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)

Shaky election start for Tories, and ripping up spending rules

Shaky election start for Tories, and ripping up spending rules

The first week of the election did not go to plan for the Conservatives, as their campaign was beset by gaffes and mistakes. Can Boris Johnson get back on track? Is Labour pleased with how its campaig...

9 Nov 201932min

Boris Johnson calls the election, moderate Tories flee

Boris Johnson calls the election, moderate Tories flee

The prime minister finally succeeded in calling a general election this week, so Britain is heading to the polls on December 12. How is the campaign going to shake up? How did the launches for Labour ...

2 Nov 201931min

Boris Johnson's tumultuous Brexit week, another attempt at an election

Boris Johnson's tumultuous Brexit week, another attempt at an election

The prime minister introduced legislation to parliament this week to deliver Brexit. It may have passed a vote in principle, but the government's rapid timetable for implementing it was rejected. Why ...

26 Okt 201932min

Boris Johnson's new Brexit deal: what’s in it, how it was struck and will it pass parliament

Boris Johnson's new Brexit deal: what’s in it, how it was struck and will it pass parliament

After a week of intense diplomacy with the EU, Boris Johnson brokered a new withdrawal agreement - without the troublesome Irish border backstop but with a contentious customs border in the Irish Sea....

18 Okt 201931min

The Supreme Court's historic decision on prorogation, Labour and Tory conferences

The Supreme Court's historic decision on prorogation, Labour and Tory conferences

The highest court in Britain ruled that Boris Johnson's decision to shut down parliament was unlawful, with parliament unexpectedly returning this week. What are the constitutional implications of thi...

14 Okt 201933min

The big Brexit breakthrough? And is Downing Street dysfunctional?

The big Brexit breakthrough? And is Downing Street dysfunctional?

After months of stalemate, a Brexit deal suddenly became increasingly possible after an unlikely breakthrough between Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar on the Wirral this week. What sort of new deal is b...

14 Okt 201928min

Boris’ big Brexit proposal and are the Tories ready for an election?

Boris’ big Brexit proposal and are the Tories ready for an election?

As the Conservative’s annual conference came to a close in Manchester, Boris Johnson made his bold play on Brexit - proposing the long-awaited ideas to replace the infamous Irish border backstop. Does...

5 Okt 201930min

Boris Johnson v the Supreme Court and Lib Dems v Labour

Boris Johnson v the Supreme Court and Lib Dems v Labour

Brexit returned to the Supreme Court this week as judges and lawyers debated whether Boris Johnson legally prorogued parliament earlier this month. We discuss what arguments were made and what will ha...

22 Sep 201930min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

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