Political Fix

A deal to resolve the bitter dispute over post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland was due this week but the UK prime minister appears to have a fight on his hands to stop it unravelling as he faces opposition from Tory Eurosceptics and the Democratic Unionist party. Is Sunak facing a moment of truth on his authority? Plus, a new report revealed the dire state of Britain’s public services and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer laid out his five “missions” to sort out the country.Presented by George Parker, with deputy political editor Jim Pickard, columnist Robert Shrimsley, Ireland correspondent Jude Webber and special guest Hannah White, director of the Institute for Government. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. -Read the latest on UK politics -Follow @GeorgeParker @RobertShrimsley and @GreenMiranda -Subscribe to FT UK politics newsletter -Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com -View our accessibility guideRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland’s first minister announced this week that she was stepping down after eight years in office. What does her resignation mean for the Scottish National party and Scotland’s independence campaign? We discuss the country’s future. Plus, presenter George Parker talks to Douglas Alexander, former Labour cabinet minister, about his Scottish Labour comeback and his party’s prospects.With Scottish correspondent Lukanyo Mnyanda and special guest constitutional expert Professor Nicola McEwen. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer was Breen Turner We'd like to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? Please help us by filling in our listener survey at ft.com/politicssurvey It will take you around 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort earbuds! -Read the latest on UK politics -Follow @GeorgeParker -Subscribe to FT UK politics newsletter -Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com -View our accessibility guideRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liz Truss and Boris Johnson have both been intervening this week. Could they challenge Rishi Sunak? We discuss how much of a threat to him they are. Plus, we delve into the cabinet and Whitehall shake-ups. An industrial strategy was dropped while areas like energy security and technology became priorities. Is this more than a change of labels?Presented by George Parker, with deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, columnist Robert Shrimsley and special guests Conservative MP Greg Clark and Hannah White, director of the Institute for Government. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer was Breen TurnerWe'd like to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? Please help us by filling in our listener survey at ft.com/politicssurvey It will take you around 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds!-Read the latest on UK politics-Follow @GeorgeParker and @RobertShrimsley @GreenMiranda-Subscribe to FT UK politics newsletterRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a week that’s seen mass strikes and a growing number of bullying allegations against his deputy Dominic Raab, we discuss how Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has fared during his first 100 days in office. Plus, we delve into the government’s approach to net zero and the pressure Sunak is under to ditch the ‘green crap’.Presented by George Parker, with deputy political editor Jim Pickard, deputy opinion editor Miranda Green and columnists Robert Shrimsley and Stephen Bush. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer was Breen TurnerCredits: Channel 4/BBCWe'd like to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? Please help us by filling in our listener survey at ft.com/politicssurvey It will take you around 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds!-Follow @GeorgeParker @RobertShrimsley -Subscribe to FT UK politics newsletter Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer attacked Rishi Sunak as ‘weak’ as calls escalated for the Tory party chair Nadhim Zahawi to be sacked over his £5mn settlement with Inland Revenue. How much is the row damaging the PM’s credibility and his vows to clean up parliamentary standards? Plus, as Sunak and his cabinet met for an awayday at Chequers to map out strategy, we discuss the challenge of his rocky ‘narrow path’ to election victory.Presented by George Parker, with deputy political editor Jim Pickard, political correspondent Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe and columnists Robert Shrimsley and Stephen Bush. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer was Breen TurnerWe'd like to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? Please help us by filling in our listener survey at  ft.com/politicssurvey  It will take you around 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds!-Follow @GeorgeParker @RobertShrimsley-Subscribe to FT UK politics newsletter Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comView our accessibility guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves gave a pre-Davos interview to the FT before setting off to woo the global elite in Switzerland at the World Economic Forum in a remarkable turnround in Labour sentiment. Why were they going, with what message, while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chose to go to Morecambe instead? And what do the financial titans make of the UK’s prospects? Plus, we discuss the UK’s controversial plans for a bonfire of more than 4,000 EU rules that would put huge power in ministers’ hands, unleash regulatory uncertainty and is causing dismay among businesses.     Presented by George Parker, with deputy political editor Jim Pickard, markets editor Katie Martin, public policy editor Peter Foster and special guest Professor Catherine Barnard of UK in a Changing Europe. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer was Breen Turner -Read the FT interview with Sir Keir Starmer -Follow @GeorgeParker-Subscribe to FT UK politics newsletterRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clash at PMQs as they set out their plans for a year that could shape the outcome of the general election. The prime minister faces industrial unrest, demands to solve the Northern Ireland standoff and the ever-present threat of a resurgent Boris Johnson, and can the Labour leader show he has any answers? Plus, we look at the outlook for business and the economy.Presented by George Parker, with columnists Robert Shrimsley and Stephen Bush, chief UK business correspondent Daniel Thomas and special guest Syma Cullasy-Aldridge of the CBI. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer was Breen Turner-Read the latest on UK politics-Follow @GeorgeParker and @RobertShrimsley-Subscribe to FT UK politics newsletterRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our final episode of 2022, we look back on an especially turbulent year in Westminster - from partygate to Chris Pincher, Ukraine to market meltdown, Boris Johnson to Rishi Sunak, Kwasi Kwarteng and Jeremy Hunt. We reflect on the most significant events, what we got right and wrong at the time, and what British politics will bring in 2023. This marks Sebastian Payne's last episode presenting the podcast, but we will be back in the new year with a new host. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with political editor George Parker, chief political correspondent Jim Pickard, chief UK political columnists Robert Shrimsley and deputy opinion editor Miranda Green. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @SebastianEPayne -Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newslettersAudio: BBC / Sky / ITVRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak confronted a growing wave of industrial unrest facing the UK with tough new proposals for anti-strike laws, but will they work? We explore how the prime minister is handling the challenges of the winter ahead and whether we’re any closer to a “Sunakism”. Plus, we discuss the Edinburgh Reforms of financial services and whether they will boost growth and help the City of London flourish after Brexit. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with chief UK political columnist Robert Shrimsley, deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, political editor George Parker and business editor Dan Thomas. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Jan Sigsworth.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @SebastianEPayne -Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newslettersAudio: BBC / SkyRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain is seeing a swelling wave of industrial action this winter, from nurses to rail workers. Is the country facing a de facto general strike and is there an economic landing zone for the government and workers? We discuss what the different unions want. Plus, we examine Sir Keir Starmer's strategy for attacking Rishi Sunak - does it amount to class war, or just expose the prime minister's weaknesses? Presented by Sebastian Payne, with chief political correspondent Jim Pickard, economic correspondent Delphine Strauss, associate editor and columnist Stephen Bush and special guest political strategist John McTernan. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Howie Shannon and Jan Sigsworth.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @SebastianEPayne -Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newslettersAudio: BBC / SkyRead a transcript of this episode on FT.comRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.