Chinese whispers — at home and abroad | Political Fix

Chinese whispers — at home and abroad

JAN 30, 202636 MIN

Chinese whispers — at home and abroad

JAN 30, 202636 MIN

Description

Sir Keir Starmer is 5,000 miles away in China, meeting President Xi Jinping to drum up investment and deepen relations, but back on the home front the PM’s leadership looks increasingly beset. Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s ambitions may have been thwarted for now, but the plotting continues in rival contenders’ camps. In a bid to wrestle back control of the agenda, the government is pressing on with fresh policy announcements. Meanwhile, the Tories have seen more MP defections to Reform, as senior centrist figures seek to drag the Conservatives away from the right. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Jim Pickard, Jennifer Williams and Robert Shrimsley – plus George Parker is on the ground in Shanghai. Follow Lucy: @<a href="http://lucyfisher.ft.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lucyfisher.ft.com</a> or <a href="https://x.com/LOS_Fisher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@LOS_Fisher</a>;  George: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/georgewparker.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@georgewparker.bsky.social</a>, or <a href="https://x.com/GeorgeWParker?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@GeorgeWParker</a>; Robert: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/robertshrimsley.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@robertshrimsley.bsky.social</a> or <a href="https://x.com/robertshrimsley?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@robertshrimsley</a>, Jim: @pickardje.bsky.social or <a href="https://x.com/PickardJE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@PickardJE</a> and Jennifer: @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social or <a href="https://x.com/JenWilliamsMEN" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@JenWilliamsMEN</a> Want more?  <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/1f6504be-9ee3-4a71-ab46-1e9fb139e2f1?accessToken=zwAAAZyo7FM7kc8fZQS-nuNKcdOrRh6fsTni8QE.MEUCIAf1uh-ZlazKvfmh9mnbG85GvT0P3FQEpycqFS5JhsfCAiEA-EXc5OSU-Mjp0PGgOXvjJSuzeQJhVmKZgkKWKgGGlH8&segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donald Trump warns Keir Starmer against closer business ties with China </a><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/0ac69fd8-e2ab-4a94-8c64-05ed3c621ab1?accessToken=zwAAAZypqXM2kc8Kxp_Y4qtKlNOMZAXtPGIasQE.MEQCIAgek1lHunDC0-UPlbVTSwzAYW0YxDyDzFJWTllzOEcTAiBtfb7XyOoyAJYw4FEat6Bhmz7dSqgw2bdzSMZrABQ5eA&segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">China rolls out the red carpet for Keir Starmer</a><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/9bfe5659-751b-43b2-b69d-93d49c845e99?accessToken=zwAAAZyo7WjzkdOb_lZZdRtDstO2nZPUnIRemQE.MEUCIQCq8J_YPiziYWs295LO61S0zwNBKKXyciW2xuLRxVN1VQIgIf6AXPFpdm0ma1Cqkp_g_9RMuy3V8-rmdq8EliG4T30&segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Government plans to tighten scrutiny of Chinese influence in UK</a><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/f2e9a815-dc8d-4e3e-ada5-36bce90d2548?accessToken=zwAAAZyo6Jq6kdPy6agV3I1OPtOtpTa86Q0lSAE.MEUCIQCxgXgSJ8h8zJje0xZQbdyK4cbqzczvXIm7SAlRQVbQpQIgLN_-F8_sGXSzhAtIfTVcsoUGN5q3Zt0d9Y9-AeqbG6I&segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The prisoner of Downing Street</a><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c553a072-432b-42ca-aa9f-bfb4df98f0e1?accessToken=zwAAAZyo5zBckdPFU6ByQytCytOqn7-035jw4QE.MEYCIQD09Aem3gYU0IceMzTWvmtMiXbUrefuY_lIvrjzjQ3M_AIhAOCAzXQ0s1DwIggRt7z0Yon3gmj165bbNGva4hcsOWBZ&segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Labour triggers early by-election to limit fallout from Andy Burnham row</a><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/550c3c74-36a0-427a-bc13-16e6b99c1330?accessToken=zwAAAZypqGI0kc9VDDx0NqBCetO8ExbmuZwTMAE.MEUCIBBAZ9Lj8rOIF4w3tFyCAuGX9AlDlaSHMaVMZWRCE2TKAiEAwVf-LeCjb_wVqWxrhDItU0q1Ws8a8XKUdPUTFgROyn8&segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reform UK picks Matt Goodwin for Gorton and Denton by-election</a><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/81e95e72-b59e-44b4-9639-e33c407b1ad7?accessToken=zwAAAZyo6WyBkdOB6V5ytZ5EtNOWOeM8QHsa1wE.MEUCIQC3hwMu6C9z6xkjpbW060veBp-Dw4H0GUsAPaJ69L6RpQIgWRFaTiUqBlzag_MgwT3VHpGir_XhNOC7mweGdNRvvIA&segmentId=1f56959f-51cc-c373-0eed-368092f34da4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UK government caps ground rents paid to freeholders</a> Sign up <a href="https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here f</a>or Stephen Bush's morning newsletter ‘Inside Politics’ for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek analysis. Get 30 days free. Political Fix is presented by Lucy Fisher. The producer is Clare Williamson and the executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.  Our email address is political<a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a> Clip from: Reuters <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/f8536698-eb27-4ce0-ba33-58073b32ff38" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com</a> <hr> 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.