Farage: more popular than the PM

Farage: more popular than the PM

Author: Financial Times December 13, 2024 Duration: 35:56

Reform UK is now beating Labour in one pollster’s survey, while party leader Nigel Farage is Ladbrokes’ favourite to succeed Keir Starmer as the next prime minister. This week Political Fix examines whether Reform is a serious future contender for government – and whether it is the Conservatives or Labour who should be most worried. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s deputy political editor Jim Pickard and political correspondent Anna Gross to discuss Reform’s trajectory, plus the chancellor’s spending review. They are also joined by Gideon Rachman, the FT’s chief foreign affairs columnist, to examine events playing out in Syria and how the UK should respond.




Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Anna on X: @AnnaSophieGross, Jim @PickardJE and Gideon @gideonrachman


Want more? Free links: 


Can Nigel Farage turn Reform into a serious contender for government?


More than 10,000 UK civil service jobs to be cut


Nigeria’s vice-president launches attack on Tory leader Kemi Badenoch


Review of £1.2tn in UK public spending will ‘be tight’, minister warns


UK ministers reject union calls to lift public sector pay to pre-austerity levels


The west should not succumb to cynical regret over Syria



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 Clare Williamson. 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


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

Political Fix
Podcast Episodes
Growth – and damn the consequences? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:37
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has sought to place rocket-boosters under the UK economy this week – with a vow to prioritise growth over the environment or nimbyism. But how long will her plan take to work, is it too concentra…
Trump turbulence: How should Labour play it? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:33
Donald Trump returned to the White House this week, with a host of radical plans that threaten to heavily affect the UK – spanning tariffs, the Ukraine war, energy and climate policy. How should the British government ha…
Reeves vs the markets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:11
Turmoil in the bond markets has caused turbulence for Rachel Reeves this month, with grumbles about her performance – and that of the UK economy – growing louder. This week, Political Fix asks who’s in charge: the chance…
Musk and the new political playbook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:13
Elon Musk’s hostility towards the UK government, and Sir Keir Starmer in particular, continues to escalate – prompting concerns he’s been radicalised by his own algorithm. What’s driving the technology billionaire’s fixa…
2025: Labour’s year of pain? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 s…
Quizmas special: Political Fix’s nerd out! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:35
Who threatened to launch an aquatic assault on the Dutch town of Leiden? And which political candidate pledged to force water bosses to take a dip in British rivers? Find out as host Lucy Fisher puts the full Political F…
Will Starmer’s new milestones become millstones? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:04
Sir Keir Starmer unveiled six fresh pledges as part of a major government reset this week, which included diluting a green target and redefining his economic goals. It followed a tumultuous start to government for Labour…
Assisted dying: The vote [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:46
MPs will vote on assisted dying this week for the first time in almost a decade. There are ramifications for the NHS, questions over legal oversight, and ethical considerations that all feed into this highly emotive and…
Labour’s beef with farmers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:20
After winning swaths of rural seats in the general election, Labour’s relationship with the countryside has nosedived, amid a row over the government’s plan to impose inheritance tax on some farms. Host Lucy Fisher is jo…
EU or US? UK plays piggy in the middle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:54
As Donald Trump makes his first appointments, speculation in Whitehall grows: will the UK move closer to the US or cosy back up with the EU?The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars George Parker and Rober…