Podcast appearances and mentions of sir keir starmer

Is it really a Prime Minister's Questions if the Prime Minister refuses to answer any questions? That was the frustration in the Commons this lunchtime, with Kemi Badenoch attempting to pin Sir Keir Starmer down on Peter Mandelson's appointment, but to no avail.Camilla and Tim assess a fractious and chaotic PMQs.Elsewhere, they speak to Sir Geoffrey Cox, the Conservative MP and former attorney general, after a barnstorming parliamentary speech in which he excoriated David Lammy's plans to limit trials by jury – a feature of our justice system which Sir Geoffrey tells The Daily T is “intrinsic to the English character”.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanVideo Producer: James EnglandStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Nada AggourEditor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, President Trump has reiterated his requests for support from Nato allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz - days after saying we don't need” UK aircraft carriers in the Middle East.For now, the PM and other European allies are holding off - with Sir Keir Starmer saying the UK doesn't want to get drawn into the wider US-Israeli war with Iran. James and Chris are joined by Panorama film maker Jane Corbin to discuss the ongoing disagreement between the two sides of the Atlantic.Plus, The Economist's defence editor Shashank Joshi joins James to explain why Trump has requested European support in the Gulf, and whether it would actually make a difference.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 was James Cook. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi and Harry Craig. The social producer was Gabriel Purcell Davis. The technical producers were Philip Bull and Rohan Madison. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Documents released by the government show that Sir Keir Starmer was warned that Lord Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein posed a "general reputational risk" if he was appointed as the UK's ambassador to the US. The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, told MPs that the due diligence process had "fallen short of what was required". The BBC understands that Lord Mandelson maintains he did not act criminally or for personal gain.

The Mandelson files have been released, and they are damning.The documents reveal that Sir Keir Starmer was warned that appointing Lord Mandelson as US ambassador posed a “reputational risk” over his “particularly close” relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. They also make clear the PM knew the peer remained friends with Epstein even after his conviction for child sex offences.After sifting through the 147 pages, Tim and Camilla decipher the biggest revelations – including that Lord Mandelson was handed a £75,000 payout amid fears he might “go public”.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducers: Lilian FawcettSenior 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.

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have spoken for the first time since the US president condemned the UK's response to the Iran conflict. Reports claim the two leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and military cooperation between the UK and US. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says many details of the call are unknown, but it can't have been pleasant for Starmer. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US President says he doesn't need Sir Keir Starmer to send British aircraft carriers to the Gulf. Former defence secretary Ben Wallace tells BH the ships would only be for show. The conflict in Iran has sent gas prices soaring. Octopus Energy boss Greg Jackson spells out how that will affect energy bills here. Plus, the secretive world of moss collecting and Steve Rosenberg plays the Archers theme tune in the style of Rachmaninov.

A week into the Iran war and Sir Keir Starmer is scrambling to defend the UK's position on the conflict. Criticised by Donald Trump over blocking the US from using British military bases to launch initial strikes on Iran, and under pressure from allies such as Cyprus to do more to protect the region, the PM is also facing demands to participate in strikes from the British right. But polling suggests the UK public is broadly in line with his policy on the conflict. This week host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT's chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley, deputy opinion editor Miranda Green and our economics editor, Sam Fleming, to discuss London's response to the war. Plus, the panel examines chancellor Rachel Reeves' spring forecast and the home secretary Shabana Mahmood's new immigration policy.Want more? Keir Starmer calls for de-escalation and defends his leadership over Iran attacksIn defence of hand-wringers and pearl-clutchersTrump threatens to cut trade with ‘terrible' Spain and calls Starmer ‘no Churchill'Rachel Reeves faces hazardous fiscal picture even without Iran warUK to further curtail rights of asylum seekersWealthy Dubai residents race back to UAE to avoid tax billsClips from: BBCWith Kevin Warsh nominated as the next Federal Reserve chair, join FT journalists on Thursday March 19 at 1pm (GMT) for an exclusive subscriber webinar exploring the future direction of the greenback, monetary policy and the global financial system. Register now for The Dollar under Trump at ft.com/trump-dollar and send us your questions.Sign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter' award. Our email address is politicalfix@ft.comFollow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher and Bluesky; @lucyfisher.ft.com ;Robert: @robertshrimsley and @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Sam @Sam1Fleming and Miranda: @greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.socialPresented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson and Laurence Knight. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity. The FT's head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does President Trump hope to achieve in Iran – a quick show of force, or long-term regime change?  The US and Israel's long-threatened air strikes on Iran have materialized, and the Middle East is facing widespread disruption and a mounting death toll as the war spills across borders. In this episode of Chatham House's international affairs podcast, our expert panel analyses the Trump administration's many stated motivations for the attack, whether there can be a clear-cut end game, and who is likely to take over in Iran after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They also discuss the effect of the war on President Trump's popularity at home as mid-term elections loom, and the criticism levelled at UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer for doing, his detractors say, too little, too late. Host Bronwen Maddox is joined by Sanam Vakil, director of Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme; General Sir Richard Barrons, senior consulting fellow with the International Security Programme; and Laurel Rapp, director of the US and North America Programme.    Produced by Stephen Farrell and Sara Seth.   Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts.   Chatham House's latest: Comment | Trump, the polls, and the war with Iran: What happened to the 'President of Peace'? Comment | Sánchez's principled stand against Trump matters. So does Merz's silence Comment | Netanyahu's biggest gamble

