Is Robert Jenrick a Serious Leadership Contender?

Conference season is over for another year and after a rousing speech from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to the party faithful, the Political Fix panel is asking: has she done enough to silence her critics and reverse the party’s slide into oblivion? And while recovering from a month on the road, your trusty Political Fixers mull over the performance of the other parties and what lies ahead as parliament reconvenes on Monday. Plus, more questions than answers about a Chinese spying case that collapsed before reaching court. Host George Parker, the FT’s political editor, is joined by UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley, Whitehall editor David Sheppard and deputy opinion editor Miranda Green. 

Follow George on X @GeorgeWParker or Bluesky: @georgewparker.bsky.social; David @oilsheppard.bsky.social; Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Miranda on X @greenmiranda

What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com  

Want more? Free links:    

The Conservatives’ long road back to credibility

Kemi Badenoch pledges to scrap stamp duty on property 

Robert Jenrick says UK ministers should have power to pick judges

The battle to dismantle Blair’s Britain

Spying case collapsed after UK refused to label China a ‘threat’, prosecutors say

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Presented by George Parker and produced by Clare Williamson with Lulu Smyth and Flo Phillips. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix Jean-Marc Eck. Original music by Breen Turner. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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