The ‘bin fires’ setting Labour’s in-tray alight
Political Fix
Financial Times
4.2 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 23 July 2024
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Sir Keir Starmer plans to hand more powers to metro mayors in what has been dubbed a ‘devolution revolution’. Host Lucy Fisher speaks with politics reporter Rafe Uddin, deputy political editor Jim Pickard and north of England correspondent Jen Williams about the merits of the proposal – as well as the potential backlash. Plus, the group discusses an internal dossier by Sue Gray that lists potential ‘bin fires’ in the new government’s in-tray, including the prisons capacity crisis, public sector pay disputes, cash-strapped universities and the possible collapse of Thames Water.
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Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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Transcript
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| 0:31.0 | Is there anything that has surprised you since the election and the new, the new regime? |
| 0:36.0 | Oh my God. I hate to say, no. |
| 0:40.0 | Welcome to political fix from the Financial Times with me Lucy Fisher. |
| 0:45.8 | Coming up, the government's planning a devolution revolution, handing more power to |
| 0:50.9 | local council leaders and mayors. |
| 0:53.2 | But that still leaves Westminster grappling with Sue Gray's shitlist, |
| 0:57.0 | overcrowded prisons, public sector pay pressure, |
| 0:59.6 | universities on the brink and the potential collapse of Thames water. |
| 1:04.0 | It ain't pretty. |
| 1:05.0 | Joining me in the studio to discuss it all are my F.T. |
| 1:08.0 | colleagues Jim Picard. |
| 1:09.0 | Hi Jim. |
| 1:10.0 | Hello. And Rafe Odin, hi Rafe. |
| 1:12.0 | Hi, Lucy. And down the line is F.T's north of England correspondent Jen Williams. |
| 1:16.0 | Hi Jen. |
| 1:17.0 | Hi Jen. |
| 1:18.0 | So let's kick off talking about Devolution which Kirstama has put at the heart of his |
... |
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