Welcome to Political Fix with me, George Parker.

2025 it's almost wrapped up.

And I think we all need a break after an exhausting year in British politics.

Not another one, as they say.

In this special live episode of the podcast, we're bringing you some thoughts on where we think things stand for Sakeer Stama's Labour government and the reset of the Westminster scene after a turbulent year.

It's not exactly been smooth sailing, at least at home.

When the Prime Minister entered Downing Street in July 2024, he promised to stop the chaos.

And yet, over the past 12 months,

he's faced down rebellions from within his own party, overseen scandals and sackings,

and delivered a constant barrage of bad news from health and housing to small boats,

and of course, a chaotic budget. He has fared a little better on the world stage, securing a comparatively competitive trade deal with Donald Trump, as well as a tentative reproschement with

Europe. But with every international success, Stama's standing domestically seems to diminish,

and he ends the year on some measures at least as the most unpopular PM ever.

Here to help me analyse why Stama is having such a tough time.

The FD's politics correspondent Anna Gross, hi Anna.

Hi, Anna. Hi, George.

Political columnist and writer of the inside politics newsletter, Stephen Bush.

Hi, George.

And the FD's economics commentator and writer of the newsletter on central banks, Chris Giles. Hi, Chris. Hi, George. And the FD's economics commentator and writer of the newsletter on

Central Banks, Chris Giles. Hi, Chris. Hi, George. So, Chris, let's kick off with where things are right now

for the Labour governing party. We're two weeks on from the delivery of that long-awaited budget,

the big defining episode, I guess, of the second part of this year. In my mind, there were two weeks on from the delivery of that long-awaited budget, the big defining episode, I guess,

...