Political Fix

Labour’s conference in Liverpool should have been a celebratory event after its landslide win in the July election. Political editor George Parker, standing in for Lucy Fisher, is joined by Miranda Green and Robert Shrimsley to discuss why the mood was anything but triumphant. Plus, economics editor Sam Fleming explains how the government might increase capital spending despite Labour’s repeated warnings that the state coffers are empty; and chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman steps into the studio to assess Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s debut on the world stage at the UN general assembly this week. Lucy Fisher is back next week.

Follow George on X: @GeorgeWParker, Robert @robertshrimsley, Miranda @greenmiranda, Sam @Sam1Fleming and Gideon @gideonrachman.

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Keir Starmer struggles to fix morale at ‘weird’ Labour conference

Rachel Reeves paves way for capital spending increase

Gilt investors urge Reeves to keep investment ambitions in check

Keir Starmer meets Donald Trump in New York

Keir Starmer plays down significance of Storm Shadow decision for Ukraine

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Presented by George Parker. Produced by Tamara Kormornick. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers were Rod Fitzgerald and Andrew Georgiadis. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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A growing controversy around Lord Waheed Alli’s donations to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria risks tarnishing the new government, while propelling the normally discreet Labour donor into the public eye. Lucy Fisher discusses the saga with Political Fix regulars Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard. Plus, the panel is joined by chief business correspondent Michael O’Dwyer as business leaders warn that the UK government’s tax-raising plans and negativity about its economic inheritance risk undermining its efforts to boost private sector investment.

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb, Jim @PickardJE, Michael @_MODwyer

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Labour denies ‘transparency’ issue after clothing donation to Keir Starmer’s wife

Waheed Alli: How Labour donor’s largesse tarnished government’s squeaky clean image

UK government borrowing overshoots in blow to Rachel Reeves

Why has Sue Gray’s salary stoked unease and vicious briefings?

Lib Dems to press Rachel Reeves to raise taxes on banks and wealthy

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 with help from Leah Quinn. The broadcast engineers were Rod Fitzgerald and Andrew Georgiadis. 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.

A government-commissioned review has found the NHS on life support. Can Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer succeed where his predecessors have failed in turning around the health service? And how long has he got to do it? Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley and George Parker, plus the FT’s global health editor Sarah Neville, to examine the future of the NHS for the country’s health, politics and economy. And party conference season is upon us, so what are the flash points ahead? Leah Quinn joins the conversation.

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George @GeorgeWParker, Sarah @SarahNev Robert @robertshrimsley and Leah @thelittlerquinn

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Links:

England’s NHS in ‘critical condition’, official review finds 

NHS to receive ‘no more money without reform’, says Starmer 

‘Dire’ NHS report shows scale of Sir Keir Starmer’s turnaround challenge

And then there were four: The surviving Tory leadership hopefuls

Green party calls for long-term approach to UK’s problems 

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 Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Audio engineer, Jean-Marc Eck. Broadcast engineers Andrew Georgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. 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.

With a planned overhaul of employment law imminent and moves to renationalise rail companies, we’re asking whether Labour has got it in for business. The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by colleagues Miranda Green and Jim Pickard to discuss the Labour government’s apparently more interventionist approach to business. Plus Middle East editor Andrew England joins the panel to analyse the UK government’s decision to suspend some arms export licences to Israel.

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Jim on @PickardJE, Miranda on @greenmiranda and Andrew @cornishft 

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Priti Patel knocked out of Tory leadership contest as Robert Jenrick tops first poll 

Labour stands on the law to defend UK policy shift on Israel

‘Incompetence, dishonesty and greed’: Key findings of Grenfell report

Tory HQ becomes ‘ghost ship’ after wave of senior staff exits

Water executives to face jail if they obstruct UK investigations

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 Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Broadcast engineers Andrew Giorgiades and Rod Fitzgerald. 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.

A 'painful' Budget awaits this autumn and things will get 'worse before they get better', Sir Keir Starmer warned this week. But is Labour taking a risk projecting such a gloomy outlook? Political Fix host Lucy Fisher is joined by regulars Stephen Bush and Robert Shrimsley, as well as FT economics editor Sam Fleming, to consider how the new government might fund the fiscal black hole it claims the Tories left behind – and find a message of hope. Plus, the group analyses who’s ahead and who’s falling back in the Tory leadership race.

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb, Robert @robertshrimsley, Sam @Sam1Fleming

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Wealthy households and businesses brace for tax rises after Starmer speech

Starmer warned he cannot sidestep Brussels in bid to reset UK-EU relations

Eurozone inflation falls to 2.2% in August

JD Vance urges billionaire Peter Thiel to help bankroll Trump campaign

Pubs hit out at UK plans to ban smoking in outdoor areas

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 with Leah Quinn. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound engineering by Jean-Mark Eck with original music by Breen Turner. Broadcast engineering by Andrew Georgiades and Rod Fitzgerald. 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.

