Podcasts about Labour

A thinktank called Labour Together, linked to Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney, has been exposed for investigating journalists who were looking into the group's funding. One of those journalists was the Guardian's Henry Dyer. He tells Helen Pidd how he found out and why it matters. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

It is Robert Jenrick's big day out today. The newly-minted Reform ‘shadow chancellor' made his first speech this morning, where he had the chance to show what kind of chancellor he would be and – sporting a snazzy pair of specs – he had plenty of soothing words to calm the jitters of the bond markets.The top news lines from his presser was his decision to kill Reform's two-child benefit cap – Nigel Farage's big offer to Labour voters last summer – and the announcement that he he would support the independence of the OBR and the Bank of England. Is this a missed opportunity for Reform UK? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Michael Simmons 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.

Tensions in Parliament today - with barbs traded between the Prime Minister and Opposition leader. Chris Luxon took a swipe at Labour's Chris Hipkins at Question Time over inflation. Speaker Gerry Brownlee told numerous MPs to cool down, after heckling from both sides. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped the action from today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the UK REALLY a democracy?  #CancelElections #UKPolitics #Starmer #LabourParty #ReformUK #NigelFarage #Brexit #BrexitBetrayal #PoliticalElite #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV If Keir Starmer can try to cancel elections without a mandate, what does your vote actually mean? Is the UK REALLY a democracy? Let's stop pretending. This week, Reform UK blocked a move that should have alarmed every voter in the country — Keir Starmer attempting to cancel local elections. Yes — cancel elections.  In a country that never stops lecturing the world about democracy. Starmer has no mandate to do this. No manifesto promise. No referendum. No public consent. And yet here we are — again.  We've seen this movie before. In 2016, the Brexit referendum delivered a result the political elite didn't like. What followed wasn't acceptance — it was years of obstruction, delay, re-runs, legal manoeuvres, and media pressure, all designed to wear the public down and soften the outcome. Voters spoke. Westminster panicked.  Now history looks like it's repeating itself — elections questioned, democratic processes treated as optional, and major national direction shifted without asking the people.  So let's ask the question politicians hate: If elections can be cancelled — is this still a democracy? If referendums are ignored — what's the point of voting? If governments only respect results they agree with — who is really in charge?  As the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band once joked: "There is no point in voting — the government always gets in." It was satire. But does it now sound uncomfortably accurate? Jon Gaunt takes this head-on: Are voters being sidelined? Is democracy being hollowed out by the political class? And if elections can be cancelled today — what gets cancelled tomorrow?

Labour Together, the think tank which helped Sir Keir Starmer become prime minister, has been accused of paying a PR firm to investigate Sunday Times journalists. The subsequent report contained personal information and false claims about Whitehall editor Gabriel Pogrund's faith and family background, including the incorrect suggestion he was part of a Russian conspiracy to bring down Starmer. So why did a political organisation pay for a smear campaign against journalists? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Emanuele Midolo, investigations reporter, The Sunday Times. Ben Clatworthy, Whitehall editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Julia Webster, Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Labour activists paid for smear campaign against journalistsClips: BBC, Times Radio, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Sky News, GB News. 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.

Francis Foster finally deigns to join us after his recent blow-out. As a little break from the rolling Starmer sh*t-storm, we look at Rupert Lowe's launch of Restore Britain and ask if there are too many right-wing parties. We also look at the Tory 'revival' and ask whether it's just a Kemi thing. In the Patron only we unpack a sinister story regarding Labour and the surveillance of journalists. Head to www.itsfibre.co.uk and use the code 'WMPT' to get your first month free.CATCH ME ON MY TOUR ‘Basic Bloke 2: There's No Bloke Without Fire'. Book tickets here: https://www.livenation.co.uk/geoff-norcott-tickets-adp1252793JOIN the Podcast Patreon and receive each episode early, AD-FREE & with bonus content https://www.patreon.com/geoffnorcott?fan_landing=true Join my MAILING LIST for priority Tour booking & special offers https://signup.ymlp.com/xgyueuwbgmgb

Marina and Jemma pour the champagne, light the cauldron and gather the coven because honestly, what in the hallucinogenic hell is going on?First up: America's Health Secretary says something truly eye-watering. Then, from villainy to heroism via a brilliant moment highlighted by Vic Derbyshire the Trawl ladies celebrate a woman calmly, powerfully doing the right thing (even if their GCSE French can't quite keep up).But alas, back to the rogues' gallery: billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has waded into immigration with talk of “colonising” Britain prompting an unusually swift response from Keir Starmer. Is this… backbone? Is this growth? Is this a new era?Gary Lineker features, as does Cilla, plus Zack Polanski shining on Sky and a pudding that asks the eternal question, how can anyone claim politics doesn't affect them?Heroes. Villains. Billionaires. Populists. And a pub full of witches trying to make sense of it all.Bring snacksThank 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.

Right wing commentators and newspapers suggest that with the fall of Morgan McSweeney and Keir Starmer fighting for survival, Labour will move to the left. Would that be the disaster they suggest it would be? Rock & Roll Politics is live on the 11th of May at Kings Place, just days after the May elections. It will be an epic night...Tickets are available here. Subscribe to Patreon here for the main podcast a day early and ad free, plus bonus podcasts and exclusive live events. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick Buckley, a candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election, discusses his motivations for running, including his deep ties to the community and a desire for meaningful change. He addresses the unique nature of by-elections and the challenges he has faced, including online abuse and threats. Buckley critiques the current political landscape, noting Labour's struggle to connect with traditional voters and emphasizing his commitment to local issues like crime and grooming gangs. He announces plans for a local inquiry into grooming gangs and advocates for community safety through engagement with law enforcement.  Connect with Nick... SUBSTACK         substack.com/@nickbuckleymbe

We hear from Labour leader Ivana Bacik on her plans for the future of remote work. Ivana joined Anton in studio this morning.

Sir John Curtice, Britain's most famous polling expert and stalwart of BBC election nights, is at risk of becoming a national treasure. Here he offers his insights into the fragmentation of British politics; the rise of Reform under Farage and of the Greens under Polanksi; the challenges facing Labour and the Tories; the unpopularity of Sir Keir Starmer and British political leaders in general; the key requirements of leadership; the impact of culture wars on voting trends; the role of social media in shaping voters' priorities, and the effect of polling on the political landscape. Plus, Sir John reveals what he loves to do when he isn't analysing politics and polls.  * You can find the full list of candidates in the Gorton and Denton by-election on the BBC News website. 

The National Infrastructure Plan was released yesterday, and it makes for grim reading. I don't think anyone expected good news, but nonetheless a cold hard dose of reality is always unwelcome, especially when you've been wilfully ignoring the obvious for years. The plan looks at 17 sectors covering central government, local authorities, and commercially regulated utilities, and lays out a 30 year outline looking at how New Zealand can improve the way it plans, funds, maintains, and delivers infrastructure. So far, so very grown up, but really this is something that should have been done 30 years ago because in a nutshell, we have a huge infrastructure deficit. We need hospitals, we need roads, we need bridges, we need alternatives, we need cycleways, we need sewage, we need water pipes, we need electricity, we need alternative electricity, huge infrastructure deficit across all of the sectors. But even if we had billions of dollars, which we don't, throwing money at the problem doesn't seem to be the only answer, because we are very, very poor at getting bang for our buck as was highlighted in the plan. Over the last 20 years, New Zealand has averaged spending about 5.8% of its GDP on infrastructure, which is one of the highest rates of spending in the OECD. Yet we rank near the bottom of the OECD in terms of efficiency of spend and we came fourth to last in terms of asset management. So we spend all this money, get very little for it, and then don't look after it when we have it. I mean look at Moa Point – it's a brilliant example of what happens when you do not spend money on the boring stuff like maintenance and upkeep. The whole country is basically a Moa Point waiting to happen. The plan recommended that 60 cents of every dollar of infrastructure spend should be allocated to renewals and maintenance. A key theme of the plan was that governments have tended to underfund maintenance. That funding's routinely deferred in favour of the “new and shiny”, to quote the authors of the plan. It's like looking at your house and thinking, God, that plumbing needs fixing, that pipe's looking a bit iffy, we really need to paint the house because those weatherboards are going to get rotten otherwise. Oh boring, let's take the kids to Fiji. That's pretty much what we've been doing as a country for far too long. And it's not just one government, it's successive governments, National and Labour, who have let us down. And they've let us down because we have let them let us down. We don't want to hear the news either. Voters are as much to blame as the governments because we don't want to hear the hard messages. The plan says we cannot afford to have everything we want and in fact need as a country and the infrastructure jobs that we do need to do will have to pay for beyond our general taxes. “The reality is asking people to pay for things is difficult and we've pushed the boat out quite a bit as a government on tolling and that's because ultimately roads have to be paid for. And we've tried to move the system towards more of a user pays model and we think that's fair. The original Harbour Bridge in Auckland was of course paid for with a toll and we've just signalled quite clearly that when you're dropping billions and billions of dollars, which is what the second harbour crossing will be, it will be the biggest infrastructure project ever built in New Zealand, that's a project where we do think it will end up being tolled because that's a fair way of paying for the project. “Here's the reality, roads and in fact all infrastructure has to be paid for. It has to be and you can use user charges for that through tolling or through petrol tax or a combination of both, which is essentially what we do. You can borrow for that, but of course that has to be paid for too. Money is not, despite what the Labour Party think, debt is not free. We already have a huge amount of debt that was built up during the Covid years that has to be repaid and we are desperately as a government getting the books back in order so that when the next shock comes along, the next Cyclone Gabrielle or whatever, we're in a position where we could actually deal with it. At the moment of course we're in a very vulnerable situation and the Treasury says we've got to keep the debt levels under control, otherwise our international borrowing costs will go up and then everybody's interest rates will go up and then you're in banana republic territory. Then you can't even meet the debt repayments on what you've already borrowed.” That was Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop talking to Mike Hosking this morning. So it's grim reading. As I say, successive governments are at fault and so are we voters. We want everything done for us and we want the government to pay for it. We don't want to pay more in tax though when we want the government to pay for it. We want all the benefits our great grandparents had in the 60s without being willing to pay the sort of tax they were paying in the 60s. We have to wake up and be willing to vote for governments that are going to make tough decisions. And to help us do that, National and Labour need to join forces, get together and agree on the tough stuff. That the age of universal Super needs to go up, allowing for people to collect less early, sure, when you've got the tough jobs, but you know, we can dither around this but ultimately that's what needs to happen. We need to agree on an infrastructure program that will involve maintenance and building and won't be subject to the whims of politics. We're going to need to see more governance, less politicking. We need that to start this election, otherwise the main parties will be fighting it out to govern a country that isn't worth living in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins says we need to take the politics out of the Infrastructure Commissions National Infrastructure Plan. The Leader of the Opposition told John MacDonald that he thinks the Commission has done a "really good job" on their recent report, and we need to focus on the basics. "They've pointed out we have an over reliance on shiny new things, and we haven't done the basic maintenance of the things we've already got." "We need to take the politics out of it and focus on a long-term plan." On the rise of Winson Peters and NZ First in the polls, he said that Peter's lifetime in politics has given some unique political skills of reinvention. "At the moment, he's trying to be an opposition MP while also trying to be the third highest ranking minster in the current government." When asked if he has considered working with Peters to form the next government, Hipkins said that's something they will look at closer to election day. "We'll set out closer to the election where we've got common ground with other parties." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear from Labour leader Ivana Bacik on her plans for the future of remote work. Ivana joined Anton in studio this morning.

Kieran McAnulty joins us LIVE for the first time in 2026 to talk infrastructure, Labour's plan for 2026 and 2am feedings.Chris Bishop released an infrastructure report on NZ's state of repair which he says will 'shock' people. We'll take a look at the 1News Verian poll that is currently painting a rosy picture for the right bloc in the early stages of election year. One thing probably is clear, that the minor parties on both sides are going to hold a lot of sway come November 8th this year++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Following a weekend at the Munich Security Conference, there have been reports that the Prime Minister is set to sign off on a huge increase in defence spending. While this comes at a time of increasing threats to Britain, it isn't just the UK's position that's under threat but Keir Starmer himself – who continues to face questions about his leadership. Defence secretary John Healey has been talked about as a potential 'unity' candidate between the left and right flanks of the Labour party. But Labour's internal problems continue to grow, with reports that journalist – and friend of Coffee House Shots – Gabriel Pogrund was the subject of a malicious investigation by Starmerite think-tank Labour Together. Tim Shipman joins James Heale to discuss all the developments.Produced by Megan McElroy and 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.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.racket.newsBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Government is imploding thanks in part to Labour's decision to spy on reporters, including Americans. On Friday, more rats jumped shipNarrated by Jared Moore

Mark is joined by Labour MP Dawn Butler as they discuss being thrown out of Parliament for calling Boris Johnson a liar, racism inside Westminster, the rise of the far right, the Epstein files and political accountability, Peter Mandelson and Labour's direction under Keir Starmer, wealth and power in British politics, trade union roots, growing up in East London, and why she refuses to walk on the other side of the road when something's wrong. 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 Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod  Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel   Follow Dawn @dawnbutlerbrent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is Blue Labour? Can Andy Burnham's ‘Manchesterism' be replicated elsewhere? And is the two-party system over in British politics? In a special episode, Pippa and Kiran take your questions. Please keep sending them to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

FARAGE HUMILIATES STARMER – FORCED INTO 16th U-TURN #KeirStarmer #NigelFarage #ReformUK #LabourUTurn #UKPoliticsLive #GeneralElectionNow #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #Live

Support us as we expand our challenge to our broken media here: https://www.patreon.com/owenjones84 or here: https://kofi.com/owenjonesSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cabinet ministers believe Sir Keir Starmer may now survive beyond May because Labour's leadership contenders are too busy squabbling to unite behind a successor. But can the PM get through the next few months without another self-inflicted wound?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Cindy Yu and Patrick Kidd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another day, another Labour scandal. The campaign group that helped sweep Sir Keir Starmer into No 10, Labour Together, now stands accused of orchestrating a sinister smear campaign against journalists.After The Sunday Times revealed the group had failed to declare £730,000 in donations, Labour Together reportedly paid a US consultancy to dig into the “backgrounds and motivations” of reporters Gabriel Pogrund and Harry Yorke.As the Cabinet Office begins “looking into” the affair, Camilla and Jacob Rees-Mogg ask how deep do Labour Together's roots run in this Government and if PM Keir Starmer should now sever ties completely.And as pressure mounts for a full police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over fresh revelations about his time as trade envoy, emails now suggest he leaked confidential information about Royal Bank of Scotland after its £45bn bailout, and shared sensitive details about Aston Martin.Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanVideo Producer: Will WaltersStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Nada AggourEditor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the Daily Telegraph political news editor Kirsty Buchanan, Labour local councillor Sebastian Salek, the Conservatives' deputy leader on the London Assembly Emma Best, plus the journalist and author Rachel Shabi.

Labour Together's journalist smear campaign. Plus: The latest on Palestine Action, EU countries fall for hoax video of Francesca Albanese, and Former Norwegian PM in hot water following more revelations from the Epstein files. With Steven Methven, Kieran Andrieu & Laura Webster.

About Lewis Ross is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics. He is also the Director of LSE's Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (CPNSS). Lewis works on different topics at the intersection between epistemology, philosophy of law, and political philosophy. Right now, he is particularly interested in the theory and practice of criminal justice. His PhD was from the University of St Andrews and before that he completed a law degree. Abstract Philosophy is much changed from the time that many of the analytic classics were produced. It now resembles, in many ways, a mature scientific discipline—with large division of cognitive labour. Big philosophical questions are routinely broken down into ever-smaller research questions and addressed in growing thousands of narrow publication units. Yet what purpose does this division of labour serve? Philosophers are notoriously sceptical about simply relying on each other's published findings. Indeed, most publications seem to add to, rather than reduce, philosophical disagreement. There is a looming worry about absurdity here. Large amounts of intellectual effort are spent on activities that seemingly do not contribute to settling the core questions of the field. In response to this worry, some are tempted by radical claims about the point of philosophy. For instance, some say that it is an ‘exceptional' field that does not aim to settle on knowledge or truth in the same way as other fields of inquiry. But this response, it seems to me, still leaves the structure of contemporary philosophy without justification. In this talk, I grapple with this problem and explore a more optimistic perspective. I consider a middle ground between two typical ways to think about philosophical progress: locating progress not in the mind of the individual, nor in the discipline as a whole, but rather in the small research communities that populate it.

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

English nationalism will destroy the UKNick Cohen talks with Lowdown regular, author and historian James Hawes, about the on-going damage wrought on the UK by English nationalists and their failed Brexit project. Now current polls indicate that the same nationalist charlatans look likely to take power at the next general election. James said a Whitehall mandarin's prediction of the future break-up of the UK after the next election is looking increasingly likely: Labour has failed to solve the insoluble shitshow of Brexit - making it ever more likely that a radical right party reform UK led by Nigel Farage - will take power at the next election. This new resurgence of extreme English nationalism along with its loony unworkable policies will be rejected by the people of Northern Ireland and Scotland - and possibly even Wales - and calls for secession from the UK by constituent nations could soon become deafening.Northern Ireland will be the first to leave a failing United Kingdom to escape Farage & coBoth Nick and James agree - Brexit has become like the mad relative squirrelled away in the attic by the embarrassed Victorian family. James predicts Northern Ireland/Ulster will want soon want to unite with the now much richer Republic of Ireland rather than face an increasingly impoverished and culture war-wracked future at the hands of incompetent English and divisive nationalists. Scotland will likely follow suit- dumping Labour for the Scottish nationalists. The future of the United Kingdom has never looked so bleak.Read all about it! James Hawes @jameshawes2 Renaissance man, historian, writer and novelist. James, the author of The Shortest History of England and The Shortest History of Germany. His latest in the series, The Shortest History of Ireland, is out next month.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This morning we spoke to Labour leader Chris Hipkins; Plus, business owners around Eden Park told us why hosting the State of Origin is a golden point win for the city; We spoke to the CEO of Contact Energy as it looks to raise millions for its renewable energy projects; The iconic Queen's Arcade in Auckland is set for glow up; And, fresh from his big night at the Halbergs, Supreme award winner Hamish Kerr joined us.

Will the reversal of the cancellation of local elections be Starmer's final U-turn?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the Daily Telegraph political news editor Kirsty Buchanan, Labour local councillor Sebastian Salek, the Conservatives' deputy leader on the London Assembly Emma Best, plus the journalist and author Rachel Shabi.

Today, the Labour Party are hosting a conference calling for a genuine right to remote work in Ireland.For more on this, X is joined by Labour's Employment Affairs Spokeswoman, Marie Sherlock and Karen Kiernan, CEO of One Family…

The Prime Minister has called for an investigation by the Cabinet Office into the campaign group Labour Together which helped get him into power. The think tank is accused of having dug up dirt on journalists investigating its use of political donations. Who signed off the dark arts smear campaign? And why are we just hearing about it now? Later, is Trump's attorney General part of that Epstein cover up? Why is she so resistant to getting to the bottom of the crimes it reveals? The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Labour's issued a list of demands for the Government before it will sign up to the Free Trade Agreement with India. Chris Hipkins says the FTA needs stronger safeguards against exploiting migrants. He wants the full official advice on the deal released to Labour. He says the Party's particularly concerned around the expectation Kiwi businesses will invest $33 billion in India over 15 years. "I think it's almost entirely impossible, and that's why I'm surprised that they're trying to sign us up to that. To put that into context, I think that over the last 25 years, less than $1 billion NZD has been invested in India." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour’s trade spokesman comments on the Indian FTA, whether Labour will support it, and ponders who the candidates for the West Coast Tasman electorate could be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has raised some concerns over the FTA with India, but Finance Minister Nicola Willis is pushing back. The opposition says they want the un-redacted advice about the deal and greater protection for migrant workers. Nicola Willis says there's strong aspirations in the agreement to promote investment. "What it's saying is - let's both agree to promote significant levels of investment in our respective countries, let's put some aspirational targets out there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New Zealand is set to host its first State of Origin match at Eden Park next year. Do we think this is good news? What does this development mean for Auckland? The FTA with India has sparked debate and discussion, with Labour outlining their concerns. What do we make of this? What do we think really defines 'Kiwi cuisine'? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SURRENDER MONKEY STARMER? ON EU, BORDERS, CHINA 15 U-TURNS  #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #Live #Starmer #SurrenderMonkey #UKPolitics #Labour #EU #BorderCrisis #ChinaEmbassy #ChagosIslands  What's a surrender monkey? It's a political coward. A leader who talks tough, waves the flag, then folds at the first sign of pressure. Someone who gives ground, again and again, while pretending it's all part of a "reset". And that, folks, is exactly what Keir Starmer has become.  The latest big relaunch, reboot, reinvention — call it what you like — is just another desperate attempt by Starmer to reinvent himself again. New suit, new slogan, same weak leader. He doesn't need re-booting. He needs booting out.  Starmer said he wouldn't crawl back to the EU — now he's doing just that. He talked tough on border security — now it looks like he's simply given up. He's capitulated to China over the super-embassy. He's rolled over on the Chagos Islands. Yet somehow, with a straight face, he tells us Britain must be "war-ready" for Russia. You couldn't make it up.  This is not a fighter. This is a man in managed retreat — surrendering abroad, wobbling at home, and presiding over 15 policy U-turns that expose a government with no core beliefs and no backbone. A lame-duck premiership is unfolding before our eyes.  Every day he clings on, the country is dragged further down with him. Starmer should do the decent thing: admit defeat and go now, instead of letting this sorry farce grind on. That's the verdict — Jon Gaunt says it as it is.  #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #Live #KeirStarmer #Starmer #SurrenderMonkey #UKPolitics #Labour #LabourGovernment #Uturns #EU #Borders #BorderCrisis #China #ChinaEmbassy #ChagosIslands #Russia #WarReady #LameDuckPM #PoliticalCrisis #Britain  Jon Gaunt, Jon Gaunt TV, live, Keir Starmer, Starmer, surrender monkey, UK politics, Labour, Labour government, policy u-turns, EU, borders, border security, China, China super embassy, Chagos Islands, Russia, war ready, lame duck prime minister, political crisis, Britain This is political blogging and hard-hitting social commentary from Triple Sony Gold Award-winning talk radio legend, Jon Gaunt — former host on BBC, Talk Radio, and Sky News. On Jon Gaunt TV, we cut through the noise and say what others won't. No political correctness. No censorship. Just real conversations that matter.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.theflyingfrisby.comGood Sunday to you,In case you missed them, I put out two articles this week. Here they are.By now I am sure you will have stumbled across Matt Shumer's essay Something Big Is Happening, which has gone bananas viral. Eighty-one million views on X alone. That's even more than We're All Far Right Now.Shumer describes how AI capability is improving exponentially, meaning that most screen-based jobs face imminent and major disruption. By that he means all but disappearing. His advice is blunt: get good at using AI now; assume much of what you do will be automated, and thus your doing it will soon be redundant; and start saving up, there's economic upheaval coming.It's perhaps the best articulated essay there is describing this bleak view of what is coming.From my own little vantage point, I'm not nearly so pessimistic. I use AI a lot, and I use it more and more. Its rapid improvement over the last six months has been obvious, though it still cannot recognise humour, let alone write it - humour that's actually funny, anyway. So it's rather like the BBC comedy department in that regard.EDIT: Having written that last paragraph, I just watched this. It is a perfect Frat Pack joke. I've now watched a load of other clips made with AI movie generator Seed Dance 2.0 from Byte Dance (parent company of TikTok), and I've a mind to short Disney first thing on Monday morning. The content is breathtaking, even the comedy.I use AI as a sounding board, for legal and regulatory questions, bureaucratic procedures, personal advice, career and business advice, videos, images. I use it to proof read copy, in the case of PR which I hate writing, I use it to actually generate copy; it helps me with titles, SEO summaries and research. I am not at the point where it writes my articles for me, and I like to think I would not let that happen, but I know others are: I am increasingly reading pieces in respectable broadsheets that are clearly written by bots.That represents a lot of work I might once have given to other people.On the other hand, if I had needed to pay someone proper money to do it, I probably would not have done it at all. In that sense it is not so different from the democratisation of media that followed the turn of the 21st century, when filmmaking, podcasting and publishing suddenly became accessible to anyone with a laptop.From a personal point of view I know I have lost a shedload of voiceover work to AI, and what used to be my main source of income no longer is. More annoying, my voice, with the countless documentaries, promos, trailers and ads I've voiced over the years, has been harvested, modelled and copied like mad. Not a lot I can do. But the net result to the world is more content, better content, produced faster and at lower cost.I'm not sure quite how end-of-days it all is. But Shumer's finger is on the pulse in a way mine is not.Let's assume he is more right than I am. What then?Two things follow.First, AI is deflationary. Services get cheaper. Productivity rises. Labour loses bargaining power.Second, governments will not sit back and watch demand collapse. If employment and incomes come under pressure, the political response will be fiscal support, especially if it win s elections. This means more borrowing, therefore lower interest rates, and more money-printing. Different routes, same destination: easy money.That is essentially the conclusion reached by analyst Lyn Alden in her latest newsletter, though her reasoning is more technical. The Federal Reserve has already moved from balance sheet reduction back to ongoing expansion. Not a dramatic “QE moment”, but a structural, steady increase to keep the financial plumbing functioning. She calls it the “gradual print”.Jefferies' Chris Woods, whose Greed & Fear letter I have come to rather like, arrives at a similar place via politics. The US government is now so sensitive to interest costs that sustained tight policy is unrealistic. If markets wobble or growth weakens, intervention returns. Monetary restraint will not survive contact with fiscal reality.Hedge fund billionaire, Ray Dalio's argument, laid out in his latest offering, is similar, though simpler and colder. The United States is late in a long-term debt cycle, with borrowing rising faster than income. There are three ways out: austerity, default or money printing. The US will choose the third. If foreign buyers will not fund the deficits at acceptable rates, the central bank ultimately does. Different language, same conclusion.Which brings me to an interview I listened to this week, between Grant Williams and Rabobank's Michael Every. Every thinks stable coins will act as the funding vehicle. Every's argument is more macro than AI or the Fed. He believes we are seeing a structural shift in the global economic system, comparable to the late Soviet period. With Communism in its final throes, Gorbachev tried to transform the USSR from a military-industrial economy into a consumer one. It failed and the system collapsed.The United States, Every argues, is now attempting the reverse. After decades of financialisation and consumption, it is trying to rebuild industrial and military capacity. That means: industrial policy, trade protection, supply-chain control and capital directed toward production, rather than asset inflation. Instead of buying US treasuries, foreign dollars get recycled into US manufacturing, industry and, yes, its military.This is not the liberal globalisation model of the last thirty years. It is economic statecraft. This means growth may be slower and inflation structurally higher, while financial markets less dominant relative to the real economy.Success is by no means guaranteed, but the direction of travel is toward a more managed, more political, less free market economic system.So … large forces are converging. Different stories, maybe, but the destination is be rather similar.* AI will improve productivity, but lower labour power* Governments will be forced towards fiscal support* No longer independent, central banks will drift towards balance sheet expansion* Geopolitics will drive reindustrialisation and energy demandWhich brings us to the question that matters.What are the implications for your money?Where do you put it?

