Politics Weekly UK
Guardian columnist John Harris, political editor Pippa Crerar, and policy editor Kiran Stacey analyse the week's politics news.
Episodes
Can politicians bring calm to Belfast?
After nights of violence across Belfast this week, politicians continue to call for calm, but what else can be done to stop the violence spreading? Plus, Jessica Elgot has been to Makerfield and spoken to undecided voters on the doorstep. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
The defence secretary quits with ‘blistering’ criticism of Starmer
The defence secretary has resigned over the government’s military spending plans, in another major blow for Keir Starmer. In a scathing letter to the prime minister, John Healey said the long-awaited defence investment plan ‘falls well short of what is required for defence’ and that he would have to take decisions that ‘could make Britain less safe’. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to policy editor Kiran Sta
Zelenskyy: Putin is ‘playing games’ with Trump
The Ukrainian president says Vladimir Putin’s days are numbered. As the Russian president’s influence wanes and his war machine crumbles, Volodymyr Zelenskyy says it is important for Europe and the world to stick together. Pippa Crerar and Luke Harding speak with Zelenskyy on his most recent visit to London. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Is Keir Starmer in his ‘legacy’ era?
Keir Starmer says he will fight on as prime minister, but behind the scenes he is said to be thinking about his legacy. He’s talking this week about tech companies and the shape of a social media ban, but he is also focussed on resetting the UK’s relations with EU and defence. Pippa and Kiran discuss what his legacy might be and the role Andy Burnham has to play. Help support our independent journ
On the byelection campaign trail with Andy Burnham
With three weeks to go until the Makerfield byelection, where an Andy Burnham victory could change the direction of the Labour party, Pippa Crerar joins him on the campaign trail in Wigan and Leigh, speaking to voters on their doorsteps. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
New Mandelson files: how embarrassing are they?
More than 1,000 pages of emails and WhatsApp messages have been released relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the US. The documents show Mandelson’s criticism of Keir Starmer, and his desperation to become the Oxford University chancellor – but the controversial vetting file from when he was appointed ambassador is missing. Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey explain what
Tony Blair and the battle for Labour’s soul
Peter Walker is joined by pollster Luke Tryl of More in Common to discuss Sir Tony Blair’s intervention in the Labour leadership saga and the party’s prospects in the Makerfield byelection Please send your questions and messages for Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
The byelection, Wes Streeting and Europe: your questions answered
Can Andy Burnham do a better job than Keir Starmer? Is Makerfield more important for Reform than Labour? Can the UK rejoin the EU? Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey answer your messages and emails. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Stateside with Kai and Carter – Why the fight over abortion in US isn’t finished
The US supreme court has preserved nationwide access to mail-order abortion pills – for now. As Carter Sherman explains, the fight to protect this medication is far from over, as a nationwide, near-total abortion ban could be on the horizon. Carter speaks with Dr Angel Foster, co-founder of the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, who reveals how the legal battle over abortion pills h
Wes Streeting: ‘Andy Burnham doesn’t live rent free in my head’ – podcast
Pippa Crerar sits down with Wes Streeting a week after his resignation from Keir Starmer’s cabinet. We find out what the former health secretary really thinks about Andy Burnham, where Labour has got it wrong and his vision for the leadership. Watch the full episode in video on YouTube here. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Andy Burnham’s first election hurdle: Brexit
Andy Burnham may already be facing a tricky obstacle in his push to return to Westminster. Past comments about rejoining the EU have come back to haunt him, particularly given that the Makerfield constituency voted overwhelmingly to leave in the Brexit referendum. Plus, Wes Streeting has confirmed he will stand in any leadership contest, raising fresh questions about where all this leaves Keir Sta
NEW: Stacey Abrams on why gutting of the US Voting Rights Act is ‘evil’ – Stateside with Kai and Carter
The US supreme court demolished the 1965 Voting Rights Act when they ruled in Louisiana v Callais in April that states can’t consider race in redistricting. Southern states from Tennessee to Alabama have rushed to erase majority Black districts, sparking chaos for the midterm elections. Kai Wright talks with Stacey Abrams, voting rights activist and former Georgia house minority leader, about the
Is Andy Burnham about to return to Westminster?
