Best Bite Size Britain Podcasts (2025)

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Starmer in a spin as the ‘Dark Lord’ bites the dust 31:21

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19m ago31:21

31:21

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…

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Bonus ep: How the UK is navigating the Trump era 31:45

21h ago31:45

31:45

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, …

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Rayner, Reeves and Reform 32:26

4d ago32:26

32:26

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 …

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Farage, flags and the ghosts of Labour’s past 32:47

11d ago32:47

32:47

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 …

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The mess in the NHS 35:42

19d ago35:42

35:42

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 prevent…

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Starmer's superpower: soft power? 27:53

25d ago27:53

27:53

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, Ukrainia…

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Introducing Swamp Notes: The real cost of gutting USAID 19:04

1M ago19:04

19:04

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…

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Why Starmer changed his mind about Palestinian statehood 35:31

1M ago35:31

35:31

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 t…

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One year in opposition 34:58

2M ago34:58

34:58

As MPs head back to their constituencies for the summer, the Political Fix panel reflects on the year in opposition for Kemi Badenoch and her Conservative party. Host George Parker is joined by Robert Shrimsley to discuss their exclusive interview with the party leader, along with Anna Gross and Jim Pickard to talk Reform, the right-wing agenda, an…

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The Afghan Files: the inside story on the catastrophic leak 33:12

2M ago33:12

33:12

One of the gravest security lapses in UK history came to light this week after a judge lifted a superinjunction on a catastrophic data leak that could have affected 100,000 Afghans, as well as British spies and special forces members. Political Fix’s Lucy Fisher, one of the journalists who broke the story, returns to the show to talk with host Geor…

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Resetting Franco-British relations: the cross-channel contract 28:23

2M ago28:23

28:23

Emmanuel Macron made his state visit to the UK this week – the first EU leader to do so since Brexit. It heralded a reset between France and Britain, dubbed the ‘entente amicale’ by King Charles. Macron and Starmer announced a joint crackdown on migration with a ‘one-in one-out policy’ for asylum seekers and closer cooperation on defence. But it wa…

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A year of Keir 37:29

2M ago37:29

37:29

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. Host George Parker is joined by Stephen Bush, Miranda Green and Robert S…

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Starmer’s welfare woes 35:10

3M ago35:10

35:10

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 rebellion took place, what it says about Starmer’s leadership and where next …

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Starmer on standby 27:10

3M ago27:10

27:10

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 that mean for his relationship with his own party, especially given L…

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Reeves sets Labour’s course – but what will it deliver? 34:49

3M ago34:49

34:49

Labour’s long-awaited spending review dropped this week. Rachel Reeves unveiled funding settlements for government departments – and a newly upbeat tone after the gloomy promise of hard times in her previous Commons set pieces. The NHS and defence were prioritised but other departments and services face a squeeze. Are dividing lines now clear as La…

1
Facing down a fiscal firestorm 28:51

3M ago28:51

28:51

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has had an action-packed week. She made a U-turn on winter fuel payments, announced plans to spend billions of pounds on new transport schemes and, following the prime minister’s latest announcement, she now has to find yet more money to fund a rise in defence spending. So where does this leave the chancellor ahead of th…

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Coming soon: The Wolf-Krugman Exchange 2:08

3M ago2:08

2:08

In a special six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discuss the economic events reshaping the world in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s election. Subscribe and listen to this series on The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts …

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Who’s afraid of Nigel Farage? 35:19

4M ago35:19

35:19

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Reform party leader Nigel Farage clashed on economic issues this week. Farage said his party was the champion of the working class, while Starmer warned Farage’s proposed spending rises amounted to “fantasy promises”. Host George Parker is joined by the FT’s Stephen Bush, Chris Giles and Anna Gross to discuss Reform’…

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Is Labour’s post-Brexit reset a victory or a betrayal? 32:00

4M ago32:00

32:00

The UK and EU announced a historic deal to ‘reset’ their relationship this week. Keir Starmer called the deal a “win-win”, while a “gobsmacked” Kemi Badenoch labelled it a “surrender”. Who’s right? Host George Parker is joined by the FT’s Miranda Green, Peter Foster and Andrew Bounds who unpack the agreement and analyse who came out on top. Plus, t…

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Labour's immigration crackdown 36:38

4M ago36:38

36:38

It’s been another turbulent week for Labour after Keir Starmer announced a crackdown on legal migration. The prime minister gave what has since become a controversial speech suggesting the UK is at risk of becoming an “island of strangers” – and home secretary Yvette Cooper announced an end to all social care visas, tighter rules for highly skilled…

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Ask Political Fix: Trade, tax and leftwing pacts 43:56

4M ago43:56

43:56

Our first Q&A special episode is finally here! You sent in questions, now our panel answers them. Is the UK-US trade deal worth the paper it’s signed on? Could the UK benefit from a brain drain from the US? Is there any chance of Keir Starmer being booted out by his party before the next election? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s Stephen Bush…

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Local elections special: end of the two-party duopoly? 35:28

4M ago35:28

35:28

This week, we’ve seen Reform UK trounce Labour and the Conservatives across England in local elections. Nigel Farage’s party has secured a fifth MP, clinched two mayorships and seized control of at least seven councils. In response, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is vowing to go harder and faster with his reforms, while Kemi Badenoch’s leadership …

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Reform on the march? Our local elections guide 39:51

5M ago39:51

39:51

Ahead of England’s local elections next week, the Political Fix team pick the races to watch and what’s at stake for the main parties, as voters head to the polls to elect 1,600-odd councillors, six mayors and one new MP. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by podcast regulars Miranda Green and Anna Gross, plus the FT’s Northern correspondent Jennifer Willi…

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What is a ‘woman’ in law? The Supreme Court ruling 36:11

5M ago36:11

36:11

The UK Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling this week about the legal definition of a woman in equality legislation. Judges ruled that a woman is someone who is born biologically female. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s Anna Gross and Robert Shrimsley to discuss the political significance of this decision and the reaction of rival parties, …

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Markets or Trump: who’s in charge? 44:03

5M ago44:03

44:03

The markets have gone haywire since Donald Trump’s announcement — and then pause— of a host of new US tariffs. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars George Parker and Miranda Green, plus FT markets columnist Katie Martin, to discuss the impact of this week’s turbulence and what it means for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the UK …

1
Trump’s trade war: trouble ahead for Britain 38:19

5M ago38:19

38:19

Donald Trump has shaken up the global economy with his seismic new tariffs this week. UK exports to the US will now face a 10 per cent levy – less than many other countries, but still a major headache for Britain’s fragile economy. Host Lucy Fisher and FT colleagues Robert Shrimsley, Jim Pickard and Peter Foster examine the pain this could inflict …

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Doom, gloom and not much headroom: Spring Statement 38:13

6M ago38:13

38:13

Rachel Reeves was forced to slash spending to balance the books in her Spring Statement this week. Welfare spending will be cut more deeply than initially trailed, prompting warnings that 250,000 people — a fifth of them children — could be plunged into poverty. Economists also fear the chancellor will face further tough choices — more cuts or a fr…

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Austerity redux? Spring Statement lookahead 44:44

6M ago44:44

44:44

It’s crunch time for chancellor Rachel Reeves next Wednesday, when she will present her Spring Statement to parliament. Downgraded growth forecasts and deep spending cuts to unprotected departments loom. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by regulars Miranda Green, Jim Pickard, and the FT’s economics editor Sam Fleming to debate whether Labour is ushering …

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Starmer’s ‘Project Chainsaw’: the NHS, Whitehall, welfare 47:22

6M ago47:22

47:22

“The world’s largest quango is scrapped” – that’s how the government framed the abolition of the NHS management body this week. It was the latest target in Sir Keir Starmer’s so-called ‘Project Chainsaw’, his plan to streamline the state. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues Stephen Bush, Robert Shrimsley and Anna Gross to discuss the prime …

