FT Brexit Unspun

Fears about EU migrants 'flooding the country' played a big role in the campaign to persuade Britons to vote for Brexit, but there are signs of a big shift in public attitudes as labour shortages begin to affect different sectors of the economy. The government, however, seems slow to catch on. Ursula Milton talks to the FT’s Sarah O’Connor and Robert Wright and to Robert Ford of Manchester University about changing attitudes towards immigration to the UK. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A bitter row has broken out between Brussels and the British government over Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system. FT industry editor Peggy Hollinger and space expert Bleddyn Bowen discuss why the project is such an important test case for future relations between Britain and the EU See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Many in Britain have been unaware of the extent to which European law has benefited their rights and that, without an overarching EU constitutional framework, these rights may now be at risk. Schona Jolly, QC, barrister at Cloisters Chambers, who specialises in equality, human rights and employment law, talks to the FT’s Barney Thompson about what’s at stake. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The network of mostly former British colonies accounts for a relatively small share of British exports compared to the EU but this means the potential for growth is great, say exponents of Brexit. Siona Jenkins examines the arguments with the FT's Alan Beattie and Emily Jones of the Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Theresa May was backed by over 20 countries and Nato when she accused Russia of using a military grade nerve agent to poison the ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the provincial town of Salisbury. But will Britain be more vulnerable to such attacks once it is outside the EU? Siona Jenkins puts the question to Nina Schick, an expert in Russian hybrid warfare at the political consultancy Rasmussen Global, and the FT’s Philip Stephens. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A big appeal of Brexit for fishing communities around the UK was the promise that Britain would take back control of the seas around its coast and restore fishing rights perceived as being ‘stolen’ by European neighbours. However, the exit negotiations may result in a rather messier outcome, as fisheries are used as a bargaining chip in the broader UK-EU trade talks. Siona Jenkins discusses the future of the fishing industry with the FT's Mure Dickie, Chris Tighe and James Blitz See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Young people were under-represented in the Brexit referendum because only 40 per cent turned out to vote, but those who did vote opted overwhelmingly to remain. So how can those most affected by the outcome of the exit negotiations be given a voice? A crowd sourcing initiative at London’s LSE is attempting to do this.To find out more go to https://generationbrexit.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Northern Ireland is proving to be the single biggest risk to Brexit talks as negotiators struggle to reconcile competing demands for the UK to leave the customs union while keeping an open border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland. Siona Jenkins discusses possible solutions to the Irish border question with the FT's James Blitz and Arthur Beesley, and with Michael Dougan, professor of European law at the University of Liverpool See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, we look at what Britain’s decision to leave the EU means for a food manufacturer and exporter that is also closely involved with farming. Paul Kenward, managing director of British Sugar, a subsidiary of Associated British Foods, came into the FT studio to talk to business editor Sarah Gordon about what Brexit will mean for his business. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Theresa May promised to put financial services at the heart of a trade deal with the EU, but her government has postponed a position paper on the topic indefinitely. Siona Jenkins discusses the implications of this decision with Patrick Jenkins, Robert Armstrong and Caroline Binham. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Siona Jenkins catches up with the progress of the exit talks and discusses the likely next steps in the trade negotiations with the FT's George Parker, Alex Barker and Gemma Tetlow See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The fall in sterling since the Brexit referendum has given a big boost to the UK tourism industry. But can a sector so dependent on transport and other links with Europe thrive outside the EU? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Siona Jenkins and guests how collaboration between health researchers and specialists will be affected by Brexit, as well as whether reciprocal rights to access treatment for EU and UK citizens will continue. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Gordon, FT business editor, Allie Renison, head of EU and trade policy at the Institute of Directors, and Peter Campbell, FT motor industry correspondent, join Siona Jenkins to discuss the future of Britain's exporters outside the EU. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The EU's Common Agricultural Policy has been held responsible for destroying much of Britain's natural landscape and wildlife. Is now the time to reset policy on farming and the environment? Siona Jenkins discusses the question with economist Dieter Helm, conservation scientist Lynn Dicks, and the FT's Scheherazade Daneshkhu. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How much food does the UK import from Europe and how dependent are UK farmers on European subsidies? Will the price of food in supermarkets go up, or down? And will food safety standards change? Siona Jenkins discusses these and other questions with Scheherazade Daneshkhu, FT consumer industries correspondent, and Tim Lang of City, University of London See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Siona Jenkins discusses the future of employment, growing workforce gaps and what will happen to wages with the FT's Sarah O’Connor and Helen Warrell, and Heather Rolfe, an employment expert at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brexit has thrown the life plans of vast numbers of people into disarray and has caused headaches to employers worried that they may not be able to retain or recruit the best staff. Siona Jenkins asks Helen Warrell, the FT’s public policy correspondent, and Katie Newbury, an immigration lawyer at Kingsley Napley, how far the exit talks have succeeded in allaying some of these fears. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Uncertainty about the outcome of the exit negotiations has hit some companies hard, while others are examining options for relocating out of the UK. Siona Jenkins discusses the outlook for UK business with Sarah Gordon, FT business editor, Patrick Jenkins, financial editor, and Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Siona Jenkins examines questions of the legitimacy of the Brexit process and the impact on our democracy of the bill currently going through parliament with Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, director of the Queen Mary University school of law in London and the FT's James Blitz and Mure Dickie See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What progress has been made in the exit negotiations so far and what should Britain’s strategy be to get the best deal? Siona Jenkins puts the question to Alex Barker, FT Brussels bureau chief, James Blitz, FT Whitehall editor, and Heather Grabbe, director of the Open Society European Policy Institute in Brussels. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brexit Unspun, a podcast that debunks some of the political spin around Brexit is returning for a second series. You can listen to more insights from FT specialists about the impact of Brexit on our trade, economy, public institutions and private sector. And we’ll also be including contributions from listeners and outside experts. Our first episode takes stock of the progress made in the exit negotiations and asks what a transition arrangement might look like. So look out for Brexit Unspun, every Monday from next week. You can subscribe on all the usual podcast platforms. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The people of Ireland are united in opposition to any return of a visible border, involving security or customs checks. But how can this be achieved once Britain leaves the EU? Siona Jenkins discusses at the possibilities with Vincent Boland and Tony Barber. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The idea that Britain would have to pay an exit bill came as a surprise to many who voted to leave the European Union. They'd been promised a financial windfall that would help the government support public services. Siona Jenkins asks Alex Barker and James Blitz what the bill represents and how much leverage the UK has in the negotiations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Will Britain's global standing be enhanced or undermined by Brexit? Siona Jenkins puts the question to the FT's Alex Barker and Philip Stephens. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Britons voted to leave the EU, considerations of nuclear policy were probably far from their minds, but this is turning out to be one of the most complex and difficult parts of the separation process. Alex Barker and Andrew Ward explain why. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Does Britain risk becoming a 'backwater' for scientific research, as some scientists have warned? And what risk is there of a Brexit brain drain? Siona Jenkins discusses these and other questions with Clive Cookson and Helen Warrell See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Siona Jenkins discusses the impact of Brexit on the National Health Service with the FT's James Blitz and Sarah Neville. Will there be more money? How will it affect staffing, the cost of drugs and medical research? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If Europeans no longer take up jobs in the UK, will those jobs go to British workers or be lost for good, and will workers rights be eroded when protections enshrined in EU legislation are removed? Siona Jenkins puts these questions to Sarah Gordon and Sarah O’Connor. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fears about immigration were a prime reason why many Britons voted to leave the European Union. Were these fears justified, and if so, will Brexit solve the problem? Siona Jenkins puts these questions to the FT's Helen Warrell and James Blitz. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What’s the greatest risk to the smooth operation of cross border trade and which sectors are likely to be most affected? Siona Jenkins discusses the impact of Brexit on UK trade with Sarah Gordon, FT business editor, and Patrick Jenkins, financial editor. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Siona Jenkins asks the FT's Helen Warrell and Sam Jones how Britain's defence and security services will be affected by Brexit See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Will Britain's departure from the EU be good or bad for the economy, or will it in fact have no great impact at all? Siona Jenkins puts the question to Sarah O’Connor, employment editor, and Chris Giles, economics editor. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Siona Jenkins is joined by Sarah Gordon, FT business editor, and James Blitz, Whitehall editor, to discuss the timetable for Britain’s exit negotiations. Is Theresa May right that a strong mandate in next month's elections will strengthen her hand and how will other elections in Europe affect the timetable? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Brexit Unspun, a podcast that looks beyond the slogans and grandstanding to examine what Brexit will mean for Britain’s trade, economy, public institutions and private sector. Each week, the FT's Siona Jenkins will join forces with colleagues and invited guests, to examine the areas most affected by Brexit, from science, to the labour market, the NHS and nuclear policy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.