The Flint Podcast

The political and constitutional noise in Scotland is dialling up – legal disputes, shifting political polls and fragile, but competing economic plans between Westminster and Holyrood, are all set to trigger yet more uncertainty around one of the biggest political issues facing the UK.

Following the SNP’s annual conference over the weekend, attention this week will turn to the Supreme Court in London, as the Justices consider whether it is lawful for the Scottish Government to hold a second independence referendum. At the same time, the Scottish Government is set to issue fresh proposals on its economic plans for an independent Scotland. All of this comes against the backdrop in recent polls of Conservative weakness and a potential resurgence of Labour in Scotland.

In this episode, our experts examine the latest developments, consider the future of the Union and the response from Westminster, and discuss what this all means for the business community. Flint Specialist Partner Philip Rycroft (lead official on devolution and constitution issues in the UK government 2012 - 2019) chairs a discussion and provides his perspective on the latest developments, alongside 56˚ North Partners Fiona Stanton (former senior Scottish Labour director) and Anthony Thompson (Scottish public affairs specialist and led FTSE-100 handling of 2014 Scottish referendum). 

China’s Party Congress – the most significant event in China’s 5-year political cycle – begins in Beijing on 16 October. The headlines are all about the expected third term for President Xi, but beyond decisions on the Party leadership, the Congress will offer a crucial window into Chinese government policy priorities for the five years ahead. In this Flint briefing call, we will consider likely outcomes of the Congress, analyse the political and economic situation, consider where China is heading on the big issues such as zero covid, Taiwan and relations with the West, and reflect on what this will mean for business and investors.  

In this episode, Sir Simon Fraser chairs a discussion with our guest speaker, Professor Rana Mitter, a well-known academic and historian of China, along with Flint partner Alex White (former Chief Political Analyst at JP Morgan and China watcher) and Flint director 

The conflict in Ukraine is becoming a war of attrition with no sign of an early settlement. How prepared are we for the consequences of a protracted conflict? The coming months will test Western resolve at home and abroad. Sanctions are starting to bite not just on Russia but on European economies and societies already facing daunting challenges. Many countries in Africa and the Middle East face destabilising food insecurity and even famine. Further afield, other countries see this as a European conflict and do not want to take sides. At the end of June, NATO leaders will meet in Madrid, while the BRICS will hold their own virtual summit. All this adds up to greater volatility and uncertainty in the geopolitical environment in which businesses and investors operate.

In this episode, Flint Managing Partner Sir Simon Fraser (Head of the UK Foreign Office 2010-2015) discusses with Specialist Partner Sir Julian King (UK EU Commissioner 2016-19), Senior  Adviser,  Ian Wright (former Chief Executive of the Food & Drink Federation), and François-Joseph Schichan (Former French diplomat) the latest developments in Ukraine, what to expect from the high-level summits at the end of June (NATO, G7, EU and BRICS) and the issue of food security and its economic and political implications. 

France has chosen its next President. The race between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen was tighter than in 2017 in a campaign disrupted by the war in Ukraine and its economic consequences, in which the traditional parties have been annihilated. This polarising election will have implications for France’s domestic policies, the future direction of travel of the EU and France’s position in an uncertain geopolitical context. It will also affect the environment in which businesses operate in Europe.

In this episode Simon Fraser (Head of the UK Foreign Office 2010-2015), chairs a discussion with Sir Julian King (UK EU Commissioner 2016-19 and former UK Ambassador to France), Philip Cordery (former French MP), and François-Joseph Schichan (former French diplomat and head of the political section at the French Embassy, London) on the consequences of the French presidential election.  

After more than a month, has the Russian invasion reached a turning point? Russian ministers have promised to curtail the assault on Kyiv, but have focused attacks on eastern Ukraine and declined to ease the humanitarian crisis in Mariupol. Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine seem to have made some progress, but Western governments remain deeply sceptical about Putin’s intentions.  

This episode examines where things stand and how the next phase of the war could play out. The discussion is chaired by Sir Simon Fraser (Head of the UK Foreign Office 2010-2015), with Specialist Partner Sir Julian King (UK EU Commissioner 2016-19), Sam Lowe (Flint Director and trade specialist), and François-Joseph Schichan (Former French diplomat and head of the political section at the French Embassy, London). 

The discussion focuses in particular on how recent developments affect the possible outcomes of the war and on the implementation and effects of the sanctions regime.

On Wednesday 23 March the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, will deliver his Spring Statement. The crisis in Ukraine is combining with existing economic pressures to deliver what looks set to be the biggest hit to living standards in the UK in half a century. The Chancellor is under huge pressure to deliver a package that supports households and businesses – and limits the political fallout for the government.

In the aftermath of the Statement,  our experts analyse the Chancellor’s statement, talk through its political and economic implications, and consider what this all means to the business community.

Flint Partner Kiran Horwich chairs a discussion between Partner Tim Pitt (former Special Adviser to Chancellors Sajid Javid and Philip Hammond) and Specialist Partner Giles Wilkes<

The Russian attack on Ukraine grinds slowly on, with few military gains but growing humanitarian consequences. As sanctions ramp up, there has been more focus this week on limited negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, while top US and Chinese diplomats met in Rome and an extraordinary NATO summit is planned for next week. 

In this Episode, Flint Managing Partner Sir Simon Fraser (Head of the UK Foreign Office 2010-2015), chairs a discussion between Flint Specialist Partner, Sir Julian King (UK EU Commissioner 2016-19), Katie Whitting (Former Australian diplomat, expert on China and national security), and François-Joseph Schichan (Former French diplomat and head of the political section, French Embassy, London). 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, with serious humanitarian and political consequences. Two big themes this week have been the impact on energy supply and prices and the growing refugee crisis. Flint continues to follow military, political, diplomatic and economic events closely.  

In this Episode, Flint Managing Partner Sir Simon Fraser (Head of the UK Foreign Office 2010-2015), chairs a discussion between Flint Specialist Partner, Sir Julian King (UK EU Commissioner 2016-19),  Giles Wilkes (former economic and Industrial Strategy adviser to Theresa May), and Flint Senior Adviser Thomas Matussek (Former German Ambassador to the UK and UN). 

In addition to our review and analysis of latest events, this discussion will focus on the emerging implications for the UK economy and Germany’s extraordinary response to the crisis. 

A week into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is now clear that the crisis will have long-lasting implications for businesses in many sectors, in addition to its severe human costs and political consequences. 

President Putin seems set to double down on his military action in the face of resistance. In response, Western governments’ positions towards Russia will continue to harden, making it essential now to consider both the short and long-term consequences of sanctions, retaliatory actions and the new division of Europe. 

In this Episode, Flint Managing Partner Sir Simon Fraser (Head of the UK Foreign Office 2010-2015), chairs a discussion between Flint Specialist Partner, Sir Julian King (UK EU Commissioner 2016-19),  Josh Buckland (former energy adviser to the Business Secretary)  and Sam Lowe (Flint Director and Trade specialist).