Political Fix

Recorded in front of an audience at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, host Lucy Fisher and political editor George Parker unpack Andy Burnham’s first conference speech as prime minister. From rethinking Britain’s relationship with the EU to ending the pensions triple lock and scrapping the electoral system, Burnham laid out an ambitious agenda for the country. Lucy and George speak to business secretary Jonathan Reynolds about the prime minister’s plans, before northern correspondent Jennifer Williams and Inside Politics writer and columnist Stephen Bush join them to give their takeaways from the week.Want more? Free links:Andy Burnham sets up battle lines on social care and EuropeHow would Andy Burnham’s social care shake-up work?Burnham’s brave new world — just one more election awaySix takeaways from Andy Burnham’s conference speechA faintly hopeful mood at Labour conferenceSign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Persis Love. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Video editing, original music and mix by Breen Turner. Flo Phillips is the FT’s global head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour officials in Downing Street and beyond have discussed the parameters in which a snap election could be called. Will Andy Burnham take the gamble? As speculation about the idea grips Westminster, host Lucy Fisher is joined by political editor George Parker and deputy political editor Jim Pickard to weigh up the risks and rewards of going to the public early. They also look ahead to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool starting this weekend, and the troubles that lie ahead for UK-EU relations. Plus George reports back from Burnham’s first major international summit at the UN general assembly in New York, where the prime minister weathered his first encounter with Donald Trump.Follow Lucy on X or Bluesky @LOS_Fisher, @lucyfisher.ft.com ; George on @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Jim @PickardJEWant more? The risks of calling an early election for Andy BurnhamTreasury open to smaller fiscal headroom to reduce UK tax risesThe FT’s budget dashboard: the data confronting chancellor John HealeyLabour conference set to vote on new AI regulator as cabinet concerns growDonald Trump rejects ‘globalist scheme’ to control AI in blow to Andy BurnhamUK to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in its fight with Houthi rebelsHow could John Healey raise tax in the budgetSign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free.Our email address is [email protected] by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Richard Topping. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With borrowing costs and inflation rising, are the UK’s finances worse than Burnham and Healey thought? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues George Parker, political editor, and Stephen Bush, columnist, to discuss the tightening fiscal outlook ahead of the October Budget, and whether scrapping the triple lock on pensions would cost the government more politically than it would save in cash terms.Plus, Reform’s week of mega-donations — and the Labour government’s response, and the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland begin a new push for independence from the UK.Follow Lucy: @LOS_Fisher; George: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Stephen @stephenkb Want more?  Britain, Burnham and tax: the walls close inHealey prepares UK for ‘really challenging’ budgetNigel Farage refuses to say if Reform UK’s £72mn gifts would comply with new capUK state pension will surpass income tax threshold next yearBank of England says rates likely to rise as it overhauls gilts salesIt’s time to scrap the triple lockScrapping triple lock on pensions need not wreak political damageA ‘lucky’ chancellor must also be a resolute oneSign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free.Our email address is [email protected] by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI promises major opportunities, but also significant risks – for the economy, employment, security and perhaps even human civilisation. But in Westminster, AI is far from a priority. In addition, fears that the UK’s AI Security Institute could be cut out of testing future frontier models before their release is fuelling alarm in Whitehall. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s AI editor Madhumita Murgia to discuss how developments in Silicon Valley are affecting UK politics. Plus UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and deputy opinion editor Miranda Green join the pod to unpack foreign secretary Ed Miliband’s trade ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The panel also examine the new Met police investigation into Reform’s finances, and Burnham’s latest devolution plans for a tourist tax. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher; Robert: @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Miranda: @greenmirandaWant more?  Anthropic withheld latest AI model from UK testing agencyAI hasn’t gone rogue, it’s worse than thatGrowth in every postcode: good politics, dubious economicsIsrael’s hapless British defendersIsrael retaliates after UK bans trade with Israeli settlements in the West BankUK set to announce trade ban on Israeli settlements in the West BankThe five financing scandals facing ReformSign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free.Our email address is [email protected] by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. Broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Richard Topping. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform’s conference in Birmingham was soured by a Channel 4 News broadcast showing the party's leader Nigel Farage and some of his closest allies in conversations with a man purporting to arrange illicit political donations. Farage says the party has ‘broken no law’ but Reform has launched its own investigation and two top advisors have stepped down. Host Lucy Fisher hears from the FT’s acting executive news editor David Sheppard, who was at the Reform conference. Plus, political editor George Parker and economics editor Sam Fleming talk to Lucy about their exclusive interview with John Healey – and what the new Labour chancellor has planned for the country.Follow Lucy @LOS_Fisher; George @GeorgeWParker and @georgewparker.bsky.social; Sam @Sam1Fleming; David @OilSheppardWant more?John Healey puts Britain on notice for tough Budget in ‘more dangerous world’What are the latest claims against Nigel Farage?Top Reform UK advisors to step down after donor stingLatest allegations make Reform look ridiculousNigel Farage and Reform UK hit by illicit-funding stingThe five financing scandals facing ReformJames Orr and the gospel of the British rightSign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter ‘Inside Politics’ for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. Flo Phillips is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.