The Tories’ battle over asylum seekers
Political Fix
Financial Times
4.2 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 11 August 2023
⏱️ 33 minutes
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Summary
After months of delay and safety concerns, the first asylum seekers were marched up the gangplank of the Bibby Stockholm barge this week. If they don’t like the vessel, they can ‘f*** off back to France’, was the eyebrow-raising verdict of Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson. The senior Tory MP made a second startling statement: a public admission the government has ‘failed’ on migration. Lucy Fisher is joined by FT columnists Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green to rake through the facts. They also consider the pitfalls of too much caution in politics. Plus, James Kynge, the FT’s global China editor, offers his take on claims the UK has been ‘weak’ over giving in to US pressure to cut back on dealings with Beijing.
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Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Philippa Goodrich and Lulu Smyth with Andrew Georgiades. Executive producer, Manuela Saragosa. Mix by Simon Panayi. Original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.
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Transcript
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| 0:27.8 | I can't really remember the last time somebody that high up |
| 0:39.0 | in government admitted that a key promise was not being delivered. |
| 0:47.3 | Welcome to Political Fix, your essential insider guide to Westminster |
| 0:51.0 | from the Financial Times with me, Lucy Fisher. |
| 0:54.2 | You heard them around a green talking about the pitfalls of being a little |
| 0:58.1 | honest in politics. |
| 0:59.6 | Well, it may be August, but it's been an event for week in Westminster. |
| 1:02.9 | The first asylum seekers finally embarked on the bibby Stockholm barge, |
| 1:06.8 | but the government's plan has not exactly gone off without a hitch. |
| 1:10.3 | We'll assess Rishisunak's wins and woes on immigration. |
| 1:13.6 | Plus, we'll consider caution in politics, |
| 1:16.0 | and whether Keir Starmer's circumspection could hand the Tories a win |
| 1:19.4 | even if they lose the next election. |
| 1:21.7 | And finally, we'll look eastwards to Beijing to consider the latest twists and turns |
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