Farage against the machine
Plus, a new cabinet secretary (and a major arrest) took centre stage
An episode of the Political Fix podcast, hosted by Financial Times, titled "Farage against the machine" was published on February 20, 2026 and runs 36 minutes.
February 20, 2026 ·36m · Political Fix
Summary
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage unveiled his ‘shadow cabinet’ at a glitzy event in London this week, with a newly bespectacled Robert Jenrick announced as ‘shadow chancellor’. The event was a hit with Reform’s supporters in the room – but can the party appeal to a broader base?One clue as to Reform’s prospects: the by-election next week in Gorton and Denton. The Manchester seat – where Reform, Labour and the Greens are all vying for victory – is a crucial bellwether. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT political correspondent Anna Gross, UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley, and columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter Stephen Bush.Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher and @lucyfisher.ft.com; Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social Stephen @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; Anna @AnnaSophieGross and [email protected] Want more? Perhaps we should all be banned from social mediaConcerns were raised with Cabinet Office before Antonia Romeo appointmentPupils’ special needs support to be reassessed at secondary school levelThe Conservatives’ foundational sinSign up here for Stephen’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix is presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity. Original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Our email address is [email protected] from Reform UK and the Independent Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode Description
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage unveiled his ‘shadow cabinet’ at a glitzy event in London this week, with a newly bespectacled Robert Jenrick announced as ‘shadow chancellor’. The event was a hit with Reform’s supporters in the room – but can the party appeal to a broader base?
One clue as to Reform’s prospects: the by-election next week in Gorton and Denton. The Manchester seat – where Reform, Labour and the Greens are all vying for victory – is a crucial bellwether.
Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT political correspondent Anna Gross, UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley, and columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter Stephen Bush.
Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher and @lucyfisher.ft.com; Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social Stephen @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; Anna @AnnaSophieGross and [email protected]
Want more?
Perhaps we should all be banned from social media
Concerns were raised with Cabinet Office before Antonia Romeo appointment
Pupils’ special needs support to be reassessed at secondary school level
The Conservatives’ foundational sin
Sign up here for Stephen’s morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.
Political Fix is presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity. Original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.
Our email address is [email protected]
Clips from Reform UK and the Independent
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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