Podcasts about northern ireland office

The question of how to reform the House of Lords dominates discussions about the upper house, with less attention focused on its day-to-day activities. Since his election as Lord Speaker in 2021, Lord McFall of Alcluith has sought to champion its important role of revising legislation and advising the government, while ensuring the Lords remains on the path of modernisation. Lord McFall has focused on parliamentary outreach and prioritised communicating the value of the House of Lords externally, bringing the devolved parliaments and Westminster closer. He has also worked with schools and universities, and launched a podcast, to demystify the upper house. What are public perceptions of the upper chamber and how have they changed? How has the Lords changed its ways of working? What kinds of links does it have with the devolved parliaments? And what might all of this mean for discussions about reform of the Lords? Lord McFall addressed these questions and more in a keynote speech at the Institute for Government, before taking part in a discussion with the IfG's Director Dr Hannah White and an audience Q&A. Lord McFall of Alcluith became Lord Speaker in 2021, having served as senior deputy speaker for five years. He entered the Lords in 2010 after spending 23 years in the Commons as Labour MP for Dumbarton and later West Dumbartonshire. There, he served as a minister in the Northern Ireland Office, a government whip, and chaired the Treasury Select Committee between 2001 and 2010, including during the global financial crisis. Before entering politics, Lord McFall worked for over a decade as a teacher.

The question of how to reform the House of Lords dominates discussions about the upper house, with less attention focused on its day-to-day activities. Since his election as Lord Speaker in 2021, Lord McFall of Alcluith has sought to champion its important role of revising legislation and advising the government, while ensuring the Lords remains on the path of modernisation. Lord McFall has focused on parliamentary outreach and prioritised communicating the value of the House of Lords externally, bringing the devolved parliaments and Westminster closer. He has also worked with schools and universities, and launched a podcast, to demystify the upper house.  What are public perceptions of the upper chamber and how have they changed? How has the Lords changed its ways of working? What kinds of links does it have with the devolved parliaments? And what might all of this mean for discussions about reform of the Lords? Lord McFall addressed these questions and more in a keynote speech at the Institute for Government, before taking part in a discussion with the IfG's Director Dr Hannah White and an audience Q&A. Follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) @IfGEvents and join the conversation using #lordspeaker. Lord McFall of Alcluith became Lord Speaker in 2021, having served as senior deputy speaker for five years. He entered the Lords in 2010 after spending 23 years in the Commons as Labour MP for Dumbarton and later West Dumbartonshire. There, he served as a minister in the Northern Ireland Office, a government whip, and chaired the Treasury Select Committee between 2001 and 2010, including during the global financial crisis. Before entering politics, Lord McFall worked for over a decade as a teacher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the weekend Mary Lou McDonald made a comment that a United Ireland is now ‘within touching distance' now that Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill is First Minister.Kieran was joined by Kevin Meagher, Former special adviser at the Northern Ireland Office and author of ‘A United Ireland: Why Unification is Inevitable and How It Will Come About', Robbie Smith, Editor of An Phoblacht and the former General Secretary of Sinn Fein adn Deirdre Heenan, Professor of social policy at Ulster University

Peace in Northern Ireland is widely recognised as one of the leading achievements of politics in recent decades.  The Good Friday, or Belfast Agreement, reached in 1998 by the British and Irish governments and most of the main Northern Ireland political parties brought an end to thirty years of violent conflict in which over three and a half thousand people were killed.It did so in part by establishing a system of power-sharing government.  A new Northern Ireland Assembly would be elected by proportional representation, so no one group could dominate. Within the new Northern Ireland Executive, representatives of Northern Ireland's two political traditions would have to work together.Over the years since the Agreement was reached, the power-sharing institutions have worked well some of the time. But for others they have worked badly or not at all. Since February 2022 their functioning has once again been suspended. Public anger at this situation is intense. Negotiations for restoring the institutions are ongoing. But, as yet, there has been no breakthrough.Indeed, the situation has become so grave that many think the future viability of power-sharing government is now in doubt. And there are suggestions that the settlement reached in 1998 may need to be revisited.In this episode we're joined by two experts:Alan Whysall is an Honorary Senior Research Associate at the Constitution Unit here within the UCL Department of Political Science. He was previously a senior civil servant in the Northern Ireland Office, where he worked for many years on the Northern Ireland peace process – including the talks that led to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.Conor Kelly is a Research Assistant at the Constitution where he has worked on multiple projects relating to Northern Ireland, most recently examining perceptions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement among politicians and the public in Northern Ireland. Mentioned in this episode:Alan Whysall's reports: 'Report 1: Northern Ireland's Political Future' and 'Report 2: The Agreement at 25' https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/northern-irelands-political-futureConor Kelly and Alan Renwick, Perspectives on the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 

