Political Fix

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 most vulnerable cope with rising energy costs in the autumn. Rishi Sunak is promising direct help, while Liz Truss has criticised what she calls “handouts”, favouring tax cuts instead. But in the face of dire warnings that energy bills could reach more than £4,000 a year, is Truss softening her stance?

The FT’s political editor George Parker is joined by economics editor Chris Giles and political correspondent Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe. The producer was Philippa Goodrich and the sound engineers were Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth.

Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk

Follow @SebastianEPayne

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

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 proliferation of new ideas, and delve into why Rishi Sunak is struggling to present himself as the grown-up. Will the delay to voting help him gain ground?

Presented by political editor George Parker, with Robert Shrimsley, chief political commentator, and political correspondent Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe. 

Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth

-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk

-Follow @Seb Payne

-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters

Audio: BBC / Sky

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

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 clashes on China and taxes, and ask whether the race is all but over. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with political editor George Parker, chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and political correspondent Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe.

Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth

-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk

-Follow @Seb Payne

-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters

Audio: BBC / Talk TV

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

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 party membership over the next six weeks?

Political editor George Parker and associate editor Stephen Bush analyse Rishi Sunak while economic editor Chris Giles and special guest Katy Balls, deputy political editor of the Spectator, look at Liz Truss.

Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth

-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk

-Follow @Seb Payne

-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters

Audio: BBC / ITV / C4

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

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 is in pole position, and the surprise surge of Penny Mordaunt. Plus, chief political correspondent Jim Pickard and columnist Camilla Cavendish will look at the three other remaining candidates, Liz Truss, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat. 

Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Edwin Lane and Jan Sigsworth

-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk

-Follow @Seb Payne

-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters

Audio: BBC / LBC

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

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 dramatic Cabinet resignations and the moments the prime minister knew the game was finally over.

And we’ll be looking at another Conservative party leadership contest, the candidates already out of the blocks and how the process is going to work.

On the panel: political editor George Parker, chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and special guest Hannah White from the Institute for Government think-tank.

Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth

-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk

-Follow @Seb Payne

-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters

Audio: BBC / Sky / ITV

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

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 whether the next general election will decide the future of the United Kingdom. 

Presented by Sebastian Payne, with political editor George Parker, political correspondent Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe, UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and Scotland correspondent Lukanyo Mnyanda. 

Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth

-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk

-Follow @Seb Payne

-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters

Audio: BBC

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

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

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 Dowden — with political editor George Parker and UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley. Sebastian is also joined by economics correspondent Delphine Strauss and transport correspondent Philip Georgiadis to talk about the UK rail strikes and what deals ministers might make on public sector pay. 

Want more?

For the latest from the FT on UK politics: 

https://www.ft.com/world/uk/politics

Follow @SebastianEPayne @GeorgeWParker and @RobertShrimsley

Clips: BBC / Sky News

Presented by Sebastian Payne. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Philippa Goodrich. The sound engineers are Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth. 

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

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 of Lord Christopher Geidt, the prime minister’s independent adviser on ministerial ethics. Why did he quit after a turbulent year? Chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley will chat through with special guest Hannah White from the Institute for Government think-tank.

Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth

-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk

-Follow @Seb Payne

-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters

Audio: BBC / Sky News

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