George Parker

Ed Luce, FT US national editor who interviewed Donald Trump. Stephen Bush, political columnist on party strategy. Anna Gross, FT political correspondent on Labour and the Greens. George Parker, FT political editor on UK party dynamics. They debate Angela Rayner’s ambitions, her City talks and tax row. They weigh whether Labour could shift left, the Greens’ rise and electoral risks. Ed Luce also recounts his call with Trump.

Lucy Fisher chats with Stephen Bush, an insightful political correspondent, George Parker, a British politics expert, and Chris Giles, an economics commentator. They analyze Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement, revealing deep cuts to welfare spending that risk pushing 250,000 people into poverty, including many children. The trio discusses looming fiscal challenges, the potential fallout from Trump's trade war on the UK economy, and the tumultuous relationship between the Treasury and the Office for Budget Responsibility in navigating these issues.

The Gorton and Denton by-election was supposedly a three-horse race, but on polling day the Green Party stormed to victory by a vast margin. It was a devastating defeat for Labour, which was pushed into third place behind Reform UK. Sir Keir Starmer now faces intense pressure, while his party must battle a threat from the left as well as the right. Does this historic result – the first ever by-election triumph for the Greens – signal the end of the two-party system? And where does it leave Reform?Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT political correspondent Anna Gross, northern England correspondent Jennifer Williams, and political editor George Parker.Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher and @lucyfisher.ft.com; George @georgewparker; Jennifer @JenWilliams_FT; Anna @AnnaSophieGross Sign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insights into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix is presented by Lucy Fisher. This episode was produced by Fiona Symon and Mischa Frankl-Duval. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Our email address is politicalfix@ft.comClip from BBCRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George Parker, FT political editor: Westminster insider on government strategy. Stephen Bush, columnist and newsletter writer: commentator on party politics. Jim Pickard, FT deputy political editor: investigative Westminster reporter. They unpack the Mandelson files, who signed off the appointment, Whitehall memos and vetting failures. Then they discuss awkward Iran war U-turns, shifting party lines and UK defence and energy implications.

In a striking meeting, Donald Trump praised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling him ‘special’ and a 'tough negotiator.' George Parker, who attended the Oval Office encounter, shares insider perspectives. The conversation shifts to the ramifications for a potential UK-US trade deal and the complexities of military support for Ukraine. Miranda Green and Stephen Bush dive into the shifting UK spending priorities, including controversial defense and aid budget discussions, while analyzing the broader political landscape.

George Parker, Financial Times political editor and BBC presenter with decades covering UK politics, discusses the fallout from newly released Epstein files. He outlines the emails linking Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein and the ensuing police probe. He explores Mandelson’s influence, vetting questions around his Washington role, and why the revelations could shake senior figures in Westminster.

In this lively discussion, George Parker and Lucy Fisher, both from the Financial Times, share their insights on the complexities of US-UK relations during Donald Trump's upcoming visit. They dive into the recent UK cabinet reshuffle and its implications, and the challenges of reporting in a fast-paced political climate. The duo also critiques Trump's unpredictable diplomacy and how it affects UK leadership. They explore the appeal of American sports in the UK and reflect on the evolving dynamics of UK-US relations post-Brexit.

George Parker, political editor for the Financial Times, leads a discussion with Miranda Green, Stephen Bush, Anna Gross, and Rachel Reeves. They dive into Elon Musk's controversial statements about the UK government and the implications for social media governance. The panel debates the balance between free speech and online safety, examining the UK's approach amid Musk's ownership of X. They also ponder the financial strategies for growth in the UK and the importance of holidays for politicians in maintaining performance while navigating public scrutiny.

Lucy Fisher assembles the Political Fix team to discuss the surprise snap general election in the UK. They dive into party campaigns, Rishi Sunak's decision, potential TV debates, Labour's readiness, Nigel Farage's non-candidacy impact, and election strategies.

George Parker, Financial Times political editor offering sharp political analysis. Darren Jones, senior UK minister outlining fiscal and infrastructure plans. They discuss UK jets sent to the Middle East, rising Israel‑Iran air strikes and diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate. Short takes on a national inquiry into grooming gangs and a 10‑year infrastructure strategy.