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This week, as Labour reels from a brutal set of election results, Nish and Coco try to make sense of Keir Starmer's fight to stay in Downing Street, a story moving faster than political journalists can refresh their phones. They're joined by Helena, aka NoJusticeMTG, Twitch streamer, YouTuber and Novara Media contributor, to break down Labour's post-election meltdown, the rise of Reform, and whether the Greens' surge points to a more hopeful progressive future. They also dig into who might replace Starmer, from Angela Rayner to Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting.Plus, what should we take from Plaid Cymru's win in Wales, Reform's new foothold, and the Greens breaking through in places Labour once took for granted?And former Google executive Mo Gawdat joins to discuss Chasing Utopia, the new documentary asking whether AI is about to transform our lives, our politics, and possibly the future of humanity itself.Watch Mo Gawdat in Atlantic Studios new release Chasing Utopia from Friday 15th May 2026 at Everyman Cinemas. Book tickets at everymancinema.com"GUESTS Mo GawdatNoJusticeMTGUSEFUL LINKSRaphael Behr https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/13/labour-battle-of-ideas-no-10-keir-starmer-leadership CREDITS BBC ONE: Sunday with Laura KuenssbergYoutube: Novara MediaPod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUKInstagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukX: https://x.com/podsavetheuk
After days of deliberation, Wes Streeting has finally quit Keir Starmer's government. At the stroke of 1 p.m., the Ilford MP resigned as Health Secretary in a two-page letter that laid out his differences with the Prime Minister. He details, at length, the results the pair have achieved in government and says they offer ‘good reasons for me to remain in post'. But: ‘As you know from our conversation earlier this week, having lost confidence in your leadership, I have concluded that it would be dishonourable and unprincipled to do so.'So there we go – the starting gun has been fired on the Labour leadership race... or has it? Noa Hoffman, James Heale and Tim Shipman discuss how this carefully worded resignation leaves the door open for Andy Burnham.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.
Wes Streeting is/was expected to make his move today for the Labour leadership – but does he have the numbers? There was some frantic briefing last night, with competing claims about who has the required number of MPs and who might be prepared to give up their seat to Andy Burnham. It almost takes us back to the days of Tory infighting.But the big news this morning is that Angela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC. In an incredibly well-timed judgment, there is now nothing standing in her way from making her own bid for the top job. So where are we on Thursday morning? What should we expect from the next 48 hours?James Heale speaks to Tim Shipman and James Lyons, former director of strategic communications in Number 10.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.
• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Broadcasting from the middle of the Labour chaos vortex, we look how things stand after the Streeting-Starmer confrontation at No.10 – was it a 17-minute staring contest? – and whether the Health Secretary has the support within Labour to win… if he stands. And who is Wes Streeting anyway? What does he actually stand for? Our panel share their experiences of “the man you can't libel, because he has no vices.” Plus: Zack Polanski houseboat council tax evasion imbroglio! And in the Extra Bit: There's a new Beatles museum in London… not Liverpool. So where else deserves a museum in a slightly unexpected location? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk. ESCAPE ROUTES • Seth enjoyed the English Touring Opera's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers • Marie has been binge-watching Rivals on Disney+ • Hannah went to the West End to watch David Hare's Teeth'n'Smiles • Zoë has been watching Half-Man, Richard Gadd's follow-up to Baby Reindeer www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Hannah Fearn, Marie Le Conte and Seth Thévoz. 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. 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
Wes Streeting has made his move today for the Labour leadership – but does he have the numbers? There was some frantic briefing last night, with competing claims about who has the required number of MPs and who might be prepared to give up their seat to Andy Burnham. It almost takes us back to the days of Tory infighting.But the big news this morning is that Angela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC. In an incredibly well-timed judgment, there is now nothing standing in her way from making her own bid for the top job. So where are we on Thursday morning? What should we expect from the next 48 hours?James Heale speaks to Tim Shipman and James Lyons, former director of strategic communications in Number 10.Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today, the government has laid out their plans for new legislation in the King's speech, amid speculation that Wes Streeting is going to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer as soon as Thursday.It's rumoured that Streeting wanted to wait in order to not distract from the speech, but the rising speculation has dominated headlines and the commons. What was actually in the King's speech? And what might lay ahead for the PM and the Labour party? Adam is joined by Chris and Faisal.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 Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Wes Streeting is expected to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer as soon as Thursday. News of the health secretary's plans came during the king's speech, derailing what was supposed to be another chance for the prime minister to reset the political agenda. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's head of national news, Archie Bland. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The morning after the local elections, Mark is joined by Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward to ask the only question anyone in British politics can answer right now: what the f**k is going on? As Labour and the Conservatives collapse into third and fourth place, Rachel explains why the Greens believe they're becoming the real opposition — and why the political establishment seems terrified of it. From housing developers and billionaire wealth to Reform, immigration, rent controls and whether Keir Starmer has completely lost the plot, this is a conversation about a country that feels like it's breaking apart in real time. We're currently sponsored by BT - behind brilliant things! Search 'Why BT' to find out more or click on the following link: https://www.bt.com/broadband/why-bt You can hear the second part of the interview in next week's episode – but if you can't wait, why not join us on Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen or watch the whole interview straight away. 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 Rachel @millward_rachel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