For two reasons Paul is confident his work among the Thessalonians was not in vain. Firstly, there was visible evidence of the work of God in their lives. Secondly, and most significantly, they were chosen and loved by God, just as Paul, Silas and Timothy were. The first is the fruit and evidence of the second. For those in Christ, we too can just as sure and certain that our labours in life and faith are not in vain, for we too have been chosen and loved by God. Take a moment to look and see the work of God in your own life and give thanks to him for his grace and love towards you.

The Prime Minister says Labour's concerns with the India Free Trade Agreement is "politicking", and Chris Hipkins wanting attention. Labour's saying they want the un-redacted advice about the deal and greater protection for migrant workers. In a letter to Chris Luxon, Chris Hipkins wants more clarity about the clause which requires New Zealand business to invest $33billion into India. Luxon told Mike Hosking that none of their concerns are real problems. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this BONUS episode, I'm answering your mostasked questions about advocating for yourself during pregnancy and birth.I get questions about this topic all the time on Instagram@PopThatMumma and thought I'd record a bonus episode about it, because knowing your options in birth is one thing, but speaking up in the moment, when you're tired, vulnerable, or in labor is a WHOLE other skill.I share practical tools, mindset shifts, and simple phrases you can use so your decisions come from clarity, not fear so youcan feel calm, informed and confident making decisions that are right for you and your baby.If you want deeper support, meditations and nervous-system based birth prep, you can explore Birth Box,and use code PODCAST to save 20%⁠https://www.hypnobirthing-positive-birth.com/birthbox⁠I can't wait to help you feel even more birth ready.PoppyPopthatmummaPlease note: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for entertainment and general information only. They do not constitute medical, clinical, or professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have.

James Macintyre joins James Heale to discuss his new biography of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown: Power With Purpose. While the book has been years in the making, little did James know that it would end up published at the same time that its themes and subjects could never be more relevant.James tells our deputy political editor about the relationship between Brown and Blair, what the Labour leader makes of Keir Starmer's problems today and his reflections – with hindsight – about bringing the now-disgraced Peter Mandelson back into government in 2008. 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.

