Political Fix

Join Jim Pickard, Deputy Political Editor at the Financial Times; Robert Shrimsley, UK chief political commentator; and Jennifer Williams, Northern England correspondent, as they unpack the week's political highlights. They'll discuss how falling inflation offers a reprieve for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Labour's struggles after a shocking by-election loss in Caerphilly, and chaotic failures within the Home Office. Plus, hear their take on fresh revelations regarding Prince Andrew's ties and the ongoing grooming gangs inquiry.

In this engaging discussion, Stephen Bush, a political columnist known for his insights on party politics, joins Miranda Green, a deputy opinion editor at the Financial Times, and Chris Giles, the FT's economics commentator. They tackle Chancellor Rachel Reeves' challenging Autumn Budget and the £22 billion shortfall. The trio explores blame for Britain's economic woes, the impact of Brexit, and the intersection of politics and economics amidst the China spy case. Insights on voter awareness and welfare spending add depth to their analysis.

Introducing Toxic Legacy, a new season of Untold from the Financial Times. Host Laura Hughes uncovers a lead poisoning epidemic across the UK. You might be living with lead and not know it: the toxin is often invisible to the human eye, but wreaks havoc on our bodies once we’re exposed. The first episode of Untold: Toxic Legacy launches October 22. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts.For information on how to live safely with lead, please visit the LEAPP Alliance website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joined by Robert Shrimsley, Chief political commentator at the Financial Times, David Sheppard, Whitehall editor, and Miranda Green, Deputy opinion editor, the panel dives into Kemi Badenoch's recent conference speech and its potential impact on party dynamics. They discuss whether her pledge to scrap stamp duty reflects strength or desperation and analyze the implications for competition with Labour and Reform UK. The conversation also touches on a collapsed spying case involving China, raising questions about governmental transparency and strategy.

Exploring humanity's ambitious goal of reaching Mars, the discussion delves into motivations for interplanetary settlement. Key players like the U.S., China, and Elon Musk are highlighted as they strive to make this a reality. The feasibility of long-term habitation on the red planet is examined, weighing its potential as a species-level aspiration. Incremental launch strategies are analyzed, showcasing how each mission builds towards a larger vision of sending families to Mars. The quest to become an interplanetary species is more thrilling than ever!

This week, the Political Fix team comes to you from Liverpool — with all the news from the annual Labour Party Conference. Sir Keir Starmer struck a patriotic tone to the Labour faithful, promising to fight Nigel Farage’s “politics of grievance” and build a renewed, healthy Britain “with the flag waving in our hands” — flags he was keen to reclaim from his opponents on the nationalist right.And that confident tone had also been struck by his chancellor, the day before. Rachel Reeves reaffirmed the need for economic responsibility and a willingness to take tough decisions, whilst taking pot-shots at the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, in the wake of his thinly veiled bid for the Labour leadership last week.The prime minister arrived in Liverpool with widespread discontent over his leadership, speculation that he could face a challenge and a calamitous -54 poll approval rating. So did Starmer do enough to salvage his floundering premiership? Host George Parker is joined by Jim Pickard, Anna Gross and Stephen Bush to unpack what the annual conference might mean for the future of the Labour party — and the nation. Follow George on Bluesky @georgewparker.bsky.social; Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social; Jim @pickardje.bsky.social and Anna on X @AnnaSophieGrossWhat did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com  Want more? Free links:     Starmer urges Labour to launch ‘patriotic’ fight against ReformRachel Reeves signals Budget tax rises, saying ‘world has changed’ Reeves will struggle to sell growth case to UK fiscal watchdog, economists warnLabour’s unpopularity problem ‘Lost the plot’: Tony Blair’s role prompts incredulity —– and some hopeSign up to Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free at https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOfferPresented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this discussion, guests Miranda Green, FT deputy opinion editor; Stephen Bush, FT politics columnist; and Jennifer Williams, FT northern correspondent, dissect Andy Burnham's recent media push for Labour leadership. They evaluate his bold economic proposals and what they mean for his political viability. The panel explores the potential impact of Burnham's ambitions on Sir Keir Starmer's position, as well as the significance of the upcoming party conference. Key themes include Burnham's balancing act and the future of the Northern Powerhouse.

Joining the discussion are Robert Shrimsley, an FT political commentator; David Sheppard, an energy policy expert; and Jim Pickard, a senior political correspondent. They dissect the spectacle of Trump’s state visit, questioning whether it represents true diplomacy or mere pageantry. The talk dives into the significance of the £150bn tech and energy deals, and Trump's provocative stances on migration, Ukraine, and the UK’s foreign policy. They also touch on the upcoming Liberal Democrat conference and its implications for the political landscape.

The podcast dives into the political chaos following Lord Mandelson's connections to Jeffrey Epstein, raising questions about accountability and leadership. Sir Keir Starmer faces scrutiny over his judgment as Labour MPs express doubts about his direction. The discussion also spotlights the upcoming deputy Labour leadership contest, with contenders Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell vying for the role. Additionally, it examines Kemi Badenoch's rising profile within the Conservative party and the shifting dynamics in UK politics.

US President Donald Trump is coming to the UK next week. What can we expect from his visit? And where do things stand between the US and the UK? In this special bonus episode, our two FT political chat shows, Political Fix and Swamp Notes, team up to unpack relations between the two longtime allies. Marc Filippino, host of the Swamp Notes podcast, and US managing editor Brooke Masters are joined by Political Fix’s George Parker and Lucy Fisher to discuss. This episode was recorded on September 6 in front of a live audience at the FT Weekend Festival in London. Listen to the Swamp Notes podcast on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts.Listen to the Political Fix podcast on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. The executive producer for Political Fix is Flo Phillips. This episode was mixed by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-heads of audio are Topher Forhecz and Manuela Saragosa. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.