Political Fix21 Nov 2025

Boats and the Budget: the battlelines are drawn

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a tough set of measures overhauling immigration policy this week, in a bid to deter illegal boat crossings and tackle the thorny issue of asylum seekers that dominates the news agenda. But how did the announcement go down with a divided Labour party?

And, just days away from the Budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves is under huge pressure after a series of U-turns and leaks on taxation policy.

Host George Parker discusses whether anything can be done to reverse the fortunes of the government with the FT’s deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, political columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter Stephen Bush, and Whitehall correspondent David Sheppard.

Follow George on Bluesky @georgewparker.bsky.social; Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; David @oilsheppard.bsky.social

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

Want more? Free links:

Labour needs a way out of the infernal circle of immigration policy

Why the small boats won’t stop

High earners to be eligible for UK settlement within 3 years of arrival

UK asylum seekers face seizure of jewellery to pay for accommodation

Rachel Reeves’ gambit

Covid response of ‘toxic’ UK government was ‘too little, too late’, inquiry finds

To sign up for free to the new FT Alphaville newsletter on Substack, go to ftav.substack.com

The FT is hosting a live webinar on November 28 on what the UK Budget will mean for your money. You can put questions to FT journalists Claer Barrett, Stuart Kirk, Tej Parikh and special guest, tax expert Dan Neidle. Get your pass now at ft.com/budgetwebinar.

Sign up to Stephen'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.

To sign up for free to the new FT Alphaville newsletter on substack, go to ftav.substack.com

Presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth and Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music by Breen Turner, mix by Odinn Inigbergsson. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.

Clips from BBC

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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