Lucy Fisher

And Jim Pickard, the FT's deputy political editor.

Hi, Jim.

Hey, Lucy.

So to set the scene first, I should say we are in the Buck's Head pub in Abram in the Makerfield constituency.

So big shout out and thanks to Chris, the landlord, for letting us record here, especially as there is a bingo game going on behind us that you might hear.

We're having a bit of lunch.

Jen, you've fallen prey to stereotype.

You're eating.

I am doing the Andy Bedman special.

Okay, but you're on the orange juice.

I've already had some fish fingers in the pub, but I have procured, for your deletion, Jim, what I'm told is a Wigan pie.

It is a minced steak party pie inside a soft white bap, known locally, I'm told, by Galloway Bakery as a bam.

So it's... It's a bam.

A wig and kebab, I've been corrected.

Okay, so it's bread around pastry.

Jim, I don't eat meat, but you've got to take a bite in the name of authenticity.

Great.

So let's kick off with discussing what we've heard so far on the campaign trail.

Jen, we've just come up, you know, this week, but you've been covering this ever since the by-election was called.

And obviously, you know the area well from your years reporting around here.