Uk politics

Claire Ainsley is a stalwart of left-wing politics. Formerly an executive director at social change organisation the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, she is currently leading a project on the renewal of the centre-left at the Progressive Policy Institute. Her first book, The New Working Class: How to Win Hearts, Minds and Votes, brought her to the attention of the Labour leadership. Not long after Keir Starmer’s successful leadership bid, she was invited to join him as Executive Director of Policy, a position she held for over two years. On the podcast, Claire talks to Katy Balls about her journey on the left, from a Labour-supporting family to radical university politics and then

An unexpected rise in inflation today takes the rate to higher than the Bank of England’s target, and adds to Rachel Reeves’s worries. James Heale talks to Katy Balls and The Spectator’s data editor Michael Simmons about the latest figures, and they also discuss the shadow minister Alex Burghart’s performance at Prime Minister’s Questions. Produced by Cindy Yu.

Keir Starmer today will become the first British leader to meet China’s Xi Jinping since 2018. The two leaders will meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil, and under the looming shadow of a second Trump presidency. Can Starmer strike the right balance? James Heale talks to Cindy Yu and Katy Balls. Produced by Cindy Yu.

The Spectator’s Michael Gove, Katy Balls, and Kate Andrews are joined by Paul Abberley, Chief Executive of Charles Stanley, to discuss and unpack Labour’s first budget in 14 years. Now the dust has settled from the policies, key questions continue to arise. Can Labour create the growth it desperately needs? Why are farmers so upset with the budget? And can they define a working person yet?

The government has announced a review into how to properly police non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs). This follows the experience of Allison Pearson who, on Remembrance Day morning, was doorstepped by Essex Police demanding an interview about a long-forgotten tweet. Reports of NCHIs have dramatically increased in the last year, with 13,200 recorded in the 12 months to June (around 36 a day). What qualifies as an NCHI and how can the police be expected to enforce them? Is this police overreach or a necessary measure to tackle the rise in instances of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia? Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and Danny Shaw, former adviser to Yvette Cooper. Produced

The Chancellor is giving her first Mansion House address tonight, and she will be majoring on pensions, suggesting that public sector pension funds need to be expanded. But is this the road to growth? James Heale talks to Katy Balls and Kate Andrews. Produced by Cindy Yu.

It’s happened. The scenario Labour politicians hoped would not come to pass is now a reality: Donald Trump is heading back to the White House. The official line from Labour is that everything is fine – they will work with whoever holds the office of president. However, privately there have long been nerves and concerns as to what a Trump comeback would mean for the Starmer government. Where are the fault lines likely to appear? And what does a second Trump term mean for foreign secretary David Lammy, considering his previous comments about the Donald? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and John McTernan. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

It’s happened. The scenario Labour politicians hoped would not come to pass is now a reality: Donald Trump is heading back to the White House. The official line from Labour is that everything is fine – they will work with whoever hold the office of president. That was the message from Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions as he congratulated president-elect Trump, and made a point of mentioning they had recently had dinner together. However – Kemi Badenoch focused on David Lammy’s past criticisms of Trump at PMQs. Is this a unique tension for the Labour government? James Heale discusses with Michael Gove and Katy Balls.

Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet continues to take shape: Chris Philp has been appointed shadow Home Secretary, with the biggest news being Robert Jenrick’s decision to accept the position of shadow Justice Secretary. Jenrick’s proposal to leave the ECHR was one policy disagreement with Badenoch, could this cause the Conservatives problems in the future? And what do her appointments say more broadly about her programme: has she put party unity above policy? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and the FT’s Stephen Bush. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.

Kemi Badenoch has won the Tory leadership election. She beat Robert Jenrick in a tight race, winning 53,806 votes against his 41,318. What will a Badenoch opposition look like? What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? Cindy Yu speaks to Michael Gove and Katy Balls.

Kate Andrews is joined by Katy Balls and the OBR’s Prof David Miles to discuss the day two reactions to Rachel Reeves’s Budget. Who were the losers, and is it too early to say who the winners are? Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Cindy Yu.

Wes Streeting has been out on the airwaves this morning, giving us a better idea of what will be in the Budget when it comes to the NHS. In an attempt to resuscitate a ‘broken but not beaten’ NHS, he has announced a cash injection reported to be up to £7 billion – including £1.57 billion for new surgical hubs, scanners, and radiotherapy machines. The Health Secretary did stress, however, that this will not be enough to save the NHS from a winter crisis. How far will this money go? Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

It’s Budget week (finally)! How this week goes will set the tone for Labour’s first year in office. It’s fair to say that expectations are relatively low – with the Prime Minister himself warning of ‘painful decisions’ ahead. We know a lot of what will likely be included and Treasury sources are keen to play down talk of any Budget rabbits – suggesting a mix of the measures currently being discussed in the media. So what should we expect? And can Labour ride out the week unscathed? Also on the podcast, Labour have suspended the whip for Mike Amesbury, MP for Runcorn and Helsby, after he appeared to threaten a