
Bloomberg UK Politics
Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker, Stephen Carroll, Yuan Potts and Lizzy Burden have your daily guide to British politics. We'll tell you what's happening and explain why it matters.
Latest episodes

May 9, 2025 • 13min
First Across The Line: Do Starmer's Trade Deals Reset The Narrative?
Crawford Falconer, the former UK's Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser, shares his insights on Keir Starmer's recent trade deals with India and the US. He discusses how these agreements steer the UK's post-Brexit narrative and their potential economic impacts. Falconer delves into tariff reductions in the auto sector and the intricacies of navigating future negotiations. The conversation also highlights the UK's revitalized role in global trade and its implications for relationships with the EU and China.

May 2, 2025 • 15min
Reform On The Rise: Keir Starmer's First Test
Nigel Farage's Reform UK has won a fifth seat in parliament after a dramatic by-election. We discuss this week's results, and what Reform's rise means for the UK's political map. Bloomberg Associate Editor Ailbhe Rea and our UK Political Editor Alex Wickham join us. Hosted by Yuan Potts and Caroline Hepker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 25, 2025 • 14min
Selling Stability: Reeves Seeks Friends in Washington
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been making the case for free trade in Washington at the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, using Britain's stability as a selling point. But Reeves also said Donald Trump has a point about the global trade system, as she meets key US officials. We discuss the Chancellor's trip and what it means for Britain's international relations with Bloomberg editorial board member Therese Raphael. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Lizzy Burden.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 17, 2025 • 14min
Education, Education, Politicization? The Outlook For UK Students
This week the annual meeting of the National Education Union attracted the ire of Reform's Nigel Farage and millions of parents found out where their children will attend primary school. We discuss the UK's educational landscape and the politics that shapes it with Dani Payne, senior researcher at the Social Market Foundation. Hosted by Yuan Potts and Caroline Hepker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 11, 2025 • 13min
Giving EU Another Chance? How Donald Trump Has Changed Post Brexit Calculations
The UK and European Union are optimistic about striking a deal to reset post-Brexit relations at a summit in May, as President Donald Trump’s tariffs and policy on the Russia-Ukraine war spur calls for greater cooperation and reduced trade barriers in Europe. Bloomberg's Ellen Milligan joins hosts Stephen Carroll and Yuan Potts to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 4, 2025 • 13min
Turning off the Charm? Starmer Promises 'New Era' After Trump Tariffs
The UK is still hoping to negotiate a deal with the United States, after Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on British goods. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the decision was 'disappointing', and Keir Starmer promised to focus on the UK's interests in a 'new era' for global trade. We discuss the government's options with our politics and economics reporter Lucy White. Hosted by Lizzy Burden and Stephen Carroll.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 28, 2025 • 13min
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Reeves' Delicate Dance
With mixed reactions to this week's Spring Statement, US tariffs and motley economic data for the UK, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces uncertain times. We ask Bloomberg opinion columnist Rosa Prince what's next for the government as they aim to take control of the narrative. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 27, 2025 • 14min
In The City: Rachel Reeves Calms Some Nerves
In The City: UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has delivered her Spring Statement, and Bloomberg Chief UK Economist Dan Hanson and senior reporter Phil Aldrick join host Allegra Stratton to share their assessment. Aldrick posits that it wasn't "quite the horror show that some people were fearing" because restoring Britain's fiscal headroom didn't require severe public service and welfare cuts. But Hanson notes that even so, she's left herself little room to manoeuvre for the unexpected. For more episodes like this get the In The City podcast, available on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 26, 2025 • 14min
Growth Halved: Rachel Reeves' Mixed Economic Bag
The government's budget watchdog now expects the economy to grow by just 1% this year, compared with its previous forecast of 2%. The Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the downgrade in her Spring Statement, along with sweeping spending cuts to restore her fiscal headroom. We discuss the announcements, and the market reaction with our Markets Today editor David Goodman. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Caroline Hepker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 21, 2025 • 14min
Spring Statement Countdown: What To Expect From Rachel Reeves
New figures show the Chancellor is set to overshoot her borrowing forecasts by £20 billion for this financial year. The ONS data highlights the fragile state of the country's public finances ahead of the Spring Statement on Wednesday. We assess the political and economic challenges Rachel Reeves faces with our UK government reporter Joe Mayes and our Chief UK Economist Dan Hanson. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Lizzy Burden.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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