You can watch this episode on YoutTube: https://youtu.be/5Zb71ekLVBEThis week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson, sift through the debris of a historic set of local elections that have left Sir Keir Starmer clinging to power.The duo analyse the turquoise tsunami that saw Reform UK gain over 1,400 council seats, whilst the Prime Minister faces a precarious future after Labour's vote share collapsed in traditional hubs like Birmingham and Cambridge.Who is your co-pilots preferred replacement? Wes Streeting? Angela Rayner? ‘Mad' Ed Miliband? Or does Andy Burnham stand the best chance with the softy Labour Left?Return stowaway William Coulston joins your co-pilots to dissect the local election results, and where the Social Democrat Party stands on Welfare and why Labour's approach is bankrupting the country.Highlights: Planet Normal: Is Starmer's Labour drama as fleeting as Streeting?Reform UK gains over 1,400 seats as the traditional two-party system fragments following the May 7th elections.Streeting eyes the prize but is Andy Burnham waiting in the wings?Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |Liam Halligan and Serge Kogan - London to Paris in 24 hours - ON A TANDEM: https://www.justgiving.com/page/liam-halligan-serge-kogan |Read Allison ‘Starmer quitting isn't enough. Furious voters want an end to politics as we know it':https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/12/allison-pearson-starmer-quitting-isnt-enough/ |Read Allison ‘Sick of being dismissed as a racist, Essex Man has turned to Reform':https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/08/essex-voters-embracing-reform-liked-nigel/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Oil prices are detached from reality': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/10/headline-oil-prices-are-detached-from-reality/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam's Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As Keir Starmer hopes to reinvigorate his party and the economy with the King's Speech, Sean Farrington speaks to a Labour peer about what it might do for his prospects. Over in China, President Trump and an army of business leaders hope for successful talks with President Xi. Plus, we speak to the British start-up that's launching an innovative new cancer treatment into space.
Support us as we expand our challenge to our broken media here: https://www.patreon.com/owenjones84 or here: https://ko-fi.com/owenjonesYou can pre-order my new book THE FALL OF THE WEST now: https://bit.ly/FallOfTheWestSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sean Whelan, RTÉ's London Correspondent, outlines the latest developements as British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, battles to retain the leadership of the Labour party.
As Keir Starmer clings on to his premiership, there's one man continuing his victory laps. Nigel Farage's party Reform UK was the big winner in last week's local elections, picking up more than 1,450 council seats. So, what's behind this? Is this just a blip – or the start of a new phase of British politics?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Callum Martin, Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: New Reform councillor suspended after racist posts emergeFurther listening: “Keir Starmer couldn't run a bath.” What next for Labour?Clips: BBC, Manchester Evening News, LBC, Reform UK, APT. Photo: Getty Images.This 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.
Wes Streeting is expected to resign and launch a leadership challenge as early as tomorrow, plunging Westminster into crisis just as Parliament reopens.The King announced the Government's legislative agenda this afternoon but the big story was machinations at No 10, where the Health Secretary and Keir Starmer held a meeting that lasted just 16 minutes.Camilla and Tim battle the elements outside Parliament to bring you the latest developments from a tense day in Westminster.They are joined by Labour MP Luke Akehurst, who pleads directly with his friend Wes Streeting to not resign – and suggests he doesn't have enough MPs behind him anyway.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducer: Lilian FawcettSenior Producer: John CadiganExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanVideo Producer: Will WaltersCamera Operator: Andy MackenzieEditor: Camilla TomineyHighlightsWes Streeting expected to resign as early as tomorrowKing's Speech overshadowed by day of Labour leadership drama Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jeremy Kyle reacts as Wes Streeting held off challenging Sir Keir Starmer after resignations by allies, while Rayner signalled readiness if Burnham cannot return. The King's Speech proceeded amid Palace sensitivities, unveiling bills on Europe, immigration, policing, peerages and British Steel. With unions withdrawing support and borrowing costs rising, Starmer dared Labour rebels to trigger a formal contestWake up with Talk Breakfast in full on YouTube, DAB+ radio, Freeview 280, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus or the Talk App on your TV from 6am every morning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Health minister Wes Streeting is preparing to resign and could quit as early as tomorrow, the Times reported, adding that he is likely to mount a formal challenge for Labour party leadership. Mr Streeting had a brief meeting with Keir Starmer this morning. RTÉ London correspondent Sean Whelan joined the show with the latest.
