Rishi Sunak’s big fat Greek row
Political Fix
Financial Times
4.2 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 1 December 2023
⏱️ 31 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Was it a huge fit of pique or a genuine desire to protect the Elgin Marbles that prompted Rishi Sunak to cancel his date with the Greek prime minister? Lucy Fisher unpicks the row with the help of the FT’s Robert Shrimsley and Stephen Bush. They also consider, in the wake of record legal net migration figures, whether immigration is tearing the Tories apart. The FT’s Delphine Strauss weighs in to explain the particular plight faced by some migrant workers in the care sector. Plus, the group reflects on the legacy of Alistair Darling.
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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Philippa Goodrich. 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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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Imagine you in a nice comfy seat with your hands behind your head taking in the views instead of taking on the road maybe even taking a nap. That's the bliss of getting where you need to go |
| 0:16.1 | without worrying about driving. Book your train journey via avantiawestcoast.co.ukk.'cote, UK, and we'll take you there. |
| 0:24.0 | Avantee west coast, feel good travel. He was one of those figures who radiated integrity and decency and seriousness, |
| 0:40.0 | although he actually had a very, very dry and somewhat mischievous sense of humour. |
| 0:44.0 | Welcome to Political Fix, the Financial Times Essential Insider Guide to Westminster. I'm Lucy Fisher. The F.T's |
| 0:55.8 | Robert Shrimsley there talking about the Labour politician Alistair Darling who died |
| 1:00.4 | this week. Also in this episode, Rishisunak whips up a diplomatic storm. |
| 1:06.4 | Plus we ask whether migration threatens to tear the Tories apart. |
| 1:10.8 | To discuss all that, Robert is here with me. Hello Robert. |
| 1:14.0 | Hey Lucy. |
| 1:15.0 | Also in the studio is Stephen. |
| 1:17.0 | Hello Stephen. |
| 1:18.0 | Hi Lucy. Was it a massive fit of peak or a genuine desire to protect our cultural treasures |
| 1:26.4 | that made Rishi Sunak cancel his date with the Greek Prime Minister this week? |
| 1:30.3 | Either way, the Labour leader seized on the chance to ridicule Sunak during PMQs on Wednesday. |
| 1:36.0 | The Greek Prime Minister came to London to meet him, a fellow NATO member, an economic ally. |
| 1:46.1 | But instead of using that meeting to discuss |
| 1:49.1 | those serious issues, he tried to humiliate him and cancelled at the last minute. |
| 1:55.0 | Well firstly it with the backstory Robert and Stephen. |
| 1:58.0 | Even the names of course around, don't they? |
| 2:00.0 | To start with, are we calling them the Elgin Marbles or the Parthenon sculptures? |
| 2:03.4 | Well I suppose it depends how widely this is being broadcast. |
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