Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Commons People

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss how President Trump has been "moving mad" this week, from posting to his social media 100 times a day to trying rename Lake Ontario "Lake America".

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal.

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Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're asking whether UK-Russia relations have slipped into a new, more dangerous phase due – in part – to Andy Burnham's visit to Ukraine this week.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal and Dan Faber.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the current state of the Green Party – once riding high in the polls – with former party leader and current peer, Natalie Bennett.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kevin sits down with Liz Bates, a former political journalist turned special adviser for Keir Starmer's Government. Liz lifts the lid on what a SPAD does, the "funereal" reality of Keir Starmer's resignation to those on the inside and the difference between reporting the news and influencing the story.

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00:00 – Introduction.

05:07 – What is a special adviser and what do they do?

07:59 – What was it like working for Steve Reed, the former Housing Secretary and Environment Secretary?

13:10 – Behind the scenes of Keir Starmer's resignation in July.

18:30 – Why does a SPAD also lose their job when the minister they're serving does?

20:32 – What's next for Liz and what does she think about the future of Andy Burnham's Government.

23:35 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's budding political relationship, and analyse whether it will last the length of both of their terms in office.

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00:00 – Introduction.

02:34 – What's happened between Andy Burnham and Donald Trump since he became Prime Minister?

04:54 – What's Trump's record with British Prime Ministers in the past?

15:10 – What is Burnham's history with Trump?

17:44 – How will Ed Miliband fare

20:21 – Why is Trump so obsessed with North Sea drilling?

22:25 – What's next for Burnham and Trump, and what could go wrong?

34:03 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kevin and Kate take a look inside Andy Burnham’s day-one cabinet purge – who’s in, who’s out, why Wes Streeting is suddenly in charge of the army, what this all means for you and whether this new government is already heading for a smash-up.

00:00 – Introduction

01.48 – Andy Burnham's first days in office

08.14 – Who's out?

19.30 – Who's in?

24.24 – Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband (and his previous Trump comments...)

28.07 – Wes Streeting (and his lack of military experience)

40.55 – What's the reaction to the reshuffle been like in the Labour party?

48.24 – What's Farage had to say?

49.40 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Dayna McAlpine

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss Keir Starmer's time in office as Prime Minister, and what are the main things he'll be remembered for – good and bad.

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00:00 – Introduction.

07:00 – What did Keir Starmer do in office? – The good stuff

13:46 – What did Keir Starmer do in office? – The bad stuff

26:01 – What did Keir Starmer do in office? – The middle ground stuff

32:39 – What's next for Keir Starmer?

38:32 – Was he a good or bad Prime Minister?

41:11 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing the eerie similarities between incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. How much do they really have in common?

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing whether a much-talked-about money scandal has landed Reform UK's leader and Clacton MP Nigel Farage in more trouble than he can come back from. Is his career really "dead in the water" as Piers Morgan said this week?

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction.

03:16 – How did the scandal begin?

09:56 – Nigel Farage and his gold bullion side hustle.

13:01 – Are the British public particularly sensitive to money scandals?

13:59 – Reform's recent electoral disappointments.

17:32 – What's happening inside the Reform UK party?

23:35 – What's next for Reform UK?

31:07 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss Brexit on its tenth anniversary, and talk over the idea that the Brexit referendum *cursed* British politics, given the churn of Prime Ministers we've had since then.

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00:00 – Introduction.

03:12 – Brexit defined in 20 seconds.

03:43 – What does Brexit have to do with Keir Starmer resigning this week?

11:10 – What did Rishi Sunak have to do with Brexit?

12:11 – Liz Truss's impact on the economy.

14:13 – How Boris Johnson "got Brexit done".

17:38 – How Theresa May failed to get Brexit done.

21:21 – David Cameron: the man who caused Brexit.

27:10 – How is Brexit still impacting us today and what is the feelings of the general public?

32:25 – Nigel Farage still wants a crack at Brexit.

34:54 – Has Brexit been a curse on No.10?

37:03 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the Makerfield by-election result, what's next for Andy Burnham MP and whether it's over for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and, indeed, the Reform Party.

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00:00 – Introduction

05:46 – Why is Andy Burnham so popular?

09:19 – Why are so many Labour MPs behind Andy Burnham?

11:27 – What's going to happen next to the Labour Party and to the Prime Minister?

15:11 – Will Wes Streeting (or any other candidates) step into a leadership contest?

18:30 – What does this all mean for Reform and Nigel Farage?

27:15 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the all-important Makerfield by-election, and whether Andy Burnham is likely to succeed and consequently pose a threat to Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

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00:00 – Introduction

01:58 – Can Keir Starmer survive in number 10?

08:55 – The latest on Andy Burnham's Makerfield campaign

14:26 –  What's next for the Labour party?

16:29 – Interview with Louise Haigh MP and Anneliese Midgley MP

19:54 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss what’s going on with right-wing political party Reform UK, and whether their ongoing meltdown could see them lose in the all-important Makerfield by-election in Greater Manchester.

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00:00 – Introduction

04:29 – Where is Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage?

07:44 – Farage's comments on the murder of Henry Nowak

12:02 – The Makerfield by-election/Robert Kenyon

18:15 – The origin of Restore Britain

25:07 – Robert Jenrick humiliated by fellow Reform leader Zia Yusuf

32:21 – What's next for Reform UK?

39:02 – Reform's misrepresenting Kemi Badenoch's "white lives" comment

42:42 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the climate crisis on our doorstep and whether politicians are doing enough to acknowledge it AND combat it.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer is on the ropes, Wes Streeting has walked out, and Andy Burnham is making his play for the crown. This week on HuffPost UK's Commons People, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson break down the massive stakes of the Makerfield by-election. With Reform UK surging and Labour HQ described as "a morgue on a spaceship hurtling towards destruction," can the King of the North secure his ticket back to Westminster, or is the party heading for a total smash-up?

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction.

00:35 – Westminster recap: how did we get here and why does the by-election matter?

01:30 – Why did Wes Streeting resign as Health Secretary (and what's his next move)?

03:40 – When will the Makerfield by-election take place?

04:00 – Who is Andy Burnham and what is his political background?

07:46 – How is Reform UK threatening Labour in the local wards?

08:40 – Why has the Brexit debate returned to haunt Andy Burnham?

09:21 – What do the campaign videos reveal about Andy Burnham and Robert Kenyon?

12:40 – Why did Andy Burnham fail in his previous leadership bids?

15:50 – Who is Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon?

16:40 – What did Robert Kenyon's deleted social media history reveal?

19:40 – How did Hannah Spencer influence the focus on trade candidates?

21:44 – What will happen if Andy Burnham wins the by-election?

24:17 – Who are the other potential contenders to replace Keir Starmer?

26:32 – What is the nightmare scenario for Labour if Andy Burnham loses?

27:55 – How is Labour feeling while we wait for the by-election?

32:26 – Bluffer's Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds and Paula Barker clip sourced from BBC via @treesey/X. Producer: Dayna McAlpine

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Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we analyse what's really going on in Downing Street this week as Keir Starmer's Government – and the Labour party at large – deal with the fallout of last week's elections.

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction.

01:40 – What happened to Labour at the 2026 Local Elections?

05:16 – Who wants Starmer to go and how does Labour get rid of its leaders?

13:51 – What's the difference between the Cabinet and other Members of Parliament?

14:20 – Catherine West's “stalking horse” campaign and Keir Starmer's make-or-break speech.

20:50 – Why isn't Starmer going?

23:48 – Wes Streeting's next move.

29:05 – What are Andy Burnham's chances?

33:46 – Will Ed Miliband throw his hat into the ring?

38:12 – A practical explanation of the Labour party spectrum of ideology.

39:40 – What will happen next?

45:13 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds and Paula Barker clip sourced from BBC via @treesey/X. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the probable outcome of the 7 May Local Elections, and whether the predicted devastation for Labour across the country will spell the end of Keir Starmer's leadership.

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00:00 – Introduction and the downfall of Labour under Keir Starmer's rule.

08:20 – How would Keir Starmer be gotten rid off, and who would be replace him?

12:54 – Would Ed Miliband step up again?

15:08 – Is Shabana Mahmood up for being Labour Leader?

15:37 – How about Yvette Cooper or John Healey?

17:57 – Will anybody stand by Starmer?

21:40 – Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner are the frontrunners to replace Starmer.

30:32 – What will happen after the Local Elections results come in?

44:04 – Bluffers Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the origin of the "special relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States and whether Donald Trump has essentially killed it off.

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00:00 – Introduction.

01:29 – Where does the term "special relationship" come from?

03:40 – How have Keir Starmer and Trump contributed to changing the special relationship?

11:50 – King Charles state visit latest.

18:32 – Selections from King Charles's Congress speech.

20:28 – How did Trump break royal protocol?

23:42 – UK-US ambassador's comments on America's "special relationship" with Israel.

26:42 – Peter Mandelson scandal latest.

31:14 – What will happen after King Charles state is done?

39:21 – Bluffers guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds and King Charles clips were sourced from Associated Press via YouTube. Producer: Sam Cleal

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Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the latest developments in the headline-making Peter Mandelson scandal, and whether Keir Starmer's recent conduct towards the civil service – and his past mistakes – are enough to see his premiership crumble.

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00:00 – Introduction.

01:17 – Who is Peter Mandelson and what's his connection with Jeffrey Epstein?

08:24 – Why did Mandelson get a job if he had failed security vetting?

13:08 – How did Keir Starmer respond?

16:27 – How did senior civil servant Olly Robbins answer to being blamed for getting Mandelson in post?

19:40 – Does former ambassador Karen Pierce not continuing in her role suggest Starmer is running a boys' club?

21:45 – How the Mandelson saga has undermined Keir Starmer's rule-abiding reputation.

23:12 – Why did Starmer take such a gamble on appointing Mandelson?

26:20 – What's next for Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and who would replace him?

36:35 – Morgan McSweeney to give testimony to the Foreign Affairs Committee.

39:00 – Taxpayers will probably fund a large payout for Olly Robbins.

40:00 – How will the Government and the civil service continue working together?

41:30 – Bluffer's Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. This week, Kevin and Kate discuss why Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are keen to develop closer ties with the EU, and what that means in the context of Brexit.

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction

02:29 – Brexit explained (for those who have forgotten!)

04:43 – the King's speech, Trump and why Starmer would want to align more closely with the EU.

09:20 – how do British people feel about the EU?

13:50 – what are the main political parties thinking?

17:14 – British holidaymakers stranded at passport control.

18:17 – MPs are angry at not getting a vote.

21:19 – Steve Reed (Community Secretary) on an EU re-alignment.

23:27 – What will happen next?

28:16 – Bluffer's Guide and end.

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. This week, Kevin and Kate are back together to ask whether Donald Trump’s war in Iran is really over after a two-week ceasefire was agreed to on Tuesday.

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction

04:44 – Did Trump meet any of his military objectives?

08:14 – The significance of the Strait of Hormuz

12:52 – Iran's 10-point proposal

18:02 – Trump's strained international relations (including with NATO)

21:56 – Keir Starmer and King Charles's relationship with Trump and Trump's comments on UK armed forces

25:13 – Can Iran build a nuclear bomb?

29:05 – Keir Starmer's visit to the Middle East

32:53 – The economic consequences of the war

37:33 – Bluffer's guide and end

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kate is joined by special guest Millie Cooke – political correspondent for The Independent – to discuss whether Parliament is doing enough to tackle misogyny and the rise of the manosphere.

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction

05:00 – Sarah Everard and the impact of her death on society

06:54 – Is there a pattern of sexist briefings against female cabinet ministers going on?

09:42 – Is Keir Starmer's Government a "boy's club"?

14:37 – What is it like being a female journalist in politics today.

19:40 – What do "Adolescence" and "Inside The Manosphere" have to do with things?

23:05 – Reform's Matt Goodwin and Danny Kruger's anti-women policies

25:47 – What does the future hold – a female first secretary of state

28:26 – What does the future hold – the male MP response

30:25 – How do we make sure women are heard more?

33:04 – Are female political correspondents outliers in Westminster?

35:06 – Should there be a Minister for Men?

36:59 – Bluffer's Guide and end

You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing the May local elections and weighing up the chances of all the main parties including Labour, Green, Conservative, Reform and the Lib Dems, as well as the SNP and Plaid Cymru in Scotland and Wales, respectively.

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction

01:01 – When are the local elections and why are they important?

03:31 – What are Labour's chances in the local elections?

04:48 – How will the Tories fare?

06:09 – Will Reform’s success at the polls be reflected in the elections?

09:17 – Will the Greens continue with their success?

11:22 – How will the Lib Dems affect things?

13:44 – Will wins for the SNP and Plaid Cymru signify the end of United Kingdom?

16:43 – Are we looking at the end of the two-party system in the UK?

19:28 – Will there be a Labour leadership contest after 7 May?

25:33 – What does all the mean for the cost of living crisis?

26:37 – Bluffer’s guide

You can watch full episodes on YouTube @HuffPost-UK and follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

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Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. For our returning episode, and our first in four and half years, we're talking about one of the most important subjects in UK politics right now – the Iran war. Join Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson as they dive deep into how the war is having a knock-on effect on the UK’s cost of living already, how it's impacting the UK-US special relationship and whether it's also reshaping other international alliances and existing wars, like Ukraine.

Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction

04:11 – How did we get here?

10:08 – What does the Strait of Hormuz have to do with things?

13:37 – Trump and NATO

17:36 – Will the Gulf countries become more pro-Ukraine?

21:32 – Will the King's state visit go ahead?

23:30 – The knock-on effect on the UK cost of living

26:47 – How long is the war going to last?

30:57 – Will any countries join the war?

35:02 – Bluffer's guide

36:30 – Outro

You can watch full episodes on YouTube @HuffPost-UK. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson has taken the biggest gamble of his premiership with a National Insurance hike to fund the NHS and social care.

Labour's leader in the Lords Angela Smith joins Ned Simons, Sophia Sleigh and Paul Waugh to chat through Tory tax rises and where Labour's at ahead of its party conference

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As MPs head off to their constituencies, rising Covid cases and Channel crossings of asylum seekers are ensuring Boris Johnson cannot put his feet up.

Home Affairs Committee chair Yvette Cooper joins Ned Simons and Paul Waugh to chat through her joust with the Priti Patel this week, as well as the wider problems facing both the government and Labour this summer.

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The chancellor's late, late move to outflank Tory rebels on international aid cuts won the day, despite MPs voting against the three line whip. But is the rebellion over and will Rishi Sunak and his party rue the damage caused to their brand?

Ned Simons and Paul Waugh are joined by former international development secretary (and former chief whip) Andrew Mitchell.

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Football may or may not be coming home, but Boris Johnson and Liz Truss want British firms to export more abroad. Can the UK’s tricky relations with China help or hinder that post-Brexit ambition?

Shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry joins Ned Simons and Paul Waugh to chat through trade, as well as the next steps for Keir Starmer’s Labour after its ‘Batley bounce’.

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Sajid Javid made a phoenix-like return to the Cabinet this week, replacing Matt Hancock after the former health secretary was sensationally caught on camera breaking Covid rules by kissing an aide in his office.

Senior Tory and Commons education committee chair Rob Halfon joins Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to discuss a rocky week for the government, and the Covid crisis that’s creeping up in English schools.

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It’s the fifth anniversary of the vote to leave the EU and Brexit is still having a profound impact on British politics.

Tory former spad Salma Shah and the UK In A Changing Europe’s Anand Menon join Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to unpack the successes and failures of the last five years, and discuss what Brexit means for politics in 2021 and beyond.

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Boris Johnson this week delayed so-called “freedom day” from Covid restrictions in a bid to get more vaccines into more arms and protect the NHS.

But the prime minister has angered many Tory MPs, who simply do not believe he will stick to the new “terminus” of July 19th.

Lib Dem health spokesperson Munira Wilson joins Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to discuss why her party abstained on extending restrictions, and also why the Tories’ so-called culture war was losing them votes in their traditional southern seats.

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It’s a huge week for Boris Johnson as Joe Biden and leaders of some of the world’s wealthiest countries arrive in Cornwall for the G7 summit.

But the prime minister has embroiled himself in a row with the EU over the terms of his own Brexit deal, which has angeried the US president and is threatening to overshadow the event.

Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy joins Arj Singh and Ned Simons to discuss how Johnson can reset and repair relations with Biden, and discuss what Labour can learn from the US Democrats in the face of the UK’s own culture war.

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Dominic Cummings took no prisoners this week when laying out claims of a series of “disastrous” government failures that meant tens of thousands of people died of Covid unnecessarily.

Conservative MP Bob Seely joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to talk about the former No.10 aide's explosive select committee appearance, why the government needs to be better prepared for “black swan” moments, and the electoral risk facing the Tories if Boris Johnson proceeds with controversial planning reforms.

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Weeks of optimism and cheer as Covid restrictions were eased gave way to another bout of nationwide nervousness amid localised spikes in infections attributed to the variant of the virus first detected in India, prompting debates about how to contain the variant and whether the June 21 unlocking needs to be delayed.

Labour MP and Keir Starmer’s new parliamentary private secretary Sharon Hodgson joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to chat through Covid, winning voters in red wall seats like hers, and being braver on Brexit.

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The government’s legislative agenda for the next year or so was unveiled in this week’s Queen’s Speech. But it was perhaps more notable for what wasn’t in it. Boris Johnson’s plan to reform social care was still absent despite his 2019 claim to voters that he had one prepared. And the prime minister is still struggling to define how he will “level up” left behind communities.

Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake, an aide to Michael Gove, joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to explain why it could take 30 years to finish the job of “levelling up” areas like his in North Yorkshire, and to reflect on whether Labour made a strategic mistake focusing on alleged sleaze ahead of last week’s local elections.

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Labour suffered a disastrous series of results in the “super Thursday” local elections, capped by a huge and humiliating defeat to the Tories in a parliamentary by-election in the red wall seat of Hartlepool. There were more losses in red wall and other marginal council areas with the Tories even taking control of Northumberland.

It has led to serious questions about Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour’s strategy, and just where the party goes from here.

Senior former Labour adviser Matthew McGregor joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss how the party can start winning again, and what lessons it can learn from Joe Biden’s campaign in the United States.

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It’s been a nightmare week for Boris Johnson, who kicked the hornet’s nest when he blamed Dominic Cummings for a series of damaging leaks. The former adviser replied with a stinging public attack, which has left the prime minister fending off multiple bad headlines around his handling of the Covid crisis. On top of that, the Tories are now facing an Electoral Commission investigation into who funded the refurbishment of Johnson’s Downing Street flat.

Meanwhile, with the Covid situation improving dramatically in the UK, attention has turned to the appalling crisis in India. Is the UK doing enough to help, and should Johnson be wary of getting too close to the country’s PM Narendra Modi?

Senior Tory MP and Commons foreign affairs committee chair Tom Tugendhat joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss what the flat saga means for the local elections, and how the UK should respond to events in Asia.

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Allegations of cronyism and government by WhatsApp have been intensifying around the Conservatives as Boris Johnson’s texts to manufacturer and Tory donor James Dyson add to the lobbying scandal engulfing former PM David Cameron and members of the Cabinet. Labour think they’ve found a message to take to the doorstep for local elections, but are claims of Tory sleaze enough to take power nationally?

A scandal of another sort has however overshadowed the Greensill story, as failed plans by the so-called “big six” Premier League teams to create a breakaway European “super league” united rival fans and political parties in a backlash which may usher in a watershed moment for English football. 

Labour ex-cabinet minister Lord Peter Mandelson joins Arj Sngh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss what the super league scandal means for politics, and how Labour need to “turn the Tories inside out” to win again.

Clips from Joe, Sky Sports News, Sky News, LBC, Tom Sheldrick ITV interview with Jill Mortimer and Parliament TV.

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With local elections around the corner, Boris Johnson’s Tories find themselves in a stronger position than they would have imagined just a few short months ago. Will the successful deployment of coronavirus vaccines wipe the memory of the issues Britain endured during repeated lockdowns, giving the prime minister a vaccine bounce?

Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth are joined by Tory peer and polling expert Lord Robert Hayward to discuss whether the success of the rollout compared to the EU’s haphazard jabbing programme could help the Tories at the ballot box, what the by-election in Hartlepool means for Labour, and how the infighting in the SNP might affect their Holyrood seats and calls for a second independence referendum.

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The scale of protests, anger and shared feeling amongst women that they aren’t safe in British society after the killing of Sarah Everard has sparked a change in attitudes towards women’s safety in Westminster. But is a government led by a prime minister who’s been accused of sexism multiple times really capable of the change needed?

Joining Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss how to improve things is shadow domestic violence minister Jess Phillips, who calls for cross-party talks, why Liz Truss needs to do more, and also whether the Hartlepool by-election will reveal the direction of travel for post-Brexit, post-pandemic Britain.

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The disappearance of Sarah Everard, Harry and Meghan’s bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview, and the resignations of two government equality advisers have revealed just how much work there still is to do to make Britain a more equal society for all.

Joining Arj Singh, Rachel Wearmouth and Paul Waugh, Tory chair of the Commons women and equalities committee, Caroline Nokes discusses the need for Royal transparency, why women feel unsafe on our streets, and why she wears “woke” as a “badge of honour”.

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This week Rishi Sunak delivered his heavily-trailed Budget, revealing a spend now, tax later approach to the economic recovery from coronavirus. It included big spending on Covid support measures but a sting in the tail as taxes were hiked to their highest level since the 1960s. There were also accusations of “pork barrel politics” as Tory areas benefited from funding for levelling up.

Joining Arj Singh and Paul Waugh, shadow Treasury minister Pat McFadden talks through the repercussions of the 2021 Budget, including how Labour deals with a high taxing, high spending Conservative Party.

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After Boris Johnson revealed his “road map” for the country to exit lockdown but with the vaccination programme continuing to go well, attention is turning towards the path to economic recovery. What will chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget next week do to help those in need now? What might it tell us about the government’s vision for the future? And are vaccine passports inevitable to allow the economy to open up?

Joining Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth, ex-Treasury Sonia Khan discusses the balancing act Sunak will have to perform.

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As the lockdown continues in Britain, attitudes are changing across Westminster to problem gambling as restrictions leave people couple up at home, inundated with betting ads and turning to online gambling sites for entertainment. Can an unlikely cross-party coalition of campaigners bring about change?

Labour MP and PPS to Keir Starmer, Carolyn Harris, joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss what needs to happen and why those calling for a challenge to Keir Starmer’s leadership need to get off the Zoom calls.

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The government is facing another big Tory rebellion, this time over the cladding scandal which has seen people trapped in unsafe, unsellable flats after the Grenfell disaster, because their buildings are covered in unsafe material. Boris Johnson’s lockdown caution is also causing consternation on the backbenches, as the vaccine rollout continues to move along at pace.

Meanwhile, a week to forget for Keir Starmer adds to a sense of dissatisfaction at the party’s direction of travel in Labour.

Tory MP Stephen McPartland joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss his fight to help those caught up in the cladding scandal and what’s happening in Westminster this week.

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Monica Lennon and Anas Sarwar join Rachel Wearmouth and Paul Waugh to discuss what Scottish Labour’s future is in Scotland and what they would do as the next Scottish Labour leader. 

Will they support an independence referendum? And how do they view the stewardship of the devolved government by the SNP in Holyrood? And what view do they take on Brexit affecting Scotland and its place in a post-Brexit Britain?

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Yet more sobering coronavirus death statistics this week raised the prospect of restrictions continuing for some while yet. And with lockdown comes renewed attention to the plight of many juggling work and childcare, with many left without the means to provide classes or food for their children. The government looks set to make another U-turn on Universal Credit - but was the political damage avoidable?

Joining Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth, Conservative chair of the Commons education committee, Rob Halfon explains why he thinks the Tories need to become the party of social justice.

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This week Britain faced a grisly milestone, with the highest number of daily deaths with coronavirus reported. The government has vowed to get tough on members of the public who are flouting lockdown measures, but is that where blame should lie?

As the government tries to explain that we’re all in this together, senior ex-MPs Caroline Flint and Caroline Spelman talk about their cross-party work to ensure the least well off areas of the country are not left behind in the drive to achieve net zero carbon emissions and tackle the climate emergency, with Arj Singh and Paul Waugh.

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If you thought 2020 was bad, get a load of 2021. It started with Boris Johnson putting England into a seven-week coronavirus lockdown with cases spiralling out of control. In the race of injections versus infections, has the prime minister overpromised again?

Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s desperate bid to cling to power despite losing the US election reached a day of reckoning as a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol in extraordinary scenes. What are the lessons for the UK?

Joining Arj Singh and Rachel Wearmouth, Labour MP Rosie Duffield and the UK In A Changing Europe’s Anand Menon run the rule over a tumultuous start to the new year, consider whether Brexit is really ‘done’ and ask whether Britain could one day rejoin the EU.

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Enjoy Christmas with your family, but don’t enjoy it too much, or for too long, or with too much of your family. That was the message from Boris Johnson this week as a coronavirus spike sparked a rethink of the government’s festive Covid message. Is the government right to emphasise personal responsibility over the long arm of the state?

Not content with one national emergency, the prime minister also agreed to extend Brexit negotiations again. There’s renewed hope that a deal might be coming to fruition but both sides are still apprehensive about appearing too positive.

In the final episode of 2020 (usual Brexit caveats apply), Arj Singh, Paul Waugh, Rachel Weatmouth and Conservative MP Lee Rowley look back at the past week, as well as the past year, in Westminster, and wonder what might be on the horizon.

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