Boats and the Budget: the battlelines are drawn

Boats and the Budget: the battlelines are drawn

Author: Financial Times November 21, 2025 Duration: 34:28
Political Fix
NewsNews & PoliticsPolitics

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a tough set of measures overhauling immigration policy this week, in a bid to deter illegal boat crossings and tackle the thorny issue of asylum seekers that dominates the news agenda. But how did the announcement go down with a divided Labour party?

And, just days away from the Budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves is under huge pressure after a series of U-turns and leaks on taxation policy. 

Host George Parker discusses whether anything can be done to reverse the fortunes of the government with the FT’s deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, political columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter Stephen Bush, and Whitehall correspondent David Sheppard. 


Follow George on Bluesky @georgewparker.bsky.social; Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; David @oilsheppard.bsky.social 

What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com  

Want more? Free links:    

Labour needs a way out of the infernal circle of immigration policy 

Why the small boats won’t stop

High earners to be eligible for UK settlement within 3 years of arrival

UK asylum seekers face seizure of jewellery to pay for accommodation

Rachel Reeves’ gambit 

Covid response of ‘toxic’ UK government was ‘too little, too late’, inquiry finds

To sign up for free to the new FT Alphaville newsletter on Substack, go to ftav.substack.com

The FT is hosting a live webinar on November 28 on what the UK Budget will mean for your money. You can put questions to FT journalists Claer Barrett, Stuart Kirk, Tej Parikh and special guest, tax expert Dan Neidle. Get your pass now at ft.com/budgetwebinar.

Sign up to Stephen'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 at https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOffer.

To sign up for free to the new FT Alphaville newsletter on substack, go to ftav.substack.com

Presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth and Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music by Breen Turner, mix by Odinn Inigbergsson. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. 

Clips from BBC


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
Political Fix
Podcast Episodes
The UK in Trump’s world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:29
Despite past criticism of Donald Trump, Sir Keir Starmer has sent ‘hearty’ praise to the president-elect for his victory this week. But what will transatlantic relations be like in 2025 and what does a Trump presidency m…
Live Budget special: How will the UK secure growth? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:18
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 £1…
New chancellor, new rules [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:13
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? Meanwh…
Cabinet fightback: the revolt over spending [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:33
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 reg…
Martin Wolf on the UK economy: ‘Why I’m worried’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
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 inheren…
100 days of Labour: Starmer’s stuttering start [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:03
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 L…
‘Let’s be more normal’ – and rival Tory strategies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:40
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 con…
Starmer’s ‘weird’ week: from Liverpool to New York [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:55
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 Shrim…
Is the shine coming off Saint Starmer? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:31
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…
A terminal diagnosis for the NHS? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:10
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? L…

«1...5678910»