The local election results are in and… bloody hell.In this Trawl, Jemma and Marina dig into Reform UK's huge gains, Labour's mounting panic, and the increasingly chaotic state of British politics. Was this a genuine political realignment, a protest vote, or something much darker bubbling away underneath?From viral clips and media narratives to Nigel Farage, culture wars, dodgy campaign tactics, and the terrifying power of algorithms, the pair try to answer the question everyone's asking right now: how seriously should we take Reform?Plus: why some voters still don't seem to connect political choices with real-world consequences, why the press scrutiny appears wildly uneven depending on who's in the firing line, and why some Reform-led councils may become the party's biggest problem before the next general election.There are also lighter moments involving Sir David Attenborough, pudding-based dystopias, and outrageous clips.It's a long one. But then, there's an awful lot to talk about.Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://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:https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why Britain Needs A Crisis To Turn The Country AroundBritain has once again been plunged into political turmoil. Despite rebellion in the ranks, Prime Minister Keir Starmer refuses to go, and it's not yet clear which - if any - of his potential challengers will lay down the gauntlet to try to take the leadership from him. And nor is it clear, given the divided nature of the Labour party, that any new Prime Minister could hold down the job until the next general election. Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss why Britain may need a 1976-style crisis to persuade our politicians to finally get a grip. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, Keir Starrmer has said he will “get on with governing” despite another day of increasing pressure on him to resign from the Labour party. Four ministers resigned on Tuesday, and more MPs have called for the Prime Minister to stand down. But so far no formal leadership contest has been triggered. Meanwhile more than 100 MPs are understood to have signed a statement backing the PM, saying "this is no time for a leadership contest". Adam, Chris and Alex reflect on whether Starmer can survie the pressure. 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 Jem Westgate. The social producer was Beth Pritchard. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
This week we talk about Keir Starmer, Labour, and the Reform UK party.We also discuss Tories, the Lib Dems, and two-party systems.Recommended Book: Peak by K. Anders Ericsson and Robert PoolTranscriptFor more than 100 years, the British political system has been dominated by two parties: Labour and the Conservative Party, often called the Tories.In practice, that means these two parties, which are center-left and center-right in their leanings, respectively, have tended to shape the direction of British politics and the Overton Window of thinkable proposals—things that might actually happen because they get the requisite support from politicians and the public.These two parties have usually had to work with other, smaller parties in order to get anything done, because the UK has a parliamentary system that often leaves the party with the most representatives lacking enough support to run a functioning government, solo. As a consequence, the Liberal Democrats, which is a fairly centrist party, the Green Party, which focuses on environmentalism and more left-wing concerns, Plaid Cymru (plied KUM-ree), which is the Welsh nationalist party, and the Scottish National Party, which is exactly what it sounds like, have long influenced Labour and the Tories, aligning their votes with whomever gives them a seat at the table. This has given some influence to smaller groups that might otherwise lack representation, though that influence has typically been moderate to meager, at best—the folks in Labour and the Conservative party have run things in the UK, and that's been the case for generations.Things started to shake up a bit in the 20-teens, however, when anti-immigration and EU-skepticism in Britain led to the creation of the far-right Brexit Party, which was co-founded by politician Nigel Farage, who was the leader of the UK Independence Party in the early 2000s and 20-teens, and who was previously a Tory, and Catherine Blaiklock, a politician and hotelier who stepped down from her position as party leader the year after the Brexit Party was founded after anti-Islamic and racist comments she'd previously made online were rediscovered.The Brexit Party existed, almost exclusively, to push for a no-agreement exit from the European Union by the UK, which was considered to be a fairly fringe ideology back then, but which gained a lot of steam as other populists began to add their support to the general concept.Both the government and the existing political structure of the UK was then caught flat-footed, by all indications very surprised by the eventual success of that push, and the UK left the EU on January 31, 2020, after a whole lot of skepticism that it would ever happen, even after a vote in favor of Brexit took place. This represented a serious come to Jesus moment for British politicians, but also British society, and there's been quite a lot of self-reflection and naval gazing in the years since, as the Brexit pullout from the EU has caused quite a lot of economic and diplomatic damage, while also shining a spotlight on numerous simmering issues that were previously overlooked or unaddressed, including the bubbling resentment and at times outright xenophobia felt by a significant portion of the British electorate, and persistent economic issues faced by folks at the middle and lower rungs of society.What I'd like to talk about today is the recent 2026 UK Local Elections, and what they seem to tell us about how things are going in British politics, and what they portend for the current Labour-run administration.—On May 7, 2026, the UK held local elections for 5,066 councillors, 136 local authorities, and six directly elected mayors. Some of these elections were postponed in 2025 to allow for government restructuring, but most of these positions were last up for election in 2022.This election was generally seen as an unofficial referendum on the governing Labour Party, and in particular the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who has been in office for just under two years, and who stepped into the role of PM after the role was held by the Conservative Tories for 14 years; five different Prime Ministers taking the reins during that period, including David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.All that changing in leadership is indicative of the chaos the UK government was experiencing at the time, the May 2010 general election leading to a period of significant austerity—the government cutting tons of social programs in order to reduce spending—which then fed into more support for Brexit when some members of the party positioned the economic issues people were facing as the consequence of EU-related immigration, and shortly thereafter, the world succumbed to the Covid-19 pandemic.There was a lot of truly significant political change from about 2010 onward, then, and a lot for the general population to be upset about. The Conservatives held onto power despite it all for those 14 years, but the shift back to Labour was the result of Starmer and his party saying, listen, we hear you, a lot has to change, and we can instigate that change. Trust us.This new election suggests that the majority of voters in the UK feel that the Labour Party hasn't lived up to that trust.In Wales, Plaid Cymru has taken the most seats, 43, but failed to achieve the 49 seat majority they would require to govern, solo.In Scotland, the SNP took the most seats, but also fell short of a majority, netting 58 seats, not the 65 required for a majority.Both of those results are not terribly shocking, though in Wales Labour lost a lot of power, down 35 seats and holding onto just 9. The Conservatives also lost in Wales, holding onto seven seats and losing 22.In Scotland, too, Labor lost some of their influence, losing 4 seats and retaining 17, while the Conservatives lost a whopping 19 seats, holding onto just 12.In England, the change in seat allocation was stunning, though.Labour lost 1406 seats, leaving them with 997, while the Conservatives lost 557 seats, holding onto just 773.Even considering those losses, the biggest story in England is the surge in support for previously small parties, in particular a far-right party called Reform UK, previously called the Brexit Party, and run by the aforementioned proponent of the British exit from the EU, Nigel Farage.Reform UK went from 2 seats to 1,444; a shocking outcome, and one that makes them the biggest winner in this election, by far. They also gained 17 seats, up from zero, in Scotland, putting them at an equal level there with Labour, and they went from zero to 34 in Wales, putting them in a competitive second place after Plaid Cymru, which again, claimed 43 seats.Other, non-Labour, non-Conservative parties also gained seats in this election, though not at the level of Reform UK.The Green Party gained two seats in Wales and six in Scotland, bringing them up to 15 there. They also gained 374 sets in England, bringing them up to 515 total seats, which leaves them in fifth place, but just 258 seats shy of the Conservatives.The Lib Dems, which are the local Centrist party, gained 151 seats, putting them in third. And there was a small surge in independent politicians winning elections, as well, that group now controlling 199 seats, up from 27 before this vote.In the wake of this absolute shellacking of Keir Starmer's Labour party—which again, lost 1406 seats in England, and their opposition, and in many ways their polar opposite, the far-right Reform UK party, gained even more than Labour lost, up 1442 seats—in the wake of that, Starmer has been asked to resign, and as of the day I'm recording this, at least, he's saying that he will not resign, and since there's no formal challenge to his leadership, he can stay in power if he chooses.There is a growing movement amongst Labour lawmakers to ask him to set a timetable for stepping down, however, and there's a pretty good chance that will happen, as the British political system allows parties to change their Prime Minister mid-term without requiring a new election, so they could swap him out for someone else, making him the face of this immense electoral failure, then they could try to change course before the next election, which will happen by mid-August of 2029, during which the vote will be for the 650 seats in the House of Commons, which is currently dominated by Starmer's Labour party.The big takeaway here, from political analysts at least, is that what used to be a reliably two-party system, for over a century that's been the case, is now a five-way race within a cultural context in which voters seem to be a lot less loyal to politicians and parties, and in which a whole lot of previously reliable infrastructure, social systems, and cultural expectations have been recently disrupted.People in the UK seem to be generally unhappy about all sorts of things, and that kind of broad unhappiness often results in more populism, which means general anti-establishment stances and us-versus-them ideologies, including racial, religious, and nationalistic versions of such ideologies, and typically a lot more support for charismatic leadership over leaders who are generally qualified and will probably be good at their jobs because they're experienced and knowledgeable.In other words, you're more likely to get loudmouths and celebrities running for office, successfully, in populist electoral contexts, and you're also more likely to see parties leaning into superficial race, class, and elite-vs-everyman issues, as opposed to running on well-defined approaches to dealing with more complex issues.In the meantime, until that 2029 election, it's likely Farage's Reform UK will bang the drum against the governing Labour party to gather more power in the lead up to 2029, and that other non-Labour, non-Conservative parties will attempt to do the same, newly energized by these results.And depending on how that non-voting-year rallying goes, this could represent a foot in the door for these smaller parties. And we could consequently see more former Labour and Conservative politicians and voters leaving for Reform, for the Lib Dems, for the Greens, and for independents. All of which will make UK politics a lot more chaotic, but also probably more diverse, with power less centralized and the government's makeup a bit less predictable.