PoliticsJOE Podcast

Liam Byrne is a Labour MP and the chair of the Commons Business and Trade Committee. He came by the studio to speak to Ava about his new book, Why Populists are Winning. In a wide ranging conversation, Liam and Ava break down Labour's victories and losses in the last 18 months, how operators on the left and right have capitalised on the actions of the government, and how the government come back from a slew of bad results at the polls.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava caught economist Yanis Varoufakis before his conversation with Zack Polanski, Jeremy Corbyn, and Grace Blakeley at DiEM25. She talks to him about Keir Starmer, Iran, Donald Trump, and the weakness of European leaders.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura, Seán and Andy react to today's bout at the despatch box, as well as questions from MPs and Nigel Farage's storm out.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Levy is an expert in Israeli geopolitics and the President of the U.S./Middle East Project.He spoke to us about the unfolding situation in Iran and how Benjamin Netanyahu continues to drag an unsuspecting Donald Trump deeper into an unwinnable war.Subscribe to Daniel's Substack: https://substack.com/@daniellevy2Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy's been looking into Gorton and Denton by-election loser Matthew Goodwin's new book over the weekend, and has some hefty claims about its author. He tells Ava about his discoveries.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Holden is an investigative journalist and author of The Fraud: Keir Starmer, Morgan McSweeney, and the crisis of British Democracy.He came by the PoliticsJOE studio to chat to us about his book, which has become essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of the chaos surrounding Keir Starmer's time in charge of the country.He sits down with Ava to speak about the slow drip of news stories that have in one way or another began in his investigations, what will bring the downfall of Keir Starmer's regime, and the players within the operation that tried to end his career.Buy The Fraud here: https://orbooks.com/catalog/the-fraud/Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Dearden is the Employment Rights Minister, and she sat down with Ava to break down the government's new plan to crack down on employers failing to pay their workers fairly.This comes after the Department for Business and Trade published the names of hundreds of companies that have failed to pay their employees minimum wage, amounting to £7 million in lost wages.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura sits down with Lena Swedlow of Compass to uncover the flaws of Britain's electoral system, as well as imagining what a future without it could look like.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura and Seán are back to react to another fiery PMQs. Despite mentions of Iran and the Mandelson files, today's real headline comes from outside the Commons: Angela Rayner's speech at a Momentum event last night which loomed large over today's session.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Netflix dropped Louis Theroux's exploration of the manosphere. But, some watchers of the patriarchal online world were left unimpressed. James Bloodworth, who embedded himself in the manosphere for his book Lost Boys, was "underwhelmed". He tells PoliticsJOE why. In his documentary, Theroux meets several prominent manosphere figures, including HSTikkyTokky and Jay Waller, who argue that modern society disadvantages men and that women hold too much power in relationships. Mixing self-help advice, fitness and financial motivation with messages that critics say are misogynistic or manipulative, Theroux questions their beliefs, challenges their claims about masculinity and dating, and explores how their upbringings may have led them to their views on gender. Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another Monday, and the US-Israeli war with Iran continues. Ava, Seán, and Andy debate Keir Starmer's position, who's idea it really was, and how tenable it will continue to be as energy prices are likely to rise. They also touch on the Greens' Hannah Spencer.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thomas Bourne has been a Palestine activist for around a decade. His prominence in the movement has seen him face online abuse in the past. Last month the line between his personal life and his activism was broken.After Thomas confronted Matt Lucas in an underground station, the online world went into overdrive. Prominent figures were calling out his actions, and newspapers delved into his personal life to an extent he'd never experienced.It reached a peak when Thomas lost his job as a result of the attention put on him by some of Britain's biggest right-wing papers.Thomas came by the studio to walk us through the events of the day that changed his life.Thomas's identity has been protected at his request.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the Humble Address that forced the government to publish internal material surrounding Peter Mandelson's appointment and dismissal as UK ambassador to the United States, the first tranche of files has dropped and Ava and Laura are here to break them down.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another Wednesday, another blockbuster PMQs. Kemi Badenoch's enthusiasm for entering the war with Iran last week has aged poorly, and the Prime Minister wasted no time reminding her of the fact. Laura and Seán break it down.An earlier version of this podcast stated that Trident needs the approval of the US before launch. The UK does not need prior approval from the United States before launching nuclear missiles. Trident is operationally independent, but is maintained and serviced in the United States.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura and Seán discuss the rumoured end of Trump's war with Iran, the fall and sale of Brewdog, and the recent fire on Glasgow's Union Street.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At a private lunch last Friday, Tony Blair said that Keir Starmer "should have backed America from the very beginning". Andy and Laura discuss the former PM's meddling, as well as anti-trans protestors putting Hannah Spencer at risk, and polling on Gen-Z men's uniquely conservative views.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Seán is joined by none other than Ash Sarkar as her book Minority Rule hits paperback. After a turbulent 2025 and an utterly batshit start to 2026, Ash reflects on the permacrisis as it continues to warp and destabilise the fabric of society, and reality as we know it.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava is joined by Editor-in-Chief of Middle East Eye David Hearst to break down the foreign policy nightmare Donald Trump could be facing in his continued war against Iran.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura caught up with Jeremy Corbyn outside parliament yesterday after Rachel Reeves' Spring Forecast speech.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Bright is an investigative journalist and author. He came by the studio to talk to Ava about Nigel Farage's strategy at the helm of Reform UK, the funders propping up Britain's new right, and how a collapse may be right around the corner.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa McKenzie is an academic who fell into an online storm when her tweets about Hannah Spencer and class went viral.Lisa joins Andy in our first episode of Cancelled to share her views from the time, whether they've changed, and the wider class dynamics at play in British politics.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy, Laura, and Seán react to a particularly heated PMQs showdown between Kemi Badenoch and Keir Starmer, as the Tory leader ramps up the rhetoric over Trump's escalating conflict with Iran.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are once again joined by the great Scott Lucas to make sense of another chaotic weekend in Donald Trump's foreign policy escapades. This time, the President decided to join forces with Benjamin Netanyahu to make a martyr of Ayatollah Khamenei, for which the Iranians have attacked multiple gulf states and Israel.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seán, Ava, and Andy unpack what Hannah Spencer and the Green Party's victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election means for British politics, as well as the attack lines Reform have been putting out since Matt Goodwin's loss.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura is joined by Lib Dem MP Martin Wrigley to find out just how deep Palantir's influence stretches in British society, including in the NHS, the MOD, and even the police.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week we spoke to Green Party co-deputy leader Rachel Millward about the party's surge in support under Zack Polanski, their prospects as the new party of the left, and the downfall of Labour under Keir Starmer.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the shroud of purdah descending this fine Thursday, we take to the studio to answer some of your burning questions.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava, Laura, and Seán sit down after PMQs to make sense of Keir Starmer's claims that the country is on the up and up, even though nobody feels it.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just hours after Peter Mandelson was released on bail by police investigating allegations of misconduct in a public office, Ava, Laura, and Seán head to the studio to break down today's Opposition Day debate.The Lib Dems are planning to get MPs to back the release of documents detailing the process behind Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment as a trade envoy under Tony Blair.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monday once again. Seán, Laura, and Andy get stuck into Nigel Farage's thwarted attempt to accompany a humanitarian mission to the Chagos Islands, further abuses of the Royal name by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as well as Bridget Phillipson's SEND reforms.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava sits down with economist Clara Mattei to explore a bold and unsettling idea: capitalism isn't failing - it's functioning exactly as intended.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Ava is joined by journalist Peter Oborne to discuss the Labour party under Keir Starmer, and the man that dragged him into power: Morgan McSweeney.Peter breaks down the allegiances that McSweeney built over a long career campaigning for the Labour Party, leading to his links to the man that almost brought down Starmer's premiership - the former American Ambassador Peter Mandelson.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava and Seán discuss Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain project, and who or what is responsible for pulling British politics to the right.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seán and Laura bring you an emergency broadcast in response to news that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office earlier today.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura sits down with Michael Waldman, series director of new documentary The Tony Blair Story, for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the most consequential and controversial political figures in modern Britain.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava and Seán look ahead to the upcoming local elections, and discuss Keir Starmer's decision to roll back his delay of thirty council elections following a legal challenge from Reform UK.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seán and Andy give their two cents on the Jim Ratcliffe discourse before Ava joins them to report on a story that broke yesterday about Labour Together, the group behind Keir Starmer's rise to power. The group, at the time headed by Morgan McSweeney, paid £36,000 to lobbyists that falsely suggested reporters were linked to Russia.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava sits down with financial crime expert and author Oliver Bullough to unpack the vast, hidden system of money flowing through London and the UK.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Ava is joined by the former leader of the Labour Party and co-founder of Your Party Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn details his experiences with Peter Mandelson, dating all the way back to the 1980s, up to his time as Labour leader. He also shows his concern for Keir Starmer going forward, having pinned so much of his political capital on the prince of darkness since pitching up in Number 10.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Smith of Republic joins Ava and Seán to dive deep on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's connections to the Epstein files, and what that means for Britain's monarchy.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everybody's in for PMQs, including a nervy Keir Starmer with quite the challenge ahead of him: keeping his job. Ava, Seán, and Laura break down an important PMQs where the Prime Minister continues to defend his judgement amid scandals new and ongoing.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a full house today as Ava, Seán, and Laura assemble to figure out what exactly is going on with Keir Starmer, whether he'll survive the week, and what a post-McSweeney Labour Party looks like. And what's going on with Wes Streeting's WhatsApps?Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy and Seán take to a new PolJOE set to discuss Morgan McSweeney's resignation, and the sweeping political implications it's sure to have. With May elections coming up and the Peter Mandelson scandal ongoing, will the Labour Party be satisfied with a scalp? Will the public? Can Starmer survive?Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura is joined by investigative journalist and co-founder of The Nerve Carole Cadwalladr to break down the influence of one of Silicon Valley's shadiest characters, Peter Thiel, in the operation of the British state.Cadwalladr spells out the operations of Thiel's Palantir, and how it has gotten its claws into everything from NHS data to Britain's defence system.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UNICEF Spokesperson Tess Ingram joins Seán after returning from Gaza to break down the situation on the ground. Just over 100 days on from the ceasefire, Ingram explains why the hope of the early days of the ceasefire hasn't truly materialised, the continued attacks by Israel despite the ceasefire, and how he lives of Gazans can truly be respected in phase two of the ceasefire.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friend of the show Andy Twelves returns to break down an explosive PMQs, as Keir Starmer attempts to defend his appointment of Peter Mandelson—further implicated in the past week by the DOJ's release of more Epstein files—as US ambassador. Ava analyses Starmer's responses, trying to get to the bottom of who really knew what when.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura and Seán continue the Epstein files discourse after the latest release by the DOJ, discussing the extent of former US Ambassador Peter Mandelson's relationship with Epstein, how he hadn't yet resigned from the House of Lords, and his most recent interview.NOTE: This episode was recording this morning, and Mandelson has since announced that he will resign from the Lords.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friend of the podcast Andy Twelves joins Ava and Seán to discuss the latest file release by the DOJ relating to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The three discuss Peter Mandelson, Prince Andrew, and what their repeated mention means for British politics.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Omar Abdel-Mannan is a Pediatric Neurologist and co-founder of Health Workers 4 Palestine.He was a medical escort for the first Gazan child to receive medical attention in the UK since the bombardment of Gaza began in 2023 - two years after the war broke out, and one month before the UK government announced plans to welcome Gazan children needing vital medical interventions.He joined us to speak about the horrific situation on the ground in Gaza, the crackdown on criticism of attacks on the territory, and what gives him hope for the future.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava sits down with Labour MP Steve Witherden, the politician who made headlines after standing up to Donald Trump at PMQs last week. He challenged the government's stance on US foreign policy, human rights, and global accountability. Steve, MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, has quickly become one of the most outspoken voices in Westminster since his election in 2024.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's deputy day again at PMQs as Keir Starmer jets off to China in hopes of trade talks and that fabled growth. In the meantime, Ava and Seán react to David Lammy's return to the despatch box, but are not impressed.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.