Political Fix

This week we discuss the return of Covid to the news agenda and ask whether the government will implement its so-called Plan B of measures as infections and hospital admissions rise rapidly. Political editor George Parker will give his analysis, along with health and science reporter Oliver Barnes.And we remember Sir David Amess, the veteran Conservative politician who was killed in his Essex constituency last Friday and examine what can be done to improve the security of MPs. Mark Francois, the Conservative MP and longstanding friend of Amess, will discuss along with Rosie Duffield, the Labour MP for Canterbury.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @George Parker, @Oliver Barnes-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This edition of Payne’s Politics was recorded before the news of the death of Conservative MP Sir David Amess who died after being stabbed at his constituency surgery in Essex on Friday.This week we discuss the latest with the UK’s shortages. Should the government be doing more and should the Treasury intervene? Political editor George Parker and chief political correspondent Jim Pickard will take us into the corridors of power.And later, we’ll be returning to Brexit and how to resolve the issue of the controversial Northern Ireland protocol. Can the UK and EU find a resolution that meets both of their red lines? And how bad are relations at the moment? Public policy editor Peter Foster will analyse, with special guest Georgina Wright from the Institut Montaigne.Audio source: BBC and Sky NewsProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Peter Foster, @George Parker, @Jim Pickard-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we analyse this year’s Conservative party conference. First, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s speech: how credible was it? Can low-skilled immigration be simply replaced without a big inflation risk? Political editor George Parker and chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley analyse.And then, we look at the other main theme of this year’s conference: levelling up. Did we gain any extra insight from Johnson and Michael Gove on what it means, how it can be delivered and what success looks like? Two special guests will explore: Rachel Wolf of Public First and Paul Swinney from the Centre for Cities think-tank.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Robert Shrimsley, @George Parker-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’ll be analysing Labour’s annual jamboree and whether Sir Keir Starmer has met expectations. How did he take on the left and what was the core message of his keynote speech? Chief political correspondent Jim Pickard and political correspondent Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe will explore.Later on, we’ll turn our attention to the cost-of-living crunch approaching this winter. There are widespread fears across Whitehall that the situation could get worse, with inflation rising, fuel and food prices set to soar and even fears there might not be enough turkeys for Christmas. So what is causing all this disruption and is it about to get worse? George Parker and Chris Giles discuss the issues.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Jim Pickard, @George Parker-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we analyse Boris Johnson’s trip to America, his address to the UN, his one-to-one with President Joe Biden and the health of the so-called special relationship. Joining to discuss are our political editor George Parker, and political and diplomatic correspondent Laura Hughes.Plus, we’ll be looking forward to the Labour party conference in Brighton next week. Keir Starmer has published a 14,000 word pamphlet setting out his vision for the country, but is anyone listening? Chief political correspondent Jim Pickard will discuss along with special guest John McTernan, the former Labour advisor and sometimes FT writer.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Jim Pickard, @George Parker-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we dissect prime minister Boris Johnson’s first major reshuffle of this parliament. We’ll be examining who went up, who went sideways, those who were sacked and what this all tells us about where the Johnson government is going next. Political editor George Parker and political correspondent Laura Hughes will take us through what happened.And we discuss a new book “Broken Heartlands: A Journey Through Labour’s Lost England”. Author Sebastian Payne has been pootling around England for the past year trying to find out whether the party can win back the parts of the country it lost. He’ll be chatting with our chief political correspondent Jim Pickard.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Jim Pickard, @George Parker-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we analyse prime minister Boris Johnson’s game on social care reform, what the plan involves and whether the Conservative party and its voters will swallow tax rises. Political editor George Parker and economics editor Chris Giles dissect the details.Plus we look at how the UK government hopes to try to avoid another coronavirus lockdown this winter through vaccine passports and booster jabs. With cases already running high, are hospitals about to be overwhelmed? Health editor Sarah Neville and science reporter Oliver Barnes will discuss.Audio source: Institute for GovernmentProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we examine how the UK got its withdrawal from Afghanistan so badly wrong and the subsequent Whitehall briefing war against the Foreign Office. Robert Shrimsley, our chief political commentator, and Laura Hughes, political and diplomatic correspondent, will analyse the issues.We also look at Whitehall’s contingency planning for what will happen to the UK’s nuclear deterrent in the event of Scottish independence. Will the Trident programme move to England,  America, France or stay where it is? Our Scotland correspondent Mure Dickie will explore the possibilities, with special guest Chris Brannigan, the prime minister’s former defence aide and a senior fellow at Policy Exchange.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fifth and final of our summer specials, Sebastian Payne meets Liz Truss, international trade secretary and minister for women and equalities.Truss is the most popular member of Boris Johnson’s government, and a keen advocate of a buccaneering policy of striking free trade deals with everyone and everywhere. We explore the economic worth of such agreements, what’s coming down the tracks and how her agenda may play into her own political future. Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fourth of our summer specials, Sebastian Payne meets Sir Malcolm Rifkind. In a week when the Taliban shocked the West with its rapid advance in Afghanistan, the former Conservative defence and foreign secretary examines where this leaves UK foreign policy. What does it mean for the UK’s so-called special relationship with the US and for the future of foreign interventions?Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.