Austerity redux? Spring Statement lookahead
Political Fix21 Maalis 2025

Austerity redux? Spring Statement lookahead

It’s crunch time for chancellor Rachel Reeves next Wednesday, when she will present her Spring Statement to parliament. Downgraded growth forecasts and deep spending cuts to unprotected departments loom. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by regulars Miranda Green, Jim Pickard, and the FT’s economics editor Sam Fleming to debate whether Labour is ushering in a new era of austerity. Plus, FT Brussels bureau chief Henry Foy joins the panel to discuss Europe’s mounting security crisis and how it’s affecting the UK’s reset with the EU.


Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher, Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social @PickardJE, Miranda Green @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, Henry Foy @HenryJFoy, @henryjfoy.ft.com, Sam Fleming @Sam1Fleming


Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at politicalfix@ft.com. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us.


Want more? Free links:


What will be in Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement?

Starmer is zigging where Blair zagged

EU to exclude US, UK and Turkey from €150bn rearmament fund

Europe is only half awake from its long sleep


Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award.


Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Jaksot(573)

Will Starmer’s new milestones become millstones?

Will Starmer’s new milestones become millstones?

Sir Keir Starmer unveiled six fresh pledges as part of a major government reset this week, which included diluting a green target and redefining his economic goals. It followed a tumultuous start to g...

5 Joulu 202438min

Assisted dying: The vote

Assisted dying: The vote

MPs will vote on assisted dying this week for the first time in almost a decade. There are ramifications for the NHS, questions over legal oversight, and ethical considerations that all feed into this...

28 Marras 202438min

Labour’s beef with farmers

Labour’s beef with farmers

After winning swaths of rural seats in the general election, Labour’s relationship with the countryside has nosedived, amid a row over the government’s plan to impose inheritance tax on some farms. Ho...

21 Marras 202436min

EU or US? UK plays piggy in the middle

EU or US? UK plays piggy in the middle

As Donald Trump makes his first appointments, speculation in Whitehall grows: will the UK move closer to the US or cosy back up with the EU?The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Geo...

15 Marras 202437min

The UK in Trump’s world

The UK in Trump’s world

Despite past criticism of Donald Trump, Sir Keir Starmer has sent ‘hearty’ praise to the president-elect for his victory this week. But what will transatlantic relations be like in 2025 and what does ...

8 Marras 202444min

Live Budget special: How will the UK secure growth?

Live Budget special: How will the UK secure growth?

It’s been two days since chancellor Rachel Reeves put a £40bn tax increase at the heart of a plan to fix the country’s “broken” finances and public services, and unveiled a sharp increase in borrowing...

1 Marras 202458min

New chancellor, new rules

New chancellor, new rules

Rachel Reeves has rewritten her fiscal rules on the eve of her seismic first Budget next week. She says her new borrowing rule will help get Britain building, but how will it go down with voters – and...

25 Loka 202437min

Cabinet fightback: the revolt over spending

Cabinet fightback: the revolt over spending

Rachel Reeves’s plans for a tough spending round later this month have sparked a fierce revolt among a raft of cabinet ministers. But will their protests make a difference? Host Lucy Fisher is joined ...

18 Loka 202437min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

aikalisa
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
politiikan-puskaradio
viisupodi
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
otetaan-yhdet
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
rss-asiastudio
rss-podme-livebox
the-ulkopolitist
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-tekkipodi
io-techin-tekniikkapodcast
rikosmyytit
rss-mina-ukkola
rss-fingo-podcast
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-kuka-mina-olen