The Week in Westminster: Recent Episodes
BBC Radio 4
Vicki Young assesses what an Andy Burnham government will mean for the country and reflects on Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.
She is joined by Guardian Columnist Gaby Hinsliff, Lucy Fisher, the Whitehall Editor of the Financial Times, Sebastian Payne, columnist and leader writer for The Times and Labour peer Charlie Falconer.
Pippa Crerar of The Guardian assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
Pippa takes a closer look at Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spending Review with the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Conservative MP John Glen and Labour’s Dame Siobhain McDonagh, who sits on the Treasury Select Committee.
How to prepare for an ageing society is the subject of an inquiry by the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee and Pippa discusses this with Labour peer, Stewart Wood, who chairs the committee and Daily Telegraph columnist Annabel Denham.
Pippa interviews the Big Issue founder and crossbench peer, John Bird about the scrapping of the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act which will decriminalise rough sleeping in England and Wales.
And, following the government's u-turn on winter fuel this week, David Gauke who was a Treasury minister at the time of what became known as the omnishambles budget under George Osborne and former BBC presenter Carolyn Quinn discuss famous political u-turns.
George Parker, the political editor of the Financial Times assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
Following the publication of the Strategic Defence Review, George discusses the recommendations made in the Report with its main author, the Labour peer Lord Robertson, who is a former secretary general of NATO and a former Labour defence secretary and with Penny Mordaunt, the former Conservative defence secretary.
Amid mounting concern at Westminster over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, George is joined by Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale and Labour MP Jon Pearce, the chair of Labour Friends of Israel, to discuss the latest.
To discuss the results of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election in Scotland, George brings together Jamie McGuire, who was a Labour councillor until he defected, a few days ago, to Reform UK and Kezia Dugdale, a former leader of the Scottish Labour Party who is now at the Centre for Public Policy at Glasgow University.
And, finally, ahead of next week's Spending Review, George speaks to crossbench peer, Lord Macpherson, who was the Permanent Secretary at the Treasury and to Conservative peer and former Cabinet Minister Michael Gove, who is the editor of the Spectator magazine.
To discuss the government's U-turn on taking winter fuel allowance from all but the poorest pensioners, Caroline is joined by the Conservative peer, David Willetts - president of the Resolution Foundation, which focuses on people on lower incomes; and Claire Ainsley, former policy director to Sir Keir Starmer, now at the Progressive Policy Institute.
Also this week, the UK and the EU struck a trade deal. Caroline speaks to the EU Ambassador to the UK, Pedro Serrano about it.
Reform UK’s newest MP Sarah Pochin, who served as a magistrate for twenty years and the Labour MP and barrister Catherine Atkinson discuss plans by the former Conservative Justice Secretary David Gauke for the biggest shake-up of sentencing in England and Wales for more than 30 years.
And, this week marks the first anniversary of a public inquiry report into the infected blood scandal. The former Health Secretary, now Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham has campaigned on behalf of victims and came into the studio with Lee Moorey, who was given contaminated blood.
Pippa Crerar, the Political Editor of The Guardian, assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
Following President Trump's announcement of his plans for peace in Ukraine, Pippa brings together Lord West, the former Head of the Navy and Labour peer and Lord Dannatt, the former head of the Army and a now crossbench peer to discuss what this means for Ukraine and Europe.
This week, the government made numerous announcements on its housing policy, including its plans for the next generation of new towns. To discuss the Prime Minister's promises to build more homes, Pippa was joined by the chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, Labour MP Florence Eshalomi and Conservative peer Lord Gavin Barwell, who is a former Housing Minister and was Downing Street Chief of Staff to Theresa May.
To discuss the challenges that Reform UK poses for the government and the Conservative Party, Pippa is joined by Gawain Towler, Reform UK's former director of communications and Scarlett Maguire, director of the polling firm JL Partners.
And, are political slogans such as 'Take Back Control', 'Fix the NHS' and 'Smash the Gangs' effective in delivering their messages? Pippa asks to political commentator and former Conservative government adviser Salma Shah and Jonathan Ashworth, the former shadow cabinet minister, now chief executive of Labour Together for their take.
Sonia Sodha of The Observer assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
How should the British government respond to Donald Trump? That question was again asked this week after the American President suggested the US could take over Gaza, removing Palestinian residents in order to redevelop the strip. Earlier in the week the President also threatened tariffs against allies such as Mexico, Canada and the EU. To discuss how the UK should navigate this tricky diplomatic terrain, Sonia speaks to Lord Darroch, former UK ambassador to the US, and Sir David Lidington, a former Conservative Cabinet minister and now chairman of the defence think tank RUSI.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, gave a major speech on Monday setting out her vision for England's schools. It follows criticism of her Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill which is currently going through Parliament. To debate the reforms Sonia is joined by Mary Bousted, a former general secretary of the National Education Union and now a Labour peer, and Neil O'Brien, a Conservative MP and former minister.
Is the UK becoming less cohesive? Sara Khan, the government's former independent adviser on social cohesion and resilience, explains why she thinks there is a risk to democracy from declining social cohesion.
And, as a new book charting Keir Starmer's rise to power sends the Westminster gossip machine into overdrive, Sonia speaks to one of the co-authors, Gabriel Pogrund of The Sunday Times, and Labour peer, Ayesha Hazarika.
Caroline Wheeler from The Sunday Times assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
Following Rachel Reeves' speech setting out a series of major announcements on infrastructure projects, including backing plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, Caroline speaks to Labour MP, Josh Simons and crossbench peer, Richard Harrington, who chairs the manufacturers organisation Made UK about how to achieve growth in the UK economy.
On the fifth anniversary of the UK’s official departure from the EU, the chair of the Foreign Affairs select committee Emily Thornberry and the former Conservative MP and leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt discuss the state of play in EU-UK relations.
The Conservative peer, Charlotte Owen is campaigning to stop the rise of deep fake online pornography and she discusses this with Caroline and "Jodie", a victim of deep fake porn.
And, the Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle explains the importance of marking Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in parliament.
George Parker of the Financial Times assesses the latest developments at Westminster
Following the inauguration of Donald Trump George is joined by Sir Simon Fraser, the former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office and Chair of the Foreign Affairs think tank Chatham House, and Michael Gove, the former Conservative cabinet minister and now editor of the Spectator. They discuss the impact of the Trump on international politics.
As Rachel Reeves visits Davos for the World Economic Forum, George discusses the Chancellor's efforts to win business confidence with the director general of the CBI, Rain Newton-Smith, and the Head of Bloomberg Economics, Stephanie Flanders.
The teenager who murdered 3 young girls in Southport was sentenced this week. The question for many is what - if anything - can be done to stop this kind of tragedy happening in future? George discusses this with former Labour MP John Woodcock, who is now the crossbench peer Lord Walney. He is also the government's independent adviser on political violence and disruption
Following the temporary closure of Strangers' Bar in Parliament over an alleged spiking incident, George is joined by Francis Elliott, the Editor of the House Magazine, and Cat Eccles, the newly elected Labour MP for Stourbridge, to discuss the drinking culture at Westminster.
The Telegraph's Ben Riley-Smith assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
Following a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the Prime Minister's trip to Ukraine, Ben speaks to former Conservative Defence Secretary, Sir Ben Wallace, and the Labour peer, Baroness Ashton, formerly the EU's foreign policy chief, about how the imminent second Trump presidency is already shaping global geopolitics.
After another uncomfortable week for the Chancellor, Ben is joined by the Labour MP and chair of the Treasury Select Committee, Dame Meg Hillier, and former Conservative Treasury Minister, Sir Simon Clarke, to discuss the economic and fiscal outlook for the UK.
Tech entrepreneur, Matt Clifford, who also advises the Prime Minister on artificial intelligence, explains how AI will change the country in the week the government unveiled his AI Action Plan.
And, after the Government's decision to bring an early end to the Latin Excellence Programme, which funds the teaching of Latin in some state schools, Ben catches up with former Education Secretary, Sir Gavin Williamson, who introduced the policy, and Labour MP, Sarah Smith, who used to work in youth services and takes a special interest in education policy.
Caroline Wheeler of The Sunday Times assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
Following the publication of the assisted dying bill, Caroline speaks to one of its supporters, the Labour MP and former surgeon, Peter Prinsley, and the palliative care expert and long-time campaigner against assisted dying, Baroness Ilora Finlay.
To discuss what the election of Donald Trump means for the war in Ukraine, Caroline brings together the former Conservative Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, and Nato's former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Sir John McColl.
Dale Vince, founder of the green energy company Ecotricity and one of Labour's biggest donors, discusses the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan and the UK's drive for net zero.
And, as Donald Trump appoints Elon Musk to look at ways to cut trillions from US government spending, Caroline asks if the UK could benefit from a similar endeavour with Labour MP, and chair of the Treasury Select Committee, Meg Hillier, and the former Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs, Mark Littlewood.
Ben Riley Smith of The Daily Telegraph looks back on the week in Westminster.
In the week of the election of Donald Trump as the next US President, Ben discusses the implications of the result with Stewart Woods, Labour peer and former adviser to Gordon Brown and Sir Liam Fox, the former Conservative Defence Secretary - and International Trade Secretary during Donald Trump's first presidency.
To discuss the impact of the changes to inheritance tax on farms Ben is joined by Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke and the Deputy Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Helen Miller.
The former Universities Minister and Conservative peer, Jo Johnson, discusses the government's announcement, earlier this week, that tuition fees for students in England would rise next year.
And, as the new Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch, faced Sir Keir Starmer for the first time at Prime Minister's Questions, Quentin Letts, political sketchwriter for the Daily Mail and Jessica Elgot, Deputy Political Editor of the Guardian give us their verdict.
Jack Blanchard of Politico analyses the latest developments at Westminster.
He speaks to former Labour Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, for his take on the Commonwealth summit and calls from some leaders for the UK to start meaningful dialogue on slavery reparations.
As the Government launches a major consultation on reforming the NHS, Jack brings together two MPs with experience of working in the health service: Labour's Paulette Hamilton and Conservative Luke Evans.
The former Conservative Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk, and London's Independent Commissioner for Victims, Claire Waxman, discuss the government's sentencing policy review.
And, after the Trump campaign accuses the UK Labour Party of "interference" in the US election, Jack is joined by spokeswoman for Republicans Overseas UK, Sarah Elliott, and Keir Starmer's former political director, Luke Sullivan.
Pippa Crerar, political editor of the Guardian, is joined by a range of guests.
To look ahead to the Budget on 30 October, she speaks to Labour MP and parliamentary aide to the Cabinet Office Torsten Bell and the shadow housing minister Baroness JoJo Penn.
With the foreign secretary David Lammy heading to China this week, Labour peer, Helena Kennedy, who co-chairs the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China and the former Conservative MP Richard Graham, who, until recently, chaired the all-party parliamentary group on China assess UK-China relations.
Former cabinet minister and Conservative MP, Sir Gavin Williamson MP explains why he wants to remove all 26 bishops from the House of Lords.
And to discuss how the Taylor Swift row has been handled, Pippa spoke to Tom Baldwin, a former Labour party communications director and biographer of Keir Starmer and Katie Perrior, the founder of the public relations firm iNHouse.
George Parker of the Financial Times analyses the week's political developments at Westminster.
Following the Prime Minister's visit to Washington, the former UK Ambassador to the US, Lord Darroch, and Sir Keir Starmer's former director of strategy, Deborah Mattinson, assess the global security situation and what impact the US election will have on Western foreign policy.
To discuss the state of the NHS following a damning report from former minister Lord Darzi, George is joined by former Labour Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, and former Conservative Chair of the Health Select Committee Steve Brine.
Professor Richard Davies of the LSE, presenter of a new radio documentary about the Port Talbot steel works, explains what this week's government announcement about the plant means for the future of steel-making in Britain.
And, as the Spending Review gets underway, George brings together two former Treasury ministers, Danny Alexander and David Gauke, to lift the lid on how departments can wring money out of the exchequer.
Caroline Wheeler of the Sunday Times is joined by a range of guests.
To analyse Labour's first few weeks in government, she speaks to Labour MP Rosie Duffield and the former shadow cabinet minister Jonathan Ashworth, who now heads up the Labour Together think tank.
Two former Conservative leadership contenders, Sir David Davis and Dame Andrea Leadsom discuss the Tory leadership contest.
A leading authority on disaster recovery, Professor Lucy Easthope looks at the long awaited report into Grenfell and what lessons should be learnt.
And, two new MPs, Labour's Jonathan Hinder and Lib Dem Marie Goldman, discuss what it's like to make a maiden speech.
Is the new Labour government right to claim it's inherited the worse public finances since the second world war? How can regional mayors help in the mission to train and skill up the British workforce? Can a new Conservative leader rebuild the party after its catastrophic defeat at the election? And how are sketchwriters, addicted to rollercoaster politics, adapting to a new era of political civility?
Pippa Crerar, political editor of The Guardian looks back at the political week in which the new Labour government presented its first KIng's Speech in fifteen years. To discuss the government's legislative programme Pippa is joined by former Conservative Minister George Freeman MP and by Labour MP Mary Creagh, who was re-elected to Parliament earlier this month - having lost her seat in the 2019 election.Former EU High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Baroness Cathy Ashton and Lord Kim Darroch, who was Ambassador to the United States during the Obama and Trump presidencies, discuss the foreign policy challenges facing Sir Keir Starmer.Following the announcement, in the King's Speech, that the government will remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in Parliament's upper chamber, Pippa Crerar speaks to Charles Courtenay, the Earl of Devon, about his thoughts on the plan. And, what books should a new Prime Minister read? Conservative peer, journalist and author Daniel Finkelstein and Helen Lewis, author and staff writer at The Atlantic magazine, offer their selection of books.
The BBC's Deputy Political Editor, Vicki Young, hosts a live edition of The Week in Wesminster, in the week the general election was announced.
Joining her in the studio: The Spectator's Political Editor, Katy Balls, the Financial Times' Political Editor, George Parker, and Guardian columnist and writer, Gaby Hinsliff.
Sonia Sodha of The Observer assesses the latest developments at Westminster. Following the Prime Minister's speech on global insecurity she speaks to former Conservative Defence Secretary, Sir Liam Fox MP, and former Labour International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander. Theo Bertram, director of the Social Market Foundation and a former Labour adviser, discusses whether election 'pledge' cards are a good idea following Sir Keir Starmer's campaign event this week. After a knife-edge vote on excluding from Parliament MPs accused of serious offences, Sonia speaks to Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP and Conservative MP Nigel Mills. And, after claims a Liberal Democrat candidate was deselected because of his Christian faith, Sonia brings together the Rt Rev Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, and Polly Toynbee, journalist and vice president of Humanists UK, to discuss whether Christianity and modern politics are compatible.
Ben Riley-Smith of The Telegraph is joined by a range of guests to analyse the latest developments at Westminster.
To discuss Labour's prospects following the local election results, Ben speaks to former Labour leader, Lord Kinnock.
Labour candidate and economist Miatta Fahnbulleh, and Rupert Harrison, a Conservative candidate and former Chief of staff to George Osborne, discuss the economy in the run up to the general election.
As John Swinney becomes First Minister of Scotland, Ben brings the SNP's Ian Blackford together with Many Rhodes, editor of Holyrood Magazine, to discuss whether he can bring unity back to the party.
And finally, in a week that saw celebrities turn out for the Met Gala in New York, can our politicians take a leaf out of their book when it comes to making the right style decisions. Ben is joined by judge on The Great British Sewing Bee, Patrick Grant, and Katie Perrior, former director of communications in Downing Street for Theresa May.
Steve Richards analyses the results of the local elections - and what it means for a general election - with a panel of journalists: George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times; Sonia Sodha, chief leader writer at The Observer and Iain Martin from The Times.
George Parker of the Financial Times is joined by a range of guests to analyse the latest developments at Westminster.
To discuss the boost to defence spending pledged by Rishi Sunak, he speaks to Labour peer and former head of the navy, Admiral Lord West and former soldier and the chair of the defence select committee, Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood.
Labour MP, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Conservative MP, Sir Edward Leigh discuss Parliament's approval of the controversial Rwanda deportation bill and consider what happens next.
Twenty years on from a near-fatal car crash, dotcom entrepreneur and crossbench peer, Martha Lane-Fox explains what her 'mountain mission' is and discusses technology and artificial intelligence.
And, to reflect on the life of former Labour minister and crossbench peer Frank Field who died this week, he is joined by Labour MP Dame Angela Eagle whose constituency bordered his and former Work and Pensions Secretary, Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith
Sonia Sodha of The Observer is joined by a range of guests to analyse the latest developments at Westminster. To discuss the confrontation between Israel and Iran she speaks to former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and former British diplomat Sir William Patey. Following newspaper allegations about Conservative MP Mark Menzies she looks at how parties deal with such issues with Francis Elliott, editor of The House magazine, and Anne Perkins, a former political correspondent for The Guardian. Paul Johnson of The Institute for Fiscal Studies explains some new research looking at the success of SureStart and discusses how future governments can do meaningful social policy in an era of fiscal restraint. And, to reflect on the release of Liz Truss's book and her opposition to Rishi Sunak's smoking ban, Sonia is joined by Mark Littlewood, director of the Truss-supporting 'Popular Conservatism' group, and Anna Soubry, a former Conservative MP and public health minister.
Sonia Sodha of The Observer analyses the latest developments at Westminster as politicians return from their summer break. Following the concrete crisis in schools she speaks to the Conservative chairman of the Education Select Committee and former education minister, Robin Walker, and Dame Meg Hillier, Labour chair of the Public Accounts Committee. To analyse the latest revisions in GDP data, which showed the UK had fared much better following the pandemic than previously thought, Sonia is joined by Professor of Economics at Cambridge University, Diane Coyle. As MPs debate the government's Energy Bill Sonia brings together the former Environment Secretary, George Eustice, and Parliament's only Green MP, Caroline Lucas, to discuss whether Tory factionalism is harming the transition to net zero. And, as Keir Starmer's shadow cabinet reshuffle prompts headlines about the 'return of the Blairites', she speaks to Tony Blair's former Chief Whip, Hilary Armstrong, and Times political correspondent, Patrick Maguire.
Steve Richards and guests discuss the fallout from the by-elections - and the challenges facing the main political parties - with a panel of journalists: Pippa Crerar, Political Editor of the Guardian; Fraser Nelson, Editor of The Spectator magazine and Lucy Fisher, Whitehall Editor at the Financial Times
The i Newspaper's Chief Political Commentator, Paul Waugh, discusses the biggest political stories of the week with guests.
Paul Waugh discusses the public sector pay settlements with former Treasury Minister, Dame Angela Eagle, and the Conservative Chair of the Education Select Committee, Robin Walker.
Baroness Catherine Ashton, former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, delivers her assessment of the NATO Summit.
Labour Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Dame Diana Johnson, and fellow Conservative Committee member, Tim Loughton, discuss the Illegal Migration Bill.
And, former Conservative special adviser Sam Freedman, and The Guardian's Media Editor, Jim Waterson, discuss what the arrival of new social media app 'Threads' means for politicians and journalists.
Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor of The Spectator, discusses the week's biggest political stories of the week with guests.
Isabel Hardman discusses the future direction of the Conservative Party with Conservative MP Danny Kruger and Gavin Barwell, Conservative peer and former chief of staff to Theresa May.
In the week of the 75th annniversary of the NHS, Lord Nigel Crisp former Chief Executive NHS England and Crossbench peer and Sally Warren, Director of Policy, The King’s Fund discuss the challenges facing the NHS.
Isabel discusses the presence of Bishops in the House of Lords with The Rt Revd Dr David Walker, The Bishop of Manchester
And, Professor Meg Russell, director of the Constitution Unit at UCL and Rob Hutton, Sketchwriter for The Critic, discuss 'Parliamentary ping pong'.
As the Government unveils its long-awaited NHS workforce plan George Parker of The Financial Times is joined by the chairman of the Health Select Committee, Steve Brine MP, and Labour peer and former NHS clinician, Robert Winston. After the Court of Appeal ruled that the Government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful, George speaks to Conservative MP Sally-Ann Hart, who represents the south coast seat of Hastings and Rye, and Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti, the former director of the human rights group Liberty. The Conservative peer Andrew Tyrie, who formerly led the Competition and Markets Authority, discusses whether industry regulators are up to the job after the Chancellor met various regulators this week to discuss the cost of living crisis. And, following reports that many Conservative MPs are absent from Westminster as they try to defend marginal seats and campaign in the upcoming by-elections, Conservative MP Lucy Allan and former Conservative strategist Andrew Cooper, now a non-affiliated peer, discuss Tory chances at the next general election.
Pippa Crerar, political editor of the Guardian, discusses the political stories of the week with guests.
Treasury Select Committee members, Andrea Leadsom and Rushanara Ali, discuss the Bank of England's interest rate rise and mortgages.
Matthew Taylor, a former adviser to Tony Blair and Chief Executive of the NHS, and Lord Bethell, a former government minister, discuss the Covid Inquiry.
The biographer, Sir Anthony Seldon, gives his verdict on Boris Johnson's leadership.
And, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, CEO of UK Music, and music journalist, Lisa Verrico, discuss the place of politics at Glastonbury Festival.
George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times, discusses the week's biggest political stories of the week with guests.
Dame Margaret Beckett, former Labour deputy leader and Lord Howard, the former Conservative Party leader, discuss the Privileges Committee report into former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Baroness Bertin, Conservative peer and former press secretary to David Cameron, discusses political peerages and the reform of the House of Lords.
Former Labour Cabinet minister, Lord Mandelson and Conservative MP and former Business Secretary Greg Clark discuss whether the government should have an industrial strategy.
And, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney discuss what it's like to fight a by-election.
Ben Riley-Smith of the Daily Telegraph discusses the week’s biggest political stories with guests - including discussions on the Prime Minister’s trip to Washington and Artificial Intelligence; the use of WhatsApp in government; the issues facing unpaid carers. In addition, we hear from Government Minister Jesse Norman and former Labour Cabinet Minister Alan Johnson on why they started writing novels.
Anne McElvoy, executive editor of Politico Europe, discusses the week's biggest political stories with guests Harry Cole, political editor of The Sun, George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times, and Sonia Sodha, columnist at The Observer.
George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times, discusses the week's biggest political stories with guests.Vicky Ford, former Africa minister and chair of the APPG on Sudan; and Sir Simon Fraser, former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office discuss the situation in Sudan.Baroness McGregor-Smith, Conservative peer and former President of the British Chambers of Commerce; and Lord Wood of Anfield, former adviser to Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband, discuss the relationship between political parties and business.The Duke of Wellington gives his verdict on the government's plans to tackle sewage pollution in rivers and talks about his Lords amendment that sparked the now-contentious debate.And General David Leakey, former Black Rod; and Professor Kate Williams, historian and TV presenter, look at Westminster's role in the Coronation.
Isabel Hardman, assistant editor of The Spectator, discusses the week's biggest political stories with guests.David Gauke, former Conservative MP and justice secretary; and Jill Rutter, from the Institute for Government and former senior civil servant discuss Dominic Raab‘s resignation, and relations between ministers and the civil service.Luke Tryl, director of More in Common and former adviser to former education secretary Nicky Morgan; and Carl Shoben, of Strategic Communications for Survation, and former Labour adviser and strategist (for Tony Blair and Jeremy Corbyn) discuss local elections.Kezia Dugdale, former leader of the Scottish Labour Party and director of Glasgow University’s John Smith Institute; and Stephen Gethins, former SNP MP and professor of Practice in International Relations, St Andrew’s University look at The SNP’s recent troubles.And Selaine Saxby, Conservative MP, maths graduate and former maths teacher; and Stian Westlake, chief executive of Royal Statistical Society ask whether maths matters.
Paul Waugh, Chief Political Commentator of the i paper, looks back at a dramatic week in which former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was questioned by the Privileges Committee over whether he deliberately misled Parliament over parties in Downing Street during the pandemic. Paul is joined by the former editor of The Daily Telegraph, Charles Moore, who was given a life peerage by Boris Johnson in 2020, and Lord Sumption, a former senior judge who sat on the UK Supreme Court. With parliamentary standards in the spotlight Paul is also joined by Dr Hannah White of the Institute for Government and Tammy Banks, an outgoing lay member of Parliament's standards committee, who reflects on her six year stint in the role, including the political fallout from the investigation in to former Conservative MP Owen Paterson for breaching paid advocacy rules.After Parliament voted overwhelmingly to approve the new Windsor Framework Paul speaks to the former Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, to discuss the chances of a return to power-sharing in Northern Ireland and to look ahead to the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.And, to assess whether this week's Conservative soap opera will have any effect on upcoming elections, Paul speaks to Professor Tim Bale, author of a new book about the Conservative Party after Brexit, and Professor Jane Green, co-Director of the British Election Study.
George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times, discusses the week's biggest political stories with guests. Dame Angela Eagle MP, a former Labour treasury minister, and Conservative MP Anthony Browne assess the Budget. Alexander Downer, former Australian foreign minister, and Bronwen Maddox, director of Chatham House, take a look at the Aukus deal and China. The Parthenon Sculptures are debated by Ben Bradshaw MP, former Labour culture secretary, and Emily Sheffield, ex-editor of the Evening Standard newspaper. Plus an interview with Lord Heseltine ahead of his 90th birthday on Tuesday.
As the Government unveils its long-awaited plan to deter people from crossing the English Channel in small boats, Ben Riley-Smith of The Daily Telegraph is joined by the former Home Secretary, Lord Blunkett, and Conservative MP, Danny Kruger. With the civil service in the spotlight following two separate rows involving senior mandarins, Ben speaks to the former Head of the Civil Service, Lord Kerslake. Conservative peer and former pensions minister, Baroness Altmann, and chief executive of the New Economics Foundation and Labour Parliamentary candidate, Miatta Fahnbulleh, discuss the ways in which the Government could encourage more people back in to work. And, following the first Anglo-French summit in five years, Ben brings together former UK Ambassador to Paris and Washington, Sir Peter Westmacott, and French journalist, Agnes Poirier, to examine Rishi Sunak's diplomacy.
Bloomberg's Emily Ashton looks back at the week in which the Prime Minister hailed a breakthrough deal on the Northern Ireland Protcol and a minister's leaked messages during Covid dominated the headlines.Emily speaks to Labour peer Jenny Chapman, a former shadow Brexit minister, and the former Brexit Secretary David Davis about the significance of the deal and whether Brexit is finally done.Professor Katy Hayward explains the implications of the Windsor Framework for the Democratic Unionist Party.Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus and The Telegraph's Christopher Hope discuss revelations following the publication of leaker WhatsApp messages from former Health Secretary Matt Hancock.And how are the Conservatives and Labour preparing for next year's elections? Emily discusses the path to the manifesto with Sebastian Payne from Onward, a centre-right think tank, and Keir Starmer's former head of domestic policy, Olivia Bailey.
As the Prime Minister searches for a new deal with the EU over post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland, BBC Political Correspondent Ben Wright speaks to Conservative MP and former Northern Ireland minister, Conor Burns, and Theresa May's former Chief of Staff Lord Barwell. The SNP MP Joanna Cherry discusses the current state of the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister and what her departure means for the independence movement. Following news that the Royal College of Nursing has paused next week's planned strike and agreed to talk to the Government, Ben brings together two members of the Health Select Committee: Labour MP, and former nurse, Paulette Hamilton, and Conservative chairman Steve Brine. And Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies Paul Johnson and author of a new book called 'Follow the Money', joins Kitty Ussher, former Treasury minister and now Chief Economist of the Institute of Directors, to look ahead to next month's Budget and analyse the state of our public finances.
Assistant Editor of The Spectator, Isabel Hardman, looks back at the week in which Ukraine's President Zelensky addressed Parliament after making a surprise visit to the UK. Isabel speaks to the former secretary-general of NATO, Lord George Robertson and the former defence secretary Dr Liam Fox about President's Zelensky's address to Westminster Hall and what the UK should do to help Ukraine. She is also joined by Dame Kate Bingham, the former vaccines tsar and managing partner of life sciences venture capital firm SV health Investors to discuss the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and how Britain can become a science superpower. The former DUP leader and first minister of Northern Ireland, Baroness Arlene Foster discusses the Northern Ireland protocol. And why are an increasing number of politicians becoming TV and radio presenters? Former Labour MP and now GB News presenter Gloria de Piero debates this with Financial Times chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley.
Political editor of The Guardian, Pippa Crerar, looks back at the week in which Rishi Sunak completed 100 days in office. As Tory MPs make fresh calls for tax cuts following a bleak economic forecast from the International Monetary Fund, Pippa speaks to Sir Jake Berry, briefly party chairman under Liz Truss; and David Gauke, a cabinet minister under Theresa May. She is also joined by former education secretary, Justine Greening; and Labour MP and ex-teacher Emma Hardy, to discuss the teachers' strike and wider industrial unrest. The pollster James Johnson looks at public attitudes to Brexit three years after Britain left the EU. And, as Westminster insiders debate whether the current political moment is more like 1992 or 1997, Pippa brings together Lord Mandelson, architect of New Labour, and Rachel Wolf, co-author of the 2019 Conservative manifesto.
George Parker from the FT hosts a review of the political week. Including discussions on gender recognition and devolution; retained EU law and the annual Davos meeting. He also interviews former top diplomat Lord McDonald on relations between the UK and Iran.
The Political Editor of the Financial Times, George Parker, looks back on events in a frozen week in Westminster. He brings together Conservaive MP Simon Clarke, the former Levelling Up Secretary, and Jack Straw, the former Labour Cabinet minister and adviser to the Callaghan government, to discuss the mounting number of strikes and whether there are any parallels with the 'Winter of Discontent' in 1978-9. In a rare interview, Lord Macpherson, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury from 2005 to 2016, reflects on the tumultous economic events of the last few months and whether so-called Treasury orthodoxy has returned.Also in the programme, the Labour MP for Canterbury, Rosie Duffield, and Jack Brereton, Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, discuss migrant Channel crossings and the pressures on the asylum system. Finally, Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, reveals why she writes over 3,000 Christmas cards each year.Editor: Peter Snowdon
The Guardian's Political Editor Pippa Crerar looks back on events in Westminster this week. She is joined by the former Cabinet Minister, Conservative MP Kit Malthouse, and the outgoing General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O'Grady, to discuss the Government's response to the increasing number of strikes from nurses and paramedics to the ongoing dispute on the railways. The SNP's Dr Philippa Whitford MP and David Clegg, editor of The Courier in Dundee, consider the new leader of the SNP group at Westminster, Stephen Flynn, and what impact he will have on the party's prospects.A number of MPs and peers attempted SATs tests in Westminster this week. Among them were the Conservative chair of the Education Select Committee, Robin Walker MP, and Labour's Baroness Christine Blower, a former General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers. They discuss whether or not the tests are in need of reform. Finally, the Conservative MP Duncan Baker reflects on his family's experience in hosting a Ukrainian mother and son and whether the Homes for Ukraine scheme should continue.Editor: Peter Snowdon
Paul Waugh, chief political commentator at the i newspaper looks back at the week in Westminster. Following the Supreme Court ruling on the jurisidiction of another independence referendum in Scotland, the Scottish leaders of Labour and the Conservatives, Anas Sawar MSP and Douglas Ross MP MSP, debate its consequences with Kirsty Oswald MP, deputy leader of the SNP at Westminster.
Also on the programme., the Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight, Bob Seely, and Rachel Wolf, co-author of the 2019 Conservative manifesto, discuss housing targets amid party dvisions over the issue this week. Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, the former Conservative arts minister talks about her concerns over the recent funding announcement by Arts Council England. Finally, the Labour frontbencher and biographer, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, and the Sun's Harry Cole, who's biography of Liz Truss was published this week, consider timely political history.
Editor: Peter Snowdon
Emily Ashton of Bloomberg review the week in Westminster, including a discussion about the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, Conservative MP Anthony Browne and Labour MP and chair of the Business Select Committee Darren Jones.
Conservative MP Miriam Cates and Joeli Brearley, founder of the charity Pregnant Then Screwed, discuss issues around childcare including how support for mothers can be improved.
Also in this week's programme, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine explains why she has tabled a Bill to allow Parliament to appoint an independent ethics adviser if the role remains vacant.
And Labour Leader of the House of Lords, Angela Smith and Conservative Peer Philip Norton, who is also professor of government at the University of Hull, discuss Lord Norton's Private Members' Bill which aims to strengthen the body that vets nominees for new peerages. They also discuss the size of the House of Lords.
Ben Riley-Smith from The Telegraph reviews the week in Westminster including an interview about the state of the economy with former Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling.
Former Work and Pensions secretary, Chloe Smith MP debates whether the pensions triple lock should be retained with Rachel Cunliffe from the New Statesman and whether the system is fair across the generations.
Also in this week's programme, statistician Georgina Sturge who works in the House of Commons library discusses the use of data in politics with the SNP's Carol Monaghan MP, a former physics and maths teacher.
And Conservative backbencher, Tim Loughton MP joins the deputy editor of ConservativeHome, Henry Hill to reflect on the state of the Conservative party two weeks into Rishi Sunak's premiership, including their thoughts on the resignation of Sir Gavin Williamson this week.
Top commentators review the political week, presented by political editor of The Guardian, Pippa Crerar. With guests Dame Diana Johnson MP, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee; Sir John Hayes MP; Alok Sharma MP, outgoing COP president; Daniel Greenberg, incoming parliamentary commissioner for standards; Matthew Parris, columnist for The Times; and Susie Boniface, columnist for the Daily Mirror.
Isabel Hardman from The Spectator reviews a dramatic week in Westminster following Rishi Sunak's arrival in Downing Street. The former Conservative Cabinet minister Greg Clark discusses the Prime Minister's first few days in office with the Shadow Leader of the House Thangam Debbonaire. As Northern Ireland prepares for new elections to Stormont, the former DUP leader in Westminster Lord Dodds explains why his party refused to share power with Sinn Fein.
Also in this week's programme, the SNP's Brendan O’Hara and Conservative MP and former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers debate legislation to remove the legal status of all retained EU law by 2023. Not since the early 1980s have three former prime ministers sat in the House of Commons. The veteran documentary-maker Michael Cockerell, who interviewed Harold Wilson, James Callaghan and Edward Heath, joins Catherine Haddon from the Institute of Government to reflect on whether Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss's presence on the backbenches will be a help or hindrance to Rishi Sunak.
Editor: Peter Snowdon
Ben Wright and guests reflect on a dramatic week in Westminster following Liz Truss's announcement that she will resign as prime minister. The panel includes the political editor of the Financial Times George Parker, Daily Telegraph columnist Tim Stanley and Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff.
Review of the political week, including the new government under Liz Truss, and the challenges facing Labour. Presented by writer and broadcaster Steve Richards, with guests Isabel Hardman, assistant editor, The Spectator; Sebastian Payne, whitehall editor, The Financial Times; and Paul Waugh, chief political commentator, the i newspaper.
Ben Wright and guests reflect on a momentous week following the death of Queen Elizabeth and the ascendancy of King Charles within days of Liz Truss becoming prime minister. The panel includes the political editor of the Financial Times George Parker, the editor of The Spectator Fraser Nelson and Catherine Haddon from the Institute for Government. There is also an interview with former chancellor Lord Hammond, which was recorded before the Queen's death.
George Parker of the Financial Times is joined by Foreign Office minister Vicky Ford MP and former Home Office minister Rachel McClean MP to review the first full week of the Conservative leadership campaign.
With most of the leadership contenders promising big upfront tax cuts, former Chancellor Lord Lamont and head of Bloomberg Economics Stephanie Flanders discuss how realistic their plans are.
Former Labour cabinet minister, Lord Mandelson, looks at where Boris Johnson's departure leaves Labour.
And former Conservative MPs, Anna Soubry, who left the party in 2019, and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth discuss how to woo the Tory grassroots.
Ben Wright and guests reflect on a dramatic week in Westminster following Boris Johnson's announcement that he will resign as Prime Minister. The panel includes the political commentator Steve Richards, Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor at the Spectator and Matthew Goodwin, Professor of Politics at the University of Kent. There is also an interview with Lord Evans, the chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Editor: Peter Snowdon
Pippa Crerar of the Daily Mirror discusses the war in Ukraine and the implications for UK defence spending with the chair of RUSI, and former de facto Deputy Prime Minister, Sir David Lidington, and the Director of the Institute for Government, Bronwen Maddox. The SNP's Deputy Westminster leader, Kirsten Oswald MP, and The Spectator's Scotland Editor, Alex Massie, analyse Nicola Sturgeon's announcement about a future independence referendum in Scotland. Ian Todd, chief executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, discusses why there are ongoing misconceptions about MPs' pay and expenses. And, following a stunning victory in the Tiverton and Honiton by-election, Pippa brings together Polly Mackenzie and Sean Kemp, two former Liberal Democrat advisers, to ask if the party is back in business.
Ben Riley-Smith of the Daily Telegraph is joined by Conservative MP Miriam Cates and James Johnson, former pollster in Downing Street for Theresa May to discuss the by-election results in Tiverton and Honiton in Devon and Wakefield in West Yorkshire and what it means for Boris Johnson.
Rail strikes and Labour's relationship with trade unions are discussed by Labour MP Zarah Sultana, who joined the picket line and John McTernan, the former director of political operations for Tony Blair.
Economists Gerard Lyons, former economic advisor to Boris Johnson when he was London Mayor, and Professor Mariana Mazzucato from University College London debate the state of the economy and what needs to be done.
And Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons invited the Week in Westminster to his official residence to discuss his latest politically named pet and how he hopes to open up politics to the next generation.
Isabel Hardman from The Spectator reviews an eventful week in Westminster. She's joined by the former Conservative Party Chairman, Lord Baker, and the Conservative MP Danny Kruger to discuss how long Boris Johnson can survive after the vote of confidence earlier this week. Polly Neate, Chief Executive of the housing charity Shelter and Robert Colville from the Centre Policy Studies debate the Prime Minister's announcement to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants. Labour's Rachael Maskell and the former Conservative Transport Secretary Lord McLoughlin discuss the impact of the planned rail strikes. The former Conservative minister Lord Vaizey and the shadow science minister Chi Onwurah consider the uncertainty over the UK's membership of the EU's Horizon programme.
BBC Political Correspondent Ben Wright is joined by Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake and Labour MP Dame Angela Eagle to discuss the cost of living crisis and partygate. Former Head of the Army and crossbench peer Lord Dannatt analyses whether Ukraine is winning the war with Russia. Looking at the latest on the restoration and renewal of Parliament is Dr Hannah White of The Institute for Government, former Leader of the Commons Dame Andrea Leadsom and non-affiliated peer Lord Austin. And the government's former Chief Brexit negotiator and former Brexit minister, Lord Frost, discusses the Northern Ireland protocol and the current diplomatic tension with the EU.
George Parker of the Financial Times is joined by the former chief whip and Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith MP and the Labour leader in the Lords, Angela Smith, who also speaks on Northern Ireland to discuss the Queen's Speech and rising tensions over post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland.
The former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP discusses the housing crisis and planning reform.
Should there be a deal between the Liberal Democrats and Labour is debated by Labour MP for Exeter, Ben Bradshaw and Baroness Olly Grender, who runs the Lib Dem communications operation and has advised successive party leaders, including Paddy Ashdown.
And as Chris Mason takes up his new job as BBC political editor, Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby and former ITN political editor John Sergeant look at the shifting demands of such a high profile role.
Anne McElvoy analyses the results of the elections for local councils in England, Scotland and Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly with a panel of commentators: Daily Telegraph associate editor, Christopher Hope; the FT's Whitehall editor, Sebastian Payne; and Sonia Sodha - comment editor and columnist for the Observer.
Pippa Crerar of the Daily Mirror is joined by the former Leader of the House of Commons, Dame Andrea Leadsom MP, and Pete Wishart MP from the SNP to discuss the role of the independent panel set up to deal with sexism and harrassment in Parliament. Following a speech by the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss about the West's response to the war in Ukraine, the Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP and the Conservative MP Alicia Kearns MP debate Britain's place in the world. The Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Cramer discusses efforts to strenghten to protect whistleblowers. With only days to go before local elections in England, Scotland and Wales and elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, the Conservative peer and polling expert Lord Hayward and Professor Rosie Campbell from Kings College London preview what the results will mean for the parties.
Producer: Peter Snowdon
Sebastian Payne of the Financial Times is joined by the chair of the Privileges Committee, Chris Bryant MP and cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg MP to discuss the partygate scandal
The government's plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda is debated by former shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott MP and Nick Timothy, who was the chief of staff to Theresa May when she was prime minister and also worked with her in the Home Office.
Conservative peer and former chief of staff to Boris Johnson, Edward Lister and shadow International Development minister Preet Kaur Gill MP assess the Prme Minister's trip to India.
And former Liberal Democrat leader and Lake District MP, Tim Farron discusses how to tackle sewage in Britain's rivers, lakes and seas with Jo Bradley from Stormwater Shepherds, a not-for-profit initiative targeting pollution in water environments.
Paul Waugh from the i newspaper is joined by former secretary-general of NATO, Lord George Robertson to assess the Ukraine war and NATO's response.
The Chancellor's spring statement is debated by two former Treasury ministers, Conservative MP Jesse Norman and Labour MP Angela Eagle.
The chair of the Transport Select Committee, Conservative MP Huw Merriman and the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress Frances O'Grady discuss P&O Ferries and the no-notice sackings of 800 staff.
And the director of the Conservative Environment Network Sam Hall and Times columnist Rachel Sylvester discuss Conservative party tensions over the green agenda and how to reach net zero.
The Ukraine war with the Conservative former defence secretary Dr Liam Fox and Labour's Nia Griffith. Britain's economic outlook and cost of living crisis, with The Resolution Foundation's Torsten Bell and crossbench peer Baroness Wheatcroft. Fracking and the direction of the Conservative government, with the former cabinet minister Lord Frost. Do MPs deserve a pay rise? Parliament's longest serving MP Sir Peter Bottomley and Professor Rosie Campbell discuss.