Democrats from across the US gathered in Chicago for their presidential convention this week, promising to move past the Donald Trump-era of American politics. But if their newly-minted nominee, vice-president Kamala Harris, wins November’s election, she’ll have her work cut out to keep her party together. The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief, Lauren Fedor, and US political news editor, Derek Brower, join the FT's US politics podcast, Swamp Notes, to explain what the future of the party might look like.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Five key points from Kamala Harris’s acceptance speech

Kamala Harris vows to ‘strengthen, not abdicate’ US global leadership

Kamala Harris’s underwhelming economic agenda

Listen to Swamp Notes every Saturday on the feed of the FT News Briefing

Swamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor and Marc Filippino. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. 

CREDIT: PBS NewsHour

Register now for the FT Weekend Festival, and claim £24 off your pass using promo code FTPodcast at: ft.com/festival

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The billionaire owner of X, Elon Musk, has launched attacks on the UK government following the riots. So, how should Keir Starmer’s government deal with the self-declared “free speech absolutist” and his social media platform? The FT’s political editor George Parker is joined by Political Fix regulars Miranda Green and Stephen Bush, as well as political correspondent Anna Gross. Plus, the team considers how Rachel Reeves will be able to promote growth in the UK while balancing the books. And, as Keir Starmer cancels his holidays - should politicians always take their vacations?

Follow George on X: @GeorgeWParker, Stephen @stephenkb, Miranda @greenmiranda, Anna @AnnaSophieGross

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Brussels slaps down Thierry Breton over ‘harmful content’ letter to Elon Musk

False information cases in wake of riots test UK’s online safety law

AstraZeneca vaccine project in doubt as UK Treasury seeks to cut state aid 

UK government plans fresh investment in supercomputing despite axing aid 

How taking a holiday went global

Sign up for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: 

https://ft.com/insidepoliticsoffer

Presented by George Parker. Produced by Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity and original music by Breen Turner. Studio engineer: Petros Gioumpasis. 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.

Sir Keir Starmer has told police to stay on ‘high alert’ for more disorder, as rafts of rioters receive lengthy jail sentences in Britain’s courts. Has the unrest petered out, or could it yet flare up again? And how will the government get a grip on the longer-term challenges the recent violence has thrown up – from illegal immigration to community cohesion? The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by northern England correspondent Jennifer Williams and UK correspondent William Wallis to assess the fallout. Plus Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, a think-tank specialising in integration, joins with his analysis of how Starmer should start to heal the ‘fractious, divided and anxious country’.

Follow Lucy on Twitter @LOS_Fisher, Jen @JenWilliamsMEN, William @WWFTUK, Sunder @sundersays

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Keir Starmer tells police to stay on ‘high alert’ as UK rioters jailed

Far-right riots centred on England’s deprivation hotspots

The volatile far right on UK streets is becoming more difficult to label

Huge UK anti-racist rallies held as far-right protests fail to materialise

To take part in an audience survey, and to be in with the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, click here. Click here to find T&Cs for the prize draw.

Sign up for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: 

https://ft.com/insidepoliticsoffer

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Leah Quinn and Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity and original music by Breen Turner. Studio engineers: Andrew Georgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. 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.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced a new national policing unit to tackle violent disorder as he vows to “put a stop” to unrest on British streets led by far-right “thugs”. But will it be enough to prevent a summer of riots? And is the unrest symptomatic of wider concerns? Lucy Fisher discusses these questions with colleagues Miranda Green, Camilla Cavendish and Anna Gross. Plus, after the chancellor Rachel Reeves accused the last Tory government of “lying” about its spending commitments, the group get to the bottom of the matter. They also examine Labour’s willingness to take on pensioners.

Follow Lucy on Twitter @LOS_Fisher, Miranda on @greenmiranda, Anna on @AnnaSophieGross and Camilla on @CamCavendish

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Keir Starmer announces new violent disorder unit as police brace for more riots

Police make arrests after riot in UK town where girls died in mass stabbing

Who is to blame for the UK government’s overspending?

Rachel Reeves says she will raise taxes at the Budget

The volatile far right on UK streets is becoming more difficult to label

To take part in an audience survey, and get the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, click here. Click here to find T&Cs for the prize draw.

Sign up for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: 

https://ft.com/insidepoliticsoffer

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Leah Quinn and Josh Gabert-Doyon. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity 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.

The chancellor Rachel Reeves is about to confront the British public with the size of the black hole in the country’s finances. A funding shortfall of about £20bn is likely to lead to tax rises at the Budget later this year. So — how to fix the problem? The FT’s political editor George Parker sits down with colleagues Stephen Bush and Robert Shrimsley to consider the government’s options. Plus, the FT’s infrastructure correspondent Gill Plimmer outlines the scale of the debacle that is the cancellation of the high-speed rail link between Birmingham and Manchester. 

Want more? Free links:

Rachel Reeves to pave way for UK Budget tax rises in ‘spending audit’

Expect a Tory leadership race mired in bitter and personal fights

Thames Water’s credit rating slashed to ‘junk’

Britons may need to be put off taking trains due to HS2 curtailment, watchdog says 

Follow George on X @GeorgeWParker, Stephen @stephenkb. Robert @robertshrimsley, Gill @gillplimmer1

Sign up for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: 

https://ft.com/insidepoliticsoffer

Presented by George Parker. Produced by Audrey Tinline.

The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s global 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.