Podcast appearances and mentions of Justice Secretary

British Justice Secretary David Lammy has described an Irish bus driver who was sacked after chasing a thief as a hero. He told the house of commons that Mark Hehir, originally from Limerick and now living in north-west London, deserves public support. Mark spoke to Anton this morning,

British Justice Secretary David Lammy has described an Irish bus driver who was sacked after chasing a thief as a hero. He told the house of commons that Mark Hehir, originally from Limerick and now living in north-west London, deserves public support. Mark spoke to Anton this morning,

What happens when US Vice President Vance goes drinking with Angela Rayner & David Lammy?The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary knows America better than probably anyone else around the cabinet table. And in this interview he reflects at length on the state of the world and the significance of the US president's Greenland threats.David Lammy gives an impassioned defence against critics who question his friendship with Vice President J D Vance and reflects on his life's journey from Tottenham to Harvard. He also discusses the ongoing row over jury trial reforms, potential upcoming by-elections, and Keir Starmer government's storytelling.Senior Producer: Daniel Kraemer Producer: Flora Murray Sound: Hal Haines and Chris Murphy Editor: Giles Edwards

In this week's episode Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC discuss a wide range of issues affecting UK law and politics and answer some listeners' questions.     Does Elon Musk's climbdown over Grok's image generator represent a victory for online safety campaigners and have Ken and Tim been unfair about Ofcom's record of enforcing the Online Safety Act ?    Will the US Supreme Court's imminent ruling in  Learning Resources v Trump declare Trump's unilateral imposition of tariffs without Congressional approval to be unlawful and what would that mean for Trump's latest threats to impose tariffs on any NATO country opposing his demand to take over Greenland?   And is being turned down for the Nobel Peace Prize a good reason to invade a sovereign State ?   The decision of 6 Palestine Action activists to end their hunger strike was greeted with relief by the Ministry of Justice but what were the activists demanding and what is the law concerning the duty of the Prison Service in response to hunger strikes?  Ken and Tim explain the fundamental shift in the law from mandatory force feeding of the Suffragettes, as established in the 1909 judgment in Leigh v Gladstone, to the turning point in the ‘70s and 80s involving IRA hunger strikers.     What do recent amendments to the Parole Board's powers and the Justice Secretary's new power to direct the Parole Board to refer a release decision in “top-tier” cases to the High Court say about Labour's approach to sentencing, fairness and respect for judicial independence?  See this for a background to the changes - https://www.no5.com/2025/12/the-parole-board-new-powers-and-new-challenges/   Finally, Ken and Tim reflect on the defection of Robert Jenrick to Reform, the record of his replacement as Shadow Justice Secretary, Nick Timothy MP, and the mysterious decision by SFO Director, Nick Ephgrave, to announce his early retirement after only 2 and half years in the job. -- overing the critical intersections of politics and law in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future.     What happens when politics and law collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system?  Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.    Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.     Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.  Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades.  Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.  If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Smart 7 is an award winning daily podcast, in association with METRO, that gives you everything you need to know in 7 minutes, at 7am, 7 days a week…With over 19 million downloads and consistently charting, including as No. 1 News Podcast on Spotify, we're a trusted source for people every day and we've won Gold at the Signal International Podcast awardsIf you're enjoying it, please follow, share, or even post a review, it all helps... Today's episode includes the following:https://x.com/i/status/2011756928225997038 https://x.com/i/status/2011783347601650166 https://x.com/i/status/2011730051306340794 https://x.com/i/status/2011690801781490124 https://x.com/i/status/2011720292239098156 https://x.com/i/status/2011996679504085105 https://x.com/i/status/2011818928369008726https://x.com/i/status/2011709305087803782 https://x.com/i/status/2011800541249057190 Contact us over @TheSmart7pod or visit www.thesmart7.com or find out more at www.metro.co.uk Voiced by Jamie East, using AI, written by Liam Thompson, researched by Lucie Lewis and produced by Daft Doris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The citizens of Caracas in Venezuela were woken in the early hours yesterday by airstrikes and later discovered that President Maduro and his wife had been captured and taken for trial to the US. Presbyterian minister, Rev Ricardo Corzo is in Caracas and has been speaking to the programme following a night of little sleep.Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy has announced a recruitment drive for more magistrates to help deal with the huge backlog in the courts, which follows his controversial proposal to abolish jury trials in all but the most serious cases. He and cabinet colleague Wes Streeting have made no secret of their Christian faith - a change from the Blair years when Labour famously 'didn't do God'. David Lammy is asked about his faith and its fundamental role in justice. Gospel musician Richard Smallwood, has died at the age of 77. He is known for hits such as Total Praise and The Centre of My Joy. His work has also been covered by artists including Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder. Founder and conductor of the Kingdom Choir, Karen Gibson, speaks about the influence Richard Smallwood had on her and the gospel genre.Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Katy Booth and Katy Davis Studio Managers: Olivia Miceli, Mike Smith and Phillip Halliwell Editor: Dan Tierney

Labour's threat to the ancient right of Trial by JuryNick Cohen and Francis FitzGibbon KC - a prominent barrister and former chair of the Criminal Bar Association - discuss the proposal by Labour politicians, including Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, to restrict the right to trial by jury, which Nick finds astonishing given Starmer's previous advocacy for human rights and anti-racism. Francis argues against the proposed changes, which Nck thinks could expose ethnic minority defendants to unchecked racism. Francis argues that once the politicians have removed the right to trial by jury - it will be gone for ever.Throwing out the baby with the bathwater! Attacking jury trials to deal with deepening courts crisisThe discussion focuses on the legal system's backlog crisis, with Francis describing it as a disaster with 80,000 cases and delays extending to 2030. Nick and Francis discuss the report by former Appeal Court judge Sir Brian Leveson which Francis criticises for recommending strict curtailment of jury trials, a proposal he viewed as unnecessary and ineffective. Nick raises concerns about the independence of judges reviewing jury trials, suggesting that judges might be inclined to support removing juries from complex cases. Francis argues that judges are no better than juries in investigating human behaviour and coming to the right verdict.Juries, Francis FiztGibbon KCargues, are not just vital for the administration of justice - they give ordinary members of the public a stake in the system of rules and laws by which they are governed.Read all about it! Francis FitzGibbon KC was chair of the Criminal Bar Association (2016-2017) and has a wide-ranging and diverse trial practice covering all types of serious crime (prosecuting and defending). High profile cases include R. v Marten (gross-negligence manslaughter of a baby), R. Mohammadi (the Colindale allotment murder) and R v Alemi (fraud by successfully working as a psychiatrist with forged educational certificates). Francis has been recognised as a leading barrister in Crime for many years (Tier 2 Silk), and is ranked in the Legal 500, as ‘a highly intelligent Silk'. Nick Cohen's @NickCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility has gone, the Chancellor is being accused of misleading the public.  So how did that budget go?  Richard Hughes has taken responsibility for the accidental leak of the budget and resigned. What does this mean for the OBR's future and political trust in it?  Meanwhile, the Chancellor has been accused of misleading the public over the state of public finances. So what did happen in the budget pitch-rolling and what does this tell us about how well the UK does budgets? Could we, should we, do them differently?  Plus - the Justice Secretary has revealed his plans for changes to jury trials. We dig into the latest news.  Hannah White presents With Gemma Tetlow, Alex Thomas and Cassia Rowland  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we're going to be talking about David Lammy, and his brand new plans to drastically reduce the number of jury trials in the UK in an attempt to address the backlog. With the backlog of cases due to be heard in courts already at 78,000, and heading for 100,000, the Justice Secretary believes that only radical solutions can tackle the ‘courts emergency'. But is he being too radical? This comes on the same day that Lammy announced that 12 prisoners have been accidentally released in the last three weeks.But first, the Budget fallout continues and there has been a resignation but – crucially – it's not the Chancellor. After the OBR leaked the Budget early, its chairman Richard Hughes has taken the fall and resigned last night. Does this ease or increase the pressure on Rachel Reeves?Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and Isabel Hardman.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.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.

In the UK the Justice Secretary has suggested the end of the jury trial, except for rape, murder, manslaughter, or what he calls "cases that pass a national interest test". The idea has received the sort of reaction you would expect from the usual quarters you would expect it from. My hope is we might want to look at something similar here. The wait, like in the UK, for a trial is absurd. The system is overwhelmed. Getting a jury is hard work and will never get any easier. So if we accept the system doesn't function in a way we would want, judge-alone would be an immediate improvement in efficiency. Could I be controversial and suggest the reality also is that most people who end up in court are in fact guilty of what they are accused of doing? Which is not to change the idea that you are innocent until proven otherwise. It's just that you can mount a fairly solid argument that a jury is made up of a collection of people who may or may not want to be there, may or may not know what's really going on, may or may not get nuance and minutiae of certain aspects of the law and, therefore, as a collective be a fairly weak representation of the justice you seek. In a way it's like democracy. We love the idea but at local body level we literally can't be bothered. We don't even turn up so is the idea still a sound one, even if it doesn't work? Being judged by a jury of your peers - what a wonderful 1800's style thought. But here in the real world it's got a very stale, arduous vibe to it. Why is it important that 12 people agree on something? Well, it isn't if they can't because in some cases we then make it that only 11 people need to agree. So you see, rules are malleable. In some places it's 10 needed. So lets not get all rigid, because the law has been around a while. If the basic premise is justice being seen to be done then the “doing” has to have an element of pace about it. Not rushed, not rubber stamped and open to skullduggery, but an efficient system seen to be working well. You can't argue we have that, or anywhere close. Lammy of the UK has been bold and good on him. Let's hope the same boldness resides somewhere here as well. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Justice Secretary, David Lammy, is proposing to restrict the ancient right to trial by jury in courts in England and Wales to the most serious cases, such as rape and murder. Also: the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced the minimum wage is to go up next year. And scientists find there are five ages of the human brain, including a surprisingly long adolescence.

Is Shabana Mahmood's proposed overhaul of immigration policies, modelled on Denmark's stringent system, likely to go too far? As the Justice Secretary sends officials to Denmark to study its famously strict asylum rules, is there a danger that a tougher approach will simply risk the Labour party losing votes to the Greens and Crobyn on its left? Or might a less liberal approach save Labour from Reform UK? In this episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC provide expert legal commentary on political current events, such as the proposed immigration reforms and the accidental release of potentially dangerous prisoners from Wandsworth Prison. The Wandsworth incident underscores systemic issues in the UK's prisons and sentencing system, problems exacerbated by austerity and huge budget cuts. To close out the episode, Tim makes a nod to American politics, discussing Trump's potentially unlawful use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and US Solicitor General D. John Sauer's high-paced advocacy in the Supreme Court.  —-  Covering the critical intersections of law and politics in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future.  What happens when law and politics collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system?  Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.  Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.  Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.  Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades.   Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.  If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.

The Justice Secretary, David Lammy, has revealed that 91 prisoners have been released by mistake over the last seven months. Also: Epping Council loses a High Court case to block The Bell Hotel from housing asylum seekers. And another name change for Andrew as Mountbatten-Windsor belatedly gets a hyphen.

Mandy Bakers reports as the Justice Secretary sets out plans to overhaul the prisoner release system - and there are mixed views on the future of the BBC.

Who is to blame for two more inmates being wrongly freed from prison? The Conservatives attempted a mic drop moment with David Lammy this week by trying to get the Justice Secretary to admit to it live in the House of Commons. So why did Lammy avoid the question five times? And when 262 prisoners were released by mistake in the year to March – how is this happening every week? At the very least, Harriet sees the saga as an opportunity for the government to sort out the prison service. Plus Beth, Ruth and Harriet are joined by pollster Luke Tryl, and a group of voters who tell us why they're not convinced by the Prime Minister so far. So how tricky is this budget going to be for Rachel Reeves when most people's top worry is the cost of living? Can she actually put up taxes? And will more people just end up supporting Nigel Farage and Zack Polanski? Remember, you can also watch Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson on YouTube.

The Justice Secretary, David Lammy, has insisted that prison systems are being modernised to try to deal with what he called an unacceptable spike in mistaken releases. Also: Democrat members of a US Congress committee have written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor asking to interview him in connection with his "long-standing friendship" with the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. And world leaders gather in Brazil for the annual UN climate summit COP30.

In a crowded field, today's could have been the most bizarre PMQs ever.From David Lammy pronouncing ‘I am the Justice Secretary' as if it were an affirmation to be chanted in the bathroom mirror, to the wild hair on display on both benches, it surely takes the mantle of parliament at its most ridiculous – and that's not to mention the story that another convict has escaped from prison. Has David Lammy got a grip on mistaken prison release? And – more importantly – does he have the support of his colleagues?James Heale speaks to Tim Shipman and Isabel Hardman.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.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.

Robert is joined by the Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who says he wants his children to feel "confident" in the UK and England flags. The Deputy PM - and Justice Secretary - claimed the flag was being appropriated by the far-right. He also spoke about a new AI tool being used in the justice system to help transcribe interviews. And he said it was "right" that MPs scrutinise Prince Andrew's living arrangements.Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com

The shadow justice secretary has insisted he won't shy away from issues of racial integration after being accused of stoking division. Also: Millions of people who were mis-sold car finance deals could be set for seven hundred pound payouts. And thieves steal gold jewellery at one of the most popular museums in Wales.

Today we're reacting to the news that KNEECAP's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been charged with a terror offence after a video of a gig resurfaced after their Coachella gig, and to news the Justice Secretary is considering mandatory castration of sex offenders on early release from prison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Smart 7 is an award winning daily podcast, in association with METRO, that gives you everything you need to know in 7 minutes, at 7am, 7 days a week…With over 18 million downloads and consistently charting, including as No. 1 News Podcast on Spotify, we're a trusted source for people every day and we've won Gold at the Signal International Podcast awardsIf you're enjoying it, please follow, share, or even post a review, it all helps... Today's episode includes the following: https://x.com/i/status/1922665082586018146 https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1YqKDZwAyPBJV https://x.com/i/status/1922622779100189027 https://x.com/i/status/1922617921047503347 https://x.com/i/status/1922656875734077473 https://x.com/i/status/1922603548673544400 https://x.com/i/status/1922639089490145502 https://x.com/i/status/1922435048634040784 https://x.com/i/status/1922638214898069971 Contact us over @TheSmart7pod or visit www.thesmart7.com or find out more at www.metro.co.uk Voiced by Jamie East, using AI, written by Liam Thompson, researched by Lucie Lewis and produced by Daft Doris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, what is President Trump achieving with his tour of the Middle East?On Wednesday President Trump met with the leaders of Syria and Qatar on his first major foreign trip as President. James is joined by the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale and BBC's chief presenter in Washington Caitriona Perry to discuss Also, James and Alex explain today's the announcement by the Justice Secretary today that prisons are at 99% capacity, and what the government say they are going to do to address it. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://discord.gg/m3YPUGv9New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Shiler Mahmoudi and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

This week: the left-wing radicalism of Garden Court Garden Court Chambers has a ‘reassuringly traditional' facade befitting the historic Lincoln's Inn Fields in the heart of London's legal district. Yet, writes Ross Clark in the cover article this week, ‘the facade is just that. For behind the pedimented Georgian windows there operates the most radically effective cell of left-wing activists in Britain'. Ross argues that cases taken on by Garden Court lawyers raise questions of impartiality. Is this just another example of ‘law's expanding empire' over the domain of elected politicians, as former Supreme Court judge Jonathan Sumption has warned? The Spectator's editor, and former Justice Secretary, Michael Gove joined the podcast to discuss. (1:16) Next: cultural desert ‘From its gloopy green-filled chocolate to its soulless towers, Dubai is exerting a cultural influence over our capital' writes Angus Colwell in the magazine this week. More and more young people might be moving to the city, but its influence is being exported back. With around 250,000 Brits living in the Middle Eastern Emirate, why is Dubai so popular? Angus worries that we may lose some of the ‘pleasingly chaotic' aesthetic of London to Dubai's ‘artificial construction'. Angus joined the podcast alongside the writer Louise Perry. (13:43) And finally: the enduring obsession with Princess Diana  Almost 30 years on from her death, why has a fascination with Princess Diana endured? Philip Hensher reviews Dianaworld: An Obsession, by Edward White, in the magazine this week which explores the effect that Diana had – and still has – on people around the world. Why did people feel such a connection to the late Princess of Wales?  Philip joined the podcast alongside royal commentator Angela Levin. Philip explains that a ‘passive victimhood' has crept into society since Diana's death while, for Angela, the public felt they ‘owned' the Princess. (22:32) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: the left-wing radicalism of Garden Court Garden Court Chambers has a ‘reassuringly traditional' facade befitting the historic Lincoln's Inn Fields in the heart of London's legal district. Yet, writes Ross Clark in the cover article this week, ‘the facade is just that. For behind the pedimented Georgian windows there operates the most radically effective cell of left-wing activists in Britain'. Ross argues that cases taken on by Garden Court lawyers raise questions of impartiality. Is this just another example of ‘law's expanding empire' over the domain of elected politicians, as former Supreme Court judge Jonathan Sumption has warned? The Spectator's editor, and former Justice Secretary, Michael Gove joined the podcast to discuss. (1:16) Next: cultural desert ‘From its gloopy green-filled chocolate to its soulless towers, Dubai is exerting a cultural influence over our capital' writes Angus Colwell in the magazine this week. More and more young people might be moving to the city, but its influence is being exported back. With around 250,000 Brits living in the Middle Eastern Emirate, why is Dubai so popular? Angus worries that we may lose some of the ‘pleasingly chaotic' aesthetic of London to Dubai's ‘artificial construction'. Angus joined the podcast alongside the writer Louise Perry. (13:43) And finally: the enduring obsession with Princess Diana  Almost 30 years on from her death, why has a fascination with Princess Diana endured? Philip Hensher reviews Dianaworld: An Obsession, by Edward White, in the magazine this week which explores the effect that Diana had – and still has – on people around the world. Why did people feel such a connection to the late Princess of Wales?  Philip joined the podcast alongside royal commentator Angela Levin. Philip explains that a ‘passive victimhood' has crept into society since Diana's death while, for Angela, the public felt they ‘owned' the Princess. (22:32) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

What happens when political leaders and media outlets misrepresent court decisions, and how does this impact judicial independence and public trust in the UK legal system?A range of high-stakes UK law and UK politics issues that have dominated headlines recently are tackled in this listener-driven postbag edition of Double Jeopardy. Hosts Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC begin with a scathing analysis of media misreporting on high-profile legal cases, including sensational headlines about immigration rulings that bear little resemblance to actual judicial decisions. Their discussion highlights the consequences of misinformation and the critical need for accurate, responsible journalism when reporting on UK law. They also discuss the legitimacy of political interference in a live criminal investigation, questioning the Justice Secretary's tweet calling for “the strongest possible punishment”  in the aftermath of the HMP Frankland prison attack. Is it another example of the Lord Chancellor's lack of understanding of the separation of powers, or just the new norm in UK politics? Ken and Tim examine the evolving debate about “thin” and “thick” theories of the rule of law, including a discussion of international legal obligations, parliamentary sovereignty, and the ideological battle playing out in the corridors of Westminster. With references to Lord Bingham, Lord Wolfson KC, Professor Richard Ekins and Attorney General Lord Hermer KC, they consider what these distinctions mean for the future of UK politics and the ongoing crisis of both criminal and civil justice. Finally, the episode turns to Labour's shifting identity under Keir Starmer, dissecting the emergence of “Hard Labour” and what a security-first political agenda means for freedom of expression, human rights law, and the broader relationship between politics and law. From prisons and sentencing to the principles that govern crime and punishment, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary that helps listeners understand how current events and current political events intersect with the UK's evolving legal framework.-----Covering the critical intersections of law and politics in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future. What happens when law and politics collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system? Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays at 6am GMT. Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights. Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law. Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades. Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.

Is UK criminal justice really heading towards a two-tier sentencing system? A fierce debate has erupted over the Sentencing Council's new guidance on pre-sentence reports, which highlights the need for greater consideration of certain defendant groups, including ethnic minorities. Critics argue that this risks creating an uneven playing field, while supporters insist it's a necessary step toward fairness in sentencing. The Justice Secretary's reaction has only added fuel to the fire - prompting a scathing six-page rebuke from Lord Justice William Davis, the Chair of the Sentencing Council. You can find his letter here. Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC break down the implications of this controversy, before turning their attention to reports that No. 10 may introduce legislation to limit the influence of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in immigration cases. Does the threat of Europe-wide populism mean that we now have to view mass migration in a different way, and as a serious threat to the prevailing European culture of liberal democracy? 

A version of this essay was published by firstpost.com at https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/shadow-warrior-britains-outsized-malign-role-in-global-chaos-13872084.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialBeing a keen observer of the United Kingdom, I have lately noticed a few apparently unconnected events with dismay. If I were to connect the dots, it begins to appear that Britain has had an outsize influence on international affairs. Maybe the James Bond meme isn't the total fantasy I had assumed it was: a juvenile wet dream about nubile maidens and irresistible heroes bumping off sundry villains.The reality appears to be quite impressive. This tiny, rainy island off Northwest Asia has been running quite a number of worldwide schemes. Its administrative center, Whitehall, manages a global web of intrigue and narrative-building, and has created a number of ‘imperial fortresses', thus punching above its weight-classOne of their principal assets in gaslighting others is the BBC (not to mention their plummy accents that, for example, make Americans just melt). The BBC has a sterling reputation which does not seem well-deserved. There have been many instances of motivated bias (eg. in their Brexit or India coverage), lack of integrity (eg. sexual transgressions by senior staff) and so on. In reality, it is about as unabashed at pushing its agenda as Al Jazeera is about its own.Admittedly, Britain has made one major blunder along the way, though: Brexit, which left them in trisanku mode, sort of adrift mid-Atlantic. They were distancing themselves from the European Union, counting on their so-called ‘special relationship' with the US to sustain them, away from what they perceived, correctly, as a declining and disunited Europe. They also thought they could dominate their former colonies again (see the frantic pursuit of a Free Trade Agreement with India?) without onerous EU rules. Sadly, none of this quite worked out.The reason is a fundamental problem: there is not much of a market for British goods any more. Indians once coveted British products as status symbols, but today, with the possible exceptions of Rolls Royce cars and single-malt whiskey, there's very little anybody wants from them. They still do good R&D, make aircraft engines (India could use that technology), and their apparently for-hire journalism is well-known, but that's about it.On the other hand, they have managed to stay entrenched in the international financial system, starting with colonial loot, especially the $45 trillion they are believed to have taken from India. It is rumored that they used stolen Indian gold to buy distressed assets in the US after the Civil War. It is possible they had the same game plan for Ukraine: acquire rich agricultural land and mineral deposits at distressed prices. Some point to the port of Odessa as another targetUkraine: bad faith actor?It is remarkable how Boris Johnson, then PM of UK, is alleged to have single-handedly ruined the chance of a ceasefire in April 2022 during his visit to Kiev in the early days of the Ukraine war, when there was a chance of a negotiated cessation of hostilities with all parties adhering to the Minsk 1 and 2 agreements.In January, just before President Trump took office, UK PM Starmer signed a minerals agreement with Ukraine as part of a “100-Year Partnership” that appears to pre-emptively undercut Trump's proposed $500-billion US deal. That lends credence to allegations about the UK's coveting minerals, as well as its not being interested in ending the tragic war.Gold: is it all there?The UK does have a thing for tangible assets, including gold. A lot of the world's gold (5000 metric tons) is supposedly held in secure custody in London. But there are fears that this may not physically be there in the vaults of the Bank of England any more. They may have indulged in ‘gold leasing', where the actual gold ends up being replaced by paper promises after it is lent out to bullion banks, from where it may be moved around and be inaccessibleExtraordinary delays in gold deliveries in 2025 (on withdrawals to New York triggered by tariff fears) increase this concern. There is a lack of transparency in transactions in the metal in the UK. Spooked, many countries are taking their gold back. India repatriated 200+ tons of its own gold from London in 2024. Venezuela is fighting a court battle to get its gold back.Then there are concerns raised by the arguably unfair freezing of Russian assets held abroad as part of Ukraine-war sanctions: Starmer recently promised to give Ukraine $2 billion, basically the interest generated by those assets. This doesn't sound quite right, and has dented the image of London as a reliable financial hub. Brexit was a blow; the rise of Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai and Zurich all threaten the City of London, but it is second only to New York, still.Imperial Fortresses galoreAnother win for the British was the selection of Mark Carney, a former Bank of England governor, as the Prime Minister of Canada. The Anglosphere continues to be dominated by the UK, although the Commonwealth is a club that serves no particular purpose any more, except as a curious relic of the British empire.This highlights the concept of ‘imperial fortresses': far-flung outposts that have helped sustain British military power and diplomatic clout despite the loss of empire. Traditionally, these were naval bases/garrisons such as those in Malta, Gibraltar, Bermuda, etc. that allowed Britain to keep an eye on the ‘restless natives'. However, I contend that the entire Anglosphere has been treated as imperial fortresses by them.Canada, Australia and New Zealand still continue to have the British King as their Head of State, which is astonishing for supposedly sovereign nations. But it's far more interesting that, in effect, the US has been treated as another vassal by the Brits, pillow-talked into doing things that are generally only in the interests of Britain. All that pomp and circumstance has beguiled poor Americans. Whitehall, I assert, have been Svengalis to Foggy Bottom.Master Blaster blowback?The other metaphor is from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), where "Master Blaster" is a literal duo: Master, a cunning dwarf, and Blaster, his brawny, enforcer bodyguard. The Americans unwittingly have provided the muscle to the calculating dwarf's machinations, which generally end up mostly benefiting the latterBut there is yet another imperial fortress that we should consider: Pakistan. It was created expressly to be a geographically well-placed client state for the Brits to continue their 19th century Great Game from afar to checkmate Russia, and incidentally to contain India. From that point of view, Pakistan has been a successful imperial outpost, notwithstanding the fact that it, despite decades of US largesse, is a failing state (see the Baloch train hijack recently).This is part of the reason why Americans have a hard time explaining why they get involved in Pakistan and Afghanistan again and again to their ultimate regret, with painful exits. They have been induced to do this by the clever Brits, who, quite evidently, sided with Muslims against Hindus in the sub-continent, for instance in the British-led merger of Gilgit-Baltistan into Pakistan, contrary to the Instrument of Accession.There is considerable irony in all this, because one could argue that Pakistani-origin Brits have now done a ‘reverse master-blaster' to the Brits. That sounds eerily like the ‘reverse-Kissinger' that Trump is supposed to be doing. Or maybe it is a ‘recursive master-blaster', although the mind boggles at that.Consider the facts: UK rape-gangs are almost entirely of Pakistani origin; several current mayors (including Sadiq Khan in London) and past mayors are of that ethnicity, indicating a powerful vote-bank; they have at least 15 MPs and a large number of councillors.There's Pakistani-origin Sir Mufti Hamid Patel, the chair of the Office of Standards in Education; Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary; Humza Yusuf, the former First Minister of Scotland. This imperial fortress is fighting back, indeed, and winning. The UK may not have quite anticipated this outcome.The American vassal-state is also beginning to rebel. Trump was personally incensed by the fact that Starmer sent 50 Labor operatives to work against him in the 2024 US elections: their interactions have been a little frosty.Khalil, an embedded asset?Then there is the case of a current cause celebre in the US, Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent. He has been accused of leading violent anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, and detained on that count. Interestingly, he had a security clearance from the UK, and was part of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, living in Beirut and leading a scholarship program for Syrians. Yes, Syria.And then Khalil suddenly showed up with a green card (not a student visa), got married to a US citizen named Noor Abdalla, finished his program at Columbia, and so on. To me, all this sounds like it was facilitated, and that he has certain powerful foreign friends. No prizes for guessing who they were.Iraq, Libya and Syria: Humanitarian crisesSpeaking of Syria, Whitehall spent at least 350 million pounds sterling between 2011 and 2024 in regime-change activities targeting the Assad government, according to Declassified UK.The UK's meddling in the Middle East, going back to the Sykes-Picot carving up of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, and mandates in Palestine and Iraq, and even earlier to the antics of T E Lawrence, was clearly intended to advance and sustain British interests in, and influence on, the region. Which is not unreasonable.The sad fact, though, is that it appears the British have actively fomented, or been deeply involved in, a lot of the military misadventures that have turned the region into a mess of human misery. To take relatively recent history, the invasions of Iraq, Libya, and now of Syria were arguably dreamt up or at least actively supported by Britain.The invasion of Iraq was certainly endorsed by Tony Blair's infamous September 2002 dossier about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which turned out to be imaginary, but then, lo! Saddam Hussein was overthrown and killed.The invasion of Libya saw Britain take on an even more active role. David Cameron and France's Nicolas Sarkozy in effect prodded a somewhat reluctant Barack Obama to invade, even co-drafting the UN Security Council Resolution 1973 in 2011 that was the formal permission for the war. The net result was the killing of Muammar Gaddafi.In the case of Syria, Britain began covert operations in 2012, with MI6 allegedly organizing arms shipments, training and coordination of groups opposed to the Assad regime. The sudden fall of Assad in December 2024, driven by groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that Britain indirectly supported, underscores the successful outcomes of this policy.In all three cases, a secular dictatorship was overthrown and religious extremists took over. Earlier, civilians had reasonably prosperous lives; women were generally educated and present in the workforce. After the regime changes, all three are bombed-out hellholes, with no rights for women or religious minorities. In particular, the latter have been consistently subjected to massacres, as in the recent large-scale executions of Alawites in Syria.Even though Americans were the principal players in all these cases, the impression is that British Whitehall's gaslighting of their US counterparts in Foggy Bottom could well have tipped the scales and turned skirmishes into outright war and disaster.Thus it is clear that Britain is still a formidable player in the world of international relations, despite the loss of empire and relative decline. It is unfortunate, however, that the net result of its actions is to add to entropy and chaos and the loss of human lives and rights. Perfidious Albion it still is.1950 words, Mar 16, 2025AI-generated podcast from NotebookLM.google.com: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

George Parker of the Financial Times assesses the latest developments at WestminsterTo assess the impact of two completely contrasting Oval Office meetings between President Trump and Sir Keir Starmer and then the US president and President Zelensky this week, George is joined by Peter Ricketts, crossbench peer and Britain's first National Security Adviser. And Labour's Baroness Cathy Ashton, who was the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, leading its response to Russia's annexation of Crimea back in 2014. To discuss Sir Keir Starmer's plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by cutting the foreign aid budget, George spoke to the Labour MP for Hartlepool, Jonathan Brash and the Greens' Ellie Chowns, who represents North Herefordshire, and spent her career before Parliament working in overseas development.David Gauke, who was Justice Secretary in Theresa May's government and is now leading a review into prisons for Keir Starmer, has been in Texas this week to look at what the UK can learn from prisons there. Rishi Sunak's former chief whip, Simon Hart has just published his diaries spanning his fifteen years in the Commons - in which he saw five prime ministers, four general elections, and plenty of scandals. He discusses this era with The Spectator's Isabel Hardman.

Women in prison are resorting to self-harm because of “astonishing gaps” in basic services including strict time limits when contacting their children, according to a new report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales released today. The report's author Sandra Fieldhouse joins Anita Rani, as does the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood. Singer and stand-up comedian Hajar J Woodland joins Anita to discuss her show, First Love, coming to Soho Theatre in London. After being raised in a household where singing wasn't encouraged, her show explores the boundaries we put up around ourselves and what it means to finally find love and your voice. New research has quantified for the first time how many young people have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria by GPs in England. Academics at the University of York studied a decade's worth of NHS records and discovered a 50-fold increase in this particular diagnosis between 2011 and 2021. However each general practice will only see one or two such patients each year. Anita speaks to Professor of Health Policy Tim Doran.The French have been told to wear the same T-shirt for five days before washing it, and sports clothing three times. It's part of advice from the government's Ecological Transition Agency, which is trying to get people to do less laundry to save water. So how often should we really be washing our clothes? Anita is joined by Professor Sally Bloomfield from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to tell us more. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

Isang karangalan na makasama natin sa The Linya-Linya Show— former Human Rights Chair, former Justice Secretary, former Senator, and now ML Partylist first nominee— Leila de Lima. BOOM!Sa episode na ito, nakausap natin si Ma'am Leila tungkol sa simulain nya at naging biyahe sa mundo ng public service. Dinaanan din namin ang naging mga pagsubok sa panggigipit sa kanya ng nakaraang administrasyon, ang naging buhay niya sa piitan, at kung ano ang bitbit nya mula sa mga karanasang ito. Mula sa kung paano siya nakahanap ng pag-asa kasama ang mga pusa, hanggang sa umaatikabong QuadComm hearings na nagpasikip sa kaniyang puso at nagpainit sa ulo ng maraming Pilipino— ramdam sa usapang ito ang tapang at paninindigan ni Ma'am Leila, at kung paanong sa huli't huli, isa syang simpleng taong lumalaban para sa katarungan at ikakabuti ng marami.Sana mabigyan natin ng justice ang episode na ito! Listen up, yo!

The announcement that the Ministry of Justice has commissioned the Law Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of homicide law and sentencing in murder cases alongside the Gauke review of sentencing in non-homicide cases means that sentencing policy in England and Wales will be reviewed simultaneously by two separate bodies. Given the role of longer sentences for murder in increasing sentences across the board, is this  a sensible way to tackle the sentence inflation generated over the past twenty years which is the principal cause of the current prisons crisis? And with the wealth of existing data, including a magisterial 2006 Report by the Law Commission into homicide law, why does the Government need more reports other than to buy time? Beyond attacking Conservative governments for not building more prisons to accommodate yet more prisoners, what original ideas does the Justice Secretary actually have about how to reform the crumbling justice system? In the latest episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken and Tim take us into the history and evolution of homicide sentencing, from the disastrous 2003 Criminal Justice Act conceived by New Labour to the present calls for change, exploring how these reforms intersect with broader legal principles and questioning whether the current system strikes the right balance between deterrence, punishment, and fairness. Ken and Tim also examine the judiciary's delicate role in managing sentence inflation and resisting political interference, all while advocating for a more logical and cohesive approach to homicide law.

The UK is moving closer towards the vote on the new assisted dying bill - but some former leaders don't approve. Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Baroness May are among the former Prime Ministers who have joined the voices opposing the bill. UK correspondent Kay Oliver says the current Health Secretary and Justice Secretary also don't support the bill - and it's unclear if it will pass. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Prison isn't working" for women, according to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.     She told the Labour Party conference that after serving a short custodial sentence, women are more likely to reoffend than those given a non-custodial sentence. Women are also less likely to get a job after leaving jail than men.    As the government launches an inquiry into reoffending rates, Niall is joined by Sky's home editor Jason Farrell who has visited a women's jail to see what conditions are like, and hears from former inmate turned researcher Scarlett Roberts about her experience of rehabilitation in prison.  In response to Jason's reporting, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said:   "For many women, prison isn't working. Most women in prisons are victims themselves. Over half are mothers, with a prison sentence separating parent and child.     “That's why I am establishing a new Women's Justice Board, tasked with reducing the number of women in prison by exploring alternatives to custody for female offenders.”     Podcast Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse  Editor: Paul Stanworth   

The job of the Criminal Cases Review Commission - or CCRC - is to investigate cases where people may have been wrongfully convicted of a crime in the criminal courts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The CCRC has faced criticism over it's actions - or lack of action - in a high-profile miscarriage of justice. In April this year, the CCRC offered an unreserved apology to Andrew Malkinson. He spent 17 years in prison following conviction for a rape in Salford that he didn't commit. DNA testing which led to his conviction being quashed was not commissioned by the CCRC, and in July, an independent review found that he could have been freed five years after receiving a life sentence in 2003. After the report was published, the Justice Secretary called for the resignation of the chair of the CCRC, Helen Pitcher. However, she said she was still the “best person” for the job and that she had no intention of standing down. So how does the Criminal Cases Review Commission work? How does it make decisions about which cases should go back to the Court of Appeal, and which should be rejected?Also this week: - Are the laws around accessing social care for disabled children too complicated? - And if you're selling your home - are you legally bound to mention problem neighbours? Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Nathan Gower Editor: Tara McDermott Production Coordinator: Maria OgundeleContributors Dr Hannah Quirk, a Reader in Criminal Law at King's College London, who also used to work at the CCRC. Professor Alison Young, Commissioner for Public and Welsh Law, the Law Commission. Catriona Moore, policy manager at IPSEA, a charity which helps parents with SEND legislation - Special Educational needs and disabilities. Tracey Moloney, from Moloney Family Law, also known as the Legal Queen on social media

Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet continues to take shape: Chris Philp has been appointed shadow Home Secretary, with the biggest news being Robert Jenrick's decision to accept the position of shadow Justice Secretary. Jenrick's proposal to leave the ECHR was one policy disagreement with Badenoch, could this cause the Conservatives problems in the future? And what do her appointments say more broadly about her programme: has she put party unity above policy? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and the FT's Stephen Bush. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.

Today, we look at the release of more prisoners to help ease overcrowding in jails. The government is releasing 1,100 more prisoners early, in the second wave of emergency releases since September. It comes as the Justice Secretary announced a review of sentencing with a focus on new forms of punishment outside of jails, including a form of house arrest. Adam is joined by home and legal correspondent Dominic Casciani, and former director of public prosecutions Lord Ken Macdonald. Also, Adam speaks to Marianna Spring about the final two weeks of the US Presidential election. And reveals how Newscast will be covering the election, including with the return of Remoter Voter. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Gemma Roper and Anna Harris. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

The Justice Secretary says that Fujitsu may have to repay ‘fortune' spent on the Post Office/ Horizon software scandal - as the inquiry resumes today.More from CES 2024: AI robotic masseuses, gym leggings that shock you into getting fit, instant ice cream in a can, and a robot barista that can make ‘the perfect cup of coffee'.Sony bets on Metaverse with a new mixed reality headset.Also in this episode:Amazon slashes jobs at Twitch, MGM and Prime VideoStudy finds watching others visibly dislike vegetables may make you dislike them tooHighly infectious form of bird flu confirmed for first time in Antarctic sealsScientists test world-first Nipah virus vaccineKew Gardens names mysterious plants and fungi new to scienceWhy sperm whales can take over an hour to decide on whether to turn Follow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Gauke, former Justice Secretary, Victoria Gethin, head of family law at Stephensons, Rob Preece from the Howard League for Penal Reform, and Richard Atkinson, vice president of the Law Society, join PoliticsHome's Alain Tolhurst to discuss the crisis in the UK's justice system, with huge backlogs in crown and civil courts, a chronic lack of lawyers and judges, along with overcrowded and under-staffed prisons. Presented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton for Podot, edited by Laura Silver

Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes spoke publicly about her sexuality for the first time last year. Her new memoir, Unique, details how serving in the military in the late 1980s - when it was illegal to be gay in the military – was a major factor in contributing to her decades-long silence. She joins us to speak about her experience. After a reshuffle that left the government with no women in the “big four” offices of state, we speak to Justice Secretary Alex Chalk about the impact of the reshuffle as well as sentencing reforms which will affect women. From Nefertiti to Amy Winehouse, what is the personal and political power of eyeliner? We discuss with Zahra Hankir, author of Eyeliner: A Cultural History. Tish Murtha is a celebrated photographer whose images of working-class life in North East England can be found in the National Portrait Gallery and Tate Britain. But in her lifetime, Murtha struggled to find work of any kind. Now her daughter, Ella, has made a film about Murtha's life and work. We speak to Ella and producer of the documentary, Jen Corcoran. How is our interaction with AI shifting our concepts of intimacy and sexuality as humans? We discuss with Kate Devlin, Reader in Artificial Intelligence & Society at King's College London, and to Trudy Barber, Senior Lecturer at Portsmouth University in Media Studies. In April 2020, Debenhams in Ireland closed all 11 of its stores, informing its staff they had been let go in the process. What ensued were pickets and protests across Ireland that lasted for 406 days. As a new film is released on the subject, we're joined by two women who were involved, Carol Ann Bridgeman and Jane Crowe.

After a reshuffle that saw Suella Braverman leave her post as Home Secretary, and left the government with no women in the “big four” offices of state, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk spoke to Emma Barnett. They discussed the impact of the reshuffle, as well as sentencing reforms which will affect women, and the alleged rapist currently serving as a Conservative MP. Endometriosis is a chronic condition which affects one in 10 women, for whom tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, causing debilitating pain and in some cases fertility complications. But a charity that looks to support women suffering from the condition - Endometriosis South Coast - has faced criticism this week after announcing that a trans woman, Steph Richards, would be their new CEO. The decision to appoint Steph was made by Jodie Hughes, Chair of the Trustees, who also founded the charity. They spoke to Emma about the appointment. Lisa Lintott always enjoyed writing, but being a single mum meant that this had to take a back seat. But when her son Jazz, an aspiring actor, found that he was only being sent typecast roles, Lisa enrolled herself into a creative writing masters and wrote her own play, casting her son in the lead role. Going for Gold, which tells the life story of British boxer Frankie Lucas, has since won multiple awards, including Best Production Play, Best Producer and Best Actor at this year's Black British Theatre Awards, catapulting them both into the spotlight. Jazz and Lisa told Emma about this unexpected partnership. Minnie the Minx is turning 70. In December the much loved Beano cartoon character will celebrate 70 years since her first appearance. The writers and illustrators of the Beano, based in Dundee, Scotland, created Minnie to “be just as tough as the boys” and “kick back against pre-war societal norms.” Well, that was in 1953. Today, a special edition of The Beano is coming out, guest-edited by England's football captain, Leah Williamson. Laura Howell has been drawing Minnie since 2018 and explained why Minnie's popularity has endured.

The crisis in Israel and Gaza presents a huge challenge for our politicians, both internationally and at home. With protests on the streets and spikes in religious hate crimes, every word uttered by our leaders is diplomatically loaded. Nish and Coco discuss the difficulties of Labour's position, and then return to record a fresh section at the start of this podcast in reaction to Rishi Sunak's surprise overnight visit to Israel.Pia Sinha of the Prison Reform Trust helps us understand why our prisons are full to bursting, and whether emergency action from the Justice Secretary will solve the problem. With asylum seekers being returned to the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge, Anoosh Chakelian of The New Statesman, tells us about meeting some of those men. Plus she also gives us the lowdown on two very intriguing by-elections this week.Heroes and Villains returns, which is more bad news for disgraced former Tory MP Peter Bone. Plus find out why Coco and her cat could be heading for a divorce.Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guests:Pia Sinha, Director of The Prison Reform TrustAnoosh Chakelian, Britain Editor of The New Statesman Audio credits:Sky News@TheArchbishopofCanterbury

The queen of pop returned to London's O2 this weekend for her Celebration Tour, performing more than 40 songs from her four-decade career. During her opening performance on Saturday, 65-year-old Madonna thanked her children for supporting her while she was ill earlier this year with a 'serious bacterial infection' which saw her admitted to intensive care for several days and forced her to postpone the tour. Some of her children then joined her on stage. Emma Barnett speaks to two women who were there - Sabrina Barr from Metro online and Helen Brown, Chief Album Critic for The Independent. Exit polls from yesterday's general election in Poland suggest the governing right-wing Law and Justice Party has lost its majority in parliament. Three opposition groups are predicted to get enough seats to form a government if they can agree a coalition. The biggest of the three is the Civic Coalition, led by the former head of the European Council, Donald Tusk - who has already claimed victory. Women have played an important role in these elections with the issue of abortion taking centre stage since a near total ban was announced by the government in 2021, sparking protests across the country. The BBC's Eastern Europe Correspondent, Sarah Rainsford, is in Warsaw and joins Emma. Diana Parkes, Joanna Simpson's mother, has campaigned for months to stop the man who killed her daughter, Robert Brown, being allowed out of prison. Halfway through his 26-year sentence for her manslaughter, he was due for automatic release from prison next month. However, it has been announced that the Justice Secretary has blocked this and referred the case to the Parole Board. Diana joins Emma to share her response to the decision. As climate ministers meet in Luxembourg today ahead of the COP28 summit next month in the United Arab Emirates, an exhibition looking at the relationship between women and ecology around the world is running at the Barbican in London. Emma talks to Alona Pardo, the lead curator of RE/SISTERS: A Lens on Gender and Ecology. Do you have an unconventional living arrangement with your partner? Last week we spoke to Caroline and Niel, who remained in the same house after they split up but now Caroline's new partner is living with her ex. It got very complicated! We wanted to see how many of you are in similar situations, and how that has worked. Listener Amy got in touch to say she has been together with her partner Richie for 19 years but they have never lived together, even after they got married. She joins Emma in studio.

For a few years now the Tory party has been drifting further and further right and it's not gone well… at all. David Gauke is the former Justice Secretary under Theresa May and has edited a book titled The Case for the Centre Right which highlights the desperate need to reverse the direction of his party back to the centre. But is there a real case for the centre right anymore? Marie Le Conte sits down with him in The Bunker to listen to his argument. The case for the centre right: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Case+for+the+Centre+Right-p-9781509560837  “Arguably this is a case that should've been made much earlier.” – David Gauke “Now I think is the time to say let's not go further down the line of pursuing populism.” – David Gauke. “I think when you look at it Boris Johnson should not have been facilitated by the Conservative Party… they knew what they were getting.” – David Gauke www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Marie Le Conte. Producer: Chris Jones. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A controversial rule which deducted living costs from compensation paid to wrongly imprisoned people was been scrapped by the government on Sunday. The change came after the case of Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit, prompted calls for it to be overhauled. A charity called Appeal fought to clear Mr Malkinson after the official body which investigates miscarriages of justice, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, refused twice to investigate his case. Today's Nick Robinson speaks to the Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, who acted to make the reform with support from the Prime Minister. (Photo credit: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

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Dominic Raab has resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, but has criticised a bullying inquiry, which found he'd shown persistently aggressive conduct:

Author, journalist and broadcaster, Peter Oborne, talks to Eamon following Dominic Raab's resignation as British Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary. Peter Oborne is former chief political commentator of The Daily Telegraph, from which he resigned in early 2015. He is most recent books areThe Assault on Truth: Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and the Emergence of a New Moral Barbarism. and The Fate of Abraham: Why the West is Wrong About Islam. Peter writes a political column for Middle East Eye and a diary column for the Byline Times.Recorded on Friday 21st April 2023. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-stand-with-eamon-dunphy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has resigned from the government over a report investigating bullying allegations against him. Raab, who was also Justice Secretary, said the inquiry dismissed all but two of the claims against him and hit out at what he called its "flawed" findings, saying it "set[s] a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government".On the Sky News Daily with Sally Lockwood, political correspondent Joe Pike talks about the investigation, and what this means for the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.Producers: Alex Edden and David ChipakupakuEditor: Philly Beaumont

Westminster waits for report into Dominic Raab's behaviour The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering the much anticipated report into alleged bullying by the Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab. Adam and Chris talk about what to expect and are joined by Sir Alex Allan, who was the government's independent adviser on ministerial interests from 2011-2020. Adam catches up with Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland from the You, Me and the Big C podcast. They discuss a new documentary following the last years of Deborah James' life, as well as the impact of Covid on cancer treatments and the importance of early diagnosis. And, in solidarity with BBC presenter Claire Frisby - who presented the news in the dark after a studio malfunctoin - Adam and Chris switch the lights off for some of the show. Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming and Chris Mason. It was made by Cat Farnsworth with Chris Flynn. The senior news editor was Sam Bonham.

Diana Parkes, the mother of a woman killed by her pilot husband more than a decade ago has called on the Justice Secretary to intervene over his possible release from prison in November.  Anita talks to Diana Parkes, Joanna's best friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton and the former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland. Why do breast injuries in sport appear to go under-reported and what are the potential consequences? And can a well-fitting sports bra prevent a woman's breasts from bouncing a reported 10,000 times during an hour-long run? World leading breast expert Associate Professor Deirdre McGhee from University of Wollongong, Australia joins Anita to discuss breast health and exercise. When the wealthy financier Charles Vance Millar died, he left no direct heirs, so he decided to leave today's equivalent of $9 million to the woman who had the most children over the next 10 years. This sparked what became known as “The Great Stork Derby”, a so-called contest that created a media frenzy. It's the inspiration behind Caroline Lea's new novel ‘Prize Women'. She speaks to Woman's Hour about the real historical event. Jo Cheetham was studying for a PhD and working as a nanny in London, when she read news of an upcoming protest. Before she could talk herself out of it, Jo officially joined the No More Page 3 campaign team. Over three years, Jo protested up and down the country, contended with trolls, gave a group performance on the West End stage and spoke at the Scottish Parliament. In her memoir 'Killjoy' Jo describes everyday people doing extraordinary things and the power of a grassroots campaign. Presenter: Anita Rani Studio manager: Bob Nettles