2025: Labour’s year of pain?

2025: Labour’s year of pain?

Author: Financial Times January 3, 2025 Duration: 44:02

After a rocky start in office for Labour, the next 12 months will prove pivotal for the UK government. Sir Keir Starmer must grapple with dismal popularity ratings, tough public finances, anaemic growth forecasts and a string of challenging policy decisions. Opposition parties also face key tests. Can Tory leader Kemi Badenoch silence critics’ warnings about her low visibility and output, and can Reform UK’s Nigel Farage prove his party’s momentum is real and not mere mirage? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues Robert Shrimsley, Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard to gaze into their crystal balls and consider the year ahead. They discuss the coming local elections, the spectre of Westminster by-elections, the impact of Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office and more.


Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Jim @PickardJE, Stephen @stephenkb and Robert @robertshrimsley 


Want more? Free links: 


NHS, education, housebuilding… Labour’s progress so far and its plans for 2025 


Farage and why Kemi Badenoch does not have time to ‘watch this space’ 


UK heading for tax rises despite return to growth, economists say 


Keir Starmer promises year of ‘rebuilding’ for UK in 2025


Trump wants 5% Nato defence spending target, Europe told 


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 Lulu Smyth. 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


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Every Friday, the team behind Political Fix gathers to make sense of the week's political turbulence. This isn't just a recap of headlines; it's a deep, often lively conversation that pulls back the curtain on how decisions are really made in Westminster and beyond. You'll hear from the Financial Times journalists who are actually there, in the corridors and committee rooms, paired with expert voices who provide crucial context. Together, they untangle complex policy debates, analyse the shifting alliances, and question the strategies defining Britain's future. The result is a clear-eyed, authoritative look at the forces shaping the nation, delivered with the FT's signature rigor and insight. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining access to a private briefing, one that prioritizes substance over noise. It’s for anyone who wants to move past the soundbites and understand the real stories and personalities driving the political agenda. New episodes arrive weekly, offering a consistent and essential perspective on a landscape that never stops moving.
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