Budget, boats and a by-election
Political Fix24 Okt 2025

Budget, boats and a by-election

Chancellor Rachel Reeves received a rare bit of good news from lower inflation statistics this week, which could reduce government borrowing ahead of the November Budget. But the uphill struggle to improve Labour’s standing in the polls continues after a drubbing in Caerphilly, the embarrassing failure of the one-in-one-out migrant policy and the chaotic start to the grooming gang inquiry. Host George Parker is on hand to dissect the week along with deputy political editor Jim Pickard, UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and the FT’s northern England correspondent Jennifer Williams. Plus, is the King getting poor advice from the PM over Prince Andrew in the wake of further damaging revelations about the prince’s links to Jeffrey Epstein?


Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Robert: @robertshrimsley or @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Jen on X @JenWilliamsMEN and Jim on X @PickardJE


Want more?

Labour suffers seismic by-election defeat to Plaid Cymru in Caerphilly

UK borrowing costs fall in boost for Rachel Reeves

Reeves vows to clear way for BoE rate cuts with cost of living pledge

Grooming gang victims call for minister to resign

A defining crisis for Britain’s royals

Britain’s flawed support for Jaguar Land Rover


Clips from: Sky & Parliament Live TV


Sign up here for 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.


Our email address is politicalfix@ft.com


Presented by George Parker. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting 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(576)

Election 2019: Boris Johnson's crushing victory for the Tories

Election 2019: Boris Johnson's crushing victory for the Tories

With a majority of 80, Boris Johnson has delivered the Conservative party’s best performance in three decades. With such a significant mandate, the UK is now leaving the EU and the political landscape...

13 Des 201940min

Midweek update: the final campaign days

Midweek update: the final campaign days

Boris Johnson endured some of the most difficult days of the campaign to date, as he struggled to deal with an NHS crisis in Leeds. Will it knock him off course? Plus, we discuss Jonathan Ashworth's l...

11 Des 201915min

Election week four: Boris Johnson dodges the BBC, Labour’s minority government plans, more reports from the stump

Election week four: Boris Johnson dodges the BBC, Labour’s minority government plans, more reports from the stump

The last full week of the UK’s election campaign was dominated by Boris Johnson’s failure to turn up to an interview with Andrew Neil, yet another anti-Semitism row in Labour and the Brexit party desc...

7 Des 201936min

Midweek update: Conservative nervousness

Midweek update: Conservative nervousness

As the campaign enters the final week, the Conservative party is eager to ensure its lead is not knocked off course. Prime Minister Boris Johnson must hope US president Donald Trump does not destabili...

4 Des 201918min

Election week three: trouble for Labour, the big poll and tales from the stump

Election week three: trouble for Labour, the big poll and tales from the stump

The UK's general election continued as the opposition Labour party struggled with anti-Semitism and its economic platform. A major new poll suggested the Conservatives are on course for a comfortable ...

30 Nov 201932min

Midweek update: Labour enters choppy waters on racism and economics

Midweek update: Labour enters choppy waters on racism and economics

An unprecedented intervention from the UK’s chief rabbi has knocked Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign off course. A disastrous BBC interview also raised questions about his party’s economic credibility. Can th...

27 Nov 201919min

Week two of the election - Labour's radical manifesto and on the road in marginal seats

Week two of the election - Labour's radical manifesto and on the road in marginal seats

The second week saw Labour propose sweeping tax and spend changes, the Liberal Democrats struggle to make an impact and the inconclusive first TV leadership debate. We discuss whether the sums made pu...

23 Nov 201930min

Midweek update: First TV debate, Lib Dem and Labour manifestos

Midweek update: First TV debate, Lib Dem and Labour manifestos

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn survived their first head-to-head encounter but neither candidate to be prime minister scored major points or made much headway. Plus, we discuss the manifestos from th...

20 Nov 201922min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

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