Quizmas special: Political Fix’s 2025 nerd-out!

Quizmas special: Political Fix’s 2025 nerd-out!

Author: Financial Times December 19, 2025 Duration: 50:05

Can you name all the Labour frontbenchers who resigned or were sacked during the past year? Why was Peter Mandelson delayed from returning to the UK after being sacked as US ambassador? And who will be crowned Political Fix’s Wonk-in-Chief? Find out as host George Parker puts the entire podcast panel - Miranda Green, Stephen Bush, Robert Shrimsley, Jim Pickard and Anna Gross - through their paces in this big, fat, fiendishly difficult end-of-year quiz. The panellists also highlight their most memorable moment of 2025 and unveil their wildest predictions for the year ahead. Plus, discover who scooped all the chocolate coins in the studio to win the annual Political Fix stockpicks portfolio prize.


Political Fix has been nominated for a People’s Choice Award at the Political Podcast Awards. Vote for us here. 


Follow the panel on Bluesky - George @georgewparker.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; Jim @pickardje.bsky.social; Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social and Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social 


Political Fix is presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. Our video engineers are Bianca Wakeman and Andrew Georgiades.


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


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
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…