Jeremy Kyle reacts to Sir Keir Starmer facing mounting criticism after reports that President Donald Trump has excluded Britain from key diplomatic discussions on the escalating Iran crisis. With tensions rising across the Middle East, Jeremy asks whether the UK–US “special relationship” is weakening and what it means for Britain's global influence.Jeremy is joined by former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and General Sir Nick Parker, former Commander-in-Chief of UK Land Forces, to assess the military reality behind the headlines. As conflict intensifies and allies ramp up their deployments, they warn Britain's armed forces face growing questions over funding, readiness and whether the UK still has the credible deterrent needed in a more dangerous world.The programme also tackles a major political row over proposals to offer migrants up to £40,000 to leave the UK and return to their home countries. Jeremy speaks to Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's Shadow Home Secretary, as critics say the plan could be costly and open to abuse, while supporters argue it could reduce pressure on the asylum system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer, who's been criticised for his response to the crisis, insists he is providing calm level-headed leadership in the face of chaos in the Middle East. Also: The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has unveiled plans to offer families whose asylum claims have failed up to 40 thousand pounds to leave the UK voluntarily. And the BBC says it's prepared to consider reducing the cost of the licence fee, in return for getting more people to pay.

Shabana Mahmood has announced a host of new anti-immigration measures in Labour's most radical policy intervention since it came to power.The plans include offering asylum-seeking families up to £40,000 to leave Britain, as well as suspending student visas for four countries over migrants using the system as a backdoor route to claim asylum.Camilla and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg assess the plans, after Mahmood tells Camilla at a press conference that the measures are "not the end of the action that we will take in this area".Elsewhere, Jacob condemns Sir Keir Starmer's “flip-flopping” on Iran, which led to him being “bullied by his own Cabinet” into his initial decision to not allow US forces to use British bases.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducers: Lilian FawcettSenior 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.

Last month, Sir Keir Starmer made it clear that the US would not be permitted to use UK bases to launch strikes against Iran. On Sunday, that position shifted. Not only has the UK now allowed the use of joint bases, it is also intercepting Iranian drones, and sources have told The Times that a British warship may be deployed to Cyprus. As tensions in the Middle East escalate, is Britain being drawn ever deeper into the conflict? And how might this end?Our listener survey is live - find it here. 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: Michael Evans, defence contributor, The TimesGeneral Sir Patrick Sanders, former Chief of the General Staff and co-host of The General & the Journalist, one of our sister podcasts Host: Rosie WrightProducers: Sophie McNulty & Olivia CaseWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Special relationship ‘not what it once was', as Trump rebukes PM on IranFurther listening: Iran after the AyatollahClips: The Times, AP, BBC, CNN, The White House, Sky News. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A fresh China spying scandal has hit Labour after David Taylor, the partner of Joani Reid, the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, was arrested on suspicion of assisting Beijing intelligence. Police arrested Mr Taylor along with two other men under the same charges.The arrests followed a bruising encounter for Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs, where Kemi Badenoch branded his response to the Iran war “weak and pathetic”. Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley review what happened, and express their surprise that Badenoch didn't make more of Donald Trump's “not exactly Churchill” criticism.They also speak to Gen Sir Richard Barrons, author of the Government's 2025 strategic defence review, who says we need to be spending billions more on our military, but the Government is choosing to spend money on welfare instead.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducers: Lilian FawcettSenior 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.

Israel has launched a fresh wave of strikes against targets in Iran, as the war's fifth day comes into view. Donald Trump has said "everything has been knocked out" in Iran, but has reiterated his frustration with Sir Keir Starmer over his reluctance to get involved, telling reporters "this is not Churchill we're dealing with" All to discuss with Nicholas Hopton, Former UK Ambassador to Iran and non-resident Senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

President Trump has again criticised Sir Keir Starmer for not initially allowing the US to use British military bases to attack Iran. Also: Thousands of people are trying to flee Tehran. And Britain is sending a Royal Navy warship to help protect UK military personnel in Cyprus.

Sir Keir Starmer has been forced into an embarrassing scramble to send a warship to Cyprus, after France announced a major deployment to Mediterranean.Camilla and Tim speak to Labour MP Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, who has called the US-Israel strikes on Iran illegal – and tells The Daily T, “you can't attack a country because you don't like it and because you want it to be different.”Meanwhile, the Chancellor has delivered her Spring Statement, in which she took the opportunity to re-run some of Labour's most tired attack lines. Tim and Camilla are joined by shadow chancellor Mel Stride and his former party colleague, Reform's Robert Jenrick, to unpack how Rachel Reeve's rosy-sounding figures are hiding a much darker economic picture.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducers: Lilian FawcettSenior 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.

The third day of the war begins with Trump pledging 'the big one' is coming. Nigel Farage slates Sir Keir Starmer for not cooperating with U.S. strikes along with Robert Jenrick. Donald Trump drops an exclusive for Talk live as he says Starmer didn't take action on Iran because of his Muslim voter base. Plus, full analysis of the war for former U.S. Commander Lieutenant General Ben Hodges. Finally, Bill & Hillary Clinton are being shaken down in Congress over paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and former Clinton administration adviser Steve Gill joins to look at Shakin' Bill and Lyin' Hillary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has told The Telegraph that he is “very disappointed” in Sir Keir Starmer, after the Government initially refused the US permission to use UK bases to stage an operation that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.After the PM belatedly gave Trump the go-ahead, Camilla and Tim speak to former chief of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove, who bemoans Starmer's “flip-flopping” on the issue.While he does not think Iran presents an “imminent nuclear threat”, Sir Richard does believe the Prime Minister forfeited the right to be consulted ahead of time about the joint US-Israeli operation when he took his position. He also believes Mr Trump's aim may be for Iran to be run by a “more compliant” group of Ayatollahs, rather than complete regime change.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducers: Lilian FawcettSenior 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.

Iran strikes back hitting almost all of its neighbours. Isabel Oakeshott joins Jeremy live from Dubai after drone attacks hit hotels and infrastructure in the city. Lord Richard Dannatt hits out at Sir Keir Starmer's unpreparedness and his reliance on lawyers to make any strategic decisions. Grant Shapps joins Jeremy to talk about Starmer's failure over Iran and the incoming Spring Statement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Plus, Andrew Lownie joins Jeremy again as he says Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is now on 'suicide watch'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran has threatened shipping in the Persian Gulf and Straits of Hormuz as fighting between the country and the US and Israel escalates. Today, US President Donald Trump says he took the decision to launch a war against Iran because it was the "last, best chance" to stop the country's regime. We devote the entire programme to the conflict, and enlist a panel of experts to guide us through it: Rana Rahimpour is an Iranian-British journalist and former BBC Persian presenter and reporter; Kirsten Fontenrose was senior director for the Gulf at The US National Security Council in the first Trump Administration; and Sir Simon Fraser is a former head of the Foreign Office, now Chair of the British foreign policy institute Chatham House.Here in the UK, Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK's decision not to join the US-Israeli strikes on Iran was "deliberate", adding his government "does not believe in regime change from the skies". We assess the state of relations between the US and UK.

Sonia Sodha discusses the Greens' by-election win in the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton and where this leaves Sir Keir Starmer with the Bassetlaw MP Jo White, who chairs the Red Wall caucus and Andrew Fisher, who was a senior adviser to Jeremy Corbyn when he was Labour leader and is now a columnist for the i newspaper. To assess reforms for children with special educational needs and disabilities, Sonia is joined by Sir Nick Gibb, a former Conservative MP and a long-serving schools minister and the Labour MP Jess Asato who is on the Education Select Committee and has a child with special educational needs..Sonia discusses the appointment of Antonia Romeo to the top job of Cabinet Secretary with Helen MacNamara, who spent 15 years in senior civil service roles and was deputy Cabinet Secretary during the pandemic. And the Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart and Professor Robert Hazell from the Constitution Unit at UCL discuss whether this week's parliamentary debate on the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a trade envoy in 2001 spells the end for the long-standing convention that MPs must not criticise members of the royal family in the Commons chamber.

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to keep fighting, after Labour finished behind the Green Party and Reform UK in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Also: The former US President, Bill Clinton, gives evidence under oath to a congressional committee, about his past links with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And over fishing means mackerel stocks are running low in the seas and on the shelves.

The Gorton and Denton by-election was supposedly a three-horse race, but on polling day the Green Party stormed to victory by a vast margin. It was a devastating defeat for Labour, which was pushed into third place behind Reform UK. Sir Keir Starmer now faces intense pressure, while his party must battle a threat from the left as well as the right. Does this historic result – the first ever by-election triumph for the Greens – signal the end of the two-party system? And where does it leave Reform?Host Lucy Fisher is joined by FT political correspondent Anna Gross, northern England correspondent Jennifer Williams, and political editor George Parker.Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher and @lucyfisher.ft.com; George @georgewparker; Jennifer @JenWilliams_FT; Anna @AnnaSophieGross Sign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insights into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix is presented by Lucy Fisher. This episode was produced by Fiona Symon and Mischa Frankl-Duval. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. The FT's head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Our email address is politicalfix@ft.comClip from BBC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Jeremy Kyle Breakfast Show was dominated by the political shockwave from the Gorton and Denton by election, where Green Party candidate Hannah Catherine Spencer was declared the new MP in a historic upset. In what had long been considered safe Labour territory, Labour slumped to third place, Reform UK were beaten by more than 4,000 votes and the Conservatives picked up just 1.9 percent. Jeremy described it as a political earthquake for Sir Keir Starmer, with pressure mounting on Labour's leadership as voters delivered a dramatic verdict in Greater Manchester.Reform's David Bull told Talk the party would report the claims of 'family voting' to the police. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With under 24 hours to go until the polls open in Gorton and Denton, is this by-election the biggest test facing Sir Keir Starmer's government?Sam has been in the Manchester suburb - hearing from the political big hitters and gathering reaction from voters across the constituency – finding out their priorities and whether Andy Burnham could have made a difference.Back in Westminster, are the Metropolitan Police in a sticky situation over the arrest of Peter Mandelson and claims that he was a “flight risk?”A full list of candidates standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election can be found here: https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/538138/statement_of_persons_nominated_and_notice_of_poll_for_the_february_2026_gorton_and_denton_by_election?outputType=chromeless

As Lord Mandelson's arrest sends shock waves through Westminster, Sir Keir Starmer is set to face his biggest electoral test yet.It is not just a by-election; it is a referendum on the establishment. This week, all eyes are on Manchester as the Gorton and Denton by-election prepares to deliver a verdict that could redefine the UK's political map and stick another nail in Labour's coffin.Camilla and Tim are joined by Scarlett Maguire, pollster and founder of Merlin Strategies, to break down the numbers in what is traditionally a “red wall” fortress, discuss the extraordinary unpopularity of Sir Keir and the potential for a new coalition government.And they catch up with Matt Goodwin, Reform UK's controversial candidate. The academic-turned-politician discusses his belief that the party will win the seat, the “darker forces” and “sectarianism” he claims his opponents are enabling, his comments on the UK's fertility crisis and Reform's push to win over white working-class and minority voters.Producer: 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.

British police have arrested Lord Peter Mandelson, a high-ranking Labour party figure who was until recently Sir Keir Starmer’s ambassador in London, over his links to Jeffrey Epstein. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish author Marian Keyes has sold over 30 million copies of her books worldwide over the past three decades. From her 1995 debut Watermelon to Rachel's Holiday and last year's 'menopause romance' My Favourite Mistake, she's championed telling ordinary women's stories in all their glory, with plenty of humour thrown in. Now some of her most-loved books and characters have been adapted into a TV series called The Walsh Sisters which has just debuted on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Marian and the show's co-creator Stefanie Preissner talk to presenter Nuala McGovern about bringing Rachel and her sisters to life on screen. As the Government prepares to unveil its plans for a major overhaul of the SEND system, we hear from BBC Political Correspondent Alex Forsyth on what's been said so far and what's expected. The government has said it will spend billions to make English mainstream schools more inclusive for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, with Sir Keir Starmer saying that the experience of his late brother, who had learning disabilities, makes him "determined to change Britain so that it is truly built for all." The number of people with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) up to the age of 25 in England has doubled in a decade. Student midwives have contacted us to say many of them are struggling to find jobs despite a serious shortage of midwives in the NHS. A new survey from the Royal College of Midwives echoes that finding. It says 31% of those newly qualified midwifes are still not employed in the role and the majority of those who have found employment are on fixed term contracts. This comes a year after the government announced it's Graduate Guarantee pledging that every newly qualified nurse and midwife in England would have the opportunity to apply to join the NHS workforce. We hear from Safia, who is in her final year of midwifery training, and Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives. Award-winning British Nigerian fashion designer Tolu Coker joins Nuala in the studio fresh from kicking off London Fashion Week with King Charles in the front row. Her latest collection, Survivor's Remorse, is inspired by grief, nostalgia and childhood memories and is a joyful celebration of growing up in 1990s London and the community that shaped her. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths

France is heading for a far right take overIn this latest Lowdown podcast Nick Cohen talks in-depth to with Financial Times journalist Victor Mallet, a former F.T Paris correspondent about his book "Far-Right France: Le Pen, Bardella, and the Future of Europe." Mallett explores how the French far-right, led by Marine Le Pen and her protege Jordan Bardella, has become a mainstream political force after decades of gradual growth since the 1950s. Nick and Victor discuss how the far-right has capitalised on immigration concerns, economic grievances, and media influence to gain power, while the traditional left and centre-right parties have struggled to maintain relevance.Victor Mallet explains how the far-right's seemingly more pragmatic approach and media support have helped them transform from a fringe party to a dominant force in French politics, with significant implications for the European Union's future and the broader European project, and possibly the hard-won peace of Europe.The Far Right is on the march across EuropeNick and Victor discuss how the far right is across the march across Europe, aided and supported by Trump's White House and Putin's Kremlin.They discuss the rise of far-right and nationalist populist parties across Europe and the United States, noting that countries with histories of fascist rule, like Germany and Italy, are now seeing significant support for these parties. They attribute this phenomenon to factors such as immigration, economic challenges, and the "Fox Newsification" of media, which fuels a culture war. Nick suggests that governments' currently tough stances on immigration, mirrored by leaders like Sir Keir Starmer in Britain and Friedrich Mertz in Germany, fail to resonate positively with voters, highlighting the stubborn complexity of addressing anti-immigrant sentiment at the ballot box.Read all about it!Victor Mallet FT @VJMallet is a journalist, and was formerly the paper's Paris correspondent in the last of three stints in France for the FT. He is also an author, most recently of Far-right France: Le Pen, Bardella and the Future of Europe (Published by Hurst, and available now.) Victor is currently still based in Europe.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch is the Conservative MP for North West Essex and the Leader of the Opposition. Since winning her seat in 2017, she has held cabinet positions as Minister of State for Equalities under Boris Johnson and Secretary of State for International Trade under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. She became leader of the Conservative Party in 2024 after Rishi Sunak's resignation and is the first black person to lead a political party in Britain. Her Nigerian parents came to Britain for medical treatment and Kemi was born in a private hospital in Wimbledon in January 1980. Her parents returned with their newborn daughter, and she was brought up in Nigeria in an affluent suburb of Lagos. After a series of military coups and economic downturns, her family, along with many other middle-class families in Nigeria saw their wealth decline and Kemi was sent to London to study for her A levels.Instead of following her parents into medicine, she chose to pursue Computer Systems Engineering and went to Sussex University. A well-paid career in IT followed and she joined the Conservative Party aged twenty-five where she also met her husband, Hamish. Her first attempt at becoming an MP was in 2010 in Dame Tessa Jowell's former constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood constituency in London. She finished third behind the Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates.In 2017, she was selected for the Saffron Walden seat and became an MP.She lives in London with her husband and three children and divides her time between Westminster and her constituency of North West Essex.DISC ONE: The Story of Tonight - Lin-Manuel Miranda, Okieriete Onaodowan, Daveed Diggs, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton DISC TWO: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson DISC THREE: Wonderful World - Sam Cooke DISC FOUR: Be Still - Aled Jones and English Session Orchestra DISC FIVE: Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) - Baz Luhrmann DISC SIX: Love is All Around - Wet Wet Wet DISC SEVEN: Carry You Home – Alex Warren DISC EIGHT: Dear Theodosia - Leslie Odom Jr., Lin-Manuel Miranda BOOK CHOICE: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray LUXURY ITEM: The Marvel Movie Collection with a solar-powered DVD player CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast many politicians away to the island over the years including Sir Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon, Sir Vince Cable, Theresa May, Ed Miliband, Boris Johnson and Margaret Thatcher.

A UK by-election that could spell trouble for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a wrap-up of the Munich Security Conference, a look at the Berlinale and whether it's still political, and France's last newspaper hawker. Then: efforts to rebuild Aghdam, US trans people seeking asylum in the Netherlands, and a pagan tradition seeing a revival — wassailing. + film.macht.kritisch https://shorturl.at/OTkz1 +?maca=en-podcast_inside-europe-949-xml-mrss

The King's brother is suspected of misconduct in public office. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied wrongdoing. Also: Dame Antonia Romeo has been appointed as Sir Keir Starmer's new Cabinet Secretary. And police in Thailand have gone undercover to arrest a man suspected of stealing thousands of pounds worth of Buddhist artefacts.

LIVE from the Chagos Islands are the British Chagossians being threatened by the British government with immigration officials forcing them with deportation. The irony that Starmer can deport his own citizens is not lost on Mark Dolan. Plus the new Reform UK shadow cabinet is investigated by the New Culture Forum's Rafe Heydel-Mankoo and Dan Hodges pulls apart the dying days or Sir Keir Starmer's premiership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

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.

After another torrid week for the prime minister, the focus has shifted from No 10 to Whitehall as the UK's top civil servant is shown the door. Cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald had been in the job for less than 14 months, and his departure — following the resignations of Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff and communications director — has intensified questions about the PM's judgment over key appointments.While Starmer's cabinet appears to have rallied behind him in the short term, the impending release of further documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson's time as UK ambassador to the US looms large. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT's deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, columnist and writer of the Inside Politics newsletter Stephen Bush and public policy editor Chris Smyth.Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher and @lucyfisher.ft.com; Stephen @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmiranda and @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; & Chris @Smyth_Chris and @chris-smyth.bsky.socialWant more? Keir Starmer faces backlash over ousting of Britain's top civil servantPolitical crises lead to ‘perma-purdah' in WhitehallWestminster fears release of ‘embarrassing' exchanges in Mandelson data dumpKeir Starmer's route to recoveryThe Labour Party has become devoid of purposeSign up here for Stephen's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix is presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix by Sean McGarrity. Original music by Breen Turner. The FT's head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Our email address is politicalfix@ft.comClip from Channel 4 News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer has survived to the end of a torrid week - will he find solace focusing on the internatonal agenda?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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.

Yesterday Sir Keir Starmer faced calls for his resignation from a senior party member. He survived – but Britain's prime minister is now fighting for his political survival. Assisted dying legislation is catching up with public opinion in America. And what happens when skiing meets rodeo? Guests and host:Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”Sacha Nauta, Britain EditorStevie Hertz, US policy correspondentAryn Braun, West Coast corrrespondentTopics covered: Keir Starmer's political futureAssisted dying in AmericaThe sport of skijoring  Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday Sir Keir Starmer faced calls for his resignation from a senior party member. He survived – but Britain's prime minister is now fighting for his political survival. Assisted dying legislation is catching up with public opinion in America. And what happens when skiing meets rodeo? Guests and host:Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”Sacha Nauta, Britain EditorStevie Hertz, US policy correspondentAryn Braun, West Coast corrrespondentTopics covered: Keir Starmer's political futureAssisted dying in AmericaThe sport of skijoring  Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer told MPs he was “not prepared to walk away”, hours after Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, urged him to resign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will "never walk away" from his mandate to change the country after coming under intense pressure to resign in the wake of the scandal surrounding Lord Mandelson. Also: A teenager has been jailed for at least 13 years for what police say was the random, unprovoked murder of a 12-year-old boy as he walked home from school. And a village in the Lake District says it is "dismayed" no doctors want to work there after an advert for a new GP failed to attract a single applicant.

Sir Keir Starmer's entire cabinet has come out in a coordinated show of support for the Prime Minister after the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Anas Sarwar, publicly called for him to step down. Also: a statement on behalf of the King has said he stands ready to support the police if needed as they investigate his brother's relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And one of Scotland's last surviving D-Day veterans, Albert Lamond, has died at the age of 100.

Morgan McSweeney has resigned as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff and said he takes "full responsibilty" for having advised the Prime Minister to appoint Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US last year. In a statement, Mr McSweeney said the decision had been "wrong". Also: The BBC's seen evidence that suggests Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor knowingly shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein when he was working as UK trade envoy. And: Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts are in place across Britain, following days of non-stop rain in some areas

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told the BBC the situation facing Sir Keir Starmer is "serious" and suggested he may have been "too slow to do the right things" concerning Lord Mandelson.He also defended him as "a man of integrity" who "wants to do the right things".He spoke to the Today programme on Radio 4 in his first interview since the latest Epstein files seemed to show Lord Mandelson gave Epstein advance notice of a €500bn bailout by the EU to save the ailing Euro in 2010.Another included a 2009 memo in which Brown's policy adviser Nick Butler wrote about the UK's struggling economy and recommended selling off government-held assets to raise public funds.Brown said this was "market-sensitive" information as people can make money from changes in the values of currencies.Lord Mandelson has not given the BBC an official statement but his position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.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/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn with Kris Jalowiecki. The social producer was Beth Pritchard. The technical producer was Frank McWeeny. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Gordon Brown says Sir Keir Starmer is in a "serious" situation as he battles to keep his job - but insisted the Prime Minister was the right man to "clean up the system". Sir Keir is facing scrutiny about his appointment of Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US - after files released by the US Department of Justice suggested the peer had close links with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Also: President Zelensky says Russia has used more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles in its latest attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. And: At the Winter Olympics in Italy, the first gold medal has been won by the Swiss skier, Franjo von Allmen, who was crowned champion of the men's downhill in Bormio.

Amazon's new AI spending blitz sent shares tumbling, chipmakers got swept up in a wider tech equities sell-off, Sir Keir Starmer has apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Peter Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to the US, and American snack companies are lowering prices ahead of the Super Bowl. Plus, can Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi win this weekend's election on star power alone? Mentioned in this podcast:Amazon stock slumps as it prepares $200bn AI spending blitzArm CEO says AI software sell-off is ‘micro-hysteria'Nvidia AI chip sales to China stalled by US security reviewKeir Starmer apologises to victims of Jeffrey EpsteinFood and drink companies suffer as US shopper sentiment sinksCan Sanae Takaichi govern Japan on star power alone?Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today's FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michael Lello. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT's Global Head of Audio. The show's theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Mandelson was a totem of Britain's Labour party for decades. The newest Epstein files mark the end of his political career. What are the consequences for the country's prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer? Ryanair is controversial and widely hated—yet strangely successful. And why so many animals engage in same-sex relationships.To get 15% off Economist Education's new business writing and storytelling course, register with the code ECONWRITING-15.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Mandelson was a totem of Britain's Labour party for decades. The newest Epstein files mark the end of his political career. What are the consequences for the country's prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer? Ryanair is controversial and widely hated—yet strangely successful. And why so many animals engage in same-sex relationships.To get 15% off Economist Education's new business writing and storytelling course, register with the code ECONWRITING-15.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.