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_Kingdom_local_electionshttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/world/europe/uk-elections-local-takeaways.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/05/08/world/uk-local-elections-resultshttps://apnews.com/article/uk-elections-starmer-labour-what-to-know-eb11ff39b1b74bbaf9f4ef6abfd60f64https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/08/uk/uk-local-election-reform-farage-starmer-intlhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-08/how-bad-for-labour-britain-s-local-elections-in-six-chartshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_the_United_Kingdomhttps://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1428pev1n0t#election-englanhttps://www.politico.eu/article/nigel-farage-reform-uk-win-next-general-election/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_United_Kingdom_general_electionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Blaiklockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_UKhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Faragehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brexit This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe
Aditya Chakrabortty on the Labour leader's predicament – and if he may be the last prime minister of the two-party system. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Tensions are running high in Westminster as Keir Starmer tells his cabinet he is not going anywhere. But with several ministers quitting the government and more than 80 MPs calling for him to go, how much longer has the prime minister got? Lucy Hough speaks to political editor Pippa Crerar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Dan, Beau, and Stelios discuss Starmer clinging to power, what Labour should do with itself after he has gone and the UFOs are coming to pick up their agent Starmer.
The Prime Minister is digging his heels in. Keir Starmer has told his cabinet that he is not going anywhere, despite a growing list of MPs calling for him to go.At 9.30 a.m., Starmer was greeted by his senior ministers, many of whom now believe the game is up. So is this his ‘put up or shut up' moment? Will anyone move today – and if they do, what happens next?Tim Shipman and James Heale join Noa Hoffman to assess Starmer's fight for survival, the mood inside Labour, and where we go from here.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.
US President Donald Trump says the Iran ceasefire is on “life support”, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting to save his premiership after the Labour party's disastrous showing in last week's UK local elections. Plus, we preview this week's summit between Trump and China's President Xi Jinping, and examine how business in the Gulf is holding up through the Iran war. Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump says Iran ceasefire is on ‘life support'Starmer battles to stay in Number 10 as scores of Labour MPs urge him to quitHow the war hit the Gulf dealmaking machine A weakened Trump arrives in Xi's court The Rachman Review podcastCredit: Associated Press We want to hear from you! What do you like about FTNB? What would you like to hear more of? Reach out to us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today's FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT's Global Head of Audio. The show's theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the wake of last week's devolved and local elections, Keir Starmer is once again fighting for his political future. Labour has almost completely vanished in Wales, came a distant second in Scotland (tied with Reform UK), and lost nearly 1500 councillors in England. But while Plaid Cymru and the SNP were victorious in Wales and Scotland, in many ways the results in England were a disappointment for everybody, with no party making the breakthroughs they hoped for and the Conservatives pushed to the fringes. James is joined by Richard King, Rory Scothorne and Andy Beckett to makes sense of this new political map and consider what the collapse of old party loyalties and the rise of nationalist politics means across all three countries. Read more on politics in the LRB: https://lrb.me/lrbpolitics From the LRB Subscribe to the LRB: https://lrb.me/subslrbpod Close Readings podcast: https://lrb.me/crlrbpod LRB Audiobooks: https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: https://lrb.me/storelrbpod Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk
Jews in the United Kingdom watched voters in their country gravitate to parties on the extreme right and left in the country’s local elections – following a campaign where antisemitism was used as a political football, and controversies over the government’s relationship with Israel, pro-Palestinian protests and free speech factored into voting. On the Haaretz Podcast, London-based correspondent Hagar Shezaf and senior analyst Esther Solomon discuss the impact of the results, which have been described as an “earthquake” for its rejection of the Labour Party led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. While covering the campaign, Shezaf said, she encountered a voter who told her “I voted for Labour my whole life. I won't be doing that anymore because of Gaza and Iran.” The surge in support for the far-right anti-immigrant Reform U.K. party, Solomon observed, “leaves Jews in a very, very difficult position” as the party and its leader, Brexit architect Nigel Farage, made