Political Fix

Keir Starmer has unveiled Labour’s manifesto - declaring that his is the “party of wealth creation”. But while the plans combine sweeping aspirations for growth with modest tax and spending measures, there are a host of questions about how exactly a future Labour government would fix the public finances. The FT’s political editor George Parker is joined by colleagues Miranda Green and Rafe Uddin to scrutinise Labour’s pledges. Plus, FT consumer editor Claer Barrett gives her analysis of the levers Labour could pull if they need to raise more money - and who would be affected.Follow George on X @GeorgeWParker, Miranda @greenmiranda, Claer @ClaerB, Rafe @rafeuddin_Want more? Free links:Labour manifesto targets wealthy even as Keir Starmer woos businessKeir Starmer sets out plans to raise £8.6bn in tax at Labour manifesto launchParty manifestos and the British economic reality Have the Tories squandered their years in power?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 George Parker. Produced by Audrey Tinline. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Rishi Sunak has pledged more than £17bn in tax cuts as the Tories attempt to revive their stalled election campaign. But will it be enough to override questions about the party’s record in office, or the prime minister’s D-Day disaster? The FT’s Lucy Fisher fillets the Tories’ manifesto promises with colleagues Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard. Plus, what to make of the Lib Dem election pledges and their leader’s attention-grabbing stunts?Clips: BBC, ITNFollow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb and Jim @PickardJEWant more? Free links:Rishi Sunak pledges £17bn in tax cuts to revive Tory election bidThe Lib Dem strategy to restore their third party statusTory ads warn voters of Labour landslide as election bid faltersSign 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 Audrey Tinline. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Morale within the Conservative campaign is low and was damaged further this week after the party chair became the fifth Tory MP to abandon his seat in the north to fight for a safer seat in the south of England. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher gets round the table with colleagues Robert Shrimsley and Jim Pickard to reflect on the damage done and on those tax claims made by Rishi Sunak during the first leaders’ TV debate. Plus, the FT’s Michael Peel joins to discuss how the rest of the world views the UK.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_FisherWant more? Free links:‘Morale is shot’: Tory campaign mood sapped by candidate rowRishi Sunak apologises for leaving D-Day commemorations earlyKeir Starmer accuses Rishi Sunak of ‘lying’ over Labour £2,000 tax claimBehold the final casualties of Brexit More than half of British universities slip down global rankingsSign 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 Audrey Tinline. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s troubled re-election bid has been dealt a fresh double blow, as Nigel Farage seized the reins of Reform UK and announced he would stand as a candidate, while a new poll showed Labour could win the biggest majority of any party in a century. Lucy Fisher picks over the implications with political editor George Parker and politics correspondent Anna Gross. Plus, they talk about the Liberal Democrats’ campaign and the party’s pledge to offer free personal care to older or disabled people at home.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Anna @AnnaSophieGross, George @GeorgeWParkerWant more? Free links:Trio of Tory donors decide against funding election campaignTories promise to introduce an annual cap on immigrationTory election hopes hit after Nigel Farage decides to stand for Reform UKSketchy Politics: Starmy weatherSign 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 Persis Love. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music by Breen Turner. Mix by Simon Panayi. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Introducing Power for Sale, a new season of Untold from the Financial Times. In Untold: Power for Sale, host Valentina Pop and a team of FT correspondents from all over Europe investigate what happened in the Qatargate scandal, where EU lawmakers were accused of accepting payments from Qatar to whitewash its image.Subscribe and listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

As the gloves come off and the parties swing into full campaign mode, Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s Miranda Green and Stephen Bush to consider – with five weeks to go – who’s pushing ahead. Has Labour’s very public row over whether Diane Abbott should be allowed to stand dented its prospects? And Lucy takes a trip west, to test the water in Bristol Central, a seat the Green Party has firmly in its sights. The team asks: can the Greens pose a threat to Labour?Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_FisherWant more? Free links:Greens aim to win voters ‘utterly uninspired’ by StarmerRishi Sunak’s spaghetti strategy‘True blue’ turns Green as party rides countryside waveSketchy Politics: Starmy weatherSign 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 Philippa Goodrich with Leah Quinn. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music by Breen Turner and audio mix by Simon Panayi. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Rishi Sunak shocked Westminster with the decision to hold a snap general election on July 4. As the parties launch their campaigns, Lucy Fisher assembles the Political Fix team to look ahead to the next six weeks. The FT’s Robert Shrimsley, political editor George Parker, columnist Stephen Bush and Political Fix regular Miranda Green have the inside track on how the race to Number 10 might unfold.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_FisherWant more? Free links:Key moments ahead in the UK election campaignSunak suffers a series of setbacks on the first day of UK election campaignHow Rishi Sunak shocked Westminster with a snap general electionImproving UK economy does little to lift Tory hopes of victory in July election Tories scout for post-election jobs as UK parties dial up campaign mode TV debates can change election campaigns. Leaders should choose wiselySign 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 Audrey Tinline with Leah Quinn. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. 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

As politicians and commentators digest the disastrous Tory local election results, FT experts answer subscribers’ questions about what this might mean for the forthcoming general election – and beyond. The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by colleagues Stephen Bush, George Parker and Camilla Cavendish for their take on the upcoming general election and the government that will take shape after it. The team tackle your toughest questions during a special FT Political Fix Inside Politics subscriber webinar.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_FisherWant more? Free links:Are Labour and the Conservatives adopting ‘Heevesian’ economics?Labour defends decision to admit ex-Tory MP Natalie ElphickeWhat we learn from Andy Street’s narrow loss in the West MidlandsRishi Sunak told to show some vision as local polls leave Tories in a hole We’ve made this subscribers-only FT webinar free to everyone and you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/zp0UXwc7DTs?si=E3w2xBAEYfug00U6Sign 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 Audrey Tinline. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Andrew Georgiadis and Rod Fitzgerald were the studio engineers. 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