Rishi Sunak’s dash for oil and gas

Rishi Sunak calculates that by portraying himself as “on the side” of motorists and adopting a “pragmatic and proportionate” approach to climate change, he’s aligning himself with the views of middle Britain. Is he right? The FT’s Lucy Fisher weighs up the question with columnists Robert Shrimsley and Stephen Bush. They also consider the Labour party’s chances in a key autumn by-election in its former stronghold of Scotland. Plus, Lucy and political editor George Parker unpick what it will take to reform the House of Lords.

Follow Lucy on Twitter @LOS_Fisher

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Rishi Sunak downplays green policies to court middle England

Labour faces test of by-election appeal in Scotland after ex-SNP MP ousted

Industry calls on UK to accelerate carbon capture as new projects approved

House of Lords speaker calls for better vetting of prospective peers

Arcane, hereditary, all-male – and at the heart of British democracy

Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Lulu Smyth and Manuela Saragosa with Andrew Georgiades. Mix by Simon Panayi. Original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.