multiple bids for Jewish support during the campaign – including in the aftermath of the stabbing attacks in the Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green on April 29. “Reform really wanted to put over the message that it was there to ‘look after’ the Jews – by cracking down on what it calls an invasion of migrants … and on the Muslim community of the U.K. … but it’s not just about protecting the Jews. It's putting them up on a pedestal in order to stamp on all sorts of other minorities.” On the left, Solomon said the newly resurgent Green Party – led by leader Zack Polanski – “were not willing to really confront the issue of antisemitism, and constantly tried and deflect to the idea that is all about their criticism of Israel, and that they refuse to be silenced.” Read more: Analysis by Esther Solomon on Britain's Nationalist Surge: It's Not Only Reform's Farage That Disunites the Kingdom How Antisemitism Can Push British Jews Into the Arms of Farage and the Far Right Cheers for Reform, Boos for Labour: 5,000 U.K. Jews and Allies Rally in London Against 'Poisonous' Antisemitism 'No Longer Safe to Be Visibly Jewish': After Stabbing Spree, Some British Jews Say It's a Matter of When They Leave, Not If U.K. Greens' Zack Polanski Discourages 'Globalize the Intifada' Phrase but Opposes Policing It U.K. Greens' Polanski Slams Starmer for 'Weaponizing' Antisemitism After PM's RebukeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week: Keir Starmer's leadership is in crisis. As pressure builds on the Prime Minister, Michael and Madeline ask whether Starmer can survive the rebellion now gathering pace in his own party.They discuss the runners and riders who could replace him, from Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner to Andy Burnham – and the risks each would pose for Labour. Could Burnham find a safe seat? Would Streeting trigger open warfare with the left? And would a change of leader mean anything beyond a change of name?Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As Starmer's cabinet begin turning against him, how long can he cling on to power? By challenging Starmer without a clear plan for what comes next, are Labour MPs unleashing a chaos they cannot control? As Wales and Scotland shift dramatically towards Plaid Cymru, the Scottish National Party, and Reform UK – are we witnessing the end of both Labour and the Conservatives as national parties? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. __________ 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. Lloyds. 250 years on and still backing the nation's aspirations. Get more from your business accounts. Search Lloyds Business Accounts.Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ✅ __________ Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @restispolitics Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com __________ Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Vasco Andrade Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne Producer: Evan Green Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer General Manager: Tom Whiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we discuss the business executives going to China with Trump, the Supreme Court clearing the way for Alabama republicans to pursue a new voting map, the Labour revolt against Keir Starmer, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
UnHerd's Freddie Sayers talks with journalist, author, and historian Adrian Wooldridge about the systemic leadership crisis facing the UK, exploring how the rapid decline of Keir Starmer's Labour government mirrors the previous Conservative downfall and reflects a broader decay of liberalism that necessitates a radical reinvigoration of the centrist tradition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tensions are running high in Westminster as Keir Starmer has told his cabinet he's not going anywhere. But with several ministers quitting the government, and more than 80 MPs calling for him to go, how much longer has he got? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's political editor, Pippa Crerar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we discuss the business executives going to China with Trump, the Supreme Court clearing the way for Alabama republicans to pursue a new voting map, the Labour revolt against Keir Starmer, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week's topics: • Marvel's Storm is African-American • Floyd Mayweather fighting Manny Pacquiao because he's broke? • Reform Party's Local Election win • Wanting secretly for Kemi Badenoch to be successful • Is Kemi Badenoch actually Nigerian • Our old podcast etiquette • Remembering the voices of those left behind • Old episodes leaving podcast apps • Dangote may IPO in multiple African countries • Who will win the next general election • Anti semitism Promoted in the news • Wearing heavy make-up on wedding day • #StavrosSays : My Father's Shadow [https://mubi.com/en/gb/films/my-father-s-shadow] Connect with us at & send your questions & comments to: #ESNpod so we can find your comments www.esnpodcast.com www.facebook.com/ESNpodcasts www.twitter.com/ESNpodcast www.instagram.com/ESNpodcast @esnpodcast on all other social media esnpodcast@gmail.com It's important to subscribe, rate and review us on your apple products. You can do that here... www.bit.ly/esnitunes
Vor zwei Jahren waren Keir Starmer und Labour große Gewinner der Parlamentswahlen, jetzt will seine Partei ihn loswerden. Wie lange hält sich der Premier noch im Amt? Und: Der Hohe Repräsentant für Bosnien-Herzegowina Christian Schmidt schmeißt hin. Philipp May
Aditya Chakrabortty on the Labour leader's predicament – and if he may be the last prime minister of the two-party system
Clement Manyathela speaks to Dr Alastair Tempest, the CEO of Ecommerce Forum South Africa about how you can navigate the labour space in a gig economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are Labour minister James Frith, Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden, Novara Media's Ash Sarkar, plus the Daily Telegraph's Annabel Denham.
