Who’s afraid of Nigel Farage?

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Reform party leader Nigel Farage clashed on economic issues this week. Farage said his party was the champion of the working class, while Starmer warned Farage’s proposed spending rises amounted to “fantasy promises”. Host George Parker is joined by the FT’s Stephen Bush, Chris Giles and Anna Gross to discuss Reform’s fiscal plans. Plus, Labour’s chancellor Rachel Reeves has plenty of fiscal problems of her own. The panel discusses whether or not her economic arithmetic is adding up.

Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social (bsky.app/profile/georgewparker.bsky.social), @GeorgeWParker (x.com/GeorgeWParker?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ct…); Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social‬, @stephenkb (x.com/stephenkb?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcam…); Chris @chrisgiles.ft.com (bsky.app/profile/chrisgiles.ft.com)‬, @ChrisGiles_ (x.com/ChrisGiles_?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwc…); Anna @annasophiegross.bsky.social (bsky.app/profile/annasophiegross.bsky.social)‬, @AnnaSophieGross (x.com/annasophiegross?lang=en)

What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com

Want more? Free links:

Do Reform UK’s tax and spending plans add up? (on.ft.com/4mAPr4Y)

British politics is choice between Labour and Reform, says Starmer (on.ft.com/4jrwRJY)

Will Rachel Reeves bend her fiscal rules to help balance the books? (on.ft.com/4mxcbCR)

IMF gives Rachel Reeves political cover to ‘refine’ UK fiscal rules (on.ft.com/4jAhVt6)

Clips from ITV News on YouTube; Reform UK on YouTube

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Presented by George Parker, and produced by Ethan Plotkin. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com (ft.com/content/c22cd52a-c930-44c3-9085-6977d4a…)
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