Will Farage’s gamble pay off?

Will Farage’s gamble pay off?

Author: Financial Times August 7, 2026 Duration: 42:56

Political Fix hit the Essex seaside this week to hear directly from Clacton voters ahead of the by-election next Thursday, which Nigel Farage has triggered in the wake of scrutiny of his finances. He’s framing it as a “people versus the establishment” contest – but what do local residents think? Why, at a time when his national ratings have plunged, does the Reform leader’s popularity in Clacton appear undiminished? 


Host Lucy Fisher is joined by political correspondent Anna Gross and UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley to discuss the contest and Reform’s broader fortunes. Plus, the trio examine Kemi Badenoch's judgement in supporting the council candidacy of a former neo-Nazi, as well as the Tories’ and Labour’s efforts to convince business of their respective growth credentials. 


Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Anna, @AnnaSophieGross and Robert: 


Want more?  

‘I’ll support him all the way’: Clacton voters rally to Nigel Farage despite heightened scrutiny

The good, the bad and the green of Badenoch

Reform repaid Tice loan on same day £1mn donated by mother of Farage aide Cottrell

Reform UK promises large-scale ‘military operation’ to block small boat crossings

Kemi Badenoch ‘sad’ over former antisemite’s withdrawal as Tory council candidate 

Conservatives rebuild relations with UK business after rocky two years

UK to strip back procurement rules to focus on job creation, says Louise Haigh



You can also sign up here for Stephen Bush’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.


Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Persis Love and Clare Williamson. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. 


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: 50

Political Fix
Podcast Episodes
AI: Is Britain prepared? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:21
AI promises major opportunities, but also significant risks – for the economy, employment, security and perhaps even human civilisation. But in Westminster, AI is far from a priority. In addition, fears that the UK’s AI…
Reform in hot water … again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:17
Reform’s conference in Birmingham was soured by a Channel 4 News broadcast showing the party's leader Nigel Farage and some of his closest allies in conversations with a man purporting to arrange illicit political donati…
Burnham vs Badenoch: Commons showdown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:28
There’s big "new term" energy this week in parliament with MPs returning from summer recess for Andy Burnham’s first Prime Minister's Questions. After Burnham answered a mega 125 questions, Conservative leader Kemi Baden…
What Burnham told the FT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:18
In his first interview with the FT since becoming prime minister, Andy Burnham tells political editor and host George Parker that he is pro-business and understands the pressures that business is under — but wants someth…
Burnham: To drill or not to drill? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:20
Andy Burnham has been on a regional tour of the UK, delivering a steady stream of policies aimed at tackling social issues. But now comes the hard part: should he push ahead with new drilling in the North Sea? After a su…
Farage wins… and donation probe resumes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:51
Nigel Farage has comfortably won back his Clacton seat but with the investigation into his finances now back on, what, if anything, has been gained by this by-election gamble? And with the Reform UK leader absenting hims…
Burnham’s policy bonanza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:00
Successive prime ministers have pledged to tackle some of the biggest crises affecting old and young: the UK’s lack of vocational training and the chaos of social care. Now it’s the turn of the latest PM Andy Burnham. In…
Burnham’s economic vision [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:24
Andy Burnham’s new cabinet is in place and he’s dropped a raft of policy announcements on the cost of living this week, filling in some of the gaps about the kind of administration he will lead. On the show, host Lucy Fi…
Andy Burnham’s cabinet: who’s in, who’s out? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:08
It’s all change at the top of Andy Burnham’s new Labour government and there have been some surprise appointments. The biggest of them was the elevation of the former defence minister John Healey to chancellor of the exc…
The Burnham era begins: Mahmood set for chancellor? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:52
Andy Burnham has been crowned Labour leader and will become PM on Monday. His first speech to the party faithful on Friday offered new clues about his plans for government, as speculation reaches fever pitch over his cab…