Shows / Political Fix
Political Fix
The Financial Times takes you into the corridors of power to unwrap, analyse and debate British politics with a regular lineup of FT correspondents and informed commentators. New episodes available every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Political FixBoris Johnson’s double by-election defeat
The Conservatives lost two crucial by-elections this week in Yorkshire and Devon, putting UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s leadership under scrutiny. Host…
- Political Fix
Boris Johnson’s Northern Ireland plan - is it just a bluff?
We examine the situation with the Northern Ireland protocol, whether the government’s plans break international law and how the EU might respond. Public policy…
- Political Fix
Boris survives, but for how long?
The prime minister had a close shave with his MPs this week when 41 per cent of the Conservative parliamentary party voted to oust him. We discuss how and…
- Political Fix
The Queen's jubilee: How Britain has changed since 1952
The Queen celebrates her platinum jubilee this weekend. To mark 70 years since she took to the throne, we look back on how the country has changed politically…
- Political Fix
It’s definitely not a windfall tax!
We start with that huge bailout package for struggling families announced by the chancellor and the controversial taxes he raised to fund it - a £5bn windfall…
- Political Fix
Behind the Money is back!
Behind the Money is back with all-new episodes! From hostile takeovers to C-suite intrigue, Behind the Money takes you inside the business and financial…
- Political Fix
Examining the fallout from the end of the police investigation
Should the prime minister now fear the fallout from the full investigation by Whitehall official Sue Gray? Or is he safe for now? Chief political commentator…
- Political Fix
Double crisis: cost of living and Northern Ireland
This year’s Queen Speech was Boris Johnson’s attempt to reset his government’s policy agenda but it did little to tackle the growing cost of living crisis. We…
- Political Fix
Voters cast their opinions on the state of politics
The Conservative party lost hundreds of councillors across the county in this year's local elections, with the Labour party making significant gains in the…
- Political Fix
Too many rising prices, too much sleaze
In this week’s episode we’ll be looking at why the government is anxious to find ways to fix rising fuel and food prices. Why is the Treasury not doing more?…
- Political Fix
Boris Johnson says sorry, sorry, sorry
The prime minister came to the House of Commons to apologise for misleading MPs over the partygate scandal, but now faces a third probe into his conduct. We…
- Political Fix
Can Johnson and Sunak survive Partygate fines?
No10 and No11 Downing Street were thrown into chaos when the Met Police issued fines to the prime minister and chancellor. We discuss the seriousness of the…
Political FixSunak's non-dom saga
We delve into two messes the government has got itself into, over the tax affairs of Rishi Sunak’s wife and the long-awaited energy white security paper. Will…
Political FixPartygate returns, but no energy strategy
London's Metropolitan Police issued the first fines over the Partygate scandal this week. British prime minister Boris Johnson has yet to be fined, but does…
Political FixSpring Statement: Sunak misfires
Rishi Sunak delivered a mini-Budget this week that slashed taxes and attempted to tackle the cost of living crisis and deal with inflation. But the UK…
Political FixNazanin returns and Spring Statement preview
The UK celebrated the return of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after six years of imprisonment in Iran. We discuss how she was released and what it says about other…
Political FixThe war in Ukraine: is the UK doing enough?
