Payne's Politics

By Financial Times

News & Politics

What's Payne's Politics about?

Sebastian Payne takes you into the corridors of power to unwrap, analyse and debate British politics with a regular lineup of expert Financial Times correspondents and informed commentators. New episodes available every Saturday morning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Zahawi £5mn tax scandal tes...

01.28.2023

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer attacked Rishi Sunak as ‘weak’ as calls escalated for the Tory party chair Nadhim Zahawi to be sacked over his £5mn settlement with Inland Revenue. How much is the row damaging the PM’s credibility and his ...

Payne's Politics episodes:

01.28.2023 Zahawi £5mn tax scandal tests Sunak Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer attacked Rishi Sunak as ‘weak’ as calls escalated for the Tory party chair Nadhim Zahawi to be sacked over his £5mn settlement with Inland Revenue. How much is the row damaging the PM’s credibility and his ...
01.21.2023 What Keir Starmer did at Davos Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves gave a pre-Davos interview to the FT before setting off to woo the global elite in Switzerland at the World Economic Forum in a remarkable turnround in Labour sentiment. Why were they ...
01.14.2023 A rumbustious start to 2023 Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clash at PMQs as they set out their plans for a year that could shape the outcome of the general election. The prime minister faces industrial unrest, demands to solve the Northern Ireland standoff and ...
12.17.2022 2022 year in review In our final episode of 2022, we look back on an especially turbulent year in Westminster - from partygate to Chris Pincher, Ukraine to market meltdown, Boris Johnson to Rishi Sunak, Kwasi Kwarteng and Jeremy Hunt. We reflect on the ...
12.10.2022 Sunak versus the strikes Rishi Sunak confronted a growing wave of industrial unrest facing the UK with tough new proposals for anti-strike laws, but will they work? We explore how the prime minister is handling the challenges of the winter ahead and whether we’re ...
12.03.2022 Winter of discontent Britain is seeing a swelling wave of industrial action this winter, from nurses to rail workers. Is the country facing a de facto general strike and is there an economic landing zone for the government and workers? We discuss what ...
11.26.2022 Sunak’s short honeymoon Rishi Sunak's authority with Tory MPs is waning and he is now facing policy battles on almost every front. We analyse which fights the new prime minister can win and which aren’t worth engaging in, and whether the Conservative party ...
11.19.2022 Jeremy Hunt’s sombre Autumn Statement The chancellor unveiled a £55bn plan for fiscal tightening this week, with the biggest drop in living standards for 70 years. We unpack all of the fiscal forecasts, tax rises, spending cuts and how Rishi Sunak can navigate the tricky ...
11.12.2022 Farewell Sir Gavin, for the third time Rishi Sunak forced Sir Gavin Williamson out from his government this week, the third time the former cabinet minister has been made to quit. Why did Sunak hire the controversial former chief whip in the first place? And what does ...
11.05.2022 Pressure grows on the home secretary? We ask whether the home secretary Suella Braverman can survive in her post with attacks on multiple fronts. Does she have a plan for dealing with backlogged asylum claims? Can she be trusted with national security? And does she have ...
10.29.2022 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak After another turbulent week and the potential return of Boris Johnson. Rishi Sunak became Britain's latest prime minister - its first non-white leader and the youngest in modern history. We discuss how he triumphed in the leadership contest, how Johnson ...
10.21.2022 How the stopwatch began on Truss’ time in Downing Street We look back on what can only be described as a total bonkers week in Westminster: how Liz Truss became the shortest and one of the worst prime ministers in British history, the very sticky end, and crucially what happens ...
10.14.2022 A new chancellor and another U-turn for Truss A tumultuous week and a dramatic Friday as Liz Truss was forced to reverse on tax cuts again and sacked Kwasi Kwarteng. Doubts are growing over whether she can survive as prime minister. Presented by Sebastian Payne with political editor ...
10.08.2022 Truss vs the ‘anti-growth’ coalition Liz Truss endured one of the most traumatic Conservative party conferences in living memory, with open revolt from her cabinet and MPs. Can the new prime minister survive and where does her economic reform agenda go next? Plus we discuss ...
09.30.2022 Kwasi Kwarteng’s market meltdown Markets showed their dismay and the pound crashed to its lowest levels ever as Prime Minister Liz Truss and chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng struggled to defend their economic strategy. Where does the crisis go next? Political editor George Parker and economics ...
09.23.2022 The gamble for growth Kwasi Kwarteng delivered his first Budget in all but name this week, with the biggest overhaul in taxes in half a century. We unpack all the major tax cuts and examine whether the Truss government's huge bet on growth will ...
09.17.2022 King Charles III begins his reign The UK has experienced an unprecedented week of constitutional upheaval with new national and political leadership. We discuss the death and mourning of Queen Elizabeth II, the arrival of King Charles III and what it all means for the new ...
09.09.2022 In memory of Queen Elizabeth II Following the sad news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II - who died on September 8 2022 at the age of 96 - we are in tribute republishing this platinum jubilee episode, in which we looked back on Her ...
09.03.2022 Truss’s glide path to Number 10 The Tory leadership race finished this week, with foreign secretary Liz Truss widely expected to triumph. We discuss the final campaign developments, Truss’ pledges on tax, and what Boris Johnson might do next. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with George Parker, ...
08.27.2022 Struggling with the energy crisis With energy bills set to soar from October, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak faced mounting questions about how they would help struggling families, yet neither of the candidates to be the new prime minister has set out detailed plans. We ...
08.20.2022 Liz Truss pulls even further ahead Two new opinion polls put Liz Truss 32 points ahead of her rival Rishi Sunak in the race to be the next Tory leader and prime minister. We analyse whether the contest is over, and the latest clashes between the ...
08.13.2022 Tory leadership race: And the heat goes on As much of the country wilts in a heatwave, the focus in the Tory leadership contest this week has been on colder times to come. The two rivals for UK prime minister have disagreed publicly on how to help the ...
08.06.2022 Liz Truss targets the Treasury The voting process in the contest for a new Tory leader and prime minister was delayed over security concerns, but the campaign continued with Liz Truss looking all but certain to win. We discuss her lines of attack and her ...
07.30.2022 Truss pulls ahead The race to be the next UK prime minister rolled on this week, as foreign secretary Liz Truss firmed up her campaign lead and former chancellor Rishi Sunak struggled to make headway. We delve into the trio of debates, policy ...
07.23.2022 Head-to-head - Sunak and Truss fight it out to be Tory leader and PM In this week’s episode, we delve into the positions and policies of the two final candidates in the contest to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and UK prime minister. Who is likely to win the votes of the Tory ...
07.16.2022 The race for next Tory leader and PM In this week’s episode, we’ll delve into the two classes of contenders to be the next UK prime minister: the frontrunners and the outsiders. Political editor George Parker and associate editor Stephen Bush will discuss former chancellor Rishi Sunak, who ...
07.08.2022 The fall of Boris Johnson In this week’s bumper episode, we’ll be taking you behind the scenes on a week that brought Boris Johnson’s time as prime minister to a rather bitter close. We’ll take you through his handling of the Chris Pincher affair, the ...
07.02.2022 Boris Johnson lands back to earth We discuss whether Boris Johnson's Global Britain ambitions were achieved during his recent overseas trip and the fallout from the resignation of deputy chief whip Chris Pincher. Plus, we explore Nicola Sturgeon's plans for a second Scottish independence referendum and ...
06.29.2022 Introducing: Hot Money The FT just launched a new podcast on porn, power and profit. When FT reporter Patricia Nilsson started digging into the porn industry, she made a shocking discovery: nobody knew who controlled the biggest porn company in the world. Now, ...
06.24.2022 Boris Johnson’s double by-election defeat The Conservatives lost two crucial by-elections this week in Yorkshire and Devon, putting UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s leadership under scrutiny. Host Sebastian Payne, the FT’s Whitehall editor, discusses these results — and the resignation of Tory party chair Oliver ...
06.18.2022 Boris Johnson’s Northern Ireland plan - is it just a bluff? We examine the situation with the Northern Ireland protocol, whether the government’s plans break international law and how the EU might respond. Public policy editor Peter Foster digs into the details with our Ireland correspondent Jude Webber. Plus, the resignation ...
06.11.2022 Boris survives, but for how long? The prime minister had a close shave with his MPs this week when 41 per cent of the Conservative parliamentary party voted to oust him. We discuss how and whether Johnson can renew his leadership and whether he will face ...
06.03.2022 The Queen's jubilee: How Britain has changed since 1952 The Queen celebrates her platinum jubilee this weekend. To mark 70 years since she took to the throne, we look back on how the country has changed politically, economically and societally since 1952. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with George Parker, ...
05.28.2022 It’s definitely not a windfall tax! We start with that huge bailout package for struggling families announced by the chancellor and the controversial taxes he raised to fund it - a £5bn windfall tax on energy companies with more to come. The FT’s economics correspondent Delphine ...
05.23.2022 Behind the Money is back! Behind the Money is back with all-new episodes! From hostile takeovers to C-suite intrigue, Behind the Money takes you inside the business and financial stories of the moment with reporting from Financial Times journalists around the world. The podcast returns ...
05.21.2022 Examining the fallout from the end of the police investigation Should the prime minister now fear the fallout from the full investigation by Whitehall official Sue Gray? Or is he safe for now? Chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley will discuss with special guest Paul Goodman from Conservative Home. And then ...
05.14.2022 Double crisis: cost of living and Northern Ireland This year’s Queen Speech was Boris Johnson’s attempt to reset his government’s policy agenda but it did little to tackle the growing cost of living crisis. We look at what the government might do, plus whether the EU and UK ...
05.07.2022 Voters cast their opinions on the state of politics The Conservative party lost hundreds of councillors across the county in this year's local elections, with the Labour party making significant gains in the capital. We analyse the results in London, the red wall, blue wall and beyond, plus what ...
04.30.2022 Too many rising prices, too much sleaze In this week’s episode we’ll be looking at why the government is anxious to find ways to fix rising fuel and food prices. Why is the Treasury not doing more? And how does this play into next week’s local elections? ...
04.23.2022 Boris Johnson says sorry, sorry, sorry The prime minister came to the House of Commons to apologise for misleading MPs over the partygate scandal, but now faces a third probe into his conduct. We discuss whether support for Boris Johnson is draining away and what might ...
04.16.2022 Can Johnson and Sunak survive Partygate fines? No10 and No11 Downing Street were thrown into chaos when the Met Police issued fines to the prime minister and chancellor. We discuss the seriousness of the lawbreaking, whether Tory MPs are minded to move against Boris Johnson, the public ...
04.09.2022 Sunak's non-dom saga We delve into two messes the government has got itself into, over the tax affairs of Rishi Sunak’s wife and the long-awaited energy white security paper. Will the chancellor’s spouse be forced to give up her non-dom status? And why ...
04.02.2022 Partygate returns, but no energy strategy London's Metropolitan Police issued the first fines over the Partygate scandal this week. British prime minister Boris Johnson has yet to be fined, but does the scandal still pose a threat to his leadership? We also explore how this will ...
03.25.2022 Spring Statement: Sunak misfires Rishi Sunak delivered a mini-Budget this week that slashed taxes and attempted to tackle the cost of living crisis and deal with inflation. But the UK chancellor was widely criticised for failing to help the poorest and was told that ...
03.19.2022 Nazanin returns and Spring Statement preview The UK celebrated the return of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after six years of imprisonment in Iran. We discuss how she was released and what it says about other parts of foreign policy. Plus we discuss Boris Johnson’s failed visit to Saudi ...
03.12.2022 The war in Ukraine: is the UK doing enough? The UK has been criticised for failing both to fulfil its rhetoric on sanctions and on opening the door to refugees fleeing Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. Is it due to Whitehall incompetence, political leadership or domestic politics? We also ...
03.05.2022 Ukraine latest and tackling 'Londongrad' Russia’s invasion of Ukraine became more brutal this week, with urban bombardment of civilians. We discuss what is likely to happen next and the west’s response. Plus, we explore whether the UK is doing enough to tackle dodgy Russian money ...
02.25.2022 Johnson sees blood on Putin's hands After weeks of warnings from the west, Russia invaded Ukraine this week, prompting what some say could be the continent's worst conflict since the second world war. We explore why President Vladimir Putin decided to invade, his histrionic explanation, the ...
02.19.2022 Why it is not new for progressive parties of the centre-left to work together Parliament may have been in recess this week but the political action hasn't stopped. We discuss our significant story about the next election featuring Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Not since the days of Paddy Ashdown's ultimately unproductive courtship of ...
02.12.2022 Resetting the Boris Johnson government We examine the abrupt departure of Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick, what it means for the police investigation into the “partygate” scandal and how it plays into Boris Johnson’s hopes of resetting his government. We also look at the mini ...

Older episodes

Payne's Politics

What's Payne's Politics about?

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Payne's Politics episodes:

Zahawi £5mn tax scandal tests Sunak

What Keir Starmer did at Davos

A rumbustious start to 2023

2022 year in review

Sunak versus the strikes

Winter of discontent

Sunak’s short honeymoon

Jeremy Hunt’s sombre Autumn Statement

Farewell Sir Gavin, for the third time

Pressure grows on the home secretary?

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

How the stopwatch began on Truss’ time in Downing Street

A new chancellor and another U-turn for Truss

Truss vs the ‘anti-growth’ coalition

Kwasi Kwarteng’s market meltdown

The gamble for growth

King Charles III begins his reign

In memory of Queen Elizabeth II

Truss’s glide path to Number 10

Struggling with the energy crisis

Liz Truss pulls even further ahead

Tory leadership race: And the heat goes on

Liz Truss targets the Treasury

Truss pulls ahead

Head-to-head - Sunak and Truss fight it out to be Tory leader and PM

The race for next Tory leader and PM

The fall of Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson lands back to earth

Introducing: Hot Money

Boris Johnson’s double by-election defeat

Boris Johnson’s Northern Ireland plan - is it just a bluff?

Boris survives, but for how long?

The Queen's jubilee: How Britain has changed since 1952

It’s definitely not a windfall tax!

Behind the Money is back!

Examining the fallout from the end of the police investigation

Double crisis: cost of living and Northern Ireland

Voters cast their opinions on the state of politics

Too many rising prices, too much sleaze

Boris Johnson says sorry, sorry, sorry

Can Johnson and Sunak survive Partygate fines?

Sunak's non-dom saga

Partygate returns, but no energy strategy

Spring Statement: Sunak misfires

Nazanin returns and Spring Statement preview

The war in Ukraine: is the UK doing enough?

Ukraine latest and tackling 'Londongrad'

Johnson sees blood on Putin's hands

Why it is not new for progressive parties of the centre-left to work together

Resetting the Boris Johnson government