Who’s afraid of Nigel Farage?
Political Fix30 Mai 2025

Who’s afraid of Nigel Farage?

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Reform party leader Nigel Farage clashed on economic issues this week. Farage said his party was the champion of the working class, while Starmer warned Farage’s proposed spending rises amounted to “fantasy promises”. Host George Parker is joined by the FT’s Stephen Bush, Chris Giles and Anna Gross to discuss Reform’s fiscal plans. Plus, Labour’s chancellor Rachel Reeves has plenty of fiscal problems of her own. The panel discusses whether or not her economic arithmetic is adding up.


Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social‬, @stephenkb; Chris @chrisgiles.ft.com‬, @ChrisGiles_; Anna @annasophiegross.bsky.social‬, @AnnaSophieGross


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


Want more? Free links:


Do Reform UK’s tax and spending plans add up?


British politics is choice between Labour and Reform, says Starmer


Will Rachel Reeves bend her fiscal rules to help balance the books?


IMF gives Rachel Reeves political cover to ‘refine’ UK fiscal rules


Clips from ITV News on YouTube; Reform UK on YouTube


Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of best newsletter at the Future of Media Awards, 2023 and 2024


Presented by George Parker, and produced by Ethan Plotkin. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Episoder(574)

What Keir Starmer did at Davos

What Keir Starmer did at Davos

Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves gave a pre-Davos interview to the FT before setting off to woo the global elite in Switzerland at the World Economic Forum in a remarkable turnroun...

21 Jan 202324min

A rumbustious start to 2023

A rumbustious start to 2023

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clash at PMQs as they set out their plans for a year that could shape the outcome of the general election. The prime minister faces industrial unrest, demands to solve the...

14 Jan 202326min

2022 year in review

2022 year in review

In our final episode of 2022, we look back on an especially turbulent year in Westminster - from partygate to Chris Pincher, Ukraine to market meltdown, Boris Johnson to Rishi Sunak, Kwasi Kwarteng an...

17 Des 20221h 9min

Sunak versus the strikes

Sunak versus the strikes

Rishi Sunak confronted a growing wave of industrial unrest facing the UK with tough new proposals for anti-strike laws, but will they work? We explore how the prime minister is handling the challenges...

10 Des 202235min

Winter of discontent

Winter of discontent

Britain is seeing a swelling wave of industrial action this winter, from nurses to rail workers. Is the country facing a de facto general strike and is there an economic landing zone for the governmen...

3 Des 202233min

Sunak’s short honeymoon

Sunak’s short honeymoon

Rishi Sunak's authority with Tory MPs is waning and he is now facing policy battles on almost every front. We analyse which fights the new prime minister can win and which aren’t worth engaging in, an...

26 Nov 202234min

Jeremy Hunt’s sombre Autumn Statement

Jeremy Hunt’s sombre Autumn Statement

The chancellor unveiled a £55bn plan for fiscal tightening this week, with the biggest drop in living standards for 70 years. We unpack all of the fiscal forecasts, tax rises, spending cuts and how Ri...

19 Nov 202239min

Farewell Sir Gavin, for the third time

Farewell Sir Gavin, for the third time

Rishi Sunak forced Sir Gavin Williamson out from his government this week, the third time the former cabinet minister has been made to quit. Why did Sunak hire the controversial former chief whip in t...

12 Nov 202232min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
i-retten
stopp-verden
forklart
popradet
nokon-ma-ga
dine-penger-pengeradet
det-store-bildet
fotballpodden-2
rss-gukild-johaug
aftenbla-bla
hanna-de-heldige
rss-ness
bt-dokumentar-2
e24-podden
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk