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by Financial Times
The Financial Times takes you into the corridors of power to unwrap, analyse and debate British politics with a regular lineup of FT correspondents and informed commentators.
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Andy Burnham’s new cabinet is in place and he’s dropped a raft of policy announcements on the cost of living this week, filling in some of the gaps about the kind of administration he will lead. On the show, host Lucy Fisher and her FT colleagues Anna Gross, Jim Pickard and Stephen Bush step back to examine Burnham’s broader economic vision, beyond bus fares, energy bills and business rates. Plus, the panel assesses ‘Brand Burnham’ and assess whether his unorthodox comms style and blokeish social media persona can survive his elevation to Number 10 – or a new, more serious tone will be required.Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Stephen @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; Anna, @AnnaSophieGross and Jim: @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.socialWant more? Andy Burnham to cut business rates for pubs and clubsNorth Sea oil and gas industry looks for answers from new energy secretaryCan ‘Brand Burnham’ survive the move to Number 10?Andy Burnham’s high-risk start may help him get ahead of political painThames Water lenders to offer ‘golden share’ to UK government Andy Burnham backs away from costly increase to income tax allowanceBetting account in George Cottrell’s name received $9mn in crypto from unidentified sourcesYou can also sign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Clare Williamson. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Bianca Wakeman. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s all change at the top of Andy Burnham’s new Labour government and there have been some surprise appointments. The biggest of them was the elevation of the former defence minister John Healey to chancellor of the exchequer, but we also saw Ed Miliband given the foreign office brief and Wes Streeting move to defence. Meanwhile, many of Starmer’s former allies have been given the boot. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, the FT’s chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and north of England correspondent Jen Williams to discuss the new cabinet and dissect some of the policy moves announced so far, as well as those that are likely to come.Follow: Lucy: @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Miranda:@greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, Jen: @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social and Robert: @robertshrimsley and @robertshrimsley.bsky.socialWant more? Andy Burnham latest: Move to remove VAT on electricity bills sparks funding row as Cabinet meetsAndy Burnham becomes UK prime minister promising ‘unity and positivity’Six things we learnt from Andy Burnham’s choices for his top teamThe five fiscal challenges facing John HealeyContinuity and change in Andy Burnham’s new cabinetBurnham’s industrial revival will join up local needs and strengthsSign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Clare Williamson. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. Flo Phillips is the FT head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andy Burnham has been crowned Labour leader and will become PM on Monday. His first speech to the party faithful on Friday offered new clues about his plans for government, as speculation reaches fever pitch over his cabinet picks amid the FT’s scoop that the current home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is set to become Britain’s next chancellor. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues George Parker and Jim Pickard to parse his words and look ahead to his first days in power. They also assess Sir Keir Starmer's final week, including his valedictory Prime Minister's Questions, where tributes flowed in from across the aisle.Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Want more? Jonathan Reynolds set to oversee beefed-up business departmentAndy Burnham wants Britain to build council houses. Is there a catch?The union power struggle that could reshape Labour’s future fundingThe former Britpop stalwart at the heart of Burnham’s machineAndy Burnham plans blitz of policy announcements on entering Number 10Shabana Mahmood set to be named UK chancellor by Andy BurnhamInside the year-long plan to make Burnham Labour leaderSign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by
Is Nigel Farage regretting his move to trigger a by-election now that his main rival is the novelty candidate Count Binface? What do Reform’s supporters think, and has he blown his chances of broadening support for the party? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by political correspondent Anna Gross, columnist Stephen Bush and political reporter Rachel Rees to discuss the Reform leader’s gamble. Plus Andy Burnham wins overwhelming support to become the next Labour leader, while outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been talking up his legacy at the Nato summit in Turkey.Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Stephen @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social, Rachel @rachel-rees.bsky.social and Anna, @AnnaSophieGrossWant more? Labour MPs queue up to back Andy Burnham as next leaderLabour MPs push for permanent ban on crypto political donationsPolice launch probe into donations to Robert Jenrick’s Tory leadership campaign‘Nigel can fix it’ — what Clacton voters think of Farage’s gambitA timeline of Nigel Farage’s £5mn gift and his return to politicsNigel Farage ridiculed in parliament as ‘farce’ by-election gets go-aheadUS carries out second day of strikes against IranBritain’s power problemYou can also sign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Persis Love and Clare Williamson. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. Flo Phillips is the FT head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.
Has Nigel Farage played his trump card by announcing that he will resign as MP for Clacton and fight a by-election there, or will the move backfire? After mounting pressure over donations from wealthy backers, he insisted he has “done nothing wrong” and that he would fight “the establishment” to retake the seat for Reform UK. But it might not be the contest he anticipated. In this breaking news episode, deputy opinion editor Miranda Green is joined by chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and UK political editor George Parker to examine what the move means for Reform, the scrutiny of Farage’s finances and the future of his political career.Want more?As it happened: Nigel Farage quits as MP to force Clacton by-electionParliamentary watchdog urged to investigate Nigel Farage over benefits from fraudsterNigel Farage to make statement on his ‘future in public life’Farage struggles to be ringmaster of his own circusSign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Presented by Miranda Green. Produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s global head of audio is Flo Phillips.Our email address is politicalfix@ft.comRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andy Burnham’s big idea for government is to shift power out of Westminster. In his first major speech setting out his plans for government, he outlined his vision this week for a No 10 North and to devolve a range of powers to mayors and councils. But how would his blueprint for devolution work – and is it actually popular with voters? Burnham believes it would answer the public’s call for greater control of public services, but sceptics worry about inefficiency, accountability and scrutiny. The likely incoming prime minister must also grapple with tough spending decisions, after Sir Keir Starmer finally set out his defence investment plan, leaving a £5bn black hole for Burnham to fill. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has been noticeably quieter than usual. Is this a deliberate strategic pause as he works out a shift in political priorities, or simply the calm before another high-profile campaign? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by political correspondent Anna Gross, deputy political editor Jim Pickard and chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley.Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Robert @robertshrimsley and Anna, @AnnaSophieGrossWant more? Five things we learnt from Andy Burnham’s speech Burnham’s Middle England challenge on devolution Britain’s case for meaningful devolution is overwhelming Britain’s defence investment predicament The strategic dilemmas behind Britain’s defence spending mess Nigel Farage’s pay from gold dealer doubles to £22,500 an hour Farage attempts to justify large donation from Christopher HarborneAndy Burnham and the politics of nostalgia Morgan McSw
Ten years ago, the UK voted in a referendum to leave the EU. Since that Brexit vote, the country has been through six prime ministers, the political landscape has splintered, relations with the EU have cooled, and the economy has spluttered. A decade on, host Lucy Fisher and panellists political editor George Parker, markets columnist Katie Martin, political columnist Stephen Bush and economics correspondent Delphine Strauss consider the impact of Brexit and whether a major shift in the UK’s relationship with the bloc is on the horizon. This is a recording of an FT Live subscribers’ webinar, recorded on Thursday June 25Want more? Lessons from Brexit for the world economyRejoining EU is ‘mirage’ but UK must get closer to bloc, says ministerIn charts: How Brexit still divides British votersBritain’s hunt for a post-Brexit economic modelAndy Burnham plans devolution blitz ahead of key City of London speech‘Big spending vibes, small spending commitments’: Andy Burnham’s tricky fiscal danceHow Brexit ghosts will stop the UK from quickly rejoining the EUFollow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Stephen @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social Katie Martin and Delphine StraussYou can also sign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Persis Love and Clare Williamson. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. The global head of audio is Flo Phillips.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.
Can any other Labour MP amass sufficient support to challenge Andy Burnham for the top job, or is his ascent to No 10 now all but assured? Just 24 hours after Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as prime minister, host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues Miranda Green, Robert Shrimsley and Chris Smyth to discuss the merits of a leadership contest over a coronation, who will win big roles in a Burnham cabinet and his early policy priorities. Plus the group considers the political ripples that a Burnham government will have on the other parties.Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Chris: @Smyth_Chris and @chris-smyth.bsky.social; Miranda:@greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.social and Robert: @robertshrimsley and @robertshrimsley.bsky.socialWant more? Labour MPs consider backing challenger to Andy BurnhamWaiting for Andy: what will a Burnham premiership mean?The 10 headaches Starmer is handing to BurnhamThe revolving door of Downing StreetWhy does Britain keep changing prime ministers?Labour’s Burnham sceptics don’t have the numbers to stop himJoin the Political Fix panel on Thursday June 25 for an FT Live event, ‘Ten years after Brexit: Can the UK deliver change?’ Register to take part at ft.com/anniversary and send us your questions. You can also sign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Persis Love and Clare Williamson. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. The global head of audio is Flo Phillips.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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