Shows / Politics Weekly
Politics Weekly
Political analysis from the Guardian and Observer's top journalists and commentators.
Episodes
- Politics Weekly
Will this be another nightmare week for Keir Starmer?
Keir Starmer is facing another tumultuous week. His former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney will be grilled in front of MPs on Tuesday over the Peter Mandelson…
- Politics Weekly
Has Starmer’s sacking of Olly Robbins backfired?
After Keir Starmer’s statement to the Commons and gripping evidence from the sacked top civil servant Olly Robbins, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk about…
- Politics Weekly
Judgment day for Starmer?
Keir Starmer has updated the House of Commons on what he knew, and when, in regard to Peter Mandelson’s vetting for the post of UK ambassador to the US. Was…
- Politics Weekly
Is Keir Starmer ‘complacent’ on defence?
Keir Starmer has hit back at Labour peer George Robertson’s criticisms about defence funding. Why has the government been slow to prioritise defence and what…
- Politics Weekly
Hormuz, Hungary and the UK shifting closer to the EU
After 16 years in power in Hungary, Viktor Orbán has been defeated, marking a huge shift in the European Union. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has defended potential…
- Politics Weekly
Trump and the Middle East: can Starmer do anything?
Keir Starmer and the UK government are scrabbling to keep up with Trump’s fast-changing position on Iran and the Middle East. While a two-week ceasefire is in…
- Politics Weekly
The Greens, Reform and the end of two-party politics?
In part two of our interview, Kiran Stacey speaks to the political scientist Prof Rob Ford about the voters Labour and the Conservatives are losing to the…
- Politics Weekly
Labour’s mistakes: is it too late to turn things around?
In part one of a special two-part interview, Kiran Stacey talks to the political scientist Prof Robert Ford about Labour’s so-called ‘landslide win’, the…
- Politics Weekly
How will the Iran war play at the ballot box in May?
Pippa Crerar and Jessica Elgot look at how the continuing and deepening conflict in the Middle East will hit people in the UK, and how it could impact May’s…
- Politics Weekly
Wes Streeting: ‘I don’t want to see Keir challenged in May’
Wes Streeting gave a speech outlining his performance on the NHS and plans for the future. Was this his unofficial leadership pitch? Pippa Crerar and Kiran…
- Politics Weekly
Trump rows back on strait of Hormuz threat – what next?
The US president has extended by five days his deadline to ‘hit and obliterate’ Iran’s power stations and energy infrastructure if Tehran does not allow…
- Politics Weekly
Off Duty: The Crime
On the evening of 29 December 2011, Officer Clifton Lewis was moonlighting as a security guard at a Chicago minimart when two men walked in. They shot Lewis…
- Politics Weekly
Do the Conservatives have a problem with Muslims?
At the launch of the Conservative local elections campaign on Thursday, Peter Walker asked Kemi Badenoch about her shadow justice secretary’s claim that…
- Politics Weekly
Can Starmer avoid being drawn into the US-Iran war?
The PM says the UK will not be dragged into wider war in the Middle East and pledges support for households struggling to pay for heating oil. Pippa Crerar and…
- Politics Weekly
How damaging are the Mandelson files for Starmer?
As the first tranche of documents relating to the hiring of Peter Mandelson are released, how bad will the fallout be for Keir Starmer and the government?…
- Politics Weekly
Is the UK government prepared for oil price hikes?
Oil prices have already shot up thanks to the US-Israeli war in Iran. But what is the economic fallout likely to be? Will interest rates rise? What about…
- Politics Weekly
Has Starmer been too weak on Iran?
The UK prime minister has defended his stance on the war in the Middle East amid growing pressure from Cyprus, Bahrain and the UAE. John Harris, Pippa Crerar…
- Politics Weekly
How is Britain supporting US airstrikes in Iran?
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Keir Starmer’s announcement that British bases in the UK and in the Chagos Islands would be used by the US in their…
- Politics Weekly
No more safe seats: the Greens take Gorton and Denton
In a stunning setback for Labour, the Green party has decisively won the Gorton and Denton byelection, with Reform UK finishing second. Does this result signal…
- Politics Weekly
Send provision and student loans: will Labour’s changes backfire?
