Political Fix

US President Donald Trump received a body blow to his presidency as the Republican Party was routed in the US midterms this week. What will be the impact on this side of the Atlantic — and the wider world? Is a weakened Trump good news for a progressive, left-leaning government? Or could the results encourage Trump to lash out via foreign policy, especially regarding Iran and Ukraine? And what does it mean for Nigel Farage and his long-term links with Trump? Host Lucy Fisher discusses the fallout of this monumental week for global politics with deputy political editor Jim Pickard and deputy comment editor Miranda Green. Plus, the panel gets into Labour’s shift in immigration policy and the dispute over reparations for Britian’s historical role in the slave trade which dominated the Commonwealth summit.

Follow Lucy on X or Bluesky @LOS_Fisher, @lucyfisher.ft.com; Miranda:@greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.social and Jim @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.social

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A weakened Trump still leaves Britain on edge

Democrats look to reshape America after historic midterm victories

How corruption became a top voter issue in the US midterms

The beginning of the end of the age of Trump

Donald Trump’s endgame

MPs summon Poundland’s owner to select committee grilling

Giving 16-year-olds the vote is only half the job

Our email address is political[email protected]

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Giordgiades and Bianca Wakeman. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Andy Burnham’s chancellor John Healey delivered his maiden budget on Wednesday. With ballooning debt, poor growth and rising inflation, the mantra was very much ‘steady as we go’ – with only modest announcements on tax and spending. Households have been helped with energy costs while banks, landlords and savers have been hit. Healey insisted he was doing his best to help, but was it enough to secure long-term economic health and security for the UK? Host Lucy Fisher discusses these questions and lots more from FT subscribers with UK political editor George Parker, markets columnist Katie Martin and economics editor Sam Fleming.

This is a recording of an FT Live subscribers’ webinar.

Follow Lucy @lucyfisher.ft.com & @LOS_Fisher; George @georgewparker.bsky.social & @GeorgeWParker and Sam @Sam1Fleming

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John Healey hits banks and savers to fund modest Budget handout

UK Budget 2026: Healey defends Budget as economic warnings grow

Budget in brief: what you need to know

Healey fiddles while the UK stagnates

Property tax rise will push more landlords to sell, Healey warned

Britain’s Budget buys time but ducks the hard choices

Our email address is political[email protected]

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Colleen Velle and Petros Gioumpasis. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Is Andy Burnham winning over voters with his promise to put ‘hope in every heart and growth in every postcode’? As the prime minister marks almost 100 days in the job, the FT has been polling swing voters in Sheffield to discuss his performance, the state of the country and how he stacks up against the other political parties. Host George Parker discusses the findings with pollster Scarlett Maguire, deputy political editor Jim Pickard and political correspondent David Sheppard. Plus, the panel discusses the government’s controversial decision to develop the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea.

Follow George @GeorgeWParker and @georgewparker.bsky.social; David @OilSheppard and @oilsheppard.bsky.social and Jim @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.social

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Has Andy Burnham won over British voters?

UK approves development of Jackdaw gasfield in North Sea

Andy Burnham’s North Sea ‘pragmatism’ is no big shift from Keir Starmer’s

John Healey to quash visa hopes for wealthy in UK Budget

The people shaping the Budget

Stratford moves closer to international rail upgrade with Budget boost

What will the UK Budget mean for Britain? Join Lucy Fisher and political editor George Parker, markets columnist Katie Martin, economics editor Sam Fleming and north of England correspondent Jen Williams for an exclusive FT subscriber webinar on October 29. To register, and send us your questions, go to ft.com/budget2026 (Registration includes access to the video replay.)

Our email address is political[email protected]

Presented by George Parker. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Giorgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Is Andy Burnham's habit of speaking off the cuff getting him into trouble? From Brexit interference and Scottish independence to Manchester City, the prime minister's impromptu interventions are making headlines. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by deputy opinion editor Miranda Green and UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley to discuss whether Burnham's style is an asset or liability. Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Number 10, the Liberal Democrats are growing restless with their leader, and public policy editor Chris Smyth brings us the latest on the government's welfare reforms.

Follow Lucy on X or Bluesky @LOS_Fisher, @lucyfisher.ft.com; Chris: @Smyth_Chris and @chris-smyth.bsky.social; Miranda:@greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.social and Robert: @robertshrimsley and @robertshrimsley.bsky.social

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Russia ‘interfered’ in 2016 Brexit vote, says Andy Burnham

One in 6 UK disability benefit claimants should not receive cash, says think-tank

Young people to receive less cash but more job support under Milburn welfare plan

How the Greens lost their party to the hard left

EU leaders to urge Zelenskyy to rein in criticism of Trump

Are the Liberal Democrat birds angry or just disappointed?

Andy Burnham’s own goal

Why I don’t write about the Liberal Democrats

What will the UK Budget mean for Britain? Join Lucy Fisher and colleagues political editor George Parker, markets columnist Katie Martin, economics editor Sam Fleming and North of England correspondent Jen Williams for an exclusive FT subscriber webinar on October 29. To register, and send us your questions, go to ft.com/budget2026 Registration includes access to the video replay.

Our email address is political[email protected]

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Giorgiades and Bianca Wakeman. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Labour has held on to Sir Keir Starmer’s old seat in Holborn and St Pancras, in a boost to Andy Burnham but a major setback for Green leader and by-election candidate Zack Polanski. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by deputy political editor Jim Pickard and columnist Stephen Bush, who weigh the impact of the Greens’ anti-Zionist position and round up the news from the Tory Party conference. Have pledges to cut taxes, boost the military and reform welfare put them back on the electoral map? Plus, we get the latest from the business community ahead of the Budget with UK chief business correspondent Ashley Armstrong.

Follow Lucy on X or Bluesky @LOS_Fisher, @lucyfisher.ft.com ; Stephen @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; Jim @PickardJE @pickardje.bsky.social; Ashley @AArmstrong_says

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Labour holds off Greens’ Polanski to win London by-election

Six things we learnt from the Tory party conference

Healey warns banks that UK faces ‘challenging’ fiscal picture but stays tight-lipped on tax

Burnham pledges to end use of non-compete clauses

Kemi Badenoch’s pitch goes some way to assuaging British business concerns

Kemi Badenoch: ‘I refuse to play by Westminster rules’

Tory inheritance tax pledge: do the sums add up?

Kemi Badenoch’s European nightmare

What will the UK Budget mean for Britain? Join Lucy Fisher and colleagues political editor George Parker, markets columnist Katie Martin, economics editor Sam Fleming and North of England correspondent Jen Williams for an exclusive FT subscriber webinar on 29 October. To register, and send us your questions, go to ft.com/budget2026. Registration includes access to the video replay.

Our email address is political[email protected]

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineer is Petros Giuompasis. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Recorded in front of an audience at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, host Lucy Fisher and political editor George Parker unpack Andy Burnham’s first conference speech as prime minister. From rethinking Britain’s relationship with the EU to ending the pensions triple lock and scrapping the electoral system, Burnham laid out an ambitious agenda for the country. Lucy and George speak to business secretary Jonathan Reynolds about the prime minister’s plans, before northern correspondent Jennifer Williams and Inside Politics writer and columnist Stephen Bush join them to give their takeaways from the week.

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Andy Burnham sets up battle lines on social care and Europe

How would Andy Burnham’s social care shake-up work?

Burnham’s brave new world — just one more election away

Six takeaways from Andy Burnham’s conference speech

A faintly hopeful mood at Labour conference

Sign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.

Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Persis Love. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Video editing, original music and mix by Breen Turner. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Labour officials in Downing Street and beyond have discussed the parameters in which a snap election could be called. Will Andy Burnham take the gamble? As speculation about the idea grips Westminster, host Lucy Fisher is joined by political editor George Parker and deputy political editor Jim Pickard to weigh up the risks and rewards of going to the public early. They also look ahead to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool starting this weekend, and the troubles that lie ahead for UK-EU relations. Plus George reports back from Burnham’s first major international summit at the UN general assembly in New York, where the prime minister weathered his first encounter with Donald Trump.

Follow Lucy on X or Bluesky @LOS_Fisher, @lucyfisher.ft.com ; George on @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Jim @PickardJE

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The risks of calling an early election for Andy Burnham

Treasury open to smaller fiscal headroom to reduce UK tax rises

The FT’s budget dashboard: the data confronting chancellor John Healey

Labour conference set to vote on new AI regulator as cabinet concerns grow

Donald Trump rejects ‘globalist scheme’ to control AI in blow to Andy Burnham

UK to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in its fight with Houthi rebels

How could John Healey raise tax in the budget

Sign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free.

Our email address is political[email protected]

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Richard Topping. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

With borrowing costs and inflation rising, are the UK’s finances worse than Burnham and Healey thought? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues George Parker, political editor, and Stephen Bush, columnist, to discuss the tightening fiscal outlook ahead of the October Budget, and whether scrapping the triple lock on pensions would cost the government more politically than it would save in cash terms.

Plus, Reform’s week of mega-donations — and the Labour government’s response, and the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland begin a new push for independence from the UK.

Follow Lucy: @LOS_Fisher; George: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Stephen @stephenkb 

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Britain, Burnham and tax: the walls close in

Healey prepares UK for ‘really challenging’ budget

Nigel Farage refuses to say if Reform UK’s £72mn gifts would comply with new cap

UK state pension will surpass income tax threshold next year

Bank of England says rates likely to rise as it overhauls gilts sales

It’s time to scrap the triple lock

Scrapping triple lock on pensions need not wreak political damage

A ‘lucky’ chancellor must also be a resolute one

Sign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free.

Our email address is political[email protected]

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

AI promises major opportunities, but also significant risks – for the economy, employment, security and perhaps even human civilisation. But in Westminster, AI is far from a priority. In addition, fears that the UK’s AI Security Institute could be cut out of testing future frontier models before their release is fuelling alarm in Whitehall. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s AI editor Madhumita Murgia to discuss how developments in Silicon Valley are affecting UK politics. Plus UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and deputy opinion editor Miranda Green join the pod to unpack foreign secretary Ed Miliband’s trade ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The panel also examine the new Met police investigation into Reform’s finances, and Burnham’s latest devolution plans for a tourist tax. 

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher; Robert: @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Miranda: @greenmiranda

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Anthropic withheld latest AI model from UK testing agency

AI hasn’t gone rogue, it’s worse than that

Growth in every postcode: good politics, dubious economics

Israel’s hapless British defenders

Israel retaliates after UK bans trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank

UK set to announce trade ban on Israeli settlements in the West Bank

The five financing scandals facing Reform

Sign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free.

Our email address is political[email protected]

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Richard Topping. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Reform’s conference in Birmingham was soured by a Channel 4 News broadcast showing the party's leader Nigel Farage and some of his closest allies in conversations with a man purporting to arrange illicit political donations. Farage says the party has ‘broken no law’ but Reform has launched its own investigation and two top advisors have stepped down. Host Lucy Fisher hears from the FT’s acting executive news editor David Sheppard, who was at the Reform conference. Plus, political editor George Parker and economics editor Sam Fleming talk to Lucy about their exclusive interview with John Healey – and what the new Labour chancellor has planned for the country.

Follow Lucy @LOS_Fisher; George @GeorgeWParker and @georgewparker.bsky.social; Sam @Sam1Fleming; David @OilSheppard

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John Healey puts Britain on notice for tough Budget in ‘more dangerous world’

What are the latest claims against Nigel Farage?

Top Reform UK advisors to step down after donor sting

Latest allegations make Reform look ridiculous

Nigel Farage and Reform UK hit by illicit-funding sting

The five financing scandals facing Reform

James Orr and the gospel of the British right

Sign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter ‘Inside Politics’ for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.

Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. Flo Phillips is the FT’s head of audio.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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