Podcasts about Senedd

The new First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth on what Wales really wants, why Reform surged in the Senedd election, and how working as a nightclub bouncer will help him deal with Andy Burnham.

Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield byelection with a huge majority. The speculation on the Prime Minister's future began just as soon as it was announced. Labour List editor Emma Burnell and Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi join us to discuss. It's been a busy week for the Senedd's new education Minister. Anna Brychan is in the studio and Conservative spokesperson on education, Sam Rowlands responds. The last statue of the Monumental Welsh Women project will be unveiled in the Rhondda Heritage Park this week. Helen Molyneux from the project will tell us all about the five women honoured.Continuing our series meeting new members of the Senedd, Reform's Cai Parry-Jones will tell us all about himself.

Fliss and James unpack the Senedd row that saw a walkout after a controversial speech in the Siambr by Reform MS Joe Martin. They're joined by BBC Wales Political Reporter David Deans, who was there at the time, to break down what happened and why. The team also turn their attention to education, analysing the latest announcements from the Welsh Education Minister. They discuss her stance on social media bans, restrictions on mobile phones in schools and the ongoing difficulties around teachers' pay and PISA with our Correspondent Bethan Lewis.

We are delighted to bring you something a little different this week in the company of multi award-winning journalist Will Hayward. Stuart and Will discuss Welsh politics, identity and how it all worked together to bring Plaid Cymru the leadership of the Senedd. For information on Will's books, have a look ⁠HERE⁠ You can read the Will Hayward newsletter on substack ⁠HERE⁠

In this episode Laura visits Cardiff to see what the Welsh capital city is doing for cycling and making the city greener and more resilient in the face of extreme weather. In 2015 Greener Grangetown was completed a city centre project to improve water management and reduce huge volumes of water being transported to water processing plants, and to improve flood resilience. 12 Victorian streets were transformed, and the UK's first cycle street was built, with more than 100 trees planted, safer junctions and improved pavements.In 2019, the Senedd, the devolved government of Wales, enacted legislation to mandate flood management measures on any construction that impacts an area of 100m2 or more. This means developers have to include natural water management measures, like SuDS - sustainable drainage systems - which are highly technical planted areas, which sit alongside roads, cycle routes and pavements. Since then, it is understood that thousands of housing developments have been impacted. The result in Cardiff is an increasingly green city - but it all takes money and time to implement, and progress on Cardiff's cycle network is not as fast as campaigners would like.Laura talks to, in orderSimon Dooley, Team Leader - Flood and Coastal Risk Management at Cardiff Council.Cllr Dan De'Ath, Cardiff Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning & Transport,Daffydd Trystan, newly-elected Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution and Member of the Senedd (MS)Hamish Belding, of FRideDays Bike Bus project coordinatorLinks:Wales' sustainable drainage legislation, which came into effect in 2019, and how Welsh councils can apply them.And English standards, which aren't mandatoryAbout Cardiff's Dock Feeder Canal projectCastle Street in the city centre is Cardiff's latest cycleway with rain gardens.Greener Grangetown was 108 rain gardens removing 40,000m3 volume of surface water from the combined sewer system.Wood Street by the Principality Stadium is 16 rain gardens, 15 tree pits - removing 6,800 m2 of impermeable area from the combined sewer.The Existing and future network of cycle routes in Cardiff is shown in the Active Travel Network Map which can be viewed on DataMapWales by following this link - Active Travel Network Maps | DataMapWales. The ATNM is currently being updated, and a new version will be submitted to Welsh Ministers in December 2026 and will then be republished via the link.For ad-free listening, behind-the-scenes and bonus content and to help support the podcast - head to (https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast). We'll even send you some stickers! We're also on Bluesky and welcome your feedback on our episode: https://bsky.app/profile/podstreetsahead.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With two further ministerial resignations, this time in the ministry of defence, what now for the government and defence spending? Francis Tusa, editor of Defence Analysis is with us to discuss. After two nights of rioting in Belfast following a horrific attack, Professor Dominic Bryan from Queen's Belfast University explains to us how we got here. Questions are being raised about how Plaid Cymru will fund their policies in government. We put them to Finance minister Elin Jones. With rural schools in Welsh-speaking communities closing, research fellow Catrin Llwyd looks at the use of the Welsh language in our communities. The Welsh government is naming its arm's length body for building social housing 'Unnos'. Dr Juliette Wood from Cardiff University tells us what a 'Ty Unnos' or house in one night really is.And in our series meeting new members of the Senedd, we have Plaid Cymru's Zaynub Akbar joining us in the studio.

Den 7. maj var der valg til det walisiske parliament, Senedd. Dette valg var dog noget særligt, da der er blevet lavet ændringer i valgsystemet som giver bedre mulighed for at mindre partier kan komme ind. I den anledning blev en delegation fra Rød Grøn Ungdom sendt til Cardiff, for at bidrage til valgkampen hos partiet Greens. Her fik de lov til at tale med Young Greens kandidaten Tessa Marshall, om Greens mærkesager samt samarbejdet på den europæiske venstrefløj. Værter: August Bøgh Svendsen (RGU), Malthe Havgaard Vorre (RGU)

Childcare returns to the political spotlight in Wales this week. James is joined by Political Editor Gareth Lewis to unpack the Welsh Government's commitment to the policy, after surviving an important vote in the Senedd. They're also joined by Steffan Evans from the Bevan Foundation to explore the real-world impact of getting childcare policy right (or wrong). Plus, James takes a closer look at a Welsh Affairs Committee report into prisons, probation and rehabilitation and the ''serious concerns'' it raises. Ella Rabaiotti from the Welsh Centre for Crime and Social Justice breaks down the findings and what it all means for Wales.

Fliss catches up with Dr Jac Larner from the Wales Governance Centre to look back at the polling across the Senedd election. They discuss what it got right and wrong, political trends and how we got to the final result.

Fliss catches up with our political editor following the first FMQ's after Plaid Cymru's Senedd election victory. Rhun ap Iorwerth faced questions from members across the political spectrum covering topics from health to education.

Guests include former Welsh government minister Lee Waters on the future of transport in Wales, political commentator and podcaster Lesley Riddoch and political scientist, Professor Sir John Curtice, on the future of the SNP after the Murrell crisis. Blair expert (he teaches a course on aspects of the Blair governments) and chief political commentator John Rentoul discusses the intervention by former PM, Sir Tony Blair, on the future of the party and Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko considers the political impact of a Russian drone hitting an apartment block in NATO country, Romania. And in the week when we've experienced record temperatures, Professor Bill McGuire looks at what the climate might be like in the 2050s. And in our regular series of introducing you to new politicians in the Senedd, we hear from Labour MS Shavannah Taj about the impact that her family and her teachers had on her politics

Social security has been undergoing a quiet revolution across the UK. While attention has focused on the roll-out of Universal Credit, many other aspects of the benefits system are devolved, allowing governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to take different approaches to welfare. As newly elected MSs and MSPs prepare to take their seats in the Senedd and the Scottish Parliament, and as the issue of welfare reform continues to loom large over Westminster, understanding what these differences are, and what reforms have worked well, could help to improve the system for everyone. What are the key differences in social security across the four nations of the UK, and is it fair that families may be entitled to very different amounts in different parts of the UK? Which reforms have worked best, and hold lessons for other governments? Should we go further in devolving social security, or does the partially-devolved, partially-reserved nature of social security cause problems for claimants in devolved nations? And what are the wider lessons for welfare reform? The Resolution Foundation hosted an event to debate and answer these questions. Following a presentation of highlights from new research by the Safety Nets project, funded by the Nuffield Foundation and which the Resolution Foundation has contributed to, on social security across the four nations, we will hear from leading experts on what lessons can be learned for further welfare reform.

