Who threatened to launch an aquatic assault on the Dutch town of Leiden? And which political candidate pledged to force water bosses to take a dip in British rivers? Find out as host Lucy Fisher puts the full Political Fix panel – Robert Shrimsley, Jim Pickard, Stephen Bush, George Parker and Miranda Green – through their paces in a big, fat, end- of- year quiz. The panelists also highlight their most memorable moment of 2024 and unveil their wildest predictions for the year ahead. Plus, discover who scooped all the chocolate gold coins in the studio to win the annual Political Fix stockpicks portfolio prize.

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Political donations: can Elon Musk become a major backer of Farage’s Reform UK?

Time for Keir Starmer to remember he is first lord of the Treasury

Follow Lucy on X @LOS_Fisher, Robert @Robertshrimsley, Jim @PickardJE, Miranda @greenmiranda, Stephen @stephenkb, George @GeorgeWParker

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Presented by Lucy Fisher. Clare Williamson is the producer and the executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

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Reform UK is now beating Labour in one pollster’s survey, while party leader Nigel Farage is Ladbrokes’ favourite to succeed Keir Starmer as the next prime minister. This week Political Fix examines whether Reform is a serious future contender for government – and whether it is the Conservatives or Labour who should be most worried. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s deputy political editor Jim Pickard and political correspondent Anna Gross to discuss Reform’s trajectory, plus the chancellor’s spending review. They are also joined by Gideon Rachman, the FT’s chief foreign affairs columnist, to examine events playing out in Syria and how the UK should respond.

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Anna on X: @AnnaSophieGross, Jim @PickardJE and Gideon @gideonrachman

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Can Nigel Farage turn Reform into a serious contender for government?

More than 10,000 UK civil service jobs to be cut

Nigeria’s vice-president launches attack on Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

Review of £1.2tn in UK public spending will ‘be tight’, minister warns

UK ministers reject union calls to lift public sector pay to pre-austerity levels

The west should not succumb to cynical regret over Syria

Sign up here for 30 free days 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 Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Sir Keir Starmer unveiled six fresh pledges as part of a major government reset this week, which included diluting a green target and redefining his economic goals. It followed a tumultuous start to government for Labour after 14 years in opposition. As the administration reached the five-month mark on Thursday, Political Fix hosted a live special as part of the FT’s Global Boardroom online conference. Host Lucy Fisher was joined by the podcast’s regulars Stephen Bush, Miranda Green and Peter Foster to take stock of the ups and downs of Labour’s record in power to date.

Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, Stephen on @stephenkb, Miranda on @greenmiranda and Peter on @pmdfoster

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Keir Starmer to take aim at Whitehall with new UK ‘mission’ targets

Cabinet minister denies Keir Starmer’s ‘plan for change’ is a reset

Keir Starmer waters down UK clean power target in policy reset

UK chemicals sector doubts Keir Starmer’s ‘reset’ will end Brexit blues

Keir Starmer, the operator, the fixer, not the visionary

Read the FT’s Best Politics Books of the Year 2024 list, curated by the FT’s chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman.

Sign up here for 30 free days 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 Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiadis and Petros Giumpassis. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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