A new year, but prison enters 2023 with the same old problems and two party leaders who know that in all likelihood there's going to be a general election next year.

Mr Speaker, when it comes to the NHS, it's crystal clear. The Conservatives on the side of patience, labour on the side of their Union paymasters.

Welcome to FT Politics, your essential insider guide to Westminster from the Financial Times with me, George Parker.

I'm delighted to be in the hot seat vacated by Seb Payne for the next few weeks for the pod is relaunched with a great new format.

And in this week's episode, we'll be looking at the problems facing Rishi Sunak for the start of a year that could shape the outcome of the next election.

And with Sunak and Keir Starmer Labour leader setting out their plans for 2023, I'm delighted to be joined by two of the FT's top columnists, Stephen Bush and Robert Schroensley, to read the runes.

Later, we'll have a look at the outlet for business and the economy ahead of a really tough year.

I'll be talking energy prices, the recession and the March budget with Simon Classy Oldridge of the CBI and Dan Thomas, the FT's Chief UK Business Correspondent.

Thank you all for joining.

So, we're two weeks since 2023 and already Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have made big speeches on the year ahead.

And this week, they were in robustious form in the first session of Prime Minister's questions after the new year break.

Here's a taste.

Mr Speaker, I've laid out my priorities for the country, waiting list down, inflation down, debt down, growth up and the votes stopped, Mr Speaker.

All he does is flip from one thing to another and that's the difference between him and me.

He's focused on petty politics. I'm delivering for Britain.

There's not a minimum level of service any day because they've broken the NHS.

After 13 years in government, what does it say that the best they can offer is that at some point, they might stop making things worse.

So, Robert Schroensley, what do you make of the opening skirmishes of 2023 and what do you think they tell us about the way the year is likely to pan out?

I think the one thing we can be absolutely certain of is that they focus fruit the hell out of them and they poll the hell out of them.

And these are the things that voters are saying they care about.

And therefore, Rishi Sunak was saying these are the things I care about.

And that's just the way politics runs these days.

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