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Will Starmer sink or swim in Trump’s world? 34:35

6M ago34:35

34:35

Sir Keir Starmer has won plaudits from across the political spectrum for his handling of the rapidly growing rift between the US, Europe and Ukraine – but can the UK prime minister sustain this diplomatic balancing act? George Parker hosts a discussion that brings together US defence and foreign affairs correspondent, Felicia Schwartz, and Politica…

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The Starmer-Trump love-in 40:57

7M ago40:57

40:57

Donald Trump showered praise on Keir Starmer during the UK prime minister’s visit to the White House this week, describing him as ‘special’, a ‘beautiful man’ and a ‘tough negotiator’. Host Lucy Fisher speaks to George Parker — who was there in the Oval Office — plus fellow Political Fix regulars Miranda Green and Stephen Bush about the upshot of t…

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‘America is now an adversary’ 43:31

7M ago43:31

43:31

The future of Ukraine and the defence of Europe will dominate when Keir Starmer jets out to the White House for talks with Donald Trump next week. Can the UK prime minister help save 80 years of Pax Americana? Or is the US on the verge of becoming an ‘adversary’ to Europe? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues Robert Shrimsley, Gideon Rachman…

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The right to die: who should have the final say? 36:06

7M ago36:06

36:06

The bitter and emotional wrangling over the assisted dying bill reached new heights in parliament this week, following proposed changes to a key safeguard. Is it a sensible efficiency to remove the need for a High Court judge to sign off every request, or will this move sink the legislation? Host Lucy Fisher discusses the disputed plan with Politic…

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Trump and Reform: Is US-style populism set to sweep the UK? 43:06

7M ago43:06

43:06

Donald Trump has stunned the world with a raft of extraordinary interventions this week, prompting Keir Starmer to keep his head down. But what happens when it’s Britain’s turn in the new US administration’s headlights? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars George Parker and Robert Shrimsley, as well as the FT’s chief foreign affairs…

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Growth – and damn the consequences? 39:37

7M ago39:37

39:37

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has sought to place rocket-boosters under the UK economy this week – with a vow to prioritise growth over the environment or nimbyism. But how long will her plan take to work, is it too concentrated in the south of England, and what cabinet splits will it spark? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Sh…

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Trump turbulence: How should Labour play it? 38:33

8M ago38:33

38:33

Donald Trump returned to the White House this week, with a host of radical plans that threaten to heavily affect the UK – spanning tariffs, the Ukraine war, energy and climate policy. How should the British government handle the new president and his prospectus? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT Westminster colleagues Jim Pickard and Anna Gross, plu…

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Reeves vs the markets 43:11

8M ago43:11

43:11

Turmoil in the bond markets has caused turbulence for Rachel Reeves this month, with grumbles about her performance – and that of the UK economy – growing louder. This week, Political Fix asks who’s in charge: the chancellor or the financial markets? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by regular panellists Robert Shrimsley and Stephen Bush, plus the FT’s m…

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Musk and the new political playbook 42:13

8M ago42:13

42:13

Elon Musk’s hostility towards the UK government, and Sir Keir Starmer in particular, continues to escalate – prompting concerns he’s been radicalised by his own algorithm. What’s driving the technology billionaire’s fixation with the UK? And are his interventions reframing political discourse – not just in Britain but in other European nations too?…

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2025: Labour’s year of pain? 44:02

8M ago44:02

44:02

After a rocky start in office for Labour, the next 12 months will prove pivotal for the UK government. Sir Keir Starmer must grapple with dismal popularity ratings, tough public finances, anaemic growth forecasts and a string of challenging policy decisions. Opposition parties also face key tests. Can Tory leader Kemi Badenoch silence critics’ warn…

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Quizmas special: Political Fix’s nerd out! 40:35

