Podcasts about british prime ministers

Why does every British Prime Minister now seem doomed almost immediately? In this episode of Mark and Pete, we explore whether the job of Prime Minister has quietly become impossible. From Boris Johnson and Liz Truss to Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, modern British politics increasingly feels less like leadership and more like surviving a public psychological experiment conducted by Twitter, the Treasury, and several angry breakfast television presenters simultaneously.We look at collapsing trust in politicians, impossible public expectations, media outrage cycles, and why Britain may simply have become too fragmented to govern easily anymore. There's discussion of short-lived governments, permanent online anger, NHS pressures, immigration tensions, economic stagnation, and the strange modern assumption that one politician should somehow solve every national problem while also appearing charming in awkward factory photo opportunities.Mark and Pete also discuss whether politics has accidentally become a substitute religion in modern Britain, with Prime Ministers treated first as messiahs and then as scapegoats roughly six weeks later. Which, if nothing else, keeps the opinion poll industry gainfully employed.A witty, thoughtful, slightly sardonic Christian look at British politics, leadership, media culture, and why governing the United Kingdom increasingly resembles trying to pilot a shopping trolley through a hurricane.

The Disunited KingdomAt the time of writing this week's column Keir Starmer is still the Leader of the British Labour Party and Prime Minister. On Monday he delivered a ‘Save Keir Starmer' speech which may or may not work for him. Can he survive the voices of opposition within Labour? That is a matter for his party.The reality is that his leadership of Labour and its success in the 2024 general election had little to do with Starmer and more to do with voters' deep antipathy toward the Conservative party. With a landslide victory and a massive majority of 174., Starmer was given a mandate to right the wrongs of a decade of Tory mismanagement and corruption, and of the Brexit debacle.Instead and in just 23 months Starmer has lost the confidence of the vast majority of the electorate in Britain. His funding of public services in the North is disgraceful; his government's abject failure to tackle the cost of living crisis; or his bizarre and stupid appointment of Peter Mandelson to the post of Ambassador to the USA, have cost Labour dearly. Allied to these has been his shameful support for Israel's genocidal war against the Palestinian people. Consequently, Starmer is now reputedly the most unpopular British Prime Minister since opinion polling began decades ago.The Irish Language and Irish UnityWell done to Conradh na Gaeilge on the publication of its report – ‘A United Ireland: A Transformative Opportunity for the Irish language and Gaeltacht.' The report, written by Roisin Nic Liam, a researcher at Queens University, is an insightful examination of how the Irish Language has been traditionally viewed in the context of Irish Unity and its place in the growing conversation now taking place on unity. It accepts that “comprehensive planning is required in order to clarify what a united Ireland might look like. Such clarity would ensure that the people of Ireland are able to make an informed decision about the future of the country. Central to this discussion is the question of the Irish language.”Marwan Barghouti – A Resolute Defender of FreedomAfter 24 years the continued imprisonment of Palestinian Leader Marwan Barghouti is more than a punitive act of judicial oppression by Israel. It is a calculated strategic decision to prevent the emergence of a united Palestinian leadership. Barghouti is widely recognised among Palestinians as the leader who can unite the various Palestinian groups and provide a united, coherent political strategy to challenge Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories and its genocidal policy in Gaza.For more than 50 years Marwan Barghouti has been part of the struggle against Israel's apartheid regime, its brutality and occupation of Palestine. He was born in 1959 in the west Bank. When he was eight years old the 1967 war resulted in Israel occupying the west Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. It was under this military occupation that Marwan grew up.

Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, explains why she is calling for British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to step down.

Sean Whelan, RTÉ's London Correspondent, outlines the latest developements as British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, battles to retain the leadership of the Labour party.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer insists he has no intention of resigning as calls grow louder within his own Labour Party for him to step down after historic losses last week in local council elections. Starmer's insistence to stay has seen some of the junior members of his government quit in protest.

Reunited in the studio to compare notes in the middle of Starmer's leadership crisis, the team ask what has gone wrong in less than two years. Is this story of disenchantment a uniquely Labour one? Is it all about the electoral pressures on the party, Starmer's mistakes, or has the UK developed an allergy to incumbents? Plus: Gordon Brown's surprise comeback under the spotlight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer's position as Britain's Prime Minister is looking increasingly uncertain. He's said it's business as usual, but a succession of his junior ministers have now resigned.Also on the programme: A suggestion of a huge breakthrough in the treatment of H.I.V; and the crime writer Patricia Cornwell on why she felt compelled to write a memoir.(Photo: Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets construction apprentices in London. Credit: Reuters/Toby Melville/Pool)

The British Prime Minister is facing calls to step down, including from within his own cabinet. But a Labour MP explains why he believes the party leader should keep calm and carry on.As Donald Trump heads to China, we'll talk to the brother of an ailing American who's been jailed there for 12 years -- who's hoping the president will manage to secure her release.Cycling Canada cancels the women's team pursuit program, but continues to support the men's team. One cyclist tells us the reasons she's been given just don't track. The price of train ride to a New Jersey stadium will be jacked way up for the FIFA World Cup -- so a journalist risks life and limb attempting to get there by foot. A longtime friend and collaborator of Keith Haring tells us why he's parting with the projects the late artist and activist made for and with him -- including a crib painted for his son. You thought it had gone the way of the scrunchie, the shoulder pad, and Tickle-Me Elmo -- but the hacky sack is back, and Gen Z is voting with its feet. As It Happens, the Tuesday edition. Radio that kicked that habit long ago.

Sean Whelan, London Correspondent, reports on the mounting pressure on British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer to resign.

Dan Bloom, Political Editor, POLITICO, discusses the latest on Keir Starmer's future as pressure mounts on the British Prime Minister to resign.

It's another febrile day in Westminster with Prime Minister Keir Starmer - for now - clinging on but he's far from safe as a succession of ministers have stepped down, with more expected to go. On top of that, the man who has become the PM's nemesis in the north, Andy Burnham, is apparently down in London. Shopping? Plotting? So it looks like Keir Starmer might just hit the current average tenure of British Prime Ministers - two years, but no more. Is this really the way to run a country in the middle of two wars and a cost-of-living crisis? And could anyone else really do any better? On this episode of The Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy is joined by the Liverpool Echo's Political Editor Liam Thorp, who has co-authored a book with Andy Burnham on how to transform the country, and the Observer columnist Will Hutton.

Lucy Fisher, Whitehall editor at The Financial Times, analyses the precarious status of British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, following last week's local elections in the UK.

British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer vows to prove “doubters” wrong in his speech today, as 40 Labour MPs call on him to resign.The Prime Minister said he took responsibility for the results, which saw Labour lose almost 1,500 English councilors, go backwards in Scotland and drop to third in Wales…His comments come just days before King Charles III will deliver the King's Speech, in which he will set out the government's planned new laws for the next Parliamentary session.For more on this Shane is joined by Whitehall Editor of the Financial Times and Host of the ‘Political Fix' podcast, Lucy Fisher and Matthew Torbitt, former Labour advisor, Political Commentator and anti-homelessness campaigner.

Lucy Fisher, Whitehall Editor with the Financial Times, looks ahead to a House of Commons vote that could see the British Prime Minister face an inquiry over Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has come into effect after it was brokered by the United States. Hezbollah have indicated they will observe the truce, though Israeli troops are to remain in Lebanese areas they have occupied. Iran has welcomed the development but wants a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. President Trump says Iran has agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, one of the key sticking points in negotiations to bring the war to an end. Fresh talks, he said, could resume as early as this weekend with Washington and Tehran "very close" to making a deal.Also: the British Prime Minister is facing calls to resign, after it emerged that his former ambassador to the US was appointed despite failing security vetting. Peter Mandelson was sacked last year over his friendship with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The future of the Saudi-funded golf tour LIV hangs in the balance as cash appears to be running out. The four astronauts of Nasa's Artemis II say their Moon mission gave the world a sense of hope and unity at a time when both feel in short supply. After a row over tennis tech rules at the Australian Open, tennis stars will be allowed to use trackers and watches to monitor their performances at upcoming majors such as the French Open. And how the escaped wolf Neukgu captured headlines in South Korea, setting firefighters and police on a week-long chase. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

It started as a festival announcement and ended with a government ban, a cancelled event, and a very pointed statement from the British Prime Minister. On today’s podcast, we’re going to take a closer look at how exactly the UK government barred Kanye West from entering the UK.For more stories like this, and all things pop culture, sign up to our TDA Culture newsletter here. Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Sam KoslowskiProducer: Rosa Bowden Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘follow’ on Spotify or Apple and to leave us a five-star review. We would be so grateful. The Daily Aus is a media company focused on delivering accessible and digestible news to young people. We are completely independent. Want more from TDA?Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterSubscribe to The Daily Aus’ YouTube Channel Have feedback for us?We’re always looking for new ways to improve what we do. If you’ve got feedback, we’re all ears. Tell us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 5, 1955, Winston Churchill stepped down as British Prime Minister, closing the curtain on one of the most formidable careers in modern politics. His final years in office, marked by declining health but continued global influence, reveal a more complex and often overlooked chapter.

Dodsworth is the feature attraction in this 728th talk on Have You Ever Seen, but then there was an unexpected 2nd review in this episode. I spent 10 or 12 minutes on the George Arliss 1929 Oscar-winner, Disraeli…the one about the late-1800s British Prime Minister's quest to buy the Suez Canel. As for Dodsworth, we've got another winner from William Wyler, who directs Walter Huston & Ruth Chatterton as a middle-aged couple who just aren't clicking anymore. He retires and they vacation in Europe, but that love just might be gone. So ditch Zenith for exotic European locales (or maybe even for Egypt) as I present monologues about Dodsworth and Disraeli. Well, Actually: just to be clear, an actor CAN get nominated for Oscars in the leading AND supporting categories in the modern era (as Al Pacino, Julianne Moore and Jamie Foxx have), but can't get 2 noms in the same category the way Arliss did back when Disraeli was made. Subscribe to the channel in your app. Rate the show and write a review as well. And search me out on Letterboxd for the occasional written review (RyanHYES). Feedback is appreciated. Hit me with a tweet (@moviefiend51), a comment on Bluesky (ryan-ellis) or an email (haveyoueverseenpodcast@gmail.com).

A milky tea, a jam sponge and this week's news served on a tin tray with a steam train painted on it points our very English conversation towards the following … … what connects the Monkees and a British Prime Minister? … when are you too old for Indie? … A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi? A Bar on The Piccolo Marina? Noel Coward or Neil Tennant? … the Move, the Streets, the Kinks, ELO, Ian Dury, Anthony Newley, the Jam, Herman's Hermits, Cat Stevens, Arctic Monkeys and other acts with a sense of Englishness … Girl in the Thunderbolt Suit: when Marc Bolan went science fiction … how London Zoo could have put the tin lid on the Beatles … the daft story of Randy Scouse Git … how Michael Caine cooked up the name Harry Palmer ... the most English pronunciation of a songword ever … Black Crowes, Byrds and the allure of misspelling … Roxy, 10cc, the Hollies, Manfred Mann, Human League and other original line-ups we want to reform … plus Angine de Poitrine, Kaleidoscope rebooted by Jimmy Page and birthday guest Jonny Wren.Help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A milky tea, a jam sponge and this week's news served on a tin tray with a steam train painted on it points our very English conversation towards the following … … what connects the Monkees and a British Prime Minister? … when are you too old for Indie? … A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi? A Bar on The Piccolo Marina? Noel Coward or Neil Tennant? … the Move, the Streets, the Kinks, ELO, Ian Dury, Anthony Newley, the Jam, Herman's Hermits, Cat Stevens, Arctic Monkeys and other acts with a sense of Englishness … Girl in the Thunderbolt Suit: when Marc Bolan went science fiction … how London Zoo could have put the tin lid on the Beatles … the daft story of Randy Scouse Git … how Michael Caine cooked up the name Harry Palmer ... the most English pronunciation of a songword ever … Black Crowes, Byrds and the allure of misspelling … Roxy, 10cc, the Hollies, Manfred Mann, Human League and other original line-ups we want to reform … plus Angine de Poitrine, Kaleidoscope rebooted by Jimmy Page and birthday guest Jonny Wren.Help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A milky tea, a jam sponge and this week's news served on a tin tray with a steam train painted on it points our very English conversation towards the following … … what connects the Monkees and a British Prime Minister? … when are you too old for Indie? … A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi? A Bar on The Piccolo Marina? Noel Coward or Neil Tennant? … the Move, the Streets, the Kinks, ELO, Ian Dury, Anthony Newley, the Jam, Herman's Hermits, Cat Stevens, Arctic Monkeys and other acts with a sense of Englishness … Girl in the Thunderbolt Suit: when Marc Bolan went science fiction … how London Zoo could have put the tin lid on the Beatles … the daft story of Randy Scouse Git … how Michael Caine cooked up the name Harry Palmer ... the most English pronunciation of a songword ever … Black Crowes, Byrds and the allure of misspelling … Roxy, 10cc, the Hollies, Manfred Mann, Human League and other original line-ups we want to reform … plus Angine de Poitrine, Kaleidoscope rebooted by Jimmy Page and birthday guest Jonny Wren.Help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I was in prison for Bible smuggling, I challenged God to release me, just as He had done for Paul and Silas. God answered prayer, and sent the British Prime Minister to set me free!

The Matts tackle a number of intersecting topics: can the Peter Mandelson affair damage Keir Starmer more than it already has? What did his stance on Iran do for Labour in the polls? How is Westminster geared for an election where four - maybe five - parties are nip and tuck? And does Shabana Mahmood's banning of a pro-Palestine march signal a split at the top of government? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the latest Irish Times Editor, Freya McClements.

“After four years of war, Putin, who supposedly possessed the second-most powerful military on earth, has only been able to take less than 20% of Ukrainian land. And yes, Zelensky has done an extraordinary job of marshalling his country and galvanising Western support... But the heroes are the people of Ukraine.”Laura Kuenssberg speaks to former British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and former head of the British Armed Forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, about the war in Ukraine.Johnson was in Downing Street four years ago, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.As one of the driving forces behind the West's initial response, he's been critical of the slowness of allies in providing support to President Zelensky, which Johnson says has cost lives.The two men believe the conflict could have been prevented altogether if Western allies had paid more attention to Putin's increasing aggression and annexation of Crimea in 2014.Thank you to the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with the Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, Iranian author Azar Nafisi, and the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Laura Kuenssberg Producers: Paul Twinn and Ben Cooper Editors: Diana Martin and Damon RoseGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Boris Johnson and Sir Tony Radakin Credit: Jeff Overs/BBC)

The woman tipped to be the next head of the UK Civil Service has faced multiple bullying complaints according to reports this morning. The Times newspaper says "there is more than a whiff of misogyny" in the briefings against her. Nuala McGovern hears more about the debate over the possible appointment of Dame Antonia Romeo with Kitty Donaldson, the Chief Political Commentator for the i Newspaper, and Caroline Slocock. Caroline was the first female private secretary to a British Prime Minister when she served alongside Margaret Thatcher.Belle Burden is a former corporate lawyer, a pro bono immigration lawyer, a Harvard graduate and a mother of three, born into American high society. When she got married in 1999, her wedding was announced in the New York Times. Two decades later she broke with convention and published her candid essay on the marriage's sudden rupture, in the long-running New York Times Modern Love series. Now her book Strangers: A Memoir of a Marriage has become a New York Times bestseller. Belle Burden joins Nuala live from New York to discuss ghosting, grieving and getting on with life on her own terms.Tomorrow, the Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will speak about the plight of women and girls in Sudan at the United Nations Security Council. Stories from the war-torn country are harrowing. Sudan's conflict began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces or RSF. More than 150,000 people have died in the conflict across the country, and about 12 million have fled their homes in what the UN has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Nuala is joined BBC's Africa Correspondent, Barbara Plett Usher.Two years ago, Dr Henrietta Hughes, England's first Patient Safety Commissioner, published a report laying out a plan for compensation for women harmed by pelvic mesh implants. The Hughes report set a deadline for the government, which has just passed without action. Dr Hughes tell Nuala what action she wants to see from the government, and Kath Sansom, the founder of the Sling The Mesh campaign group, tells us how women's lives have been affected.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

Today, we're talking about grit and determination, which go a long way in helping find success in life. And they're contagious.Winston Churchill was almost 70 when his country needed him most, when he stared down Hitler's war machine. The British Prime Minister's signature line was, “We shall fight on the beaches,” but the essence of his message came with these words, “We shall go on to the end.” Luke 18:1 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” And it is a partnership because God keeps His word. Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”There's a great practical application in scripture. These old words that are always new were not meant to be just some nice thing to say. God does what He says he will do. If you feel like you have no way out of your troubles today, tell God that. Remember the scriptural promises and remind yourself that countless people have done the same and come out okay on the other side. Don't give up, and see what the Lord will do. Let's pray. Lord, we give you our fear and our uncertainty. We can't cope with the situation we're in alone, but we trust you to give us strength not to quit. We believe for the victory over these circumstances, and God, we find rest in your mercies. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

 Mandelson was UnimpressiveAs I record this the future of Keir Starmer, as British Prime Minister, is a topic of conversation because of his mishandling of the Peter Mandelson affair. I know nothing about the ongoing scandal around Jeffrey Epstein other than what I read or see in the media. But the evidence of his serial abuse of young women going back many years is plain to see. My heart goes out to the victims and survivors of this despicable cabal Goodbye Dearest HeartThis week sees the republication of Jim McVeigh's excellent book – Goodbye Dearest Heart - on the life of Joe McKelvey who was executed by the Free State in 1922 aged 24. It tells not just the personal story of Joe McKelvey but also the remarkable times in which he lived.Joe McKelvey was born in Stewartstown in county Tyrone but moved to the Falls area of west Belfast as a teenager. He was a committed Gael who in 1916 was a founder member of the O'Donovan Rossa CLG in Beechmount.Jim McVeigh tells how McKelvey joined the Irish Republican Army in Belfast and quickly rose through its ranks to become O.C. (Officer Commanding) of the Third Northern Division which had responsibility for Belfast. McKelvey's time as O.C. coincided with the partition of Ireland.  We Are Not NumbersLate last year I came across a book written by young people living in or exiled from the Gaza Strip - ‘We Are Not Numbers: The Voices of Gaza's Youth.'  Through their words it gives testimony to the horror that the Palestinian people face daily in Gaza under Israeli occupation and blockade. The book spans ten years. It tells of the experience of young people and their community trying to survive against a ruthless enemy that does not see them as human beingsThe organisation We Are Not Numbers (WANN) was founded in 2015. 

Phil Tinline and Marion Messmer discuss Keir Starmer’s staying power and impressions of the UK prime minister abroad: Plus: Will nuclear testing resume? And why spies and foreign interference warnings are growing in Europe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keir Starmer's judgment is being questioned over his past appointment as ambassador to the United States of Peter Mandelson, a British peer with deep personal connections to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Can he survive as prime minister? We hear the latest from our reporter in parliament. And as Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell invokes the Fifth Amendment, declining to answer questions before the US House Oversight Committee, we catch up with the political reaction. Also in the programme: American tech giants Meta and Google go on trial in California - they're accused of harming children by knowingly creating addictive social media platforms. And the French government sends letters to every 29-year-old in the country, exhorting them to have babies while their biological clocks are still ticking.(Photo: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer leaving 10 Downing Street, London. Credit: James Manning/PA Wire)

James Lyons, former Director of Strategic Communications at 10 Downing Street, on the fallout of Morgan McSweeney's resignation as chief of staff for the British Prime Minister over the Peter Mandelson scandal.

There's growing pressure on the British Prime Minister, for the latest Chief Political Commentator at The i Paper, Kitty Donaldson.

Calls have intensified for the British Prime Minister, Kier Starmer to resign amid the fallout from the revelations contained in the Epstein files. With the Leader of the Scottish labour party Anas Sarwar, calling for him to step down.Kier Starmer apologized for believing Peter Mandelson's “lies” and his decision to appoint him to the role of Britain's ambassador to the US,Joining Shane with the latest news from the Epstein Files and the fallout it having in British Politics was London based Journalist, Vincent McAviney

The British Prime Minister's chief of staff has resigned over the appointment of the new U.K. ambassador to the U.S., who's mentioned in the Epstein files. AP correspondent Donna Warder reports.

Warning: this episode contains themes of sexual abuse.Following the release of the latest tranche of Epstein files, renewed scrutiny has fallen on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's links to powerful figures in the United States. In the UK, attention has shifted to a related controversy that is now sending tremors through Westminster.Newly surfaced email exchanges between Epstein and former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson - also known as Britain's “Prince of Darkness”, have raised questions about the nature of their relationship and its political ramifications, triggering a police investigation and threatening the position of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.George Parker, the Financial Times Political Editor and BBC Radio Presenter, has known the man in question for over three decades. He talks about the seismic implications the Epstein files are having on British politics.Producers: Samantha Chantarasak, Valerio Esposito and Cat FarnsworthMix: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer. Credit: Carl Court/PA Wire

The British Prime Minister says Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before a U.S. congressional committee, following new revelations about the former royal's links to Jeffrey Epstein. US correspondent Kate Fisher spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Things have got worse for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - as fresh Epstein files show how deeply he was involved with Jeffery Epstein. Photos of Andrew crouched on all fours and touching an unidentified woman have been released. The British Prime Minister's suggested Andrew go to the U.S.senate to explain himself. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Mike Hosking that Keir Starmer has toughened his line. He says some of Andrew's emails with Epstein occurred when he had previously claimed publicly he hadn't been in touch. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keir Starmer lands in China tonight as he becomes the first British Prime Minister to visit since Theresa May in 2018. Sam Hogg from the Oxford China Policy Lab and James Heale join Patrick Gibbons to assess the UK-China relationship right now, what Labour is hoping to get from the visit and whether there are risks for Starmer as well as rewards. Is the tight rope Starmer is walking between the UK & China a sign of weakness, or an extension of a pragmatic 'Starmerite' foreign policy?Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the theme of anger and unhappiness dominating British politics and what, if anything, is the Prime Minister doing to quell the mood amongst his party and the public?Sam has details of misery and irritation within the Labour ranks over plans to overhaul parts of the jury system to cut the courts backlog – but is another u-turn or rebellion on the horizon?Elsewhere, will the assisted dying bill make it over the line before the Kings speech in May? Is a former British Prime Minister about to be handed a senior role to oversee the governance of Gaza? And, we get reaction from the shadow chancellor to the state of the UK's economy.

PREVIEW Guest: Mark Simon Summary: Simon discusses the sentencing of Jimmy Lai by the Chinese regime. He expresses doubt that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will use an upcoming business trip to demand the return of Lai, a British citizen, noting that the Prime Minister is currently more focused on his own political survival. QING DYNASTY 1910-1940

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the murky relationship between British intelligence, the Labour government, and the "gentleman capitalists" of the post-war era.Why was Harold Wilson, the most electorally successful British Prime Minister of the 20th century, targeted by paranoid elements within MI5 as a potential Soviet spy? We delve into Wilson's time at the Board of Trade in the late 1940s, where he forged controversial deals with the Soviet Union to secure timber for Britain's reconstruction.From the rise of corrupt tycoons like Robert Maxwell (who began as an intelligence officer in occupied Germany) to the class war between the "modernizing" Labour government and the "grouse moor" establishment, this episode uncovers the seeds of the plot to overthrow Wilson in the 1960s. It's a story of Cold War intrigue, antisemitism within the British elite, and the clash between a new technological Britain and the old school tie.Key Topics:The Plot Against Wilson: Why MI5 officers like Peter Wright suspected the PM was a KGB agent.The Timber Deals: How Wilson negotiated with Stalin's deputies to rebuild Britain.Robert Maxwell: The origins of a media mogul in the intelligence world of post-war Berlin.Class Conflict: The "Chapocracy" vs. Wilson's white heat of technology.Books Mentioned:Smear! Wilson and the Secret State by Stephen Dorril and Robin RamsayThinking the Twentieth Century by Tony JudtSpycatcher by Peter WrightExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Roger Moorhouse and host Iain Ballantyne discuss the German submarine threat in WW2 in a lively and engrossing chat. Roger is the author of several acclaimed books, including ‘Killing Hitler' and ‘First to Fight' and now ‘Wolfpack', an excellent single volume deep dive into the submarine arm of the Kriegsmarine - Hitler's navy - and which was reviewed in the November 2025 edition of Warships IFR. Topics touched on in this episode include pondering why the Germans placed their bets on the U-boat again, for the second time in a quarter of a century, despite having seen a similar strategy fail in WW1. Also discussed is the quality and character of the U-boat captains – cool, leather jacket, lumber jack shirt-wearing heroes or villains? Nazis to a man and fanatical supporters of the regime, of just Good Germans doing their best for their country? Iain asks Roger if ‘the U-boat peril' truly was the only thing that ever really frightened Winston Churchill in WW2 - or was the wartime British Prime Minister deploying his usual emotive characterisation to frame his own later record more valiantly? The term Wolfpack reeks of lethality, provoking a shiver of fear, but how effective were the U-boats really once the Allies improved tactics, weaponry and training? Roger provides his perspective on that topic in addition to considering the strategies of Karl Dönitz, the U-boat force boss. Looking at the moral dimension of the conflict, Roger and Iain ponder whether of not it is possible  to set aside the horror of the Nazis and what they did and feel empathy for the tens of thousands of young men in German submarines who died under a hail of Allied depth charges, bombs and gunfire.  Both host and guest offer a dose of common sense about the fantasy in some quarters of Hitler escaping in a U-boat to live out the rest of his days in South America. Finally, Iain asks Roger what he feels might be lessons for today in dealing with the Russian threat, which includes submarines. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  For more on the mag https://warshipsifr.com/ The new (January 2026) edition of Warships IFR magazine hits the streets on 19.12.25 and is available hard copy in shops and supermarkets, plus direct in hard and digital variants from publisher Sundial Magazines https://sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/subscribe/warships.htm Roger Moorhouse is a historian and author specialising in modern German and Central European history, with particular interest in Nazi Germany, the Holocaust and World War Two in Europe. Follow Roger on X @Roger_Moorhouse Visit his web site https://www.rogermoorhouse.com For more information on his ‘Wolfpack: Inside Hitler's U-Boat War' (William Collins ) https://www.rogermoorhouse.com/wolfpack Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR' magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (both published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

The Republican candidate wins the Tennessee 7th Congressional District special election by a comfortable margin, but not as big as President Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election. We get reaction from party leaders in Congress about what this may mean for the 2026 midterm elections; President Trump grants a full pardon to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and his wife Imelda, who were facing bribery charges; President Trump announces of a roll back of Biden-era vehicle fuel economy standards, arguing it will lower car prices; Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) introduces a bill to cut down on ICE automatic detention of certain groups of immigrants and end for-profit, private immigrant detention centers; NASA Administrator nominee Jared Isaacman gets a second Senate confirmation hearing. He was nominated earlier this year, then the president withdrew the nomination, and then renominated him; NATO Secretary General & British Prime Minister talk about Russian President Vladimir Putin saying Russia is ready to go to war with NATO, comments made while talks were ongoing trying to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are taking this week off to recover from Halloween, so we have a BonusCast to share instead, featuring #10 Downing Street. It is the most famous address in British politics. This is the home of the British Prime Minister. The building is 300 years old and was not a place where many early Prime Ministers wanted to live. It wasn't fancy and for many years it was downright dangerous due to its shoddy construction. Today, it is much better and has been the backdrop to many famous historic events. It also is home to several  spirits!

From fairground palmistry to the science of fingerprinting, historian Alison Bashford explores the secrets, history and psychology of the hand.Alison was in a London library when she discovered a ginormous palm print of a gorilla, taken two days after it died at London Zoo in the 1930s.She had no idea whatsoever about why someone had made this mysterious print, or why it had been kept in pristine condition for all these years.Alison plunged into researching the history of the hand, from fairground palm reading to Jungian analysis.She was transported into the magical, scientific and pseudo-scientific attitudes to markings on the body.She encountered Victorian wellness entrepreneurs, how Down Syndrome was first diagnosed in neonates, and celebrity palm readers whose influence reached all the way to former British Prime Minister, William Gladstone.Further informationAlison's book Decoding The Hand: A History of Science, Medicine, and Magic is published by The University of Chicago Press.This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.This episode explores gypsies, Roma, palm reading, fortune telling, psychology, psychoanalysis, Charlotte Wolff, Carl Jung, Weimar Germany, Nazi Germany, Brahmin, palmistry, cheiromancy, Cheiro, writing a book, university, Hollywood, 1930s Hollywood, celebrity, Down Syndrome, diagnosis, genetics, eugenics, Lionel Penrose, BBC, simian line, occult, Francis Galton, Ellis Family and British Institute for Mental Science.

Help MuggleCast grow! Join us as our patron at Patreon.com/mugglecast, and receive a slew of great benefits instantly, including more than 60 hours of bonus recordings, 30 hours of chapter readings, and much, much more! Listeners can browse our official merch at MuggleCastMerch.com and pick up overstock items from years past at MuggleMillennial.Etsy.com! That new assistant named Kingsley is a high performer! This week we're starting our Chapter by Chapter re-read of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and discussing all the problems that Cornelius Fudge has just dumped on the British Prime Minister's doorstep. It's a rare Harry-less chapter this week, titled "The Other Minister." News: Congratulations to SIR Gary Oldman! (He really puts the Sir in Sirius) Chapter by Chapter continues with Half-Blood Prince Chapter 1: The Other Minister Where were the hosts when the sixth Potter book came out? It was only 3 weeks shy of MuggleCast's first episode! The MuggleCast Time-Turner segment is now the MuggleCast Pensieve! It's Book-6-themed and, this week, flashing back to MuggleCast #376, from July 16, 2018! The hosts compare favorite chapters and discuss this is one of them. The poor British PM believes the chaos was his to own, only to find out that the wizards are at fault for all of it! Do wizards have a superiority complex? It sure seems like it, around the Muggle PM. Is this chapter tied to a particular politician or administration from years past, when the book was set? Or perhaps when it was written? The hosts speculate. Is the portrait of the "frog-like" man (Umbridge's dad?) a privacy concern for the Muggles? MVP of the Week: Who was the best working man in this chapter? Lynx Line: What event from human history was magical in origin, but was covered up between the two governments? Participate in our weekly trivia segment by answering this week's Quizzitch question at MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch!  On Bonus MuggleCast, we discuss the newly released album art for the upcoming full cast production audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The former British Prime Minister isn't talked of much anymore but he may become the key to peace in Gaza. He's well liked by Palestinian leaders, by Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, and by Donald Trump. A meeting at the White House this afternoon may lead to Blair's entry into the equation. Dr Janice Stein has her thoughts on Blair and how this may actually lead to something everyone can embrace. That and more on today's episode of The Bridge. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sir John Major, British Prime Minister from 1992 - 1997, is our guest today. In this deeply interesting, personal and touching conversation, Sir John talks to Gyles about his childhood in South London and about his unusual and inspiring family. Sir John's background is unconventional. His father had been a successful music hall artiste, and was a great storyteller, much older than the fathers of John's friends. His mother had been a balletic dancer, and was an extremely kind and selfless wife and parent. Both of them were role models to John; his love and admiration for them shine through in this conversation, and will move you. Sir John talks about their extremely humble home and lifestyle - the family fell into hard times and were poor - and about the anger he felt at his family becoming a subject of ridicule by the press in later years. Sir John talks about how he got into politics, about what he believes is missing from today's Westminster scene, and about how he met and married Norma. We're extremely grateful to Sir John for speaking to us with such candour, and for his delightful company, and hope you enjoy this. It really is worth your time. Sir John Major's book, My Old Man, which Gyles mentions, is available here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this Friday edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, Sid covers a range of topics starting with local news about 11 elected officials arrested at an immigration protest in Manhattan, before touching on Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa's chances in the mayoral race, President Trump's UK visit where he forged a billion-dollar tech deal with the British Prime Minister, the leadership transition at Turning Point USA following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and NFL Week 3 forecasts and injury updates, highlighting quarterbacks' performance and betting odds for upcoming matches. Steven Puchik, Robert Budelman, Curtis Sliwa, K.T. McFarland, Anthony D'Esposito, Kari Lake & Alan Dershowitz join Sid on this Friday installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who was Sir Henry Wilson, and how was he shockingly murdered in 1922? Who ordered it? What was his attitude to the question of Irish Home Rule? Why has death been compared to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose death triggered the First World War? How did he garner the undying enmity of British Prime Minister, Herbert Henry Asquith? What was Wilson's reputation in Ireland then, and how has it endured to this day? And, how did Wilson's unexpected death impact the future of Irish independence?  In this week's episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by historian Ronan McGreevy, to discuss the pivotal assassination of Sir Henry Wilson, whose death launched the tumultuous Irish Civil War. *Hearing the wrong audio for this episode on Apple Podcasts?*  Please “Remove Download” using the 3 dots in the top right corner of your screen, and then “Download Episode” again. Email us at TheRestIsHistory@goalhanger.com for more support.  The Rest Is History Club: Become a member for exclusive bonus content, early access to full series and live show tickets, ad-free listening, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members' chatroom on Discord. Just head to therestishistory.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestishistory. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude  Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices