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 or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Episodes will also be available on the FT’s YouTube channel.

If you’d like to get in touch and ask Martin and Paul a question, please email economics.show@ft.com

Read Martin’s FT column here

Subscribe to Paul’s substack here

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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’s fiscal plans. Plus, Labour’s Chancellor Rachel Reeves has plenty of fiscal problems of her own. The panel discusses whether or not her economic arithmetic is adding up.

Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social‬, @stephenkb; Chris @chrisgiles.ft.com‬, @ChrisGiles_; Anna @annasophiegross.bsky.social‬, @AnnaSophieGross

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

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Do Reform UK’s tax and spending plans add up?

British politics is choice between Labour and Reform, says Starmer

Will Rachel Reeves bend her fiscal rules to help balance the books?

IMF gives Rachel Reeves political cover to ‘refine’ UK fiscal rules

Clips from ITV News on YouTube; Reform UK on YouTube

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Presented by George Parker, and produced by Ethan Plotkin. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.

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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, the prime minister has handed over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and it didn't come cheap. The panel discusses Starmer's negotiations on the world stage and how they are playing out for him, and his opponents, at home.

Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, Peter @pmdfoster @pmdfoster.bsky.social, Andrew @andybounds.bsky.social, @AndyBounds

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UK and EU agree post-Brexit reset at showpiece summit

UK-EU post-Brexit reset: the key points

Britain will be negotiating with Europe forever

UK to pay £101mn a year to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius

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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 episode on FT.com

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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 visas, more rigorous English language tests, and more. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s Robert Shrimsley and Jim Pickard to dissect the policies, as well as the reaction to Starmer’s speech and where Labour’s position leaves the Tories on immigration. Plus, the panel delves into the Downing Street briefing about a whole host of new prison reforms set to drop next week.

Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Jim @pickardje.bsky.social; Robert @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social

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

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Starmer rejects Enoch Powell parallel after ‘island of strangers’ speech

Democracy’s downward spiral leaves Starmer no leeway on immigration

Liz Truss regime’s ‘moron premium’ still looms over UK economy

Badenoch pivots to economy in bid to fend off Reform threat

Some prisoners in England who breach release terms face short jail sentences

Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award.

Presented by Lucy Fisher, 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.

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

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, Miranda Green and Robert Shrimsley to discuss a range of topics spanning politics, policy and foreign affairs. Plus, the team peels back the curtain on how we calculate our weekly stock picks.

Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, Stephen @stephenkb, @stephenkb.bsky.social, Robert @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social

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

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Britain’s trade deal with Trump may not be good news for the world

Win for UK cars will not cushion the probable blow to taxpayers

Yvette Cooper’s shadow looms UK trade ambitions

In tough times, good policy becomes even more important

Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award.

Presented by Lucy Fisher, 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 episode on FT.com

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

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 of the Conservative party is coming under scrutiny.

Host Lucy Fisher is joined by podcast regulars George Parker, Robert Shrimsley and Stephen Bush to dissect what the results mean for the government, the opposition and traditional two-party politics in the UK.

Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at politicalfix@ft.com. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us.

Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley,

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social, @stephenkb and George Parker @GeorgeWParker @georgewparker.bskyb.social

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Reform UK sweeps English councils in local election rout

Nigel Farage shakes British politics with election surge

Multi-party politics heightens danger for muddled Labour

Reform wins first UK council in local election surge

Plus: The final State of Britain newsletter from Political Fix regular Pete Foster reflecting on his five or more years as the FT’s public policy editor, covering Brexit and its impact on UK government and business.

Post-Brexit UK: stuck between an unreliable US and a mercantilist EU

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Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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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 Williams, to ask whether Reform UK will live up to high expectations, and just how far both Labour and the Tories could fall. They also examine Sir Keir Starmer’s pivot to patriotism and projection of a nostalgic vision of England, as he attempts to see off the threat from Nigel Farage.

Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at politicalfix@ft.com. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us.

Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Anna annasophiegross.bsky.social @AnnaSophieGross, Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, and Jennifer @JenWilliams_FT @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social

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What to watch in the 2025 local elections

Starmer plays up patriotic credentials as local elections loom

Reform UK heads offshore to raise funds from world’s wealthy

Unite divided: British trade union grapples with twin scandals

Sign up here for 30 days free 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 Lulu Smyth, with help from Georgina Quach. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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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, as well as what it’s likely to mean in practice. Plus, FT industry correspondent Sylvia Pfeifer joins the panel to discuss the government’s seizing control of British Steel from its Chinese owner, and what that means for London-Beijing relations.

Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at politicalfix@ft.com. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us.

Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Anna annasophiegross.bsky.social, @AnnaSophieGross, Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley, Sylvia @sylviapfiefer @sylviapfiefer.bsky.social

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Legal definition of a woman refers to ‘biological sex’, UK Supreme Court rules

British Steel: how its Chinese owner’s plans unravelled

British Steel’s Chinese owner says UK government must ‘respect’ its rights

Reform UK targets Labour voters ahead of local elections

Sign up here for 30 days free 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 Lulu Smyth, with help from Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and mix by Breen Turner, with help this week from Fiona Symon. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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