The Flint Podcast

In this podcast, our experts take stock of Trump’s first month in office and discuss the implications for the US’s political, security and economic relationships around the world.

The Trump Administration has moved quickly, making a range of announcements about domestic policy, deregulation, tariffs, and foreign affairs. Even if this momentum slows, it is clear that the new Administration means change. For business, the most pressing issue is where Trump goes on tariffs. Beyond this, signalling on Ukraine, the Middle East, the transatlantic relationship, and China suggests the potential for significant shifts —with long-term implications for the operating context of most global businesses. 

Flint Partner Katie Whitting chairs the discussion with:

• Sam Lowe, Partner and head of Flint’s trade and market access practice
• James Crabtree, Flint Senior Adviser and former head of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Singapore office
• Francois-Joseph Schichan, Director and former French diplomat who specialises in European affairs.

Yesterday, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered the Budget along with a one-year Spending Review setting departmental plans for 2025-26.

In this podcast, our experts discuss the Budget and its implications in greater depth, what it means for Labour’s government programme and the political and economic impacts for the business community. 

Flint Partner Jon Sell hosts the discussion between: 

• Flint Specialist Partner and former Political Adviser and Media Spokesperson for Rachel Reeves as Shadow Chancellor, Heather Iqbal
• Flint Specialist Partner and former Special Adviser to Prime Minister Theresa May on economic and industrial policy, Giles Wilkes 
• Flint Specialist Partner and former executive at the UK’s Office for Budget Responsibility and senior Treasury official, Andy King.

In this podcast, our experts examine the successes and shortcomings of the Government to date, the style and dynamics of the top ministerial team and the potential impact of recent changes in No10. They also consider what Labour can do to regain momentum, including through Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first budget and the delivery of promised major policy strategies.        

Partner Kiran Horwich chairs the discussion with:  

• James Purnell, Flint CEO, a former advisor to Tony Blair and Cabinet minister under Gordon Brown. 
• Heather Iqbal, Specialist Partner, former political and communications adviser to Rachel Reeves.  
• Siôn Simon, Specialist Partner, former MEP, MP and minister in the last Labour government.

Almost exactly a year after the Hamas attack triggered the crisis in Gaza, Israel’s land incursion into Southern Lebanon on 30 September opened a new phase of conflict in the Middle East. Iran and Hezbollah have suffered major blows in the past few days, with Israel demonstrating the superiority of its military and intelligence services. It is unclear yet how Iran and its proxies will respond. International diplomacy urging restraint and a ceasefire has been fruitless. This situation creates new uncertainties for the region and globally, coinciding with the final stretch of the US presidential election campaign. 

Our Middle East experts consider what lies ahead and the implications for business of a potential further escalation of the conflict across the region.

Katie Whitting, Flint Partner and former Australian diplomat chairs the discussion between:

• Sir Simon Fraser, Flint Founding Partner, former head of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Simon previously served in the British embassies in Iraq and Syria
• Alistair Burt, Senior Adviser, former Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa (2017-2019), former Member of the UK Parliament 
• Matthew Lehrfeld, Senior Adviser, former US diplomat, previously posted in Iraq and Syria.

In our latest podcast, Flint experts review the Labour Party Conference, the Party’s first conference in power in 15 years.

Our experts examine the key announcements from the Prime Minister, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the wider Cabinet. We discuss Labour’s policy programme, its direction and strategy ahead of the Autumn Budget, and what all of this means for organisations and businesses in the UK.     

Partner Katie Waring chaired the discussion between:

• Siôn Simon, Specialist Partner, a former Labour MP, MEP, Metro Mayor candidate and minister in the last Labour government.  
• Sam White, Specialist Partner, former Chief of Staff to Keir Starmer and adviser to Alastair Darling as Chancellor.  

In this podcast, Flint experts explore the structure and policy direction of the new European Commission unveiled by President Ursula von der Leyen. 

Our experts discuss what the new allocation of portfolios reveals about the EU’s balance of power, internal dynamics and political priorities for the upcoming mandate, in the wake of Mario Draghi’s recently published report on the future of European Competitiveness. They will also explain what to expect from the Commissioner hearings in the European Parliament. 

Flint Partner Fiona Wright hosts the discussion between:

• Benoit Roussel, Brussels partner 
• Sir Julian King, Specialist Partner, former UK European Commissioner 
• David Wright, Senior Adviser, former Deputy DG at the European Commission 

The first half of 2024 has seen several major international elections. Outwardly, international politics after these elections looks reasonably unchanged. In addition, the situation in Ukraine has to some extent stabilised, there has been no major conflagration in the Middle East, and the temperature has been controlled between the US and China. But beneath the surface, a trend of political fragmentation and fragility has been an important emerging theme, and against this backcloth, the impending and dramatic US election now assumes even greater global importance.   

This pre-summer podcast takes stock of where things stand and looks ahead to the next six months. We unpack current and potential challenges to Western democratic governments and institutions – including the US, France, the EU and NATO – and examine prospects for China, Ukraine and the Middle East.

Flint Partner Katie Whitting chairs the discussion between:

• Sir Simon Fraser, Flint founder and Managing Partner and former head of the UK Foreign Office
• James Crabtree, Flint Specialist Adviser and expert on geopolitics
• Matthew Lehrfeld, Flint Specialist Adviser and former US Diplomat.

The second round of the French snap parliamentary elections took place over the weekend with surprising results. Over the coming days, the final count will probably raise more questions than answers. French politics will now likely change dramatically, with implications well beyond France’s borders.   

 In the Flint Briefing Call recording our experts will explore these implications and what they mean for businesses and investors. They will consider what government could emerge from the election and what it would mean for policymaking, economic policy and financial stability in France and in Europe. More widely, they will cover the impact of a weaker French leadership at European level and internationally.  

The discussion was chaired by Flint Director and former French diplomat Francois-Joseph Schichan, joined by Anne-Juliette Rohrbach, Partner and Managing Director of Flint France, Sir Julian King, former European Commissioner and UK Ambassador to France, and David Wright, Specialist Partner and former deputy director general of DG FISMA at the European Commission.  

We now know who will form the next UK government. Starmer will head into the weekend leading a Labour government with a sizable parliamentary majority. However, while the most likely outcome of the election has been predicted for some time, there will still be business-critical lessons to learn from the results and the approach, we can expect the incoming government to take.

In this Flint Podcast, our experts explore these questions and what they mean for businesses and investors. They consider the personnel of the new government as ministerial appointments begin, how Labour will prioritise and make decisions in its early days, and what in practice Labour policy and the ‘Mission Boards’ they want to establish to achieve it are likely to look like. Considering the longer term, they will also cover what impact backbenchers and the opposition parties will have over the Parliament, and how constraints in fiscal policy and the House of Lords will be managed. 

Next week a new Government is expected to form in the most significant change of political leadership since 2010. This will, of course, have major implications for any business or investor in markets where there is a government interest. For many, it will mean a need to build new relationships and shift messaging. For some, it will mean new risks to manage, or new opportunities to grab.   

Our political experts explore what clients need to be prepared for after election day. Focusing on the practical, covering the likely choreography of the formation of a new government and its early steps, what messaging will get the best reception, and how to ensure these cut through with new ministers swamped with requests. 

The discussion is chaired by Flint Partner, Katie Waring, former Special Adviser to the Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey, and joined by former Labour minister Siôn Simon, former Permanent Secretary, Dame Sue Owen, and former Chief of Staff to the First Minister of Scotland, Liz Lloyd.