<p>Home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a tough set of measures overhauling immigration policy this week, in a bid to deter illegal boat crossings and tackle the thorny issue of asylum seekers that dominates the news agenda. But how did the announcement go down with a divided Labour party?</p><p>And, just days away from the Budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves is under huge pressure after a series of U-turns and leaks on taxation policy. </p><p>Host George Parker discusses whether anything can be done to reverse the fortunes of the government with the FT’s deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, political columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter Stephen Bush, and Whitehall correspondent David Sheppard. </p><br><p>Follow George on Bluesky <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/georgewparker.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@georgewparker.bsky.social</a>; Stephen <a href="http://@stephenkb.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@stephenkb.bsky.social</a>; Miranda <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/greenmirandahere.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@greenmirandahere.bsky.social</a>; David <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/oilsheppard.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@oilsheppard.bsky.social </a></p><p><strong>What did you think of this episode? Let us know at </strong><a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>[email protected]</strong></a><strong> </strong></p><p><em>Want more? Free links: </em> </p><p><a href="https://on.ft.com/43FE3gt" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Labour needs a way out of the infernal circle of immigration policy</a> </p><p><a href="https://on.ft.com/4pqYk1L" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Why the small boats won’t stop</a></p><p><a href="https://on.ft.com/3JYfTXU" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">High earners to be eligible for UK settlement within 3 years of arrival</a></p><p><a href="https://on.ft.com/4prPwZy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UK asylum seekers face seizure of jewellery to pay for accommodation</a></p><p><a href="https://on.ft.com/48fQVvk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rachel Reeves’ gambit</a> </p><p><a href="https://on.ft.com/3LTkIlJ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Covid response of ‘toxic’ UK government was ‘too little, too late’, inquiry finds</a></p><p><em>To sign up for free to the new FT Alphaville newsletter on Substack, go to </em><a href="http://ftav.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>ftav.substack.com</em></a></p><p>The FT is hosting a live webinar on November 28 on what the UK Budget will mean for your money. You can put questions to FT journalists Claer Barrett, Stuart Kirk, Tej Parikh and special guest, tax expert Dan Neidle. Get your pass now at <a href="http://ft.com/budgetwebinar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ft.com/budgetwebinar</a>.</p><p>Sign up to Stephen's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek. Get 30 days free at <a href="https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOffer</a>.</p><p>To sign up for free to the new FT Alphaville newsletter on substack, go to <a href="http://ftav.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ftav.substack.com</a></p><p>Presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth and Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music by Breen Turner, mix by Odinn Inigbergsson. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. </p><p>Clips from BBC</p><br><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/189cd5ad-5729-4564-a226-4ee88bfc6106" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com</strong></a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>