisher assembles the Political Fix team to look ahead to the next six weeks. The FT’s Robert Shrimsley, political editor George Parker, columnist Stephen Bush and Political Fix regular Miranda Green have the inside track on how the race to Number 10 might unfold.
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher
Want more? Free links:
Key moments ahead in the UK election campaign
Sunak suffers a series of setbacks on the first day of UK election campaign
How Rishi Sunak shocked Westminster with a snap general election
Improving UK economy does little to lift Tory hopes of victory in July election 
Tories scout for post-election jobs as UK parties dial up campaign mode 
TV debates can change election campaigns. Leaders should choose wisely

 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 Audrey Tinline with Leah Quinn. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. 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.

Bring it on! Election 2024 kicks off

Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled his party’s six core pledges ahead of the general election – in the same week that Rishi Sunak claimed the country would be less safe under a Labour government. As both parties kick off their election campaigns, the FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by Jim Pickard and Miranda Green to examine the battle lines being drawn up. Plus, the FT’s public policy editor Peter Foster outlines the dangers facing the UK’s university sector if the government decides to axe the graduate visa route that allows foreign students to stay on after graduation.
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Miranda @greenmiranda, Jim @PickardJE, Peter @pmdfoster
Want more? Free links:
Keir Starmer unveils 6 election ‘first steps’ for a Labour government
Sunak claims UK will be less safe under Labour in pre-election speech 
The think-tank laying the groundwork for a Labour government
Union leader urges backing for Keir Starmer over diluted worker rights
Sketchy Politics: Sunak’s sinking feeling
England’s universities face ‘closure’ risk after student numbers dive
The State of Britain

 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 Audrey Tinline with Leah Quinn. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. 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.

Election battle lines drawn up

As politicians and commentators digest the disastrous Tory local election results, FT experts answer subscribers’ questions about what this might mean for the forthcoming general election – and beyond. The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by colleagues Stephen Bush, George Parker and Camilla Cavendish for their take on the upcoming general election and the government that will take shape after it. The team tackle your toughest questions during a special FT Political Fix Inside Politics subscriber webinar.
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher
Want more? Free links:
Are Labour and the Conservatives adopting ‘Heevesian’ economics?
Labour defends decision to admit ex-Tory MP Natalie Elphicke
What we learn from Andy Street’s narrow loss in the West Midlands
Rishi Sunak told to show some vision as local polls leave Tories in a hole 
We’ve made this subscribers-only FT webinar free to everyone and you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/zp0UXwc7DTs?si=E3w2xBAEYfug00U6
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 Audrey Tinline. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Andrew Georgiadis and Rod Fitzgerald were the studio engineers. 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.

Boris Johnson encounters turbulent times

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