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, and the rhetoric that some fear could stoke a repeat of last summer's riots.

*The figure referenced regarding £45bn cost of net zero comes from the IFG (Institute for Government) NOT the IFS (Institute for Fiscal Studies), and the website for the new party founded by Jeremy Corbyn is yourparty.uk.

Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Robert @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Jim @pickardje.bsky.social; Anna @AnnaSophieGross

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Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says she is Britain’s Javier Milei

Jeremy Corbyn sets up ‘Your Party’ to attract leftwing voters from Labour

Starmer, Farage and the fight to own fairness

Nigel Farage pledges to deport serious offenders

Pressure grows to shut Blackpool asylum hotel over safety concerns

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Presented by George Parker, and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.

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

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 George Parker about how the FT uncovered the secret scheme, the superinjunction that was imposed on her, and the political fallout from the exposé. And the FT’s Jim Pickard and Ashley Armstrong join to discuss the reaction to Rachel Reeves’ Mansion House speech, as well as Keir Starmer’s suspension of more MPs.

Follow George Parker on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social; Ashley Armstrong @aarmstrongsays.bsky.social

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UK set up secret Afghan immigration scheme after data leak and gagged media

The British state's battle to contain the fallout from catastrophic Afghan data leak

‘What reforms?’ City leaders underwhelmed by Rachel Reeves’ financial strategy

Keir Starmer suspends four rebel Labour MPs

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Presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.

Read a transcript of this podcast on FT.com

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

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 wasn't all hard talk, with much of the limelight focused on a soft-power push: the announcement that the Bayeux Tapestry will be returning to the UK for the first time in more than 900 years. Host George Parker is joined by Stephen Bush, Anna Gross and the FT’s Europe editor Ben Hall to discuss what this ‘entente amicable’ might mean for the UK.

Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social‬, @stephenkb; Anna @annasophiegross.bsky.social

What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com

Want more? Free links:

Britain, France and the necessary relationship

Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron announce migrant returns deal

How the British Museum secured chance to host Bayeux Tapestry after 900 years

Small boat crossings to UK soar in first half of year

Inside Politics: Jake Berry’s defection signals Tory party is in deep trouble

Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter.

Presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.

Read a transcript of this podcast on FT.com

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