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Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster
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Caroline Wheeler discusses the defeat of the Assisted Dying Bill, in the House of Commons, with the former Cabinet Minister and supporter of the Bill Liz Kendall.This week the Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband set out the government's new approach to Israel and the occupied West Bank. To discuss the implications of this move Caroline was joined by Labour MP Sarah Champion, who is the chair of the International Development Committee and Conservative peer Mark Harper who is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel.To discuss the protests against small boat arrivals, Caroline is joined by Labour MP Tom Hayes and Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin.As a new family arrives at 10 Downing Street, Caroline discusses what it's like for the family of a Prime Minister to be in the public eye. She's joined by journalist Sarah Vine who is the author of a book, 'How Not to Be a Political Wife' and Rachel Cunliffe, the Associate Editor of The New Statesman.
George discusses Andy Burnham's first week at Westminster as prime minister with former Home Secretary and Labour peer, David Blunkett and the political editor of The New Statesman, Ailbhe Rea. Reform UK's conference takes place this week as the party faces a controversy over donations. George speaks to Tim Montgomerie, a former influential Conservative activist who defected to Reform UK.Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch reshuffled her team this week. To discuss, George is joined by Tory MP Sarah Bool, who was made a Shadow Justice minister in the reshuffle, and the former Conservative cabinet minister, Sir David Gauke.Speculation about whether Andy Burnham should call an early general election is hanging over the conference season. George debates whether it is a good idea with elections analyst and professor of Political Science at Manchester University, Rob Ford, and Liz Bates, who served as an advisor in Sir Keir Starmer’s government.
Radio 4's assessment of developments at Westminster
George reports on the political reaction to Friday's shocking news that police had launched a murder investigation in to Ann Widdecombe's death.Following Sir Keir Starmer's appearance at the Nato summit in Ankara, George is joined by Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, to reflect on the Prime Minister's record on the global stage.Andy Burnham is set to become Prime Minister without a contest as over 300 hundred Labour MPs this week nominated him for the leadership. To debate whether that is good for the country George is joined by Burnham supporter, Labour MP Emily Darlington, and the former Conservative Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Oliver Dowden.To discuss Nigel Farage's decision to call a by-election in Clacton, George is joined by Reform UK MP, Danny Kruger, and Times columnist, Fraser Nelson.And, ahead of the England Norway World Cup quarter final, George speaks to the Norwegian Ambassador to the UK, Tore Hattrem, and the Conservative Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committe, Dame Caroline Dinenage.
Sonia Sodha discusses the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan, which was published this week, with the former Conservative Security minister Tom Tugendhat and the Labour MP and former Royal Marine Fred Thomas.To review Andy Burnham's devolution plans, Sonia speaks to the Labour Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward and Greg Clark, a former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who was one of the architects of devolution policy when the Conservatives were in government. Following a series of maternity scandals, Baroness Amos published her independent review this week. The Liberal Democrat MP, Layla Moran, who chairs the Health Select Committee and the Labour MP Michelle Welsh, who is the government's national maternity adviser discuss what has gone wrong. And to discuss Brand Burnham, Sonia brought together Rachel Cunliffe, the Associate Political Editor of the New Statesman and Farzana Baduel, the co-founder of Curzon PR and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s ‘When It Hits the Fan’.
Radio 4's assessment of developments at Westminster
Vicki Young assesses Andy Burnham's Makerfield by-election win, which paves the way for a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer. She is joined by FT political editor, George Parker; New Statesman political editor, Ailbhe Rae; GB News political editor Christopher Hope and Labour peer and broadcaster Ayesha Hazarika.
Following the bombshell resignation of John Healey as Defence Secretary, Ben speaks to Sir Michael Fallon, a former Conservative Defence Secretary, and Luke Charters, a Labour MP who has campaigned on defence finance issues.After the horrific knife attack in Belfast on Monday, and the street violence that followed, Ben brings together the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Baroness Foster, and the Labour Chair of the Northern Ireland Select Committee, Tonia Antoniazzi.Could next week's by-election in Makerfield precipitate a change of Prime Minister? And, if so, how tricky is it to change a leader in the middle of a parliament? Ben hears from Professor Philip Cowley of Queen Mary University of London and Cleo Watson, a former senior aide to Boris Johnson.And, as the World Cup gets underway, Ben talks football and politics with two superfans, former Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, and comedian and political interviewer, Matt Forde.
Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster
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