This edition of Payne’s Politics was recorded before the news of the death of Conservative MP Sir David Amess who died after being stabbed at his constituency surgery in Essex on Friday.This week we discuss the latest with the UK’s shortages. Should the government be doing more and should the Treasury intervene? Political editor George Parker and chief political correspondent Jim Pickard will take us into the corridors of power.And later, we’ll be returning to Brexit and how to resolve the issue of the controversial Northern Ireland protocol. Can the UK and EU find a resolution that meets both of their red lines? And how bad are relations at the moment? Public policy editor Peter Foster will analyse, with special guest Georgina Wright from the Institut Montaigne.Audio source: BBC and Sky NewsProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Peter Foster, @George Parker, @Jim Pickard-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

FT Politics

A testy war of words breaks out in Whitehall

This week we analyse this year’s Conservative party conference. First, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s speech: how credible was it? Can low-skilled immigration be simply replaced without a big inflation risk? Political editor George Parker and chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley analyse.And then, we look at the other main theme of this year’s conference: levelling up. Did we gain any extra insight from Johnson and Michael Gove on what it means, how it can be delivered and what success looks like? Two special guests will explore: Rachel Wolf of Public First and Paul Swinney from the Centre for Cities think-tank.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Robert Shrimsley, @George Parker-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why every day at Conservative conference is Johnson day

This week, we’ll be analysing Labour’s annual jamboree and whether Sir Keir Starmer has met expectations. How did he take on the left and what was the core message of his keynote speech? Chief political correspondent Jim Pickard and political correspondent Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe will explore.Later on, we’ll turn our attention to the cost-of-living crunch approaching this winter. There are widespread fears across Whitehall that the situation could get worse, with inflation rising, fuel and food prices set to soar and even fears there might not be enough turkeys for Christmas. So what is causing all this disruption and is it about to get worse? George Parker and Chris Giles discuss the issues.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Jim Pickard, @George Parker-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Keir Starmer’s clear break with the Jeremy Corbyn era

This week, we analyse Boris Johnson’s trip to America, his address to the UN, his one-to-one with President Joe Biden and the health of the so-called special relationship. Joining to discuss are our political editor George Parker, and political and diplomatic correspondent Laura Hughes.Plus, we’ll be looking forward to the Labour party conference in Brighton next week. Keir Starmer has published a 14,000 word pamphlet setting out his vision for the country, but is anyone listening? Chief political correspondent Jim Pickard will discuss along with special guest John McTernan, the former Labour advisor and sometimes FT writer.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Jim Pickard, @George Parker-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson undertakes his first major overseas trip

This week, we dissect prime minister Boris Johnson’s first major reshuffle of this parliament. We’ll be examining who went up, who went sideways, those who were sacked and what this all tells us about where the Johnson government is going next. Political editor George Parker and political correspondent Laura Hughes will take us through what happened.And we discuss a new book “Broken Heartlands: A Journey Through Labour’s Lost England”. Author Sebastian Payne has been pootling around England for the past year trying to find out whether the party can win back the parts of the country it lost. He’ll be chatting with our chief political correspondent Jim Pickard.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Jim Pickard, @George Parker-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Looking in detail at the cabinet reshuffle

This week we analyse prime minister Boris Johnson’s game on social care reform, what the plan involves and whether the Conservative party and its voters will swallow tax rises. Political editor George Parker and economics editor Chris Giles dissect the details.Plus we look at how the UK government hopes to try to avoid another coronavirus lockdown this winter through vaccine passports and booster jabs. With cases already running high, are hospitals about to be overwhelmed? Health editor Sarah Neville and science reporter Oliver Barnes will discuss.Audio source: Institute for GovernmentProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tearing up the Conservatives’ fiscal orthodoxy

This week we examine how the UK got its withdrawal from Afghanistan so badly wrong and the subsequent Whitehall briefing war against the Foreign Office. Robert Shrimsley, our chief political commentator, and Laura Hughes, political and diplomatic correspondent, will analyse the issues.We also look at Whitehall’s contingency planning for what will happen to the UK’s nuclear deterrent in the event of Scottish independence. Will the Trident programme move to England,  America, France or stay where it is? Our Scotland correspondent Mure Dickie will explore the possibilities, with special guest Chris Brannigan, the prime minister’s former defence aide and a senior fellow at Policy Exchange.Audio source: BBCProduced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineers were Breen Turner and Sean McGarrity  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain’s diplomatic push over Afghanistan

In the fifth and final of our summer specials, Sebastian Payne meets Liz Truss, international trade secretary and minister for women and equalities.Truss is the most popular member of Boris Johnson’s government, and a keen advocate of a buccaneering policy of striking free trade deals with everyone and everywhere. We explore the economic worth of such agreements, what’s coming down the tracks and how her agenda may play into her own political future. Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Interview special: Liz Truss

In the fourth of our summer specials, Sebastian Payne meets Sir Malcolm Rifkind. In a week when the Taliban shocked the West with its rapid advance in Afghanistan, the former Conservative defence and foreign secretary examines where this leaves UK foreign policy. What does it mean for the UK’s so-called special relationship with the US and for the future of foreign interventions?Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Interview special: Sir Malcolm Rifkind

In the third of our summer specials, Sebastian Payne speaks to Steve Baker, the Tory MP for Wycombe and one of the Conservative party's most formidable campaigners. Whether it's through the European Research Group, his work as a Brexit minister or simply his campaigning, Baker is one of the people Downing Street fears the most, because when he's taken on policy positions, it's very difficult to combat him.Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. -Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Interview special: Steve Baker MP

In the second of our summer specials, Sebastian Payne speaks to Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London. Nicknamed Professor Lockdown by some newspapers, the leading epidemiologist and government scientific adviser has emerged as one of the most prominent voices during the pandemic. Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. Review clips: BBC-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Interview special: Professor Neil Ferguson

In our first summer special, Sebastian Payne speaks to the leader of the Scottish Labour party Anas Sarwar about countering Nicola Sturgeon, how he intends to revive his party’s prospects and leadership in lockdown. They also discuss whether Labour is truly a unionist party and if Sarwar will budge his stance against another independence referendum to win back lost voters. Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. -Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Interview special: Anas Sarwar

In what should have been a big final week of term at Westminster, Boris Johnson had to abandon plans for a big announcement on social care reform. Instead, ministers tried to come up with a series of exemptions to the Covid isolation rules. Plus, how a new front has opened in the ongoing war of attrition with the EU over the Northern Ireland protocol.Presented by George Parker, with Sarah Neville, Peter Foster, Jim Pickard and Lord Gavin Barwell. Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. - Archive: BBC-Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @George Parker, @Sarah Neville, @Jim Pickard and @Peter Foster-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Exemptions to isolation and the Northern Ireland protocol

The UK is pressing ahead with the easing of all lockdown measures on July 19, despite coronavirus infections hitting 50,000 a day. How has Downing Street got itself into a mess over masks? Plus we discuss Boris Johnson’s major speech on ‘levelling up’ and ask whether anyone is wiser about what it’s all about. Presented by Sebastian Payne, with Sarah Neville, Robert Shrimsley, Peter Foster and Jim Pickard. Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. -Read the latest on https://www.ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Robert Shrimsley, @Sarah Neville and @Peter Foster and @Jim Pickard-Subscribe to https://www.ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chaos and confusion over masks and levelling up

Boris Johnson has announced that all remaining lockdown restrictions will end on July 19 in England, but is he acting too hastily with Covid-19 cases rising so quickly? Plus, we debate whether a new form of English patriotism is emerging through the Euro 2020 matches and what this means for Conservative culture warriors.Presented by Sebastian Payne, with Sarah Neville, Clive Cookson, Robert Shrimsley and Gideon Rachman. Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner.-Read the latest on ft.com/world/uk-Follow @Seb Payne, @Robert Shrimsley, @Gideon Rachman, @Sarah Neville and @Clive Cookson-Subscribe to ft.com/newsletters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Freedom day too soon and English patriotism

Discussion and analysis of UK politics from the Financial Times' political commentators and correspondents. Presented by Sebastian Payne.