Podcasts about Labour

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.

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

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/

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It's like a hungry child screaming for more food, even though you've just fed them dinner and pudding. Across the Tasman, Jim Chalmers, the Aussie Treasurer is facing high debt and deficit. They've managed to achieve the highest level of spending to GDP of any government in 40 years outside the pandemic. Sound familiar? To deal with this, the IMF has just told them they should cut their cloth. They've also suggested the Federal government may need to bail out some states who are also weighed down by the Double Ds of post-Covid governance. Debt and deficit. Let's not forget this is the lucky country. The one that's been firing on cylinders we don't even have. The Flying Aussie Roos, it turns out, haven't quite been putting away for a rainy day despite making hay while the sun shines. So, what do they do? There's a report out from the Australian this morning that they're considering taxing more. Remember they already have a capital gains tax, the thing we don't have but Labour's promising her to introduce. But they have a discount on it for assets held for at least a year - once you flick it off you get half off the tax. Their Treasurer has apparently been keen on getting rid of this discount before. And not ruling it out now. It bring them an extra $10billion in revenue. So when parties here say they'll solve our problems with new taxes, is that the end of the story? Or does the insatiable beast come back for more? This is a problem unique to government. In private business, as you well know, you only put prices up so high in order to cover costs. People have choice about what they buy and they might put you out of business. So you cut costs. You innovate. You change and adapt to remain competitive. Government's can raise taxes indefinitely. The problem with some of them is that, given the chance, they would.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.

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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Caroline Wheeler of The Sunday Times assesses the latest developments at Westminster.After a week in which the Prime Minister had to fight for his political survival, Caroline speaks to Labour grandee, Alan Johnson, a Cabinet minister in both the Blair and Brown governments, and Peter Hyman, a former strategist for Tony Blair when he was in Number Ten.In the wake of the scandal around Peter Mandelson, and amid concerns about the slow progress of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a new cross-party group is calling for 'wholesale' reform of the House of Lords. One of those involved is Carmen Smith of Plaid Cymru, the youngest member of the House of Lords. Lord Young of Acton, a Conservative peer and founder of the Free Speech Union, is concerned that rule changes on stripping peerages could be used to suppress speech.Ahead of the Government's Schools White Paper, which is likely to include controversial reforms to special educational needs provision, Caroline speaks to Jo Hutchinson of the Education Policy Institute about how the system might be changed.And, to discuss what it's like inside Number Ten at moments of political crisis, Caroline brings together Guto Harri, former Director of Communications to Boris Johnson, and Luke Sullivan, former political director for Sir Keir Starmer.

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.

‘Authority is like virginity. Once it's gone, it's gone' – that's just one of the damning quotes about Keir Starmer that Tim Shipman has extracted from sources inside the Labour government. Much of Starmer's bad luck this week is arguably of his own making, so why is he seemingly so bad at being the Prime Minister? For this week's Edition, host Lara Prendergast is joined by political editor Tim Shipman, associate editor – and Conservative peer – Toby Young, and the broadcaster Guto Harri, who – as a former director of communications at Number Ten himself – knows a thing or two about the brutal reality of being at the heart of government. As well as Starmer's torrid week, they discuss: why defence minister Al Carns of the 2024 intake is being talked up as a potential successor to Starmer; whether Kemi Badenoch has improved as Tory leader – and can she avoid being the Iain Duncan-Smith of the 2020s; how the Epstein files have proven royal biographer Andrew Lownie right; why we are seeing a boom in children's toys for adults and whether it matters; what the panellists make of the new Wuthering Heights adaptation; and finally, is there anything wrong with a man wearing a wig?Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A listener paying 67% in tax asks if Labour are destroying UK productivity. From the new and improved New Statesman podcast studio, Anoosh and Rachel answer listener questions on tax, student loans and Nigel Farage MP's second (and third, and fourth) jobs.In the mailbag this week:A listener earning over £100,000 writes in to ask why the government is failing to address the "tax trap" that means high-earning parents are "penalised".Would the British public back student loan forgiveness?And why can Nigel Farage and other parliamentarians present TV shows, run consultancies, and earn money on the side of their MP job?SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN AD-FREE:

As Keir Starmer flies to Germany for the Munich Security Conference, Westminster Insider Host Sascha O'Sullivan finds out if the Prime Minister's time abroad has damaged him here at home – and if it has, if it's been worth it.  Sascha spoke to half a dozen current or former Labour advisors or government insiders about Starmer's approach to foreign policy. With the help of POLITICO Foreign and Defense Correspondent Esther Webber, she pieces together Starmer's legacy on the world stage.  Olivia O'Sullivan, director of UK in a Changing World at Chatham House, says the Prime Minister has managed to secure "the least worst option" with Donald Trump.  And Peter Ricketts, former head of the U.K.'s diplomatic service, said the shift towards “a hyper-personalized world” demands Starmer's presence. “Unless you are in the room with Donald Trump, you're not influencing him," Ricketts added. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clement Manyathela and Mandy Weiner speak to Bantu Holomisa, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Jomo Sibiya, Nomvula Mukonyane, Songezo Zibi, Herman Mashaba, Des Van Royen, Dr Mike Masiapato, Parks Tau, Mmusi Maimane, Gayton McKenzie, Zingiswa Losi and Willie Aucamp who share their views on President Cyril Ramaphosas speech. They also reflect on whether the speech addressed the major concerns of the citizens or if it was another talk shop according to the description of some.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billionaire and Manchester United co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has apologised to those who were offended by his comment that “the UK has been colonised by immigrants”. He said this to a journalist at a business summit in Belgium earlier this week.Sir Keir Starmer, who condemned Sir Jim's comments has said that he was right to apologise for causing offence. While the businessman was also criticised by Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, and other opposition parties and footballing groups, Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, has defended him saying ‘Labour may try to ignore [immigration] but Reform won't.'James and Alex are joined by chief football news reporter, reporter Simon Stone. Plus the BBC's climate editor, Justin Rowlatt, joins James and Alex to explain the data that says China's CO2 emissions have been falling for the past year and what it tells us about the trends for global emissions.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 presenters were Alex Forsyth and James Cook. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi, Chloe Scannapieco and Sophie van Brugen. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Carl, Harry, and Firas discuss Jim Ratcliffe telling the truth, how Starmer turned Labour into the nonce party, and the latest transgender shooter in Canada.

Ex-Prince Andrew was the tip of the iceberg. The latest trove of Epstein files reveals new details about former UK envoy Peter Mandelson's ‘best pal’ relationship with the convicted sex offender that have pushed Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour into a new crisis. Is this the scandal that defines Labour? In this episode: Kieran Andrieu (@kieran_andrieu) Political Economist and Novara Media contributor Episode credits: This episode was produced by Melanie Marich, with Sarí el-Khalili, Chloe Li, Spencer Cline, Maya Hamadeh, Tuleen Barakat, Sonia Bhagat and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

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.