9M ago40:35

40:35

Who threatened to launch an aquatic assault on the Dutch town of Leiden? And which political candidate pledged to force water bosses to take a dip in British rivers? Find out as host Lucy Fisher puts the full Political Fix panel – Robert Shrimsley, Jim Pickard, Stephen Bush, George Parker and Miranda Green – through their paces in a big, fat, end- …

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Farage: more popular than the PM 35:56

9M ago35:56

35:56

Reform UK is now beating Labour in one pollster’s survey, while party leader Nigel Farage is Ladbrokes’ favourite to succeed Keir Starmer as the next prime minister. This week Political Fix examines whether Reform is a serious future contender for government – and whether it is the Conservatives or Labour who should be most worried. Host Lucy Fishe…

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Will Starmer’s new milestones become millstones? 38:04

9M ago38:04

38:04

Sir Keir Starmer unveiled six fresh pledges as part of a major government reset this week, which included diluting a green target and redefining his economic goals. It followed a tumultuous start to government for Labour after 14 years in opposition. As the administration reached the five-month mark on Thursday, Political Fix hosted a live special …

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Assisted dying: The vote 38:46

10M ago38:46

38:46

MPs will vote on assisted dying this week for the first time in almost a decade. There are ramifications for the NHS, questions over legal oversight, and ethical considerations that all feed into this highly emotive and personal issue. And if the bill passes this hurdle, what will happen next on its journey through parliament? Host Lucy Fisher is j…

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Labour’s beef with farmers 36:20

10M ago36:20

36:20

After winning swaths of rural seats in the general election, Labour’s relationship with the countryside has nosedived, amid a row over the government’s plan to impose inheritance tax on some farms. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regular Jim Pickard and political correspondent Anna Gross to discuss the changes to agricultural property r…

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EU or US? UK plays piggy in the middle 37:54

10M ago37:54

37:54

As Donald Trump makes his first appointments, speculation in Whitehall grows: will the UK move closer to the US or cosy back up with the EU? The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars George Parker and Robert Shrimsley, as well as Peter Foster, the FT’s public policy editor, to discuss how Britain might successfully balance its two mo…

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The UK in Trump’s world 44:29

10M ago44:29

44:29

Despite past criticism of Donald Trump, Sir Keir Starmer has sent ‘hearty’ praise to the president-elect for his victory this week. But what will transatlantic relations be like in 2025 and what does a Trump presidency mean for a Labour government? And, after Kemi Badenoch won the Tory leadership contest, we assess her first days in the job. Politi…

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Live Budget special: How will the UK secure growth? 58:18

11M ago58:18

58:18

It’s been two days since chancellor Rachel Reeves put a £40bn tax increase at the heart of a plan to fix the country’s “broken” finances and public services, and unveiled a sharp increase in borrowing to fund an extra £100bn of capital spending. But will these measures bolster investment and growth in the UK economy? And what does the Budget tell u…

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New chancellor, new rules 37:13

11M ago37:13

37:13

Rachel Reeves has rewritten her fiscal rules on the eve of her seismic first Budget next week. She says her new borrowing rule will help get Britain building, but how will it go down with voters – and the markets? Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer is in Samoa, where a debate about reparations for slavery has threatened to overshadow the Commonwealth summ…

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Cabinet fightback: the revolt over spending 37:33

11M ago37:33

37:33

Rachel Reeves’s plans for a tough spending round later this month have sparked a fierce revolt among a raft of cabinet ministers. But will their protests make a difference? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley and George Parker to discuss. They also hear from the FT’s chief features writer Henry Mance about the cash…

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Martin Wolf on the UK economy: ‘Why I’m worried’ 41:24

11M ago41:24

41:24

What kind of economy did Labour inherit this summer, and how does Britain measure up to international comparators? Political Fix host Lucy Fisher sits down with Martin Wolf to examine the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the UK’s economy as Rachel Reeves prepares for her seismic first Budget on October 30. Wolf assesses the options facing the c…