09.01.2026 • 34 Min.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had wanted to kick off the new year with a strong domestic start, tackling the cost of living crisis head on, in the hopes of improving his dire poll ratings. Instead, he has found himself firefighting on the international front, trying to navigate Donald Trump’s foreign policy frenzy. How will Starmer manage his ‘special relationship’ with the US president in light of recent events? Where do Trump’s latest actions leave Nato, especially with regard to Ukraine? And what does all this global uncertainty mean for the Labour leader’s agenda at home? Host George Parker discusses the balancing act facing the government with the FT’s deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and acting Whitehall correspondent David Sheppard. Follow George, Miranda, Robert & David Want more? Strategic supplication is Europe’s only Trump policy France and UK commit to deploying troops under proposed Ukraine peace deal UK armed forces warn of £28bn defence funding shortfall Greenland’s future must be decided by island and Denmark, Starmer warns Trump ‘Not in my name’: Labour’s new towns battle And sign up here for 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 was presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth and Julia Webster. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound engineering by Simon Panayi. Manuela Saragosa is the FT’s acting co-head of audio. What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com Clip from UK Parliament Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.