logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2024
34m 54s

Will the economy save Sunak?

Financial Times
About this episode

The prime minister is urging his MPs to unite or face electoral defeat. Rishi Sunak has rallied backbenchers to hold their nerve, as he cleaves to the prospect of an improving economy rescuing the Tory party’s fortunes. But in a week where the government’s flagship Rwanda policy faced more hold-ups, will rumours of plots against Sunak die down? The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues Miranda Green, Jim Pickard and Anna Gross to discuss the week’s events in parliament. Plus, a look at what Labour is promising to deliver for the NHS.


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


Want more? Free links:


Rishi Sunak urges Tories to unite as he bets on an improving UK economy


Rachel Reeves pledges to borrow only to invest under Labour fiscal rules


UK’s electoral landscape swings into volatility


UK civil service boss and spy chief quit male-only Garrick Club


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 with Leah Qiunn. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. 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
Yesterday
Reform in hot water … again
Reform’s conference in Birmingham was soured by a Channel 4 News broadcast showing the party's leader Nigel Farage and some of his closest allies in conversations with a man purporting to arrange illicit political donations. Farage says the party has ‘broken no law’ but Reform ha ... Show More
29m 17s
Yesterday
Burnham vs Badenoch: Commons showdown
There’s big "new term" energy this week in parliament with MPs returning from summer recess for Andy Burnham’s first Prime Minister's Questions. After Burnham answered a mega 125 questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch lambasted the prime minister for being a “people pleaser ... Show More
34m 28s
Aug 28
What Burnham told the FT
In his first interview with the FT since becoming prime minister, Andy Burnham tells political editor and host George Parker that he is pro-business and understands the pressures that business is under — but wants something in return from corporate Britain. Deputy political edito ... Show More
36m 18s
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. <br /> <br />What could happen if the local elections on May 2nd end badly for Rishi S ... Show More
47m 36s
May 2024
Rishi Sunak tries to rally Conservatives
<p>UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tries to revive Conservative morale with a speech in London, four Chinese generative artificial intelligence start-ups have been valued at more than $1bn in the past three months, and US shale oil companies are under the spotlight over allegations ... Show More
12m 28s
Dec 2023
Rishi Sunak's Nightmare Before Christmas
<p>While Rishi Sunak gives evidence to the Covid inquiry, at Westminster his MPs are debating whether to back his Rwanda policy. Can he find a way out of his nightmare before Christmas, and save his premiership? Matt is joined by three wise experts to look at the options.</p><br> ... Show More
49m 7s
Nov 2023
Sunak grapples with ruling on flagship asylum plan
<p>UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is attempting to save a plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda; an EU proposal will see Denmark enforcing the price cap on Russian oil by checking ships in the Baltic Sea; Plus, EY names a new CEO.</p><br><p><strong>Mentioned in this podcast:</st ... Show More
9m 41s
Dec 2023
Is Signa’s downfall a canary in the coalmine?
<p>UK Prime Minister<strong> </strong>Rishi Sunak headed off a Conservative revolt over his flagship Rwanda migration bill, US core inflation rose last month, and the FT’s Sam Jones explains the downfall of Signa, one of Europe’s most prominent property developers.&nbsp;</p><br>< ... Show More
11m 2s
Dec 2023
Sunak feels the walls closing in
As Sunak squirms in the Commons and the COVID Inquiry, we wonder what will sink him first. His defence of Eat Out To Help Out The Virus? Or his own impossible-to-please backbenchers? Plus, how would the Tory Right’s feverish fan-fiction plan for a Boris Johnson-Nigel Farage Dream ... Show More
56m 4s
Dec 2023
Rishi in the dock: Covid and Rwanda
With no fewer than five separate Tory factions meeting to discuss whether or not to back the government on its revised Rwanda policy, Rishi Sunak finds himself fighting for his political reputation on two fronts: immigration and his handling of the pandemic.Yesterday, he faced th ... Show More
36m 2s