The UK has been criticised for failing both to fulfil its rhetoric on sanctions and on opening the door to refugees fleeing Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. Is…
- Political Fix
Ukraine latest and tackling 'Londongrad'
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine became more brutal this week, with urban bombardment of civilians. We discuss what is likely to happen next and the west’s…
- Political Fix
Johnson sees blood on Putin's hands
After weeks of warnings from the west, Russia invaded Ukraine this week, prompting what some say could be the continent's worst conflict since the second world…
- Political Fix
Why it is not new for progressive parties of the centre-left to work together
Parliament may have been in recess this week but the political action hasn't stopped. We discuss our significant story about the next election featuring Labour…
- Political Fix
Resetting the Boris Johnson government
We examine the abrupt departure of Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick, what it means for the police investigation into the “partygate” scandal and how it…
- Political Fix
The net tightens for Boris Johnson
We ask whether the prime minister can survive the latest scandal engulfing his government. Is the departure of his closest and longstanding aide Munira Mirza…
- Political Fix
The Met vs Sue Gray on ‘partygate’
The official investigation into lockdown Downing Street gatherings was due to be concluded this week, but a criminal probe by the police has thrown Whitehall’s…
- Political Fix
The hole Boris Johnson digs for himself gets bigger
The latest twists and turns in the ‘partygate’ drama this week as Conservative MPs threatened a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson. We…
- Political Fix
The row over Number 10 parties during the 2020 lockdown
This week we’re devoting the episode to the “partygate” row which has blown up in Westminster. After the prime minister revealed he attended a party, calls for…
- Political Fix
The cost of living crisis - a defining political theme of 2022
We look at the trouble ahead for Boris Johnson, starting with the crisis in the energy market. What can the government do to stop bills doubling in the coming…
- Political Fix
In conversation with Michael Cockerell
Michael Cockerell has made some of the best political documentaries about UK politics, covering prime ministers from Harold Macmillan to Boris Johnson. His new…
- Political Fix
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…
- Political Fix
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…
- Political Fix
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?…
- Political Fix
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…
- Political Fix
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…
- Political Fix
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…
- Political Fix
‘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…
- Political Fix
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…
- Political Fix
Delivering the autumn Budget
This week we examine the philosophy behind this year’s Budget and whether this is a marked change in how the Conservatives look at the economy. Political…
- Political Fix
Budget day special
Rishi Sunak delivered his 2021 Budget that pledged to increase spending, cut taxes and burrow away money for saving too. Is it all things to all people and…
- Political Fix
Will the NHS face pressure over the winter?
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…
- Political Fix
A testy war of words breaks out in Whitehall
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…
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Why every day at Conservative conference is Johnson day
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…
- Political Fix
Keir Starmer’s clear break with the Jeremy Corbyn era
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…
- Political Fix
Boris Johnson undertakes his first major overseas trip
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…
- Political Fix
Looking in detail at the cabinet reshuffle
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…
- Political Fix
Tearing up the Conservatives’ fiscal orthodoxy
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…
- Political Fix
Britain’s diplomatic push over Afghanistan
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…
- Political Fix
Interview special: Liz Truss
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…
- Political Fix
Interview special: Sir Malcolm Rifkind
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…
- Political Fix
Interview special: Steve Baker MP
In the third of our summer specials, Sebastian Payne speaks to Steve Baker, the Tory MP for Wycombe and one of the Conservative party's most formidable…
- Political Fix
Interview special: Professor Neil Ferguson
In the second of our summer specials, Sebastian Payne speaks to Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London. Nicknamed Professor Lockdown by some…
- Political Fix
Interview special: Anas Sarwar
In our first summer special, Sebastian Payne speaks to the leader of the Scottish Labour party Anas Sarwar about countering Nicola Sturgeon, how he intends to…
- Political Fix
Exemptions to isolation and the Northern Ireland protocol
In what should have been a big final week of term at Westminster, Boris Johnson had to abandon plans for a big announcement on social care reform. Instead…
- Political Fix
Chaos and confusion over masks and levelling up
The UK is pressing ahead with the easing of all lockdown measures on July 19, despite coronavirus infections hitting 50,000 a day. How has Downing Street got…
- Political Fix
Freedom day too soon and English patriotism
Boris Johnson has announced that all remaining lockdown restrictions will end on July 19 in England, but is he acting too hastily with Covid-19 cases rising so…
- Political Fix
Labour comes home in Batley and Spen
Sir Keir Starmer was given a reprieve after Labour clung on at the Batley and Spen by-election this week. What does it mean for his leadership? And was Matt…
- Political Fix
Travel woes and Brexit five years on
The UK eased travel to several holiday destinations this week, but will they welcome British tourists? And when are vaccination passports being introduced?…
- Political Fix
Lockdown continues, a shock in the Chilterns
Boris Johnson reluctantly delayed the easing of England’s lockdown for another month due to the spread of the Delta strain of coronavirus. Will the July 19…
- Political Fix
G7 special from Cornwall
The leaders of the west descended on Carbis Bay, along with podcasters, for this year's G7 summit. Boris Johnson and Joe Biden appeared to develop a bromance -…
- Political Fix
British holidays at home
The hopes of international travel this summer were dashed as Portugal was taken off the UK's green list for travel amid a rise in cases of the Delta variant of…
- Political Fix
Dominic Cummings versus the world
Boris Johnson's former chief adviser made an epic seven-hour appearance at a parliamentary hearing this week, claiming the prime minister was unfit for the job…
- Political Fix
Tackling the Indian coronavirus variant
The UK's easing out of lockdown was put under threat by a new strain of coronavirus that originated in India. Can the race between inoculations and infections…