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 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.