Political Fix

Hotel quarantine will finally be introduced to the UK next week, but can the logistics work? Will it stop new variants of the virus spreading - and are enough countries going to be included? Plus, we discuss whether Sir Keir Starmer is stalling as Labour leader and whether he is critical enough of the government's coronavirus policies. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with Jim Pickard, Alice Hancock, Robert Shrimsley and special guest Sienna Rodgers, editor of LabourList. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer was Louise Burton and the editor Aimee Keane.

Review clips: BBC Radio 4, Parliament TV, PA Media, Novara Media

Further reading:

-UK Covid border measures under increasing strain ahead of rollout

-Travel bosses fear summer season at risk after UK warns on holidays

-Britain wakes up to the power of border controls

-Should Britons abandon hope of a summer holiday?

-Labour’s Starmer has no quick fix; Johnson stole his story

-Labour party looks to Biden for inspiration

-Labour attacks £1bn cuts to flagship green homes scheme

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This week the UK faced the prospect of the emergence of new coronavirus mutations while surging past 10m vaccinations. Will this progress speed up the relaxation of the lockdown? What timetable is the prime minister working to? Plus, we discuss how Brexit is affecting trade in Northern Ireland and whether the contentious trade protocol will be suspended or improved to ease tensions. Presented by Sebastian Payne. With Sarah Neville, Clive Cookson, George Parker and Peter Foster. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer was Breen Turner and the editor Liam Nolan.

Review clips: 10 Downing Street, Parliament TV, BBC Radio Ulster

Further reading:

UK coronavirus quarantine system to start on February 15

Treasury economists work on plan for phased lifting of Covid restrictions

Johnson remains cautious on easing England’s lockdown

Can the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol survive?

Brussels pushes back on UK bid to rewrite Northern Ireland protocol

Johnson threatens to use emergency powers to avoid barrier in Irish Sea

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Boris Johnson set out how England will exit its nationwide lockdown this week, with schools set to reopen in early March but shops and other businesses due to come later. We speak to Mark Harper, chair of the Covid Recovery Group, about what Tory MPs want to hear from the prime minister. Plus, we examine the Scottish National party's latest push for independence and whether their plan B will run foul of UK law. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with Mure Dickie and special guests Conservative MP Mark Harper and Nicola McEwan from Edinburgh University. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh da la Mare. The sound engineer was Breen Turner and the editor Cheryl Brumley.

Review clips: UK pool, Scottish government

Further reading:

A grim accounting of the UK’s virus mishandling

England lockdown starts to suppress Covid-19, study suggests

Schools in England to remain closed until at least early March

Tory activists hope for Covid ‘bounce’ if curbs are lifted

Independence vote ‘irrelevant’ to most Scots, says Johnson

The battle is under way to save the UK union

There is no cunning wheeze to stop Scottish independence

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Joe Biden was inaugurated as the new US president this week - what does it mean for UK-US relations? Can Boris Johnson forge a rapport with him on shared policy areas? Plus, we examine how the UK-EU Brexit trade deal has bedded in and whether the supply disruption in Northern Ireland will be permanent. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with George Parker, Gideon Rachman, Peter Foster and special guest Anna Jerzewska. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer was Breen Turner and the editor Liam Nolan.

Review clips: US Congress, Sky News, Times Radio, BBC

Further reading:

-EU hits back over UK downgrade of its ambassador’s status

-First fishermen and now musicians cry ‘betrayal’ over Brexit deal

-Labour party looks to Biden for inspiration

-Boris Johnson on back foot as UK tries to reset relationship with US

-Boris Johnson vows to business he will seize ‘opportunities of Brexit’

-Democratic Unionists are now Irish reunification’s secret weapon

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The UK's battle against the new strain of Covid-19 has had mixed results this week – deaths continued to be high while infections started to fall. Are enough people following the rules? And is the vaccine rollout going to plan? Plus, we discuss the government's plans to move 22,000 civil servants out of Whitehall and whether it will help the prime minister's "levelling up" agenda. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with Jim Pickard, Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe, Andy Bounds and special guest Jill Rutter of the Institute for Government. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer was Breen Turner and the editor Liam Nolan. Review clips: Downing Street, Parliament, BBC

Further reading:

-Covid infection trends in England put scientists at odds

-UK government pressed to extend free school meals scheme

-UK set to step up coronavirus vaccinations

-England’s Covid infection rates ease as restrictions are reinforced

-Pledge to level-up UK questioned after northern transport budget cuts

-‘Treasury North’ leads march of civil servants out of London

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UK prime minister Boris Johnson put England into its third lockdown this week, as the new strain of coronavirus risked the health service being overwhelmed. How long will it last and why does everything now rely on vaccine roll out? Plus, we discuss Mr Johnson's political struggles with the latest restrictions, the chaos around schools reopening and closing again and whether the local elections in May will become a Covid referendum. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with Sarah Neville, Clive Cookson, George Parker and Robert Shrimsley. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer was Breen Turner and editor Aimee Keane. Review clips: Downing Street, Parliament, Sky News.

Further reading:

-Covid reached UK in three waves from southern Europe, study shows

-MPs back England’s third coronavirus lockdown

-Rightwing sceptics helped deepen the UK’s Covid crisis

-Teacher assessments to replace GCSEs and A-levels in England

-Boris Johnson’s abrupt lockdown shift driven by bleak Covid data

-Read the latest on UK politics

-Follow @Seb Payne and @George Parker

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The UK has fully left the EU, ending 47 years of membership. In this Brexit special, we examine the last-minute trade deal that Prime Minister Boris Johnson brokered last week, the new checks and red tape that have been introduced, how Britain will use its regulatory freedoms and why the future of the United Kingdom will dominate politics in 2021. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with George Parker, Peter Foster and special guest Allie Renison of the Institute of Directors. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer was Breen Turner and the editor Aimee Keane. Review clips: Sky News, Parliament.

Further reading:

-How will Boris Johnson use Britain’s hard won ‘freedom’ from Brussels?

-UK and EU agree one-year grace period on rules of origin forms

-With Brexit ‘done’, Britain must rebuild trust in Europe

-Ministers fear port disruption in January as formal ties with EU end

-Exit from single market closes a chapter UK did so much to write

-Read the latest on UK politics

-Follow @Seb Payne and @George Parker

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Talks between the UK and the EU on a trade deal have reached their final days. Can a deal be agreed, or could an accidental no-deal still occur? Plus, we discuss the latest Covid-19 rules, progress on vaccine plans and whether the easing of restrictions during the Christmas period will lead to a third national lockdown in January. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with George Parker, Jim Brunsden, Sarah Neville and Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer was Breen Turner and the editor Liam Nolan. Review clips: BBC/news pool, European Parliament, UK Parliament, Downing Street, BBC Radio Manchester.

Further reading:

-Michel Barnier warns EU-UK trade deal talks have reached ‘moment of truth’

-Boris Johnson refuses to rule out third national lockdown in England

-Brexit stockpiling triggers cross-Channel freight crunch

-MPs prepare for pre-Christmas push to sign off Brexit trade deal

-UK draws up plans to rival Singapore with post-Brexit shipping regime

-Johnson defies calls to ‘cancel Christmas’, urging small gatherings

-UK government expands strictest Covid restrictions in England

-Read the latest on UK politics

-Follow @Seb Payne and @George Parker

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With negotiations on a Brexit trade deal between the UK and EU stalled again, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning of a no-deal outcome, can the process be salvaged? Plus, with the Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland resolved this week in a new protocol, has the threat of a new trade border in the Irish Sea really been removed? Presented by George Parker, with Jim Brunsden, Peter Foster, Sam Lowe of the Centre for European Reform and Jess Sergeant from the Institute for Government. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer was Breen Turner and the editor Liam Nolan. Review clips: Downing Street, European Union, Parliament.

And why not join us this Tuesday 15 December, 2020 at 15:00 GMT for an unmissable opportunity to quiz FT Journalists on the plans to prevent short-term Brexit-related chaos and economic disruption. Be part of an interactive discussion on how borders, customs, trade and travel will change in 2021. Find out how supply chains are being impacted and the effect of the negotiations on food, farming and fishing. Join the conversation on the likely effects of the new rules on UK business – from major corporations to SMEs. Register free today here

Further reading:

-Standing on the edge of the Brexit precipice

-Nine things you need to know about a no-deal Brexit

-Boris Johnson warns Britain to prepare for no-deal Brexit

-Brexit border plan leaves Northern Ireland business groups uneasy

-Read the latest on UK politics

-Follow @Seb Payne and @George Parker

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Britain became the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine this week. The first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab will arrive soon, but is the UK ready to distribute it? Which groups will get it first and what impact will it have on the Covid-19 restrictions? Plus, we speak to Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, about his plans to save the United Kingdom, how he intends to take on Nicola Sturgeon and whether he finds Boris Johnson embarrassing. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with Sarah Neville and Clive Cookson plus special guest Douglas Ross. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer was Breen Turner and the editor Aimee Keane. Review clips: Parliament, Downing Street, LBC 

Further reading:

-Vaccine approval brings a ray of economic hope

-UK set for Covid vaccinations ‘next week’ after regulatory approval

-UK regulator defends rapid approval of vaccine after Fauci criticism

-Sturgeon tells SNP conference Scots have right to determine their future

-Scottish Tory leader issues ‘wake-up call’ to Westminster over union

-France issues veto warning as Brexit trade deal talks drag on

-Read the latest on UK politics

-Follow @Seb Payne and @George Parker

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