Episodes

  • Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 15/09/2024

    Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 15/09/2024
    Sep 15 2024
    Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.

    The foreign secretary talks up support for Ukraine, but won’t comment on whether they will be granted long-range missiles. David Lammy and James Cleverly disagree over the severity of Keir Starmer’s potential rule breaking. Cleverly calls Labour ‘arrogant and inexperienced’. And Ed Davey defends his party’s ability to effectively criticise the government.

    Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.


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    14 mins
  • Is Gordon Brown back?

    Is Gordon Brown back?
    Sep 14 2024
    Last week, there was a surprise visitor to the Treasury: Gordon Brown. The former prime minister and chancellor secretly returned to his old digs for the first time since he left office 14 years ago. According to onlookers, Brown visited his old office as he caught up with the new chancellor – and his friend – Rachel Reeves. What was discussed? Many have speculated that among the topics on the agenda was the winter fuel allowance, a policy ushered in by Brown and now amended by Reeves.

    Elsewhere, Tony Blair has been doing the media rounds promoting his new book and giving his thoughts on leadership. Should Keir be listening? Are interjections from former prime ministers ever helpful?

    James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Patrick Maguire.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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    14 mins
  • Will Starmer call Putin’s bluff?

    Will Starmer call Putin’s bluff?
    Sep 13 2024
    Keir Starmer and David Lammy are in the Washington for a planned foreign policy summit with Joe Biden. They will principally be talking about a new deal regarding the use of UK long range missiles in Russia, a move which Putin has warned would constitute an escalation of the war and the formalisation of NATO's involvement.

    Also up for discussion is support for Israel after the foreign secretary announced a partial embargo on arms. Is the UK diverging from the US on foreign policy?

    James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Keir Giles, fellow at Chatham House and author of Who Will Defend Europe?

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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    10 mins
  • Keir Starmer: the NHS will get 'no more money without reform'

    Keir Starmer: the NHS will get 'no more money without reform'
    Sep 12 2024
    The Prime Minister has described the NHS as in 'critical condition' in a speech this morning after the release of Lord Darzi's damning independent report.

    Lord Darzi had only nine weeks to conduct his investigation into –and assessment of – the National Health Service. But this truncated timeline does not appear to have led to any watering down of his verdict. The independent peer has delivered a damning diagnosis of the state of the NHS, which is described as failing both its staff and its patients. The NHS clearly needs serious intervention, but are Labour the ones to do it?

    James Heale speaks to Kate Andrews and Isabel Hardman, author of Fighting for Life: The Twelve Battles that Made Our NHS, and the Struggle for Its Future.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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    15 mins
  • Trump vs Harris debate: who won?

    Trump vs Harris debate: who won?
    Sep 11 2024
    Last night saw the first Trump vs Harris debate and the consensus seems to be that Harris came out on top. She managed to avoid sticky issues about her political past and goaded Trump into some rambling and – at times – outrageous remarks. What did we learn?

    Also today, we have had new figures on the economy with GDP flatlining for the second month in a row. Does this vindicate Rachel Reeves' tough decision on the winter fuel allowance?

    Katy Balls speaks to Kate Andrews and John McTernan.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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    14 mins
  • Tory leadership latest: 'Melmentum' runs out

    Tory leadership latest: 'Melmentum' runs out
    Sep 10 2024
    It's been a busy day in Westminster today. Labour avoided a large scale rebellion on the winter fuel allowance and Mel Stride was eliminated from the Tory leadership race – not to mention the sale of a certain weekly politics magazine. Oscar Edmondson discusses with Katy Balls and James Heale.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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    13 mins
  • Will Rachel Reeves soften the winter fuel cut?

    Will Rachel Reeves soften the winter fuel cut?
    Sep 9 2024
    Tomorrow MPs will vote on Rachel Reeves’ decision to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners who aren’t eligible for pension benefits. We spoke on this podcast on Friday about the pressure that Labour is under from all sides on this, but the temperature has increased over the weekend with the trade unions getting involved. What's the latest?

    Also on the podcast, there have been some allegations of 'dark arts' during the first round of voting in the tory leadership contest, and possible vote sharing. Is there any truth to these rumours?

    James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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    14 mins
  • Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 08/09/2024

    Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 08/09/2024
    Sep 8 2024
    Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows.

    Keir Starmer says his government will ‘have to be unpopular’ and take tough decisions. He also denies there is any anger from the US at the UK’s decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel. Health Secretary Streeting sets out Labour’s ambitions for improving the NHS. And the Tory leadership race heats up.

    Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.
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    13 mins