Acting Prime Minister

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ITV News Political Correspondent Paul Brand offers the hypothetical keys to Number 10 to a guest and asks them: What would you do now?

ITV News


    • May 13, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 31m AVG DURATION
    • 55 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Acting Prime Minister

    LGBT+ campaigner Jayne Ozanne on surviving conversion therapy and getting it banned

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 34:44


    Acting Prime Minister this week is LGBT+ campaigner Jayne Ozanne.The former government adviser opened up about what it was like to go through years of conversion therapy.From exorcisms to hospitalisation and even thoughts of suicide, Jayne explains why she hasn't stopped campaigning to get it banned.Ms Ozanne also tells podcast host Paul Brand why the government needs to do more to stop spiritual abuse and address the dark side of religion.You can get all episodes of Acting Prime Minister in audio format wherever you get your podcasts!

    Labour is 'turning around the tanker', says frontbencher Rachel Reeves

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 32:01


    Acting Prime Minister this week is Labour's Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rachel Reeves.The frontbencher, who's been leading Labour's charge against Tory lobbying, admits her party would not get a majority if there was an election tomorrow.She explains what Labour needs to do to get in front and why she thinks her party is still behind the Tories.Ms Reeves also tells podcast host Paul Brand how she was inspired to enter politics, her route to the frontbench, her return to the backbench under Jeremy Corbyn and her revival under Keir Starmer.Remember to like, subscribe, and rate us five stars!

    Pimlico Plumbers boss Charlie Mullins on vaccine passports, sacking half the cabinet and marrying Margaret Thatcher

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2021 29:54


    Pimlico Plumbers owner Charlie Mullins is this week's Acting Prime Minister.He talks to podcast host Paul Brand about why he wants vaccine passports, who he'd sack from the cabinet and why he wants young people to rediscover apprenticeships.He also speaks about his admiration for Margaret Thatcher and why her leadership helped inspire him to become the owner of London's largest independent plumbing company.Remember to like, subscribe, and rate us five stars.

    Who is Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 30:13


    Labour's Nick Thomas-Symonds is this week's Acting Prime Minister.He talks to podcast host Paul Brand about how early conversations with his grandma first inspired him to get into politics.He also speaks about his desire to emulate the ambitions of his political heroes Aneurin Bevan, Clement Attlee and Michael Foot.Labour'r rising star also talks about aiming to become the next home secretary.Remember to like, subscribe, and rate us five stars.

    'I'd fire all the men': Amber Rudd on why she'd have an all female Cabinet

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2021 30:39


    Former home secretary Amber Rudd is Acting Prime Minister in this week's podcast episode.She tells host Paul Brand why she thinks the government should not proceed with instating a 'free speech champion'.Why she's sad about the way the Tory Party has changed since she left, and why she'd fire all the men in government and have an all female Cabinet.Remember to like, subscribe and rate us five stars.

    It's A Sin's Jill Nalder on what losing friends to AIDS in the 80s was really like

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2021 31:34


    Jill Nalder, the real-life inspiration for character Jill on hit TV show It's A Sin, has opened up to the Acting Prime Minister podcast about what it was really like losing up to 10 friends to AIDS friends to in the 1980s. Ms Nalder was also asked how she thinks Prime Minister Boris Johnson would have handled the Aids epidemic compared to former Tory PM Margaret Thatcher.Remember to like, subscribe, and rate us five stars!

    Bim Afolami on why taking the knee is 'virtue signalling'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2021 35:05


    Acting Prime Minister this is Bim Afolami, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Work and Pensions Secretary.In a wide ranging interview, podcast host Paul Brand and Bim discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, the coronavirus pandemic, how to improve Universal Credit and how Donald Trump 'trashed' democracy.Remember to like, subscribe and rate us five stars!

    MP Tracey Crouch on battling cancer during Covid pandemic and why she’s coming off Twitter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 28:12


    Former minister Tracey Crouch opens up to the Acting Prime Minister podcast about what it's been like having cancer treatment during the coronavirus pandemic.She also chats to podcast host Paul Brand about why elite sports should be allowed during lockdown, why she's coming off Twitter and much more.You can listen to, and watch, new episodes of the Acting Prime Minister podcast each week - find us on all podcast platforms.Remember to like, subscribe and rate us five stars.

    Lisa Nandy on Brexit regrets and Labour’s red wall woes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2020 35:24


    Labour's shadow foreign secretary is the latest guest on Acting Prime Minister.The former leadership contender talks to us about Jeremy Corbyn, Keir Starmer, Brexit and what went wrong at the 2019 general election.You can listen to episodes on the podcast on all good platforms.Remember to like, subscribe, and rate us five stars!

    Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross on keeping Scotland in the UK and his love for Atomic Kitten

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2020 28:23


    Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross on keeping Scotland in the UK and his love for Atomic Kitten.Acting Prime Minster this week is Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross.He chats to us about why positivity is key for uniting the union, how judging cattle helps him keep in touch with his farming background and why he loves Atomic Kitten.Remember to like, subscribe, and rate us five stars!

    Rory Stewart: 'Covid could spell the end of Boris Johnson's premiership'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2020 36:26


    Former prime ministerial candidate Rory Stewart has said the coronavirus pandemic could cost Boris Johnson his premiership, because grasping detail is his "greatest weakness".He also chats to podcast host about uniting the UK, cutting the foreign aid budget, and reveals whether he would return to British politics.Remember to like, subscribe, and rate us five stars!

    Louise Haigh on Jeremy Corbyn’s 'appalling' behaviour and uniting the union

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020 31:30


    Louise Haigh on Jeremy Corbyn’s 'appalling' behaviour and uniting the unionActing Prime Minister this week is Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Louise Haigh.She chats to us about her regret over nominating Jeremy Corbyn to be leader, how he compares with Keir Starmer and how she would ensure the United Kingdom stays together.Remember to like, subscribe, and rate us five stars!

    Laurence Fox has started a political party - here's what he'd do if he became PM

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2020 29:48


    Actor Laurence Fox is launching his own political movement - the Reclaim Party - so what would he do if he was actually in power?He tells the ITV News podcast Acting Prime Minister why he's launched the party and what he wants to achieve.The actor-turned-politician, who has sparked controversy with some of his comments, talks to ITV News Political Correspondent Paul Brand through his journey from school, to starring in TV drama series Lewis, to his infamous Question Time appearance and becoming a free-speech advocate.He's asked whether he'd congratulate Joe Biden on winning the US election, what he'd do to save the UK economy from coronavirus - and whether he'd be prepared to press the nuclear button.

    Get to know Lib Dem leader Ed Davey: His thoughts on Covid, care and fixing the party

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2020 33:23


    Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey is the latest guest on Acting Prime Minister.The MP speaks to us about his life as a carer, first for his mum, then his grandmother, then his young son.He also talks about his task as Lib Dem leader, to win seats in the next general election and to restore the party's reputation.Remember to like, subscribe and rate us five stars!

    Tory MP Caroline Nokes on Boris Johnson's potential 'regret' and how it felt being sacked

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2020 39:30


    This week's Acting Prime Minister guest is Caroline Nokes.The former minister tells the podcast she believes Boris Johnson may live to regret his decision to ignore scientific advice on a circuit breaker lockdown.She also explains what made her a Tory and what it was like to learn on Twitter how the prime minister had sacked her from government.Remember to like, subscribe and rate us five stars!

    Tory MP Steve Baker attacks lockdown and admits Brexit divided Britain

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2020 37:31


    This week's guest on Acting Prime Minister is Steve Baker.The Brexit-supporting Tory MP speaks to Paul Brand about coronavirus, Boris Johnson and much more.Remember to like, subscribe and rate us five stars!

    Prue Leith on coronavirus, politics, death, and filming Bake Off in lockdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2020 30:02


    This week's guest is Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith.In a wide ranging interview, Prue spoke about her political persuasion, how she wished she'd gone into politics herself and the laws she would change if she had the chance.Remember to like, subscribe and rate us five stars!

    Who is Anneliese Dodds? Shadow chancellor on coronavirus, Starmer and house music

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2020 33:09


    This week's guest is the Labour's shadow chancellor, Anneliese Dodds.She spoke to Paul about the economy, Labour's new leadership and dealing with the coronavirus crisis while being a mother to two children.All episodes of Acting Prime Minister are also available to audio-only on any podcast platform.Remember to like, subscribe and rate us five stars!

    Mark Drakeford on dealing with Boris Johnson's government during coronavirus crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2020 33:51


    This week's guest is the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford.He spoke to Paul about dealing with the coronavirus crisis, how its raised his profile and how it's given some in Westminster a crash course in devolution.He also reveals how 'frustrating' it's been dealing with Boris Johnson's government during the pandemic.All episodes of Acting Prime Minister are also available to audio-only on any podcast platform.Remember to like, subscribe and rate us five stars!

    Diane Abbott speaks candidly about 'frightening' abuse she receives

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2020 26:03


    This week's guest on Acting Prime Minister is former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott.The representative for Hackney North, who was the first black woman to be elected an MP, opens up to podcast presenter Paul Brand about how it feels to be on the receiving end of harsh social media abuse.Remember to like, subscribe, and rate us five stars.

    MP reveals what it's like to self-isolate with coronavirus symptoms

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2020 25:55


    An MP self-isolating over coronavirus has revealed to the Acting Prime Minister podcast what it's like to be in quarantine with Covid-19 symptoms.William Wragg, one of several MPs self-isolating over fears of spreading the deadly virus, told podcast host Paul Brand the worst symptom he's experiencing is "night sweats".Listen to the full episode to find out what it's like to be in self-isolation, and of course, we ask him all the usual Acting Prime Minister questions.

    Stab victim turned champion boxer on how the government can stop knife crime

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2020 27:47


    A British champion boxer - who was stabbed as a teenager - has revealed to ITV News podcast Acting Prime Minister how he thinks the government could tackle knife crime.Richard Riakporhe, who says he'd been mixing with the "wrong" people when he was...

    Nadia Whittome on being Britain's youngest MP

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2020 26:27


    Nadia Whittome talks about the "whirlwind" that saw her elected as a 23-year-old MP, just weeks after failing to secure a temporary Christmas job.

    Labour deputy leadership candidate Angela Rayner on her 'traumatic' childhood

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2020 41:24


    In a rare, revealing and candid long-length interview, Labour deputy leadership candidate Angela Rayner opens up on a wide range of topics.

    Ken Clarke says Dominic Cummings should 'vanish' and warns BBC needs protecting

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2020 40:50


    Veteran Tory Ken Clarke opens up to Paul Brand on a wide range of subjects, including the BBC, Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings.

    'I'd invite everyone to Downing Street for a drink': What comedian Andy Parsons would do as PM

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020 26:42


    In this week's episode, we're joined by political satirist Andy Parsons - a panellist on Have I Got News for You and Mock The Week who is currently touring the country with his show "Healing the Nation". He tells ITV News Political Correspondent Paul...

    Layla Moran brands Jo Swinson's election campaign 'arrogant' as she considers Lib Dem leadership bid

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2020 34:48


    Ms Moran also spoke about her decision to come out as pansexual, which Cabinet ministers she'd kick out, and her unusual upbringing.

    Sir Keir Starmer on Brexit, his job, and the rare illness that left his mum unable to walk, talk or eat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2020 27:15


    The Europhile MP also spoke about his role as shadow Brexit secretary, how he'll mark the UK leaving the EU and where he'll take the Labour Party if he becomes its leader.

    Tory MP Michael Fabricant on Donald Trump, the Royals and having famous hair

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2020 29:13


    Veteran Tory MP is one of Parliament's most colourful politicians, with his life's journey and personality perfectly matching his eccentric style.

    The 26-year-old new Tory MP on making Farage a lord and why she'd put Taylor Swift in the Cabinet

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2020 28:32


    In this episode, Paul Brand speaks to Tory politician Dehenna Davison, who was recently elected MP for Bishop Auckland. She explains why she would give Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage a peerage, why she thinks Taylor Swift would make a good cabinet...

    Dr Rosena Allin-Khan on her crowdfunding mum, a 'Ministry of Fabulosity', and dissecting Labour's election defeat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2020 31:18


    British politics is chock-full of stories of people overcoming adversity in an effort to make things better for others. But few will compare to the journey taken by Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour MP for Tooting and newly-declared hopeful for deputy leader. From grade-A student to school drop-out, she crowdfunded her way into Cambridge to study medicine and worked as a junior doctor on the A&E frontline before being elected an MP.

    Naz Shah on her 'pain' at suing Labour, visiting her mum in prison and how police saved her from a forced marriage

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2019 38:00


    Some paths into politics are remarkable but latest Acting Prime Minister Naz Shah's is truly extraordinary.The future Labour MP's father left home when she was six before her mother was jailed for killing her abusive partner, leaving Naz to bring up her...

    David Mundell on coming out, being sacked by PM and meeting 'orange' Donald Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2019 38:57


    British politics can be a brutal business.Within hours of being sacked by Boris Johnson from the Cabinet, David Mundell's belongings were outside the Commons office he had held as Scottish secretary since 2015.Now the big grey crates sit, still unpacked...

    Rosie Duffield overwhelmed by 'heartbreaking' responses to domestic abuse speech

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2019 27:22


    The latest guest to take power in the new series of the ITV News podcast Acting Prime Minister is Rosie Duffield. The Labour MP told Paul Brand she has been overwhelmed with "heartbreaking" emails after an emotional speech she gave during a Domestic Abu...

    Caroline Lucas on updating Parliament, Britain's nuclear 'shame' and what stops her going vegan

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2019 41:27


    The latest guest to take power in the new series of the ITV News podcast Acting Prime Minister is former Green Party leader and co-leader Caroline Lucas.The MP for Brighton Pavilion had some strong words to say, including on Brexit as she criticised the...

    Emma Lewell-Buck on accents, dyspraxia and siding with the Brexit Party over the Lib Dems

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2019 26:18


    The latest guest to take power in the new series of the ITV News podcast Acting Prime Minister is Emma Lewell-Buck.The Labour MP for South Shields was unafraid of speaking out in the conversation with ITV News Political Correspondent Paul Brand -...

    Chuka Umunna on his election bid, the reason Change UK failed and why he now feels 'liberated'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2019 29:48


    The latest guest to take power in the new series of the ITV News podcast Acting Prime Minister is Chuka Umunna.The pro-Remainer has had a whirlwind year after leaving Labour as a leading part of the independent breakaway before ditching Change UK for...

    Mark Francois on losing his dad, his pre-Brexit epiphany and his controversial cut-throat gesture

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2019 33:01


    The first guest to take power in the new series of the ITV News podcast Acting Prime Minister is ERG deputy chair Mark Francois.Speaking to ITV News Correspondent Paul Brand, the backbench rebel opened up about losing his father at 14, his unlikely...

    Anna Soubry opens up on pain of Chuka Umunna's split and why Boris Johnson 'isn't fit to clean the loos'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2019 44:53


    Anna Soubry has revealed how Chuka Umunna refused demands to be leader of Change UK before leaving her pained by quitting the fledgling party without a phonecall.Speaking to ITV News Correspondent Paul Brand for his Acting Prime Minister podcast, she de...

    Tory MP Nicky Morgan on Boris Johnson, the UK ambassador to the US and her surprising Cabinet addition

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2019 28:57


    Conservative MP Nicky Morgan has taken a swipe at the man likely to be the next prime minister, claiming Boris Johnson should have backed up the UK's ambassador to the US after emails in which he criticised Donald Trump were leaked.After it was revealed...

    Labour's Stella Creasy overhauls 'Hogwarts gone wrong' Parliament and ditches manifestos

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2019 35:58


    "I wouldn't have a manifesto, I'd have a set of five ambitions because you can't do everything."Stella Creasy's plan for power is certainly more radical than most who have been offered the hypothetical keys to Number 10 by ITV News.The Labour MP spoke...

    Labour's Angela Eagle fears things are getting worse for LGBT people

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2019 18:21


    Ms Eagle was the first openly gay female MP when she came out in 1997. On Tuesday, she appeared close to tears as she challenged those protesting against LGBT equality teaching, insisting: “We aren’t going to get back in the closet.”She tells Paul she...

    Andrea Leadsom: I'm absolutely sure I've got enough MPs to get through to first round of Tory leadership race

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2019 20:09


    Paul Brand speaks to Andrea Leadsom about her bid to become Tory leader.

    Prime ministerial hopeful Dominic Raab on why he is not a feminist and how he was 'undermined' as Brexit secretary

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2019 24:15


    Dominic Raab regards himself as the "underdog" in the race to become the next Conservative Party leader, and also the country's next PM.

    'I wake up to death threats': TOWIE's Bobby Norris reveals abuse as he campaigns to make online homophobia a crime

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2019 23:30


    The reality TV star on his petition to make online homophobia a crime, and why he'd be the first prime minister to 'rock skinny jeans'.

    Pastor Lorraine Jones, who lost her son to knife crime, on what she'd do to save other lives if she was PM

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2019 33:43


    The pastor, who lost her son to knife crime, on turning her 'pain into power' and what she'd do to save other lives if she was PM

    Labour's Jess Phillips says party will get 'drubbing' at European elections if they don't offer second referendum

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2019 31:36


    The Labour MP on how she thinks her party will fare in May's European elections - and why she'd sack John McDonnell from her shadow cabinet.

    David Lammy justifies comparing Tory Brexiters to Nazis and defends Comic Relief 'white saviours' criticism

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2019 32:38


    The Labour MP on his vision for Britain - and defending his controversial comments about the ERG and Comic Relief.

    Special live episode: Justine Greening on whether she'd run for PM and why Cabinet are 'woeful' over Brexit

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2019 41:01


    Former Conservative Cabinet minister Justine Greening joins Paul Brand for this special live edition of the podcast.

    Jacob Rees-Mogg backs Boris Johnson while outlining his own vision for the nation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2019 33:05


    We give the leading Brexiter the fantasy keys to Number 10 and ask him: What would you do?

    Hannah Deacon on how her campaign to get medicinal cannabis for her son would define what she'd do as PM

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2019 25:41


    Hannah Deacon was thrown into politics not by choice but by necessity, campaigning for her son Alfie Dingley to get life-changing drugs.

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