Last night the final exit polls of the French election were revealed to a collective stunned gasp. The far-right RN party of Marine Le Pen - and Jordan Bardella - is in third place. Macron's centrist grouping is in second place - but the dominant bloc emerging is a collective of radical left parties - with the controversial figurehead of Jean-Luc Melenchon at its helm. Macron's PM has stayed on -for now - as caretaker. But there is a collective political fog over the shape of France’s next parli...
Jul 08, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Now that PM Sir Keir Starmer has assembled his first cabinet, the first Labour cabinet in 14 years - who are the people now running the country? What will they do? Just hours after becoming the Official Opposition, the Tories turn to their next task - who will be their next leader? Contenders have already started to hit the airwaves. And the second round in France as the far-right National Rally edge closer to parliamentary power. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Productio...
Jul 07, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week on The Sports Agents , As the French public head to the polls on Sunday for the final round of voting in their own National Election, Gabby and Mark reflect on the significance of France's Euros campaign after Kylian Mbappe and co. urged young voters to resist the rise of the far-right. Gabby & Mark caught up with French football writer Tom Williams and our own Jon Sopel to explore a complicated history between the country and it's men's national team. And ahead of the British Gran...
Jul 07, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Labour are the new government. Sir Keir Starmer is our new Prime Minister. He's in Downing Street, and he's about to appoint his cabinet...what next? Plus, we recap on the likes of Liz Truss losing her seat. Yes, LIZ TRUSS. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"! The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsb...
Jul 05, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Keir Starmer’s Labour has won a landslide. Rishi Sunak’s Tories have had their worst defeat in history. Beneath the bonnet of that is perhaps the weirdest election of the modern era. Bleary-eyed and caffeine-fuelled after a night of live broadcasting Jon, Emily and Lewis bring you the results of the 2024 general election and analyse what this decision we’ve all made will mean now. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind Badewal You c...
Jul 05, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast A special polling day Q&A. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"! The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/ https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents...
Jul 04, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Fourteen years is a long time for any one party to be in government. Today we reflect on some of the moments of the last five Conservative governments and how things have shifted - societally, economically and in the media. We also bring you news of George Galloway's big donor - a man accused of human trafficking - and discuss the missing postal vote saga and the impact it might have. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly, Arvind Badewal Y...
Jul 03, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast We sit down with Boris Johnson's director of communications, Lee Cain. In the last 48 hours Rishi has accused Starmer of being a threat to national security and a delight for Putin, a work-shy sloth who clocks off at 6pm, and a leader who's going to rig the electoral system forever more. Is this the sound of a man who thinks his campaign is going to plan? Perhaps the problem began long long before Rishi Sunak called the election - or even got into power. We ask the man who presided over Boris Jo...
Jul 02, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Live from Paris, Lewis and Jon react to the news that the far-right have stormed the French parliamentary elections in the first round - putting Macron in severe peril and the radical right, formed decades ago from the embers of Nazism, at the top of power in France. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Production: : Rory Symon You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"! The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - h...
Jul 01, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jon and Lewis in France ahead of the first round of the French elections, which could see the far-right of French politics became the main political force in France. And we report from Birmingham, following round an independent candidate who thinks he has a chance of beating Labour MP Shabana Mahmood. He's pretty controversial, and for good reason. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode ...
Jun 30, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week on The Sports Agents, We asked if the media actually has any responsibility to help build the confidence of the England National team, after Harry Kane and other members of the squad responded to recent criticism of their performances at Euro 2024... Conor Coady - part of Gareth Southgate's last two England squads for major tournaments - joined Gabby & Mark for insight into the 'meticulous' nature of the England manager, how difficult social media has made it for players to ignore ...
Jun 30, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast With now less than a week to go, we answer your General Election questions. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"! The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/ https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents...
Jun 28, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast This was a TV debate unlike any other. Excruciating doesn’t even cover it. Whilst Trump confidently lied his way through the facts, Biden barely reached the end of his sentences without meandering off into a far distant phrase. It was painful to watch and it will raise serious questions now amongst senior Democrats. Can they, must they replace Joe Biden as their presidential candidate? And if so who will be the first top figure to say it out loud? We take you through the most painful moments of ...
Jun 28, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast A week today your Twitter feed will be filing up with dogs at polling station memes. Yes dear listeners the marathon is almost done. On today's episode we will be looking at two TV debates - last night we saw the prime ministerial candidates on stage for the last time. Tonight it’s the turn of the US presidential candidates in Atlanta, Georgia. Do these debates ever change minds or just let audiences get things off their chest? We will hear from the Trump campaign team and ask if the stakes are ...
Jun 27, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast The latest numbers from More in Common suggest that Nigel Farage may come to regret his comments over Putin and the Ukraine war. Reform has slipped back in the polls - and one in four voters believe that Farage is sympathetic to Putin. How will any of this play into the way people vote for his party next week? But we start with the gambling scandal. Keir Starmer has become the latest party leader to dispatch a candidate for betting - after Ipswich candidate Kevin Craig was found to have placed a...
Jun 26, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast We will be telling the extraordinary story of Julian Assange in this episode - how he gained such legendary status - and whether he was more saint or sinner - as he leaves Belmarsh prison and heads to his new life in Australia. But we have to start with the latest twist in the gambleshambles as, you’ve guessed it, Rishi Sunak has now bowed to the inevitable pressure and pulled his support from two candidates who admitted to making an ill advised bet on the date of the election. Why could the who...
Jun 25, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Why is the Mail having a go at Nigel Farage and why is Nigel Farage having a go at Boris Johnson? These three are now firm 'frenemies' - calling each other 'morally repugnant' and calling in the lawyers... What does it tell us about the power on the right of British politics? And is Farage now regretting his 'Putin friendly' comments? Later, the Gambleshambles has reached the dizzy heights of second most damaging gaff for the election campaign amongst members of the public. Why has the cut throu...
Jun 24, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Sunday Times report that Nick Mason, the party's chief data officer, is the fourth Conservative being looked into over bets allegedly placed on the date of the general election. But still, no one has been suspended by Rishi Sunak. Why not? And, how far and how high does Gamblegate go? Could even someone as high up as a cabinet member be allegedly implicated? And later, we talk Brexit 8 years on and Lewis is at a focus group in the crucial voting area and demographic of Whitby. Editor: Tom Hu...
Jun 23, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week on The Sports Agents , After Rory McIlroy 's dramatic decision to take a break from Golf, following his collapse at the US Open, Gabby & Mark were joined by 2010 Ryder Cup winning captain and five-time major runner up Colin Montgomerie , to debate whether golf is the most mentally-challenging sport out there and to re-live the US Open he himself 'threw away' back in 2006. Later in the week, as Scotland kept their hopes a place in the knock-out stages of Euro 2024 alive, David...
Jun 23, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Emily, Jon and Lewis answer your General Election questions Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"! The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/ https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents...
Jun 21, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast In a move that I think we can safely say no-one saw coming , the Conservative campaign director has announced his own leave of absence two weeks out from polling day. His wife is a candidate. They are both being investigated for allegedly placing a bet on the date of the election before it was publicly announced. Another close protection officer has been arrested for misconduct. What is happening at the heart of his campaign and what is this doing to the state of the race. Later we see in a key ...
Jun 20, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Election day is two weeks tomorrow. For some that can't come soon enough. Today - with the help of former Tory Chairman and ad man Lord Maurice Saatchi we assess the state of the campaign and ask how politicians are communicating with the public, and what the public is saying back. Is there such a thing as a campaign that's 'too nice'? And is this it? Later, we have the latest The News Agents/More in Common MRP poll and ask what will happen to the SNP and whether the methodology of how pollsters...
Jun 19, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Murdoch's Sun newspaper backing used to be 'a moment' in every UK general election campaign. Famously backing Blair in 97. Switching allegiance to Cameron over Brown in 2010. But this time around we have heard practically nothing. Is that because Murdoch hasn't made his mind up? Or because the enthusiasm for either candidate simply isn't there? Or is it a recognition that the power newspapers wield on the voter is waning? We speak to former Sun editor David Yelland, host of When it Hits The Fan ...
Jun 18, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast The man who brought you Brexit has launched his party's manifesto and complained about....Brexit. He recognises that small business has been more squeezed, immigration has rocketed , food costs have soared - but says the answer is to let him have your vote again so they can 'do Brexit properly'. Will voters believe him again? Later, we discuss the French football team's intervention into their own elections back home. Kylian Mbappé - a global superstar - is calling on voters to reject far-right ...
Jun 17, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yesterday’s latest poll from Survation put the Conservatives on little more than seventy seats. This is political wipe out territory. Survation called it right on the 2019 Red Wall polling. So should we take this seriously? Also , how should the main parties deal with their Farage problem? But, even if Labour do win a massive super majority - how strong would that Labour Party be? Lewis goes to the tightest of marginals - Bristol Central - which might see one of the only Labour casualties of the...
Jun 16, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week on The Sports Agents, How and why did an image of Arsenal's Bukayo Saka become the main feature on the back pages of almost every major newspaper following England's 1-0 defeat to Iceland... despite him only featuring as a 65th minute substitute. Football writer Henry Winter and Channel 4 sports correspondent Jordan Jarrett-Bryan joined Gabby and Mark and reveal how these photos are chosen and why the context is important when it comes to Saka and England. And as promised, also this we...
Jun 16, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Emily and Jon answer your General Election questions. Editor: Tom Hughes Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: : Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"! The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/ https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents...
Jun 14, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Labour has launched a 25,000 word manifesto and as promised, there were no new rabbits and no hats. What we saw in Manchester was a newly confident Labour leader who barely paused in his answers to media questions: his lines were to script, his answers brief, and his stories well honed. But there were noticeable gaps in Labour's offering. Only two brief mentions of child poverty, and no restoration of the benefit to families of 3 children. That's despite another 100 thousand kids being pushed in...
Jun 13, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Emily, Jon and Lewis stayed up late to analyse the latest TV battle between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. Who came out on top this time around on Sky News? Editor: Tom Hughes Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"! The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/ https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents...
Jun 13, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tory frontbencher Grant Shapps has appeared to concede the Tories are now heading for defeat at the election and warned voters against allowing Labour a 'supermajority'. Does scaring people work as a campaign strategy? And is a supermajority a big problem for voters? We also hear from Lewis, who is on the campaign trail with Lib Dem leader Ed Davey. And later in the show we talk privilege, class, and pesky questions, after Rishi Sunak was asked what he had to go without when he was growing up. E...
Jun 12, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
