Farage, flags and the ghosts of Labour’s past
Political Fix29 Aug 2025

Farage, flags and the ghosts of Labour’s past

Just as Sir Keir Starmer was stealing a few days' summer holiday, Reform unveiled its immigration policy, former Labour heavyweights called for a withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights, and Tony Blair popped up in the White House. So with recess nearly over, the prime minister is trying to take back the news agenda starting with a shake-up at Number 10. And with conference season almost under way, an upcoming visit from President Donald Trump, and the Budget around the corner, Starmer has ample opportunity to seize the spotlight. Host George Parker is joined by political correspondent Anna Gross, the FT’s chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley, and FT columnist and author of the daily newsletter Inside Politics Stephen Bush.


Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Robert: @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Stephen @stephenkb and Anna @AnnaSophieGross


Want more?


Farage is winning the new battle of Brexit

Donald Trump holds White House talks on postwar plan for Gaza

Keir Starmer launches Downing Street shake-up

Can Labour pull off a comeback?

Jack Straw says the UK should ‘decouple’ from the ECHR


The FT Weekend Festival returns for our 10th edition on Saturday, September 6 at Kenwood House Gardens in London.


George Parker and Lucy Fisher will be hosting a breakfast event, talking politics and podcasts, in the Experience Tent from 9.45am. If you can’t make it, please send a question, ideally as a voicenote, to our email address: politicalfix.com.


PLUS, 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.

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


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Episoder(586)

Rishi Sunak’s dash for oil and gas

Rishi Sunak’s dash for oil and gas

Rishi Sunak calculates that by portraying himself as “on the side” of motorists and adopting a “pragmatic and proportionate” approach to climate change, he’s aligning himself with the views of middle ...

3 Aug 202335min

The end of the green consensus?

The end of the green consensus?

Rishi Sunak has signalled he plans to soften his eco policies to avoid heaping extra “hassle” and expense on the British public. The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Robert Shrimsley and deputy...

28 Jul 202333min

By-elections special: Tories face double blow, but avoid 3-0 drubbing

By-elections special: Tories face double blow, but avoid 3-0 drubbing

The Conservatives faced a rout in both Selby and Somerton, but is their narrow win in Uxbridge enough to lift the party’s mood? Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s political editor George Parker and col...

21 Jul 202325min

Are the Tories stuck in a 'doom loop'?

Are the Tories stuck in a 'doom loop'?

Miranda Green is joined by FT columnists Stephen Bush and Robert Shrimsley to ask whether there’s any way out of the economic and political "doom loop" afflicting Rishi Sunak’s government. Plus, the F...

14 Jul 202331min

Keir Starmer’s bid to smash the class ceiling

Keir Starmer’s bid to smash the class ceiling

As Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sketches out his vision for education, the FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnists Stephen Bush and Robert Shrimsley to discuss how to boost vocatio...

7 Jul 202327min

The crisis facing the UK water industry

The crisis facing the UK water industry

Pressure is growing on the UK’s water sector, as swelling debt threatens to overwhelm Thames Water and other companies. What is the remedy for the country’s sewage and water woes? Lucy Fisher discusse...

30 Jun 202331min

Inflation pain: who will UK voters blame?

Inflation pain: who will UK voters blame?

Soaring interest rates are alarming mortgage holders and could derail the UK government’s strategy for re-election. This week Lucy Fisher is joined by regular FT panellists Stephen Bush and George Par...

23 Jun 202327min

The damning verdict on Boris Johnson

The damning verdict on Boris Johnson

The blistering report into Boris Johnson’s behaviour by the House of Commons privileges committee casts doubt over his political future. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by FT columnist...

16 Jun 202330min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

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