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Andy Burnham’s chancellor John Healey delivered his maiden budget on Wednesday. With ballooning debt, poor growth and rising inflation, the mantra was very much ‘steady as we go’ – with only modest announcements on tax and spending. Households have been helped with energy costs while banks, landlords and savers have been hit. Healey insisted he was doing his best to help, but was it enough to secure long-term economic health and security for the UK? Host Lucy Fisher discusses these questions and lots more from FT subscribers with UK political editor George Parker, markets columnist Katie Martin and economics editor Sam Fleming.
This is a recording of an FT Live subscribers’ webinar.
Follow Lucy @lucyfisher.ft.com & @LOS_Fisher; George @georgewparker.bsky.social & @GeorgeWParker and Sam @Sam1Fleming
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John Healey hits banks and savers to fund modest Budget handout
UK Budget 2026: Healey defends Budget as economic warnings grow
Budget in brief: what you need to know
Healey fiddles while the UK stagnates
Property tax rise will push more landlords to sell, Healey warned
Britain’s Budget buys time but ducks the hard choices
Our email address is politicalfix@ft.com
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 Colleen Velle and Petros Gioumpasis. The FT’s head of audio is Flo Phillips.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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Is Andy Burnham winning over voters with his promise to put ‘hope in every heart and growth in every postcode’? As the prime minister marks almost 100 days in the job, the FT has been polling swing voters in Sheffield to discuss his performance, the state of the country and how he stacks up against the other political parties. Host George Parker discusses the findings with pollster Scarlett Maguire, deputy political editor Jim Pickard and political correspondent David Sheppard. Plus, the panel discusses the government’s controversial decision to develop the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea.
Follow George @GeorgeWParker and @georgewparker.bsky.social; David @OilSheppard and @oilsheppard.bsky.social and Jim @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.social
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Has Andy Burnham won over British voters?
UK approves development of Jackdaw gasfield in North Sea
Andy Burnham’s North Sea ‘pragmatism’ is no big shift from Keir Starmer’s
John Healey to quash visa hopes for wealthy in UK Budget
Stratford moves closer to international rail upgrade with Budget boost
What will the UK Budget mean for Britain? Join Lucy Fisher and political editor George Parker, markets columnist Katie Martin, economics editor Sam Fleming and north of England correspondent Jen Williams for an exclusive FT subscriber webinar on October 29. To register, and send us your questions, go to ft.com/budget2026 (Registration includes access to the video replay.)
Our email address is politicalfix@ft.com
Presented by George Parker. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Giorgiades 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.
Is Andy Burnham's habit of speaking off the cuff getting him into trouble? From Brexit interference and Scottish independence to Manchester City, the prime minister's impromptu interventions are making headlines. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by deputy opinion editor Miranda Green and UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley to discuss whether Burnham's style is an asset or liability. Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Number 10, the Liberal Democrats are growing restless with their leader, and public policy editor Chris Smyth brings us the latest on the government's welfare reforms.
Follow Lucy on X or Bluesky @LOS_Fisher, @lucyfisher.ft.com; Chris: @Smyth_Chris and @chris-smyth.bsky.social; Miranda:@greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.social and Robert: @robertshrimsley and @robertshrimsley.bsky.social
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Russia ‘interfered’ in 2016 Brexit vote, says Andy Burnham
One in 6 UK disability benefit claimants should not receive cash, says think-tank
Young people to receive less cash but more job support under Milburn welfare plan
How the Greens lost their party to the hard left
EU leaders to urge Zelenskyy to rein in criticism of Trump
Are the Liberal Democrat birds angry or just disappointed?
Why I don’t write about the Liberal Democrats
What will the UK Budget mean for Britain? Join Lucy Fisher and colleagues political editor George Parker, markets columnist Katie Martin, economics editor Sam Fleming and North of England correspondent Jen Williams for an exclusive FT subscriber webinar on October 29. To register, and send us your questions, go to ft.com/budget2026 Registration includes access to the video replay.
Our email address is politicalfix@ft.com
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 Giorgiades and Bianca Wakeman. 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.
Labour has held on to Sir Keir Starmer’s old seat in Holborn and St Pancras, in a boost to Andy Burnham but a major setback for Green leader and by-election candidate Zack Polanski. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by deputy political editor Jim Pickard and columnist Stephen Bush, who weigh the impact of the Greens’ anti-Zionist position and round up the news from the Tory Party conference. Have pledges to cut taxes, boost the military and reform welfare put them back on the electoral map? Plus, we get the latest from the business community ahead of the Budget with UK chief business correspondent Ashley Armstrong.
