Political Fix

It’s been two days since chancellor Rachel Reeves put a £40bn tax increase at the heart of a plan to fix the country’s “broken” finances and public services, and unveiled a sharp increase in borrowing to fund an extra £100bn of capital spending. But will these measures bolster investment and growth in the UK economy? And what does the Budget tell us about the country’s economic direction over the next five years? The FT’s Lucy Fisher discusses these questions and more with UK political editor George Parker, columnist and host of The Economics Show Soumaya Keynes and economics editor Sam Fleming.This is a recording of an FT Live subscribers’ webinar, recorded on Friday, November 1.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George on @GeorgeWParker, Sam @Sam1Fleming and Soumaya @SoumayaKeynesWant more? Free links:Budget poses new challenge for UK public finances, Moody’s warnsBusiness and wealthy bear brunt of £40bn tax increases in UK BudgetThe Budget in brief: what you need to knowReeves has made her choice — but success is not guaranteedRachel Reeves defiant after historic tax and spend BudgetSign 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. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Rachel Reeves has rewritten her fiscal rules on the eve of her seismic first Budget next week. She says her new borrowing rule will help get Britain building, but how will it go down with voters – and the markets? Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer is in Samoa, where a debate about reparations for slavery has threatened to overshadow the Commonwealth summit. Plus, the PM has had to grapple with Donald Trump’s allegations of illegal election interference by Labour. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regular Stephen Bush and FT political correspondent Anna Gross, along with the FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor.Will Labour’s budget boost growth? Ask the FT’s economics editor Sam Fleming and colleagues at a Political Fix live subscriber webinar, hosted by Lucy Fisher, on Nov 1 at 1300 GMT. Register for your free pass at ft.com/ukgrowthFollow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb, Anna @AnnaSophieGross and Lauren @LaurenFedorWant more?  Rachel Reeves confirms change to UK fiscal rules to help fund £20bn of annual investmentRachel Reeves: My fiscal rules will provide the stability on which growth dependsKeir Starmer flies to Samoa to answer tricky questions from Commonwealth alliesDonald Trump accuses UK Labour party of interference in White House race Labour paid for top Starmer aide to attend Democratic National ConventionA Trump victory would end ‘normal’ politics between UK and USSign 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 FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Rachel Reeves’s plans for a tough spending round later this month have sparked a fierce revolt among a raft of cabinet ministers. But will their protests make a difference? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley and George Parker to discuss. They also hear from the FT’s chief features writer Henry Mance about the cash-strapped and crumbling English justice system. Plus, the panel considers whether Labour’s investment summit was a success and who is shaping up to win the Tory leadership contest.Will Labour’s Budget boost growth? Ask the FT’s economics editor Sam Fleming and colleagues at a Political Fix live subscriber webinar, hosted by Lucy Fisher, on Nov 1 at 1300 GMT Register for your free pass at ft.com/ukgrowthFollow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George @GeorgeWParker, Robert @robertshrimsley, Henry @henrymanceWant more?  Read Henry’s report here: How the English courts reached breaking pointKeir Starmer and Rachel Reeves face down cabinet revolt over spending cutsRachel Reeves looking at sweeping inheritance tax changes in BudgetUK innovation will be undermined by science department Budget squeeze, industry leaders warnRobert Jenrick vs Kemi Badenoch: meet the next Conservative leaderDavid Lammy to raise human rights and support for Russia on China tripSign 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. Andrew Giorgiades and Rod Fitzgerald were the studio engineers. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

What kind of economy did Labour inherit this summer, and how does Britain measure up to international comparators? Political Fix host Lucy Fisher sits down with Martin Wolf to examine the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the UK’s economy as Rachel Reeves prepares for her seismic first Budget on October 30. Wolf assesses the options facing the chancellor on tax, spending and debt. Want more? Free links:Keir Starmer vows to rip up bureaucracy to unleash ‘shock and awe’ of investmentRachel Reeves’s Budget must rescue Britain from its growth trapReeves struggles to escape from self-imposed restraintsRachel Reeves needs a credible growth planYou too can step into the chancellor’s shoes and find out if you can run the UK economy with the FT’s new Budget game. Go to ft.com/chancellor-game and play from Tuesday, October 15Follow Lucy on X @LOS_FisherSign up for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: https://ft.com/insidepoliticsofferPresented by Lucy Fisher. 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.comView our accessibility guide 

As Labour reaches 100 days in government we take stock of how Sir Keir Starmer and his team have performed. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley, Miranda Green and Jim Pickard to assess Labour’s stumbles – as well as its achievements – as the party gets to grips with power. The panel also examines what made it into Labour's flagship workers’ rights legislation – finally published this week. Plus, after the surprise elimination of moderate candidate James Cleverly from the Tory leadership race, how is the final stretch of the contest shaping up between rightwingers Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick? Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Jim on X: @PickardJE, Robert @robertshrimsley, Miranda @greenmirandaWant more?  Keir Starmer looks to Morgan McSweeney to fix Labour teething troublesUK ministers fire starting gun on landmark worker rights reformRobert Jenrick vs Kemi Badenoch: meet the next Conservative leaderThe battle of Labour’s three brainsThis Tory leadership ballot suits nobody, only perhaps Keir Starmer 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 Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Andrew Giorgiades and Rod Fitzgerald were the studio engineers.The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Who’s up and who’s down in the Tory leadership race after the four-day beauty parade at the party’s conference in Birmingham? Host Lucy Fisher and Political Fix regulars George Parker and Stephen Bush assess the four contenders’ performances, as Conservative MPs prepare to whittle down the field to two next week. The panel are also joined by the FT’s public policy editor Peter Foster to discuss Sir Keir Starmer’s first step on the road to resetting UK-EU relations. Plus, the group discusses the latest twist in freebiegate.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher; George on X @GeorgeWParker, Stephen @stephenkb and Peter @pmdfosterWant more?  Tories embrace life in opposition at party conference Conservatives should pick James Cleverly. Here’s why they won’t Keir Starmer to repay £6,000 for gifts including Taylor Swift tickets Keir Starmer looks for post-Brexit ‘reset’ in meeting with EU leaders US and G7 warn Israel against strikes on Iranian nuclear facilitiesSign 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 FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Labour’s conference in Liverpool should have been a celebratory event after its landslide win in the July election. Political editor George Parker, standing in for Lucy Fisher, is joined by Miranda Green and Robert Shrimsley to discuss why the mood was anything but triumphant. Plus, economics editor Sam Fleming explains how the government might increase capital spending despite Labour’s repeated warnings that the state coffers are empty; and chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman steps into the studio to assess Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s debut on the world stage at the UN general assembly this week. Lucy Fisher is back next week.Follow George on X: @GeorgeWParker, Robert @robertshrimsley, Miranda @greenmiranda, Sam @Sam1Fleming and Gideon @gideonrachman.Want more?  Keir Starmer struggles to fix morale at ‘weird’ Labour conferenceRachel Reeves paves way for capital spending increaseGilt investors urge Reeves to keep investment ambitions in checkKeir Starmer meets Donald Trump in New YorkKeir Starmer plays down significance of Storm Shadow decision for UkraineSign 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 George Parker. Produced by Tamara Kormornick. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers were Rod Fitzgerald and Andrew Georgiadis. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

A growing controversy around Lord Waheed Alli’s donations to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria risks tarnishing the new government, while propelling the normally discreet Labour donor into the public eye. Lucy Fisher discusses the saga with Political Fix regulars Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard. Plus, the panel is joined by chief business correspondent Michael O’Dwyer as business leaders warn that the UK government’s tax-raising plans and negativity about its economic inheritance risk undermining its efforts to boost private sector investment.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb, Jim @PickardJE, Michael @_MODwyerWant more?  Labour denies ‘transparency’ issue after clothing donation to Keir Starmer’s wifeWaheed Alli: How Labour donor’s largesse tarnished government’s squeaky clean imageUK government borrowing overshoots in blow to Rachel ReevesWhy has Sue Gray’s salary stoked unease and vicious briefings?Lib Dems to press Rachel Reeves to raise taxes on banks and wealthySign 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 with help from Leah Quinn. The broadcast engineers were Rod Fitzgerald and Andrew Georgiadis. 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

A government-commissioned review has found the NHS on life support. Can Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer succeed where his predecessors have failed in turning around the health service? And how long has he got to do it? Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley and George Parker, plus the FT’s global health editor Sarah Neville, to examine the future of the NHS for the country’s health, politics and economy. And party conference season is upon us, so what are the flash points ahead? Leah Quinn joins the conversation.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, George @GeorgeWParker, Sarah @SarahNev Robert @robertshrimsley and Leah @thelittlerquinnWant more?  Links:England’s NHS in ‘critical condition’, official review finds NHS to receive ‘no more money without reform’, says Starmer ‘Dire’ NHS report shows scale of Sir Keir Starmer’s turnaround challengeAnd then there were four: The surviving Tory leadership hopefulsGreen party calls for long-term approach to UK’s problems 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. Audio engineer, Jean-Marc Eck. Broadcast engineers Andrew Georgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com