The case for keeping Starmer
3/27/202638 min
Sir Keir Starmer’s authority is slipping and Westminster is alive with speculation about potential successors. But chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley joins host Lucy Fisher, alongside deputy opinion editor Miranda Green and public policy editor Chris Smyth, to argue why he believes Labour may be better off sticking with Starmer. The panel also discuss the government’s plans to ban political donations in cryptocurrency and cap overseas donations at £100,000 a year. What does it mean for Reform UK, which has been a major beneficiary of overseas donors and crypto donations?
Have a question for the panel? We’re planning a question and answer episode. Email your questions to politicalfix@ft.com
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com; Robert: @robertshrimsley and @robertshrimsley.bsky.social;
Miranda @greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; & Chris @Smyth_Chris and @chris-smyth.bsky.social
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Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Nisha Patel. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineer was Bianca Wakeman and Petros Gioumpasis. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of Audio.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsLucy Fisher· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Who on earth would want to be Prime Minister right now? And is Keir Starmer the least bad option Britain's got? Welcome to Political Fix from the Financial Times with me, Lucy Fisher. This episode, we're going to be discussing the case for saving Starmer. Yes, you heard that right. Plus, shining a light on the dark money in UK politics. Overseas donations to UK political parties have been capped. But when it comes to foreign influence, will the new restrictions make a difference? With me to unpick it all are the FT's UK Chief Political Commentator, Robert Shrimsley. Hi, Robert.
Robert Shrimsley· Panelist0:37
Hello, Lucy.
Lucy Fisher· Host0:38
The FT's Deputy Opinion Editor, Miranda Green. Hello, Miranda.
Miranda Green· Panelist0:41
Hi, Lucy.
Lucy Fisher· Host0:42
And the FT's Public Policy Editor, Chris Smyth. Hi, Chris.
Chris Smyth· Panelist0:45
Hi, Lucy.
Lucy Fisher· Host0:46
Well, let's kick off then with the case for saving Starmer, which Robert is inspired by your column this week. Although I should point out you've hedged slightly. The headline is The Case for Keeping Starmer a Little Longer. And I have to say, before we hear your pitch, I love this line in your piece. There are reasons why Labour MPs should not rush to action, the first being that it is never true that things cannot get worse. Not the biggest endorsement of the current Prime Minister.
Robert Shrimsley· Panelist1:15
No. I mean, look, I'm ab- to be absolutely clear, the case for removing Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, particularly from the Labour Party, and this piece was written very much from the point of view of what people in the Labour Party might think. The case for removing him is very strong. It's been a very, very hard time.