Politics Weekly
Political analysis from the Guardian and Observer's top journalists and commentators.
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,…
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?…
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…
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
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…
Westminster’s Gaza disgrace – Politics Weekly UK
House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle made a dramatic apology today for his handling of a Gaza ceasefire vote that sent the commons into chaos. The Guardian’s John Harris spent the day in Westminster speaking to protestors, Labour MP Rachael Maskell, and the Guardian’ political correspondent Kiran Stacey.. Help…
Antisemitism row engulfs Labour – Politics Weekly UK
Two prospective Labour candidates have been embroiled in an antisemitism row this week with Keir Starmer facing sharp criticism for his leadership of the party. The Guardian’s Kiran Stacey speaks to our political correspondent Eleni Courea about the fallout. Plus, Kiran is joined by the Guardian’s economics editor, Larry Elliott,…
Wellingborough: where faith in politics is fading – Politics Weekly UK
Politics Weekly UK is in Wellingborough in the run-up to the byelection to replace the Conservative MP Peter Bone. John Harris speaks to local groups helping to deal with knife crime and the closure of youth centres, and meets Ben Habib, the co-deputy leader of Reform UK. Help support our…
Stormont returns? And Tory plotters strike again – Politics Weekly UK
After nearly two years without a government, could power sharing in Northern Ireland finally be back? And, another week, another Tory faction plotting to overthrow the prime minister. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by our political editor, Pippa Crerar, and the Spectator’s Katy Balls, to ask how much longer…
Why are councils going bankrupt? – Politics Weekly UK
The government has an announced an extra £500million to help local councils in England. After years of squeezed budgets, many are facing bankruptcy. What can be done to prevent more from tipping over? The Guardian’s John Harris hears from Bill Revans, the leader of Somerset council, the Guardian’s social policy…
Middle East conflicts and the Rwanda bill – Politics Weekly UK podcast
As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, this week John Harris speaks to Niku Jafarnia of Human Rights Watch about the regional conflicts. The Rwanda bill passed its third reading and Pippa Crerar, the Guardian’s political editor, reveals what happened behind the scenes. And the former No 10…
The Post Office scandal – Politics Weekly UK
The government has announced it will introduce legislation to exonerate the many hundreds of postal workers affected by the Post Office Horizon software scandal. So is the only way to turn the government’s head to an issue to make a TV drama about it? The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to…
Revisited… Keir Starmer’s Labour: hope or despair? – Politics Weekly UK podcast
Politics Weekly UK is taking a break. So this week John Harris revisits a conversation with the Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee and political reporter Aletha Adu about what a Labour government would look like and why it feels like Keir Starmer has a lot of convincing to do. Help support…
Review of the year: looking back at 2023 – Politics Weekly UK
It’s been another year of political high drama, division and chaos. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political editor Pippa Crerar and columnist Gaby Hinsliff to look back at the last 12 months and predict what might be coming in 2024. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
The Rwanda bill: what next for Rishi Sunak? – Politics Weekly UK
The government’s landmark Rwanda bill was voted through on Tuesday night. With the issue threatening to tear the Conservatives apart, the Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political correspondent Kiran Stacey and columnist Sonia Sodha to discuss the challenges facing the prime minister. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
Rwanda bill and Boris at the Covid inquiry – Politics Weekly UK
Rishi Sunak attempted to quash critics of his Rwanda plan with a surprise press conference today. Will it be enough to save him from his own party and electoral wipeout? And as Boris Johnson finishes two days of questioning at the Covid inquiry, did we learn anything? The Guardian’s John…
Good COP, Bad COP? – Politics Weekly UK
Cop28 starts today in Dubai and its already shrouded in controversy. So what can leaders agree that will make a change to the planet? And in the UK how far away are we from a greener economy? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by Green MP Caroline Lucas and former…
Autumn statement: the government hunts growth – Politics Weekly UK
Jeremy Hunt’s much anticipated autumn statement promised tax cuts and getting people back to work. John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, and the former Treasury minister David Gauke, to assess what we heard Autumn statement 2023: key points at a glance OBR warns government finances…
Is the Tories' Rwanda deal dead? Politics Weekly UK
The supreme court ruled on Wednesday that the government’s landmark Rwanda policy was unlawful. From Westminster, the Guardian’s Kiran Stacey and Patrick Wintour look at how consequential this could be for Rishi Sunak and his government. And our political correspondent Aletha Adu looks at how a Gaza ceasefire vote could…
Braverman sacked and Cameron is back! – Politics Weekly UK
The former prime minister David Cameron has been appointed to the role of foreign secretary in Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle. The shock move will have taken the steam out of the prime minister sacking his controversial home secretary, Suella Braverman. But what are the wider implications? The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff…