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Political Fix

Political Fix

By: Financial Times
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 The Financial Times takes you into the corridors of power to unwrap, analyse and debate British politics with a regular lineup of FT correspondents and informed commentators. New episodes available every Friday.

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Financial Times Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Coming soon from Tech Tonic: Defying death

    Coming soon from Tech Tonic: Defying death
    Nov 24 2025

    Investors are spending billions of dollars on novel ways to extend human life through inventive treatments, therapies, and even manipulating our genes. And increasingly, it seems as though anti-ageing efforts have moved from the super rich to a mass market consumer industry. In this series, we’re covering the past, present and future of the longevity movement. We’ll be looking at where the fixation on longevity is coming from, and trying to understand the practical and ethical issues at the heart of this cutting-edge field of research.


    From Silicon Valley fantasies, to Singaporean health spas, to Colombian genetic clinics and beyond, the FT’s Hannah Kuchler and Michael Peel ask whether breakthroughs in science and technology can really help us live longer, and even stop us aging altogether.


    Free to read:


    US ‘wellness’ industry scents opportunity to go mainstream


    The quest to make young blood into a drug


    This season of Tech Tonic was produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Fact checking by Simon Greaves, Lucy Baldwin and Tara Cromie. Original music by Metaphor Music. Manuela Saragosa is the FT’s acting co-head of audio.


    The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    2 mins
  • Boats and the Budget: the battlelines are drawn

    Boats and the Budget: the battlelines are drawn
    Nov 21 2025
    Home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a tough set of measures overhauling immigration policy this week, in a bid to deter illegal boat crossings and tackle the thorny issue of asylum seekers that dominates the news agenda. But how did the announcement go down with a divided Labour party?And, just days away from the Budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves is under huge pressure after a series of U-turns and leaks on taxation policy. Host George Parker discusses whether anything can be done to reverse the fortunes of the government with the FT’s deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, political columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter Stephen Bush, and Whitehall correspondent David Sheppard. Follow George on Bluesky @georgewparker.bsky.social; Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; David @oilsheppard.bsky.social What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com Want more? Free links: Labour needs a way out of the infernal circle of immigration policy Why the small boats won’t stopHigh earners to be eligible for UK settlement within 3 years of arrivalUK asylum seekers face seizure of jewellery to pay for accommodationRachel Reeves’ gambit Covid response of ‘toxic’ UK government was ‘too little, too late’, inquiry findsTo sign up for free to the new FT Alphaville newsletter on Substack, go to ftav.substack.comThe FT is hosting a live webinar on November 28 on what the UK Budget will mean for your money. You can put questions to FT journalists Claer Barrett, Stuart Kirk, Tej Parikh and special guest, tax expert Dan Neidle. Get your pass now at ft.com/budgetwebinar.Sign up to Stephen's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free at https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOffer.To sign up for free to the new FT Alphaville newsletter on substack, go to ftav.substack.comPresented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth and Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music by Breen Turner, mix by Odinn Inigbergsson. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. Clips from BBCRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    34 mins
  • Is Starmer’s leadership on the line?

    Is Starmer’s leadership on the line?
    Nov 14 2025

    It has been a whirlwind week in Westminster with the BBC in crisis and a supposed challenge to the prime minister’s leadership. So, was there a putative coup from within Keir Starmer’s own cabinet? Is there a “toxic culture” in Downing Street? Plus: the panel’s take on the runners and riders for the top job at the national broadcaster. Host George Parker is joined by Anna Gross, Stephen Bush and Jim Pickard to discuss.


    This episode was recorded before the FT broke the story about the chancellor scrapping proposals to raise income tax. Read the article here:

    Starmer and Reeves drop proposal to increase income tax rates in Budget


    Plus, stay tuned for our panel discussion next week ahead of the Budget on November 26.


    Follow George @georgewparker.bsky.social; Jim @pickardje.bsky.social and Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social


    Want more?


    Self-inflicted leadership crisis unites factions against Starmer


    ‘He’s played a blinder’: How Wes Streeting won the week


    Brain-dead Labour retreats to its comfort zone: campaigning


    Who will be the next director-general of the BBC?


    And 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 analysis. Get 30 days free.


    Plus, the FT is hosting a live webinar on November 28 on what the UK Budget will mean for your money. You can put questions to FT journalists Claer Barrett, Stuart Kirk, Tej Parikh and special guest, tax expert Dan Neidle. Get your pass now at ft.com/budgetwebinar.


    Our email address is politicalfix@ft.com


    Political Fix was presented by George Parker and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music by Breen Turner, mix by Odinn Ingibergsson. The video engineers are Petros Gioumpasis and Andrew Georgiades. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.


    Clip from BBC


    Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    32 mins
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