Political Fix

• Local elections special: end of the two-party duopoly?

  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.In response, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is vowing to go harder and faster with his reforms, while Kemi Badenoch’s leadership of the Conservative party is coming under scrutiny.Host Lucy Fisher is joined by podcast regulars George Parker, Robert Shrimsley and Stephen Bush to dissect what the results mean for the government, the opposition and traditional two-party politics in the UK.Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at [email protected]. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us. Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley,Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social, @stephenkb and George Parker @GeorgeWParker @georgewparker.bskyb.socialWant more? Free links: Reform UK sweeps English councils in local election routNigel Farage shakes British politics with election surgeMulti-party politics heightens danger for muddled LabourReform wins first UK council in local election surgePlus: The final State of Britain newsletter from Political Fix regular Pete Foster reflecting on his five or more years as the FT’s public policy editor, covering Brexit and its impact on UK government and business. Post-Brexit UK: stuck between an unreliable US and a mercantilist EUSign up here for 30 days free 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 Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s 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.

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• Reform on the march? Our local elections guide

  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. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by podcast regulars Miranda Green and Anna Gross, plus the FT’s Northern correspondent Jennifer Williams, to ask whether Reform UK will live up to high expectations, and just how far both Labour and the Tories could fall. They also examine Sir Keir Starmer’s pivot to patriotism and projection of a nostalgic vision of England, as he attempts to see off the threat from Nigel Farage. Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at [email protected]. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us. Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Anna annasophiegross.bsky.social @AnnaSophieGross, Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, and Jennifer @JenWilliams_FT @jenwilliamsft.bsky.socialWant more? Free links: What to watch in the 2025 local elections Starmer plays up patriotic credentials as local elections loom Reform UK heads offshore to raise funds from world’s wealthy Unite divided: British trade union grapples with twin scandals Sign up here for 30 days free 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 Lulu Smyth, with help from Georgina Quach. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s 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.

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• What is a ‘woman’ in law? The Supreme Court ruling

  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 the FT’s Anna Gross and Robert Shrimsley to discuss the political significance of this decision and the reaction of rival parties, as well as what it’s likely to mean in practice. Plus, FT industry correspondent Sylvia Pfeifer joins the panel to discuss the government’s seizing control of British Steel from its Chinese owner, and what that means for London-Beijing relations.Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at [email protected]. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us. Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Anna annasophiegross.bsky.social, @AnnaSophieGross, Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley, Sylvia @sylviapfiefer @sylviapfiefer.bsky.social Want more? Free links: Legal definition of a woman refers to ‘biological sex’, UK Supreme Court rules British Steel: how its Chinese owner’s plans unravelled British Steel’s Chinese owner says UK government must ‘respect’ its rights Reform UK targets Labour voters ahead of local elections Sign up here for 30 days free 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 Lulu Smyth, with help from Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and mix by Breen Turner, with help this week from Fiona Symon. The FT’s 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.

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• Markets or Trump: who’s in charge?

  The markets have gone haywire since Donald Trump’s announcement — and then pause— of a host of new US tariffs. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars George Parker and Miranda Green, plus FT markets columnist Katie Martin, to discuss the impact of this week’s turbulence and what it means for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the UK going forward. As parliament takes a break for Easter recess, the panel also discusses the political year so far.Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at [email protected]. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us. Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; George @GeorgeWParker @georgewparker.bskyb.social and Katie @katie0martin.ft.com Want more? Free links: The hopeless search for Trump’s cunning plan Theresa May: ‘Keep calm and keep talking to Trump’Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary shaping Trump’s trade warGovernment offers to buy British Steel as negotiations continueWhat do young Britons really think?Listen to Katie’s on the Unhedged podcast here, or by searching ‘Unhedged’ where you listen. 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 Lulu Smyth, with help from Fiona Symon. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and mix by Breen Turner, with help this week from Fiona Symon. The FT’s 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.

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• Trump’s trade war: trouble ahead for Britain

  Donald Trump has shaken up the global economy with his seismic new tariffs this week. UK exports to the US will now face a 10 per cent levy – less than many other countries, but still a major headache for Britain’s fragile economy. Host Lucy Fisher and FT colleagues Robert Shrimsley, Jim Pickard and Peter Foster examine the pain this could inflict at home, and what Sir Keir Starmer can – and should – do in response. Plus, ministers have unleashed a raft of policies aimed at longer-term growth, including the expansion of Luton airport. Are these headline-grabbing gimmicks or sensible tactics?Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher, Jim @pickardje.bsky.social, Robert: @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley, Peter: @pmdfoster @pmdfoster.bsky.social Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at [email protected]. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us. Want more? Free links: Britain avoids worst of Trump’s tariffs, but risks remain for Stamer UK will refocus quangos to clear ‘way for progress’, says minister UK treasury confident Sizewell C nuclear power investors will soon be ‘teed up’ Can Cambridge be a model for kick-starting the British economy?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 Lulu Smyth, with help from Fiona Symon. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s 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.

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