Peace in Northern Ireland is widely recognised as one of the leading achievements of politics in recent decades.  The Good Friday, or Belfast Agreement, reached in 1998 by the British and Irish governments and most of the main Northern Ireland political parties brought an end to thirty years of violent conflict in which over three and a half thousand people were killed.It did so in part by establishing a system of power-sharing government.  A new Northern Ireland Assembly would be elected by proportional representation, so no one group could dominate. Within the new Northern Ireland Executive, representatives of Northern Ireland's two political traditions would have to work together.Over the years since the Agreement was reached, the power-sharing institutions have worked well some of the time. But for others they have worked badly or not at all. Since February 2022 their functioning has once again been suspended. Public anger at this situation is intense. Negotiations for restoring the institutions are ongoing. But, as yet, there has been no breakthrough.Indeed, the situation has become so grave that many think the future viability of power-sharing government is now in doubt. And there are suggestions that the settlement reached in 1998 may need to be revisited.In this episode we're joined by two experts:Alan Whysall is an Honorary Senior Research Associate at the Constitution Unit here within the UCL Department of Political Science. He was previously a senior civil servant in the Northern Ireland Office, where he worked for many years on the Northern Ireland peace process – including the talks that led to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.Conor Kelly is a Research Assistant at the Constitution where he has worked on multiple projects relating to Northern Ireland, most recently examining perceptions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement among politicians and the public in Northern Ireland.  Mentioned in this episode:Alan Whysall's reports: 'Report 1: Northern Ireland's Political Future' and 'Report 2: The Agreement at 25' https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/northern-irelands-political-futureConor Kelly and Alan Renwick, Perspectives on the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 

The Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP is a Minister at the MOD and we were excited to record this episode in the heart of our nation's Defence HQ at MOD Main Building.  We talk about the Invictus Games, Ukraine, his service in the Royal Navy as a doctor, both regular and reserve, his family, Defence and the various ministerial roles he has served in.We also share a special message this Christmas time to all those from the Armed Forces serving over the break.Big thanks to the MOD for their help in delivery this episode.About the MinisterDr Andrew Murrison was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence on 30 October 2022.He was previously Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development from 9 May 2019 to 13 February 2020.He was elected Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire in May 2010, and was first elected as the Conservative MP for Westbury in June 2001.In November 2003 he was appointed to the Conservative front bench as a health spokesman, transferring in July 2007 to defence. In May 2010 Andrew became Parliamentary Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Health and was asked by the Prime Minister to review and make recommendations on health care for members of the services community. The principal recommendations in the subsequent reports, ‘Fighting Fit' and ‘A Better Deal for Military Amputees', are being rolled out by the government.In November 2011 Prime Minister David Cameron appointed him as his special representative for the centenary commemoration of the First World War, a post he was re-appointed to by Theresa May.Andrew previously served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence and Minister for International Security Strategy from September 2012 until July 2014. He then served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office from July 2014 to March 2015. He chaired the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee from July 2017 to May 2019.Career outside politicsAndrew served for 18 years as a medical officer in the Royal Navy, leaving in October 2000 as a Surgeon Commander. In 2003 he was recalled to serve in Iraq.In 2021 was mobilised to lead vaccination teams as part of Operation Rescript. He remains an active reservist.Personal lifeAndrew and his wife live near Warminster. They have 5 daughters, 2 of whom serve in the Armed Forces.Useful links:OP Courage: Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists - NHS (www.nhs.uk)Combat Stress is the UK's leading mental health charity for veterans  Call them on 0800 138 1619, text them on 07537 404 719 or email helpline@combatstress.org.uk.Medical assistance for veterans in:England: NHS 111 service or call 111 when you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency, or contact NHSScotland: Scotland's Health on the Web or call 111Wales: NHS Direct Wales or call 0845 46 47Northern Ireland: nidirect government services - telephone contact details are available from the websiteSamaritans Call 116 123 to speak to a Samaritan.Support the show✅Support The Show Help Us Grow! Help us reach more veterans by donating the cost of a cup of coffee today...

Northern Ireland has had no ministers since October. The DUP is refusing to re-enter into power-sharing arrangements in protest over the Northern Ireland protocol; despite the new Windsor Framework agreement, the party has still not returned to Stormont. The Secretary of State has had to set a budget for Northern Ireland, and civil servants are obliged to make difficult decisions to balance the books. To discuss the ongoing governance challenges in Northern Ireland, reflect on the impact of the Windsor Framework, and set out the Northern Ireland Office's approach to restoring power-sharing, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, the Northern Ireland Secretary, spoke at the Institute for Government. The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government.

Northern Ireland has had no ministers since October. The DUP is refusing to re-enter into power-sharing arrangements in protest over the Northern Ireland protocol; despite the new Windsor Framework agreement, the party has still not returned to Stormont. The Secretary of State has had to set a budget for Northern Ireland, and civil servants are obliged to make difficult decisions to balance the books. To discuss the ongoing governance challenges in Northern Ireland, reflect on the impact of the Windsor Framework, and set out the Northern Ireland Office's approach to restoring power-sharing, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, the Northern Ireland Secretary, spoke at the Institute for Government. The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government.

As the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement passes its 25th anniversary, uncertainty remains over whether Northern Ireland's power-sharing institutions will be restored any time soon. Debate has intensified over possible reforms, notably to how the Northern Ireland Executive is formed and to voting procedures within the Assembly. There are also differing views over the optimal forms of North–South and East–West engagement. The UK government has a vital role in shaping Northern Ireland's future, but trust in it is exceptionally low across all Northern Ireland's communities. In this seminar, a panel of leading authorities will explore the question of what London's role and priorities should be.Speakers:• Simon Hoare, Conservative MP for North Dorset and Chair of the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee• Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Professor of Politics and Provost of Ulster University• Baroness (Angela) Smith of Basildon, Shadow Leader of the House of Lords, Labour Spokesperson on Devolved Issues in the Lords, and former minister in the Northern Ireland Office• Alan Whysall, Honorary Senior Research Associate at the Constitution Unit, former civil servant in the Northern Ireland Office, and author of Northern Ireland's Political FutureChair: Professor Alan Renwick, Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, UCLFurther reading: The Agreement at 25: A Time for Constitutional Change in Northern Ireland? - Alan Whysall 

Calum is joined by Tom Kelly, who spent nearly a decade in government, first as director of communications at the Northern Ireland Office, and then from 2001 to 2007, as the Prime Minister's official spokesperson. Tom was there in the build up to the Good Friday Agreement, was there when it was signed and announced, and was there for the aftermath as well. He remembers the people involved, the dedication required, and assesses where the Good Friday Agreement has fallen short. Support the podcast by becoming a member at: https://plus.acast.com/s/whitehallsources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Liam talks to John Penrose, the government's competition Tsar. Penrose has been the Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare since 2005, having previously worked for JP Morgan and McKinsey. He has also served as a minister in several government departments, including the Northern Ireland Office. In 2021, John wrote the “Power to the People”, a government-commissioned independent report on competition policy, designed to shape new laws to “make capitalism work for all” as the British economy develops outside the European Union. In this detailed interview, and ahead of the publication of an updated Penrose report later this year, John discusses his views on the Autumn statement, ways to improve consumer protection and the need to “reclaim supply-side economics”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk to Steve Baker, Conservative MP and Minister at the Northern Ireland Office.

Vinny Hurrell sits in Stephen.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to me, we meet Nandi Jola, who is a poet, playwright, and cultural ambassador. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet John Kyle from east Belfast, who is a GP and an elected representative of Belfast City Council. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Charmain Jones, who is a community relations professional, focussing on the development of rural communities. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Martin Magill, who is a priest at St John Parish on the Falls Road in Belfast and co-founder of the 4 Corners Festival. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Denis Stewart, who was a research scientist and educator, and is an enthusiast for conversation in civic spaces. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Emma Must, who is a poet and former environmental activist. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Rob Fairmichael, who is a long-time peace activist and coordinator of INNATE, a non-violence network in Ireland. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Gladys Ganiel, who is a reader and writer of sociology of religion, and has represented Northern Ireland in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Linda Ervine, who is manager of the Tuas Irish language project in east Belfast. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Deirdre MacBride, originally from Newtownstewart in County Tyrone, who describes herself as "a person of this place". What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Brian John Spencer, who is an artist. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Paul Gosling, who is a researcher and writer. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In December's news update, we:- Take a look back at 2021- Consider the challenges for 2022- Talk about health and social care in Northern Ireland- Discuss the upcoming Northern Ireland elections and manifesto asks- Think about our ambitions for the speech and language therapy profession and those speech and language therapists serve for 2022.This interview is conducted by Victoria Harris, Head of Learning at The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and features Derek Munn, RCSLT's Director of Policy and Public Affairs and Ruth Sedgewick, RCSLT's Head of Northern Ireland Office.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Ian Marshall, who is a current member of the Ulster Unionist Party and former Senator of Seanad Éireann. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Norman Hamilton, who is a Presbyterian minister and a former moderator of the Presbyterian Church. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Claire Hanna from the SDLP, who is MP for South Belfast. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Paul McLaughlin, who is a journalist with experience in the corporate, voluntary, and charity sectors. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Eileen Chan-Hu, who is an educator in cultural awareness. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Joseph Nawaz, who is a writer and performer. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet William Redpath, who is a business owner and community worker. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Malachi O'Doherty, who is a writer and commentator. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Rich Dale, who is an entrepreneur and environmentalist. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Emily Stanton, who is a practitioner and an academic in peacebuilding, originally from the United States. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Sarah Creighton, who is a writer, commentator, and lawyer in Belfast. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Darren Ferguson, the founder of Beyond Skin, an organisation which uses arts to help develop a society free from racism and sectarianism. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Claire Mitchell, who's a writer from Belfast. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Quintin Oliver, who's an activist, a campaigner, a lobbyist, and a public policy specialist. What Northern Ireland Means to Me is presented by Julia Paul and produced by Shared Future News, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, with funding from the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. This episode, with transcript, is also available at Shared Future News.

Lord Alf Dubs was born in December 1932 in Prague, and was one of the Czech children rescued from the Nazis in the Kindertransport. He had no idea of the identity of his rescuer until 1988, when a relative spotted his name on Esther Rantzen’s That's Life television programme featuring English former stockbroker Nicholas Winton, who had arranged for the transport of 669 children out of Nazi-occupied Prague. Lord Dubs studied at the London School of Economics before entering a long career in public service. He has been a local councillor, MP for Battersea South and Battersea between 1979 and 1987, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office from 1997 to 1999, Chair of the Fabian Society, Chair of Liberty, a trustee of Action Aid, Director of the Refugee Council and a trustee of the Immigration Advisory Service. He was also Deputy Chair of the Independent Television Commission from July 2000 to February 2001, a member of the Broadcasting Standards Council between 1988 and 1994, becoming Deputy Chairman in 1995, and then Deputy Chair of the Broadcasting Standards Commission until 1997. Lord Dubs was appointed a Labour working peer in 1994, and is an active and independent-minded member of the House of Lords.

On the 14th August 1969 the British Army deployed to Northern Ireland in response to sectarian riots on the streets of Londonderry and Belfast.  Op Banner, as the Army came to call it, was the longest ever continuous operational deployment of troops in the history of the British Armed Forces. In this programme, 50 years on, you'll hear from: Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State for Defence.  General Sir Mike Jackson who served as a Captain with the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment in Londonderry on Bloody Sunday and went on to become Chief of the General Staff. Baron Caine, a former government advisor to the Northern Ireland Office. Richard White, a former Royal Marine who served in Northern Ireland. Presented by James Hirst with Christopher Lee 

Andrea Catherwood is joined by Maria Eagle, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport. The Garston and Halewood MP gives her first interview to the Media Show since being appointed as Labour's Shadow Culture Secretary in January 2016. With BBC Charter Renewal gathering pace and responses to Sir David Clementi's recommendations for BBC regulation and governance emerging from the Government and the BBC, how would Maria Eagle safeguard BBC independence? Sir Joseph Pilling, former permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, has recently been appointed as the independent reviewer of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). IPSO has been strongly criticised by the Hacked Off campaigning group and victims of phone hacking - and only some national newspapers have signed up to it. Sir Joseph has been appointed by the watchdog to conduct an external review of how well or otherwise it is operating, and he tells us how he plans to do it. Yesterday the Investigatory Powers Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has voiced serious concerns about the legislation, saying the bill endangers press freedom and offers no protection for sources or whistleblowers. To consider the implications of the proposed digital surveillance legislation for investigative journalism, protection of sources and journalists' safety, Andrea is joined by Professor Sir David Omand, former Director of GCHQ & Pia Sarma, Editorial Legal Director for The Times newspaper. Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Paul Waters.