boris johnson

With a huge lead in the polls, all the signs point to Keir Starmer moving into Downing Street by the end of the year, so how well do we know the man who would be PM? Guest co-presenter Liz Bates attempts to get behind the rather dull public image, by interrogating Tom Baldwin, who spent hours talking to Starmer for his new authoritative biography of the Labour leader. The conversation takes an emotional turn when Liz and Tom discuss Starmer’s difficult relationship with his dad; how he couldn’t hug him on his deathbed, and then later found a hidden scrapbook that showed how proud of his son he really was. They also talk about what makes Starmer tick politically - is there such a thing as Starmerism? - as well as his love of football and music…and Tom reveals what Starmer thinks of the book!

Nish joins Liz from Crooked HQ in LA to discuss the fallout from Lee Anderson’s expulsion from the party, and whether the Tories have an islamophobia problem. They also discuss the rogues gallery of candidates competing to win the Rochdale by-election, and Liz reveals what it’s like to get up close and personal on the campaign trail, with the bookies favourite George Galloway.

Plus find out why Nish gave one very lucky New York cab driver a massive tip, and why he loves smelly books!

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk

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Guest:

Tom Baldwin, author of Keir Starmer: The Biography   

Audio credit:

GB News

Useful link:

https://crooked.com/podcast-series/lovett-or-leave-it/

The Prime Minister has pretty much ruled out a May election.

He said today that he is "working on the assumption" that the General Election will be in the second half of the year... but he is yet to nail down an exact date.

We discuss why he's holding out, the possible dates to put in your diary and how that could cross over with the US Presidential election in November.

And later, the Labour leader Keir Starmer sets out his ambitions for the election year.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Comedians Andy Zaltzman and Catherine Bohart return to help Nish and Coco try to predict what politics has in store for us in 2024. 

There’s much debate about the possible date of the next general election…with arguments made for both November 5th and December 25th! The panel also considers whether the electorate will warm to Keir Starmer. Plus there’s also the prospect of another Trump presidency to terrify us all.

Andy and Catherine also help Nish and Coco field listeners' questions, with discussions ranging from whether our electoral system is fit for purpose, to who’d win in a fight between Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage. But the key question is: would anyone kiss a Tory?

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk

WhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572

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Guests:

Andy Zaltzman, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, and The Bugle podcast

Catherine Bohart, comedian and co-presenter of Trusty Hogs podcast

Useful links:

https://www.catherinebohart.com/live

https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/live

Your questions answered in a (very merry) Christmas Q&A special with Jon, Emily and Lewis.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Arvind Badewal & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

A listener writes in to ask what the real threat is from the right of the Tory party, and our associate political editor, Rachel Cunliffe, breaks this down - starting with identifying who the different factions of the Tory right are, and what they want.

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Please note: This podcast includes a description of a death from Covid, that some may find distressing. 

This week saw arguably the most anticipated moment of the Covid Inquiry so far, the first appearance of Boris Johnson, who was Prime Minister during the pandemic. Over two days at the hearing, he offered an apology and  admitted some mistakes were made, but defended his overall approach.

In this bonus episode, Nish and Coco find out how his words went down with those most deeply affected by the pandemic, those who lost their loved ones. Susie Crozier-Flintham, who lost her dad Howard, reveals what it was like to be in the room to hear his testimony - she says he refused to look at the families who were there, and in fact arrived 3 hours early just so he could avoid them.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk

WhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572

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Guest:

Susie Crozier-Flintham, Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice

Audio credits: 

Uk Covid-19 Inquiry

Useful links:

https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/

Over the past two days, Boris Johnson faced a grilling at the Covid Inquiry. His appearance came after weeks of testimony from senior officials, politicians and scientific advisers who hadn't held back in their assessment of his handling of the pandemic. So what did we learn about the crucial decisions made by the then Prime Minister?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: George Arbuthnott, Deputy Insight Editor, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Insight's original investigation:

• Insight investigation: why was the UK so slow to lockdown?
• Failures of State: How Britain made the same mistake twice (Pt 2)
• Failures of State: The inside story of Britain’s battle with coronavirus (Pt 1)

Read more: Failures of State: The Inside Story of Britain’s Battle with Coronavirus

Find out more about our Apple bonus series

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An impromptu Prime Minister's press conference this morning raised more questions than it answered.

Rishi Sunak was responding to the resignation of Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick last night - which blindsided the government - and left the PM defending his Rwanda policy and promising he would disapply human rights law to get it through. Today - a stark message for those in the party trying to cause trouble - from Tory backbencher and 1922 committee stalwart Sir Charles Walker - who joins us on the show.

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

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On Piers Morgan Uncensored tonight, On the day she's named TIME's Person of the Year, beating the likes of Chinese President Xi, Vladimir Putin and Barbie, Piers Morgan will ask... is Taylor Swift the greatest pop star in history? Hollywood heavyweight Jon Lovitz has been scathing about the rise in antisemitism since Israel’s war began - including, he says, from other Jewish people in Hollywood. Boris Johnson blusters through his long-awaited appearance at the Covid Inquiry - but will it help the country avoid repeating his deadly mistakes?

Watch Piers Morgan Uncensored at 8 pm on TalkTV on Sky 522, Virgin Media 606, Freeview 237 and Freesat 217. Listen on DAB+ and the app. 

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The latest hearings at the Covid Inquiry reveal chaos and dysfunction at the heart of Government during the pandemic. Did Boris Johnson really think Covid was nature’s way of dealing with old people? Nish and Coco sift through the swearing and the gossip to get to the heart of what really matters about the latest revelations.

Coco tells Nish about her experience attending the huge rally, calling for a ceasefire in the Israel Gaza crisis, in London last weekend. How does she feel about Suella Braverman’s characterisation of the rallies as “hate marches”?

With Silicon Valley’s finest - and Elon Musk - in the UK for Rishi Sunak’s big AI Summit, Nish and Coco have a play around with ChatGPT…can it come up with a script for them to introduce the show? Cristina Criddle joins the show from Bletchley Park to take us inside the summit and explain what it may or may not achieve. Plus Nish and Coco’s hero and villain of the week, and do YOU find Rishi Sunak sexy?

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk

WhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572

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Guest:

Cristina Criddle, Technology reporter at the Financial Times

Audio credits:

UK Covid 19 Inquiry

Sky News

Useful link:

The Cariuma x Crooked, Lovett or Leave It sneaker is available at crooked.com/store

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In today’s special You Ask Us episode of the New Statesman Podcast, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Wearmouth and Freddie Hayward to answer listeners’ questions:

They discuss what role Angela Rayner might have in a Starmer government and whether she’s being sidelined. Then they tackle a question on whether Boris Johnson could return to politics through the House of Lords.

If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskus.

Subscribe to Morning Call

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