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The State of It: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Times
Real reporting from the coalface of British politics. Join The Times and The Sunday Times’s political heavyweights Steven Swinford, Ben Riley-Smith, Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit as they dig deep into the latest tea room tip offs, reveal insider conversations and bring analysis, authority and insight. No party loyalty. No spin. Not hosted by some old politicians. Taking you into the real business of politics, from those who live it daily.
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- 2 days ago29 min
Trump and Burnham meet: what could go wrong?
The Burnham Trump meetingAndy Burnham and Donald Trump will meet for the first time in New York next week. It's the biggest foreign policy moment in Burnham's premiership so far and there are many different ways in which it could go wrong. Burnham wants to be more confrontational with Trump than Starmer was...without damaging relations with the US.Autumn budget: the walls are closing inIt's now accepted that next month's budget will be a money-raising budget. Does the new government have a plan for growth?Are the Liberal Democrats still relevant?The Liberal Democrats are about to hold their conference and some of their MPs are worried that Ed Davey isn't doing enough as leader. We look at their electoral strategy and their prospects.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesBen Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPictures: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 5 days ago35 min
Mr Hope and Mr Sensible step into the danger zone
Will Labour raise taxes?The cost of government borrowing is going up and up. That means the chancellor, John Healey, may well need to cut spending or raise taxes next month - and tax rises are much more likely.Labour MPs are overwhelmingly happy for the first time in living memory, but is that because they haven't woken up to the grim economic reality? The Labour Party conference slogan this year is 'Hope Again', but while the prime minister is projecting optimism, the chancellor is cutting a much more sombre figure as his fiscal headroom shrinks. Will Andy Burnham's desire to lead on economic policy survive next month's budget?How likely is an early election?The assumption has been that Burnham will either stick to the Labour manifesto or he'll call an early election. Would he consider breaking, or at least bending, the manifesto to pay for all the things he wants to do?The donations row explainedLabour's plan to block donations to Reform UK from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo is nakedly partisan. The row shines a light on the strange world of political donations and the surprisingly vague laws that govern them. How much of a difference would the £72m make to Reform's electoral prospects?Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesBen Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducer: Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1 weeks ago22 min
Assisted dying is dead. What next?
MPs have voted against the assisted dying bill. The legislation was defeated by a margin of 16 votes, with 286 MPs in favour and 270 against, after 314 MPs backed the plan last year. It's a huge moment in the House of Commons. Why did the support for it fall away? How much of a difference did it make that Andy Burnham was not a supporter? Does it mean the issue is off the table for the foreseeable future? Where do we go from here? Does it galvanise the prime minister's mission to reform social care and palliative care?Plus, Andy Burnham is turning left, trying to appeal to the voters that Keir Starmer lost to the Greens and the Liberal Democrats. Will it work? And are the odds of an early election narrowing?Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesBen Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: Parliament TVThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1 weeks ago29 min
Why the UK is risking US anger with Israel sanctions
Ed Miliband, the foreign secretary, is announcing sanctions on Israel over West Bank settlements. Why is it such a priority for Andy Burnham's government and what are the risks? It creates yet another diplomatic sticking point for the prime minister when he meets President Trump later this month. At Reform UK's conference, a protester who disrupted Nigel Farage's speech was whacked with a stick and had her hair pulled. The party's economic spokesman Robert Jenrick says she had it coming. An astute political calculation or will it put off wavering voters?Has Reform weathered the storm after last week's resignations in the wake of the Verbatim/Channel 4 undercover investigation that showed senior aides arranging off-the-books polling? The party denies all wrongdoing. Does the story seriously damage them in the eyes of voters?John Healey's first speech as chancellor was a chance to show a radical new vision and also to show the markets he can be trusted not to do anything too radical. The problem is you can't do both. We look at some of the calculations going into next month's budget.Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Parliament TVAudio: Sky NewsThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 2 weeks ago24 min
Reform's conference begins with a crisis
Reform UK’s 2026 conference has begun in Birmingham under a cloud after Channel 4 broadcast allegations of an attempt to circumvent the rules on foreign donations — prompting Nigel Farage to turn on two of his closest aides, Dan Jukes and James Orr. Farage’s relationship with Jukes has been described as “father-son” so it’s a huge step for Farage and for Reform. Find out how it all unfolded in the early hours. The extraordinary fallout has overshadowed Farage’s big migration announcement with Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally running mate and the man who hopes to be the next French prime minister.Nigel Farage says Reform UK has done nothing wrong and that the investigation was carried out by far left activists. How much does the story damage Brand Reform? Are voters more interested in his small boats policy or in the questions raised by the documentary?Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesBen Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 2 weeks ago31 min
Starmerism with a human face: when vibes meet reality
Andy Burnham wants the first day back in the Commons to be all about hope. But how long can he and his chancellor John Healey keep up the feel-good vibes? After much talk of change, there's a whiff of continuity in the air. Find out what is making Labour MPs most nervous and angry - and why.The toughest calls on defence spending and the economy are deferred to 2027, creating a juggernaut for next year.The PM says that public control is a priority but a decision on Thames Water has been postponed.What is Labour's policy on North Sea oil and gas drilling?Scoop: the government will confirm gas drilling at Jackdaw, but it's unclear what they'll do about the more controversial Rosebank oil and gas field.What did we learn from Kemi Badenoch's reshuffle? Kemi Badenoch's ruthless shadow cabinet reshuffle has demonstrated her hold over her party. But will it help the Conservatives' electoral prospects?Reform UK Conference: what to expectPolling suggests Nigel Farage is most likely to be the UK's next prime minister, and at their conference this week Reform UK will attempt to show us all what it would be like. What would a Reform government deliver in its first 100 days?Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 3 weeks ago27 min
West Bank sanctions: the snag - and Burnham's blockbuster autumn
Scoop: Ed Miliband is expected to announce two different kinds of sanctions over Israeli settlements in the West Bank. We have the details, but will the plan be enforceable?Get ready for politics on hyperspeed this autumn: a decision on North Sea oil and gas, an announcement about the prisoner early release scheme, two welfare reviews, conferences, a budget and a 10-year plan. But amidst the flurry of activity, is Andy Burnham putting off some tough decisions?Reform UK says British-born workers should get priority for social housing. We look at the shifting Overton window on citizenship as three parties on the right - The Conservative Party, Reform UK and Restore UK - jostle for votes.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesFraser Nelson, columnist, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty Images00:00 - Parliament Returns: The Autumn Political Agenda01:45 - Ed Miliband, Gaza Sanctions & West Bank Trade Bans07:50 - Early Release Scheme & Police Backlash (PC Harper Case)10:45 - The Mini-Budget, Welfare Reviews & 10-Year Plan15:00 - Reform UK's Housing Policy & Citizenship Split23:30 - Kemi Badenoch Meets Giorgia Meloni in RomeThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Aug 18, 202635 min
Burnham's three big tests - and trouble at Reform UK
The prison early release scheme is Andy Burnham's first big test as prime minister. There are no good options. Can he make a successful argument that he's picked the least bad?No 10 wants the Autumn Budget to be all about devolution, but they also need to raise money - a lot of money. Fraser believes there are reasons to be cheerful about welfare reform. Can Labour MPs really get behind a plan that inevitably will come with painful political decisions?Reform UK has suspended Tim Montgomerie as a member. What's going on within the party?And Gabriel lifts the veil on Insight's reporting into George Cottrell and Christopher Harborne's donations to Nigel Farage and Reform UK.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday TimesFraser Nelson, columnist, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About The State of It
Real reporting from the coalface of British politics. Join The Times and The Sunday Times’s political heavyweights Steven Swinford, Ben Riley-Smith, Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit as they dig deep into the latest tea room tip offs, reveal insider conversations and bring analysis, authority and insight. No party loyalty. No spin. Not hosted by some old politicians. Taking you into the real business of politics, from those who live it daily.
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