Mandelson mess and Middle East U-turns

It has been a week of red faces for party leaders. On Thursday, Keir Starmer apologised and took personal responsibility for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US – after a first round of document disclosures suggested the prime minister was largely absent from the decision-making process. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch were both busy executing awkward U-turns on their earlier vocal support for a US war on Iran that is proving distinctly unpopular with UK voters.

Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s deputy political editor Jim Pickard, columnist and writer of the ‘Inside Politics’ newsletter Stephen Bush, and political editor George Parker to debate the twists and turns of the week in Westminster.

Clip from: The Mirror

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com; Jim: @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.social; Stephen: @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; and George: @GeorgeWParker and @georgewparker.bsky.social

Want more?

Mandelson papers: what do they show?

Pressure grows on Starmer over Mandelson due diligence

Embarrassing Iran U-turn for the right, but Keir Starmer’s problems are worse

The irrepressible Nigel Farage

Sign 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 analysis.

Get 30 days free at https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOffer

Political FIx is presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Laurence Knight.

The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix by Breen Turner.

The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Our email address is politicalfix@ft.com

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(599)

Live special: Ten years after Brexit

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 hav...

25 Jun 57min

Can anyone challenge Andy Burnham for PM?

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 m...

23 Jun 35min

Exit Starmer, enter Burnham

With Andy Burnham sworn in as an MP and on track to become the UK’s seventh prime minister in 10 years after Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation today, host Lucy Fisher is joined by political editor George...

22 Jun 24min

Unseating Starmer: Burnham’s next move

Andy Burnham has stormed the Makerfield by-election, clearing the pathway for him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the top job in Downing Street. Starmer has vowed to defend his position, but will Bu...

19 Jun 40min

Makerfield or bust: Burnham goes for broke

With a week to go until Makerfield heads to the polls in what may turn out to be the most consequential by-election in British history, host Lucy Fisher, northern England correspondent Jen Williams an...

12 Jun 45min

The Nowak murder: when tragedy meets politics

What began as a local tragedy in Southampton has quickly become a national flashpoint. Questions about policing and trust in UK institutions are dominating the debate, as party leaders compete to shap...

5 Jun 45min

Should Labour heed Tony Blair?

Tony Blair’s lengthy – and excoriating – 5,600-word essay on the future of the Labour Party and Britain has set Westminster alight this week. The former prime minister's critique has sparked a lively ...

29 Mai 38min

Game on: All eyes on Makerfield by-election

Andy Burnham running for the Makerfield by-election has become far more than a contest for a safe Labour seat. It is being seen as a proxy battle over Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour’s direction...

22 Mai 45min