The ‘bin fires’ setting Labour’s in-tray alight

The ‘bin fires’ setting Labour’s in-tray alight

Author: Financial Times July 23, 2024 Duration: 33:44

Sir Keir Starmer plans to hand more powers to metro mayors in what has been dubbed a ‘devolution revolution’. Host Lucy Fisher speaks with politics reporter Rafe Uddin, deputy political editor Jim Pickard and north of England correspondent Jen Williams about the merits of the proposal – as well as the potential backlash. Plus, the group discusses an internal dossier by Sue Gray that lists potential ‘bin fires’ in the new government’s in-tray, including the prisons capacity crisis, public sector pay disputes, cash-strapped universities and the possible collapse of Thames Water.


Want more? Free links:


The Labour government’s ‘inheritance’ retort will not work on everything


‘Eat your greens’ politics brings its own dangers


Conservative party plans to unveil next leader in November


Starmer pledges to ‘fire up’ the training of UK workers to boost growth


Why Labour’s pledge to fix the Tory mess means tax rises


To take part in an audience survey, and to be in with the chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, click here 

Click here to find T&Cs for the prize draw.


Follow Lucy on X @LOS_Fisher, Jim @PickardJE, Rafe @rafeuddin_ and Jen @JenWillians_FT


Sign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award: 

https://ft.com/insidepoliticsoffer


Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s global 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
Reeves sets Labour’s course – but what will it deliver? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:49
Labour’s long-awaited spending review dropped this week. Rachel Reeves unveiled funding settlements for government departments – and a newly upbeat tone after the gloomy promise of hard times in her previous Commons set…
Facing down a fiscal firestorm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:51
UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has had an action-packed week. She made a U-turn on winter fuel payments, announced plans to spend billions of pounds on new transport schemes and, following the prime minister’s latest announ…
Coming soon: The Wolf-Krugman Exchange [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:08
In a special six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discuss the economic events reshaping the world in the wake of US Pres…
Who’s afraid of Nigel Farage? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:19
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Reform party leader Nigel Farage clashed on economic issues this week. Farage said his party was the champion of the working class, while Starmer warned Farage’s proposed spending rises am…
Is Labour’s post-Brexit reset a victory or a betrayal? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
The UK and EU announced a historic deal to ‘reset’ their relationship this week. Keir Starmer called the deal a “win-win”, while a “gobsmacked” Kemi Badenoch labelled it a “surrender”. Who’s right? Host George Parker is…
Labour's immigration crackdown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:38
It’s been another turbulent week for Labour after Keir Starmer announced a crackdown on legal migration. The prime minister gave what has since become a controversial speech suggesting the UK is at risk of becoming an “i…
Ask Political Fix: Trade, tax and leftwing pacts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:56
Our first Q&A special episode is finally here! You sent in questions, now our panel answers them. Is the UK-US trade deal worth the paper it’s signed on? Could the UK benefit from a brain drain from the US? Is there any…
Local elections special: end of the two-party duopoly? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:28
This week, we’ve seen Reform UK trounce Labour and the Conservatives across England in local elections. Nigel Farage’s party has secured a fifth MP, clinched two mayorships and seized control of at least seven councils.I…
Reform on the march? Our local elections guide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:51
Ahead of England’s local elections next week, the Political Fix team pick the races to watch and what’s at stake for the main parties, as voters head to the polls to elect 1,600-odd councillors, six mayors and one new MP…
What is a ‘woman’ in law? The Supreme Court ruling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:11
The UK Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling this week about the legal definition of a woman in equality legislation. Judges ruled that a woman is someone who is born biologically female. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by t…