Political Fix Farage, flags and the ghosts of Labour’s past
Aug 29, 2025
Joining host George Parker are Robert Shrimsley, the FT’s chief political commentator, and Stephen Bush, FT columnist and Inside Politics author. They delve into Sir Keir Starmer's leadership shake-up and its potential impact as conference season looms. The discussion touches on Tony Blair's surprise role in the U.S., the looming influence of Nigel Farage on the UK’s immigration narrative, and the implications of recent political moves at Number 10. The landscape of Labour's comeback strategy and Farage's political tactics are critically assessed.
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Immigration Is Now A Mainstream Battleground
- Nigel Farage and immigration have moved the subject from the fringe to the mainstream and demand policy answers, not just denunciations.
- Robert Shrimsley argues Labour must offer credible operational fixes (deportations, asylum hotels) to blunt Farage's appeal.
ECHR Debate Masks Practical Barriers
- Former Home Secretary Jack Straw and others argue the ECHR limits deportations and should be decoupled or suspended.
- FT guests note government figures are sceptical and identify domestic tribunals and return agreements as bigger practical obstacles.
On The Bus To Farage's Policy Launch
- Anna Gross travelled on a Reform UK bus to the launch where Farage unveiled a sweeping deportation plan.
- She reports the policy promised vast round-ups, indefinite holding in military sites, and payments to countries to take people back.
