What chance a pre-Christmas general election? And what appetite is there for going to the polls among the parties and the public? Adam Boulton and guests discuss another significant week in Parliament as Boris Johnson's 'do or die' pledge to leave the EU by 31st October looks increasingly unlikely. Is a general election the solution to Brexit? What WILL happen on 31st October is the Speaker John Bercow will stand down and the panel will assess the candidates in the running to succeed him. Joinin...
Oct 24, 2019•58 min
After a deal was finally struck between the UK and the EU, the focus moves from the agreement to the arithmetic as Boris Johnson tries to sell his Brexit plan to MPs. The DUP and every opposition party are planning to vote against it in the Commons on what commentators are referring to as Super Saturday. Joining Adam Boulton to discuss the vote, the new deal and the future of Northern Ireland are The Times' Brussels correspondent Bruno Waterfield, columnist on the Irish News Allison Morris and S...
Oct 18, 2019•29 min
Next week there's a Queen's speech, a crucial EU summit and MPs will meet for a rare Saturday sitting in Parliament. What is going to happen? Adam Boulton is joined by Sky’s political correspondent Kate McCann, Times columnist Matthew Parris and author and academic Joanna Williams.
Oct 10, 2019•43 min
Adam Boulton and guests discuss the Prime Minister's new 'take it or leave it' Brexit offer to the EU, its potential impact on Northern Ireland and the likelihood of it being accepted. They'll also reflect on this week's Conservative Party conference at which a number of new policy announcements were made away from the Brexit battlefield. And they'll name their rising star from the gathering in Manchester. Joining Adam this week are The Times columnist Melanie Phillips, the editor of politics.co...
Oct 03, 2019•38 min
Adam Boulton and guests examine the bombshell announcement in the Supreme Court and the subsequent ill-tempered fall out in the House of Commons as Boris Johnson clings to his authority. The panel discuss accusations that Number Ten is orchestrating a People versus Parliament narrative ahead of what seems like an inevitable general election. There are also reflections on the policy announcements at Labour's curtailed party conference in Brighton and a look ahead to the Conservative gathering in ...
Sep 26, 2019•54 min
An eventful week in British politics has been dominated by proceedings at the Supreme Court where judges have been listening to arguments over whether the Prime Minister acted lawfully in suspending Parliament. Adam Boulton and guests discuss the hearing and its potential consequences, there's a look ahead to the Labour conference in Brighton and reflections on the Lib Dem gathering Bournemouth where Jo Swinson came out in favour of scrapping Brexit altogether in the event of her becoming Prime ...
Sep 19, 2019•44 min
Boris Johnson has quickly found out it's tough at the top. This week, the Prime Minister has lost more votes in the House of Commons, lost a legal challenge in the Scottish courts and been accused of misleading the Queen over the prorogation of Parliament. It's tough at the top of Labour too as Jeremy Corbyn and his deputy Tom Watson argue over their positions on whether a general election should come before or after a potential second referendum on Brexit. Adam Boulton and guests assess the pro...
Sep 12, 2019•51 min
This week, Boris Johnson has lost his majority, lost control of parliament, lost a vote over a no-deal Brexit and lost an attempt to call a general election. 21 MPs lost the Conservative whip after defying the Prime Minister while Mr Johnson's brother quit as an MP. All this in the first three days after the summer recess. These are not normal times in Westminster and what happens next is anyone's guess. Joining Adam Boulton to help make sense of it all are the Conservative writer Tim Montgomeri...
Sep 05, 2019•47 min
Recess? What recess? Before MPs have set foot back in Westminster, the Prime Minister is being accused of being undemocratic by suspending Parliament ahead of a Queen's Speech in October. A "constitutional outrage" says the Speaker John Bercow. Not so says Boris Johnson who says he wants to move ahead with a new programme for government and NOT thwart debates on Brexit as the 31st October deadline looms with no deal in place. All this as election fever gathers momentum following a summer of punt...
Aug 29, 2019•42 min
At the end of a seminal week in politics, we discuss whether Boris Johnson's appointment as prime minister will lead to a boost in Conservative support - as even columnist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is getting swept up in the excitement. She joins Adam Boulton and his other guests Henry Newton from the Open Europe think tank, Sky political correspondent Rob Powell and the head of Sky Data Harry Carr.
Jul 26, 2019•44 min
Adam Boulton and guests discuss the fallout from the racism storm in the US where Donald Trump has attacked four Democratic congresswomen, telling them to 'go back' to the countries they came from. It's left the two candidates to become the UK's next Prime Minister in a diplomatic dilemma. Should they call it out as racism? Also on the podcast, the prospect of a suspension of Parliament in order to force through a no deal Brexit and as Theresa May prepares to leave Number Ten, the panellists are...
Jul 18, 2019•41 min
What next for Labour following more damaging claims over its handling of antisemitism allegations? And where next for UK-US diplomacy in the aftermath of the leaked emails from the British ambassador Sir Kim Darroch in which he criticised President Trump? We'll also discuss the independent report into bullying in Parliament. Host Adam Boulton is joined by the political editor of The Times Francis Elliott, the journalist and broadcaster Jenny Kleeman and Sky's political reporter Rob Powell.
Jul 11, 2019•45 min
The future of Hong Kong has long been a source of simmering tension in UK-China relations, but following this week's protests in the territory, it's now developed into a full diplomatic dispute. On this week's podcast we're looking at what's caused the current escalation, how it could all play out, and what impact a new British Prime Minister might have on matters. Joining Adam Boulton are the Telegraph’s China correspondent Sophia Yan, Sky News’ South East Asia correspondent Siobhan Robbins, di...
Jul 04, 2019•47 min
The Conservative leadership race has been dominated by an apparent row between Boris Johnson and his partner and the Brexit plans of both Mr Johnson and his rival Jeremy Hunt. Do or die by 31st October says Mr Johnson but Mr Hunt is willing to go beyond that IF negotiations with the EU progress well. But what chance of a Halloween deadline being met? Joining Adam Boulton this week are FT columnist and lawyer at Preiskel and Co David Allen Green, head of Europe and Trade Policy at the Institute o...
Jun 27, 2019•53 min
Most of us will not get a say in who becomes our next Prime Minister. The decision is in the hands of 160,000 members of the Conservative Party who now have to choose between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt. Will Mr Johnson's publicity-shy strategy work? Does he need to campaign hard given he is the only Brexiteer on the ballot paper? And can Jeremy Hunt find a way to cause an upset? Also this week, the rising tensions between the US and Iran. Are we on the cusp of war? Joining Adam Boulton this w...
Jun 21, 2019•50 min
With the results in from the first round of voting in the Tory leadership race, Adam Boulton and guests crunch the numbers and discuss the candidates' chances. Can any of them beat Boris Johnson to the top job? Joining Adam are political commentators Tim Montgomerie and Lucy Thomas, Sky News’ political correspondent Kate McCann and head of Sky Data Harry Carr.
Jun 13, 2019•42 min
Adam Boulton and guests assess the political impact of Donald Trump's state visit to the UK this week after the President enjoyed the lavish hospitality of the Queen against a backdrop of protests and acrimony. President Trump also waded into the Tory leadership issue as candidates started to drop out of the race to succeed Theresa May. Joining Adam are the deputy political editor of The Sunday Times Caroline Wheeler, former British ambassador to the USA Sir Christopher Meyer and Sky's political...
Jun 05, 2019•54 min
What a week it's been. Since the last episode, Theresa May has resigned as leader of the Conservatives, her party was thumped in the European Parliament elections in which Nigel Farage's Brexit Party came out on top, Labour has indicated a shift in position over a second EU referendum and the list of candidates to succeed Mrs May as Prime Minister has jumped into double figures. Plenty to assess then as host Adam Boulton is joined by the head of politics at City AM Owen Bennett, visiting researc...
May 29, 2019•1 hr
As we approach the “End of May”, Adam Boulton and guests examine the final episode of Game of Thrones in search of political parallels, and ask if throwing milkshake is a legitimate political protest. Joining Adam are Labour MP Wes Streeting, Telegraph journalist and former Conservative MP Rob Wilson, Sky News correspondent Lucy Cotter and head of Sky Data Harry Carr.
May 24, 2019•1 hr 1 min
Adam Boulton and guests discuss how inequality should be measured and addressed following a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies which suggests the issue has caused an increase in 'deaths of despair.' They also look ahead to next week's European Parliament elections, assessing the potential fallout and the main parties' chances against an emboldened Nigel Farage. Joining Adam this week are Sky's economics editor Ed Conway, research fellow at the think tank the IPPR Grace Blakeley, election...
May 16, 2019•54 min
Adam Boulton and guests discuss the Tory party's patience - or lack of it - with Theresa May; the future of the 'special relationship' between the US and UK as the American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warns about Huawei and Iran - after the birth of an Anglo-American royal baby; and the panel assess the impact of the MPs expenses scandal 10 years on. Joining Adam this week are Sky's political editor Beth Rigby, freelance political journalist Marie Le Conte, Sky's defence correspondent Alistai...
May 09, 2019•41 min
As the main parties suffer what appears to be a Brexit backlash in local elections in England and Northern Ireland, Adam Boulton guests assess the wider political impact of the results. The week, however, has been somewhat dominated by the sacking of the defence secretary Gavin Williamson over the leaking of information from the National Security Council. Both issues are up for discussion and joining Adam this week are Sky's political correspondent Tamara Cohen, Sky's election experts professors...
May 03, 2019•48 min
Adam Boulton and guests reflect on sobering week in Northern Ireland following the murder of the journalist Lyra McKee. Remarks at her funeral have reignited the debate over the future of a power sharing government and an end to violence on the streets. Also this week, as the the Extinction Rebellion protests reach their conclusion, have their efforts helped or hindered the climate change cause? And with the European Parliament elections (potentially) on the horizon, the panel assess the prospec...
Apr 25, 2019•53 min
Adam Boulton and guests discuss the French response to the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this week and assess the nation's religious literacy which has been scrutinised in the aftermath. And with European Parliament elections on the horizon, there's the fascinating spectacle of the battle for the pro-Leave vote with UKIP up against Nigel Farage's Brexit Party. Joining Adam this week are the journalist Andy Walton, France 24's London correspondent Benedicte Paviot and Sky's political repo...
Apr 18, 2019•44 min
Adam Boulton and guests examine the implications of a new Brexit deadline after EU leaders suggested a departure by 31st October. The Halloween imagery is far too easy for a story of Brexit's twists and turns but it leaves the Prime Minister having to convince MPs once again that the Withdrawal Agreement must be brought back from the dead to secure what she calls an 'orderly departure.' Throw in the potential for an expensive European election campaign and moves to unseat the PM again, the uncer...
Apr 11, 2019•35 min
Another week another potential delay to Brexit as Parliament struggles to agree a path to honouring the result of 2016 EU referendum. Adam Boulton is joined by an expert panel of guests to look at the short term options available as Theresa May instigates discussions with the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on the way forward, with next week's summit in Brussels critical to satisfying EU deadlines. Joining Adam are the COO of Best for Britain and co-host of the Remainiacs podcast Naomi Smith, Guido ...
Apr 04, 2019•48 min
Adam Boulton and guests assess another dramatic week in Westminster in which the Prime Minister was the subject of a Cabinet coup, offered her resignation, saw the government lose control of debates in the Commons, and witnessed MPs fail to agree on a way forward in the Brexit process. Joining Adam to work out where it is all heading are the editor of City AM Christian May, co-host of the Zeitgeist Tapes and House of Comments podcasts Emma Burnell, Sky's political editor Faisal Islam and the hea...
Mar 28, 2019•43 min
Adam Boulton is in Brussels as the clock ticks towards the UK's legal departure from the European Union. 11pm on 29th March 2019 is on the horizon but there is no clear path to Brexit and following another dramatic week, a showdown between the Prime Minister and Parliament is looming. Joining Adam to discuss the prospects for the next week and beyond are Sky's Europe correspondent Mark Stone, Chloe Westley from the Taxpayers' Alliance, the former deputy director of the Remain campaign Lucy Thoma...
Mar 21, 2019•28 min
At the end of a tumultuous political week, Adam Boulton and guests attempt to navigate their way through the various parliamentary twists and turns in the Brexit process. The votes, the politics and the legalities are all up for discussion as the path to honouring the EU referendum result in 2016 remains unclear. Joining Adam this week are Sky's political correspondent Kate McCann, the Telegraph's Brexit commissioning editor Asa Bennett, the chief executive of the Demos think tank Polly MacKenzi...
Mar 15, 2019•47 min
Adam Boulton and guests discuss the political arguments associated with the rise in knife crime as Theresa May insists there is no direct correlation between 'certain crimes and police numbers.' With another Meaningful Vote on Brexit on the horizon, can Mrs May get her deal through the Commons? And what can we expect from the Chancellor's Spring Statement next week? Joining Adam this week are Sky's economics editor Ed Conway, Research Fellow for the Centre for Policy Studies Harriet Sergeant, Sk...
Mar 08, 2019•35 min
