Politics Weekly UK

The Guardian

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

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296 episodes
Updated Monday

Episodes296

Newest first

February 2 · 24 min
Mandelson, Epstein and what Labour knew when
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Peter Mandelson’s resignation from the Labour party over yet more details about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
January 29 · 21 min
What happened when Starmer met Xi Jinping?
Pippa Crerar joins Kiran Stacey from Beijing as she follows Keir Starmer on his historic trip to China
January 28 · 38 min
Matt Goodwin becomes Reform UK candidate, and Esther Ghey on banning social media
John Harris and Kiran Stacey discuss Reform UK’s bid to win the Gorton and Denton byelection with its candidate Matt Goodwin. Plus John speaks to Esther Ghey about why MPs should vote through an under-16s social media ban
January 26 · 20 min
Burnham blocked: Has Starmer messed up?
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the fallout from the NEC’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Plus, Pippa previews her trip to China with Keir Starmer
January 22 · 32 min
Taco Thursday: Trump climbs down on Greenland tariffs
John Harris is joined by Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey to discuss Donald Trump’s climbdown on Greenland. Plus, could Andy Burnham take Andrew Gwynne’s seat?
January 20 · 33 min
Ditch Nato and dump Trump: Zack Polanski’s foreign policy
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk to the Green party leader Zack Polanski on Donald Trump, Greenland and rejoining the European Union
January 19 · 24 min
Starmer: ‘We don’t want a trade war’
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Keir Starmer’s emergency press conference on Greenland
January 15 · 22 min
Badenoch sacks Jenrick: who will win the fight for the right?
John Harris is joined by Kiran Stacey to discuss Robert Jenrick’s sacking from the shadow cabinet
January 12 · 18 min
X rated: Ofcom investigates Grok
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Ofcom’s investigation into X. Plus Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform UK
January 8 · 32 min
Kidnapping and chaos: welcome to Trump’s world
John Harris and Kiran Stacey are joined by the Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, to talk about the oil tanker seizures, Greenland and the UK’s role in Ukraine
January 5 · 27 min
Is Starmer’s silence on Venezuela worth it?
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk about the UK’s response to Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela. Plus, the key political moments to look out for in the next few months
January 1 · 29 min
Revisited: How the Beatles helped my autistic son find his voice
John Harris on how music helped him connect with his son, James
Dec 29, 2025 · 47 min
Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights? – from The Audio Long Read
Many of his supporters hoped the prime minister would restore the UK’s commitment to international law. Yet Labour’s record over the past year has been curiously mixed By Daniel Trilling. Read by Simon Darwen
Dec 22, 2025 · 14 min
Best of: Angela Rayner, Nicola Sturgeon, Catherine Ashton and Andy Burnham – podcast
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look back at some of their best interviews of 2025
Dec 18, 2025 · 51 min
Review of 2025: another fine mess?
John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look back at the biggest political moments of 2025, and discuss what 2026 might bring
Dec 15, 2025 · 41 min
John Crace on his book, The Bonfire of the Insanities
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey speak to the Guardian’s sketch writer, John Crace, about his latest book, The Bonfire of the Insanities: How Does This Government Thing Work Again?
Dec 13, 2025 · 36 min
The Birth Keepers: I choose this – episode one
The Free Birth Society was selling pregnant women a simple message. They could exit the medical system and take back their power. By free birthing. But Nicole Garrison believes FBS ideology nearly cost her her life. This is episode one of a year-long investigation by Guardian journalists Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne
Dec 11, 2025 · 34 min
Farage under attack: will it damage Reform UK?
John Harris speaks to Yinka Bankole, a former Dulwich college student, about how he was treated by Nigel Farage. Plus, Kiran Stacey on how the story will play with Reform UK supporters
Dec 8, 2025 · 24 min
Starmer meets Zelenskyy: is a new peace plan possible?
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s UK visit, Labour’s shifting position on the EU and whether Nigel Farage can cope with the mounting political pressure
Dec 4, 2025 · 34 min
Could Reform UK and the Tories merge?
John Harris is joined by Kiran Stacey to discuss what the speculation over a Reform UK–Conservative party election pact really means, and David Lammy’s proposals to cut back on jury trials