Rishi Sunak’s immigration conundrum
Political Fix
Financial Times
4.2 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 26 May 2023
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said net migration is too high following data showing that it hit a record last year, but he insists it’s not out of control. The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher digs into the political debate over immigration with columnist Stephen Bush and chief political commentator Rober Shrimsley. Also, what to make of the Cabinet Office referring Boris Johnson to the police over further potential breaches of coronavirus regulations? Plus, Northern England correspondent Jennifer Williams gives an update on her scoop about the government’s flagship regeneration scheme - now under scrutiny amid allegations of cronyism and waste.
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Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Mix by Jake Fielding and Breen Turner. Original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The problem is, the Conservatives have lost control of an issue that they have ramped up. |
| 0:07.6 | Hello, Lucy Fisher here, the FT's Whitehall Editor. |
| 0:12.2 | You heard there the FT's Robert Trimsley talking to me about migrant numbers here on political |
| 0:17.0 | fix. |
| 0:18.0 | So welcome, it's my first time in the hot seat on the FT podcast that takes you inside |
| 0:22.0 | Westminster and as Robert indicated, on the menu today is a subject liable to make |
| 0:26.8 | both the Conservatives and Labour wints, immigration. |
| 0:32.7 | Later's figures show the government is way off target with its pledge to cut the number |
| 0:36.1 | of people coming to live and work in the UK. |
| 0:38.5 | I'll be picking through the reasons why and the politics that underscores this issue |
| 0:42.7 | with two of the FT's top political columnists, Stephen Bush. |
| 0:46.0 | Hello. |
| 0:47.0 | And Robert Trimsley, I Robert. |
| 0:48.8 | Hi, Lucy. |
| 0:49.8 | We'll also be talking about the latest route in golfing Boris Johnson, that icon of blonde |
| 0:54.1 | ambition may have been 8,000 kilometres away in Texas this week, but that hasn't stopped |
| 0:58.4 | him seizing headlines. |
| 0:59.9 | Plus, Trouble in T-side, we'll bring you the latest on an FT scoop about the government's |
| 1:04.5 | flagship regeneration scheme in the North, now under scrutiny amid allegations of cronism |
| 1:09.5 | and waste. |
| 1:11.1 | Robert Stephen, before we get down to the discussions of the week, tell me what's caught your eye |
| 1:18.4 | in recent days, Stephen. |
... |
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