Jeremy Kyle reacts as Starmer vowed to get on with governing, despite open Labour revolt, a ministerial resignation, and 78 MPs demanding departure. Borrowing costs rose amid leadership uncertainty and global oil pressures, while allies warned destabilisation would hurt households. Speculation over Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham intensified, as critics said Starmer risks handing momentum to Farage.Wake up with Talk Breakfast in full on YouTube, DAB+ radio, Freeview 280, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus or the Talk App on your TV from 6am every morning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the May 7, 2026 UK elections, Reform won biggly. They did so well that they even stole the show from the ascendent Celtic nationalists in the periphery. Gaining thousands of councillors in England, becoming the second largest party in Wales and the joint second biggest in Scotland. Meanwhile, in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland the biggest parties (Plaid Cymru, SNP, and Sinn Fein) are all separatists. This has ushered in disorderly ‘five party politics' in England and a real threat to the union emanating from a Celtic periphery led by parties that wish to break up the UK. On this special episode of Disorder we ask: does the UK have a future at all anymore? Will it be very disorderly? And what are Reform's actual policies? To find out – and in our attempt to present a range of views on Disorder – Jason and Mark are joined by Alan Mendoza, Chief Advisor on Global Affairs to Reform UK. The duo push Alan to clarify Reform's actual policies around local government, migration, and Reform's attitudes to Brexit. Jason sees Reform as Disorders, but Alan makes a full throated and quite eloquent case as to why he sees Reform as Orderers rather than Disorderers. Hopefully the debate is podcasting at its best, filled with respectful disagreements that elucidate the underlying differences in world views. Either way, Reform UK is here to stay so we might as well understand them. To join our Mega Orderers Club for ad free listening, early episode releases and exclusive access to live events, visit disordershow.com/club To tell us more about Disorder, visit disordershow.com/survey Producer: George McDonagh Subscribe to our Substack - https://natoandtheged.substack.com/ Disorder on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DisorderShow Show Notes Links: To join our Mega Orderers Club for ad free listening, early episode releases and exclusive access to live events, visit disordershow.com/club How the winner-takes-all voting system has turned on Labour and the Tories: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxpqyndqwlo How Reform won votes from Swansea to Sunderland https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2nz4gwj5o Hear Alan's previous appearance on Disorder: https://pod.link/1706818264/episode/YTk0MzNmZDQtY2JhMS0xMWVmLWJjYTQtOGJjMjMxNmNhZTli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remained at a standstill on Tuesday, with oil rising after President Trump rejected Iran’s latest offer. Trump called Iran’s response to his proposal a “piece of garbage” and said the ceasefire was on “life support” as he prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The US sanctioned a dozen entities and individuals over the sale of Iranian oil to China, stepping up economic pressure ahead of Trump's visit to meet Xi.2) President Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will meet Thursday morning in Beijing for a high-stakes summit dominated by discussions on trade and the war in Iran. Trump is expected to press Xi on China's approach to Iran, including revenue for Tehran and potential weapons exports, and will also discuss US arms sales to Taiwan.3) A defiant Keir Starmer pushed back against widespread calls for him to quit as Britain’s prime minister, telling his Cabinet that he plans to stay on. More than 80 of Labour’s 403 MPs have called on the prime minister to step aside in the wake of last week’s local elections, in which the party lost control of the Welsh parliament and almost three of every five English council seats it was defending. Starmer said the past 48 hours had been “destabilizing” for the UK.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ce mardi 12 mai, le discours du Premier ministre britannique Keir Starmer après sa défaite aux élections locales, alors qu'il tente de jouer sa dernière carte sur l'Europe, a été abordé par Annalisa Cappellini dans sa chronique, dans l'émission Good Morning Business, présentée par Erwan Morice, sur BFM Business. Retrouvez l'émission du lundi au vendredi et réécoutez la en podcast.
Ava and Seán make their way through the Labour runners and riders in a potential leadership election, as Keir Starmer battles to cling on to power while MPs implore him to resign.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fast 100 Jahre lang hat der Chemiekonzern Lonza seine Chemieabfälle auf der Deponie «Gamsenried» im Wallis abgelagert. Seit 15 Jahren ist bekannt, dass dort Giftstoffe lagern und in die Umwelt austreten. Nun zeigen SRF-Recherchen, dass sich die Sanierung der Deponie weiter verzögert. Weitere Themen in dieser Sendung: · Alle Passagiere des Kreuzfahrtschiffs «Hondius» haben nun die Insel Teneriffa verlassen. Dort ist das Schiff, auf dem das Hantavirus kursierte, am Sonntag angekommen. Ein letztes Flugzeug mit Passagieren und auch Besatzungsmitgliedern landete in der Nacht in Eindhoven in den Niederlanden. · Nach der Wahlschlappe bei den Regionalwahlen gerät der britische Regierungschef Keir Starmer in seiner eigenen Labour-Partei zunehmend unter Druck. Mittlerweile fordern mehr als 70 der rund 400 Parlamentsabgeordneten von Labour öffentlich Starmers Rücktritt. · Die Fahreignungsprüfung für Seniorinnen und Senioren weist erhebliche Mängel auf. Das heisst es in einem Bericht, den der Bund in Auftrag gegeben hat.
British prime minister Keir Starmer is clinging to power after scores of Labour MPs – and several ministers – called on him to resign or at least plot a clear path for a change in leadership.The immediate prompt is the collapse of the Labour vote during the local elections which saw more than 1,500 councillors lose their seats.Add the party's losses at the devolved elections in Scotland and Wales and the turnaround in Labour's fortunes since its landslide general election win couldn't be more stark.But do the roots of dissatisfaction with the solid, steady and uncharismatic Starmer, and the party, go much deeper than a few bad days at the polls?And while he says he is going nowhere and that he will stay and fight Reform UK for “the soul of Britain”, is his position really tenable? Is there a contender in the wings, waiting for the chance to oust him from Number 10, someone who would be more popular with Labour voters?Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul reflects on a dramatic day in Westminster.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tunga nederlag i en rad lokalval ökar pressen på Storbritanniens premiärminister att avgå. Men Starmer vill klamra sig fast och varnar för kaos. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radios app. Keir Starmer pressas efter förra veckans lokalval i Storbritannien och avgångskraven växer nu inom Labour. Samtidigt varnar premiärministern för kaos och maktvakuum om landet skulle stå utan ledare. Trots den interna kritiken från de egna leden meddelar Starmer på tisdagen att han avser fortsätta regera. Från London beskriver Nina Benner stämningsläget och trycket mot premiärministern.Så påverkas Europa av brittiskt tumultNär Storbritannien skakas av politiskt tumult igen väcks frågor om samarbetet i Europa och relationen till EU. Andreas Liljeheden i Bryssel går igenom vilka följderna kan bli för relationerna över Engelska kanalen. I Storbritannien ser samtidigt Nigel Farage ut som vinnare i nuläget och hans högerpopulistiska och invandringskritiska parti Reform UK har gått starkt framåt i opinionen de senaste åren. Därmed utmanar Reform UK det brittiska tvåpartisystemet, även om en tänkbar väg till makten för Farage är långt ifrån spikrak.Medverkande: Nina Benner, korrespondent i London. James Savage, chefredaktör The Local. Andreas Liljeheden, korrespondent i BrysselProgramledare: Therese RosenvingeProducent: Lena Bejerot
Republicans are winning the redistricting battle after a major Democrat setback in Virginia, Iran responds to the latest U.S. peace proposal as President Trump prepares to visit Beijing, and the UK's left-wing Labour Party loses big in sweeping local elections. Get the facts first with Morning Wire. - - - Ep. 2780 - - - Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 - - - Today's Sponsors: Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order + free shipping at https://BollAndBranch.com/wire with code wire. NetSuite - Get the free business guide, Demystifying AI, at https://Netsuite.com/MORNINGWIRE Comcast - Learn more about how Comcast is investing in a more connected America at https://ComcastCorporation.com/investment - - - Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacy morning wire,morning wire podcast,the morning wire podcast,Georgia Howe,John Bickley,daily wire podcast,podcast,news podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After catastrophic local-election results, Britain's prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life. One airline has folded and others may follow: jet-fuel prices are crimping carriers the world over, but the pain is not spread evenly. And could San Andrés, a popular Colombian tourist island, ever declare independence? Guests and host:Owen Winter, Britain political correspondentSimon Wright, industries editorClaire McQue, Americas writerRosie Blau co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Britain elections, Keir Starmer, Reform UK, Labour Airlines, jet fuel, oil price, Strait of HormuzSan Andrés, Colombia, CaribbeanListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After catastrophic local-election results, Britain's prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life. One airline has folded and others may follow: jet-fuel prices are crimping carriers the world over, but the pain is not spread evenly. And could San Andrés, a popular Colombian tourist island, ever declare independence? Guests and host:Owen Winter, Britain political correspondentSimon Wright, industries editorClaire McQue, Americas writerRosie Blau co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Britain elections, Keir Starmer, Reform UK, Labour Airlines, jet fuel, oil price, Strait of HormuzSan Andrés, Colombia, CaribbeanListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer appears to have staved off an immediate leadership challenge but MPs are still calling for him to set out a timetable for his resignation. So can he cling on or has he run out of road? Lucy Hough speaks to senior political correspondent Peter Walker. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus