After the toe-curling revelations about Lord Peter Mandelson’s connections with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the ambassador’s departure seemed inevitable to all - with the exception of some in Downing Street. Questions about the speed of his sacking, what Sir Keir Starmer knew and why the New Labour grandee was hired in the first place will plague the prime minister as he prepares for US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit. Host George Parker is joined by FT columnist Stephen Bush, deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, and deputy political editor Jim Pickard to discuss the political fallout for the PM and look ahead at the two-horse race to replace deputy Labour party leader Angela Rayner.

Want more?:

Labour MPs are increasingly doubting Keir Starmer’s leadership

Why the Mandelson affair raises questions about Starmer’s judgment

Exit Mandelson — but not Number 10’s problems

Peter Mandelson’s back: the Prince of Darkness returns

Bridget Phillipson faces Lucy Powell in final stage of Labour deputy leader race

Follow George on Bluesky @georgewparker.bsky.social and on X at @GeorgeWParker; Jim @PickardJE, Stephen @stephenkb and Miranda on @greenmiranda

Sign up to Stephen Bush'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

Political Fix is presented by George Parker and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.

CLIPS: Parliament TV

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

US President Donald Trump is coming to the UK next week. What can we expect from his visit? And where do things stand between the US and the UK? In this special bonus episode, our two FT political chat shows, Political Fix and Swamp Notes, team up to unpack relations between the two longtime allies. Marc Filippino, host of the Swamp Notes podcast, and US managing editor Brooke Masters are joined by Political Fix’s George Parker and Lucy Fisher to discuss. This episode was recorded on September 6 in front of a live audience at the FT Weekend Festival in London.

Listen to the Swamp Notes podcast on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Political Fix podcast on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. The executive producer for Political Fix is Flo Phillips. This episode was mixed by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-heads of audio are Topher Forhecz and Manuela Saragosa. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

It wasn’t the start to the new parliamentary term that Prime Minister Keir Starmer hoped for. His insistence that his focus is now on “delivery, delivery, delivery” was eclipsed by the furore surrounding the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, over her tax affairs. To discuss where her precarious position leaves Starmer, plus his attempts to get the economic agenda back on track, host George Parker is joined by political correspondent Anna Gross, FT columnist and author of the daily Inside Politics newsletter Stephen Bush, and FT economics commentator Chris Giles. Plus, as the party conference season kicks off, the team looks at what’s on the menu for Reform UK supporters at their first ever conference.

Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Stephen @stephenkb; Anna @AnnaSophieGross and Chris @chrisgiles_

Going to the FT Weekend Festival at Kenwood House Gardens in London on Saturday September 6? George and Lucy Fisher will be hosting a breakfast event, talking politics and podcasts, in the Experience Tent from 9.45am. FT Live has a 10% discount for all FT podcast listeners with the promo code FTPodcasts. Find a registration link to use with the discount here

Send a question, ideally as a voicenote, to our email address: politicalfix@ft.com

Sign up to Stephen Bush'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 here

Want more?

The UK is a Fiscal Saint not a Sinner

Reform UK ‘going to the next stage’, says deputy leader

Keir Starmer seeks to get a grip on UK economy with new hires

This episode of Political Fix was presented by George Parker, and produced by Philippa Goodrich. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Just as Sir Keir Starmer was stealing a few days' summer holiday, Reform unveiled its immigration policy, former Labour heavyweights called for a withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights, and Tony Blair popped up in the White House. So with recess nearly over, the prime minister is trying to take back the news agenda starting with a shake-up at Number 10. And with conference season almost under way, an upcoming visit from President Donald Trump, and the Budget around the corner, Starmer has ample opportunity to seize the spotlight. Host George Parker is joined by political correspondent Anna Gross, the FT’s chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley, and FT columnist and author of the daily newsletter Inside Politics Stephen Bush.

Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Robert: @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Stephen @stephenkb and Anna @AnnaSophieGross

Want more?

Farage is winning the new battle of Brexit

Donald Trump holds White House talks on postwar plan for Gaza

Keir Starmer launches Downing Street shake-up

Can Labour pull off a comeback?

Jack Straw says the UK should ‘decouple’ from the ECHR

The FT Weekend Festival returns for our 10th edition on Saturday, September 6 at Kenwood House Gardens in London.

George Parker and Lucy Fisher will be hosting a breakfast event, talking politics and podcasts, in the Experience Tent from 9.45am. If you can’t make it, please send a question, ideally as a voicenote, to our email address: politicalfix.com.

PLUS, sign up to Stephen Bush'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

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

England’s NHS is in a ‘critical and deteriorating condition’ - those are the words of Lord Darzi who investigated the state of the NHS for the new Labour government last year. In response, Starmer unveiled a ten year plan to fix it focusing on delivering three big shifts in healthcare: hospital to community; analogue to digital; sickness to prevention but is it too little, too late, or is the problem just too big to fix?

In this week’s special episode, host George Parker is joined by our global health editor, Sarah Neville, deputy comment editor Miranda Green and FT economics commentator, Chris Giles, author of the weekly newsletter on Central Banks. Together they discuss some of the key problems facing the UK’s healthcare system, its financial situation and why it matters so much to both the public and politicians.

Follow: George on Bluesky @georgewparker.bsky.social or X @GeorgeWParker; Sarah Neville @SarahNev; Chris Giles @ChrisGiles; and Miranda Green @greenmiranda

Sign up to Stephen Bush'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

What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com

Want more? Free links:

Will the NHS 10-year plan fix England’s crumbling health service?

The future of the NHS

Wes Streeting says ‘jury is out’ over pay deal for doctors as talks continue

One in five UK doctors are considering quitting, regulator warns

Miranda's column - Ask Green: Is laughter the best medicine?

CLIPS:

BFI

BBC

Sky News

Presented by George Parker, and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. Manuela Saragosa is the acting co-head of audio.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Maga arrived in Chipping Norton this week, heralding an intense round of British diplomacy ahead of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on Friday. Ukraine is top of the agenda and both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and foreign secretary David Lammy have been doing their bit liaising between US vice-president JD Vance and President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders. In this week’s episode, host George Parker is joined by Europe editor Ben Hall and Whitehall editor David Sheppard to discuss how the UK is playing its hand on the global stage and the role of soft power in its negotiations.

The FT Weekend Festival returns for our 10th edition on Saturday September 6 at Kenwood House Gardens in London. Get details and tickets here

Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Ben Hall @hallbenjamin and David Sheppard @OilSheppard

Want to get in touch? Email politicalfix@ft.com

Want more? Free links:

Putin hails Trump’s ‘energetic and sincere’ efforts to end Ukraine war

Zelenskyy faces his ‘moment of maximum pressure’

JD Vance to meet Reform’s Nigel Farage after talks with Tory MP Robert Jenrick

George Osborne arranged Cotswolds holiday for JD Vance

How the Bayeux Tapestry became a tool of soft power

Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter.

CLIPS: Manchester Evening News

Presented by George Parker, and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and mix by Breen Turner.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Political Fix is on a break this week. In its absence, we're taking the opportunity to introduce you to its sister podcast, Swamp Notes, the weekly US politics podcast from the Financial Times. Six months after the Trump administration gutted the US Agency for International Development, experts are tracking the impact of its absence. The FT’s David Pilling and the Brookings Institution’s George Ingram describe the surprising ways countries are adapting to a world with less resources for the poor, sick and starving.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

What the closure of USAID is really costing the world

USAID cuts threaten 14mn extra deaths by 2030, warns study

The shifting future of foreign aid

Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter here

Listen to Swamp Notes on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. Samantha Giovinco mixed this week’s episode. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the UN General Assembly. The decision comes after some Labour MPs and cabinet ministers accused him of being too slow to respond to the Gaza crisis. Host George Parker is joined by FT columnists Stephen Bush, Robert Shrimsley and deputy opinion editor Miranda Green to discuss how the prime minister arrived at this decision, and whether UK recognition of a Palestinian state will change the state of play in the region.

Sign up to Stephen Bush'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

Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Robert @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social‬, @stephenkb; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social

What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com

Want more? Free links:

The best case for Starmer’s ill-starred Palestine gambit

Starmer finally sets out his stance on Palestinian statehood

Keir Starmer threads the needle on Palestinian recognition

Emmanuel Macron says France will recognise Palestinian state in September

Presented by George Parker and produced by Ethan Plotkin. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music by Breen Turner and mix by Simon Panayi. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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