Angela’s ambitions
3/20/202640 min
Angela Rayner heaped scorn on Sir Keir Starmer’s administration this week, fuelling fresh scrutiny of her ambitions. Does she want to return to cabinet or seize the reins? The former deputy prime minister issued a stark warning that the government is running out of time to change direction under Starmer, while also attempting to court the City. At the same time, the Greens continue to beat Labour in the polls with an unabashedly socialist platform.
Does all this signal the government will shift left?
Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s political editor George Parker, political correspondent Anna Gross, and Inside Politics columnist Stephen Bush to unpack what it all means. Plus FT US national editor Ed Luce shares insights on how he caught up with Donald Trump on his mobile this week.
Follow: Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com George: @GeorgeWParker and @georgewparker.bsky.social; Stephen: @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social and Anna: @AnnaSophieGross and @annasophiegross.bsky.social
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Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.
Our email address is politicalfix@ft.com
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsKemi Badenoch· Soundbite0:00
The Prime Minister wants to talk about my leadership. I'm shocked because his former deputy has just fired the starting gun on the race to replace him. And I'll tell him one thing, she and I both agree that this weak man should be replaced by a strong woman.
Lucy Fisher· Host0:14
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch there relishing the opportunity to needle Sir Keir Starmer about Angela Rayner's ambitions. The former Labour Deputy Prime Minister chose to make a savage intervention this week, warning that the government is running out of time to change direction under Starmer. So what's Rayner's game? And as the Greens continue to rise up the polls with an unabashedly socialist agenda, is the government set to shift left? Welcome to Political Fix from the Financial Times with me, Lucy Fisher. To discuss this and the broader impact of both main parties being tempted to drift to the extremes, I'm joined in the studio by my FT colleagues, political editor George Parker. Hi, George.
George Parker· Panelist0:57
Hello, Lucy.
Lucy Fisher· Host0:58
Political correspondent Anna Gross. Hi, Anna.
Anna Gross· Panelist1:00
Hi, Lucy.
Lucy Fisher· Host1:01
And columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter, Stephen Bush. Hi, Stephen.
Stephen Bush· Panelist1:05
Hi, Lucy.
Lucy Fisher· Host1:06
And later in the show, I'll be catching up on Trump and the latest on Iran with our US national editor, Ed Luce, who now has the President on speed dial. Let's kick off talking about Angela Rayner, certainly taking center stage in the political sense this week. Stephen, give us the lowdown on what she actually said.
Stephen Bush· Panelist1:28
So Angela Rayner addressing