The State of It
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- 13. Nov. 2026
Über den Podcast
What’s really being said inside the corridors of power.
Join Steven Swinford, Patrick Maguire, Ben Riley-Smith and Lara Spirit for exclusive interviews, political scoops and the best analysis from Westminster.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Folgen 89
Has Burnham bitten off more Brexit than he can chew?
As Downing Street prepares for a high-stakes European summit, questions are mounting over whether an "honest conversation" about closer ties with Brussels, from youth mobility and tuition fees to tariffs on …
Shownotes
As Downing Street prepares for a high-stakes European summit, questions are mounting over whether an "honest conversation" about closer ties with Brussels, from youth mobility and tuition fees to tariffs on Chinese cars, will quickly turn into a headache for Andy Burnham. Do Labour MPs, let alone the British public, have the stomach for another round of the Brexit wars?
Meanwhile, attention turns to welfare as Alan Milburn outlines radical proposals to replace sickness and disability benefits for 18 to 24-year-olds with a new Youth Allowance and billions in employment support. With Burnham preparing to throw his weight behind the reforms, can he win over Labour MPs without triggering another backbench rebellion?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: 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.
Is Labour losing the argument on welfare?
Does Labour have the will to implement serious welfare reform and bring down the benefits bill? Alan Milburn's report on Neets, young people not in education, employment or training, comes out next week. Andy …
Shownotes
Does Labour have the will to implement serious welfare reform and bring down the benefits bill? Alan Milburn's report on Neets, young people not in education, employment or training, comes out next week. Andy Burnham's plan is to spend money first, to bring the welfare bill down in the long run. What will voters make of that?
Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party is promising £36bn in welfare cuts, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is pitching itself as the party of the working man and promising even deeper cuts.
Meanwhile, Russell Brand’s convictions for rape and sexual assault have dragged Ed Miliband’s infamous 2015 election interview with Brand back into the headlines. The education secretary, Lucy Powell, has mounted an awkward defence, which hasn't gone down that well. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but then again, so is due diligence.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: 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.
Britain’s fate in Trump’s hands
After Donald Trump took an almighty shellacking in the US midterms, Andy Burnham is left waiting to see what the American president does next. Will Trump escalate the war in Iran or find a way out? The …
Shownotes
After Donald Trump took an almighty shellacking in the US midterms, Andy Burnham is left waiting to see what the American president does next. Will Trump escalate the war in Iran or find a way out? The difference could mean the difference between soaring inflation and higher energy bills, or falling oil prices, stronger growth and relief for households. With Britain largely powerless to influence the decision, Westminster is watching Washington closely.
Meanwhile, Russell Brand’s conviction has reopened questions about Labour’s embrace of him in 2015. What are the political consequences for Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham? And could the controversy over the defence barrister’s arguments about rape myths lead to changes in how judges direct juries?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: 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.
How far will Burnham go for Europe?
Brexit is back, but did it ever really go away? Andy Burnham is preparing to make some big concessions to the EU to get his latest deal over the line. On the table? Youth mobility, equal university fees for EU …
Shownotes
Brexit is back, but did it ever really go away? Andy Burnham is preparing to make some big concessions to the EU to get his latest deal over the line. On the table? Youth mobility, equal university fees for EU students and Britain aligning with EU tariffs on Chinese electric cars — all while the bloc pushes ahead with its ‘Made in Europe’ protectionist plan, which threatens to shut British industry out.
Meanwhile, Shabana Mahmood has been forced to water down her immigration reforms to head off a rebellion of more than 100 Labour MPs. Care workers who meet their visa conditions will keep a five-year route to settlement, rather than face the tougher new rules; around 300,000 fewer people will be caught by the changes. Has she suffered a humiliating climbdown, or has she still pushed through one of the biggest shake-ups of legal migration in decades?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Pictures: 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.
" Run away, turn away, run away, turn away" - Healey's Bronski Beat budget
John Healey’s first Budget is being dubbed the “Bronski Beat Budget”: a Chancellor running away from the big decisions on welfare and defence. With growth downgraded, energy bills set to soar and taxes at …
Shownotes
John Healey’s first Budget is being dubbed the “Bronski Beat Budget”: a Chancellor running away from the big decisions on welfare and defence. With growth downgraded, energy bills set to soar and taxes at record highs, how much room for manoeuvre does he really have? And is this Burnham’s economy now, with the Chancellor merely keeping the engine running until the Prime Minister’s 10-year plan arrives?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Pictures: 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.
Brexit, oil and immigration: Labour's three rows
Arguing in the Labour party is ramping up. Andy Burnham has further fuelled the Brexit wars, floating a return to free movement and even EU membership, even though he claimed there was “nothing socialist” about …
Shownotes
Arguing in the Labour party is ramping up. Andy Burnham has further fuelled the Brexit wars, floating a return to free movement and even EU membership, even though he claimed there was “nothing socialist” about free movement a decade ago. Is this political manoeuvring, or does Burnham himself know where he wants to end up?
Meanwhile, Labour’s cabinet is split over North Sea drilling and immigration, with ministers publicly contradicting one another. Is Burnham a sort of Scouse Boris, coasting on charisma alone?
And then there’s Wednesday's Budget. A fuel duty freeze, help with energy bills and a possible bank tax are all in the mix — but with the public finances under pressure, could John Healey have a rabbit up his sleeve?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Pictures: Getty Images
00:00 - The Free Movement Bombshell
00:33 - The Scoop: How Andy Burnham Reopened the Brexit Debate
01:22 - Did Burnham Cross His Own Red Lines?
03:41 - Testing the Waters: Tactical Leak or Honest Mistake?
05:46 - A Scouse Boris? Burnham’s High-Risk Politics
07:44 - European Summit Secrets & Whitehall Panic
09:20 - Cabinet Mutiny: The Ministers Pushing Back
12:10 - Rejoining vs Growth: The Threat to British AI & Industry
13:30 - Burnham vs His Past Self: The 2016 Anti-EU Speech
15:48 - Cabinet Split Round 2: The Rosebank Oil War
18:24 - Resignation Watch: Will Ed Miliband Walk?
21:17 - The Brutal Pile-On Against Shabana Mahmood
23:26 - Leaked Budget: OBR Warns of Record-Breaking Taxes
25:04 - Cost of Living: Fuel Duty, Energy Hikes & "Puffin" Borrowing
26:55 - John Healey's Warning: "An Economic Storm Is Coming"
29:40 - The Global Crisis: Why the Government Can’t Save Your Wallet
31:25 - Final Predictions & Tomorrow's Budget Special
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.
You can't vibe-code your way to growth
Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane, a close ally of Andy Burnham, has sounded the alarm over the upcoming budget, warning the Prime Minister can’t “vibe-code his way to growth”.Patrick joins …
Shownotes
Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane, a close ally of Andy Burnham, has sounded the alarm over the upcoming budget, warning the Prime Minister can’t “vibe-code his way to growth”.
Patrick joins John Healey on the road, getting a glimpse of the Chancellor’s pro-business pitch — and the bottle of HP Sauce he keeps in his briefcase.
Ben takes us inside the budget, unpacking four key areas: help with business costs, support for households facing rising energy bills, a fuel duty freeze and a package to tackle youth unemployment. Can Healey’s budget deliver meaningful change, or is the big stuff still being kicked down the road?
Ben reflects on his time with Andy Burnham, exploring the mayor’s ambitions, political instincts and frustration with Westminster — and what his first 100 days reveal about his wider national project.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Pictures: 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.
Andy Burnham's welfare plan: spend first, cut later
Andy Burnham's welfare reforms are likely to start with more, not less, spending. In his review into Neets, young people not in education, employment or training, Alan Milburn will propose restricting access to …
Shownotes
Andy Burnham's welfare reforms are likely to start with more, not less, spending. In his review into Neets, young people not in education, employment or training, Alan Milburn will propose restricting access to universal credit for 16 to 24-year-olds, and spending money instead on employment support. The prime minister will tell MPs the government needs to spend first, cut later to bring about meaningful welfare reform. That may please Labour MPs but will the bond markets keep the faith?
Meanwhile, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is facing opposition within Labour over plans to double the wait for indefinite leave to remain from five to 10 years. Will Burnham back her reforms, or carve out an exception for migrant care workers?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Pictures: 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.
AI rows and pre-budget jitters – The State of It Live
In this live recording of The State of It, Patrick and Steve assess the state of play ahead of budget day.John Healey is preparing a steady-as-she-goes budget, but with the big decisions on welfare, defence and …
Shownotes
In this live recording of The State of It, Patrick and Steve assess the state of play ahead of budget day.
John Healey is preparing a steady-as-she-goes budget, but with the big decisions on welfare, defence and tax rises pushed into next year, is Labour ducking the difficult choices?
Meanwhile, AI evangelists want Britain to seize the opportunities, while Ed Miliband is pushing back on environmental grounds. Cue an almighty cabinet row.
Reform UK’s poll lead has narrowed as Restore eats into its support. But is Westminster writing off Nigel Farage too soon? Reform remains the most trusted party on immigration and is sharpening its economic pitch to working-class voters.
Finally, Andy Burnham faces one of Labour’s biggest challenges: reforming the welfare system.
Recorded in Westminster as part of The Battle of Ideas festival.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
00:00 - "The bond vigilantes are ready to split our throats"
00:09 - Inside Healey’s budget: Bank taxes & disappearing headroom
02:04 - "He’s a dud": Cabinet backbiting over the Chancellor
04:34 - The budget trap: Delaying big tax rises until next year
07:02 - Courting the squeezed middle: Business rates vs Reform UK
08:53 - Shock YouGov polling: Only 3% expect to be better off
11:24 - Is Reform UK finished, or are the pundits wrong?
15:45 - The bizarre reason Number 10 secretly wants a Tory comeback
18:12 - Cabinet AI civil war: Silicon Valley vs British jobs
22:30 - The UK grid crisis: Can we even power AI data centres?
24:51 - The Milburn Review: Plans to ban benefits for under-25s
29:19 - Broken PIP system: Backdated lump sums and 18-year assessment delays
32:15 - Can Labour ever shake the "welfare party" label?
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.
Burnham brings back Brexit wars: what’s the strategy?
Andy Burnham has pulled the lever marked ‘Brexit’, threatening to reignite the wars of yesteryear. The soft left are delighted, but there’s unease in his cabinet. Is this a route back to a referendum, or just a …
Shownotes
Andy Burnham has pulled the lever marked ‘Brexit’, threatening to reignite the wars of yesteryear. The soft left are delighted, but there’s unease in his cabinet. Is this a route back to a referendum, or just a meagre SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) deal? Or is Burnham already firing the opening shots of his election campaign — at the expense of the leave-voting areas he promised to win over? Has he already failed the Makerfield test?
It’s budget season, and speculation is mounting over what’s inside John Healey’s red box. This is billed as a budget for the high street: for the white van man and the beauticians of Rotherham, funded by a crackdown on online retail giants. But with John Lewis sounding the alarm, how far will the chancellor go?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
00:00 - The Brexit Wars Return
02:51 - Why Andy Burnham Wants Closer EU Ties
05:25 - Nigel Farage Delighted & Secret Cabinet Rifts
08:04 - The Real Cost: Free Movement & Single Market Traps
10:50 - Is Labour Priming The Polls For An Early Election?
13:46 - Has Burnham Abandoned The 'Makerfield Test'?
17:46 - The Russia Claim: Anatomy Of A 24-Hour U-Turn
20:06 - "Authenticity" Or Chaos? Burnham's Loose Talk
22:25 - The Budget: John Healey Targets 'White Van Man'
26:11 - High Street vs Online Giants: Retailers Strike Back
28:56 - Historic Tax Hikes: Distracting From The Pain
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.
Zack Polanski on the brink
Zack Polanski's defeat in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election puts him in a tough position. The Green leader lost the by-election by 3,300 votes to Sagal Abdi-Wali, the Labour candidate. He's also facing …
Shownotes
Zack Polanski's defeat in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election puts him in a tough position. The Green leader lost the by-election by 3,300 votes to Sagal Abdi-Wali, the Labour candidate. He's also facing criticism after the Green Party voted to declare that Zionism is racism. Polanski did not vote and has been accused of failing to show leadership. How tenable is his position now?
Plus, parliament is back next week and the real business of government gets going. We look at what's in store and how the chancellor, John Healey, is preparing for a very, very difficult budget.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
00:00 - By-Election Result: Labour Wins Holborn & St Pancras
00:36 - Is Zack Polanski’s Leadership in Trouble?
01:56 - Green Party Rifts & The Palestine Motion Controversy
07:34 - Is This the Beginning of the End for Polanski?
11:06 - Andy Burnham’s Electoral Boost & Labour’s Position
11:44 - Parliament Returns: Navigating the Autumn Budget
13:18 - John Healey, Treasury Trips, and Bank of England Warnings
16:39 - Defence Spending vs Public Services Dilemma
20:39 - Welfare Reviews, Jackdaw Gas Field & Election Speculation
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.
Kemi Badenoch bets the house on the economy
Kemi Badenoch's attack on Reform UK was all about character and her attack on Labour was all about economics. In her speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, she said she would to scrap …
Shownotes
Kemi Badenoch's attack on Reform UK was all about character and her attack on Labour was all about economics. In her speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, she said she would to scrap inheritance tax on family homes and that under a Conservative government, couples would be able to leave an extra £1m inheritance tax free to their children.
Badenoch was withering about Nigel Farage and Reform UK, saying: "The circus goes on and on and it will never stop because this is who Reform are — so to those who say ‘unite the right’, we are not uniting with that.”
We look at the Conservatives' electoral strategy, their prospects — especially compared with a year ago — and the vibes among their MPs.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
00:00 - Live from Tory Conference: Badenoch’s Speech Analysis
00:41 - The Inheritance Tax Gamble: Family Homes Exempt
02:01 - Strategic Shift: Winning Back the South & Abandoning the Red Wall
05:14 - Why Immigration Was Dropped From the Main Message
06:33 - "We Will Not Unite": Direct Rejection of Reform UK & Farage
08:03 - Character vs. Policy: The New Strategy Against Reform
10:45 - Key Omissions: Public Services and the NHS
13:17 - Football Legends, Identity, and Patriotism
17:36 - Vibe Check: A Surprisingly United Tory Party
20:19 - Badenoch’s Dominance: "Captain, Manager, and Owner"
22:13 - Path to Power: Rebuilding Economic Trust
25:08 - Behind the Scenes: Bars, Protesters, and Business Access
29:34 - Did Badenoch’s Speech Set the Political Weather?
32:50 - Looking Ahead to the Budget
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.
Andy Burnham's radical British reset
The Labour Party is jubilant. Andy Burnham has fired the starting gun for the next general election with one of the most consequential conference speeches in recent memory. He used it to set out a series of …
Shownotes
The Labour Party is jubilant. Andy Burnham has fired the starting gun for the next general election with one of the most consequential conference speeches in recent memory. He used it to set out a series of major proposals, including an end to the triple lock, the abolition of first-past-the-post and closer ties with Europe.
At the heart of his national project is a care service free at the point of use. Burnham has set out a vision that promises to put Britain on a different road. But can he persuade the country to buy into it?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Pictures: 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.
Labour parties like it's 1997
At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, the mood is jubilant. They have a popular leader who can speak fluently in public. Andy Burnham's speech on Tuesday will be a big moment and it's expected to be full …
Shownotes
At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, the mood is jubilant. They have a popular leader who can speak fluently in public. Andy Burnham's speech on Tuesday will be a big moment and it's expected to be full of announcements. Whitehall and cabinet ministers are trying to keep up.
The problem, as always, is making the sums add up. The prime minister has made social care the main topic of conversation. We discuss whether he is ready to ditch the triple-lock on pensions to pay for social care reform and whether he could fight an election promising tax rises.
In Rachel Reeves's first budget, taxes went up more than £30 billion, and then she had to come back for more. The Treasury wanted to avoid a third tax-raising budget but the numbers are moving against them.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Pictures: 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.
EXCLUSIVE - John Healey: budget will prove I'm pro-business
John Healey, the chancellor, tells us his budget will offer people breathing space on both the cost of living and the cost of business. He said he was concerned about the rising price of fuel and that he wanted …
Shownotes
John Healey, the chancellor, tells us his budget will offer people breathing space on both the cost of living and the cost of business. He said he was concerned about the rising price of fuel and that he wanted wealthy people to stay in Britain. In July, Andy Burnham, the prime minister, said that he would use "any flexibility" in the government's fiscal rules, but Healey was clear that there was no room for manoeuvre on the fiscal rules. Listen to the full interview to hear how he's getting notes in caps lock from Gordon Brown, his thoughts on bringing down the welfare bill and a Treasury Dragon's Den.
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Picture: 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 snap election - surely not?
The Labour Party conference starts in Liverpool this weekend. It's a chance for Andy Burnham to lay out his vision for the country. Expect worldview, class, solidarity and hope. How much criticism is likely to …
Shownotes
The Labour Party conference starts in Liverpool this weekend. It's a chance for Andy Burnham to lay out his vision for the country. Expect worldview, class, solidarity and hope. How much criticism is likely to come from allies of Keir Starmer? Darren Jones, Starmer's former right-hand-man, has been giving interviews. Will others do the same?
Could Burnham call a snap election?
An MRP mega poll for The Times and Sky News suggested that if an election were held now Labour would win 241 seats, the Conservatives would have 130 and Reform UK would be in third on 123 seats. The split on the right makes it tempting for Labour to call a snap election. Is that a realistic possibility?
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
00:00 - Tactical Voting: The Left’s New “Cheat Code”?
00:10 - Heading to Liverpool: Navigating Labour Conference
01:26 - Decoding Andy Burnham’s “Hope Again” Vision & Liverpool Roots
04:07 - Inside Number 10: How the New Team is Bedding In
06:56 - The Reform UK Threat & Marginal Seat Panic
09:12 - The Dangers of Relying on Tactical Voting
14:10 - Snap Election Rumours: Is Burnham About to Gamble?
18:55 - Labour Infighting: Sacked Cabinet Ministers Strike Back
23:07 - Critiques From Within & What Success Looks Like
26:07 - John Healey Interview Preview
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.
Raise taxes, fix welfare later: Labour's tough sell
What a difference a year makesThe Labour Party conference awaits. Has Andy Burnham's folksy charm and optimism taken the party as far as it can, or can he consolidate power and popularity?Six-party politics A …
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What a difference a year makes
The Labour Party conference awaits. Has Andy Burnham's folksy charm and optimism taken the party as far as it can, or can he consolidate power and popularity?
Six-party politics
A YouGov poll for The Times and Sky News puts Reform UK and the Conservative Party on level pegging for the first time in 18 months. Thursday's mega poll, the first MRP from YouGov in a year, will be a fascinating snapshot of the shifting electoral tectonic plates. Labour MPs are pinning their hopes on a split on the right, but will Burnham's government be able to build enough support from potential Green and Liberal Democrat voters?
What will Andy Burnham's government do about welfare?
Three reports into work and benefits are imminent: Charlie Mayfield's recommendations about how to keep people in work, Alan Milburn's report into Neets (young people not in education, employment or training) and a government review of mental health conditions. All of them put the welfare system into the spotlight. The timing creates a political problem for the government because next month's budget will not address the welfare bill. Raising taxes without fixing welfare is difficult for a prime minister who has talked about the power of politics to change things. Meanwhile his chancellor, John Healey, is buffeted by rising borrowing costs, which hit £18.3 billion in August, up nearly a fifth on August last year.
Brexit re-litigated?
On the plane to New York, Andy Burnham refused to rule out rejoining the European Union. A year ago he said he hoped the UK would rejoin the EU in his lifetime. Could he really be tempted to try to boost economic growth by aligning more closely with the EU or putting rejoining the EU in the next manifesto?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: 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.
Trump and Burnham meet: what could go wrong?
The Burnham Trump meetingAndy Burnham and Donald Trump will meet for the first time in New York next week. It's the biggest foreign policy moment in Burnham's premiership so far and there are many different …
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The Burnham Trump meeting
Andy Burnham and Donald Trump will meet for the first time in New York next week. It's the biggest foreign policy moment in Burnham's premiership so far and there are many different ways in which it could go wrong. Burnham wants to be more confrontational with Trump than Starmer was...without damaging relations with the US.
Autumn budget: the walls are closing in
It's now accepted that next month's budget will be a money-raising budget. Does the new government have a plan for growth?
Are the Liberal Democrats still relevant?
The Liberal Democrats are about to hold their conference and some of their MPs are worried that Ed Davey isn't doing enough as leader. We look at their electoral strategy and their prospects.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Pictures: 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.
Mr Hope and Mr Sensible step into the danger zone
Will Labour raise taxes?The cost of government borrowing is going up and up. That means the chancellor, John Healey, may well need to cut spending or raise taxes next month - and tax rises are much more …
Shownotes
Will Labour raise taxes?
The cost of government borrowing is going up and up. That means the chancellor, John Healey, may well need to cut spending or raise taxes next month - and tax rises are much more likely.
Labour MPs are overwhelmingly happy for the first time in living memory, but is that because they haven't woken up to the grim economic reality? The Labour Party conference slogan this year is 'Hope Again', but while the prime minister is projecting optimism, the chancellor is cutting a much more sombre figure as his fiscal headroom shrinks. Will Andy Burnham's desire to lead on economic policy survive next month's budget?
How likely is an early election?
The assumption has been that Burnham will either stick to the Labour manifesto or he'll call an early election. Would he consider breaking, or at least bending, the manifesto to pay for all the things he wants to do?
The donations row explained
Labour's plan to block donations to Reform UK from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo is nakedly partisan. The row shines a light on the strange world of political donations and the surprisingly vague laws that govern them. How much of a difference would the £72m make to Reform's electoral prospects?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: 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.
Assisted dying is dead. What next?
MPs have voted against the assisted dying bill. The legislation was defeated by a margin of 16 votes, with 286 MPs in favour and 270 against, after 314 MPs backed the plan last year. It's a huge moment in the …
Shownotes
MPs have voted against the assisted dying bill. The legislation was defeated by a margin of 16 votes, with 286 MPs in favour and 270 against, after 314 MPs backed the plan last year. It's a huge moment in the House of Commons.
- Why did the support for it fall away?
- How much of a difference did it make that Andy Burnham was not a supporter?
- Does it mean the issue is off the table for the foreseeable future?
- Where do we go from here? Does it galvanise the prime minister's mission to reform social care and palliative care?
Plus, Andy Burnham is turning left, trying to appeal to the voters that Keir Starmer lost to the Greens and the Liberal Democrats. Will it work? And are the odds of an early election narrowing?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Parliament TV
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.
Why the UK is risking US anger with Israel sanctions
Ed Miliband, the foreign secretary, is announcing sanctions on Israel over West Bank settlements. Why is it such a priority for Andy Burnham's government and what are the risks? It creates yet another …
Shownotes
- Ed Miliband, the foreign secretary, is announcing sanctions on Israel over West Bank settlements. Why is it such a priority for Andy Burnham's government and what are the risks? It creates yet another diplomatic sticking point for the prime minister when he meets President Trump later this month.
- At Reform UK's conference, a protester who disrupted Nigel Farage's speech was whacked with a stick and had her hair pulled. The party's economic spokesman Robert Jenrick says she had it coming. An astute political calculation or will it put off wavering voters?
- Has Reform weathered the storm after last week's resignations in the wake of the Verbatim/Channel 4 undercover investigation that showed senior aides arranging off-the-books polling? The party denies all wrongdoing. Does the story seriously damage them in the eyes of voters?
- John Healey's first speech as chancellor was a chance to show a radical new vision and also to show the markets he can be trusted not to do anything too radical. The problem is you can't do both. We look at some of the calculations going into next month's budget.
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Parliament TV
Audio: Sky 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.
Reform's conference begins with a crisis
Reform UK’s 2026 conference has begun in Birmingham under a cloud after Channel 4 broadcast allegations of an attempt to circumvent the rules on foreign donations — prompting Nigel Farage to turn on two of his …
Shownotes
Reform UK’s 2026 conference has begun in Birmingham under a cloud after Channel 4 broadcast allegations of an attempt to circumvent the rules on foreign donations — prompting Nigel Farage to turn on two of his closest aides, Dan Jukes and James Orr.
Farage’s relationship with Jukes has been described as “father-son” so it’s a huge step for Farage and for Reform. Find out how it all unfolded in the early hours.
The extraordinary fallout has overshadowed Farage’s big migration announcement with Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally running mate and the man who hopes to be the next French prime minister.
Nigel Farage says Reform UK has done nothing wrong and that the investigation was carried out by far left activists. How much does the story damage Brand Reform? Are voters more interested in his small boats policy or in the questions raised by the documentary?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: 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.
Starmerism with a human face: when vibes meet reality
Andy Burnham wants the first day back in the Commons to be all about hope. But how long can he and his chancellor John Healey keep up the feel-good vibes? After much talk of change, there's a whiff of …
Shownotes
- Andy Burnham wants the first day back in the Commons to be all about hope. But how long can he and his chancellor John Healey keep up the feel-good vibes? After much talk of change, there's a whiff of continuity in the air. Find out what is making Labour MPs most nervous and angry - and why.
- The toughest calls on defence spending and the economy are deferred to 2027, creating a juggernaut for next year.
- The PM says that public control is a priority but a decision on Thames Water has been postponed.
What is Labour's policy on North Sea oil and gas drilling?
- Scoop: the government will confirm gas drilling at Jackdaw, but it's unclear what they'll do about the more controversial Rosebank oil and gas field.
What did we learn from Kemi Badenoch's reshuffle?
- Kemi Badenoch's ruthless shadow cabinet reshuffle has demonstrated her hold over her party. But will it help the Conservatives' electoral prospects?
Reform UK Conference: what to expect
- Polling suggests Nigel Farage is most likely to be the UK's next prime minister, and at their conference this week Reform UK will attempt to show us all what it would be like. What would a Reform government deliver in its first 100 days?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: 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.
West Bank sanctions: the snag - and Burnham's blockbuster autumn
Scoop: Ed Miliband is expected to announce two different kinds of sanctions over Israeli settlements in the West Bank. We have the details, but will the plan be enforceable?Get ready for politics on hyperspeed …
Shownotes
- Scoop: Ed Miliband is expected to announce two different kinds of sanctions over Israeli settlements in the West Bank. We have the details, but will the plan be enforceable?
- Get ready for politics on hyperspeed this autumn: a decision on North Sea oil and gas, an announcement about the prisoner early release scheme, two welfare reviews, conferences, a budget and a 10-year plan. But amidst the flurry of activity, is Andy Burnham putting off some tough decisions?
- Reform UK says British-born workers should get priority for social housing. We look at the shifting Overton window on citizenship as three parties on the right - The Conservative Party, Reform UK and Restore UK - jostle for votes.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Fraser Nelson, columnist, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
00:00 - Parliament Returns: The Autumn Political Agenda
01:45 - Ed Miliband, Gaza Sanctions & West Bank Trade Bans
07:50 - Early Release Scheme & Police Backlash (PC Harper Case)
10:45 - The Mini-Budget, Welfare Reviews & 10-Year Plan
15:00 - Reform UK's Housing Policy & Citizenship Split
23:30 - Kemi Badenoch Meets Giorgia Meloni in Rome
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.
Burnham's three big tests - and trouble at Reform UK
The prison early release scheme is Andy Burnham's first big test as prime minister. There are no good options. Can he make a successful argument that he's picked the least bad?No 10 wants the Autumn Budget to …
Shownotes
- The prison early release scheme is Andy Burnham's first big test as prime minister. There are no good options. Can he make a successful argument that he's picked the least bad?
- No 10 wants the Autumn Budget to be all about devolution, but they also need to raise money - a lot of money.
- Fraser believes there are reasons to be cheerful about welfare reform. Can Labour MPs really get behind a plan that inevitably will come with painful political decisions?
- Reform UK has suspended Tim Montgomerie as a member. What's going on within the party?
- And Gabriel lifts the veil on Insight's reporting into George Cottrell and Christopher Harborne's donations to Nigel Farage and Reform UK.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday Times
Fraser Nelson, columnist, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: 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.
Farage wins Clacton – but his £5m headache remains
Nigel Farage has done the inevitable and defeated Count Binface in the Clacton by-election. To celebrate, Reform threw a gigantic Glastonbury-style festival on Clacton beach. Farage-fest 2026 featured disco …
Shownotes
Nigel Farage has done the inevitable and defeated Count Binface in the Clacton by-election. To celebrate, Reform threw a gigantic Glastonbury-style festival on Clacton beach. Farage-fest 2026 featured disco, live music and even a Ferris wheel.
But during his victory speech, Farage admitted for the first time that he may have made a mistake by failing to declare the £5m gift he received from Christopher Harborne.
Now, just hours after his victory, the parliamentary standards watchdog has resumed its investigation into the Reform leader. So, after the Ferris wheel and the fanfare, what next for the embattled Farage?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Picture: 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.
PC Harper's killers: Andy Burnham's first major test
Last week, Andy Burnham said he had reached “the very limits of what is possible”, appearing powerless to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers. But after a wave of public outrage, he has now …
Shownotes
Last week, Andy Burnham said he had reached “the very limits of what is possible”, appearing powerless to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers. But after a wave of public outrage, he has now promised to stop it. This is Burnham’s first major collision between style and substance – can his positive-vibes politics really trump the reality of a political nightmare?
Then over to Clacton, where a tanned Nigel Farage has embedded himself in his constituency. What comes next for Reform’s leader after he does the inevitable and defeats Count Binface in the by-election? Can he get Reform back on track after a difficult few months?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Picture: PA media
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.
Will a Reform-Restore alliance unite the right?
Has Andy Burnham's vibes-based politics collided with the reality of governing as he wrestles with the prison early release crisis?Restore leader and right-wing insurgent Rupert Lowe has publicly reached out to …
Shownotes
Has Andy Burnham's vibes-based politics collided with the reality of governing as he wrestles with the prison early release crisis?
Restore leader and right-wing insurgent Rupert Lowe has publicly reached out to Nigel Farage, urging him to unite the right. Can Farage and Lowe finally put the bad blood behind them, or is the divide simply too deep?
And on the left, the Greens have endured a bruising few weeks, with leader Zack Polanski's social media habits creating unwelcome headlines. But has Westminster been too quick to write them off? With Polanski at the helm, anything is possible.
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Picture: 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.
The Burnham Bounce: how long can it last?
Andy Burnham's first week as prime minister has been decisive, optimistic and proactive. Labour has overtaken Reform UK in the polls for the first time in more than a year. Now Burnham is taking on education …
Shownotes
Andy Burnham's first week as prime minister has been decisive, optimistic and proactive. Labour has overtaken Reform UK in the polls for the first time in more than a year. Now Burnham is taking on education and social care reform: knotty political questions with many landmines. We look at the pitfalls that lie ahead.
Zack Polanski's Green Party is losing support. And as Reform and the Conservatives fight to be the main party of the right, how does the new Labour government change things for Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch?
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday Times
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Picture: 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.
Andy Burnham's week of maximum vibes
Andy Burnham's first week as Prime Minister has been all about creating good vibes. He's pledged to end rough sleeping, cut VAT on energy bills, cap bus fares at £2, and save Britain's pubs. The obvious …
Shownotes
Andy Burnham's first week as Prime Minister has been all about creating good vibes. He's pledged to end rough sleeping, cut VAT on energy bills, cap bus fares at £2, and save Britain's pubs. The obvious question is: how is he going to pay for it all?
Steve takes us inside Burnham's call with Donald Trump, where everything was surprisingly cordial and the pair ended up talking about their mums.
But next week, the easy announcements give way to the hard choices. Burnham is expected to unveil major interventions on social care and unemployment. Can he deliver reform while also tackling the cost of living, boosting defence spending and keeping the public finances under control?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Picture: 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.
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