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
Farage in a fix; Burnham unbeatable [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:27
Is Nigel Farage regretting his move to trigger a by-election now that his main rival is the novelty candidate Count Binface? What do Reform’s supporters think, and has he blown his chances of broadening support for the p…
Nigel Farage tries to ‘take back control’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:52
Has Nigel Farage played his trump card by announcing that he will resign as MP for Clacton and fight a by-election there, or will the move backfire? After mounting pressure over donations from wealthy backers, he insiste…
Power to the North: Burnham’s big idea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:27
Andy Burnham’s big idea for government is to shift power out of Westminster. In his first major speech setting out his plans for government, he outlined his vision this week for a No 10 North and to devolve a range of po…
Live special: Ten years after Brexit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:28
Ten years ago, the UK voted in a referendum to leave the EU. Since that Brexit vote, the country has been through six prime ministers, the political landscape has splintered, relations with the EU have cooled, and the ec…
Can anyone challenge Andy Burnham for PM? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:44
Can any other Labour MP amass sufficient support to challenge Andy Burnham for the top job, or is his ascent to No 10 now all but assured? Just 24 hours after Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as prime minister, host Lucy F…
Exit Starmer, enter Burnham [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:09
With Andy Burnham sworn in as an MP and on track to become the UK’s seventh prime minister in 10 years after Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation today, host Lucy Fisher is joined by political editor George Parker and deputy p…
Unseating Starmer: Burnham’s next move [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:51
Andy Burnham has stormed the Makerfield by-election, clearing the pathway for him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the top job in Downing Street. Starmer has vowed to defend his position, but will Burnham’s team be able…
Makerfield or bust: Burnham goes for broke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:06
With a week to go until Makerfield heads to the polls in what may turn out to be the most consequential by-election in British history, host Lucy Fisher, northern England correspondent Jen Williams and deputy political e…
The Nowak murder: when tragedy meets politics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:48
What began as a local tragedy in Southampton has quickly become a national flashpoint. Questions about policing and trust in UK institutions are dominating the debate, as party leaders compete to shape the public respons…
Should Labour heed Tony Blair? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:57
Tony Blair’s lengthy – and excoriating – 5,600-word essay on the future of the Labour Party and Britain has set Westminster alight this week. The former prime minister's critique has sparked a lively debate, and triggere…