The Flint Podcast

In this podcast, Partner Kiran Horwich is joined by Flint experts Specialist Partner Sir Julian King (former British EU Commissioner and Ambassador to France), Senior Adviser Bruno Maçães (former Portuguese minister for European affairs) and Partner Alex White (Head of Flint’s Markets and Investors practice) to examine the situation in Russia following the events of the past few days.

Flint Specialist Partner Philip Rycroft  (lead official on devolution and constitution issues in the UK government from 2012 to 2019) was joined by 56˚ North Partners Fiona Stanton (former senior Scottish Labour director) and John Penman (former political and business journalist and FTSE-100 communications director during 2014 Scottish referendum) to talk about the appointment of Humza Yousaf as S...

Partner Liam Cullen sits down with former Taoiseach of Ireland to reflect on the Good Friday Agreement 25 years on and the lessons learnt for the Windsor Framework.

Partner Kiran Horwich discusses the latest Budget announced on 15 March by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt with Flint Partner Tim Pitt (former Special Adviser to Chancellors Sajid Javid and Philip Hammond) and Specialist Partner Giles Wilkes (former Business and Economy Adviser to Prime Minister Theresa May in No10).

Managing Partner Simon Fraser is joined by Sir Lawrence Freedman (Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London), Flint Specialist Partner Sir Julian King (UK EU Commissioner 2016-19) and Partner Sam Lowe (expert in UK and EU trade policy) to take stock of where things stand and discuss how the conflict in Ukraine may evolve in its second year.

Flint Partner Josh Buckland is joined by Flint experts Mary Starks former Executive Director for Consumers and Markets at the UK energy regulator Ofgem, Gregor Kreuzhuber , former advisor to two EU Commissioners and Francois-Joseph Schichan , former diplomat and political adviser to various French Ambassadors to discuss where next for the energy market.

Senior Adviser Thomas Matussek discusses Germany's relationship with Poland in an interview on Times Radio.

The political and constitutional noise in Scotland is dialling up – legal disputes, shifting political polls and fragile, but competing economic plans between Westminster and Holyrood, are all set to trigger yet more uncertainty around one of the biggest political issues facing the UK. Following the SNP’s annual conference over the weekend, attention this week will turn to the Supreme Court in Lon...

China’s Party Congress – the most significant event in China’s 5-year political cycle – begins in Beijing on 16 October. The headlines are all about the expected third term for President Xi, but beyond decisions on the Party leadership, the Congress will offer a crucial window into Chinese government policy priorities for the five years ahead. In this Flint briefing call, we will consider likely o...

The conflict in Ukraine is becoming a war of attrition with no sign of an early settlement. How prepared are we for the consequences of a protracted conflict? The coming months will test Western resolve at home and abroad. Sanctions are starting to bite not just on Russia but on European economies and societies already facing daunting challenges. Many countries in Africa and the Middle East face d...

France has chosen its next President. The race between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen was tighter than in 2017 in a campaign disrupted by the war in Ukraine and its economic consequences, in which the traditional parties have been annihilated. This polarising election will have implications for France’s domestic policies, the future direction of travel of the EU and France’s position in an unce...

After more than a month, has the Russian invasion reached a turning point? Russian ministers have promised to curtail the assault on Kyiv, but have focused attacks on eastern Ukraine and declined to ease the humanitarian crisis in Mariupol. Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine seem to have made some progress, but Western governments remain deeply sceptical about Putin’s intentions.   This episo...

On Wednesday 23 March the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, will deliver his Spring Statement. The crisis in Ukraine is combining with existing economic pressures to deliver what looks set to be the biggest hit to living standards in the UK in half a century. The Chancellor is under huge pressure to deliver a package that supports households and businesses – and limits the political fallout for the governm...

The Russian attack on Ukraine grinds slowly on, with few military gains but growing humanitarian consequences. As sanctions ramp up, there has been more focus this week on limited negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, while top US and Chinese diplomats met in Rome and an extraordinary NATO summit is planned for next week.  In this Episode, Flint Managing Partner Sir Simon Fraser (Head of the UK...

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, with serious humanitarian and political consequences. Two big themes this week have been the impact on energy supply and prices and the growing refugee crisis. Flint continues to follow military, political, diplomatic and economic events closely.   In this Episode, Flint Managing Partner Sir Simon Fraser (Head of the UK Foreign Office 2010-2015), chairs a di...

A week into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is now clear that the crisis will have long-lasting implications for businesses in many sectors, in addition to its severe human costs and political consequences.  President Putin seems set to double down on his military action in the face of resistance. In response, Western governments’ positions towards Russia will continue to harden, making it ess...

Events are unfolding rapidly in Ukraine. Beyond its deeply troubling humanitarian, security and political implications, Russia’s invasion will have far-reaching and potentially unpredictable consequences for businesses across a wide range of sectors.  Understanding the implications of a deteriorating security situation, sanctions, and the possible constraints on energy and other commodities will b...

We enter 2022 amid great international uncertainty. Covid may be in retreat in the developed world, but not across the globe. High debt and inflation will make delivering on climate promises hard. Serious political and military tension has flared between Russia and the West over Ukraine. The China/US standoff persists. America is divided and Biden may lose control on the Hill in the US midterms. G...

Koyin Fuwa, Flint consultant interviews Kiran Horwich, Flint partner; about her journey from Consultant to Partner.

In the aftermath of the final deal at COP26 our experts provide analysis of the deal itself, as well as what it means for the domestic and international agenda on climate change in the months and years ahead. Flint Partner Kiran Horwich chairs a discussion between Flint Partner Josh Buckland (Former adviser to the Business Secretary on energy and climate issues) and Flint Managing Partner Simon Fr...

In the aftermath of the Budget and Spending Review ,  Flint experts provide their analysis of the Chancellor’s statement, talk through its political and economic implications and what this all means to the business community.    Flint Partner Kiran Horwich chairs the discussion between Partner Tim Pitt (former Special Adviser to Chancellors Sajid Javid and Philip Hammond) and Specialist Partner Gi...