Politics Weekly UK

Politics Weekly Westminster: Starmer and Sunak face audience in Grimsby

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss how Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak performed at the Sky News special leaders’ event in Lincolns...

Politics Weekly Westminster: Manifesto week

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at what might be on offer as the political parties launch their manifestos this week. Plus, what P...

The ‘blue wall’ road trip: Tories jumping ship? Politics Weekly UK

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guardian’s John Harris is on the road, visiting Jeremy Hunt’s seat in Godalming and Ash and Michael Gove’s Surrey Heath constituency to find...

Politics Weekly Westminster: The first TV debate

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the first TV head to head between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak. Help support our independent jo...

Politics Weekly Westminster: Ahead of the TV debates

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss how Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak will be preparing for the first big leaders’ debate on Tuesd...

The Rwanda bill effect – Politics Weekly UK

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The government’s safety of Rwanda bill finally passed into law in April. But, with the announcement last week of a general election, the Conservativ...

Politics Weekly Westminster: Diane Abbott and the election campaigns

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the confusion around Diane Abbott’s return to the Labour party. Plus, the ins and outs of the...

Andy Burnham on the infected blood scandal – podcast

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Victims of the contaminated blood scandal finally got some of the justice they have been seeking this week when Sir Brian Langstaff published the fina...

UK general election called – Politics Weekly UK

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has announced a general election for Thursday 4 July. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political editor Pippa Crerar and politica...

Politics Weekly Westminster: Infected blood inquiry final report

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the infected blood scandal as the final report is published on Monday. Plus: could inflation fi...

Keir Starmer: new deal, new drama? Politics Weekly UK

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Labour leader has managed to stem a potential showdown with trade union leaders this week over wording on a workers’ rights deal. If this is a d...

Politics Weekly Westminster: Rishi Sunak’s big security pitch

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk about Rishi Sunak’s big speech on security and how he hopes to draw a dividing line between the ...

Tory defections, economic challenges and council winners – Politics Weekly UK

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Conservatives have been left bloodied after a devastating set of local election results. This week, John Harris speaks to councillors about what’...

Politics Weekly Westminster: Election special – podcast

05 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of our Politics Weekly Westminster episodes, the Guardian’s political editor Pippa Crerar and political correspondent Kiran Stacey go o...

Coming 5 May: Politics Weekly Westminster – an extra podcast episode to get your political fix

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, and the political correspondent Kiran Stacey help you kick off your week with the stories you need to...

Local elections road trip: Thurrock – Politics Weekly UK

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the run-up to the local elections this week, the Guardian columnist John Harris is in Thurrock where the council has amassed more than £1.5bn in d...

Sicknote culture wars and Angela Rayner – Politics Weekly UK

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has said it is his ‘moral mission’ to end Britain’s sicknote culture. The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to the disability campaign...

Cameron and Truss: former PMs stage their comebacks – Politics Weekly UK

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How much should Britain get involved in the conflict in the Middle East? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the columnist Gaby Hinsliff and for...

David Cameron, Donald Trump and UK Arms Sales – Politics Weekly UK podcast

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

David Cameron made a surprise visit to Mar-a-Largo this week to visit Donald Trump. John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa ...

Port Talbot and the future of British steel – Politics Weekly UK

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of jobs are due to be cut this year at Tata Steel in Port Talbot, putting the future of British steel under serious threat. The Guardian pol...

Is China a major threat to British democracy? – Politics Weekly UK

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Despite pressure from some Conservative MPs, the government stopped short of defining China as an official threat this week. How deep does Chinese int...

When will Rishi Sunak’s zombie parliament end? Politics Weekly UK

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Frank Hester, the Tory party and racism – Politics Weekly UK

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 sea...

The Spring Budget: more cuts to come? – Politics Weekly UK

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the former Conservative chief secretary to the Treasury David Gauke and the economist and Labour candidate M...

The Guardian’s new podcast series about AI: Black Box – prologue

02 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We wanted to bring you this episode from our new series, Black Box. In it, Michael Safi explores seven stories and the thread that ties them together:...

Lee Anderson and Tory Islamophobia – Politics Weekly UK

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

Westminster’s Gaza disgrace – Politics Weekly UK

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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. T...

Antisemitism row engulfs Labour – Politics Weekly UK

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two prospective Labour candidates have been embroiled in an antisemitism row this week with Keir Starmer facing sharp criticism for his leadership of ...

Wellingborough: where faith in politics is fading – Politics Weekly UK

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Stormont returns? And Tory plotters strike again – Politics Weekly UK

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After nearly two years without a government, could power sharing in Northern Ireland finally be back? And, another week, another Tory faction plotting...

Why are councils going bankrupt? – Politics Weekly UK

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The government has an announced an extra £500million to help local councils in England. After years of squeezed budgets, many are facing bankruptcy. ...

Middle East conflicts and the Rwanda bill – Politics Weekly UK podcast

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Post Office scandal – Politics Weekly UK

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The government has announced it will introduce legislation to exonerate the many hundreds of postal workers affected by the Post Office Horizon softwa...

Revisited… Keir Starmer’s Labour: hope or despair? – Politics Weekly UK podcast

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Politics Weekly UK is taking a break. So this week John Harris revisits a conversation with the Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee and political reporte...

Review of the year: looking back at 2023 – Politics Weekly UK

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 colu...

The Rwanda bill: what next for Rishi Sunak? – Politics Weekly UK

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The government’s landmark Rwanda bill was voted through on Tuesday night. With the issue threatening to tear the Conservatives apart, the Guardian’...

Rwanda bill and Boris at the Covid inquiry – Politics Weekly UK

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Good COP, Bad COP? – Politics Weekly UK

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ho...

Autumn statement: the government hunts growth – Politics Weekly UK

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jeremy Hunt’s much anticipated autumn statement promised tax cuts and getting people back to work. John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s politic...

Is the Tories' Rwanda deal dead? Politics Weekly UK

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The supreme court ruled on Wednesday that the government’s landmark Rwanda policy was unlawful. From Westminster, the Guardian’s Kiran Stacey and ...

Braverman sacked and Cameron is back! – Politics Weekly UK

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The king’s speech, Suella Braverman and ‘hate marches’|Politics Weekly UK

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak set out his priorities for the year ahead in the king’s speech on Tuesday. But his home secretary, Suella Braverman, continues to grab t...

The Covid inquiry | Politics Weekly UK

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Besides the swearing, toxic workplace culture and misogyny, what have we learned from the Covid inquiry? Gaby Hinsliff talks to the Guardian’s polit...

Israel’s row with the UN – Politics Weekly UK podcast

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Israel vowed to ‘teach the UN a lesson’ in reaction to a speech given by the UN’s secretary general, António Guterres. The Guardian’s Gaby Hi...

Gaza, Israel and the west’s response – Politics Weekly UK

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the world watching in horror as a hospital in Gaza was hit, is this a turning point for Israel and Palestine? The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff hear...

Labour conference: is Keir Starmer’s offer enough? – Politics Weekly UK podcast

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer has laid out his vision for a Labour party in power. The Guardian’s John Harris is at the conference in Liverpool, with the Greater Man...

Rishi Sunak’s conference speech – Politics Weekly UK podcast

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has confirmed the Manchester leg of HS2 will be scrapped and replaced with transport projects in the Midlands and the north. But with the ...

Suella Braverman and HS2 – Politics Weekly UK

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Suella Braverman has grabbed headlines yet again, this time with her speech saying the west faces an ‘existential threat’ from immigration. And af...

Rishi Sunak, net zero and Europe – Politics Weekly UK podcast

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak watered down some of his key green policies on Wednesday. Gaby Hinsliff discusses the changes with the Guardian’s political corresponden...

Spies, China and dangerous dogs – Politics Weekly UK

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The government has been rocked by allegations of a Chinese spy working in the heart of Westminster. The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to political e...

Raac, Rishi Sunak and a reshuffle at Labour – Politics Weekly UK podcast

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What a first week back for Rishi Sunak: Gillian Keegan can’t stop making gaffes as schools continue to find out if they have unsafe concrete in thei...

Politics Weekly UK is on holiday – Politics Weekly UK

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Politics Weekly UK is taking a break for the summer. John Harris will be back on Thursday 7 September, and in the meantime you can listen to our previ...

Politics Weekly UK is on holiday – Politics Weekly UK podcast

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Politics Weekly UK is taking a break for the summer. John Harris will be back on Thursday 7 September, and in the meantime you can listen to our previ...

Politics Weekly UK is on holiday – episode round-up podcast

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Politics Weekly UK is taking a break for the summer. John Harris will be back on Thursday 7 September, and in the meantime you can listen to our previ...

The best of 2023 (so far): Politics Weekly UK

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Politics Weekly UK is on holiday for the next couple of weeks. But we’ve chosen some of our favourite interviews from this year for you to listen to...

Keir Starmer’s Labour: hope or despair? – Politics Weekly UK

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer’s Labour party looks closer to power than at any point over the past 13 years, but where is the sense of optimism and vision for the fu...

Zac Goldsmith on the Tory green climbdown – Politics Weekly UK podcast

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As images of wildfires, heatwaves and typhoons spread across the world, the UK government has hinted it could backtrack on its own green commitments. ...

Selby and Ainsty: is this where Rishi Sunak flops? – Politics Weekly UK

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Selby and Ainsty byelection holds the highest stakes for Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives. Can Labour overturn a 20,000-plus majority? The Guardi...

There’s no money left (again) – Politics Weekly UK podcast

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

UK wages have risen at a faster pace than expected but inflation is still worryingly high. The Conservatives seem to be edging back towards austerity ...

The NHS at 75: Unhappy Birthday? – Politics Weekly UK

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The NHS turns 75 this week. But facing a staffing crisis, an ageing and unhealthy population, and increasingly poorer health outcomes for patients, wh...

Uxbridge, Johnson and the end of the Tory dream – Politics Weekly UK

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Politics Weekly UK is on the byelection trail again, this time in Boris Johnson’s old seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. The Guardian’s John Harr...

Frome’s byelection battle: head or heart?– Politics Weekly UK

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Politics Weekly UK is in Frome in the south-west of England before one of three confirmed byelections. Against a backdrop of high inflation...

Peerages and posh boys – Politics Weekly UK podcast

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Conservative party is not far from all-out war, from Rishi Sunak’s public criticism of Boris Johnson to Nadine Dorries decrying ‘posh boys’ ...

Starmer: hammering the left?– Politics Weekly UK podcast

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Labour looks closer to power than it has been for the last decade, but as it nears the next election, some big tensions are starting to become clear. ...

The Covid inquiry vs the Cabinet Office – Politics Weekly UK

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 for...

Boris, Braverman and borders – Politics Weekly UK

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Th...

NatCon: The Tories tilt to the right – Politics Weekly UK

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Some of the big figures on the political right, including two cabinet ministers, have been speaking this week at the National Conservatism conference ...

Hung up on a hung parliament – Politics Weekly UK

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Keir Starmer and Ed Davey have both refused to rule out forming a coalition between their parties at the next general election. Following disastrous r...

NHS strikes: the women taking back control – Politics Weekly UK

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Sudan: what happens next? – Politics Weekly UK

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 l...

‘Let them eat maths!’ – Politics Weekly UK

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Tories – seven years, five PMs. What’s next? Politics Weekly UK podcast

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority in 2019, redrawing the electoral map and threatening Labour with another decade in opposition. Less than four ye...

Will Stevenage Woman make Starmer PM? – Politics Weekly UK

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ga...

Can Humza Yousaf unite the SNP? – Politics Weekly UK

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 repl...

The Boris Inquisition – Politics Weekly UK

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the former prime minister having been questioned by MPs on the privileges select committee, the Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political e...

Blair, power and public trust: the Iraq war 20 years on – Politics Weekly UK podcast

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

The Budget: Hunting for growth? – Politics Weekly UK

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Small boats and big promises – Politics Weekly UK

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 immigratio...

Is this the end of the Tories’ Brexit wars? Politics Weekly UK

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 c...

How the war in Ukraine changed the world – Politics Weekly UK

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

‘I’m a human being’: Nicola Sturgeon resigns – Politics Weekly UK podcast

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Will the reshuffle save Sunak? Politics Weekly UK

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Does Britain really regret Brexit? – Politics Weekly UK

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 y...

Why can’t Sunak clean up the Conservatives? – Politics Weekly UK

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 B...

The power of the union? Politics Weekly UK

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 uni...

Why has the NHS collapsed? – Politics Weekly UK podcast

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How will 2022 be remembered? – Politics Weekly UK podcast

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 J...

How can Rishi Sunak hold the Tories together? – Politics Weekly UK

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 would a Labour government feel like? – Politics Weekly UK

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Strikes hit ‘strongman’ Sunak – Politics Weekly UK

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...

Are public services beyond breaking point? – Politics Weekly UK

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 r...

The autumn statement – Politics Weekly UK

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has given details in his autumn statement of how the government will try to help struggling households, businesses and pu...

Autumn statement 2022 trailer – Politics Weekly UK

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is to deliver the autumn statement later on Thursday. The Guardian’s John Harris will be joined after by political edit...

Politicians or protesters: who can save the planet? – Politics Weekly UK

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Braverman, cuts, and the end of Sunak’s honeymoon? –Politics Weekly UK

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Criticism of Suella Braverman is mounting, with the home secretary under fire over her handling of an immigration centre in Kent. The Guardian’s Joh...

Ready for Rishi? Politics Weekly UK

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak has promised to fix the mistakes made by his predecessor Liz Truss. But only a day into the job, the new PM is already facing criticism fo...

Rishi Sunak becomes Prime Minister – Politics Weekly UK

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak will be the UK’s next prime minister, the country’s third in as many months. The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff is joined by the former Do...

Liz Truss resigns – Politics Weekly UK

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Liz Truss has resigned on her 45th day in office. Gaby Hinsliff speaks to the Guardian political editor, Pippa Crerar, about the dramatic events that ...

Can Liz Truss cling on? Politics Weekly UK

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Liz Truss has apologised for the ‘mistakes’ she made in her mini-budget. But as her new chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, shreds her economic plan and warn...

Are Truss’s tax cuts dead? Politics Weekly UK

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Under pressure from the markets, the IMF, and her own MPs, will Liz Truss have to reverse the tax cuts she outlined in her mini-budget? The Guardian’...