Politics Weekly UK

This week Politics Weekly UK is in Redcar in north-east England, where the seat turned blue in 2019. Steelworks closures hit the region hard, but under a Conservative MP and a Conservative mayor some jobs have been returning. Will the Tories keep the seat or can Labour’s Anna Turley offer fresh hope?. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look ahead to the final week of campaigning before the election. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

This week Politics Weekly UK is in Boston, Lincolnshire, to where large numbers of eastern Europeans moved to work as vegetable pickers on farms. In 2016 more than 75% of the town voted for Brexit. The Guardian’s John Harris returns to Boston to find out how far Reform UK’s Richard Tice can capitalise on tensions in the region. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey dissect the last TV head-to-head between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak before the election. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Politics Weekly UK is in the London suburb of Chingford and Woodford Green, where a spat between Labour and its former candidate is threatening to split the progressive vote. The Guardian’s John Harris talks to the now independent candidate, Faiza Shaheen; Labour’s new candidate, Shama Tatler; and Iain Duncan Smith, who has represented the area for the Conservatives for more than 30 years. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look ahead to Reform UK’s manifesto launch and why Nigel Farage might be spooking the Conservatives. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss how Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak performed at the Sky News special leaders’ event in Lincolnshire. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at what might be on offer as the political parties launch their manifestos this week. Plus, what Pippa learned from her exclusive interview with Keir Starmer. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s John Harris is on the road, visiting Jeremy Hunt’s seat in Godalming and Ash and Michael Gove’s Surrey Heath constituency to find out why lifelong Conservative voters are abandoning the party. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the first TV head to head between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss how Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak will be preparing for the first big leaders’ debate on Tuesday. Plus can Keir Starmer recover from the internal politics plaguing his last week of campaigning?. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The government’s safety of Rwanda bill finally passed into law in April. But, with the announcement last week of a general election, the Conservative ‘dream’ of deportation flights taking off might never happen. So what has the bill achieved? And what does it mean for those it has targeted? The Guardian’s John Harris hears what life is really like for migrants in the UK. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the confusion around Diane Abbott’s return to the Labour party. Plus, the ins and outs of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat campaigns so far. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Victims of the contaminated blood scandal finally got some of the justice they have been seeking this week when Sir Brian Langstaff published the final report of his inquiry. The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, who has campaigned for those affected by the disaster and was the health secretary from 2009-10. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Rishi Sunak has announced a general election for Thursday 4 July. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political editor Pippa Crerar and political correspondent Kiran Stacey to ask why now. And, what happens next …. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the infected blood scandal as the final report is published on Monday. Plus: could inflation figures released on Wednesday give the Conservatives a desperately needed boost?. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Labour leader has managed to stem a potential showdown with trade union leaders this week over wording on a workers’ rights deal. If this is a dress rehearsal for Labour in government, how has Keir Starmer and his party fared? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the columnist Polly Toynbee and Marc Stears, a former Labour party speechwriter and UCL Policy Lab director. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk about Rishi Sunak’s big speech on security and how he hopes to draw a dividing line between the Conservatives and Labour. And Keir Starmer will meet union bosses on Tuesday but anger is brewing over Natalie Elphicke and rumours about Labour’s plan to water down pledges on workers’ rights. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Conservatives have been left bloodied after a devastating set of local election results. This week, John Harris speaks to councillors about what’s really going on for them in their area. Plus, he speaks to the Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff about another Tory defection to Labour, and the Labour party’s attempt to take the crown for economic responsibility. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

In the first of our Politics Weekly Westminster episodes, the Guardian’s political editor Pippa Crerar and political correspondent Kiran Stacey go over the big wins and losses from the local and mayoral elections. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, and the political correspondent Kiran Stacey help you kick off your week with the stories you need to know from inside Westminster Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

In the run-up to the local elections this week, the Guardian columnist John Harris is in Thurrock where the council has amassed more than £1.5bn in debt since 2022. He speaks to people facing swingeing cuts and asks whether the vote on Thursday will make any difference to their lives. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Rishi Sunak has said it is his ‘moral mission’ to end Britain’s sicknote culture. The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to the disability campaigner Hannah Deakin and the New Economics Foundation’s head of social policy, Tom Pollard, about why the current system is failing people. Plus, the political correspondent Kiran Stacey runs us through the latest from Westminster. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

How much should Britain get involved in the conflict in the Middle East? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the columnist Gaby Hinsliff and former national security adviser Peter Ricketts to talk about the fallout from Iran’s attack on Israel at the weekend. Plus, John talks to Gaby about smoking bans, NatCon and Liz Truss’s new book. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

David Cameron made a surprise visit to Mar-a-Largo this week to visit Donald Trump. John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, and the diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour, to get the latest on the meeting. And as international pressure continues to build on Israel, John speaks to a former Israeli peace negotiator, Daniel Levy, on whether there is a pathway to end the war. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Thousands of jobs are due to be cut this year at Tata Steel in Port Talbot, putting the future of British steel under serious threat. The Guardian political correspondent Kiran Stacey hears from workers at the plant and people in the town, as well as shadow Wales secretary Jo Stevens, about what this could mean for the area and beyond. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Despite pressure from some Conservative MPs, the government stopped short of defining China as an official threat this week. How deep does Chinese interference in the UK go? John Harris speaks to the Guardian’s foreign leader writer Tania Branigan and deputy political editor, Peter Walker. As MPs break for Easter, they also discuss the state of the Conservative and Labour parties. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Jeremy Hunt has implied the election will be in October, but even with a boost from falling inflation figures, can Rishi Sunak really hold this zombie government together for the next seven months? And what does Rachel Reeves’s Mais lecture tell us about Labour’s economic vision in these grim times? John Harris is joined by former No 10 director of communications Sir Craig Oliver and Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Conservative party faces yet another crisis week as a major donor is accused of racism in a Guardian investigation and the MP for the red wall seat of Ashfield, Lee Anderson, announces his defection to Reform UK. The Guardian’s John Harris asks columnist Gaby Hinsliff and political correspondent Kiran Stacey why Rishi Sunak can’t seem to get his house in order. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the former Conservative chief secretary to the Treasury David Gauke and the economist and Labour candidate Miatta Fahnbulleh to go through today’s budget announcements. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

We wanted to bring you this episode from our new series, Black Box. In it, Michael Safi explores seven stories and the thread that ties them together: artificial intelligence. In this prologue, Hannah (not her real name) has met Noah and he has changed her life for the better. So why does she have concerns about him? If you like what you hear, make sure to search and subscribe to Black Box, with new episodes every Monday and Thursday.. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Anderson, a former deputy chair of the Conservative party, has refused to apologise for his comments about the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. But with the Tories refusing to call his remarks Islamophobic, how deep does the problem go? The Guardian’s John Harris talks to the Conservative peer Gavin Barwell and Miqdaad Versi from the Muslim Council of Britain. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle made a dramatic apology today for his handling of a Gaza ceasefire vote that sent the commons into chaos. The Guardian’s John Harris spent the day in Westminster speaking to protestors, Labour MP Rachael Maskell, and the Guardian’ political correspondent Kiran Stacey.. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Two prospective Labour candidates have been embroiled in an antisemitism row this week with Keir Starmer facing sharp criticism for his leadership of the party. The Guardian’s Kiran Stacey speaks to our political correspondent Eleni Courea about the fallout. Plus, Kiran is joined by the Guardian’s economics editor, Larry Elliott, to find out what inflation means for our pockets and if we are heading into a recession. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Politics Weekly UK is in Wellingborough in the run-up to the byelection to replace the Conservative MP Peter Bone. John Harris speaks to local groups helping to deal with knife crime and the closure of youth centres, and meets Ben Habib, the co-deputy leader of Reform UK. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

After nearly two years without a government, could power sharing in Northern Ireland finally be back? And, another week, another Tory faction plotting to overthrow the prime minister. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by our political editor, Pippa Crerar, and the Spectator’s Katy Balls, to ask how much longer Rishi Sunak can stay afloat. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The government has an announced an extra £500million to help local councils in England. After years of squeezed budgets, many are facing bankruptcy. What can be done to prevent more from tipping over? The Guardian’s John Harris hears from Bill Revans, the leader of Somerset council, the Guardian’s social policy editor, Patrick Butler, and the Labour candidate for Peckham, Miatta Fahnbulleh. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, this week John Harris speaks to Niku Jafarnia of Human Rights Watch about the regional conflicts. The Rwanda bill passed its third reading and Pippa Crerar, the Guardian’s political editor, reveals what happened behind the scenes. And the former No 10 adviser Gavin Barwell talks about the increasingly vicious struggles within the Conservative party. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The government has announced it will introduce legislation to exonerate the many hundreds of postal workers affected by the Post Office Horizon software scandal. So is the only way to turn the government’s head to an issue to make a TV drama about it? The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to former postal worker Chris Head about the impact it had on him, and columnist Gaby Hinsliff about what this tells us about our creaking institutions. Plus, columnist Rafael Behr joins John to look at the year ahead. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Politics Weekly UK is taking a break. So this week John Harris revisits a conversation with the Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee and political reporter Aletha Adu about what a Labour government would look like and why it feels like Keir Starmer has a lot of convincing to do. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

It’s been another year of political high drama, division and chaos. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political editor Pippa Crerar and columnist Gaby Hinsliff to look back at the last 12 months and predict what might be coming in 2024. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The government’s landmark Rwanda bill was voted through on Tuesday night. With the issue threatening to tear the Conservatives apart, the Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political correspondent Kiran Stacey and columnist Sonia Sodha to discuss the challenges facing the prime minister. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Rishi Sunak attempted to quash critics of his Rwanda plan with a surprise press conference today. Will it be enough to save him from his own party and electoral wipeout? And as Boris Johnson finishes two days of questioning at the Covid inquiry, did we learn anything? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnists Rafael Behr and Gaby Hinsliff. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Cop28 starts today in Dubai and its already shrouded in controversy. So what can leaders agree that will make a change to the planet? And in the UK how far away are we from a greener economy? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by Green MP Caroline Lucas and former Conservative energy minister Chris Skidmore. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Jeremy Hunt’s much anticipated autumn statement promised tax cuts and getting people back to work. John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, and the former Treasury minister David Gauke, to assess what we heard Autumn statement 2023: key points at a glance OBR warns government finances face major headwinds until 2028. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The supreme court ruled on Wednesday that the government’s landmark Rwanda policy was unlawful. From Westminster, the Guardian’s Kiran Stacey and Patrick Wintour look at how consequential this could be for Rishi Sunak and his government. And our political correspondent Aletha Adu looks at how a Gaza ceasefire vote could divide the Labour party. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

The former prime minister David Cameron has been appointed to the role of foreign secretary in Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle. The shock move will have taken the steam out of the prime minister sacking his controversial home secretary, Suella Braverman. But what are the wider implications? The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff is joined by the former No 10 chief of staff Gavin Barwell to talk it through. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Rishi Sunak set out his priorities for the year ahead in the king’s speech on Tuesday. But his home secretary, Suella Braverman, continues to grab the headlines with comments about the homeless and an awkward stand-off with the Met police over pro-Palestine marches. The Guardian’s Kiran Stacey speaks to former Conservative adviser Salma Shah and Guardian political correspondent Aletha Adu. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Besides the swearing, toxic workplace culture and misogyny, what have we learned from the Covid inquiry? Gaby Hinsliff talks to the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar. And our political correspondent Kiran Stacey tells us how significant the government’s first artificial intelligence summit will be. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Israel vowed to ‘teach the UN a lesson’ in reaction to a speech given by the UN’s secretary general, António Guterres. The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff is joined by the paper’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, to discuss what this could mean for the conflict, and Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty talks about the growing row in Labour over Keir Starmer’s stance on Israel’s military strategy. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>