Michael Cockerell has made some of the best political documentaries about UK politics, covering prime ministers from Harold Macmillan to Boris Johnson.  His new book, “Unmasking Our Leaders”, takes us into a career of political journalism and interviews regarding not just politicians and MPs and ministers but also the secret world of Whitehall. Cockerell looks back on the leaders he has met and what he learnt from them.
Presented by Sebastian Payne. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity, 
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In conversation with Michael Cockerell

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.

News & Politics

News

Politics

Labour is promising voters not to raise a raft of taxes, not to borrow to fund day-to-day spending and not to return to austerity with major cuts to public services. How will it manage this? Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves insists economic growth will square the circle. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher asks economics editor Sam Fleming, who interviewed Reeves this week, whether her plans to increase UK output stack up. Plus, Helen Miller from the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank joins with her assessment of the “conspiracy of silence” by both big parties over tax and spend after the election. 
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Sam @Sam1Fleming, Helen @TheIFS
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A dash for growth: the shadow chancellor prepares for government
Rachel Reeves to seek ‘improved’ UK-EU trade terms if Labour wins election 
The Labour party’s uncertain certainty dividend
Labour’s EU plan will have ‘minimal’ impact on cost of Brexit, says think-tank
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. Original music and audio mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Campaign catch-up: Labour’s dash for growth

Keir Starmer has unveiled Labour’s manifesto - declaring that his is the “party of wealth creation”. But while the plans combine sweeping aspirations for growth with modest tax and spending measures, there are a host of questions about how exactly a future Labour government would fix the public finances. The FT’s political editor George Parker is joined by colleagues Miranda Green and Rafe Uddin to scrutinise Labour’s pledges. Plus, FT consumer editor Claer Barrett gives her analysis of the levers Labour could pull if they need to raise more money - and who would be affected.
Follow George on X @GeorgeWParker, Miranda @greenmiranda, Claer @ClaerB, Rafe @rafeuddin_
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Labour manifesto targets wealthy even as Keir Starmer woos business
Keir Starmer sets out plans to raise £8.6bn in tax at Labour manifesto launch
Party manifestos and the British economic reality 
Have the Tories squandered their years in power?

 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 George Parker. Produced by Audrey Tinline. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix 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.

Labour’s manifesto: where will the money come from?

Rishi Sunak has pledged more than £17bn in tax cuts as the Tories attempt to revive their stalled election campaign. But will it be enough to override questions about the party’s record in office, or the prime minister’s D-Day disaster? The FT’s Lucy Fisher fillets the Tories’ manifesto promises with colleagues Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard. Plus, what to make of the Lib Dem election pledges and their leader’s attention-grabbing stunts?
Clips: BBC, ITN
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb and Jim @PickardJE
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Rishi Sunak pledges £17bn in tax cuts to revive Tory election bid
The Lib Dem strategy to restore their third party status
Tory ads warn voters of Labour landslide as election bid falters

 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. Original music and audio mix 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.

Campaign catch-up: the Tories’ ‘kitchen sink’ manifesto

Morale within the Conservative campaign is low and was damaged further this week after the party chair became the fifth Tory MP to abandon his seat in the north to fight for a safer seat in the south of England. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher gets round the table with colleagues Robert Shrimsley and Jim Pickard to reflect on the damage done and on those tax claims made by Rishi Sunak during the first leaders’ TV debate. Plus, the FT’s Michael Peel joins to discuss how the rest of the world views the UK.
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher
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‘Morale is shot’: Tory campaign mood sapped by candidate row
Rishi Sunak apologises for leaving D-Day commemorations early
Keir Starmer accuses Rishi Sunak of ‘lying’ over Labour £2,000 tax claim
Behold the final casualties of Brexit 
More than half of British universities slip down global rankings

 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. Original music and audio mix 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.

Tory morale plunges

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s troubled re-election bid has been dealt a fresh double blow, as Nigel Farage seized the reins of Reform UK and announced he would stand as a candidate, while a new poll showed Labour could win the biggest majority of any party in a century. Lucy Fisher picks over the implications with political editor George Parker and politics correspondent Anna Gross. Plus, they talk about the Liberal Democrats’ campaign and the party’s pledge to offer free personal care to older or disabled people at home.
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Anna @AnnaSophieGross, George @GeorgeWParker
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Trio of Tory donors decide against funding election campaign
Tories promise to introduce an annual cap on immigration
Tory election hopes hit after Nigel Farage decides to stand for Reform UK
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 Persis Love. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music by Breen Turner. 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.

In conversation with Michael Cockerell

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