Commons People

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. This week, Kevin and Kate discuss why Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are keen to develop closer ties with the EU, and what that means in the context of Brexit. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 02:29 – Brexit explained (for those who have forgotten!) 04:43 – the King's speech, Trump and why Starmer would want to align more closely with the EU. 09:20 – how do British people feel about the EU? 13:50 – what are the main political parties thinking? 17:14 – British holidaymakers stranded at passport control. 18:17 – MPs are angry at not getting a vote. 21:19 – Steve Reed (Community Secretary) on an EU re-alignment. 23:27 – What will happen next? 28:16 – Bluffer's Guide and end. You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. This week, Kevin and Kate are back together to ask whether Donald Trump’s war in Iran is really over after a two-week ceasefire was agreed to on Tuesday. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 04:44 – Did Trump meet any of his military objectives? 08:14 – The significance of the Strait of Hormuz 12:52 – Iran's 10-point proposal 18:02 – Trump's strained international relations (including with NATO) 21:56 – Keir Starmer and King Charles's relationship with Trump and Trump's comments on UK armed forces 25:13 – Can Iran build a nuclear bomb? 29:05 – Keir Starmer's visit to the Middle East 32:53 – The economic consequences of the war 37:33 – Bluffer's guide and end You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kate is joined by special guest Millie Cooke – political correspondent for The Independent – to discuss whether Parliament is doing enough to tackle misogyny and the rise of the manosphere. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 05:00 – Sarah Everard and the impact of her death on society 06:54 – Is there a pattern of sexist briefings against female cabinet ministers going on? 09:42 – Is Keir Starmer's Government a "boy's club"? 14:37 – What is it like being a female journalist in politics today. 19:40 – What do "Adolescence" and "Inside The Manosphere" have to do with things? 23:05 – Reform's Matt Goodwin and Danny Kruger's anti-women policies 25:47 – What does the future hold – a female first secretary of state 28:26 – What does the future hold – the male MP response 30:25 – How do we make sure women are heard more? 33:04 – Are female political correspondents outliers in Westminster? 35:06 – Should there be a Minister for Men? 36:59 – Bluffer's Guide and end You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing the May local elections and weighing up the chances of all the main parties including Labour, Green, Conservative, Reform and the Lib Dems, as well as the SNP and Plaid Cymru in Scotland and Wales, respectively. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 01:01 – When are the local elections and why are they important? 03:31 – What are Labour's chances in the local elections? 04:48 – How will the Tories fare? 06:09 – Will Reform’s success at the polls be reflected in the elections? 09:17 – Will the Greens continue with their success? 11:22 – How will the Lib Dems affect things? 13:44 – Will wins for the SNP and Plaid Cymru signify the end of United Kingdom? 16:43 – Are we looking at the end of the two-party system in the UK? 19:28 – Will there be a Labour leadership contest after 7 May? 25:33 – What does all the mean for the cost of living crisis? 26:37 – Bluffer’s guide You can watch full episodes on YouTube @HuffPost-UK and follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. For our returning episode, and our first in four and half years, we're talking about one of the most important subjects in UK politics right now – the Iran war. Join Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson as they dive deep into how the war is having a knock-on effect on the UK’s cost of living already, how it's impacting the UK-US special relationship and whether it's also reshaping other international alliances and existing wars, like Ukraine. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 04:11 – How did we get here? 10:08 – What does the Strait of Hormuz have to do with things? 13:37 – Trump and NATO 17:36 – Will the Gulf countries become more pro-Ukraine? 21:32 – Will the King's state visit go ahead? 23:30 – The knock-on effect on the UK cost of living 26:47 – How long is the war going to last? 30:57 – Will any countries join the war? 35:02 – Bluffer's guide 36:30 – Outro You can watch full episodes on YouTube @HuffPost-UK. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson has taken the biggest gamble of his premiership with a National Insurance hike to fund the NHS and social care. Labour's leader in the Lords Angela Smith joins Ned Simons, Sophia Sleigh and Paul Waugh to chat through Tory tax rises and where Labour's at ahead of its party conference Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As MPs head off to their constituencies, rising Covid cases and Channel crossings of asylum seekers are ensuring Boris Johnson cannot put his feet up. Home Affairs Committee chair Yvette Cooper joins Ned Simons and Paul Waugh to chat through her joust with the Priti Patel this week, as well as the wider problems facing both the government and Labour this summer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The chancellor's late, late move to outflank Tory rebels on international aid cuts won the day, despite MPs voting against the three line whip. But is the rebellion over and will Rishi Sunak and his party rue the damage caused to their brand? Ned Simons and Paul Waugh are joined by former international development secretary (and former chief whip) Andrew Mitchell. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Football may or may not be coming home, but Boris Johnson and Liz Truss want British firms to export more abroad. Can the UK’s tricky relations with China help or hinder that post-Brexit ambition? Shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry joins Ned Simons and Paul Waugh to chat through trade, as well as the next steps for Keir Starmer’s Labour after its ‘Batley bounce’. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sajid Javid made a phoenix-like return to the Cabinet this week, replacing Matt Hancock after the former health secretary was sensationally caught on camera breaking Covid rules by kissing an aide in his office. Senior Tory and Commons education committee chair Rob Halfon joins Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to discuss a rocky week for the government, and the Covid crisis that’s creeping up in English schools. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the fifth anniversary of the vote to leave the EU and Brexit is still having a profound impact on British politics. Tory former spad Salma Shah and the UK In A Changing Europe’s Anand Menon join Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to unpack the successes and failures of the last five years, and discuss what Brexit means for politics in 2021 and beyond. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson this week delayed so-called “freedom day” from Covid restrictions in a bid to get more vaccines into more arms and protect the NHS. But the prime minister has angered many Tory MPs, who simply do not believe he will stick to the new “terminus” of July 19th. Lib Dem health spokesperson Munira Wilson joins Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to discuss why her party abstained on extending restrictions, and also why the Tories’ so-called culture war was losing them votes in their traditional southern seats. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a huge week for Boris Johnson as Joe Biden and leaders of some of the world’s wealthiest countries arrive in Cornwall for the G7 summit. But the prime minister has embroiled himself in a row with the EU over the terms of his own Brexit deal, which has angeried the US president and is threatening to overshadow the event. Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy joins Arj Singh and Ned Simons to discuss how Johnson can reset and repair relations with Biden, and discuss what Labour can learn from the US Democrats in the face of the UK’s own culture war. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dominic Cummings took no prisoners this week when laying out claims of a series of “disastrous” government failures that meant tens of thousands of people died of Covid unnecessarily. Conservative MP Bob Seely joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to talk about the former No.10 aide's explosive select committee appearance, why the government needs to be better prepared for “black swan” moments, and the electoral risk facing the Tories if Boris Johnson proceeds with controversial planning reforms. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weeks of optimism and cheer as Covid restrictions were eased gave way to another bout of nationwide nervousness amid localised spikes in infections attributed to the variant of the virus first detected in India, prompting debates about how to contain the variant and whether the June 21 unlocking needs to be delayed. Labour MP and Keir Starmer’s new parliamentary private secretary Sharon Hodgson joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to chat through Covid, winning voters in red wall seats like hers, and being braver on Brexit. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government’s legislative agenda for the next year or so was unveiled in this week’s Queen’s Speech. But it was perhaps more notable for what wasn’t in it. Boris Johnson’s plan to reform social care was still absent despite his 2019 claim to voters that he had one prepared. And the prime minister is still struggling to define how he will “level up” left behind communities. Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake, an aide to Michael Gove, joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to explain why it could take 30 years to finish the job of “levelling up” areas like his in North Yorkshire, and to reflect on whether Labour made a strategic mistake focusing on alleged sleaze ahead of last week’s local elections. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour suffered a disastrous series of results in the “super Thursday” local elections, capped by a huge and humiliating defeat to the Tories in a parliamentary by-election in the red wall seat of Hartlepool. There were more losses in red wall and other marginal council areas with the Tories even taking control of Northumberland. It has led to serious questions about Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour’s strategy, and just where the party goes from here. Senior former Labour adviser Matthew McGregor joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss how the party can start winning again, and what lessons it can learn from Joe Biden’s campaign in the United States. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a nightmare week for Boris Johnson, who kicked the hornet’s nest when he blamed Dominic Cummings for a series of damaging leaks. The former adviser replied with a stinging public attack, which has left the prime minister fending off multiple bad headlines around his handling of the Covid crisis. On top of that, the Tories are now facing an Electoral Commission investigation into who funded the refurbishment of Johnson’s Downing Street flat. Meanwhile, with the Covid situation improving dramatically in the UK, attention has turned to the appalling crisis in India. Is the UK doing enough to help, and should Johnson be wary of getting too close to the country’s PM Narendra Modi? Senior Tory MP and Commons foreign affairs committee chair Tom Tugendhat joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss what the flat saga means for the local elections, and how the UK should respond to events in Asia. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allegations of cronyism and government by WhatsApp have been intensifying around the Conservatives as Boris Johnson’s texts to manufacturer and Tory donor James Dyson add to the lobbying scandal engulfing former PM David Cameron and members of the Cabinet. Labour think they’ve found a message to take to the doorstep for local elections, but are claims of Tory sleaze enough to take power nationally? A scandal of another sort has however overshadowed the Greensill story, as failed plans by the so-called “big six” Premier League teams to create a breakaway European “super league” united rival fans and political parties in a backlash which may usher in a watershed moment for English football. Labour ex-cabinet minister Lord Peter Mandelson joins Arj Sngh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss what the super league scandal means for politics, and how Labour need to “turn the Tories inside out” to win again. Clips from Joe, Sky Sports News, Sky News, LBC, Tom Sheldrick ITV interview with Jill Mortimer and Parliament TV. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With local elections around the corner, Boris Johnson’s Tories find themselves in a stronger position than they would have imagined just a few short months ago. Will the successful deployment of coronavirus vaccines wipe the memory of the issues Britain endured during repeated lockdowns, giving the prime minister a vaccine bounce? Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth are joined by Tory peer and polling expert Lord Robert Hayward to discuss whether the success of the rollout compared to the EU’s haphazard jabbing programme could help the Tories at the ballot box, what the by-election in Hartlepool means for Labour, and how the infighting in the SNP might affect their Holyrood seats and calls for a second independence referendum. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.