Political Fix

The UK's Labour party has pulled off two stunning by-election victories. The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by colleagues Miranda Green, Jim Pickard and Stephen Bush to discuss whether Keir Starmer’s party is now on track for a 1997-style landslide, and what the Tories’ dismal results mean for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Plus, the group examines the PM’s tour of the Middle East as fears grow that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate. What are the repercussions for UK politics as the conflict deepens?

Clips: BBC

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Labour seizes Tamworth and Mid Beds from Conservatives in UK by-elections

Historic by-elections and the curious case of Tamworth

Labour’s twin victories suggest it may be too late to save Tory bacon

Keir Starmer faces growing mutiny from within Labour over Israel-Hamas stance 

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Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Audrey Tinline. 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.

Keir Starmer eschewed flashy policy vows at Labour’s annual conference, but did his promise of stability and certainty cut through? The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Stephen Bush and deputy political editor Jim Pickard to reflect on the opposition party’s gathering in Liverpool, where events were overshadowed by the Hamas attack on Israel. The FT’s chief foreign affairs columnist, Gideon Rachman, joins with his analysis of how the Israel-Hamas conflict could unfold and its repercussions for the UK and the wider world.

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‘Change is coming’: Labour bullish about return to power

A bitter blame game will follow Israel’s wartime unity

Labour cuts back £28bn green investment pledge again

Forget the glitter - Starmer offers hope as a mechanic, not a magician

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher

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. 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.

Rishi Sunak is pitching himself as the change candidate at the next election with a raft of policy shake-ups - but does the substance match the rhetoric? The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Robert Shrimsley and political editor George Parker to discuss what we learned from the Conservatives’ conference about the election campaign the party will run. The trio also look ahead to Labour’s gathering in Liverpool. Plus, the FT’s Jen Williams reviews whether voters in the north and Midlands feel the Tories have lived up to their 2019 pledge to “level up” the country.

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Can Rishi Sunak win the next election as the ‘change’ candidate?

The HS2 rail line: what has been cut and what will replace it?

Sunak’s strategy makes Starmer the real election issue

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. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

Follow Lucy on X @LOS_Fisher

Clip: BBC

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

As the Tories waver over major elements of HS2 and Labour is forced to clarify its policy on private schools, Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s Stephen Bush and Miranda Green to assess the political damage. And with the party conference season under way, the FT’s Anna Gross gives her impressions of her “weird” first visit to the Liberal Democrats’ gathering. Plus: what was Suella Braverman seeking to achieve this week with her most hard-nosed rhetoric to date on refugees?

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Liberal Democrats vow to knock down Tory ‘blue wall’ in the south of England

Why the Lib Dem’s Ed Davy doesn’t use the B-word

Greater Manchester mayor proposes compromise on HS2 rail line

Suella Braverman questions UN treaty’s definition of refugee persecution

Clips from BBC

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://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics 

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music by Breen Turner. Mix by Jake Fielding. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

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

Rishi Sunak sparked a fierce backlash from eco-minded Tories, as well as fury from industry, over his rowback on net zero policies. But will his gamble pay off with voters? Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s Robert Shrimsley and George Parker to discuss how it plays in electoral terms. The FT’s Jim Pickard meanwhile delves into the details of the impact on electric vehicles and the auto sector. Plus, the gang examines Keir Starmer’s major intervention on relations with the EU.

Follow Lucy on X, formerly Twitter : @LOS_Fisher

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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What Sunak’s net zero pivot means for UK climate goals and the next election

Carmakers in UK to face EV sales targets despite delay to petrol vehicle ban

Keir Starmer pledges to seek major rewrite of Brexit deal 

Clip from: BBC

Sign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics 

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

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

The Labour leader Keir Starmer is attempting to seize the initiative on dealing with clandestine immigration. Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s Stephen Bush and Miranda Green to examine his plan to strike a returns deal with the EU. Plus, political editor George Parker joins the pod to chew over his recent interview with Tony Blair, and the fallout from allegations of Chinese espionage in Westminster.

Follow Lucy on X, formerly Twitter: @LOS_Fisher

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Tories hit out at Labour plan for migration deal with the EU

Rishi Sunak launched China reset despite alleged spy arrest

Labour cannot fix UK through tax and spend, says Tony Blair

Sketchy Politics: Are all the pieces in place for Starmer?

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As hundreds of schoolchildren are forced out of their classrooms by unsafe buildings, the FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and columnist Stephen Bush to discuss the government’s handling of the crumbling concrete crisis. Plus, the FT’s William Wallis is in Birmingham to assess the damage to the city’s services as the country’s biggest local authority declares itself bankrupt, and Lucy, Stephen and Robert consider the winners and losers in Keir Starmer’s reshuffle.

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Rishi Sunak defends record over crumbling concrete in England’s schools

Sunak’s problem is that Britain has stopped listening to the Tories

Local government audit is a serious mess

Follow Lucy on X, formerly known as Twitter: @LOS_Fisher

Get the FT’s award-winning Inside Politics newsletter free for 90 days here 

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Audrey Tinline. 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.

FT Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher hosts a panel of Michael Gove, secretary of state for levelling up, FT deputy opinion editor Miranda Green and Stephen Bush, FT columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter. They discuss government policy on education, housing, the environment and next year’s electoral prospects. 

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Get the FT’s award-winning Inside Politics newsletter free for 90 days here 

Follow Lucy on X, formerly known as Twitter, @LOS_Fisher

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Executive producer, Manuela Saragosa. Sound design 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.

Rishi Sunak has prepared for the new political term with a mini-shuffle, promoting his closest political ally Claire Coutinho to energy secretary and Grant Shapps to defence secretary. What do the limited changes say about the PM’s grip on his party? The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Stephen Bush and political correspondent Anna Gross to analyse the shake-up. Plus, what, if anything, did James Cleverly’s visit to China achieve? And Lucy is also joined by the FT’s public policy editor Peter Foster to examine how the UK government is coping with post-Brexit rule changes.

Follow Lucy on Twitter: @LOS_Fisher

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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‘Safe pair of hands’ Grant Shapps appointed UK defence secretary

UK foreign secretary hits back at Tory critics of China policy 

UK government announces fifth delay to post-Brexit border controls on food

Clips from: BBC

Sign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/inside-politics 

Presented by Lucy Fisher. 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. 

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

It’s almost time to wave goodbye to the summer, but is Rishi Sunak also poised to bid farewell to some of his ministers? The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Stephen Bush and political editor George Parker to discuss a cabinet shake up. Plus, the FT’s US political correspondent Lauren Fedor beams in from Washington to analyse the status of Donald Trump’s political campaign and legal cases, considering the implications for the UK of the result of next year’s race for the White House. 

Follow Lucy on Twitter @LOS_Fisher

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Jeremy Hunt urged to cut UK taxes after better than expected borrowing data

The real problem of Rubbish Rishi

UK-India trade talks intensify in bid to remove ‘significant’ barriers

Republican candidates split over Donald Trump, abortion and Ukraine at debate

Sign up for 90 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 Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music by Breen Turner. Mix by Simon Panayi. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

Clips: BBC

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