Budget blues

With borrowing costs and inflation rising, are the UK’s finances worse than Burnham and Healey thought? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues George Parker, political editor, and Stephen Bush, columnist, to discuss the tightening fiscal outlook ahead of the October Budget, and whether scrapping the triple lock on pensions would cost the government more politically than it would save in cash terms.

Plus, Reform’s week of mega-donations — and the Labour government’s response, and the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland begin a new push for independence from the UK.

Follow Lucy: @LOS_Fisher; George: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Stephen @stephenkb

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