Andy Burnham has announced he will attempt to return to Westminster after the Labour MP Josh Simons said he will vacate his Makerfield seat in order for Burnham to run in a byelection. It follows a day of breaking news in which the health secretary, Wes Streeting, resigned, saying he has lost confidence in the prime minister, and Angela Rayner announced she had been cleared by the HMRC. Where does
Labour plotters v stubborn Starmer: will he resign? – Today in Focus: The Latest
Tensions are running high in Westminster as Keir Starmer has told his cabinet he’s not going anywhere. But with several ministers quitting the government, and more than 80 MPs calling for him to go, how much longer has he got? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
A messy day for Starmer: is Labour ungovernable?
Keir Starmer kicked off the day with a speech aimed at persuading MPs against launching any kind of leadership challenge. By lunchtime, Angela Rayner was speaking at the CWU conference calling for Andy Burnham to return. In the afternoon the list of MPs calling on him to resign was slowly creeping up but no challenge has materialised. Why is the Labour party in such a muddle over Starmer?. Help su
Reform UK gains at Labour’s expense in local elections
It has been a crushing set of local and devolved elections for Labour, with Reform UK making huge gains across the country and the Greens winning in London. Keir Starmer is under pressure to announce a timeline for his departure – yet he insists he will not walk away. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Can the Greens and Reform win big in London? podcast
This week Politics Weekly is on the road with the Greens in Hackney and Reform UK in Bromley ahead of the local elections to see why people are turning their backs on the traditional parties in London. This episode was recorded on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th April.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Will Reform dominate the local and devolved elections?
Pippa Crerar is joined by the election analyst Prof Rob Ford to look at the upcoming local and devolved elections. Will Reform dominate across England? Can the Greens remove Labour’s longstanding hold over London? And will the nationalists win in Scotland and Wales?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Will this be another nightmare week for Keir Starmer?
Keir Starmer is facing another tumultuous week. His former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney will be grilled in front of MPs on Tuesday over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, there are rumours that Labour MPs are working out how to transition Starmer out of power and the prime minister might be forced to appear in front of the privileges select committee to defend himself against accusations he m
Has Starmer’s sacking of Olly Robbins backfired?
After Keir Starmer’s statement to the Commons and gripping evidence from the sacked top civil servant Olly Robbins, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk about how the story of Peter Mandelson’s vetting for his job as UK ambassador to the US, which was first broken by the Guardian last Thursday, has unfolded this week. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Judgment day for Starmer?
Keir Starmer has updated the House of Commons on what he knew, and when, in regard to Peter Mandelson’s vetting for the post of UK ambassador to the US. Was what the PM said enough to convince his party and the public that he should not resign?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Is Keir Starmer ‘complacent’ on defence?
Keir Starmer has hit back at Labour peer George Robertson’s criticisms about defence funding. Why has the government been slow to prioritise defence and what trade-offs is Keir Starmer willing to make in order to increase spending?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Hormuz, Hungary and the UK shifting closer to the EU
After 16 years in power in Hungary, Viktor Orbán has been defeated, marking a huge shift in the European Union. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has defended potential legislation that will align the UK with European rules – without a vote in parliament. Plus the government confirms the UK will not support Donald Trump’s planned blockade of the strait of Hormuz, but what will it offer instead?. Help suppor
Trump and the Middle East: can Starmer do anything?
Keir Starmer and the UK government are scrabbling to keep up with Trump’s fast-changing position on Iran and the Middle East. While a two-week ceasefire is in place, how long will it hold for? Peter Walker and Alexandra Topping look at what happens now. And, with the local election campaign under way, how are the different parties responding to the conflict?. Help support our independent journalis
The Greens, Reform and the end of two-party politics?
In part two of our interview, Kiran Stacey speaks to the political scientist Prof Rob Ford about the voters Labour and the Conservatives are losing to the Greens and Reform, and how May’s elections could play out. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Labour’s mistakes: is it too late to turn things around?
In part one of a special two-part interview, Kiran Stacey talks to the political scientist Prof Robert Ford about Labour’s so-called ‘landslide win’, the long-lasting impact of Brexit on our politics, and the lessons that should have been learned from the 2024 election. Is it now too late for Starmer to turn things around?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
How will the Iran war play at the ballot box in May?
