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.

Avsnitt(575)

In conversation with Andrew Mitchell

In conversation with Andrew Mitchell

Andrew Mitchell went through many of the UK's most established institutions, from public school to the army to the City of London and parliament, the Whips Office and the cabinet. His new book, “Beyon...

25 Dec 202130min

A remarkable by-election outcome

A remarkable by-election outcome

We analyse the remarkable by-election outcome. On top of the two biggest parliamentary defeats of his career as prime minister, we’ll look at just how much trouble Boris Johnson is in and whether he’s...

18 Dec 202134min

Boris Johnson encounters turbulent times

Boris Johnson encounters turbulent times

This week we analyse the new measures abruptly imposed in England in response to the alarming rise in Omicron coronavirus cases. What spooked the government? Science reporter Oliver Barnes and specia...

11 Dec 202134min

Fears about the Omicron coronavirus variant

Fears about the Omicron coronavirus variant

This week we dissect how much we know about the rising new variant and ask how worried we should be. Will we see much tighter restrictions imposed as Christmas approaches? Health editor Sarah Neville ...

4 Dec 202137min

Tragedy in the English Channel

Tragedy in the English Channel

Twenty-seven asylum seekers drowned trying to reach Britain, highlighting the growing crisis of small boats. How can the issue be resolved and what does it say about Anglo-French relations? Plus, we d...

27 Nov 202135min

Is Boris Johnson on the right track?

Is Boris Johnson on the right track?

This week we delve into the plan for reshaping the UK’s railways. Is £100bn of investment the biggest change in a generation, or will it prove to be a massive disappointment? Chief political correspon...

20 Nov 202139min

‘I genuinely believe that the UK is not remotely a corrupt country’

‘I genuinely believe that the UK is not remotely a corrupt country’

This week we examine the row about outside interests for British MPs. Is it acceptable to be earning hundreds of thousands of pounds a year on top of their parliamentary work? And do voters care? Chie...

13 Nov 202133min

MPs distraught at being asked to offer support for change

MPs distraught at being asked to offer support for change

This week we discuss the chaotic events surrounding the botched reform of the parliamentary standards committee. We look at why No 10 was so eager to save disgraced MP Owen Paterson and where the row ...

6 Nov 202138min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

aftonbladet-krim
motiv
p3-krim
blenda-2
rss-krimstad
fordomspodden
flashback-forever
rss-viva-fotboll
svenska-fall
rss-sanning-konsekvens
spar
aftonbladet-daily
svd-dokumentara-berattelser-2
rss-vad-fan-hande
rss-krimreportrarna
rss-frandfors-horna
rss-flodet
olyckan-inifran
kungligt
svd-ledarredaktionen