logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
29m 20s

Rwanda plan reignites Tory civil war

Financial Times
About this episode

Infighting has erupted once again within the Tory ranks over Rishi Sunak’s last-minute treaty with Kigali and emergency legislation to save his Rwanda removals plan. The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by colleagues Miranda Green and Jim Pickard to explain what’s happened and discuss the latest drama, including the shock resignation of the PM’s one-time ally, immigration minister Robert Jenrick. Plus, the FT’s Laura Hughes assesses Boris Johnson’s performance at the Covid inquiry.


Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Miranda on: @greenmiranda, Jim on: @PickardJE


Free links:


UK court battles still lie ahead over revamped Rwanda removal scheme


Tory leadership contest would be ‘insanity’, warns party chair 


Boris Johnson denies considering ‘let it rip’ Covid strategy


Public inquiries are one of Britain’s only growth industries



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



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

Up next
Jul 4
A year of Keir
This week marks a year of Keir Starmer’s government. But if Labour was expecting to celebrate the anniversary – it didn't pan out that way. Despite claiming a narrow victory with the contentious welfare bill, the government appeared to have one of its roughest weeks on record. Ho ... Show More
37m 29s
Jun 27
Starmer’s welfare woes
Sir Keir Starmer faced a huge rebellion from within his own party this week after scores of MPs opposed changes to make it tougher to collect some disability benefits. This episode — recorded just before the prime minister’s concessions on welfare reform — unpacks why the rebelli ... Show More
35m 10s
Jun 20
Starmer on standby
Will he? Won’t he? President Donald Trump has given little indication as to whether America will join in the conflict between Israel and Iran. So where does this leave the UK and its assets in the region? How does the prime minister play his hand with the president, and what does ... Show More
27m 10s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2024
Rishi Sunak: embattled or beleaguered?
As the prime minister tries to shake off rumours of a Tory coup and faces more delays to his Rwanda legislation - Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Jess Phillips discuss where his leadership is at.    What could happen if the local elections on May 2nd end badly for Rishi Sunak?    A ... Show More
47m 36s
Jul 2022
Britain after Boris
The FT’s UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and FT columnist Stephen Bush discuss what’s next for the country after Boris Johnson’s resignation. Plus, as the fears of recession grow, commodity prices are falling.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts o ... Show More
11m 6s
Jan 2022
How Partying Could Be Boris Johnson’s Undoing
When allegations first emerged in November about parties held at 10 Downing Street, the residence and offices of the British prime minister, during a strict Covid lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson waved them away. Yet in the weeks since, the scandal has only grown, with publ ... Show More
25m 3s
Jun 2024
Why are Labour calling Sunak a liar?
Rishi Sunak accused Keir Starmer of planning to put people's taxes up by £2,000 if he got into power - sums he said had been independently verified. This morning we learned they werent, after a top civil servant put the record straight. Labour are calling the PM a liar (he repeat ... Show More
34m 38s
Jun 2023
Scotland’s Sturgeon arrested
The former first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, was arrested on Sunday, Boris Johnson’s exit from UK parliament will have consequences for the Conservative Party. Plus, former US president Donald Trump’s most recent indictment could have implications on his 2024 run for p ... Show More
9m 45s
May 2024
73. Kwasi Kwarteng: Boris Johnson, the British Empire, and Rwanda (Part 1)
"If I were 22 now, I probably wouldn't vote Conservative" - Kwasi Kwarteng In the first of two episodes with the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rory and Alastair speak to Kwasi about the future of the Tory Party, New Labour's conservatism, Rishi Sunak, Rwanda, Brexit, Liz Tr ... Show More
44m 9s
Feb 2024
Will Young: popstar to politician? Plus Westminster ceasefire row
Nish and guest co-presenter Liz Bates set the scene on what went on to become a chaotic night  in the Commons, that put speaker Lindsay Hoyle’s job at risk. They call out the “pathetic and petty” political game playing that sought to use the suffering of people in Gaza to embarra ... Show More
56m 22s
Jun 2022
On a Sticky Picket
With the Conservatives trying to blame Labour for this week’s strikes we unpack this latest bemusing attack line. Plus, we assess the ongoing Brexit dilemmas six years on from the referendum, with even ardent leavers dismayed and question marks over Labour’s position on the situa ... Show More
55m 11s
Jun 2024
How do you recover from a political car crash?
Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika joins Sky’s Beth Rigby and Conservative peer Ruth Davidson to talk about the latest developments in the general election campaign.       On this episode, they discuss whether Rishi Sunak can recover from his D-Day blunder, the fallout from Do ... Show More
44m 41s
Jun 2024
264. Rishi Sunak’s defining moment
Could Farage engineer a reverse takeover of the Tory Party? Why has Emmanuel Macron called a snap election? Are Labour losing votes to the Greens? Join Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell for the latest episode of The Rest Is Politics, where they answer all these questions and mor ... Show More
56m 31s