Politics Weekly UK - podcast cover

Politics Weekly UK

The Guardianwww.theguardian.com
Guardian political columnist John Harris hosts a cast of voices from up and down the country as well as across the political spectrum to analyse the week’s political news. For US Politics with Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland, make sure to search 'Politics Weekly America' wherever you get your podcasts

Episodes

On the road in Boston: Why is this a Reform UK target?

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Jun 28, 202439 min

Politics Weekly Westminster: The last TV debate

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Jun 27, 202430 min

On the road in Chingford and Woodford Green – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod...

Jun 20, 202428 min

Politics Weekly Westminster: Manifesto week

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Jun 10, 202430 min

The ‘blue wall’ road trip: Tories jumping ship? Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Jun 06, 202427 min

Politics Weekly Westminster: The first TV debate

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Jun 05, 202427 min

Politics Weekly Westminster: Ahead of the TV debates

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Jun 03, 202427 min

The Rwanda bill effect – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

May 30, 202428 min

Politics Weekly Westminster: Diane Abbott and the election campaigns

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

May 29, 202427 min

Andy Burnham on the infected blood scandal – podcast

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

May 24, 202435 min

UK general election called – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

May 22, 202436 min

Politics Weekly Westminster: Infected blood inquiry final report

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

May 20, 202426 min

Keir Starmer: new deal, new drama? Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod...

May 16, 202434 min

Politics Weekly Westminster: Rishi Sunak’s big security pitch

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

May 13, 202425 min

Tory defections, economic challenges and council winners – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

May 09, 202435 min

Politics Weekly Westminster: Election special – podcast

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

May 05, 202430 min

Local elections road trip: Thurrock – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

May 01, 202431 min

Sicknote culture wars and Angela Rayner – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Apr 25, 202437 min

Cameron and Truss: former PMs stage their comebacks – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Apr 18, 202436 min

David Cameron, Donald Trump and UK Arms Sales – Politics Weekly UK podcast

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 theguardian.com/politicspod...

Apr 11, 202437 min

Port Talbot and the future of British steel – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Apr 04, 202421 min

Is China a major threat to British democracy? – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod...

Mar 28, 202435 min

When will Rishi Sunak’s zombie parliament end? Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod...

Mar 21, 202434 min

Frank Hester, the Tory party and racism – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Mar 14, 202435 min

The Spring Budget: more cuts to come? – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Mar 06, 202434 min

The Guardian’s new podcast series about AI: Black Box – prologue

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 theguardian.com/p...

Mar 02, 202415 min

Lee Anderson and Tory Islamophobia – Politics Weekly UK

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 theguardian.com/politicspod

Feb 29, 202435 min
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