Deals, donations and damage limitation
Political Fix5 Joulu 2025

Deals, donations and damage limitation


Sir Keir Starmer started the week with not one but two speeches defending his party’s Budget decisions in the wake of claims that chancellor Rachel Reeves had misled the public and fellow MPs about the state of the nation’s finances. Was his sell convincing? The prime minister also brought up Brexit, but as panellist Robert Shrimsley points out, Starmer was characteristically unclear as to whether the Labour party was ultimately leaning into or out of the EU.


Plus, host George Parker and the rest of the panel, Miranda Green and Jim Pickard, discuss the FT report that Nigel Farage told Reform UK donors he expects his party to do some sort of deal with the Tories in the run-up to the next general election — potentially helped by the single biggest donation any UK political party has had from a living donor.


Follow on Bluesky: George, Miranda, Jim, Robert


Want more? Free links:

Farage tells donors he expects Reform UK will do an election deal with the Tories

Head of UK fiscal watchdog quits after Budget leak

UK government orders review into rising diagnoses of mental health conditions

Janan Ganesh: The rise of unpopular populism

UK envoy to Moscow enters race to be next ambassador


Political Fix will go live next week on 10 December at 1.15pm. If you don’t want to wait for it to drop in this feed on Friday, register here.


Sign up to Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter. Get 30 days free at https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOffer. For details about the FT’s Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign, read more about it here or click here and to donate, click here.


Presented 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.


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


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(579)

Momentum for Brexit and fixing migration in the U.K.

Momentum for Brexit and fixing migration in the U.K.

With Martin Wolf, Janan Ganesh and Lisa Pollack from the Financial Times - plus Labour commentator Ayesha Hazarika. Presented by Sebastian Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...

4 Kesä 201623min

Immigration vs. economics

Immigration vs. economics

With Jim Pickard, Robert Shrimsley and John Burn-Murdoch from the Financial Times, plus Matt Singh from Number Crunch Politics. Presented by Sebastian Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

27 Touko 201626min

US election countdown: Emailgate returns, and Sanders continues to fight

US election countdown: Emailgate returns, and Sanders continues to fight

Will another report criticising Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server haunt her presidential campaign? Why is Bernie Sanders sticking out the rest of the Democratic race? The FT's Demetri Se...

26 Touko 201611min

The Queen's Speech and Borismania

The Queen's Speech and Borismania

With George Parker, Gideon Rachman, Henry Mance and James Blitz of the Financial Times. Presented by Sebastian Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 Touko 201624min

US election countdown: Can Donald Trump get the female vote?

US election countdown: Can Donald Trump get the female vote?

How will Donald Trump's treatment of women affect his race to the White House? Will the Republican establishment come around on their candidate now that he has agreed to joint fundraising efforts with...

19 Touko 201611min

Week two of the EU referendum campaign

Week two of the EU referendum campaign

With Sarah Gordon, Jonathan Ford and James Blitz from the Financial Times, plus political commentator Iain Martin. Presented by Sebastian Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

14 Touko 201623min

US election countdown: Trump and the GOP attempt to make nice

US election countdown: Trump and the GOP attempt to make nice

What will it take for House speaker Paul Ryan and the Republican establishment to fully endorse Donald Trump? How will Hillary Clinton tackle Mr Trump's wavering policies in the general election? The ...

12 Touko 201611min

2016 local and regional elections special

2016 local and regional elections special

With the FT's George Parker, Philip Stephens and Jim Pickard, plus Labour commentator John McTernan. Presented by Sebastian Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Touko 201626min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

uutiscast
aikalisa
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
politiikan-puskaradio
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
viisupodi
rss-podme-livebox
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
otetaan-yhdet
rss-asiastudio
linda-maria
the-ulkopolitist
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka
rss-girls-finish-f1rst
rikosmyytit
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
io-techin-tekniikkapodcast
rss-vain-talouselamaa