Politics Weekly UK

The legal tug of war between the Covid inquiry and the Cabinet Office continues this week. Gaby Hinsliff sits in for John Harris, and talks to the former Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell and the former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal about the possible reasons for the government’s position. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Rishi Sunak is fighting fires this week as Boris Johnson and Suella Braverman steal the headlines. And as new net migration figures are released on Thursday, can the prime minister take back control of the narrative? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnists Rafael Behr and Gaby Hinsliff. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Some of the big figures on the political right, including two cabinet ministers, have been speaking this week at the National Conservatism conference in London. How much sway does this vocal group have over government? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the former Tory minister David Gauke and the Observer’s Sonia Sodha to discuss. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Keir Starmer and Ed Davey have both refused to rule out forming a coalition between their parties at the next general election. Following disastrous results for the Conservatives in the local elections, what will this mean for Labour and the Liberal Democrats? The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff, standing in for John Harris this week, asks political editor Pippa Crerar and former Conservative special advisor Salma Shah what a Labour/Lib Dem pact could look like. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

More than a million NHS workers will get a 5% pay rise after health unions accepted a government offer. But the Royal College of Nursing has rejected the offer. The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to Pat Cullen, the general secretary of the RCN and Frances O’Grady, a Labour peer and former general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, about the future for public sector workers. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The UK government has been criticised for its slowness in evacuating UK nationals from Sudan. But what could this mean for the millions of civilians left there in dire and dangerous circumstances? The Guardian’s John Harris asks Africa correspondent Jason Burke. Also, amid a fresh charge of antisemitism and ahead of a big electoral test, has Keir Starmer cleaned up the Labour party? Political editor Pippa Crerar and columnist Gaby Hinsliff join John to discuss the issue. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The UK needs to shift its ‘anti-maths mindset’, according to Rishi Sunak. But while the prime minister wants everyone to learn maths until the age of 18, do the sums add up against a recruitment crisis in teaching? The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to Gill Burbridge, headteacher of Leyton sixth form college, and Guardian columnists Rafael Behr and Gaby Hinsliff. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority in 2019, redrawing the electoral map and threatening Labour with another decade in opposition. Less than four years later, the Conservatives are on their third leader in 12 months and are trailing in the polls. So how did the UK get here? The Guardian’s John Harris asks Prof Tim Bale, whose new book, The Conservative Party After Brexit, looks at what went wrong for the Tories. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Who does Labour need to win over – or win back – to form a government at the next election? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnist Gaby Hinsliff, former Ed Miliband speechwriter Marc Stears and Josh Simons from Labour Together to discuss how the party can target these voters. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Humza Yousaf has become new leader of the SNP. But with Scotland’s path to independence looking further away than ever, can Nicola Sturgeon’s replacement reignite the party and the debate? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by Scotland correspondent Libby Brooks, columnist Gaby Hinsliff and former Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

With the former prime minister having been questioned by MPs on the privileges select committee, the Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political editor Pippa Crerar to discuss Johnson’s fight to save his career, and speaks to those who worked on the frontline of the pandemic. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Next week marks 20 years since the UK joined US and coalition forces in the invasion of Iraq. The Guardian’s John Harris looks back on the war’s troubled legacy and its impact on politics today, with the journalist Audrey Gillan, who reported from Iraq, and the columnist Jonathan Freedland. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Jeremy Hunt has set out his first budget as chancellor. With plans to boost childcare and help people get back to work, can it provide the much-needed growth the economy needs? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by former Conservative minister David Gauke and Miatta Fahnbulleh from the New Economics Foundation to discuss. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Another plan has been announced to crack down on so-called small boats arriving illegally in the UK. The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to immigration specialist Zoe Gardner and former Conservative special advisor Luke Tryl, and discusses the history of immigration rhetoric with Guardian political editor Pippa Crerar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

After years of tensions, Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen this week unveiled their new Brexit deal to virtually universal praise. But is there a catch? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by Brexit correspondent Lisa O’Carroll, columnist Rafael Behr and former No 10 chief of staff and Conservative peer Gavin Barwell to discuss. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

This week marks one year since Russia sent its troops into Ukraine. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, and the Ukrainian MP, Kira Rudik, to look at how the war has changed world politics. And, what the future may look like for Ukraine and Russia.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

It’s the end of an era for two politicians: Nicola Sturgeon has announced she will quit as leader of the SNP and Jeremy Corbyn has been blocked from re-entering the Labour party by Keir Starmer. Gaby Hinsliff is in for John Harris and she speaks to Guardian deputy political editor Jessica Elgot and former Conservative cabinet minister David Gauke. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Rishi Sunak has carried out a reshuffle of his ministers and departments in Whitehall. But will it be enough to save his party from electoral wipeout at the next election? To discuss is the Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff, standing in for John Harris, who is joined by political editor Pippa Crerar and former Conservative special adviser Salma Shah. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

It’s been three years since the UK officially left the EU. This week the IMF has predicted we will be the only major global economy to shrink this year. Plus opinion polls suggest people are regretting their vote. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnist Rafael Behr, Brexit correspondent Lisa O’Carroll and economics editor Larry Elliott to look at what Brexit has delivered. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Rishi Sunak came into No 10 promising to earn our trust. But three months into the job he encounters an inquiry into his party chair, questions over Boris Johnson’s appointment for the BBC chair, and a police penalty for failing to wear his seatbelt. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnists Gaby Hinsliff and Rafael Behr to discuss why the prime minister can’t seem to rid his party of sleaze allegations. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

John Harris joins nurses striking on the picket line to find out what life is really like for them. He speaks to Christina McAnea, the head of the union Unison, to find out what it is like negotiating with Conservative ministers. Plus, John is joined by the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, and Scotland correspondent, Libby Brooks, to run through the ramifications of the UK government blocking Scotland’s gender recognition bill. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Health officials are reporting that the NHS is on its knees. John Harris talks to the Guardian’s health policy editor, Denis Campbell, about what he has seen. Plus, Conservative peer Gavin Barwell and Gaby Hinsliff talk about why NHS reform is such a tricky conversation. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

In a year that saw three prime ministers, two monarchs and a whole lot of political and social unrest, how will 2022 be remembered? The Guardian’s John Harris looks back on the last 12 months, and asks what might happen in the next, with columnist Gaby Hinsliff and political editor Pippa Crerar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Faced with a country brought almost to a standstill by strikes, a cost of living crisis, and an increasingly desperate situation in the channel, just what should the Conservative Party be doing to get a grip on the situation? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the Conservative peer and former Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell, and the political strategist Jo Tanner, to ask if, after 12 years in power, the Tories are running out of road.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Twenty points ahead in the polls, the Labour party looks closer to power now than it has done for more than a decade. But what do we really know about Keir Starmer’s vision for government? And how much has the UK’s political landscape changed since the 1997 Labour landslide? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnist Gaby Hinsliff and Stewart Wood, a Labour peer and former adviser to Ed Miliband and Gordon Brown, to discuss.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Nurses, rail staff and royal mail workers are expected to strike this winter. Will Rishi Sunak’s ‘Operation Get Tough’ have any impact? And as protests continue to rage in China, the PM used the lavish Lord Mayor’s Banquet earlier this week to announce the ‘golden era’ of relations with China is over. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by Rafael Behr and Zoe Williams, and will be speaking on China to the Guardian’s former China correspondent Tania Branigan. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Guardian’s John Harris is in the West Midlands to talk to teachers, librarians and the local council about how more than a decade’s worth of real terms cuts is taking its toll on services. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has given details in his autumn statement of how the government will try to help struggling households, businesses and public services. But after 12 years in power and with the UK now in recession, can the Conservatives convince people they are the right party to turn the economy around? John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, and the columnist Rafael Behr to look at what the statement tells us about where we’re headed. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is to deliver the autumn statement later on Thursday. The Guardian’s John Harris will be joined after by political editor Pippa Crerar and columnist Rafael Behr to unpick the government’s plan.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

As global leaders are gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh for the Cop27 summit, the Guardian’s John Harris is joined by Labour’s minister for the climate and net zero, Ed Miliband, and columnist Gaby Hinsliff, to ask what will it take for politicians to finally take the climate emergency seriously? And, we hear from a Just Stop Oil activist on the action they’re taking. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod