Shows / Politics Weekly
Politics Weekly
Political analysis from the Guardian and Observer's top journalists and commentators.
Episodes
- Politics Weekly
Is Andy Burnham in hot water over Manchester City?
Andy Burnham is being accused of a serious misjudgment over his comments about meetings with Manchester City’s owners. Kiran Stacey discusses the controversy…
- Politics Weekly
Was Burnham right to talk about Russian interference in Brexit?
Andy Burnham has started an almighty row by claiming that Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum. He also says he wants the UK to have closer ties to…
- Politics Weekly
‘Gaza is a moral tear in the universe’: Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Are we really living through ‘end times fascism’? Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor think so. In a new series from the Guardian, the pair speak to Radical Thinking…
- Politics Weekly
Did the Zionism row lose it for Zack Polanski?
Zack Polanski has lost the Holborn and St Pancras byelection to Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali. Despite the Greens increasing their vote share from 2024, Polanski…
- Politics Weekly
M&S Kemi: can the Tory leader win over core vote?
Kemi Badenoch has promised to ditch inheritance tax on family homes if elected as prime minister, leading to criticism that she is prioritising the rich over…
- Politics Weekly
Why Kemi Badenoch embraces being the leader of the ‘nasty party’
Kemi Badenoch is kicking off Conservative party conference with a little bounce in her step and her personal poll ratings improved. But critics will say that…
- Politics Weekly
'There’s no such thing as democracy': Yanis Varoufakis | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Who is really in charge – the people or the markets? In the first episode of Radical Thinking, a new series from the Guardian, senior economics commentator…
- Politics Weekly
Burnham’s triple lock gamble
Andy Burnham has delivered a powerful and emotional speech to the Labour conference. He announced policies on pensions, social care and electoral reform. He…
- Politics Weekly
‘They will bow’: energy secretary challenges Reform and Tories
Speaking to Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey at the Labour party conference in Liverpool, Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, said a mark of her success or…
- Politics Weekly
Andy Burnham shows his emotional side
Andy Burnham will make his first speech at Labour conference as prime minister on Tuesday. Ahead of that, he has been talking to Pippa Crerar about why he is…
- Politics Weekly
What really happened in the room with Burnham and Trump
Pippa Crerar had a front row seat for the PM’s first meeting with Donald Trump. What really happened during that 12-minute press conference? And as the Labour…
- Politics Weekly
Can Andy Burnham pull off the ‘Mamdani effect’ on Donald Trump?
The UK prime minister will meet the US president for the first time in New York on Tuesday. With Trump at his weakest in the polls, could this be a perfect…
- Politics Weekly
Tax the middle earners! Will the PM do it?
Former Bank of England economist Andy Haldane said the markets regarded this government as ‘a pretty traditional tax and spend socialist government with better…
- Politics Weekly
‘Party for sale’? Reform’s £72m donation causes backlash
There’s been a huge backlash against Reform UK after the party received £72m from two crypto billionaires over the weekend. Paul Nowak, the TUC leader, said…
- Politics Weekly
Labour shifts on Israel, but what difference will it make?
It has been a huge week for Labour as Ed Miliband shifted the party’s stance on Israel by announcing sanctions on the illegal settlements in the West Bank and…
- Politics Weekly
Is the UK about to see the rise of the far right?
Alternative für Deutschland has claimed a historic win in Germany, continuing the pattern of populist far-right parties gaining power across Europe. In the UK…
- Politics Weekly
Introducing Black Box: The Chatbots
New from the Guardian Investigates team: Across the world, hundreds of people have come to believe they have made extraordinary scientific discoveries with AI…
- Politics Weekly
Can Zack Polanski win Keir Starmer’s old seat?
The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has confirmed he will stand in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, which was triggered when Keir Starmer announced he…
- Politics Weekly
Rejoining the EU, Burnham’s donors and the bedroom tax: Politics Weekly answers your questions
Will the UK ever rejoin the EU? Who is funding Andy Burnham? And will the bedroom tax be scrapped? In a special episode, Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker answer…
- Politics Weekly
Andy Burnham’s autumn of pain– podcast
It’s been a month since Andy Burnham became prime minister. And while polls have shown a ‘Burnham bounce’, the coming months will force the new PM into making…
- Politics Weekly
Revisited – Brexit: an oral history
Revisited: This year marked 10 years since the UK chose to leave the EU. In a series of interviews with key players from both sides, Kiran Stacey looks back on…
- Politics Weekly
‘I worry about our daughters’: Bridget Phillipson on online misogyny
Racism and misogyny are becoming normalised as a result of rightwing politics and the ‘cesspit’ of social media, says Labour’s Bridget Phillipson. In an…
- Politics Weekly
Revisited: The Andy Burnham I know – Today in Focus podcast
Today in Focus host and former north of England editor Helen Pidd has watched Andy Burnham’s career for years, and here she talks to his friends, colleagues…
- Politics Weekly
Farage wins Clacton byelection, but was it worth it?
Nigel Farage has won the Clacton byelection he triggered by resigning from the seat because he wanted to allow voters to ‘stick two fingers up at the entire…
- Politics Weekly
Revisited: Andy Burnham apologises for Labour’s stance on Gaza – podcast
In July, Andy Burnham told the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, that Labour ‘didn’t get it right’ on Gaza. He apologised for the party’s slow…
- Politics Weekly
Heatwave Britain: why are politicians so slow to act?
As another summer of extreme heat rumbles on, warnings about excess deaths, ageing infrastructure and potential food shortages are growing louder. So how well…
- Politics Weekly
What chaos? Farage tries to distract with immigration plans
Nigel Farage has promised that Reform UK would call in the navy to tackle small boat Channel crossings. Will this familiar-sounding immigration policy distract…
- Politics Weekly
Will we pay more tax to fund social care?
Andy Burnham gave a major speech on Wednesday on his plans for a national care service. He sought cross-party consensus on the issue by speaking to the Tories…
- Politics Weekly
Will Andy Burnham charm Volodymyr Zelenskyy?
Andy Burnham’s first overseas visitor will be the Ukrainian prime minister, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a show of the UK’s ‘unwavering support’ for the country…
- Politics Weekly
All change please: Burnham rips up the Starmer playbook
Andy Burnham’s first week in office has seen him announce a range of measures to help people with the cost of living crisis, and scrap several of Keir…
- Politics Weekly
Can Andy Burnham’s cabinet fix Britain?
The new prime minister has promised a ‘circuit breaker’ moment for the country, as he becomes the UK’s seventh leader since 2016. But will he be able to make…
- Politics Weekly
Mahmood v Miliband: who will Burnham choose for chancellor?
Andy Burnham will become prime minister of the UK on Monday. But he has yet to reveal any cabinet picks, and rumours suggest he still hasn’t chosen a…
- Politics Weekly
Reform UK triggers row over MPs’ safety
After Ann Widdecombe’s murder, Reform UK has criticised the Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle and suggested its MPs are not given enough security. Pippa Crerar…
- Politics Weekly
Andy Burnham apologises for Labour’s stance on Gaza
Andy Burnham has apologised for Labour’s slow response in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. In an exclusive interview with Pippa Crerar, he says that more…
- Politics Weekly
Reform UK row: who funds Farage?
Nigel Farage claimed he was the victim of an ‘establishment hit job’ after it was revealed he accepted money from his friend, the convicted felon George…
- Politics Weekly
Is Starmer deliberately leaving a mess for Burnham?
Keir Starmer has been accused of leaving Andy Burnham with a £4.7bn black hole in defence funding. The government announced on Tuesday the defence investment…
- Politics Weekly
Can Andy Burnham’s ‘No 10 North’ change anything?
Andy Burnham, the prime minister-in-waiting, has made his first major speech since becoming the MP for Makerfield. Speaking in Manchester, he said the…
- Politics Weekly
Brexit: An Oral History
This week marked 10 years since the UK chose to leave the EU. In a series of interviews with key players from both sides, Kiran Stacey looks back on the Brexit…
- Politics Weekly
Andy Burnham: who’s really got his ear?
As Andy Burnham looks set to go unchallenged in his leadership bid, Labour MPs are now jostling for a position in his cabinet. Who will have his ear, and what…
- Politics Weekly
Keir Starmer resigns: what now?
An emotional Keir Starmer announced his resignation as prime minister and Labour leader on Monday morning, less than two years after he won a huge majority at…
- Politics Weekly
Andy Burnham: our next Prime Minister?
Andy Burnham will return to Westminster as an MP, and potential challenger to Keir Starmer, after decisively beating Reform UK to win the Makerfield…
- Politics Weekly
How will the under-16s social media ban work?
Keir Starmer has announced his social media ban for under-16s. The proposals are tougher than expected, and include a ban on major apps such as TikTok…
- Politics Weekly
Can politicians bring calm to Belfast?
After nights of violence across Belfast this week, politicians continue to call for calm, but what else can be done to stop the violence spreading? Plus…
- Politics Weekly
The defence secretary quits with ‘blistering’ criticism of Starmer
The defence secretary has resigned over the government’s military spending plans, in another major blow for Keir Starmer. In a scathing letter to the prime…
- Politics Weekly
Zelenskyy: Putin is ‘playing games’ with Trump
The Ukrainian president says Vladimir Putin’s days are numbered. As the Russian president’s influence wanes and his war machine crumbles, Volodymyr Zelenskyy…
- Politics Weekly
Is Keir Starmer in his ‘legacy’ era?
Keir Starmer says he will fight on as prime minister, but behind the scenes he is said to be thinking about his legacy. He’s talking this week about tech…
- Politics Weekly
On the byelection campaign trail with Andy Burnham
With three weeks to go until the Makerfield byelection, where an Andy Burnham victory could change the direction of the Labour party, Pippa Crerar joins him on…
- Politics Weekly
New Mandelson files: how embarrassing are they?
More than 1,000 pages of emails and WhatsApp messages have been released relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the US. The…
- Politics Weekly
Tony Blair and the battle for Labour’s soul
Peter Walker is joined by pollster Luke Tryl of More in Common to discuss Sir Tony Blair’s intervention in the Labour leadership saga and the party’s prospects…
- Politics Weekly
The byelection, Wes Streeting and Europe: your questions answered
Can Andy Burnham do a better job than Keir Starmer? Is Makerfield more important for Reform than Labour? Can the UK rejoin the EU? Pippa Crerar and Kiran…
- Politics Weekly
Stateside with Kai and Carter – Why the fight over abortion in US isn’t finished
The US supreme court has preserved nationwide access to mail-order abortion pills – for now. As Carter Sherman explains, the fight to protect this medication…
- Politics Weekly
Wes Streeting: ‘Andy Burnham doesn’t live rent free in my head’ – podcast
Pippa Crerar sits down with Wes Streeting a week after his resignation from Keir Starmer’s cabinet. We find out what the former health secretary really thinks…
- Politics Weekly
Andy Burnham’s first election hurdle: Brexit
Andy Burnham may already be facing a tricky obstacle in his push to return to Westminster. Past comments about rejoining the EU have come back to haunt him…
- Politics Weekly
NEW: Stacey Abrams on why gutting of the US Voting Rights Act is ‘evil’ – Stateside with Kai and Carter
The US supreme court demolished the 1965 Voting Rights Act when they ruled in Louisiana v Callais in April that states can’t consider race in redistricting…
- Politics Weekly
Is Andy Burnham about to return to Westminster?
Andy Burnham has announced he will attempt to return to Westminster after the Labour MP Josh Simons said he will vacate his Makerfield seat in order for…
- Politics Weekly
Labour plotters v stubborn Starmer: will he resign? – Today in Focus: The Latest
Tensions are running high in Westminster as Keir Starmer has told his cabinet he’s not going anywhere. But with several ministers quitting the government, and…
- Politics Weekly
A messy day for Starmer: is Labour ungovernable?
Keir Starmer kicked off the day with a speech aimed at persuading MPs against launching any kind of leadership challenge. By lunchtime, Angela Rayner was…
- Politics Weekly
Reform UK gains at Labour’s expense in local elections
It has been a crushing set of local and devolved elections for Labour, with Reform UK making huge gains across the country and the Greens winning in London…
- Politics Weekly
Can the Greens and Reform win big in London? podcast
This week Politics Weekly is on the road with the Greens in Hackney and Reform UK in Bromley ahead of the local elections to see why people are turning their…
- Politics Weekly
Will Reform dominate the local and devolved elections?
Pippa Crerar is joined by the election analyst Prof Rob Ford to look at the upcoming local and devolved elections. Will Reform dominate across England? Can the…