As the dust settles on the government’s landmark changes to children’s special educational needs and disabilities provision, what will their impact really be…
- Politics Weekly
Major changes to the Send system - can the government win over MPs and parents?
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the government’s long-awaited plans for the special educational needs and disabilities system. Can the controversial…
- Politics Weekly
Farage’s Fab Four: will Jenrick end Reform’s ‘one-man band’? – Politics Weekly
Reform UK has this week announced its ‘shadow cabinet’. But with a familiar cast of former Conservative ministers, can Nigel Farage shake off claims that his…
- Politics Weekly
Blue Labour, ‘Manchesterism’ and Lords reform: your questions answered
What is Blue Labour? Can Andy Burnham’s ‘Manchesterism’ be replicated elsewhere? And is the two-party system over in British politics? In a special episode…
- Politics Weekly
Zombie Labour: Starmer staggers on
After a week when it seemed all but over for Keir Starmer, John, Pippa and Kiran unpack how the prime minister survived – and what it means for Labour in the…
- Politics Weekly
Starmer survives Sarwar’s putsch, for now
Keir Starmer’s future as prime minister suffered another major blow when the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, called for him to go. With the cabinet…
- Politics Weekly
The Mandelson Scandal: has Starmer finally lost control? – Politics Weekly
As Starmer apologises for believing Mandelson’s ‘lies’, just how damaging will the latter’s links to Jeffrey Epstein be for the PM’s own reputation? John…
- Politics Weekly
Mandelson, Epstein and what Labour knew when
Peter Mandelson has resigned his Labour party membership after new details of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein came to light. But why did Labour ever…
- Politics Weekly
What happened when Starmer met Xi Jinping?
Keir Starmer held talks with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week and proclaimed Britain should have a more ‘sophisticated’ relationship with China. Pippa…
- Politics Weekly
Matt Goodwin becomes Reform UK candidate, and Esther Ghey on banning social media
Reform UK has announced Matt Goodwin as its candidate for the hotly anticipated Gorton and Denton byelection. John Harris and Kiran Stacey discuss his chances…
- Politics Weekly
Burnham blocked: Has Starmer messed up?
The Labour party has once again been plunged into turmoil after the NEC blocked Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Will the row…
- Politics Weekly
Taco Thursday: Trump climbs down on Greenland tariffs
John Harris is joined by Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey to discuss Donald Trump’s climbdown on tariffs over his move to buy Greenland. Plus, Labour MP Andrew…
- Politics Weekly
Ditch Nato and dump Trump: Zack Polanski’s foreign policy
Leader of the Green party, Zack Polanski, tells Pippa and Kiran that Nato is over and the UK should consider expelling the US from British military bases. Plus…
- Politics Weekly
Starmer: ‘We don’t want a trade war’
Keir Starmer has held an emergency press conference in response to Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland. Pippa and Kiran discuss what the UK prime…
- Politics Weekly
Badenoch sacks Jenrick: who will win the fight for the right?
Sacked, suspended and the whip removed – Kemi Badenoch announced in spectacular fashion that Robert Jenrick was booted out of the Tory party for plotting to…
- Politics Weekly
X rated: Ofcom investigates Grok
Ofcom has launched an investigation into X over its AI tool Grok – but what does it mean when the platform is widely used by the government? Plus, Pippa and…
- Politics Weekly
Kidnapping and chaos: welcome to Trump’s world
In just one week Venezuela’s president was kidnapped by the US, Donald Trump talked of needing Greenland, the UK and France agreed to deploy troops in Ukraine…
- Politics Weekly
Is Starmer’s silence on Venezuela worth it?
Pippa and Kiran discuss the mounting pressure on Keir Starmer to condemn the US capture of Nicolás Maduro. The prime minister is keen to walk the diplomatic…
- Politics Weekly
Revisited: How the Beatles helped my autistic son find his voice
In this podcast from 4 April, John Harris speaks to Today in Focus about how music helped him connect with his son, James. Harris tells Helen Pidd what he has…
- Politics Weekly
Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights? – from The Audio Long Read
Many of his supporters hoped the prime minister would restore the UK’s commitment to international law. Yet Labour’s record over the past year has been…
- Politics Weekly
Best of: Angela Rayner, Nicola Sturgeon, Catherine Ashton and Andy Burnham – podcast
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look back at some of their best interviews of 2025. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
- Politics Weekly
Review of 2025: another fine mess?
John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look back at the biggest political moments of 2025, and discuss what 2026 might bring. Help support our independent…
- Politics Weekly
John Crace on his book, The Bonfire of the Insanities
Pippa and Kiran speak to the Guardian’s sketch writer, John Crace, about his latest book, The Bonfire of the Insanities: How Does This Government Thing Work…
- Politics Weekly
The Birth Keepers: I choose this – episode one
The Free Birth Society was selling pregnant women a simple message. They could exit the medical system and take back their power. By free birthing. But Nicole…
- Politics Weekly
Farage under attack: will it damage Reform UK?
John Harris speaks to Yinka Bankole about his treatment as a nine-year-old at Dulwich college when Nigel Farage was a prefect. Plus, Kiran Stacey and John…
- Politics Weekly
Starmer meets Zelenskyy: is a new peace plan possible?
As Keir Starmer hosts Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss what the ‘coalition of the willing’ can achieve. Also in the…
- Politics Weekly
Could Reform UK and the Tories merge?
Nigel Farage was handed a £9m donation this week, amid reports he said elsewhere that a deal with the Conservatives before the general election was…
- Politics Weekly
Can Keir Starmer save Rachel Reeves?
Pippa and Kiran discuss the prime minister’s speech on Monday and ask whether it will take attention away from allegations that the chancellor misled the…
- Politics Weekly
The budget: Labour’s big tax and spend gamble
John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey give their reactions to the chancellor’s autumn budget. Has Rachel Reeves done enough to silence her critics?. Help…
- Politics Weekly
A make-or-break week for the UK government
It is finally budget week, so Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the context of Rachel Reeves’s big moment and how high the stakes are. Plus, Kiran talks…
- Politics Weekly
How dangerous are Labour’s asylum plans?
There was outrage from Labour MPs on Monday evening as Shabana Mahmood outlined her plans to shake up the asylum system. Will these policies be watered down?…
- Politics Weekly
Labour’s risky asylum pitch – podcast
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at radical plans from the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to tackle the ‘out of control’ asylum system. Plus, has the…
- Politics Weekly
Why is the Labour party in such a mess?
John Harris is joined by Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey as an attempt to halt leadership manoeuvres against Keir Starmer has spectacularly backfired and put…
- Politics Weekly
Can the BBC survive this crisis?
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the resignations of the BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, and its head of news, Deborah Turness. Plus, the growing…
- Politics Weekly
Nicola Sturgeon on leadership, scandal and trolling the trolls
In a special, bonus episode of Politics Weekly, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey sit down with Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon for a frank…
- Politics Weekly
The chancellor’s impossible choice: economic necessity or political disaster?
John Harris speaks to the Guardian’s economics editor, Heather Stewart, about the unenviable choice facing Rachel Reeves. What price will she pay if she raises…
- Politics Weekly
What does Faragenomics look like?
Nigel Farage promised to set out his fiscal stall in a major speech in the City of London, but what did he actually say? Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss…
- Politics Weekly
‘The centre cannot hold’: John Curtice on the collapse of two-party politics
No one likes being unpopular, so you could forgive both of the UK’s main political parties for wanting to look away when another damning poll dropped this…
- Politics Weekly
Immigration system in crisis: sky-high hotel bills and a convict on the loose
Another week, another immigration crisis. A powerful parliamentary committee has accused the Home Office – both for this government and the last – of…
- Politics Weekly
Labour collapse in Caerphilly: the byelection that points to the future of UK politics
Labour’s electoral dominance in Caerphilly, deep in the party’s Welsh heartlands, has collapsed while Reform UK and Plaid Cymru have hoovered up votes. On a…
- Politics Weekly
The budget, the black hole and the Brexit blame game
Rachel Reeves is facing difficult choices before her second budget next month and has been busy preparing the ground. In a significant shift in the…