Chinese whispers — at home and abroad
Political Fix
Financial Times
4.2 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 30 January 2026
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Sir Keir Starmer is 5,000 miles away in China, meeting President Xi Jinping to drum up investment and deepen relations, but back on the home front the PM’s leadership looks increasingly beset. Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s ambitions may have been thwarted for now, but the plotting continues in rival contenders’ camps. In a bid to wrestle back control of the agenda, the government is pressing on with fresh policy announcements. Meanwhile, the Tories have seen more MP defections to Reform, as senior centrist figures seek to drag the Conservatives away from the right. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Jim Pickard, Jennifer Williams and Robert Shrimsley – plus George Parker is on the ground in Shanghai.
Follow Lucy: @lucyfisher.ft.com or @LOS_Fisher; George: @georgewparker.bsky.social, or @GeorgeWParker; Robert: @robertshrimsley.bsky.social or @robertshrimsley, Jim: @pickardje.bsky.social or @PickardJE and Jennifer: @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social or @JenWilliamsMEN
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Political Fix is presented by Lucy Fisher. The producer is Clare Williamson and 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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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I've long been clear that the UK and China need a long-term, consistent and comprehensive, strategic partnership. |
| 0:15.0 | And it's vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship. |
| 0:20.0 | Kirstama is 5,000 miles away in China where he's bidding to revitalise Sino-British relations. |
| 0:26.6 | We've got our man George Parker on the ground where he's going to give us the latest intel and analysis straight from inside the delegation. |
| 0:33.6 | But back home, the PM's problems aren't going anywhere. |
| 0:36.6 | He may have won the latest battle in his increasingly besieged premiership, |
| 0:41.2 | blocking Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from returning to Parliament. |
| 0:44.6 | But the plotting continues. |
| 0:46.7 | We'll examine the various campaigns and the levels of danger they oppose to Stama, |
| 0:51.2 | as well as look at the government's attempts to show its pressing on with |
| 0:54.2 | important policies. |
| 0:57.5 | Welcome to Political Fix from the Financial Times with me, Lucy Fisher. |
| 1:01.9 | Here with me in the studio to discuss what chance Stama has of lasting the year, I'm joined |
| 1:06.5 | by the FT's Deputy Political Editor Jim Picard. |
| 1:09.4 | Hi, Jim. |
| 1:10.2 | Hi, Lucy. |
| 1:11.0 | Our UK chief political commentator, Robert Shimsard. Hi, Jim. Hi, Lucy. Our UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley. |
| 1:13.8 | Hi, Robert. |
| 1:14.6 | Hello, Lucy. |
| 1:15.8 | And Jennifer Williams, our Northern England correspondent, |
| 1:18.6 | down the line from Manchester. |
| 1:20.2 | Hi, Jen. |
... |
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