The new Plaid Cymru government's cabinet minister for enterprise, connectivity and energy, Adam Price joins us in the studio. As world leaders flock to Beijing for trade deals and better relations, we ask Development Reimagined's CEO, economist Hannah Ryder about the rise of China. As the selection process for candidates to the Makerfield by-election faces a few bumps, we discuss where things are with the campaign with the Liverpool Echo's political editor Liam Thorp. The Scottish first minister John Swinney is holding a vote on a motion on independence this week. Abbie Garton-Crosby from the National newspaper compares and contrasts the two different independence journeys of Wales and Scotland. And drinking in the House of Commons: Green MP Hannah Spencer wants it banned. Former Conservative chief whip Lord Hart of Tenby is with us with his view.As we continue to meet new members of the Senedd, this week it's Sarah Cooper-Lessad's turn. She's Reform's shadow cabinet minister for children, young people and skills.

Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth has been confirmed as Wales' first minister, calling it "the greatest privilege of my life".Born in Tonteg in south-east Wales, ap Iorwerth moved to Anglesey as a young child. His father was a teacher, prominent singer and composer, and an active campaigner for Plaid Cymru. His mother was also a teacher and went on to become president of several organisations promoting the Welsh language.After graduating from Cardiff University ap Iorwerth became a journalist and spent two decades as a reporter and presenter with BBC Wales. But in 2013, following the death of his mother, he left broadcasting and successfully contested the Ynys Môn by-election, winning the Anglesey seat in the Senedd.When the Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price resigned in 2023 ap Iorwerth quickly emerged as the obvious successor for many in the party. He was elected unopposed, at the age of 50. Three years later he has become the first Welsh minister from Plaid Cymru. Presenter: Becky Milligan Producers: Annabel Deas and Bethan Ashmead Editor: Justine Lang Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele, Sabine Schereck Sound Designer: James Beard

The new Senedd is underway with new parties, new faces and a lot more MSs. How are the opposition navigating this new landscape? We'll hear from the Welsh leader of Reform and the leader of the Welsh Conservatives. Podcast co-host and former Conservative member and advisor Craig Lawton also joins us in the lounge with Political Correspondent Elliw Gwawr.

James discusses a pivotal moment for the new First Minister, catching up with political editor Gareth Lewis ahead of Plaid Cymru's first Cabinet meeting in government. He also speaks to the journalist behind the Undercover Voters investigation to reflect on what the series uncovered during the Senedd election.

With Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting gunning for Sir Keir Starmer's job, Labour's Lord Peter Hain explains how his party got into such a bind. Plaid Cymru's first ever Welsh government has been formed. New culture and sport minister Heledd Fychan joins us in the studio. Reform gained 34 Senedd members in last week's election. Their leader Dan Thomas tells us his plans for the seventh Senedd. Where Reform succeeded, the Conservatives failed. Why? Former Conservative secretary of state for Wales Robert Buckland has ideas what went wrong, and how to put it right. And 100 years after the 1926 general strike came to an end, reader Stephanie Ward of Cardiff University reminds us how it all unfolded, and its significance.Two new Senedd members join us to tell us all about themselves: married couple Gwyn Williams and Safa Elhassan, two of Plaid Cymru's three members for Gwyr Abertawe.

pWotD Episode 3299: Wes Streeting Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 227,168 views on Thursday, 14 May 2026 our article of the day is Wes Streeting.Wesley Paul William Streeting (; born 21 January 1983) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from 2024 until his resignation in May 2026. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Ilford North since 2015.Streeting read history at the University of Cambridge and was president of the Cambridge Students' Union from 2004 to 2005. He was president of the National Union of Students (NUS) from 2008 to 2010. Streeting also worked for Progress, a Labour Party–related organisation, for a year before working in the public sector. In 2010 he was elected to Redbridge London Borough Council for Labour and became deputy leader of the council in May 2014. Streeting was elected to the House of Commons as MP for Ilford North at the 2015 general election and resigned as the council's deputy leader before standing down as a councillor in 2018. He was returned to Parliament at both the 2017 and the 2019 general elections.Following Keir Starmer's election as Leader of the Labour Party in the 2020 leadership election, Streeting joined the front bench as Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in April 2020. He became Shadow Minister for Schools in October 2020 after the resignation of Margaret Greenwood before joining the shadow cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Child Poverty in the May 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle. In the November 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle, Streeting became, following a promotion by Starmer, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a position he remained in until July 2024. Following Labour's victory at the 2024 general election, Streeting was appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in the Starmer ministry. He resigned from this position in May 2026 following Labour's results in the 2026 United Kingdom local elections, Scottish Parliament election, and Senedd election, citing a lack of confidence in Starmer's leadership.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:42 UTC on Friday, 15 May 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Wes Streeting on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm long-form Patrick.

On this week's episode, we unpack a historic moment as Plaid Cymru unveils its new Cabinet following their victory in the 2026 Senedd election. Newly appointed Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams MS joins us to discuss the party's priorities and what this new era of leadership means for Wales. Meanwhile, in Westminster, pressure continues to mount on the Prime Minister as questions swirl around his leadership. Claire Hughes MP throws her support behind Sir Keir Starmer. Political consultant Cathy Owens and BBC Wales Political Editor Daniel Davies break down the key developments and deliberate on what it all means for Wales and Westminster.

Farmers in Wales and Scotland are asking what last week's elections in Scotland and Wales will mean for agriculture. Neither Plaid Cymru in Wales nor the SNP in Scotland have ended up with an outright majority. In Scotland, Mairi Gougeon, the Rural Affairs Secretary, didn't stand for re-election, so a new appointment will have to be made. In Wales, Plaid Cymru have won 43 out of the 96 seats in an expanded Welsh parliament so are short of an outright majority. It means the Welsh pro-independence party will need the support of others to pass laws and a budget in future. So what does it all mean for agriculture and the environment - both policy areas that are largely devolved? The agriculture show season begins with Balmoral Show just outside Belfast this week. Farming Today will be reporting from the show, and all week, we'll be looking at different aspects of farming across Northern Ireland. Unique to the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland's Soil Nutrient Health Scheme is the largest baseline soil sampling programme ever undertaken. The £37 million government-funded scheme is managed by the Agri-Food and Bio-Science Institute (AFBI) and has taken four years to complete.A new centre to identify and address plant diseases is being set up with government funding of £3 million. The National Centre for Environmental Horticulture Plant Health will be virtual, operated by staff at the government's Animal and Plant Health Agency and the charity, the Royal Horticultural Society. It's hoped that commercial plant growers and gardeners too will send in evidence of pests and diseases to help stop their spread.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney

Plaid Cymru leader and prospective new First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, Welsh Labour's new acting leader, Ken Skates, academics Richard Wyn Jones and Deian Hopkin, former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and two Senedd newbies, Reform's Joe Martin and Plaid Cymru's Kiera Marshall join us to discuss last Thursday's election result.

Fliss and James are joined by Political Editor Gareth Lewis and Politics Wales Presenter Teleri Glyn Jones after a long day. They came together off the back of presenting BBC Wales coverage of the historic Senedd election results.

This week, Nish and Coco make sense of a bruising local election week, as Labour braces for heavy losses, Reform eyes major gains, and the Greens look to break through in London.They're joined by Will Hayward, award-winning investigative journalist and expert on Welsh politics, to break down what's happening in Wales, where Labour's century-long dominance could be coming to an end. He explains the new Senedd voting system, the rise of Plaid and Reform, and what this election could mean for the future of devolution.Plus: Zoë Grünewald joins to unpack Reform's latest migrant detention centre proposal, Green hopes in the capital, and what a bad night could mean for Keir Starmer.And: should MPs be allowed to drink on the job, or is Parliament's bar tab finally becoming a political problem?GUESTS Zoë Grünewald, political journalistWill Hayward, Cardiff-based investigative journalist USEFUL LINKSGuide to Senedd voting system: https://senedd.wales/senedd-now/senedd-blog/how-will-the-new-voting-system-work-at-the-next-senedd-election/CREDITSRadio 4, Today Show Tiktok, Zia Yusef (@ziayusufuk) Instagram, Hannah Spencer (@hannahtheplumbermcr)Pod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUKInstagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukX: https://x.com/podsavetheuk

The elections look set to create ominous headlines for Labour. In the locals they could see massive losses across the country. But in Wales and Scotland voters go to the polls to determine who will run the Senedd and Holyrood. It means the results might not just determine Keir Starmer's future, but the future of the United Kingdom.Observer editor-in-chief James Harding sits down with political editor Rachel Sylvester to unpack what the elections could mean for Keir Starmer, Labour and the United Kingdom.Producer: Amalie Sortland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kosið er í Bretlandi í dag, þingkosningar í Skotlandi og Wales og sveitarstjórnarkosningar víða í Englandi. Þar er Reform, Umbótaflokki Nigels Farage, spáð mikilli fylgisaukningu. Flokkurinn er yst til hægri í breskum stjórnmálum og segja má að Grænir séu lengst til vinstri og þeim er einnig spáð fylgisaukningu. Frjálslyndir demókratar búast við góðum úrslitum en flokkarnir sem einu sinni báru höfuð og herðar yfir aðra breska stjórnmálaflokka mega muna fífil sinn fegri. Þetta eru Íhaldsflokkurinn og Verkamannaflokkurinn sem eiga í vök að verjast. Reform og Plaid Cymru, sem vill að Wales verði sjálfstætt ríki í framtíðinni, keppast um að verða stærsti flokkurinn í Senedd, þingi Wales. Verkamannaflokkurinn hefur stjórnað Wales í næstum þrjá áratugi en er spáð þriðja sæti að þessu sinni. Skoski þjóðarflokkurinn, SNP, virðist hins vegar eiga góða möguleika á að halda völdum. Sólveig Jónsdóttir, rithöfundur og blaðamaður, og Bogi Ágústsson ræddu um skosk stjórnmál og kosningabaráttuna.

Today, we are live as we count down to the Senedd, Holyrood and English local elections happening on Thursday.With less than 24 hours to go until the polls open, the parties are making their final efforts to win over voters across the UK. Adam, Chris, Laura, Felicity and James put their heads together to give a rundown of what's dominated the campaign trails and how that might shape the next few days. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Beth Pritchard. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

It's the week every political nerd has been waiting for. Tomorrow, voters go to the polls in England, Scotland and Wales to elect local councils, Holyrood and the Senedd. Just how bad do things look for Labour—and Keir Starmer? Why are Reform UK and the Greens surprisingly similar? And how come Kemi Badenoch, whose Tories are a mere shadow of their former selves, isn't facing a leadership challenge? Plus: what can local elections really tell us about the next general election?On today's episode, Ellen and Alona are joined by writer and broadcaster Carys Afoko to discuss the days and weeks ahead. A former political adviser to several Labour politicians, she hosts the weekly current affairs podcast “Over the Top, Under the Radar”. To read Carys's recent article. “Are Reform and the Greens battle ready?”, visit the Prospect website. Read everything for free until 11th May. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With less than 24 hours to go until Wales heads to the polls for the 2026 Senedd election James and Fliss take stock with Political Correspondent Daniel Davies.

As voters nationwide prepare to go to the polls for a highly anticipated set of local elections, this week we have a special episode giving you a guide to the key results, when to expect them, how to interpret them, and what might happen next.With around 5,000 council seats in England up for grabs on 7 May, along with six mayoralties, every seat at Holyrood and in the newly expanded Senedd, the Labour Party is braced for an extremely painful evening, which will likely put renewed pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership over the weekend.At the same time, the Conservatives' electoral woes are expected to continue, in what would be a reminder of the work leader Kemi Badenoch has to do to repair the party's brand following its heavy general election defeat in 2024.Meanwhile, signs point to the UK's insurgent smaller parties, Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Zack Polanski's Greens, winning many hundreds of seats across the country, while there are also expected to be gains for Liberal Democrats and independent candidates, further demonstrating Britain's shift to multi-party politics.To discuss all of that and more, host Alain Tolhurst, is joined by Luke Tryl, UK Director at think tank More in Common, along with Dr Hannah Bunting, Senior Lecturer at Exeter University and co-director of The Elections Centre, alongside PoliticsHome's editor Adam Payne and The House magazine's deputy editor Sienna Rodgers.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

The use of AI chatbots for advice is becoming increasingly common. But, could they could be providing misleading information to voters ahead of the Senedd election? Ben Summer, the Journalist running the Undercover Voters investigation, joins James to fill him in on his latest discovery.

Megan Williams sy'n trafod y maniffesto gyda Gareth Parry o Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru.

It's a special election programme this week, with Professors Richard Wyn Jones and Ailsa Henderson and the BBC's Alex Forsyth dissecting the polls and ups and downs of the parties ahead of the Senedd, Holyrood and English local government elections. We'll have watchers of all colours telling us how the campaign has gone for them on the ground: Leanne Wood, Mark Williams, Sean Morgan, Wayne David, Gawain Towler and Lauren McEvatt.

If Labour's election losses are as bad as some experts predict, Keir Starmer might need a cabinet reshuffle to try to show some strength of leadership. Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson discuss the risks of that and why it might be counter-productive for the PM. Plus, pollster Luke Tryl from More in Common returns to chat about the Senedd elections in Wales – why has the voting system changed and why do so few voters seem to understand it?For a list of all candidates standing in your area, visit the Electoral Commission website.Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.ukAnd if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Fliss and James catch up with our Health, Education and Environment Correspondent to unpack the policies and issues that have made it big in the Senedd election campaign so far — and those that haven't.

In this episode, IWA Co-Director Joe Rossiter discusses how we can transition to a  fairer, more resilient food system in Wales alongside: restaurateur and food policy advocate Simon Wright; farm business owner Aled Evans; and Alexander Phillips, Policy and Advocacy Manager at WWF Cymru.This episode is brought to you in partnership with WWF Cymru.Support the IWA's work today by visiting:https://www.iwa.wales/about-us/support-us/You can read WWF Cymru's Senedd 2026 election manifesto at:https://www.wwf.org.uk/wales/manifesto-2026

The journalist behind the Undercover Voters project, Ben Summer, is back with a new story from his research. This time, he's been examining how much political parties have been spending on social media over the Senedd election campaign. To find out more about the project, you can listen to our first interview with Ben ahead of the launch at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0n9ns9x.

After another difficult week for the Prime Minister, the Times' Patrick Maguire discusses his position. The ceasefires continue but what is happening with talks to end the hostilities in the Middle East? We have international peace negotiator Nomi Bar Yaakov on the programme. Education is fully devolved yet little has been said about it during the Senedd campaign. Lucy Crehan from the Centre for Education Systems and the general secretary of the teaching union UCAC talk about the new curriculum for Wales. Most parties claim to have fully costed manifestos, but are their financial plans workable? Guto Ifan from the Wales Governance Centres takes us through the figures. Des Clifford is a former civil servant and has published a booklet called Slouching Toward Cardiff Bay. He's with us to discuss the past 27 years of devolution and the challenges ahead for the next Senedd.And in the last in our series of leader interviews, Labour's Eluned Morgan joins us.

Walescast has been hitting the road to speak to voters across the country. This week, on his final stop, James is in Newport, which is part of the new Casnewydd Islwyn constituency. He talks to local people about the issues that matter most ahead of the Senedd election — and asks whether they think the result on May 7th will make a difference.The BBC has a full list of candidates for every constituency in Wales on the BBC news website - where you'll also find everything you need to know ahead of the polling day. We've also got lots more content available on BBC Sounds - just search for Wales Election 2026.

This week on the rocket, co-pilots Halligan and Pearson dive into the political firestorm engulfing Westminster as Sir Keir Starmer faces intense scrutiny over the botched appointment of Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to the US. Following explosive evidence from former civil servant Sir Olly Robbins, the duo explores the ‘process-driven' culture of the current government and whether it is shielding a lack of transparency.Liam explains why even a potential ceasefire or the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz may not be enough to prevent a global energy crisis. With the UK inflation rate unexpectedly rising to 3.3% in March, the hosts warn of a "stagflation" trap that could see food and energy prices soaring for years to come.And co-pilot Pearson brings a report from her homeland in Wales ahead of the Senedd election in May…Highlights:Middle East infrastructure damage threatens high energy prices and rising UK inflation.Reform UK surges in Wales as voters consider abandoning the traditional two-party system.Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |Read Allison ‘Keir Starmer and Olly Robbins deserve each other':https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/21/keir-starmer-olly-robbins-deserve-each-other/ |‘British Jews are in danger. Either we do something about it or they'll leave':https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/22/britains-double-standards-over-anti-semitism/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Britain is the most inflation-prone nation in the G7. That was true before the Iran war':https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/19/britain-most-inflation-prone-in-g7-true-before-iran-war/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam's Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With just over two weeks to go until the Senedd election James and Fliss discuss a busy weekend in Welsh politics. They are joined by Dan Davies to look at new polling, analysis and to discuss the first televised leaders debate from ITV Wales. Ben Summer then joins them to update Walescast on the undercover voters project he's been working on.

With the latest revelations on vetting Mandelson and what the Prime Minister did and didn't know, the FT's political editor George Parker updates us. Israel have agreed a 10 day ceasefire with Lebanon. What does this mean for the fragile ceasefire in Iran? Former foreign office minister Kim Howells discusses. How should the next Welsh government deal with the health service? The Royal College of Surgeons' Jon Barry and Dr Helen Howson from the Bevan Commission have some ideas. The Senedd manifestos are all in, and every party has made their offer on improving housing stock in Wales. The Bevan Foundation's head of policy Mabli Jones is with us to tell us what the issues are. And what's happened to the 6,500 non-conformist chapels that were all over Wales at one point? The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales believe only around 1,500 are still in use as places of worship. Susan Fielding talks about the plan to hold a census of church buildings to see what's happened to them all.And in our penultimate leader interview, it's Plaid Cymru Rhun ap Iorwerth's turn.

In a few weeks, voters in Wales will choose the next Welsh Government in what could be a historic election. With Labour's long dominance under pressure, this episode examines the fiscal backdrop to the campaign and the difficult choices facing whoever takes power.Helen is joined by Joe Rossiter, Co-Director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, and IFS economist David Phillips, to discuss how Wales is funded, how the block grant from Westminster has changed over time, and how devolved tax powers have — and have not — been used. They assess the state of Welsh public services, ask whether Wales should have more powers over tax, spending and borrowing, and explore the constraints facing the next Senedd.They also look at what the parties are promising, where the main dividing lines lie, and why many of the biggest trade-offs are still not being clearly spelled out.Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membershipFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Walescast hits the road to speak to voters across the country. This week, James is in Bangor, part of the new Bangor Conwy Môn constituency. He talks to local people about the issues that matter most to them ahead of the Senedd election — and asks whether they think the result on May 7th will make a difference.The BBC have published a full list of candidates for every constituency in Wales on the BBC news website - where you'll also find everything you need to know ahead of the polling day. We've also got lots more content available on BBC Sounds - just search for Wales Election 2026.

Today, Fliss and James are joined by Luke Tryl from More in Common to discuss his recent trip to Wales and what he's been hearing from voters. The UK Director has been running focus groups across the country, exploring why people are planning to vote the way they are and the issues that matter most to them. We also hear from Ben Summer with the latest update on the Undercover Voters project and what he's seeing so far across the six voter profiles.

Despite a ceasefire with Iran, Israel continues to bomb Lebanon. We'll hear from Sabine Abiaad from Action Aid in Beirut. As the polls open in Hungary, what is the fate of Victor Orbán? Journalist Ivan Nagy joins us from Budapest. As the Senedd election campaign hots up, is the environment a sticking point? Abi Beck from RenewableUK Cymru and John O'Connell from the Tax Payers' Alliance discuss. Nominations for Senedd candidates have closed. How will the parties deal with the new voting system? Jess Blair from the Electoral Reform Society explains it all. And did you know it's Easter Sunday all over again? Father Jacob is an orthodox priest and explains how the orthodox church celebrates a week later.And in our series of interviews with party leaders in the run-up to the Senedd election, this week it's Reform's Dan Thomas' turn.

With one month to go until the local and regional elections, Megan McElroy and James Heale have hit the road with Luke Tryl and Louis O'Geran of More in Common. They report back from the focus groups they've been running in Wales, where voters view Labour through the prism of a double incumbency, as they hold both the Senedd and Westminster. Starmer faces an uphill battle to avoid an historic loss – so is he about to lose Wales?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.

With one month to go until the local elections in England, Wales and Scotland - is the electoral map about to be redrawn?In his first major test since the general election, Sir Keir Starmer faces a major health check and verdict on his government and leadership. Could the results reshape his premiership?In this special episode, Sam and Anne are joined by elections analyst Professor Rob Ford to discuss the key battlegrounds across the country.Can the SNP hold on for a fifth term at Holyrood?Could Welsh Labour lose power in the Senedd for the first time in its electoral history?Will Reform UK and the Greens' surge end the conventional two-party political system for good?Can the Conservatives stop the bleeding of votes across the board?Was the Liberal Democrat revival short-lived?Sam and Anne return for daily episodes from Monday 13 April.

Electioncast is back! Adam is joined by senior correspondent Joe Pike, Scotland editor James Cook, and host of Walescast and BBC Wales' money editor Felicity Evans to break down everything you need to know about the May elections. Elections for the Senedd, Holyrood and local councils across England will take place on the 7th May. Today, we look at what's up for grabs and what's at stake. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Comedian and columnist Stewart Lee joins Nish and Coco to discuss the week's big stories.They talk about Donald Trump's deadly and yet utterly confusing war with Iran, as the US President continues to contradict his own statements about the Strait of Hormuz and peace talks, almost in the same breath. It certainly means a new, live, UK sketch show has plenty of material - but how should comedy respond to the challenging times we are all living through?Plus - why having a weekly opinion column is good for your mental health and why news organisations need to do more to tackle the lies and extreme rhetoric coming from politicians.Don't forget to leave a review - it gives the show a boost and we love to see your comments.CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS VANTA: https://www.vanta.com/PSTUKSHOPIFY: https://shopify.co.uk/podsavetheukINCOGNI: https://www.incogni.com/podsavetheuk Code: podsavetheuk GUESTS Stewart Lee, Comedian and columnist for The NerveUSEFUL LINKSGuide to Senedd voting system: https://senedd.wales/senedd-now/senedd-blog/how-will-the-new-voting-system-work-at-the-next-senedd-election/CREDITSSaturday Night Live UK, Sky OnePod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.Get in touch - contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukLike and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUKInstagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukX: https://x.com/podsavetheuk

On May 7, Labour faces losing some of its oldest heartlands. In Wales, the party has dominated elections for 104 years, but is, according to polls, fighting for third or fourth place against powerful forces on the left and right – Plaid Cymru and Reform. Host Sascha O'Sullivan and POLITICO's political editor Dan Bloom took the train to Newport and drove through South Wales, where the fight is fiercest, to find out how the parties are vying for the top spot in the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament. They spoke to first minister Eluned Morgan as she launched the Welsh Labour campaign in Newport Market. And newly-appointed Welsh leader of Reform Dan Thomas explained why the party there differs from the one led by Nigel Farage. Westminster Insider speaks to Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth about how the party has ditched their message on independence in a bid to scoop up voters on the left disillusioned with Labour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices