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Oct 2023
32m 12s

Labour’s historic by-election wins

Financial Times
About this episode

The UK's Labour party has pulled off two stunning by-election victories. The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by colleagues Miranda Green, Jim Pickard and Stephen Bush to discuss whether Keir Starmer’s party is now on track for a 1997-style landslide, and what the Tories’ dismal results mean for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Plus, the group examines the PM’s tour of the Middle East as fears grow that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate. What are the repercussions for UK politics as the conflict deepens?


Clips: BBC


Want more? Free links:


Labour seizes Tamworth and Mid Beds from Conservatives in UK by-elections


Historic by-elections and the curious case of Tamworth


Labour’s twin victories suggest it may be too late to save Tory bacon


Keir Starmer faces growing mutiny from within Labour over Israel-Hamas stance 


Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher


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. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. 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


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