Podcasts about Keir Starmer

IS BURNHAM A LIAR AND A CHARLATAN? SPEECH FULL OF HOPE—MY ARSE! #JonGauntTV #AndyBurnham BrexitBetrayal #RejoinEU #NigelFarage #ReformUK #UKPolitics Yesterday it was tears and pulling at the heartstrings of a gullible MSM and public!  Today it is complete betrayal! Burnham is a con man and a charlatan. Four months ago, chasing votes in Makerfield, he said: "I'm not proposing the UK rejoin the EU. I respect the referendum." Now he's talking about going "all the way" back in. That's a bloody U-turn!  He told voters one thing to get elected, then opened the door to the opposite once in power. He is a liar and not fit to be PM. And that's before I mention the crocodile tears and using his dead father in a cynical attempt to win over voters! Speech full of hope? MY ARSE! #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #AndyBurnham #Brexit #BrexitBetrayal #LabourConference #LabourParty #RejoinEU #EUReferendum #NigelFarage #ReformUK #UKPolitics #FreeSpeech  Jon Gaunt, Jon Gaunt TV, Andy Burnham, Burnham speech, Labour conference, Burnham Brexit U-turn, Brexit betrayal, Makerfield election, rejoin EU, European Union, EU referendum, Labour Party, Nigel Farage, Reform UK, Richard Tice, Keir Starmer, British democracy, broken promises, political hypocrisy, mainstream media, UK politics, live political debate

With Russell Warfield.  The election of Zack Polanski to the leadership of the Green Party of England and Wales in 2025 caused a political earthquake. Polanski's first year of leadership transcended the wildest expectations of his supporters: quadrupling the party membership, doubling its polling, winning its first ever parliamentary by-election to return a fifth MP, and delivering the Greens' strongest ever set of local election results.  In the context of one of the most right-wing Labour governments of all time there were acres of political space to its left to occupy. But what are the threats and opportunities now that Keir Starmer has given way to Andy Burnham? Joining us on the show to make sense of this turbulent political moment is Russell Warfield, author of The Green Socialist: Zack Polanski and the Battle for Britain's Future. Russell puts the Green party's recent successes into context and considers its prospects for the future. We talk about the unlikely similarities between Zack Polanski and Nigel Farage, why electoral reform is more urgently needed than ever, and consider the possibility of a Polanski victory in October's Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Podcast listeners can get 40% off The Green Socialist on plutobooks.com. You just have to use the coupon PODCAST at the checkout. 

Andy Burnham promised a speech of substance and he was true to his word. Big announcements on social care, the triple lock, electoral reform, the water industry, the EU - all tied together in a deeply emotional and passionate speech about his vision for Britain.If anyone in Labour had any lingering doubts about toppling Keir Starmer, Burnham put those to bed in an hour and ten minutes on stage in Liverpool. Will it be enough to save Labour? Has his pledge to end the triple lock to fund social care become a stick to beat him with? Has he delivered on the promise to bring back hope?Later, we speak to Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander - who has written conference speeches since 1991 - on where Burnham's efforts ranked.The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

In the second half of our conversation with Paul Holden, we dive into Keir Starmer's downfall, his unprecedented acceptance of freebies, and the dark money that funded his rise to Prime Minister. Paul brings his 20 years of experience investigating grand corruption—which famously included exposing South Africa's Jacob Zuma and facing death threats—to unpack the Labour Party's secret slush funds.  We discuss Starmer's fragile political project, his approach to politics as a barrister defending a daily brief, and the absurd smear campaign that attempted to frame Paul as a Russian spy to kill his reporting. Grab your copy of Paul's book here: https://orbooks.com/catalog/the-fraud/. For Ad-free episodes, Extended cuts, Early access & bonus content go to: ⁠www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod⁠ For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Instagram @wtfisgoingonpod  Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vous aimez notre peau de caste ? Soutenez-nous ! https://www.lenouvelespritpublic.fr/abonnementUne émission de Philippe Meyer, enregistrée au studio l'Arrière-boutique le 27 septembre 2026.Avec cette semaine :Jean-Louis Bourlanges, essayiste, ancien président de la Commission des Affaires étrangères de l'Assemblée nationale.Nicole Gnesotto, vice-présidente de l'Institut Jacques Delors.Marc-Olivier Padis, directeur des études de la fondation Terra Nova.LA FLAMBÉE DU PRIX DE L'ESSENCE ET SES CONSÉQUENCESPOLITIQUESLa flambée des prix des carburants s'est invitée dans l'agenda du Premier ministre, qui met la dernière main à son budget. Elle fait redouter une crise sociale qui percuterait la course à l'Elysée et pourrait profiter au Rassemblement national et à La France insoumise. Face à « une colère immense » en France, la secrétaire générale de la CGT Sophie Binet a exhorté à augmenter les salaires et bloquer les prix du carburant, demandant au gouvernement d'arrêter « les cadeaux aux plus riches et aux plus grandes entreprises ». Le gouvernement assure œuvrer pour la « maîtrise des prix », comme le lui a enjoint le 16 septembre, le président de la République. Mais les marges d'action paraissent singulièrement limitées, entre l'état des finances publiques et l'impossibilité d'influer sur le principal facteur de la varation des prix, la guerre au Moyen-Orient.Pour beaucoup de pays, y compris la France, le dilemme est le même : faut-il laisser les consommateurs supporter le fardeau de l'inflation, ce qui nourrit leur ressentiment et pèse sur la croissance, ou prendre des mesures de soutien et charger la barque de finances publiques déjà sous pression? En réalité, les choix économiques dépendent bien souvent des échéances électorales. Or, les politiques le savent, il n'y a jamais loin de la pompe aux urnes.Après une réunion le 18 septembre à l'Elysée avec des chefs de partis et des candidats à la présidentielle, le Président a martelé que les prix de l'énergie étaient dus « intégralement aux guerres». La crise va durer et le prix du pétrole « va rythmer la vie du pays », confirmait Emmanuel Macron devant la presse après la réunion, plusieurs représentants des forces politiques évoquant la probabilité d'un litre d'essence à 3 euros à la fin de l'année. Hanté par la crainte d'un retour des « Gilets jaunes », Matignon a annoncé mardi la prolongation des aides ciblées, réservées aux Français les plus touchés en particulier l'agriculture, le BTP et les pêcheurs. Le nouveau dispositif prévoit une aide de 100 euros pour les gros rouleurs (soit 5,5 millions de Français éligibles contre 3 millions actuellement) et la prolongation du chèque énergie, pour un coût total de 450 millions d'euros. Une réponse trop timorée aux yeux de l'opposition qui réclame des mesures plus ambitieuses pour soulager le pouvoir d'achat tandis que selon un sondage Elabe/BFM, 70% des Français estiment que les mesures d'aides sur le carburant annoncées sont« insuffisantes ». Si le sociologue à l'université de Caen, Patrick Vassort, spécialiste des mouvements sociaux observe qu'« un certain nombre de feux sont au vert pour qu'une mobilisation se constitue », il rappelle toutefois qu'à la veille d'une année électorale, grèves et manifestations ont tendance à ralentir, les citoyens se trouvant dans l'attente des propositions des candidats.LES EUROPÉENS ET L'UKRAINEAlors que l'Ukraine célébrait le 24 août les 35 ans de son indépendance, le Premier ministre britannique, Andy Burnham a choisi de se rendre à Kyiv pour sa première visite à l'étranger avec, le président du Conseil européen Antonio Costa, dont c'était la cinquième visite dans le pays. Andy Burnham n'est pas arrivé les mains vides. Il a annoncé qu'en coordination avec la France et après elle, il avait autorisé le missilier européen MBDA à livrer ses secrets de fabrication à l'Ukraine, afin qu'elle puisse construire sur son sol des missiles de croisière Storm Shadow (qu'on appelle Scalp en France). Depuis Kyiv, Burnham a également coprésidé, en visioconférence, avec le président français et le chancelier allemand, un sommet de la « coalition des volontaires » les 35 pays européens lancée conjointement en 2025 par son prédécesseur Keir Starmer et Emmanuel Macron. Les trois plus grandes puissances européennes considèrent comme contraire à leurs intérêts une victoire de la Russie sur l'Ukraine.Le même jour, la Commission européenne a annoncé débloquer une nouvelle tranche du prêt de 90 milliards d'euros sur deux ans (2026 et 2027) promis à Kyiv ; elle porte sur 6,1 milliards d'euros « pour les systèmes de défense aérienne, les munitions et les radars dont l'Ukraine a un besoin urgent », précise son communiqué. Cette somme s'ajoute aux 16 milliards d'euros déjà débloqués en 2026, dont 8,35 milliards ont été déboursés. Les responsables européens évoquent déjà un nouveau programme d'aide d'une ampleur comparable, qui pourrait être financé par les avoirs russes gelés. Déjà, l'armée de Kyiv utilise les centres logistiques d'autres pays, comme la Pologne, l'Allemagne et la Roumanie, tandis que les entreprises ukrainiennes du secteur de la défense ont installé leur production dans toute l'Europe, avec par exemple une usine de carburant pour missiles balistiques en cours de construction au Danemark.Au Royaume-Uni, le soutien à l'Ukraine est défendu par les différents gouvernements depuis 2022, indépendamment de leur couleur politique, et il reste largement partagé, malgré les critiques de certains partis populistes et d'extrême droite. Au sein de la population aussi, le soutien reste fort, alors qu'une certaine lassitude peut s'observer dans d'autres pays européens. Un sondage YouGov de février 2026 indiquait par exemple que 70% des Britanniques souhaitaient une victoire de l'Ukraine, contre seulement 45% des Français.Les mois qui viennent pourraient voir la victoire de forces électorales plus à l'écoute de la Russie de Poutine dans plusieurs pays clefs de l'Europe. Les partis favorables à Moscou gagnent du terrain, comme en France avec le Rassemblement national ou en Allemagne avec l'AfD.Chaque semaine, Philippe Meyer anime une conversation d'analyse politique, argumentée et courtoise, sur des thèmes nationaux et internationaux liés à l'actualité. Pour en savoir plus : www.lenouvelespritpublic.frHébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Columnist, bestselling author, Guardian journalist, broadcaster and one of the most prominent voices on the British left for well over a decade, Owen can always be relied on to say exactly what he thinks, no holds barred. He's also someone who has never been particularly troubled by the idea of annoying people which, frankly, is one of the reasons Marina and Jemma like him.He's fiercely critical of the right, deeply unimpressed by Keir Starmer's Labour, passionate about Gaza and increasingly interested in what the rise of the Greens and Reform means for the future of British politics.Marina and Jemma sit down with him and let him have a proper rant. Let's face it, there's a lot to talk about. Join The Trawl's Facebook BRAND NEW Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590931382660Get your tickets for The Trawl Live from https://thetrawl.tix.to/ticketsThank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf you've even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you'll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on• Early access to The Trawl Meets…• Glorious ad-free episodesPlus, there's a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.And it's your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you're not alone.Come join the fun:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From meeting Donald Trump in New York to heading to his first Labour conference as prime minister, it's quite some week for Andy Burnham - so what does he need to do to make a success of Labour's Liverpool gathering? LabourList editor Emma Burnell joins the podcast team to review Burnham's Trump test and preview his conference challenge.  Plus: We take a closer look at an issue that saw Keir Starmer stumble badly, and that's benefits reform. How could Burnham approach this thorniest of issues? A new IfG report has the answers. Alex Thomas presents. With Cath Haddon and Ben Paxton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Labour Party conference starts in Liverpool this weekend. It's a chance for Andy Burnham to lay out his vision for the country. Expect worldview, class, solidarity and hope. How much criticism is likely to come from allies of Keir Starmer? Darren Jones, Starmer's former right-hand-man, has been giving interviews. Will others do the same?Could Burnham call a snap election?An MRP mega poll for The Times and Sky News suggested that if an election were held now Labour would win 241 seats, the Conservatives would have 130 and Reform UK would be in third on 123 seats. The split on the right makes it tempting for Labour to call a snap election. Is that a realistic possibility?Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty Images00:00 - Tactical Voting: The Left's New “Cheat Code”? 00:10 - Heading to Liverpool: Navigating Labour Conference 01:26 - Decoding Andy Burnham's “Hope Again” Vision & Liverpool Roots 04:07 - Inside Number 10: How the New Team is Bedding In 06:56 - The Reform UK Threat & Marginal Seat Panic 09:12 - The Dangers of Relying on Tactical Voting 14:10 - Snap Election Rumours: Is Burnham About to Gamble? 18:55 - Labour Infighting: Sacked Cabinet Ministers Strike Back 23:07 - Critiques From Within & What Success Looks Like 26:07 - John Healey Interview PreviewThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has forced a rethink of the Chagos deal, after publicly criticising the agreement during his meeting with Andy Burnham. Is Labour preparing to abandon one of Keir Starmer's most controversial foreign policy decisions? And, with Labour conference approaching, could Burnham be tempted to call a general election? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Noa Hoffman and Tim Shipman.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.

As the far-right Alternative for Germany wins another regional election, wiping out the ruling Christian Democratic Union in former Chancellor Angela Merkel's own backyard, will Friedrich Merz face the same fate as Keir Starmer and lose his job? New polling shows that just 15% of people in rural communities think Labour cares about them, so how does the party deliver "growth in every postcode" to the countryside? With 70 seats in Parliament and the Tories in electoral trouble, why haven't the Liberal Democrats gained more traction in the week of their party conference? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. __________ Enjoy Rory and Alastair's interview with Gordon Brown by searching ‘Leading' on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter ⁠HERE⁠, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at ⁠therestispolitics.com⁠ to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair's miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at ⁠fuseenergy.com/politics⁠ and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

As Burnham meets Trump face-to-face for the first time at the UN General Assembly, will he adopt Mark Carney's or Keir Starmer's approach to dealing with the US President? With Carney receiving a standing ovation in the European Parliament and championing “deep cooperation” between Europe and Canada, is Britain in danger of being outflanked in its relationship with the continent? Where do Rory and Alastair stand on the allegations made by Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, about the King? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. __________ Enjoy Rory and Alastair's interview with Gordon Brown by searching ‘Leading' on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair's miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

La politique erratique des Etats-Unis, englués au Moyen-Orient et peu fiables envers leurs alliés, pousse la planète à s'interroger sur le leadership américain dans le monde. Face à ces incertitudes et à la brutalité des assauts commerciaux de Donald Trump, la Chine apparaît, presque malgré elle, comme un pôle de stabilité alternatif dont chaque recul américain favorise l'ascension.Cette redistribution des cartes profite directement à Pékin, qui semble s'accommoder de ce contexte tumultueux. Signe marquant de ce nouvel équilibre, Xi Jinping se rend jeudi 24 septembre à Washington pour sa première invitation à la Maison Blanche depuis plus de dix ans, marquant une étape cruciale dans les relations entre les deux dirigeants.Comment la Chine réussit-elle à tirer son épingle du jeu géopolitique face à des Etats-Unis imprévisibles ? Donald Trump est-il, malgré lui, le principal facilitateur de l'émergence chinoise sur la scène internationale ? Harold Thibault, correspondant du Monde à Pékin, analyse les enjeux de cette rencontre au sommet dans cet épisode du podcast « L'Heure du Monde ».Un épisode de Garance Muñoz. Réalisation : Quentin Tenaud. Présentation et rédaction en chef : Sophie Larmoyer. Dans cet épisode : extraits d'interviews du président américain, Donald Trump, le 4 septembre 2026 et le 15 mai 2026 ; extrait d'une prise de parole du président chinois, Xi Jinping, le 8 septembre 2025 ; extrait d'une prise de parole du premier ministre britannique Keir Starmer, le 28 janvier 2026.Cet épisode a été publié le 22 septembre 2026.---Pour soutenir "L'Heure du Monde" et notre rédaction, abonnez-vous sur abopodcast.lemonde.fr Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

PUTIN IS AT WAR WITH US - WHETHER WE'RE WILLING TO RECOGNISE THE FACT, OR NOT! WITH LUKE HARDING OF THE GUARDIANIn his latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen discusses the Kremlin's current Russian influence operations against and other countries in Europe with Luke Harding, Guardian foreign cortrespondent, and the author of "Betrayal: Trump, Putin, and A New Age of Conquest." Luke explains how Russian intelligence has shifted its focus from left-wing groups to right-wing populist parties, particularly targeting figures like Nigel Farage and the Reform Party in the UK. Luke and Nick discuss how Russian agent recruitment of Ukrainian Ilya Bilyik to attack mosques in London was part of a broader pattern of destabilisation operations, including the firebombing of Keir Starmer's home. Luke detailed Trump's long-standing connections with Russia dating back to the 1970s, including Soviet surveillance of Trump and his family, and questioned whether Trump serves as a Russian asset given his consistent pro-Russian policies in office. Luke examines Putin's war strategy in Ukraine, noting how Russian casualties exceed 1 million while making minimal territorial gains, and he talks to Nick about how Putin's approach of waiting out Western resolve while supporting far-right parties in Europe represents a new form of imperial conquest. Luke expresses concern about the West's response to Russian influence operations and emphasises the need for democratic countries to maintain their values and alliances despite current challenges.Read all about!Luke Harding @Luke Harding68. Journalist @Guardian is.a fomrer foreign correspondent * Moscow correspondent for The Guardian, and a former New York Times best-selling author. His new book is Betrayal: Trump, Putin and The New Age of Conquest. His publisher is @FaberBooksNick Cohen's @NichCohen4 regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must-read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can the Liberal Democrats withstand the political turbulence around them? As delegates gather in Brighton for their party conference, Sam Coates gauges the pressure on Sir Ed Davey's party as it faces a squeeze from the Greens and the Andy Burnham bounce. Elsewhere, the Prime Minister prepares to go to New York for the UN General Assembly, the duo look ahead to his first meeting with Donald Trump – can they find any common ground? Plus, Anne McElvoy - who's in Germany - reports on a disastrous set of regional elections for Friedrich Merz – but is he in a similar position to Keir Starmer post elections in May 2026?

Trump's war on the media has been deepening for decades - whether it's been litigation, doxxing, intimidation or simply a ban on access - we kind of feel like we've seen it all before. But today one thing happened that changed all that - the broadcast media joined ranks and fought back.After three major outlets - CNN, MS Now and Politico - were shut out of the White House, other outlets pulled their participation from the pool team. They're refusing to cover his visit to New York. So has Trump's move spectacularly backfired?Later, why is the German chancellor calling his own ejection result a ‘disaster'? And does it mean he's going to follow Keir Starmer out of his own job?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Britain's political identity is shifting in increasingly strange directions. Pubgoers can now use digital ID on their phones to prove their age when buying alcohol, while the leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin have joined together around the principle of national self-determination and closer ties with Europe. Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski is campaigning in Urdu as he fights for Keir Starmer's former seat in Holborn and St Pancras. I'm joined by Dr. Eric Berg, chiropractor, health educator and author whose work focuses on nutrition, metabolism and the environmental forces that shape our health. His new book, Change Your Environment, argues that lasting change isn't simply a matter of willpower — our food, light, technology, routines and surroundings can quietly influence everything from our habits and energy to the way our bodies function. Get Dr. Eric Berg's new book, Change Your Environment: https://bit.ly/4rhlSs5   To get a free audio copy of my book 'How to Become a Christian in 7 Days', you can download it at https://www.russellbrand.com/how-to-become-a-christian-audiobook/ Order my new book 'How to Become Christian in 7 Days' at https://bit.ly/russellbook2 Listen to Jake's new album - https://bit.ly/JakeSmithAlbum If you want to support the show and take care of yourself properly—without turning your bathroom into a laboratory—go to tryreborn.com. It's the Reborn store: supplements, skincare, daily essentials… simple, effective, and made for people who are trying to stay strong while the world does whatever this is.   Go to https://app.polymarket.us/S8ac/RUMBLE50 to trade on the outcomes of live events from politics, pop culture, to sports and more! Tip creators, not the platform with Rumble Wallet. Get started with Rumble Wallet and use the code BRAND5 to claim $5 in US Stablecoin (USA₮)! Download now: http://wallet.rumble.com/brand  Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Offer available to US residents only. Offer not available in New York State. Must be 18+. Offer is available for a limited time and for the first 1000 wallets activated and funded. Restrictions apply. Details and full official rules available at http://rumble.com/promoofficialrules.  This is a paid advertisement for Rumble Wallet. Rumble is compensating me for this ad.  Check out the Reborn store www.tryreborn.com and grab what you need Go check out www.tryreborn.com and grab what you need  

It's the most important by-election ever since the last by-election! The candidates are finalised for the fight for Keir Starmer's old St. Pancras and Holborn seat. It's a test for Burnham's Labour and for Green leader Zack Polanski. Who's most likely to win? And what would victory and defeat mean for each figurehead? Plus, Mark Carney is having a moment – if Canada can be an “associate member” of the EU, why can't we?! Matt Green is joined by Hannah Fearn, Jason Hazeley and Rachel Cunliffe to discuss.  Escape routes:  • Hannah has watched 70 Up • Jason has been watching the mockumentary People Like Us • Rachel has been watching Elle • Matt is watching The Beast in Me www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with Hannah Fearn, Jason Hazeley and Rachel Cunliffe. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former deputy leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson is now working for the controversial US tech firm Palantir. Plus: Leaks from No. 10 reveal a surprising degree of continuity between the policies of Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham, some eyebrow-raising comments from a former top undercover police officer come to light, and Reform's Danny Kruger gets humiliated on Question Time. With Steven Methven, Banseka Kayembe, Martha Dark & Clare Hymer. Read Clare Hymer & Sam Knights' full report here: https://novaramedia.com/2026/09/17/spycops-could-be-authorised-to-have-sex-with-palestine-action-activists-says-ex-special-branch-chief/

The new prime minister has appointed his ministers and put his No.10 team in place. He has created a new Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet. And set out some immediate policy changes while promising a 10-year plan later in the year. So what happens now? Having spent the summer setting out the new government's direction, how will Andy Burnham meet the challenge of being prime minister? How will he respond to parliamentary scrutiny? What do his spending choices mean for his fiscal policy? How might a challenging global situation impact his domestic policy? And what are his priorities at the upcoming Labour Party Conference? The event brought together an expert panel, including: Steph Driver, Keir Starmer's former No.10 Communications Director Paul Johnson, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (joining virtually) Neal Lawson, Executive Director at Compass Alex Thomas, Executive Director at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, CEO of the Institute for Government.

What happens when the keys to No10 are handed back?Anne reports from a gathering of former Prime Minister's - Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer - and reveals what life after power really looks like.Meanwhile, after some football diplomacy with Canadian PM – Mark Carney – could it offer a chance for Andy Burnham to unlock closer ties with the EU or has the reset hit another roadblock?

The new prime minister has appointed his ministers and put his No.10 team in place. He has created a new Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet. And set out some immediate policy changes while promising a 10-year plan later in the year. So what happens now? Having spent the summer setting out the new government's direction, how will Andy Burnham meet the challenge of being prime minister? How will he respond to parliamentary scrutiny? What do his spending choices mean for his fiscal policy? How might a challenging global situation impact his domestic policy? And what are his priorities at the upcoming Labour Party Conference? The event brought together an expert panel, including: Steph Driver, Keir Starmer's former No.10 Communications Director Paul Johnson, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (joining virtually) Neal Lawson, Executive Director at Compass Alex Thomas, Executive Director at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, CEO of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at how political communication has changed – from Keir Starmer's government paying influencers to promote its message, to Andy Burnham putting himself front and centre of the social media operation.Sam has a scoop on how much it all costs.Elsewhere, former No10 chief of staff – Morgan McSweeney – has been speaking about his time in No10 and how he tried to launch a thinktank in Downing Street to develop policy. Plus, with energy bills forecasted to rocked up near £450 in January, how worried are the government and what can they do to help families?

Six weeks out from the budget some of the critics are already circling - warning the new Prime Minister not to play it safe as “a traditional tax and spend PM with better TikTok". Is Burnham in control of events? Or is the economy being thrown further off course by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea closing off?Later, pussycat impersonator, and leader of the Workers Party George Galloway, is back and standing in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Will this split the Green vote?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://grp.hsbc/TheRightConnections

In the second half of our conversation with Russell Warfield, we look at the future of the Green Party as a mass political movement and what it actually takes to challenge entrenched wealth. Russell draws on his extensive background—having worked for the Greens for five years, run the comms for the London 2021 elections where Zack became an AM, and played a central role in Zack's 2025 leadership campaign—to answer listener questions.  We dive into Keir Starmer's resignation, whether Zack Polanski should run in the upcoming by-election, and the tension between local community action and electoral discipline. We also debunk the myth of Green NIMBYism and take a quick detour into the muddy, bizarre reality of "Faragefest." Grab your copy of Russell's book here: https://www.plutobooks.com/product/the-green-socialist/ For Ad-free episodes, Extended cuts, Early access & bonus content go to: ⁠www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod⁠ For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Instagram @wtfisgoingonpod  Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel   Follow Russell @Rmwarfield  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Langford was Special Adviser to The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, from the day he became Prime Minister to the day he left. He takes us inside the famous black door and tells us what Keir Starmer was really like as a leader, a boss and a man. He tells us what it was really like in those final weeks in between the local election results and the Prime Minister's departure. And he reveals the true extent of Larry the Cat's power and influence.This is an unmissable nosey around the most famous address in the country. See the Political Party Live on Stage:9 November: Liz Kendall (London)21 December: Wes Streeting (London) GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:www.mattforde.com MARCH19 FAVERSHAM The Alex20 DORKING HallsAPRIL7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall 8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall 9 LEICESTER Y Theatre 12 SALFORD Lowry 16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate 21 EXETER Northcott Theatre 24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre 28 ALNWICK Playhouse 29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham 30 HULL AsylumMAY6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club 12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre 13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall 14 CHORLEY Theatre 18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange 19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks 20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn 21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal 23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall 26 NORWICH Playhouse 27 NORWICH PlayhouseJUNE2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright 4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre 5 READING Concert Hall 8 CARDIFF The Glee Club 9 BATH Komedia 10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre 11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre 15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal 16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables 18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre 30 LIVERPOOL Everyman PlayhouseJULY1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station 2 GLASGOW The Glee Club 4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham has announced his intention to change a law which bars him from advising the King on appointments to the Church of England. The Victorian-era law explicitly bars Catholics like Burnham, as well as Jews – but doesn't prevent those of other Christian denominations, other faiths – like Hindu Rishi Sunak, or atheists like Keir Starmer. So, if the law is going to be changed to address this anomaly, should it allow all Prime Ministers of any faith to provide advice – or should all non-Anglicans be barred? And what does Burnham's interest in the power tell us about his relationship with his faith – and his approach to the job?The Spectator's James Heale and William Moore join Damian Thompson to discuss. This was originally broadcast on the Spectator's Holy Smoke channel.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.

Andy Burnham has announced his intention to change a law which bars him from advising the King on appointments to the Church of England. The Victorian-era law explicitly bars Catholics like Burnham, as well as Jews – but doesn't prevent those of other Christian denominations, other faiths – like Hindu Rishi Sunak, or atheists like Keir Starmer. So, if the law is going to be changed to address this anomaly, should it allow all Prime Ministers of any faith to provide advice – or should all non-Anglicans be barred? And what does Burnham's interest in the power tell us about his relationship with his faith – and his approach to the job?The Spectator's James Heale and William Moore join Damian Thompson to discuss.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham has announced his intention to change a law which bars him from advising the King on appointments to the Church of England. The Victorian-era law explicitly bars Catholics like Burnham, as well as Jews – but doesn't prevent those of other Christian denominations, other faiths – like Hindu Rishi Sunak, or atheists like Keir Starmer. So, if the law is going to be changed to address this anomaly, should it allow all Prime Ministers of any faith to provide advice – or should all non-Anglicans be barred? And what does Burnham's interest in the power tell us about his relationship with his faith – and his approach to the job?The Spectator's James Heale and William Moore join Damian Thompson to discuss.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.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Israel's relationship with the West, especially Europe, took an unhappy turn this week, as UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced that his country would be imposing widespread sanctions on Israel's settlements. France and Canada said they would impose similar penalties, while other European countries called for EU measures against Israeli settlements. The European Leadership Network, or ELNET, works to improve ties between Israel and Europe. Yossi Abravanel, ELNET Israel's deputy director, joined Lazar Focus to explain why countries are announcing sanctions now, and how Israel should respond. According to Abravanel, domestic politics is the main driver of the decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements. He said that countries are willing to harm their own interests to appease anti-Israel voters, and that an advisor to the previous British prime minister Keir Starmer told him as much. He said that Israel should not "go too far" in its response to the sanctions. Europe is Israel's largest trade partner, he stressed. Israel must keep lines of communication with European countries open, and stress that Israel is a democracy fighting for shared values. Encouragingly, Abravanel noted that opposition parties in many countries considered hostile to Israel, including in Spain, pledge that they will overturn anti-Israel moves by sitting left-wing governments. He emphasized that Germany, which opposed the sanctions, works to protect Israel in the EU every day, and Israelis should recognize the lengths to which Germany goes for the Jewish state. Lazar Focus is available on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and video edited by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William Moore is joined by The Spectator's economics editor Michael Simmons, The Spectator's commissioning editor and writer at large Tali Fraser, and the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party Alex Burghart MP.This week: has Labour stopped just stopping oil? Michael reveals that ministers are expected to approve the Jackdaw gas field within days, while Rosebank is held back until after the by-election in Keir Starmer's old seat – and asks whether a party whose last energy secretary called the project 'climate vandalism' has really changed its mind, or has just found a half measure it can live with.Also: is Britain about to get a new social order? Tali examines the socio-economic duty, a dormant clause of the Equality Act that Labour now plans to switch on, requiring public bodies to weigh social background in every decision they make. The panel discuss what that would mean for school admissions, NHS waiting lists and potholes. Is this equality of outcome by the back door – or simply a charter for lawyers?Plus: after 900 years, is the Bayeux Tapestry worth the wait?Produced by Henry Lloyd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

William Moore is joined by The Spectator's economics editor Michael Simmons, The Spectator's commissioning editor and writer at large Tali Fraser, and the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party Alex Burghart MP.This week: has Labour stopped just stopping oil? Michael reveals that ministers are expected to approve the Jackdaw gas field within days, while Rosebank is held back until after the by-election in Keir Starmer's old seat – and asks whether a party whose last energy secretary called the project 'climate vandalism' has really changed its mind, or has just found a half measure it can live with.Also: is Britain about to get a new social order? Tali examines the socio-economic duty, a dormant clause of the Equality Act that Labour now plans to switch on, requiring public bodies to weigh social background in every decision they make. The panel discuss what that would mean for school admissions, NHS waiting lists and potholes. Is this equality of outcome by the back door – or simply a charter for lawyers?Plus: after 900 years, is the Bayeux Tapestry worth the wait?Produced by Henry Lloyd.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.

Keir Starmer resigns as MP, bringing an extraordinary political career to a rather abrupt close. After becoming Labour leader in 2020, winning a huge Commons majority in the 2024 UK general election, becoming Prime Minister and then leaving Downing Street in July 2026, Sir Keir has now decided to leave Parliament as well. So the question rather writes itself: was Keir Starmer Britain's worst ever Prime Minister?That is the deliberately provocative question Mark and Pete tackle in this episode. Starmer was spectacularly successful at getting Labour into power. He took a party flattened in 2019 and, five years later, put it back in government with 411 MPs. You cannot really call that political incompetence. Yet that 411-seat victory came on only about 34 per cent of the national vote, an enormous parliamentary majority resting on a rather less enormous popular mandate.What happened afterwards, though, is rather more awkward. A premiership of barely two years, collapsing public enthusiasm, internal Labour rebellions, difficult economic choices and, eventually, Andy Burnham taking over as Prime Minister.And then there were the U-turns. Oh, the U-turns.Winter fuel payments. Welfare reform. The grooming gangs inquiry. Digital ID. Earlier promises on tuition fees and green investment. Positions announced firmly, defended firmly and, sometimes with impressive speed, replaced by another firm position. Starmer's critics came to argue that the problem was not simply that he changed his mind. Governments have to do that occasionally. It was that voters increasingly struggled to work out what the underlying Starmer position actually was.Now comes perhaps the neatest turn of all. After indicating that he intended to remain in Parliament until the next general election, Starmer has resigned as MP for Holborn and St Pancras. The seat he first won in 2015 will now face a by-election, with Green leader Zack Polanski already saying he intends to stand.So what exactly is the Starmer legacy? A highly effective Leader of the Opposition who turned out to be a poor Prime Minister? A decent man trapped by events and impossible expectations? Or the political embodiment of managerial Britain, endlessly reviewing, consulting, recalibrating and then discovering that somebody else has acquired the keys to Number 10?Mark and Pete react to Starmer's resignation, revisit some of his most memorable political reversals, assess Labour under Andy Burnham, and ask where Sir Keir sits among Britain's shortest and least successful premierships.Was he really Britain's worst ever Prime Minister?Liz Truss may reasonably request the right of reply.Politics, power, promises and the peculiar speed with which yesterday's landslide can become today's footnote. Psalm 146 offers an older warning: “Put not your trust in princes.” Westminster continues to provide the illustrations.

Tucker Carlson doesn't know if algebra is real. I'm not joking, the same guy who constantly talks about the decline of Western civilization and how China is beating us in STEM isn't sure if math was invented by humans. Meanwhile, Macklemore performed at MetLife calling for a free Palestine. This is the Same Love guy, the one who built his career on LGBTQ anthems. Macklemore, the people you're covering for throw gay people off rooftops. We also broke down the settler violence narrative and why the Western media's outrage is perfectly calibrated to miss the point entirely, the UK sanctioning Israel this week while ignoring the jihadis operating inside their own borders, and I gave Foreign Minister Miliband an honesty translator he desperately needed. Keir Starmer apparently thinks the best way to discourage terrorism is to reward it. And we closed out with something I'm genuinely excited about, I figured out how to use ChatGPT for bedtime stories with my kids, and they loved it more than any screen time we've ever done. Jonathan Haidt, if you're watching, I think I cracked it.Become an honored guest on Patreon for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, and Q&As, link in the description. And grab your mug at KozakStore.com

At PMQs, Andy Burnham says that national security "can't come at the expense of social security". But if he won't cut benefits to fund defence, where will he find the money?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges with Lara Spirit, Deputy Political Editor of The Sunday Times, and Chris Ward, Labour MP and former aide to Keir Starmer.Picture: House of Commons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson dive into everything from political peerages and far-right threats to centralisation battles in Scottish governance and local community empowerment.Key Topics DiscussedBarons & Westminster Politics: Fraser and Lesley dissect Anas Sarwar's ennoblement, Keir Starmer's political standing, and proposed UK trade sanctions on illegal West Bank settlementsBernara Café Dispute & Land Buyouts: Baron George Foulkes resignation from the Ethnic Minority Law Centre over a high-profile Bernara community café dispute, and how Bernara's 11-year struggle highlights badly drafted community buyout legislation.Rising Far-Right Dynamic: The political impact of AfD's electoral surge in East Germany, false rumors leading to the arson of a housing association property in Possilpark, and the contrast in police responses to far-right demonstrations in Dover versus left-wing protests.Reform UK Funding Scandal & Farage Speech: Undercover reporting by Channel 4 exposing foreign election donation loopholes, alongside Nigel Farage's proposals to declare a state of emergency, sit Parliament 24/7, and replace uncooperative judges and lords.Scottish Governance & Centralisation: John Swinney's proposals to reduce health boards to two and encourage council mergers, drawing parallels to failed municipal consolidation in Norway and criticisms from public health expert Alison Pollock.Rural Realities & Assynt Housing: Insights from the DTAS conference on urban-centric policies, including an example from Assynt where urban EV charging mandates required a £750,000-per-unit grid upgrade for a ten-home community project.Holyrood Scrutiny & Cultural Success: A critical look at a think tank report on lazy MSPs and Holyrood's flawed committee system, concluding with a celebration of Fèis Rois's 40th anniversary concert in Inverness.Articles & Resources Mentionedhttps://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/09/07/blackshirts-over-the-white-cliffs-of-dover/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/07/afd-germany-far-right-saxony-anhalt-nationalist-wave-europe-analysis ★ Support this podcast ★

Labour must take on Farage and the UK's new blackshirts but where is Andy Burnham?Hundreds of anonymous men turn up at Dover dressed in black shirts and balaclavas; Reform leader and Brexit con artist Nigel Farage threatens to scrap the House of Lords, purge the civil service and judiciary and use emergency decrees to pass sinister legislation if he ever takes power; women hecklers are beaten with a crutch during a Farage conference speech and grabbed by their hair by thugs and dragged out of the hall - but the silence in the face of these outrages from the Labour government is deafening.Nick Cohen says that Labour must take off its kid gloves in dealing with Farage and co and take on the forces of the radical right full on. Nick argues that Burnham cannot make the same mistake as Keir Starmer and flunk these crucial challenges to democracy and true British values for fear of upsetting voters who are currently attracted by Farage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time to put one last boot into the fetid corpse of Keir Starmer's political career before he swans off into some freebie goldmine in the mountains of Davos. Once that loser is seen off, we also talked about the London Rental Opportunity of the Week (Richie Rich Edition) as reported in the FT with excellent tips on how to make the most of the local amenities, such as "add your hinge date to your rental agreement". To round off today's episode, Rob inflicts another piece from the Telegraph on us, this time begging for squaddies not to be prosecuted under the Geneva Convention for practising Gunkata. Subscribe for three whole bonus episodes a month: https://www.patreon.com/praxiscast Watch streams: https://www.twitch.tv/praxiscast Buy shirts: https://praxiscast.teemill.com/ Follow us: https://bsky.app/profile/praxiscast.bsky.social Cast: Jamie - https://bsky.app/profile/reobinwagon.bsky.social Rob - https://bsky.app/profile/trufflehog.bsky.social Alasdair - https://bsky.app/profile/ballistari.bsky.social David - https://bsky.app/profile/sanitarynaptime.bsky.social

Welcome back to the vlog. Today, we are staging an exhaustive, macro-analytical conversation with political theorist and author Benjamin Studebaker to unpack his recent landmark intervention in Isonomia Quarterly: "Trade Wars or Social Wars?"While modern political commentators treat the rising economic friction between the United States and its Western allies as a series of isolated commercial disputes, Studebaker argues that these tensions are deeply structural. Ever since successive U.S. administrations (from Obama to Trump and Biden) deliberately disabled the World Trade Organization by blocking appointments to its appellate body, the rules-based international order has fragmented into raw bilateral coercion.Under the second Trump administration, this geopolitical strangulation has accelerated. Allies are being forced to subsidize the U.S. military-industrial base and domestic shale oil industry by purchasing overpriced American weapons and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Paradoxically, European leaders like Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer are selling this massive defense buildup to their domestic publics as a triumph of "European autonomy" from a volatile United States. In reality, Studebaker exposes this "Euro-Gaullism" as a complete illusion: it actively Americanizes the European continent by forcing states to gut their social welfare programs to accommodate defense spending, keeping them trapped inside the NATO command structure.We recontextualize this crisis using an ancient historical framework: The Roman Social War. Unlike a civil war (fought among citizens) or a war of national independence, a social war is fought between a dominant empire and its own allies to reconfigure the legal and standing terms of their integration.We apply this structural lens to the major flashpoints of 2026:The Global Imbalance of Capital: Utilizing the insights of Michael Pettis and Matthew Klein (Trade Wars Are Class Wars), we track how global systemic friction is driven by states hyper-optimized for production (like China suppressing domestic wages) relying on consumers of last resort (the highly financialized, debt-leveraged United States).The Autarky Illusion: Why modern progressive demands for deep-green decoupling or monetary "money printing" (MMT) operate as dangerous, inward-looking hallucinations that ignore the thermodynamic realities of global supply chains and international court constraints.The Death of Left Populism: A critical post-mortem on why municipal socialist experiments—from Zohran Mamdani in New York City to Brandon Johnson in Chicago—fundamentally flatline when confronting the hard borders of the municipal bond and real estate markets.Benjamin Studebaker's books, The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy and Legitimacy and Liberal Democracies, are out now in affordable paperback from Edinburgh University Press. Challenge the localized delusions, map the world system, and protect your peace.Link:https://benjaminstudebaker.com/2026/06/03/trade-wars-are-social-wars/Send us Fan Mail Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian, Drea, Free Beer 

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Noa Hoffman explains why Keir Starmer's empty seat could become a Green Party battleground; Robert Hardman tells us how the death of Norway's King Harald could reshape the royal family; Patrick Galbraith says it has been a disastrous year for British farming; and Matthew Reisz explores the unique relationship between artist Paula Rego and her model, Anthony Rudolf.Produced and presented by Abigail Brierley.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexei Sayle and Talal Karkouti also discuss Sexy Beast, Bill Oddie, The Falkland Islands and Top Gear.Order Alexei's new book here.Be a comrade and support the show! Become a Patron to gain access to the video version of the podcast, Alexei Reacts! and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcastSend your fan art, thoughts and questions to alexeisaylepodcast@gmail.comPlease consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides and more.The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal KarkoutiMusic by Tarboosh RecordsPhotograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive  

There's big "new term" energy this week in parliament with MPs returning from summer recess for Andy Burnham's first Prime Minister's Questions. After Burnham answered a mega 125 questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch lambasted the prime minister for being a “people pleaser” and a “spendthrift”. What did Burnham's first appearance in the Commons tell us about his leadership style? And can Badenoch's shadow cabinet reshuffle help the Tory party win back popularity? Plus, why is Green Party leader Zack Polanski standing in Keir Starmer's old seat? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT's chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and deputy political editor Jim Pickard. Follow Lucy @LOS_Fisher ; Robert @robertshrimsley; Jim @PickardJEWant more?Andy Burnham tries to calm bond markets as public spending fears mountBurnham seeks to protect UK farming and steel in EU reset talksAndy Burnham and Emmanuel Macron meet as Bayeux tapestry unveiledHow UK-Israel relations reached their worst point in decadesPMQs cannot change Andy Burnham's political realityAndy Burnham's summer of quietly backing away from radical pledgesJames Orr and the gospel of the new British rightGreens leader Zach Polanski to stand in seat vacated by Keir StarmerCome and join the FT and Political Fix panelists at the FT Weekend Festival on Saturday September 5 at Kenwood House Gardens in London. To save 10 per cent on tickets, visit ft.com/festival and use the discount code FTPODCAST.You can also sign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Persis Love. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and audio mix by Breen Turner. Our broadcast engineers were Andrew Georgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. Flo Phillips is the FT's head of audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Nish is back from his fringe frolics, and joins Coco to talk about parliament's return from summer recess. The revolving door continues as Keir Starmer resigns, Nigel Farage gets sworn in (again) and Andy Burnham tests his stamina with nearly three and a half hours' worth of questions in the commons. With Zack Polanski rumoured to run in St Pancras and Holborn, how might the next by-election (another one?!) play out?Also on the pod, we're joined by journalist and historian Taj Ali. He unpacks what we can learn from grassroots organising and community resistance in the 1970s, shares reflections from the worst racist violence in over a century, and explains why the white working class has more in common with the South Asian community than they might think. Also, PSUK exclusive: fellow Luton native Stephen Yaxley-Lennon eats halal? Content note: the conversation between Nish, Coco and Taj is a full and frank discussion of racism, and includes the use of a racial slur that's historically been used towards the South Asian community. USEFUL LINKSTaj's book is out on the 15th September: https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/come-what-may-were-here-to-stay/taj-ali/9781526177582?srsltid=AfmBOoqg8Daxime9FB1T9FFCKNn6tUFY2bAbY75ybjQm_J4PKibB_KX4FB0 Anti-racist RADAR: https://antiracistradar.co.uk/ - report an incident of racism here. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS HEXCLAD:  https://www.hexclad.co.uk/PSTUK SHOPIFY: https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheukPod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.Don't forget you can get in touch! Contact us via email: podsavetheuk@crooked.com if you want to share questions, thoughts, or general musings! Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK Instagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk X: https://x.com/podsavetheuk

To hear the full episode, and the whole series, sign up at therestispolitics.com How did Andy Burnham learn about the Manchester Arena bombing? Would he still have tried to become PM had Keir Starmer let him stand in the Gorton and Denton byelection? And when did tensions between Keir and Andy really begin? Join Alastair Campbell and Steve Rotheram as they address all these questions and much more on Becoming Burnham Producer: India Dunkley Researcher: Miranda Crawford Video Editor: Josh Smith Social Producer: Celine Charles Executive Producer: Emily Kent Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has confirmed he will stand in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, which was triggered when Keir Starmer announced he was quitting as an MP. It's going to be a tough race to win, so can he do it? Plus, Reform UK's conference starts today but it's been a rough couple of months for the party and Nigel Farage – can he hold it all together?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Andy Burnham is a UnionistShould we have been surprised by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's crass assertion last week that the issue of the unity referendum promised in the Good Friday Agreement, “is one issue that will be off the table.”?Two months ago as I watched Burnham address the media outside10 Downing St, on the day he replaced Keir Starmer, I wrote that he; “like every British Prime Minister governs in the interests of the English establishment. He like his predecessors is a Unionist.”For as far back as England's involvement in Ireland its policies have always been determined by British national interests. Not the interests of the Irish people.Drumcree – Unionism Stuck in the PastIn the early hours of Sunday 6 July 1997 I remember vividly driving back from an event in Tralee, County Kerry because of the growing tension over Unionist demands to march down the Garvaghy Road. I arrived home as David Blevins for Sky News broke the news that hundreds of British soldiers and RUC had swamped the nationalist streets of Garvaghy Road. Protestors were swept aside and the Orange Order got its march. There were widespread civil disturbances as nationalist areas reacted to the developments. 1997 was the last year a march took place. The Parade Commission decisions and the opposition of the local community had seen to that.Last week Drumcree and the Garvaghy Road jumped back into the media headlines when the High Court in Belfast quashed a determination by the Parades Commission to ban this year's Drumcree march. It did so because of a procedural flaw in how that decision was reached.The High Court decision did not clear the way for an Orange Order parade to proceed down the Garvaghy Road. But it did lead to an increase in the sectarian bombast that has long been part and parcel of political unionism in the northern state. The UUP, DUP and TUV have all united to claim “a massive victory for unionism and loyalism” and to demand that the Orange Order be able to march through the nationalist Garvaghy Road area. They want to turn the clock back to the ‘No surrender' ‘Not an Inch' ethos of the Orange State. They want a return to the old order.That will not happen. Nationalists and non-unionists are looking to the future not the past. The nationalist community of the Garvaghy Road area is greater now than it was in 1997. It has lived in peace for almost 30 years. It deserves to be able to continue to do so and there is no desire within that community to facilitate a sectarian Orange march. Paddy ElliottThe Elliott's and the Adams's were cousins. They still are. Maybe second or third cousins by this generation. But back in the day my Granny Adams was a Begley. So was Paddy Elliott's mammy. And Gerry Begley's Daddy. Brother and sisters. Paddy and Gerry were six or seven years older than me. They were inseparable when I was growing up.I was living in Abercorn Street North with my Granny. Gerry Begley lived in the same street. I think Paddy was reared in Gibson Street, but he spent a lot of time in Abercorn Street North. There were very few cars in those days so the streets belonged to the children. Especially during the summer. Girls and boys. Dogs.  Hopscotch and Marlies. Skipping songs, swings on the lamp posts, rounders, street soccer with a ball made from a sock filled with newspapers, hurling and handball.

Andy Burnham is feeling a sudden wave of the back-to-school blues. Not only did Keir Starmer tactlessly decide to quit Parliament just before his first Commons speech, but a long list of challenges is also piling up in the PM's in-tray. So, what's causing Burnham the biggest headaches? Is the Burnham bounce finally over? And what happens next? Plus: Badenoch reshuffles her shadow cabinet, Iceland rejects the EU and Trump tries to rename yet more geographical features… and questions Britain's claim to the Falklands. •  Listen as Gavin Esler explores the breakneck evolution of military technology in This Is Not A Drill's brand new four-part mini-series • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  • Find out if you're owed on car finance at refundclub.co.uk/OGWN • Refund Club is a trading style of Sandsford Law Limited, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA no. 8008114). Checking is free. A fee is payable only if your claim is successful. Eligibility: car finance taken out in the UK between 2007 and 2021. The average claim is around £829 per agreement; this is an average and not a guarantee of the amount you will receive. You can also claim yourself for free by contacting your lender or the Financial Ombudsman Service. ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie read Ursula K. Le Guin's sci-fi novella Paradises Lost • Hannah has been bingeing Season 5 of Couples Therapy, which has just landed on BBC iPlayer • Ros went to the cinema twice, first to see Pedro Almodóvar's Bitter Christmas and then De Gaulle: Résistance, a biopic on the great Gallic general • Matt has been reading Running Through Sand: An Ageing Comedian's Ill-Thought-Out Ultra in the Sahara by Paul Tonkinson www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with Hannah Fearn, Ros Taylor and Marie Le Conte. Produced by James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune: Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, after standing down as Prime Minister earlier this summer, Keir Starmer has decided to announce his resignation as MP for Holborn and St Pancras.It comes on Andy Burnham's first day addressing MPs in the House of Commons as Prime Minister. Was the timing deliberate, or coincidental? Prime Minister Burnham has returned to the House of Commons after Summer Recess promising to 'unlock a feeling of positivity and possibility' - but what issues are awaiting the new-ish prime minister? Adam and Chris are back together on Newscast to unpack it all. 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://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New 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://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Shiler Mahmoudi . The social producer was. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Politics is back – and it's a bumper day in Westminster. Kemi Badenoch got ahead of the field yesterday by reshuffling her top team a day earlier than expected, and the changes are much more comprehensive than first thought. James Cleverly is off to run for the London mayoralty, while Priti Patel and Mel Stride have both been given the boot. Katie Lam takes over Cleverly's housing brief, while Andrew Griffith will hope to bring some much-needed energy to the role of shadow chancellor. So what does the reshuffle tell us about Badenoch's strategy – and what does it mean for the Tories' economic offer?Elsewhere, Keir Starmer has resigned as an MP. Listeners may remember that he used to joke that Rishi Sunak would be the one to leave politics behind for sunnier Californian climes. Now, the shoe appears to be on the other foot.Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale.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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 8-19-2026Rebecca Grant, Vice President of the Lexington Institute, discusses technological advancements on the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. She details the transition from traditional steam-powered catapults to modern electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS), which offer superior, adjustable torque to launch both lightweight drones and heavily armed fighter jets. Additionally, Grant highlights the ship's new electromagnetic advanced weapons elevators, which double the capacity of older Nimitz-class systems and move much faster to significantly improve sortie generation rates. However, a White House executive order directing a study to reconsider steam systems threatens to disrupt these advancements. Grant warns that backtracking to older technology on carriers currently in construction, like the CVN-81, could delay delivery by up to seven years, creating dangerous operational gaps as Chinese naval threats rise in the Pacific. (1)Rick Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center analyzes China's advancement in space and its competition with the United States. Fisher discusses China's Gandai constellation, a space debris monitoring satellite system controlled by the People's Liberation Army (PLA), which tracked a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster crashing near the moon's Einstein crater from over 380,000 kilometers away. He warns that this constellation can perform dual-use military targeting for space combat and missile defense. Fisher criticizes China's lack of transparency, noting its refusal to give advance notice for earthbound ICBM tests and its intention to let expendable propulsion stages crash into the lunar surface. Finally, he highlights the rapid progress of China's LandSpace with its liquid-fueled, methane-oxygen-powered reusable Zhuque-3 rocket, predicting that ten Chinese companies will offer cheap reusable launch services within five years and directly undercut Western competitors. (2)Greg Scarlatoiu, President and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, analyzes the multifaceted security threats posed by Pyongyang. Scarlatoiu describes North Korea as a post-communist, dynastic kleptocracy and a crime family masquerading as a nation-state. Under Kim Jong-un, the regime has consolidated its intelligence and police agencies while streamlining its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Scarlatoiu explains that North Korea's war economy exploits its people's human rights and security to fund weapons, which it now exports globally to Russia and Iran. The discussion, co-hosted by Gordon Chang, highlights active military provocations along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), including recent boundary crossings. Finally, Scarlatoiu and Chang evaluate how controversial remarks by the Trump administration praising Kim Jong-un have strained trust in extended deterrence and undermined relationships within the vital US-South Korea alliance. (3)Craig Unger, investigative reporter and author, explores President Donald Trump's unstable foreign policy toward Russia and Ukraine. Unger contends that Trump behaves as a Russian appeaser whose real estate-linked advisers take marching orders from Vladimir Putin. The discussion highlights how Ukrainian-manufactured drones have successfully targeted Russian oil refineries, causing severe fuel shortages and long gas lines across Russia. While these military successes initially impressed Trump, leading him to publicly promise Patriot missiles and production technology to President Zelenskyy, Unger reveals that Trump subsequently withheld this critical support. Unger cautions that as Putin faces an existential crisis and potential military defeat, he may launch a limited incursion into Baltic states like Estonia or Poland. This would trigger NATO's Article 5, which Unger warns Trump would likely refuse to honor, thereby destroying the Western alliance. (4)Caleb Weiss of the Bridgeway Foundation and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies examines the evolution of African jihadist movements. Weiss details the case of Jamal Chima, a Ugandan Guantanamo Bay alumnus who transitioned from Al-Qaeda to recruiting for the Islamic State Central African Province (ISCAP) in Kampala. Weiss explains that East African court systems frequently experience "catch and release" cycles due to strict evidentiary demands for terrorism cases. The segment also addresses the kidnapping of missionary Kevin Rideout by the Islamic State Sahel Province. Weiss describes how these groups raise funds through lucrative ransoms, utilizing regional coordination hubs like the Al-Furqan and Al-Karrar offices to move capital globally to active cells in regions like Afghanistan. Finally, he notes that eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar has leveraged anti-jihadist operations to secure Western backing. (5)Michael Bernstam of the Hoover Institution warns of a severe global crisis in refined petroleum products, especially diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel. Bernstam explains that the "crack spread"—the cost differential between crude oil and refined diesel—has reached an unprecedented historical peak of over $102 per barrel. This crisis stems from a fifty-year systemic failure, during which no major new refineries were built in the United States or Europe. Compounding this, sophisticated Ukrainian drone strikes have successfully knocked out 40% of Russia's refining capacity, forcing the major oil exporter to ban refined product exports and become an importer. Additionally, China has halted refined exports to meet its domestic demand. Bernstam warns that the resulting global diesel shortage directly threatens agricultural planting, harvesting, and regional food security, particularly for developing nations as winter approaches. (6)Peter Huessy of the Gold Institute for International Strategy critiques the Hollywood film House of Dynamite for its inaccurate depiction of US nuclear command and control. Huessy argues that the movie relies on flawed premises, such as the sudden, unexplained failure of Defense Support Program (DSP) tracking satellites and the total failure of US missile defense interceptors, to fabricate a helpless crisis scenario. He highlights that actual US missile defenses achieve 75% to 85% success in tests and up to 98% in combat scenarios like Israel's missile defense systems. Huessy strongly refutes the film's negative portrayal of military leadership as reckless warmongers and its central message that nuclear deterrence is ineffective. He asserts that the nuclear triad has successfully and perfectly preserved global peace for eighty years, keeping the country safe. (7)Simon Constable, writer for the Wall Street Journal, discusses European climate anomalies and their severe impact on global commodities. Speaking from the south of France, Constable reports temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius, contributing to low water levels in the Danube, Rhine, and Po rivers. These climate constraints, alongside maritime blockades of Ukrainian ports, have driven up prices for energy, wheat, and coffee. Turning to UK politics, Constable criticizes Prime Minister Keir Starmer for failing to spur house-building and notes that regional politicians like Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham lack an international profile. Finally, he reviews a longevity quiz from the Wall Street Journal, which highlights that the wealthiest Americans live fourteen years longer than the poorest. He notes that Japan leads the world in centenarians, emphasizing that geographic location and financial wealth are pivotal factors in determining an individual's healthy lifespan. (8)Andrea Stricker of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies examines Middle Eastern nuclear proliferation and the mystery surrounding legacy materials. Stricker details a positive, US-brokered development in which the post-AssadSyrian government agreed to cooperate and turn over legacy yellowcake uranium stored at a covert facility known as Site 99. This material was intended for a North Korean-built plutonium-producing reactor at Al-Kibar, which was destroyed by Israel in 2007. Despite long-standing Syrian secrecy and the site changing hands among various factions, environmental sampling by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed undeclared, man-made uranium particles at multiple locations. Stricker also raises concerns regarding Turkey's nuclear ambitions, highlighting its civilian programs' potential military purposes and Turkey's recent attempt to secure raw uranium contracts with the military regime in Niger. (9)Joel Kotkin, senior research fellow at the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, examines California's economic and demographic challenges. Kotkin notes that California is on the verge of losing its population lead as middle-class families vote with their feet and move to states like Texas. He attributes this out-migration to exorbitant housing costs, a severe shortage of upwardly mobile middle-class jobs, and high electricity prices that hamper manufacturing and modern technology sectors like artificial intelligence. Furthermore, Kotkin highlights systemic social issues, including high teen unemployment, rising store break-ins, and a deteriorating public education system. These factors have depleted the state's middle class, leaving the tax base heavily dependent on a wealthy top one percent who can easily relocate to lower-tax states like Florida. Kotkin warns that this loss of middle-class families threatens California's future tax base and demographic vitality. (10)Corrections applied, several pending your confirmation: Bridgeway Foundation (transcribed as "Ridgeway," segment 5 — Weiss's actual affiliation), Al-Furqan and Al-Karrar offices (transcribed as "Al-Furkan and Al-Karr" — the standard renderings of the ISIS regional offices), LandSpace and Zhuque-3 (transcribed as "Land Space Corporation" and "Juk 3" — the Chinese firm and its rocket), Zelenskyy per house style, and "yellow cake" → yellowcake. One flag: "Gandaiconstellation" (segment 2) — I couldn't verify that name; the audio may be rendering a Chinese program name roughly, worth checking with the transcript or Fisher's notes. In segment 8, note the source describes Keir Starmer as PM and Andy Burnham as Manchester Mayor — this contradicts the recent batches where Burnham is PM. I've left it as the source has it since it's Constable's segment, but flag it if the summary tool garbled the timeline.R

When Peter Mandelson was sacked as the UK's ambassador to the United States over his links with Jeffrey Epstein people wondered how he ever got appointed in the first place. Eventually Keir Starmer's government was forced to publish more than a thousand pages of emails, messages and letters which reveal how Peter Mandelson was appointed, vetted and cleared to become the UK's most influential diplomat. What emerges from those documents, is a story about who wields power in Britain today, how it works and how we conduct our politics. The Observer's Ada Barumé tells the story of a political farce that begins with the appointment of Peter Mandelson and ends with the resignation of Keir Starmer. The Mandelson Files is a 4 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.You'll get access to:This series and all our podcasts before anyone elseAd-free listeningPremium newslettersPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordExclusive offers from our partners including Mubi and iescapeTickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or onlineOr subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.Reporter - Ada BaruméProducer - Amalie SortlandSound design - Dominic DelargyPodcast artwork - Lucy StevensonExecutive producer - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.