The conversation about asylum and immigration is at the centre of British politics, and nowhere more so than in Kent. This week, John Harris is on the road in a special episode looking at both sides of the immigration story: hearing from the newly elected Reform UK council, and asking what life is actually like for people who come here in search of asylum. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Sep 26, 2025•45 min
John Harris is joined by the Labour MP Lucy Powell, a former cabinet minister who is a running for deputy leadership of the party, to discuss why the government is failing to stem the surge in support for Reform and whether a change in tactics could help Keir Starmer take on Nigel Farage. Plus, how certain is the prime minister’s future? And how would Powell work with Starmer if she becomes deputy leader. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod...
Sep 25, 2025•30 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the UK’s recognition of Palestine as a state. With the US and Israel criticising the move, what will it mean for the war in Gaza, and for diplomacy? Plus, what do we know about the split at the top of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s new leftwing party? And Pippa has the latest from the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth ---- Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian....
Sep 22, 2025•26 min
Donald Trump is back on UK soil for his ‘unprecedented’ second state visit. Will the US president’s trip help to distract from Keir Starmer’s challenges at home? Or could it leave the prime minister even more exposed? Kiran Stacey asks the columnist and Politics Weekly America host, Jonathan Freedland Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Sep 17, 2025•29 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the fallout from Keir Starmer’s handling of the sacking of the US ambassador, Peter Mandelson. And with growing questions about whether the prime minister can survive, they ask whether Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK might actually be a welcome distraction for the government -- Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod...
Sep 15, 2025•23 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey speak to the minister for EU relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, about the fallout from Brexit and our relationship with the European Union. Plus, we hear his thoughts on Keir Starmer’s leadership and how Labour should take on Nigel Farage and the rise of Reform –– Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Sep 12, 2025•27 min
As the race to replace Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader exposes tensions within the party, John Harris speaks to the former transport secretary Louise Haigh about what she thinks Keir Starmer should do to get back on track, and whether he will survive until the next election. Plus, Pippa Crerar joins John to discuss the mounting pressure on the prime minister over Peter Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, and why Boris Johnson is in hot water after a Guardian investigation raised seriou...
Sep 10, 2025•34 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the fallout from Angela Rayner’s resignation and Keir Starmer’s subsequent cabinet reshuffle. Why has Rayner’s departure raised concerns among union leaders? Who could become the next deputy Labour leader? And, what does the reshuffle tell us about the direction of travel for the government? Plus, Pippa and Kiran reflect on Reform UK’s conference and the challenges ahead for Nigel Farage. -- Send your questions and thoughts to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.co...
Sep 08, 2025•29 min
John Harris is at the Reform UK conference, asking how this once insurgent party came to dominate the political mainstream. And he speaks to people in Birmingham to find out what the rise of Nigel Farage’s party tells us about the state of the country Send your questions and thoughts to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Sep 07, 2025•36 min
It’s the first week back after summer recess and Labour is already in trouble, with the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, referring herself to the standards watchdog over underpaying tax on her flat. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer and his ministers have been proclaiming their love of British flags as they struggle to compete with Reform UK. John Harris speaks to the Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff and policy editor Kiran Stacey Send your questions and thoughts to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. ...
Sep 03, 2025•28 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey are back, talking through all of the challenges the government faces as MPs return to Westminster. Plus, they discuss the prime minister’s shake-up of his Downing Street team. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Sep 01, 2025•24 min
In a major speech this week, Reform UK set out how it would lower immigration. With controversial plans to deport hundreds of thousands of migrants and scrap key human rights protections, Nigel Farage described immigration as a ‘scourge’ and an ‘invasion’. Was this a watershed moment in the way politicians talk about small boat crossings? And what is Labour’s response? The Guardian’s policy editor Kiran Stacey asks the deputy political editor Jessica Elgot. Help support our independent journalis...
Aug 27, 2025•26 min
Working for Hope Not Hate, I infiltrated an extremist organisation, befriended its members and got to work investigating their political connections Written and read by Harry Shukman Find more from The Audio Long Read here Read the text version here Adapted from Year of the Rat: Undercover in the British Far Right, published by Chatto & Windus. To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian....
Aug 25, 2025•36 min
An ageing population, a funding squeeze and a recruitment crisis have taken England’s adult social care system to breaking point. In this episode, recorded and first published in March, John Harris visited Greater Manchester to find out what a day in the life of a care worker looked like and whether it was too late to save this vital service. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Aug 21, 2025•36 min
British progressives have suffered major setbacks in recent years, in both public opinion and court rulings. Was a backlash inevitable, and are new tactics needed? By Gaby Hinsliff. Read by Carlyss Peer Find more from The Audio Long Read here Read the text version here. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Aug 18, 2025•35 min
Politics Weekly is taking a break for the summer. But, as is tradition, John Harris has a roundup of some of his favourite cultural picks Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer by Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund The Restless Republic: Britain Without a Crown by Anna Keay The Blood in Winter: A Nation Descends, 1642 by Jonathan Healey Maybe I’m Amazed: A Story of Love and Connection in Ten Songs by John Harris Drive to Goldenhammer by Divorce. Help support our independent journalism...
Aug 14, 2025•4 min
You asked, we answered. In this special episode, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey sit down to chat through some of the questions you’ve sent to us. Fancy another one? We’d love to hear from you. Our email address is politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Aug 11, 2025•34 min
John Harris is joined by the eco-activist, entrepreneur and political donor Dale Vince to chat through his journey from new age traveller to renewable energy millionaire and major backer of the Labour party. Plus, he discusses why he believes business holds the key to solving the climate emergency, and what he thinks the government should be doing to stop the war in Gaza. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Aug 06, 2025•34 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey sit down in a special episode with peer Catherine Ashton to hear from the former EU commissioner and trade negotiator on what she makes of an increasingly unstable world. Find out what it’s like to be in a room with world leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin …. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Aug 04, 2025•31 min
This week marks a year since the murder of three young girls in Southport became a catalyst for riots that spread to many parts of the UK. With scenes of unrest at hotels housing asylum seekers in recent weeks, have we learned anything from the events of last year? John Harris is joined by Dame Sara Khan, the former counter-extremism commissioner and government adviser on social cohesion, and Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff to discuss how last summer’s violence exposed the fragility of many com...
Jul 31, 2025•37 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey speak to Angela Rayner about Labour’s first year in government and the challenges ahead. The deputy prime minister reveals the issue that keeps her awake at night, reflects on why voters are frustrated with Labour, what she thinks the party can do about it, and how it’s planning to take the fight to Reform. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Jul 28, 2025•35 min
As hundreds of thousands of people face starvation in Gaza, this week the foreign secretary, David Lammy, joined a chorus of global condemnation over Israel’s actions, describing the killing of innocent civilians seeking food and water as grotesque. But when will his words be followed by action? John Harris speaks to the UN’s special rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese. Plus, will the Tory reshuffle do anything to take the wind out of Nigel Farage’s sails? The Guardian’s senior political...
Jul 23, 2025•32 min
The revelation that the government concealed a huge story about the resettlement of people from Afghanistan after their lives were put at risk by a data breach has left Westminster reeling. So why was it allowed to be kept secret for so long? And what could the fallout be? The Guardian’s political correspondent Kiran Stacey joins John Harris to discuss. Plus, Harris speaks to Ed Miliband, the energy security and net zero secretary, about his plans to tackle the climate crisis, why it’s becoming ...
Jul 21, 2025•36 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the government’s plans to overhaul the water industry. Will they be able to clean up the waterways of England and Wales, and what could it mean for bills? Plus, what is Keir Starmer’s latest move to help restore public trust in politics? And, as MPs break for summer, Pippa and Kiran hand out their end-of-year awards …. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Jul 21, 2025•28 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at how Rachel Reeves will try to reassure her party and the country about the state of the economy in a major speech this week. Also, how does the government plan to convince the public – and other MPs – to embrace net zero measures? Plus, as details of Donald Trump’s second state visit are confirmed, why won’t he be addressing the UK parliament?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod...
Jul 14, 2025•21 min
Only a week after the government was forced to retreat on benefits reform, there’s now controversy over its plans for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send). John Harris speaks to Kate Cox, a parent of two children with special needs, about why there’s such concern about the plans. Plus, with NHS doctors going on strike again and small boat crossings reaching a record high, how can the government get out of this mess? John speaks to the political correspondent and fellow...
Jul 09, 2025•32 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss why backbenchers and campaigners are already gearing up for another fight, this time over children’s special educational needs and disabilities (Send) support. And, could a new party on the left be a threat to Labour?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Jul 07, 2025•27 min
One year on from Keir Starmer’s election victory and Labour are well behind Reform in the polls, while the government is already having to bend to the will of its backbenchers. So how can Starmer recover? Kiran Stacey talks to Jonathan Ashworth, the chief executive of Labour Together and former MP for Leicester South, and Marie Tidball, the Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, about the party’s first year in government, live at the Crossed Wires podcast festival in Sheffield. Help support o...
Jul 06, 2025•42 min
This week marks one year since Keir Starmer came to power after a landslide election victory. But with questions over the Chancellor’s future, historically low popularity and a series of U-turns, Labour has not had the honeymoon period some might have wished for. So how did we get here? John Harris is joined by Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey to talk through the first year of Starmer’s government and what might come next ---- Get tickets to the Politics Weekly live event here: crossedwires.live/po...
Jul 02, 2025•38 min
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss how the government was forced into backtracking on its plans to cut disability payments. Will changes to the welfare bill be enough to win over rebels? And how damaging is another U-turn for Keir Starmer and his team?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Jun 30, 2025•26 min
