Political Fix

Sir Keir Starmer unveiled six fresh pledges as part of a major government reset this week, which included diluting a green target and redefining his economic goals. It followed a tumultuous start to government for Labour after 14 years in opposition. As the administration reached the five-month mark on Thursday, Political Fix hosted a live special as part of the FT’s Global Boardroom online conference. Host Lucy Fisher was joined by the podcast’s regulars Stephen Bush, Miranda Green and Peter Foster to take stock of the ups and downs of Labour’s record in power to date.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen on @stephenkb, Miranda on @greenmiranda and Peter on @pmdfosterWant more? Keir Starmer to take aim at Whitehall with new UK ‘mission’ targets Cabinet minister denies Keir Starmer’s ‘plan for change’ is a resetKeir Starmer waters down UK clean power target in policy resetUK chemicals sector doubts Keir Starmer’s ‘reset’ will end Brexit bluesKeir Starmer, the operator, the fixer, not the visionaryRead the FT’s Best Politics Books of the Year 2024 list, curated by the FT’s chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman.Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiadis and Petros Giumpassis. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MPs will vote on assisted dying this week for the first time in almost a decade. There are ramifications for the NHS, questions over legal oversight, and ethical considerations that all feed into this highly emotive and personal issue. And if the bill passes this hurdle, what will happen next on its journey through parliament? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars George Parker and Stephen Bush, alongside the FT’s public policy correspondent Laura Hughes, to discuss the matter. The panel also examines Labour’s bid to get a grip on migration, plus the PM’s plans to reframe – or should that be reset? – his administration. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George @GeorgeWParker, Stephen @stephenkb and Laura @laura_k_hughesWant more? England’s palliative care ‘postcode lottery’ casts shadow over assisted dying debateJudges’ role in assisted dying bill criticised as ‘rubber stamping’Assisted dying would be funded ‘at expense of’ NHS services, warns StreetingNet migration to the UK hit record 900,000 in 2023‘It has been bumpy’: Keir Starmer reckons with plunging approval ratings Labour has a classic first act problemJoin Lucy Fisher, Peter Foster, Stephen Bush and Miranda Green for a Political Fix Live session on December 5, where they will assess Labour's record after five months in office as part of the FT's Global Boardroom online conference. The three-day event features high-level interviews on the big issues of the day and is being held on December 4-6. Register for your free pass at ft.com/tgbRead the FT’s Best Politics Books of the Year 2024 list, curated by the FT’s chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman.Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson with Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After winning swaths of rural seats in the general election, Labour’s relationship with the countryside has nosedived, amid a row over the government’s plan to impose inheritance tax on some farms. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regular Jim Pickard and political correspondent Anna Gross to discuss the changes to agricultural property relief and the wider political fallout. The team also dissects the row over Rachel Reeves’ CV edit and scrutinises her past remarks about her career. Plus, FT foreign editor Alec Russell joins to discuss what happens next in the Ukraine war after Kyiv fired US and UK-made long-range missiles into Russia for the first time this week. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Jim @PickardJE, Anna @AnnaSophieGross, Alec @AlecuRussellWant more? Thousands of farmers protest in London against tax changesUkraine fires British Storm Shadow missiles into RussiaRussia fires intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for first time, Kyiv saysNew book from UK shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves lifts from WikipediaUK government borrowing for October exceeds forecasts at £17.4bnJoin Lucy Fisher, Peter Foster, Stephen Bush and Miranda Green for a Political Fix Live session on December 5, where they will assess Labour's record after five months in office as part of the FT's Global Boardroom online conference. The three-day event features high-level interviews on the big issues of the day and is being held on December 4-6. Register for your free pass at ft.com/tgbRead the FT’s Best Politics Books of the Year 2024 list, curated by the FT’s chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman.Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Tamara Kormornick. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiadis and Petros Giumpassis. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Donald Trump makes his first appointments, speculation in Whitehall grows: will the UK move closer to the US or cosy back up with the EU?The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars George Parker and Robert Shrimsley, as well as Peter Foster, the FT’s public policy editor, to discuss how Britain might successfully balance its two most important relationships. Plus the panel also discusses Rachel Reeves’s pension megafund reform, and assesses the damage Labour’s employment reforms are doing to the relationship with British business. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George @GeorgeWParker, Peter Foster @pmdfoster, Robert @robertshrimsley Want more? Join Lucy Fisher, Peter Foster, Stephen Bush and Miranda Green for Political Fix Live session on December 5, where they will assess Labour's record after five months in office as part of the FT's Global Boardroom online conference. The three-day event features high-level interviews on the big issues of the day and is being held on December 4-6. Register for your free pass at ft.com/tgbSign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Tamara Kormornick. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiadis and Petros Giumpassis. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.