Mandarin mayhem
Political Fix13 Helmi

Mandarin mayhem

After another torrid week for the prime minister, the focus has shifted from No 10 to Whitehall as the UK’s top civil servant is shown the door. Cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald had been in the job for less than 14 months, and his departure — following the resignations of Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff and communications director — has intensified questions about the PM’s judgment over key appointments.


While Starmer’s cabinet appears to have rallied behind him in the short term, the impending release of further documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s time as UK ambassador to the US looms large.


Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter Stephen Bush and public policy editor Chris Smyth.


Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher and @lucyfisher.ft.com; Stephen @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; & Chris @Smyth_Chris and @chris-smyth.bsky.social


Want more?

Keir Starmer faces backlash over ousting of Britain’s top civil servant

Political crises lead to ‘perma-purdah’ in Whitehall

Westminster fears release of ‘embarrassing’ exchanges in Mandelson data dump

Keir Starmer’s route to recovery

The Labour Party has become devoid of purpose


Sign up here for Stephen’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 is presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity. Original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.


Our email address is politicalfix@ft.com


Clip from Channel 4 News


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Jaksot(582)

The right to die: who should have the final say?

The right to die: who should have the final say?

The bitter and emotional wrangling over the assisted dying bill reached new heights in parliament this week, following proposed changes to a key safeguard. Is it a sensible efficiency to remove the ne...

14 Helmi 202536min

Trump and Reform: Is US-style populism set to sweep the UK?

Trump and Reform: Is US-style populism set to sweep the UK?

Donald Trump has stunned the world with a raft of extraordinary interventions this week, prompting Keir Starmer to keep his head down. But what happens when it’s Britain’s turn in the new US administr...

7 Helmi 202543min

Growth – and damn the consequences?

Growth – and damn the consequences?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has sought to place rocket-boosters under the UK economy this week – with a vow to prioritise growth over the environment or nimbyism. But how long will her plan take to work,...

31 Tammi 202539min

Trump turbulence: How should Labour play it?

Trump turbulence: How should Labour play it?

Donald Trump returned to the White House this week, with a host of radical plans that threaten to heavily affect the UK – spanning tariffs, the Ukraine war, energy and climate policy. How should the B...

24 Tammi 202538min

Reeves vs the markets

Reeves vs the markets

Turmoil in the bond markets has caused turbulence for Rachel Reeves this month, with grumbles about her performance – and that of the UK economy – growing louder. This week, Political Fix asks who’s i...

17 Tammi 202543min

Musk and the new political playbook

Musk and the new political playbook

Elon Musk’s hostility towards the UK government, and Sir Keir Starmer in particular, continues to escalate – prompting concerns he’s been radicalised by his own algorithm. What’s driving the technolog...

10 Tammi 202542min

2025: Labour’s year of pain?

2025: Labour’s year of pain?

After a rocky start in office for Labour, the next 12 months will prove pivotal for the UK government. Sir Keir Starmer must grapple with dismal popularity ratings, tough public finances, anaemic grow...

3 Tammi 202544min

Quizmas special: Political Fix’s nerd out!

Quizmas special: Political Fix’s nerd out!

Who threatened to launch an aquatic assault on the Dutch town of Leiden? And which political candidate pledged to force water bosses to take a dip in British rivers? Find out as host Lucy Fisher puts ...

19 Joulu 202440min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

uutiscast
aikalisa
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
politiikan-puskaradio
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
rss-podme-livebox
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
otetaan-yhdet
rss-asiastudio
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka
aihe
rikosmyytit
the-ulkopolitist
rss-aijat-hopottaa-podcast
rss-sinivalkoinen-islam
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset