Political Fix

As Sir Keir Starmer steps over the threshold of Number 10, FT experts answer audience questions about what to expect from the new Labour government. Will Keir Starmer’s landslide victory lead to lasting change? The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by colleagues Stephen Bush, George Parker, Miranda Green and Robert Shrimsley to discuss the Labour landslide and the future of the defeated Tory partyFollow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Robert on @robertshrimsley and George on @GeorgeWParker, Stephen on @stephenkb and Miranda on @greenmirandaWant more?  Keir Starmer enters Downing Street as UK prime minister after historic victoryStarmer stands supreme but he cannot ignore the Reform surge‘Hard to imagine a worse outcome’: Tory collapse sparks blame gameHistoric UK election hauls reveal bigger voter trendsSign 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 Audrey Tinline with Leah Quinn. Original music by Breen Turner. Mix by Odinn Ingibergsson.The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Labour is heading for the biggest “landslide majority” Britain has ever seen. That’s the verdict from Mel Stride, one of prime minister Rishi Sunak’s closest ministerial allies, who has in effect conceded defeat ahead of Thursday’s UK general election. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Robert Shrimsley, political editor George Parker and political correspondent Anna Gross to discuss the campaign strategies of the various parties, and to look ahead to the results.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Anna on @AnnaSophieGross, Robert on @robertshrimsley and George on @GeorgeWParkerWant more?  How 120 knife-edge seats may tip the Tories from defeat to wipeoutTories warn of Labour landslide in final day of election campaigningWhat to watch out for on election nightJoin us on July 5 at 13:00 UK (GMT+1) when Political Fix host Lucy Fisher will dissect the election outcome with Inside Politics author Stephen Bush, political editor George Parker and columnists Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green. Register and put your question to the panel by visiting www.ft.com/ukwebinarSign 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 Manuela Saragosa with Leah Quinn. 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

With under a week to go until polling day, Lucy Fisher and her panel — the FT’s Miranda Green and Stephen Bush — pull together the threads of the campaign to explore the remaining ‘known unknowns’ in this election. They are joined by FT columnist Simon Kuper whose new book ‘Good Chaps’ looks at the disintegration of public service in our national life and examines how to rid our political system of sleaze.Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_FisherWant more? Free links:Reform UK activist calls for migrants to be shotA safe space at the eye of the storm: onboard Rishi Sunak’s battle busBlue Wall vulnerable to tactical voting as natural Conservatives turn against partyHow the Conservatives lost touch with England’s prosperous southSign 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 Philippa Goodrich and Leah QuinnManuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

The Conservatives’ embattled campaign suffered yet another setback this week, as the betting scandal escalated and the party finally suspended two candidates ensnared by the row. But when did it first start to go wrong for the Tories? Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s chief data reporter John Burn-Murdoch, who charts the beginning of the party’s descent back to 2019. The pair are joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley and George Parker to discuss whether Britain’s “first past the post system” will lead to the biggest ever mismatch between parties’ share of the vote and their share of Westminster seats. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_FisherWant more? Free links:How the Conservatives lost touch with England’s prosperous south No, Keir, the real opposition is behind you Brace for the most distorted election result in British historyThe seeds of the Tory collapse were sown in 2019Starmer will be centrism’s last chanceSign 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 Persis Love and Audrey Tinline.Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

An election-betting scandal is sending the Tory campaign into freefall. The latest blow to the Conservatives comes as some polls predict a wipeout for the party on July 4. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard to discuss this latest blow in a campaign littered with blunders. Plus, the team analyses the effect of the Reform party on the Tory vote and what might happen after the election. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Jim @PickardJE. Stephen @stephenkbWant more? Free links:Unusual burst of bets preceded Rishi Sunak’s election announcement‘Every Tory I know is angry’: betting scandal sends election campaign into ‘freefall’Potential routes forward for the Tories post-electionTory leadership hopefuls jostle to replace Rishi SunakKeir Starmer: ‘People need hope, but it needs to be realistic hope’Sketchy Politics: the extinction election?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 Audrey Tinline with Leah Quinn and Josh Gabert-Doyon.Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Labour is promising voters not to raise a raft of taxes, not to borrow to fund day-to-day spending and not to return to austerity with major cuts to public services. How will it manage this? Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves insists economic growth will square the circle. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher asks economics editor Sam Fleming, who interviewed Reeves this week, whether her plans to increase UK output stack up. Plus, Helen Miller from the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank joins with her assessment of the “conspiracy of silence” by both big parties over tax and spend after the election. Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Sam @Sam1Fleming, Helen @TheIFSWant more? Free links:A dash for growth: the shadow chancellor prepares for governmentRachel Reeves to seek ‘improved’ UK-EU trade terms if Labour wins election The Labour party’s uncertain certainty dividendLabour’s EU plan will have ‘minimal’ impact on cost of Brexit, says think-tankSign 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 Audrey Tinline with Leah Quinn. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and audio mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com