James Macintyre joins James Heale to discuss his new biography of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown: Power With Purpose. While the book has been years in the making, little did James know that it would end up published at the same time that its themes and subjects could never be more relevant.James tells our deputy political editor about the relationship between Brown and Blair, what the Labour leader makes of Keir Starmer's problems today and his reflections – with hindsight – about bringing the now-disgraced Peter Mandelson back into government in 2008. Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour's unpopularity contest, the joys of figure skating and bonkers advice from RFK Jr's nutrition chatbot.Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn explore the most ludicrous and laughable stories of the week.Including calls for Britain to set up a “Ministry of Sex”...SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN AD-FREE:

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Rupert Lowe's crowdfunded rape gang inquiry begins amid deep mistrust in official processes, reopening questions about what was known, what was hidden, and who should be held accountable. That tension spills into wider political instability, with Keir Starmer insisting he's staying put, critics questioning his longevity, fresh scrutiny over Labour's handling of the courts, and symbolic flashpoints over flags and authority feeding a sense that something in Britain's civic fabric is under strain. See me LIVE at Florida Fish House, February 16, 17th and March 1 and 2nd - https://oldfloridafishhouse.ticketspice.com/russell-brand- 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 check out tryreborn.com and grab what you need  

Keir Starmer was on the brink of a leadership contest this week, but he pulled it back. That does not mean his rivals have gone away. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to Kiran Stacey about one of the most hotly tipped contenders: Wes Streeting. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

From the son of a bus driver on a South London council estate to the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital, Sadiq Khan's story is inseparable from the story of modern London. But with that journey has come a decade at the sharpest end of British politics.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O'Brien sits down with the Mayor of London to trace the path from a crowded flat in Tooting to City Hall. Khan reflects on his parents' migration from Pakistan, the racism he experienced growing up, and the teachers who helped him see that the rooms of power were not off limits. He describes the leap from human rights lawyer to MP, the gamble of running for mayor, and the reality of governing a city through terror attacks, Brexit, a pandemic and deep political division.They discuss the resurgence of overt racism, the personal cost of public life, and why Khan refuses to let abuse dictate his politics. He speaks candidly about the backlash he faced over equal marriage, the solidarity he believes minorities must show one another, and the responsibility he feels to prove that London remains a city where progress is possible.Attention also turns to the future of the Labour Party. As calls emerge for Keir Starmer to stand down, Khan addresses the speculation directly. He reflects on party unity, leadership under pressure and the dangers of allowing internal divisions to overshadow the broader task facing Labour. For Khan, the question is not about personalities but about purpose: what Labour is for, who it represents, and how it responds at moments when confidence wavers.At its heart, this is a conversation about resilience, representation and the fragile idea of social progress. Can a city that once displayed signs reading “No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs” continue to move forward.EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Jack Horgan-Jones and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· This week saw the European Parliament approve a € 90 billion package to support Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia. The loan was approved by a comfortable majority, but among those who voted against it were Sinn Féin's two MEPs, Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion. The decision to oppose the measure put them in the company of the likes of Germany's Alternative für Deutschland, Hungary's Fidesz and France's Rassemblement National.· The Government has made a U-turn on the regulation of short-term lets here. After consultation with the tourism industry, Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke decided to change the previous plan to restrict such lets in towns with populations of more than 10,000 to populations of at least 20,000, this move would effectively lift the threat of regulation from potentially thousands of Airbnbs across rural towns here.· The mood was buoyant at the Social Democrat national conference in Cork with the afterglow of Catherine Connolly's presidential election win in evidence, along with polls showing the party has begun to put daylight between itself and the Greens and Labour, who occupy the same political space. Are they about to spearhead a united left movement ahead of the next general election?· Plus, sport and politics collide ahead of the Republic of Ireland's Nations League fixtures against Israel in the autumn. There have been calls for a boycott, but the FAI confirmed on Thursday that the matches would go ahead as planned. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tommy and Ben discuss the growing calls for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign over Labour's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and the comparative lack of political accountability here in the US. They also talk about new details surrounding the whistleblower complaint that was silenced by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, an overwhelming electoral victory for the nationalist party in Japan, a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan that could jeopardize Trump's upcoming trip to China, and a penis enlargement scandal taking center stage at the Olympics. Then, Ben speaks to Nilo Tabrizy, an investigative reporter who was just laid off from The Washington Post about the mass cuts to the international desk, and what will be lost without the newspaper's investment in foreign reporting.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Preorder Ben's book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches and subscribe to his Substack here.