You know, if the Tories can't have a good story to tell of some sort in the run-up to

the election, they're absolutely toast.

Welcome to Political Fix, your essential insider guide to Western stuff from the financial

times with me, Lucy Fisher.

You heard there my colleague Miranda Greene, talking about the government's need for some

good economic news, more from her later.

This week was a tale of contrasting generational fortunes, where she soon pledged to keep

in place the government's mechanism for increasing pension payments.

Meanwhile, students saw a record fall in top grades as England's exam boards sought to

curb the grade inflation scene during COVID.

Will unpack the implications.

Plus we'll look at the deepening crisis over the data breach at the police service of

Northern Ireland.

To sift through all that, I'm joined, of course, by Miranda Greene.

Hello, Lucy.

This is Stephen Bush, writer of the FTs inside politics newsletter.

Hi, Lucy.

So, thanks both for joining.

To kick off then, Miranda, what's Sir Court Your Eye this week?

Well, interestingly, the government decided to abandon most of its cancer targets for

the NHS and reduce them in number.

And although that was actually welcomed by some cancer charities and advocacy groups,

...