Political Fix

With just one week to go before voters across the UK deliver their verdict on Sir Keir Starmer’s government – our panel discusses another agonising week for the PM, Labour’s forecast devastation at the polls, and how No 10 can regroup in the aftermath. 

Other talking points include the momentum behind Reform UK and the Green party — and the hurdles that threaten to trip them up.

Host Lucy Fisher is joined by deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and political columnist Stephen Bush. 

Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Stephen @stephenkb & @stephenkb.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmiranda & @greenmirandahere.bsky.social and Robert @robertshrimsley and @robertshrimsley.bsky.social

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What to expect in the May local elections

What Labour’s likely meltdown means for the UK

The problematic inevitability of Andy Burnham

Reform UK and Greens hit controversy on election trail 

Golders Green stabbing suspect was previously referred to Prevent 

Plus, send in your questions for a special Political Fix Q&A episode right after the local elections, on Monday May 11. Email: [email protected]

You can also 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 is presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Mixing 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 economist John Kenneth Galbraith once quipped that “there can be few fields of human endeavour in which history counts for so little as in the world of finance.” This show sets out to prove the opposite. Each week, FT columnist Gillian Tett and FT Alphaville editor Robin Wigglesworth dig into the ideas, personalities and institutions that have shaped global finance. 

From unregulated banking in 19th-century frontier America to institutionalised debt jubilees in ancient Mesopotamia, and from the birth of credit derivatives to the great market meltdowns of the past, Robin and Gillian uncover the story of money because time and again, the same manias and mistakes resurface. Tune in and you might just understand where the next financial opportunities and disasters could be hiding. 

Subscribe to The Story of Money wherever you get your podcasts and watch the show on YouTube. 

Learn more about the show at ft.com/tsom and find out more about Gillian Tett here and Robin Wigglesworth here. 

Follow FT Alphaville here. 

Hosts: Gillian Tett and Robin Wigglesworth 

Producer: Lulu Smyth 

Senior Producer: Michela Tindera 

Executive Producers: Flo Phillips and Manuela Saragosa 

Original music and sound engineering: Breen Turner 

Podcast Development: Laura Clarke 

Global Head of Audio: Cheryl Brumley

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

The rolling drama over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador is eating the government alive, with more committee hearings coming next week and crucial elections for Labour on May 7. This week’s host Miranda Green discusses the cost of the Mandelson saga for Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership with deputy political editor Jim Pickard, political correspondent Anna Gross and public policy editor Chris Smyth. Plus, the panel debates Ed Miliband’s electricity announcement, Reform’s new plan for mass deportations, and a booming but dysfunctional market in business courses. 

Follow: Miranda:@greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; Jim: @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.social, Anna: @AnnaSophieGross and annasophiegross.bsky.social Chris: @Smyth_Chris and @chris-smyth.bsky.social

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Cabinet Office head says Olly Robbins refused to give her Mandelson vetting documents

Starmer’s political woes deepen as Mandelson scandal saps his authority 

Sadiq Khan: Labour risks being ‘stonked’ in London elections

Business degrees are booming in the UK. Who is profiting?

How many people would Reform UK deport?

Economic pessimism plagues UK youth

Ed Miliband unveils move to delink UK gas and electricity prices 

Plus, send in your questions for a special Political Fix Q&A episode right after the local elections on Monday May 11. Email: political[email protected]

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 is presented by Miranda Green and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producers are Manuela Saragosa and Edwin Lane. Mixing 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.

It’s not just the Trump administration attacking the UK’s defence capabilities. Now a Labour grandee and former head of Nato, Lord George Robertson, has accused Sir Keir Starmer of ‘corrosive complacency’ over delays to defence spending. 

With the 10-year plan for defence stuck in deadlock, host Lucy Fisher discusses the choices faced by the PM with chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley, deputy political editor Jim Pickard and political columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter, Stephen Bush. 

Plus, they look ahead to country-wide elections in less than three weeks and hear about the developing story around the vetting of Lord Mandelson.

NOTE: This episode was recorded on Thursday April 16.

Follow Lucy: @LOS_Fisher and @lucyfisher.ft.com; Stephen: @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; Jim: @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.social and Robert: @robertshrimsley and @robertshrimsley.bsky.social

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Starmer accused of ‘corrosive complacency’ on UK defence by former Nato chief

UK defence ministry left to foot £200mn bill for Ukraine mission

Rebuke by former Nato chief points to wider government inaction

Keir Starmer plans May relaunch with King’s Speech 

The great independence charade

Foreign Office top civil servant forced out over Mandelson vetting fiasco

No scenario in latest Mandelson drama makes Keir Starmer look good

Sign up here for Stephen’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.

Plus, send in your questions for a special Political Fix Q&A episode on May 11th. Email: political[email protected]

Political Fix is presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producers are Manuela Saragosa and Edwin Lane. 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.

Sir Keir Starmer had promised 2026 would be the year the UK economy and household finances would finally “turn the corner”. But the Iran war has nixed those hopes. Now the pressure from unions to increase public sector pay is mounting, and resident doctors are continuing their rolling strikes. Student finance remains another open sore despite the announcement of a cap on loan interest rates. To discuss the pressures on the public purse, host Lucy Fisher is joined by political editor George Parker, columnist Stephen Bush and public policy editor Chris Smyth. Plus, with local elections just weeks away, the panel also discusses the prime minister’s trip to the Middle East.  

Follow: Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com; George @GeorgeWParker and @georgewparker.bsky.social; Stephen @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social and Chris @Smyth_Chris and @chris-smyth.bsky.social

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Starmer leans into his Iran response to resonate with voters

Unions prepare for UK public sector pay push as inflation bites 

UK health officials discuss banning doctors from going on strike

What happens when the Green Party governs?

Capping student loan interest rates is a step in the right direction

NHS data chief pushes for deeper rollout of Palantir technology despite outcry

Can the Iran war save Keir Starmer’s premiership?

UK exposes covert Russian submarine operation

The political power struggle behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Have a question for the panel? We’re planning a question-and-answer episode. Email your questions to political[email protected]

Sign up here for Stephen’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 is presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity. 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.

Donald Trump has heaped insults on Sir Keir Starmer in recent weeks over his stance on the Iran war. The US president labelled the UK prime minister “no Winston Churchill”, said Britain’s aircraft carriers were mere “toys” and told Britain to “go get your own oil” from the Gulf. So perhaps it’s unsurprising that the PM appears to be pivoting heavily towards the EU. Host Lucy Fisher unpicks the shift with colleagues Jim Pickard, Anna Gross and Robert Shrimsley. They also discuss how the Middle East conflict will play out in the upcoming local elections.

Have a question for the panel? We’re planning a question and answer episode. Email your questions to political[email protected]

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com; Robert: @robertshrimsley and @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Jim @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.social and Anna @AnnaSophieGross & @annasophiegross.bsky.social

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Keir Starmer signals major UK pivot towards EU after Donald Trump’s taunts

Lessons from history on how to survive a fuel crisis

Cracks appear in US-UK security co-operation after Trump-Starmer tensions

Starmer strikes upbeat note amid dismal polling ahead of May 7 local elections

Political drama reaches heart of UK’s nuclear deterrent

Hammering Farage-Trump links could suppress Reform’s poll lead

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.

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music by Breen Turner, mix by Sean McGarrity. The broadcast engineers were Andrew Giorgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. Cheryl Brumley 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.

Sir Keir Starmer’s authority is slipping and Westminster is alive with speculation about potential successors. But chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley joins host Lucy Fisher, alongside deputy opinion editor Miranda Green and public policy editor Chris Smyth, to argue why he believes Labour may be better off sticking with Starmer. The panel also discuss the government’s plans to ban political donations in cryptocurrency and cap overseas donations at £100,000 a year. What does it mean for Reform UK, which has been a major beneficiary of overseas donors and crypto donations? 

Have a question for the panel? We’re planning a question and answer episode. Email your questions to [email protected]

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com; Robert: @robertshrimsley and @robertshrimsley.bsky.social;

Miranda @greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; & Chris @Smyth_Chris and @chris-smyth.bsky.social

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The case for keeping Keir Starmer a little longer

Starmer set to make Sadiq Khan a Lord 

Overseas donations to UK parties to be capped at £100,000 

Companies face having to declare individuals behind UK political donations 

Net zero is not a zero-sum game 

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.

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Nisha Patel. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineer was Bianca Wakeman and Petros Gioumpasis. Cheryl Brumley 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.

Introducing Opus Dei, a new season of Untold from the Financial Times. Host Antonia Cundy uncovers the cultural and political influence of a controversial Catholic organisation in America. Opus Dei exists to help people get closer to God, but some members say they found other agendas – and unexpected harm – entangled in that spiritual mission. The first episode of Untold: Opus Dei launches March 25. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

Angela Rayner heaped scorn on Sir Keir Starmer’s administration this week, fuelling fresh scrutiny of her ambitions. Does she want to return to cabinet or seize the reins? The former deputy prime minister issued a stark warning that the government is running out of time to change direction under Starmer, while also attempting to court the City. At the same time, the Greens continue to beat Labour in the polls with an unabashedly socialist platform.

Does all this signal the government will shift left?

Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s political editor George Parker, political correspondent Anna Gross, and Inside Politics columnist Stephen Bush to unpack what it all means. Plus FT US national editor Ed Luce shares insights on how he caught up with Donald Trump on his mobile this week.

Follow: Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com George: @GeorgeWParker and @georgewparker.bsky.social; Stephen: @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social and Anna: @AnnaSophieGross and @annasophiegross.bsky.social

Want more? 

Is the Green Party too radical for Britain?

Labour’s leftward shift and the bond vigilante threat

British right must not allow prejudice to be masked as principle

Starmer calls on Badenoch to sack shadow minister over Muslim prayer comments 

Donald Trump warns Nato faces ‘very bad future’ if allies fail to help US in Iran 

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.

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

Our email address is political[email protected]

Clip: BBC

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

It has been a week of red faces for party leaders. On Thursday, Keir Starmer apologised and took personal responsibility for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US – after a first round of document disclosures suggested the prime minister was largely absent from the decision-making process. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch were both busy executing awkward U-turns on their earlier vocal support for a US war on Iran that is proving distinctly unpopular with UK voters. 

Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s deputy political editor Jim Pickard, columnist and writer of the ‘Inside Politics’ newsletter Stephen Bush, and political editor George Parker to debate the twists and turns of the week in Westminster.

Clip from: The Mirror

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com; Jim: @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.social; Stephen: @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; and George: @GeorgeWParker and @georgewparker.bsky.social

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Mandelson papers: what do they show?

Pressure grows on Starmer over Mandelson due diligence

Embarrassing Iran U-turn for the right, but Keir Starmer’s problems are worse

The irrepressible Nigel Farage

Sign up to Stephen Bush's morning newsletter ‘Inside Politics’ for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek analysis. 

Get 30 days free at https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOffer

Political FIx is presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Laurence Knight. 

The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix by Breen Turner. 

The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. 

Our email address is political[email protected]

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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