Politics Weekly

UK wages have risen at a faster pace than expected but inflation is still worryingly high. The Conservatives seem to be edging back towards austerity and Labour doesn’t want to offer ‘false hope’ on the economy. Is the politics of hope dead? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by former Tory minister David Gauke and Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The NHS turns 75 this week. But facing a staffing crisis, an ageing and unhealthy population, and increasingly poorer health outcomes for patients, what will be next for our beleaguered national health service? The Guardian’s John Harris discusses the possible treatment plans with Pat Cullen, the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, and Isabel Hardman, a political journalist and author of Fighting for Life, a new book on the NHS. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Politics Weekly UK is on the byelection trail again, this time in Boris Johnson’s old seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by Rafael Behr to speak to residents, businesses and the MPs David Simmonds and Steve Reed about what the battle for the former prime minister’s seat tells us about the state of the nation. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

This week, Politics Weekly UK is in Frome in the south-west of England before one of three confirmed byelections. Against a backdrop of high inflation, painful mortgage rates and more allegations of Tory sleaze, the Guardian’s John Harris speaks to people about whether they think anyone is able to bring them the change they need. And whether they are better off voting with their heads or their hearts. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Conservative party is not far from all-out war, from Rishi Sunak’s public criticism of Boris Johnson to Nadine Dorries decrying ‘posh boys’ for blocking her peerage. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political editor Pippa Crerar and the former Tory cabinet minister David Gauke to try to untangle the mess. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Labour looks closer to power than it has been for the last decade, but as it nears the next election, some big tensions are starting to become clear. One is its plan for a green economy, another on the candidates being selected. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnists Rafael Behr and Gaby Hinsliff to look at what Keir Starmer will do next.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The legal tug of war between the Covid inquiry and the Cabinet Office continues this week. Gaby Hinsliff sits in for John Harris, and talks to the former Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell and the former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal about the possible reasons for the government’s position. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Rishi Sunak is fighting fires this week as Boris Johnson and Suella Braverman steal the headlines. And as new net migration figures are released on Thursday, can the prime minister take back control of the narrative? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnists Rafael Behr and Gaby Hinsliff. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Some of the big figures on the political right, including two cabinet ministers, have been speaking this week at the National Conservatism conference in London. How much sway does this vocal group have over government? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the former Tory minister David Gauke and the Observer’s Sonia Sodha to discuss. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Keir Starmer and Ed Davey have both refused to rule out forming a coalition between their parties at the next general election. Following disastrous results for the Conservatives in the local elections, what will this mean for Labour and the Liberal Democrats? The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff, standing in for John Harris this week, asks political editor Pippa Crerar and former Conservative special advisor Salma Shah what a Labour/Lib Dem pact could look like. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

More than a million NHS workers will get a 5% pay rise after health unions accepted a government offer. But the Royal College of Nursing has rejected the offer. The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to Pat Cullen, the general secretary of the RCN and Frances O’Grady, a Labour peer and former general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, about the future for public sector workers. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The UK government has been criticised for its slowness in evacuating UK nationals from Sudan. But what could this mean for the millions of civilians left there in dire and dangerous circumstances? The Guardian’s John Harris asks Africa correspondent Jason Burke. Also, amid a fresh charge of antisemitism and ahead of a big electoral test, has Keir Starmer cleaned up the Labour party? Political editor Pippa Crerar and columnist Gaby Hinsliff join John to discuss the issue. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The UK needs to shift its ‘anti-maths mindset’, according to Rishi Sunak. But while the prime minister wants everyone to learn maths until the age of 18, do the sums add up against a recruitment crisis in teaching? The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to Gill Burbridge, headteacher of Leyton Sixth Form College, and Guardian columnists Rafael Behr and Gaby Hinsliff. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority in 2019, redrawing the electoral map and threatening Labour with another decade in opposition. Less than four years later, the Conservatives are on their third leader in 12 months and are trailing in the polls. So how did the UK get here? The Guardian’s John Harris asks Prof Tim Bale, whose new book, The Conservative Party After Brexit, looks at what went wrong for the Tories. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Who does Labour need to win over – or win back – to form a government at the next election? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnist Gaby Hinsliff, former Ed Miliband speechwriter Marc Stears and Josh Simons from Labour Together to discuss how the party can target these voters. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Humza Yousaf has become new leader of the SNP. But with Scotland’s path to independence looking further away than ever, can Nicola Sturgeon’s replacement reignite the party and the debate? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by Scotland correspondent Libby Brooks, columnist Gaby Hinsliff and former Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

With the former prime minister having been questioned by MPs on the privileges select committee, the Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political editor Pippa Crerar to discuss Johnson’s fight to save his career, and speaks to those who worked on the frontline of the pandemic. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Next week marks 20 years since the UK joined US and coalition forces in the invasion of Iraq. The Guardian’s John Harris looks back on the war’s troubled legacy and its impact on politics today, with the journalist Audrey Gillan, who reported from Iraq, and the columnist Jonathan Freedland. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Jeremy Hunt has set out his first budget as chancellor. With plans to boost childcare and help people get back to work, can it provide the much-needed growth the economy needs? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by former Conservative minister David Gauke and Miatta Fahnbulleh from the New Economics Foundation to discuss. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Another plan has been announced to crack down on so-called small boats arriving illegally in the UK. The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to immigration specialist Zoe Gardner and former Conservative special advisor Luke Tryl, and discusses the history of immigration rhetoric with Guardian political editor Pippa Crerar. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod