Afleveringen
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What happens when a country’s middle class starts working harder… but feeling poorer?
This week on The Policy Fix, Steve Rigby sits down with Resolution Foundation CEO Ruth Curtice to unpack why so many working people in Britain feel squeezed from every side — despite employment being high and wages rising on paper.
They discuss:
Why living standards have stagnated for nearly two decades
Whether Britain’s tax system is fit for purpose
The growing pressure on young people entering the workforce
Why AI could widen inequality between the “have-AIs” and “have-not AIs”
The future of welfare, pensions and affordable housing
Whether minimum wage rises are helping — or hurting — younger workers
Ruth also explains why she believes affordable housing is the single biggest policy challenge facing Britain today.
The Policy Fix is a series hosted by Steve Rigby exploring the biggest economic and policy questions shaping the UK.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:00 What is the Resolution Foundation?
05:00 Who is “Unsung Britain”?
08:00 Britain’s debt and cost-of-living crisis
14:00 Growth vs redistribution
16:00 Does Britain need tax reform?
19:00 Minimum wage and youth unemployment
25:00 Welfare, pensions and the triple lock
35:00 AI and the future of work
42:00 The one policy Ruth would fix today
#Politics #UKPolitics #Economy #AI #Tax #MiddleClass #PolicyFix
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Why does it feel like you’re worse off… even when GDP is going up?
In this episode of The Policy Fix, Claire Ward joins Steve Rigby to break down why economic growth isn’t being felt by most people across the UK.
They discuss:
Why GDP growth doesn’t reflect real living standards
The impact of inflation, mortgages, and the cost of living
Why politics often prioritises announcements over delivery
Worklessness, young people, and long-term economic risks
Devolution, Whitehall, and what needs to change to drive real growth
Claire Ward shares a grounded view from inside regional leadership — and why, for many communities, the system still isn’t delivering.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:10 Why growth isn’t being felt
04:20 Cost of living & mortgages
08:30 Announcements vs real change
14:00 Worklessness & young people
20:00 Skills & jobs pipeline
30:30 Devolution vs Whitehall
40:00 What needs to change
đïž The Policy Fix explores the biggest economic and political challenges facing the UK — through conversations with the people shaping policy and business.
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Andrew Griffith on Getting the UK’s Mojo Back: FinTech, Regulation, AI, Growth and the ‘Vibe’ for Wealth Creators
Steve Rigby interviews Conservative Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Andrew Griffith, former Sky CFO/COO and ex–City Minister, on how the UK can “get its mojo back” by backing risk-takers and wealth creators, tackling youth unemployment, and improving business-government engagement. Griffith argues the UK is overregulated across sectors, needs faster and bolder financial-market reforms akin to a “Big Bang 2.0,” and criticizes delays such as Revolut’s banking license and the failed Arm float. He outlines priorities for business—cheaper energy, lower/simpler taxes, cutting red tape and regulator size, flexible labor markets, and cultural support for entrepreneurs—while warning the Employment Rights Bill could hurt jobs, especially for young people. They discuss pension investment rules, AI as a productivity tool, defense and welfare trade-offs, non-dom policy, and tax-code complexity, ending with quickfire questions and a charity donation to Sussex Snowdrop Trust.
00:00 Fintech Heroes First
00:32 Meet Andrew Griffith
01:31 Sky Startup Lessons
02:36 Murdoch Long Term Mindset
03:52 ITV Sky And Regulators
05:45 Overregulation And Resilience
07:56 Business Experience In Government
10:33 Mission To Serve In Politics
13:31 Fixing UK Fintech And Listings
17:10 Mansion House And Pensions
20:25 Opposition Plans For Day One
21:53 Employment Rights Bill Fears
24:47 Low Pay Commission Accountability
26:28 Wages and Competitiveness
26:45 AI as Productivity Engine
27:37 Disrupt Yourself Mindset
28:50 AI and Immigration Tradeoffs
30:00 Five Point Growth Plan
31:47 Non Dom Debate
34:53 Simplifying the Tax Code
37:55 Defense Spending Reality Check
41:18 Welfare Reform Hard Choices
45:08 Politics and Trust
46:40 Restarting UK Growth
50:07 Charity and Policy Fix
52:39 Quick Fire Wrap Up
54:22 Final Thanks and Outro
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Former Chancellor and YouGov co-founder Nadhim Zahawi joins Steve Rigby on The Policy Fix for a candid conversation on business, politics, and Britain’s economic future.
Zahawi reflects on leading the UK’s COVID vaccine rollout, revealing how rapid decision-making, military logistics, and direct access to Boris Johnson enabled Britain to move faster than Europe. He shares lessons from building national infrastructure at speed — and why urgency in government has since disappeared.
They also explore why the UK is losing competitiveness, from AstraZeneca investing abroad to rising energy costs, regulatory pressure, and the risks facing Britain’s industrial base. Zahawi explains how he built YouGov from scratch after the dot-com crash, how a pivotal Freeserve partnership changed everything, and why AI will completely transform research, education, and business.
The conversation turns to Zahawi’s decision to join Reform, his assessment of Nigel Farage’s leadership, and whether the party can become a serious governing force. He discusses immigration, welfare reform, AI policy, and what Britain must do to restore growth and attract global talent.
A rare insider view from someone who has built companies, run major government departments, and helped lead Britain through one of its biggest crises.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to The Policy Fix
01:01 Zahawi’s journey through business and government
02:14 Inside Britain’s COVID vaccine rollout
06:42 How Brexit gave the UK a vaccine advantage
07:28 Why AstraZeneca and pharma are investing abroad
10:26 Founding YouGov and spotting the internet opportunity
14:03 The pivot that saved YouGov after the dot-com crash
16:37 The breakthrough that proved YouGov worked
18:44 How AI will transform market research
20:07 Why government lacks business experience
26:05 Migration, urgency, and government decision-making
28:46 Energy costs and Britain’s industrial strategy problem
33:00 Welfare, work incentives, and economic decline
36:57 AI regulation and avoiding Europe’s mistakes
39:32 Why Alphabet and DeepMind are so powerful
40:13 Britain’s biggest startup funding weakness
41:05 How AI tutors could reshape education
43:27 Universities, talent, and keeping innovation in the UK
44:34 Why Zahawi joined Reform
48:09 Nigel Farage, leadership, and preparing for power
56:06 Building a serious political movement
01:05:57 Defections, politics, and Britain’s direction
01:10:54 Charity selection: Adam Smith Institute
01:12:52 The Policy Fix: Abolishing inheritance tax
01:15:42 Funding tax reform
01:16:49 Final thoughts
About The Policy Fix
Hosted by Steve Rigby, The Policy Fix explores what’s broken in Britain - and how to fix it.
No politics. No spin. Just honest conversations with people who get things done.
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Dame Claire Barclay - one of the most influential leaders in global tech - joins The Policy Fix.
In this episode, Steve Rigby speaks with the President of Microsoft for Enterprise & Infrastructure in EMEA and Chair of the UK’s Industrial Strategy Advisory Council about whether Britain is moving fast enough in the age of AI.
Claire offers an insider view on Microsoft’s AI strategy, the rise of autonomous “AI agents,” and why even the world’s biggest tech companies must keep reinventing themselves.
They also examine the UK’s new Industrial Strategy - what’s working, what’s risky, and whether it can actually lift productivity outside London. Along the way, Claire explains why skills, energy, and planning are now as critical to growth as innovation itself.
A clear-eyed conversation about technology, power, and Britain’s future.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to The Policy Fix
00:45 Claire Barclay’s dual roles
01:13 Inside Microsoft’s evolution
03:55 Why AI feels like a “long game”
04:49 How AI will reshape business
10:04 Government and the AI opportunity
15:11 Skills for the AI era
18:08 What is the Industrial Strategy Council?
20:26 How government works with business
22:54 Regions, mayors and delivery
24:22 Where tech fits in industrial strategy
25:16 Britain’s productivity problem
27:55 The future of the UK tech sector
31:01 Advice for young people today
33:47 Choosing a charity: Crisis
38:52 Final thoughts
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Addressing the Crisis of School Absenteeism and Social Issues with Andy Cook
In this episode of The Policy Fix, host Steve Rigby sits down with Andy Cook, CEO of the Centre for Social Justice, to discuss critical issues facing the UK today. They delve into the crisis of school absenteeism, the role of philanthropy in driving social change, and the importance of tailored local interventions. Andy shares insights from his extensive experience in the charity sector and outlines key policies that could make a significant impact on disadvantaged communities. The discussion also touches on the declining value of traditional education pathways and the potential of enriched, sport-focused educational models.
00:00 Introduction: The Crisis of Attendance
00:26 Welcome to The Policy Fix
00:31 Meet Andy Cook: Champion for Social Justice
01:30 The Center for Social Justice: Mission and Impact
01:53 Personal Journey: From Charity Founder to Award Winner
02:38 Celebrating Unsung Heroes: The CSJ Awards
04:38 Navigating Politics: Cross-Party Collaboration
07:01 Innovative Approaches to Social Issues
09:48 Place-Based Philanthropy: A New Hope
15:30 The Role of Education in Social Mobility
16:46 Addressing Absenteeism: A Growing Concern
22:31 Setting a Bigger Agenda
22:43 The Social Compact at Risk
23:06 Parental Responsibility and Education
24:25 Leadership in Education
26:57 Philanthropy and Innovation
28:19 Youth Centers and Public-Private Partnerships
30:33 Community-Driven Interventions
33:35 Challenges Facing Boys in Education
40:38 Future Policies and Recommendations
About The Policy Fix
Hosted by Steve Rigby, The Policy Fix explores what’s broken in Britain - and how to fix it.
No politics. No spin. Just honest conversations with people who get things done.
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Rupert Soames: How to Fix Britain’s Broken Systems | The Policy Fix with Steve Rigby
Britain is facing some of the biggest structural challenges in a generation - from weak growth and rising debt to failing public services and declining business confidence.
In this episode, Steve Rigby sits down with Rupert Soames, Chair of the CBI and one of the UK’s most respected turnaround leaders, to discuss what it will actually take to fix the system.
Rupert shares candid insights from:
- Saving the CBI during its crisis
- Running some of the UK's toughest public service contracts
- Working with government at the highest levels
- Why fiscal rules matter more than politicians admit
- What Britain needs to get right in the next decade
This is a grounded, practical conversation about delivery, responsibility, leadership - and the real choices Britain faces.
About The Policy Fix
Hosted by Steve Rigby, The Policy Fix explores what’s broken in Britain - and how to fix it.
No politics. No spin. Just honest conversations with people who get things done.
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No spin. No drama. Just real solutions. Steve Rigby talks to people who’ve actually run things - and know what needs to change.
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