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Politics Weekly UK

The Guardian

Guardian columnist John Harris, political editor Pippa Crerar, and political correspondent Kiran Stacey analyse the week's politics news

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London, United Kingdom

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The Guardian

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Guardian columnist John Harris, political editor Pippa Crerar, and political correspondent Kiran Stacey analyse the week's politics news

Twitter:

@GdnPolitics

Language:

English

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Kings Place, 90 York Way London N1 9GU +4420 3 353 2000


Episodes
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Will the UK ever rejoin the EU?

9/12/2025
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey speak to the minister for EU relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, about the fallout from Brexit and our relationship with the European Union. Plus, we hear his thoughts on Keir Starmer’s leadership and how Labour should take on Nigel Farage and the rise of Reform –– Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:27:23

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Starmer’s Mandelson mess and deputy leadership damage

9/10/2025
As the race to replace Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader exposes tensions within the party, John Harris speaks to the former transport secretary Louise Haigh about what she thinks Keir Starmer should do to get back on track, and whether he will survive until the next election. Plus, Pippa Crerar joins John to discuss the mounting pressure on the prime minister over Peter Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, and why Boris Johnson is in hot water after a Guardian investigation raised serious questions about whether he broke ethics and lobbying rules.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:34:09

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Reshuffle, Rayner resignation and rift with the unions: a big week for Labour

9/8/2025
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the fallout from Angela Rayner’s resignation and Keir Starmer’s subsequent cabinet reshuffle. Why has Rayner’s departure raised concerns among union leaders? Who could become the next deputy Labour leader? And, what does the reshuffle tell us about the direction of travel for the government? Plus, Pippa and Kiran reflect on Reform UK’s conference and the challenges ahead for Nigel Farage. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:28:52

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What’s feeding the rise of Reform? On the road in Birmingham

9/7/2025
John Harris is at the Reform UK conference, asking how this once insurgent party came to dominate the political mainstream. And he speaks to people in Birmingham to find out what the rise of Nigel Farage’s party tells us about the state of the country Send your questions and thoughts to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:36:21

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Flags, flats and Labour in trouble (again)

9/3/2025
It’s the first week back after summer recess and Labour is already in trouble, with the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, referring herself to the standards watchdog over underpaying tax on her flat. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer and his ministers have been proclaiming their love of British flags as they struggle to compete with Reform UK. John Harris speaks to the Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff and policy editor Kiran Stacey Send your questions and thoughts to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:28:16

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Starmer’s back-to-school headaches

9/1/2025
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey are back, talking through all of the challenges the government faces as MPs return to Westminster. Plus, they discuss the prime minister’s shake-up of his Downing Street team. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:24:25

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No going back: Nigel Farage’s immigration plan

8/27/2025
In a major speech this week, Reform UK set out how it would lower immigration. With controversial plans to deport hundreds of thousands of migrants and scrap key human rights protections, Nigel Farage described immigration as a ‘scourge’ and an ‘invasion’. Was this a watershed moment in the way politicians talk about small boat crossings? And what is Labour’s response? The Guardian’s policy editor Kiran Stacey asks the deputy political editor Jessica Elgot. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:26:00

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A year of hate: what I learned when I went undercover with the far right – from The Audio Long Read

8/25/2025
Working for Hope Not Hate, I infiltrated an extremist organisation, befriended its members and got to work investigating their political connections Written and read by Harry Shukman Find more from The Audio Long Read here Read the text version here Adapted from Year of the Rat: Undercover in the British Far Right, published by Chatto & Windus. To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:35:55

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Revisited: A day on the frontline of England’s social care crisis

8/21/2025
An ageing population, a funding squeeze and a recruitment crisis have taken England’s adult social care system to breaking point. In this episode, recorded and first published in March, John Harris visited Greater Manchester to find out what a day in the life of a care worker looked like and whether it was too late to save this vital service. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:36:24

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How does woke start winning again? – from The Audio Long Read

8/18/2025
British progressives have suffered major setbacks in recent years, in both public opinion and court rulings. Was a backlash inevitable, and are new tactics needed? By Gaby Hinsliff. Read by Carlyss Peer Find more from The Audio Long Read here Read the text version here. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:35:24

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Our list of the summer’s best culture picks

8/14/2025
Politics Weekly is taking a break for the summer. But, as is tradition, John Harris has a roundup of some of his favourite cultural picks Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer by Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund The Restless Republic: Britain Without a Crown by Anna Keay The Blood in Winter: A Nation Descends, 1642 by Jonathan Healey Maybe I’m Amazed: A Story of Love and Connection in Ten Songs by John Harris Drive to Goldenhammer by Divorce. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:04:02

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Your questions answered: opinion polls and celebrity politicians

8/11/2025
You asked, we answered. In this special episode, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey sit down to chat through some of the questions you’ve sent to us. Fancy another one? We’d love to hear from you. Our email address is politicsweekly@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:33:30

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Dale Vince on net zero, Gaza and why he’s still backing Labour

8/6/2025
John Harris is joined by the eco-activist, entrepreneur and political donor Dale Vince to chat through his journey from new age traveller to renewable energy millionaire and major backer of the Labour party. Plus, he discusses why he believes business holds the key to solving the climate emergency, and what he thinks the government should be doing to stop the war in Gaza. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:34:17

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Catherine Ashton on the UK’s role in a changing world

8/4/2025
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey sit down in a special episode with peer Catherine Ashton to hear from the former EU commissioner and trade negotiator on what she makes of an increasingly unstable world. Find out what it’s like to be in a room with world leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin …. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:31:15

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Summer riots: what have we learned a year on?

7/31/2025
This week marks a year since the murder of three young girls in Southport became a catalyst for riots that spread to many parts of the UK. With scenes of unrest at hotels housing asylum seekers in recent weeks, have we learned anything from the events of last year? John Harris is joined by Dame Sara Khan, the former counter-extremism commissioner and government adviser on social cohesion, and Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff to discuss how last summer’s violence exposed the fragility of many communities – and what can be done to tackle today’s rising tensions.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:36:53

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Angela Rayner on lessons learned from Labour’s first year

7/28/2025
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey speak to Angela Rayner about Labour’s first year in government and the challenges ahead. The deputy prime minister reveals the issue that keeps her awake at night, reflects on why voters are frustrated with Labour, what she thinks the party can do about it, and how it’s planning to take the fight to Reform. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:34:35

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Gaza: if the UK won’t act now, then when?

7/23/2025
As hundreds of thousands of people face starvation in Gaza, this week the foreign secretary, David Lammy, joined a chorus of global condemnation over Israel’s actions, describing the killing of innocent civilians seeking food and water as grotesque. But when will his words be followed by action? John Harris speaks to the UN’s special rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese. Plus, will the Tory reshuffle do anything to take the wind out of Nigel Farage’s sails? The Guardian’s senior political correspondent, Peter Walker, joins John to discuss. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:31:41

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The big stink: will new watchdog clean up our waterways?

7/21/2025
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the government’s plans to overhaul the water industry. Will they be able to clean up the waterways of England and Wales and what could it mean for bills? Plus, what is Keir Starmer’s latest move to help restore public trust in politics? And, as MPs break for summer, Pippa and Kiran hand out their end-of-year awards …. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:27:43

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Will the Afghan data leak cover up be a gift for Reform UK?

7/17/2025
The revelation that the government concealed a huge story about the resettlement of people from Afghanistan after their lives were put at risk by a data breach has left Westminster reeling. So why was it allowed to be kept secret for so long? And what could the fallout be? The Guardian’s political correspondent Kiran Stacey joins John Harris to discuss. Plus, Harris speaks to Ed Miliband, the energy security and net zero secretary, about his plans to tackle the climate crisis, why it’s becoming a culture war issue, and how to combat that. And, what does the public really think about net zero? Harris asks Sophie Stowers, a pollster from More in Common. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:35:50

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Have tax rises become inevitable?

7/14/2025
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at how Rachel Reeves will try to reassure her party and the country about the state of the economy in a major speech this week. Also, how does the government plan to convince the public – and other MPs – to embrace net zero measures? Plus, as details of Donald Trump’s second state visit are confirmed, why won’t he be addressing the UK parliament?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Duration:00:20:57