Pippa Crerar and Jessica Elgot look at how the continuing and deepening conflict in the Middle East will hit people in the UK, and how it could impact May’s elections. Plus, as parliament breaks for recess, has the assisted dying bill reached the end of the road?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Wes Streeting: ‘I don’t want to see Keir challenged in May’
Wes Streeting gave a speech outlining his performance on the NHS and plans for the future. Was this his unofficial leadership pitch? Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey sit down with the health secretary to find out. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Trump rows back on strait of Hormuz threat – what next?
The US president has extended by five days his deadline to ‘hit and obliterate’ Iran’s power stations and energy infrastructure if Tehran does not allow shipping to move freely. Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss what is behind this change of tone and the impact the uncertainty will have on the cost of living in the UK. Plus, with just over six weeks until the local elections, they talk through
Off Duty: The Crime
On the evening of 29 December 2011, Officer Clifton Lewis was moonlighting as a security guard at a Chicago minimart when two men walked in. They shot Lewis several times, then took off with his gun and police star. A week later, police had their suspects: four men affiliated with a gang called the Spanish Cobras. For hours, under intense police questioning, they all said they didn’t do it. But th
Do the Conservatives have a problem with Muslims?
At the launch of the Conservative local elections campaign on Thursday, Peter Walker asked Kemi Badenoch about her shadow justice secretary’s claim that Muslims praying in Trafalgar square was an ‘act of domination’. Her answer did not clarify the party’s position. Peter discusses with Lexy Topping the problems this kind of culture war may bring the Conservatives. Plus, are Sadiq Khan’s comments o
Can Starmer avoid being drawn into the US-Iran war?
The PM says the UK will not be dragged into wider war in the Middle East and pledges support for households struggling to pay for heating oil. Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk about what the government is doing to support people during the cost of living crisis and the fallout from the war. Plus a look at Brussels as the government works on another EU-reset to create closer ties. Help support ou
How damaging are the Mandelson files for Starmer?
As the first tranche of documents relating to the hiring of Peter Mandelson are released, how bad will the fallout be for Keir Starmer and the government? Pippa Crerar is joined by Peter Walker to discuss. Plus, the fuel duty row that Rachel Reeves thought she could avoid. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Is the UK government prepared for oil price hikes?
Oil prices have already shot up thanks to the US-Israeli war in Iran. But what is the economic fallout likely to be? Will interest rates rise? What about inflation? Could the cost of borrowing increase – and by how much? Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss how the cost of living might be hit and the political implications of that. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politi
Has Starmer been too weak on Iran?
The UK prime minister has defended his stance on the war in the Middle East amid growing pressure from Cyprus, Bahrain and the UAE. John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss whether he has shown strength or weakness. Plus: the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has announced her controversial asylum plans. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
How is Britain supporting US airstrikes in Iran?
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Keir Starmer’s announcement that British bases in the UK and in the Chagos Islands would be used by the US in their strikes in Iran. Their use is for ‘limited defensive purposes’ but is that enough to stop Britain being dragged further into war? What is the extent of the UK’s involvement in the Middle East war?. Help support our independent journalism at thegu
No more safe seats: the Greens take Gorton and Denton
In a stunning setback for Labour, the Green party has decisively won the Gorton and Denton byelection, with Reform UK finishing second. Does this result signal the end of Labour’s safe seats? And could it mark the beginning of the end for Keir Starmer? John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey unpack the fallout – and explore what might happen next. Help support our independent journalism at theg
Send provision and student loans: will Labour’s changes backfire?
As the dust settles on the government’s landmark changes to children’s special educational needs and disabilities provision, what will their impact really be on young people, their families and schools? John Harris and Kiran Stacey look at what we know so far. And, a growing backlash from graduates over student loan payments, led by the influential consumer champion Martin Lewis, is causing a head
Major changes to the Send system - can the government win over MPs and parents?
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the government’s long-awaited plans for the special educational needs and disabilities system. Can the controversial overhaul convince parents and MPs? Plus, the latest on the Gorton and Denton byelection. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Farage’s Fab Four: will Jenrick end Reform’s ‘one-man band’? – Politics Weekly
Reform UK has this week announced its ‘shadow cabinet’. But with a familiar cast of former Conservative ministers, can Nigel Farage shake off claims that his ‘one-man band’ is little more than a Tory 2.0 project? Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker discuss what the appointments reveal about Reform’s policy direction. Plus: who is Antonia Romeo, the newly appointed cabinet secretary? Please send your que
Blue Labour, ‘Manchesterism’ and Lords reform: your questions answered
What is Blue Labour? Can Andy Burnham’s ‘Manchesterism’ be replicated elsewhere? And is the two-party system over in British politics? In a special episode, Pippa and Kiran take your questions. Please keep sending them to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Zombie Labour: Starmer staggers on
After a week when it seemed all but over for Keir Starmer, John, Pippa and Kiran unpack how the prime minister survived – and what it means for Labour in the long run. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Starmer survives Sarwar’s putsch, for now
Keir Starmer’s future as prime minister suffered another major blow when the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, called for him to go. With the cabinet rallying around him, the PM seems to be safe for now, but for how much longer? Pippa and Kiran look at what might happen next Please send your questions and messages for Pippa Crerar, Kiran Stacey and John Harris to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.co
The Mandelson Scandal: has Starmer finally lost control? – Politics Weekly
As Starmer apologises for believing Mandelson’s ‘lies’, just how damaging will the latter’s links to Jeffrey Epstein be for the PM’s own reputation? John Harris and Kiran Stacey discuss the latest. Plus, the mood on the ground from the Gorton and Denton byelection Why this Manchester byelection is a lesson in 21st century politics – video Please send your questions and messages for Pippa Crerar, K
Mandelson, Epstein and what Labour knew when
Peter Mandelson has resigned his Labour party membership after new details of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein came to light. But why did Labour ever decide to appoint him as US ambassador? Pippa and Kiran chat through what No 10 knew and when. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
What happened when Starmer met Xi Jinping?
Keir Starmer held talks with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week and proclaimed Britain should have a more ‘sophisticated’ relationship with China. Pippa Crerar, who was with the prime minister on the trip, tells Kiran Stacey what all this means. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Matt Goodwin becomes Reform UK candidate, and Esther Ghey on banning social media
Reform UK has announced Matt Goodwin as its candidate for the hotly anticipated Gorton and Denton byelection. John Harris and Kiran Stacey discuss his chances. Plus, John speaks to Esther Ghey about why the government should back a social media ban for under-16s. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Burnham blocked: Has Starmer messed up?
The Labour party has once again been plunged into turmoil after the NEC blocked Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Will the row quickly fade, or does it risk piling further pressure on the prime minister? Meanwhile, Pippa Crerar will be joining Keir Starmer on his trip to China – but can he focus on diplomacy abroad, or will the Westminster psychodrama continue to over
Taco Thursday: Trump climbs down on Greenland tariffs
John Harris is joined by Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey to discuss Donald Trump’s climbdown on tariffs over his move to buy Greenland. Plus, Labour MP Andrew Gwynne is to stand down, which could open the way for Andy Burnham to take his seat. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Ditch Nato and dump Trump: Zack Polanski’s foreign policy
Leader of the Green party, Zack Polanski, tells Pippa and Kiran that Nato is over and the UK should consider expelling the US from British military bases. Plus he explains why he isn’t worried about billionaires leaving the country. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Starmer: ‘We don’t want a trade war’
Keir Starmer has held an emergency press conference in response to Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland. Pippa and Kiran discuss what the UK prime minister said and how it may be received. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Badenoch sacks Jenrick: who will win the fight for the right?
Sacked, suspended and the whip removed – Kemi Badenoch announced in spectacular fashion that Robert Jenrick was booted out of the Tory party for plotting to defect. John Harris and Kiran talk about how this will play out. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
X rated: Ofcom investigates Grok
Ofcom has launched an investigation into X over its AI tool Grok – but what does it mean when the platform is widely used by the government? Plus, Pippa and Kiran discuss Nadhim Zahawi’s defection to Reform UK, and why it could both help and hinder the party. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Kidnapping and chaos: welcome to Trump’s world
In just one week Venezuela’s president was kidnapped by the US, Donald Trump talked of needing Greenland, the UK and France agreed to deploy troops in Ukraine if a peace deal was reached, and two oil tankers were seized with help from the UK. Is this the new world order – or lack thereof? John Harris and Kiran Stacey are joined by the Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, to find ou
Is Starmer’s silence on Venezuela worth it?
Pippa and Kiran discuss the mounting pressure on Keir Starmer to condemn the US capture of Nicolás Maduro. The prime minister is keen to walk the diplomatic tightrope but at what cost to his reputation globally and within his own party?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Revisited: How the Beatles helped my autistic son find his voice
In this podcast from 4 April, John Harris speaks to Today in Focus about how music helped him connect with his son, James. Harris tells Helen Pidd what he has learned about the way some autistic people experience music, and how songs opened up the world for James. Plus, they discuss the challenges and stereotypes autistic people still face. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.co
Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights? – from The Audio Long Read
Many of his supporters hoped the prime minister would restore the UK’s commitment to international law. Yet Labour’s record over the past year has been curiously mixed By Daniel Trilling. Read by Simon Darwen. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Best of: Angela Rayner, Nicola Sturgeon, Catherine Ashton and Andy Burnham – podcast
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look back at some of their best interviews of 2025. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Review of 2025: another fine mess?
John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look back at the biggest political moments of 2025, and discuss what 2026 might bring. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
John Crace on his book, The Bonfire of the Insanities
Pippa and Kiran speak to the Guardian’s sketch writer, John Crace, about his latest book, The Bonfire of the Insanities: How Does This Government Thing Work Again?, which is a compilation of his daily work starting from Rishi Sunak’s government to Keir Starmer’s. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
The Birth Keepers: I choose this – episode one
The Free Birth Society was selling pregnant women a simple message. They could exit the medical system and take back their power. By free birthing. But Nicole Garrison believes FBS ideology nearly cost her her life. This is episode one of a year-long investigation by Guardian journalists Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne Listen to the full series from The Guardian Investigates podcast. Help support our
Farage under attack: will it damage Reform UK?
John Harris speaks to Yinka Bankole about his treatment as a nine-year-old at Dulwich college when Nigel Farage was a prefect. Plus, Kiran Stacey and John discuss whether Reform UK supporters will start to feel uneasy about the allegations of racism against Farage. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Starmer meets Zelenskyy: is a new peace plan possible?
As Keir Starmer hosts Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss what the ‘coalition of the willing’ can achieve. Also in the spotlight is Labour’s shifting position on the EU. Plus, with pressure mounting on Nigel Farage, can the Reform UK leader handle so much scrutiny?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Could Reform UK and the Tories merge?
Nigel Farage was handed a £9m donation this week, amid reports he said elsewhere that a deal with the Conservatives before the general election was ‘inevitable’. John Harris speaks to Kiran Stacey about what this means for Reform UK. They also discuss David Lammy’s plan to scrap some jury trials, and answer questions from Politics Weekly UK listeners. Help support our independent journalism at the
Can Keir Starmer save Rachel Reeves?
Pippa and Kiran discuss the prime minister’s speech on Monday and ask whether it will take attention away from allegations that the chancellor misled the public with her budget statements. Plus: chaos at Your Party’s first conference. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
The budget: Labour’s big tax and spend gamble
John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey give their reactions to the chancellor’s autumn budget. Has Rachel Reeves done enough to silence her critics?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
A make-or-break week for the UK government
It is finally budget week, so Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the context of Rachel Reeves’s big moment and how high the stakes are. Plus, Kiran talks about what happened behind the scenes of his trip to Johannesburg with Keir Starmer, including how talks over the Ukraine peace plan unfolded. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
How dangerous are Labour’s asylum plans?
There was outrage from Labour MPs on Monday evening as Shabana Mahmood outlined her plans to shake up the asylum system. Will these policies be watered down? John Harris finds out what is happening behind the scenes with Kiran Stacey. Plus, now that Labour has adopted Reform UK rhetoric on immigration, where does the party go from here? John talks to Guardian columnists Gaby Hinsliff and Rafael Be
Labour’s risky asylum pitch – podcast
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at radical plans from the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to tackle the ‘out of control’ asylum system. Plus, has the briefing row only made Keir Starmer’s rivals more coordinated?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Why is the Labour party in such a mess?
John Harris is joined by Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey as an attempt to halt leadership manoeuvres against Keir Starmer has spectacularly backfired and put Starmer’s potential rival Wes Streeting on the front foot. Plus, the BBC is in crisis again – but this time it involves a $1bn lawsuit filed by Donald Trump. Jane Martinson, the former head of media at the Guardian, discusses the future of the
Can the BBC survive this crisis?
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the resignations of the BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, and its head of news, Deborah Turness. Plus, the growing unease within Labour about Keir Starmer’s leadership and what MPs might do about it. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Nicola Sturgeon on leadership, scandal and trolling the trolls
In a special, bonus episode of Politics Weekly, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey sit down with Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon for a frank conversation about her time in office and the future of nationalist politics. Nothing is off the table: her leadership, Covid, the gender row that dogged her final days in office and the alleged financial fraud at the SNP. Oh, and how she dealt wi
The chancellor’s impossible choice: economic necessity or political disaster?
John Harris speaks to the Guardian’s economics editor, Heather Stewart, about the unenviable choice facing Rachel Reeves. What price will she pay if she raises the basic rate of income tax for the first time in half a century? Meanwhile, has language and policy that would once have been confined to the far-right fringe entered mainstream politics? Sunder Katwala, the director of the thinktank Brit
What does Faragenomics look like?
Nigel Farage promised to set out his fiscal stall in a major speech in the City of London, but what did he actually say? Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Farage’s retreat from its election promise to cut £90bn of taxes, his failure to commit to the pensions triple lock and his desire to woo the wealthy. Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves continues to labour on the autumn budget. What’s going on behind
‘The centre cannot hold’: John Curtice on the collapse of two-party politics
No one likes being unpopular, so you could forgive both of the UK’s main political parties for wanting to look away when another damning poll dropped this week. Support for both parties has never been so low at the same time, the Green party is seeing record support and Reform UK continues to top the popularity contest. Does recent polling really suggest the end of the two-party hegemony? King of
Immigration system in crisis: sky-high hotel bills and a convict on the loose
Another week, another immigration crisis. A powerful parliamentary committee has accused the Home Office – for this government and the last – of squandering billions of pounds on asylum accommodation and overseeing a ‘failed, chaotic and expensive’ system. The report came days after the barely believable revelation that the convicted sex offender whose case sparked protests at the Bell hotel in Ep
Labour collapse in Caerphilly: the byelection that points to the future of UK politics
Labour’s electoral dominance in Caerphilly, deep in the party’s Welsh heartlands, has collapsed while Reform UK and Plaid Cymru have hoovered up votes. On a visit to the south Rhymney Valley ahead of a historic byelection, John Harris finds a polarised community, reminiscent of the final days of the European referendum contest. Kiran Stacey joins him to discuss the significance of the Caerphilly b
The budget, the black hole and the Brexit blame game
Rachel Reeves is facing difficult choices before her second budget next month and has been busy preparing the ground. In a significant shift in the government’s narrative, Reeves has – at last – stressed the long-term damage done to the UK economy by Brexit. Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the options available to the chancellor and whether the pivot to blaming Brexit will convince the publi
Trump’s fragile ceasefire plan: what next for Gaza?
As the Gaza ceasefire continues to hold, what road lies ahead in the peace process? John Harris speaks to the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour. Plus, what is at the heart of the Chinese spying case row? Why has Rachel Reeves changed her tone when it comes to Brexit? What’s behind the Green party’s surge in membership? And should Labour follow Zack Polanski’s lead in taking the fight t
Gaza ceasefire: what is the UK’s role?
All eyes are on the Middle East where there have been emotional scenes in Israel as hostages were released, while tens of thousands of Palestinians are able to return to the ruins of their homes in Gaza. As global leaders, including Donald Trump and Keir Starmer, meet for a peace summit, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the UK’s role in securing the ceasefire and in the next phases of the pea
