Will Starmer sink or swim in Trump’s world?
Political Fix
Financial Times
4.2 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 7 March 2025
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Sir Keir Starmer has won plaudits from across the political spectrum for his handling of the rapidly growing rift between the US, Europe and Ukraine – but can the UK prime minister sustain this diplomatic balancing act? George Parker hosts a discussion that brings together US defence and foreign affairs correspondent, Felicia Schwartz, and Political Fix regulars Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green.
Follow George on Bluesky or X: @GeorgeWParker @georgewparker.bskyb.social, Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social, Robert @robertshrimsley.bskyb.social @robertshrimsley, Felicia Schwartz @felschwartz
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Presented by George Parker and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music by Breen Turner. Sound engineering by Joe Salcedo and 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 | Hello and welcome to political fix from the Financial Times with me, George Parker, in the hot seat while Lucy's away in Japan, |
| 0:11.2 | hopefully dining in some of Tokyo's finest eateries with Foreign Secretary David Lammy. |
| 0:17.1 | On the menu today, politics that is even rower than sushi, to misquote 80s icon Naina Cherry. |
| 0:24.4 | Yes, we'll be devoting this week's episode to the high stakes debate taking place around the war in Ukraine |
| 0:30.1 | and specifically looking at the role of Sarkir Stama in trying to navigate a path through Trump world as the old post-war order crumbles. |
| 0:40.2 | Joining me in the studio today are two political fixed regulars. |
| 0:43.9 | Miranda Green. Hello Miranda. |
| 0:45.5 | Hello, George. |
| 0:46.4 | And Robert Shrimsley. |
| 0:48.0 | Hi, George. |
| 0:48.9 | And also, joining us from Washington, D.C. is the FD.'s U.S. Foreign Affairs and |
| 0:53.7 | Defense correspondent Felicia Swartz. Hello, Felicia. Hi, George.C. is the FD.'s U.S. Foreign Affairs and Defense correspondent Felicia Swartz. |
| 0:55.7 | Hello, Felicia. Hi, George. Thanks for having me. |
| 1:03.0 | Now, before we start, Felicia, the last time I saw you was about a week ago in Washington |
| 1:06.6 | at a reception to mark the arrival of Peter Mandelson as Britain's new ambassador to the US. |
| 1:12.5 | How's he getting on? It's been a very, he's gone a little Trumpy, I think. On the Sunday shows, |
| 1:17.9 | he seemed to kind of come out ahead of where the British government is on its Ukraine policy. |
| 1:24.5 | I believe he called for an immediate ceasefire. |
| 1:30.4 | You would know the finer points of the British policy better than me, |
| 1:33.0 | but it seems like he's drank in the Kool-Aid of Trump's Washington. |
| 1:36.6 | So depending on where you sit, maybe he's getting along well or not so well. |
| 1:40.2 | And can you just give us a sense of what it's like covering the Trump administration? |
... |
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