Follow Lucy on X or Bluesky @LOS_Fisher, @lucyfisher.ft.com ; Stephen @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; Jim @PickardJE @pickardje.bsky.social; Ashley @AArmstrong_says
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Labour holds off Greens’ Polanski to win London by-election
Six things we learnt from the Tory party conference
Healey warns banks that UK faces ‘challenging’ fiscal picture but stays tight-lipped on tax
Burnham pledges to end use of non-compete clauses
Kemi Badenoch’s pitch goes some way to assuaging British business concerns
Kemi Badenoch: ‘I refuse to play by Westminster rules’
Tory inheritance tax pledge: do the sums add up?
Kemi Badenoch’s European nightmare
What will the UK Budget mean for Britain? Join Lucy Fisher and colleagues political editor George Parker, markets columnist Katie Martin, economics editor Sam Fleming and North of England correspondent Jen Williams for an exclusive FT subscriber webinar on 29 October. To register, and send us your questions, go to ft.com/budget2026. Registration includes access to the video replay.
Our email address is politicalfix@ft.com
Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineer is Petros Giuompasis. 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.
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.
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Andy Burnham sets up battle lines on social care and Europe
How would Andy Burnham’s social care shake-up work?
Burnham’s brave new world — just one more election away
Six takeaways from Andy Burnham’s conference speech
A faintly hopeful mood at Labour conference
Sign 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 @PickardJE
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The risks of calling an early election for Andy Burnham
Treasury open to smaller fiscal headroom to reduce UK tax rises
The FT’s budget dashboard: the data confronting chancellor John Healey
Labour conference set to vote on new AI regulator as cabinet concerns grow
Donald Trump rejects ‘globalist scheme’ to control AI in blow to Andy Burnham
UK to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in its fight with Houthi rebels
How could John Healey raise tax in the budget
Sign 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 politicalfix@ft.com
Presented 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
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Britain, Burnham and tax: the walls close in
Healey prepares UK for ‘really challenging’ budget
Nigel Farage refuses to say if Reform UK’s £72mn gifts would comply with new cap
UK state pension will surpass income tax threshold next year
Bank of England says rates likely to rise as it overhauls gilts sales
It’s time to scrap the triple lock
Scrapping triple lock on pensions need not wreak political damage
A ‘lucky’ chancellor must also be a resolute one
Sign 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 politicalfix@ft.com
Presented 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: @greenmiranda
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Anthropic withheld latest AI model from UK testing agency
AI hasn’t gone rogue, it’s worse than that
Growth in every postcode: good politics, dubious economics
Israel’s hapless British defenders
Israel retaliates after UK bans trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank
UK set to announce trade ban on Israeli settlements in the West Bank
The five financing scandals facing Reform
Sign 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 politicalfix@ft.com
Presented 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 @OilSheppard
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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 sting
Latest allegations make Reform look ridiculous
Nigel Farage and Reform UK hit by illicit-funding sting
The five financing scandals facing Reform
James Orr and the gospel of the British right
Sign 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.
There’s big "new term" energy this week in parliament with MPs returning from summer recess for Andy Burnham’s first Prime Minister's Questions. After Burnham answered a mega 125 questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch lambasted the prime minister for being a “people pleaser” and a “spendthrift”. What did Burnham’s first appearance in the Commons tell us about his leadership style? And can Badenoch’s shadow cabinet reshuffle help the Tory party win back popularity? Plus, why is Green Party leader Zack Polanski standing in Keir Starmer’s old seat? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT's chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and deputy political editor Jim Pickard.
Follow Lucy @LOS_Fisher ; Robert @robertshrimsley; Jim @PickardJE
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Andy Burnham tries to calm bond markets as public spending fears mount
Burnham seeks to protect UK farming and steel in EU reset talks
Andy Burnham and Emmanuel Macron meet as Bayeux tapestry unveiled
How UK-Israel relations reached their worst point in decades
PMQs cannot change Andy Burnham’s political reality
Andy Burnham’s summer of quietly backing away from radical pledges
James Orr and the gospel of the new British right
Greens leader Zach Polanski to stand in seat vacated by Keir Starmer
Come and join the FT and Political Fix panelists at the FT Weekend Festival on Saturday September 5 at Kenwood House Gardens in London. To save 10 per cent on tickets, visit ft.com/festival and use the discount code FTPODCAST.
You can also sign 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 audio mix by Breen Turner. Our broadcast engineers were Andrew Georgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. 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.
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