Rayner, Reeves and Reform
Political Fix5 Sep 2025

Rayner, Reeves and Reform

It wasn’t the start to the new parliamentary term that Prime Minister Keir Starmer hoped for. His insistence that his focus is now on “delivery, delivery, delivery” was eclipsed by the furore surrounding the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, over her tax affairs. To discuss where her precarious position leaves Starmer, plus his attempts to get the economic agenda back on track, host George Parker is joined by political correspondent Anna Gross, FT columnist and author of the daily Inside Politics newsletter Stephen Bush, and FT economics commentator Chris Giles. Plus, as the party conference season kicks off, the team looks at what’s on the menu for Reform UK supporters at their first ever conference.


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


Going to the FT Weekend Festival at Kenwood House Gardens in London on Saturday September 6? George and Lucy Fisher will be hosting a breakfast event, talking politics and podcasts, in the Experience Tent from 9.45am. FT Live has a 10% discount for all FT podcast listeners with the promo code FTPodcasts. Find a registration link to use with the discount here


Send a question, ideally as a voicenote, to our email address: politicalfix@ft.com


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 here


Want more?


The UK is a Fiscal Saint not a Sinner


Reform UK ‘going to the next stage’, says deputy leader


Keir Starmer seeks to get a grip on UK economy with new hires


This episode of Political Fix was presented by George Parker, and produced by Philippa Goodrich. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. 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(573)

Trump’s trade war: trouble ahead for Britain

Trump’s trade war: trouble ahead for Britain

Donald Trump has shaken up the global economy with his seismic new tariffs this week. UK exports to the US will now face a 10 per cent levy – less than many other countries, but still a major headache...

4 Apr 202538min

Doom, gloom and not much headroom: Spring Statement

Doom, gloom and not much headroom: Spring Statement

Rachel Reeves was forced to slash spending to balance the books in her Spring Statement this week. Welfare spending will be cut more deeply than initially trailed, prompting warnings that 250,000 peop...

28 Mar 202538min

Austerity redux? Spring Statement lookahead

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 lo...

21 Mar 202544min

Starmer’s ‘Project Chainsaw’: the NHS, Whitehall, welfare

Starmer’s ‘Project Chainsaw’: the NHS, Whitehall, welfare

“The world’s largest quango is scrapped” – that’s how the government framed the abolition of the NHS management body this week. It was the latest target in Sir Keir Starmer’s so-called ‘Project Chains...

14 Mar 202547min

Will Starmer sink or swim in Trump’s world?

Will Starmer sink or swim in Trump’s world?

Sir Keir Starmer has won plaudits from across the political spectrum for his handling of the rapidly growing rift between the US, Europe and Ukraine – but can the UK prime minister sustain this diplom...

7 Mar 202534min

The Starmer-Trump love-in

The Starmer-Trump love-in

Donald Trump showered praise on Keir Starmer during the UK prime minister’s visit to the White House this week, describing him as ‘special’, a ‘beautiful man’ and a ‘tough negotiator’. Host Lucy Fishe...

28 Feb 202540min

‘America is now an adversary’

‘America is now an adversary’

The future of Ukraine and the defence of Europe will dominate when Keir Starmer jets out to the White House for talks with Donald Trump next week. Can the UK prime minister help save 80 years of Pax A...

21 Feb 202543min

The right to die: who should have the final say?

The right to die: who should have the final say?

The bitter and emotional wrangling over the assisted dying bill reached new heights in parliament this week, following proposed changes to a key safeguard. Is it a sensible efficiency to remove the ne...

14 Feb 202536min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

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