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Talking Politics

ITV News

Political Editor Robert Peston and News At Ten Anchor Tom Bradby discuss and debate all the key talking points of the political week.

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Yesterday · 30 min
Will Polanksi survive Green Party's Zionism vote fallout?
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss the Green Party's passing of a 'Zionism is racism' policy at its conference. Greens leader Zack Polanksi did not vote on the policy and having avoided interviews since, what does it mean for his future? Party members also voted in favour of the establishment of a “single democratic Palestinian State in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital”. Tom and Robert discuss what that means for British Jews and the future of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. Speaking from the Conservative Party conference, Robert also gives his assessment of Kemi Badenoch's headline speech, in which the leader of the opposition finally confirmed the party's new inheritance tax policy.
September 29 · 23 min
Reaction to Burnham's huge pensions triple lock announcement
Robert Peston and Julie Etchingham react to Andy Burnham's first Labour Conference speech as Prime Minister. Robert breaks down the announcement that Labour will drop the triple-lock on pensions if it wins the next election, including whether it will be enough to fund a new national social care service. Stood right at the front in the hall, Robert also explains what happened when the Prime Minister was lost for words mid-speech. Julie and Robert also analyse the announcement of a new commission on electoral reform and Burnham's 'tease' on the UK's future relationship with the EU.
September 28 · 21 min
Labour Conference: Will Burnham take from pensions to fund social care?
Robert Peston and Julie Etchingham break down John Healey's first Labour Party conference as chancellor. Amongst some stage managed applause for comments on welfare and plenty of praise for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the Chancellor also talked up British industry - following an announcement of £6 billion for Britain's shipyards. But Robert questions whether all the contracts will definitely go to British firms. A former junior treasury minister in the New Labour years, Healey gave his speech in a tie he lent to Gordon Brown almost 30 years ago. But Robert tells Julie of the 'massive difference' between the two chancellors. And with all eyes on Burnham's big speech on Tuesday, Robert and Julie discuss whether the Prime Minister will reform the pensions triple-lock to fund social care.
September 23 · 25 min
In the room with Trump and Burnham - was it a triumph?
Burnham appeared to make it through his crucial first meeting with Trump unscathed, but is the people-pleaser PM prepared to stand up to the President? On this week’s Talking Politics, Tom and Robert are joined by Political Correspondent Romilly Weeks, hot off the prime minister’s plane back from New York. Romilly tells us how she managed to catch Trump’s eye to ask him a question, and reveals the advice Burnham was given on how to handle the President. Plus - what do Trump's latest comments mean for the Chagos deal? And why did the President seem so "exhausted"?
September 16 · 25 min
Is the UK defenceless against 'killer' AI?
Could AI really 'kill us all' by the end of the decade? That was the claim of a resigning researcher at AI giant Anthropic, which has caught the world's attention. Jacob Coxon said Anthropic, the company behind AI assistant Claude, was "racing straight to self-improving superintelligence" and "gambling" with the lives of humanity as a result. So are the explosive claims and others like it genuine or just a hyperbolic marketing strategy? On Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss that and what power the UK government has to force regulation on a global industry dominated by the US and China. Having followed the technology's development and its political implications closely for many years, Robert also explains what the realistic threats are and why both the US and China have been reluctant to regulate until now.
September 9 · 30 min
Did Green Party threat influence West Bank sanctions?
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has announced counter sanctions following the UK government's decision to ban imports from illegal settlements in the West Bank. On Talking Politics, Robert Peston and Daniel Hewitt discuss the timing of the decision, whether it has been driven by Labour Party politics and if it will actually help keep the possiblity of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine alive.
September 2 · 26 min
Can Burnham stop the UK heading for another financial crash?
The autumn Budget is looming, but rising borrowing costs could already be eating into Andy Burnham’s financial headroom. With the money available to deliver the 'radical' agenda he promised shrinking, the new PM and his Chancellor face tough choices: tax rises or spending cuts. Can Burnham make those difficult choices and take on some of Labour’s most politically sensitive commitments, including the welfare bill and the pension triple lock, or will his tendency to ‘people please’ hold him back? And with war in Iran continuing, driving up oil prices and impacting the health of the global economy, is Burnham’s biggest challenge the markets rather than his own MPs? Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss on this week's Talking Politics.
August 6 · 29 min
Is the 'Burnham bounce' over - or here to stay?
Andy Burnham has only been prime minister for a little over two weeks - but has already made an impression with his very different style of leadership to Sir Keir Starmer and raft of policies relating to the cost of living, social care, and more. He appears to have initially benefited from a bounce in the opinion polls, leading to some speculation about whether he will call an early general election. But how much of his plans actually stand up to scrutiny - particularly his proposals for devolution? And is the 'Burnham bounce' real or, with unfavourable headlines on the prisoner early release scheme dominating this week, is the honeymoon period already over? And does it give Reform UK and Nigel Farage the chance to bounce back? Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss on this week's Talking Politics.
July 22 · 32 min
Burnham backs off income tax change - so what is he planning next?
Andy Burnham has kicked off his 'cost of living' government with a flurry of announcements - starting with removing VAT from household energy bills and restoring the £2 cap on bus fares in England. But he has already rowed back on a potential rise in the tax-free personal allowance. On Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston ask whether support is really being targeted towards those who most need it and whether it is ambitious enough to turn the country around. They also discuss his promise to end to factionalism, which coincided with a purge of the Starmerites. Tom also asks Robert to explain exactly what 'war bonds' are and whether some creative government accounting could actually help solve the defence funding dilemma. Plus Robert analyses what the abolishment of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology means for AI in the UK.
July 20 · 9 min
Can Andy Burnham bring down the cost of living?
Andy Burnham is finally Prime Minister - so from bus fares to energy bills, what could it mean for you? Could a rise in the top rate of tax be on the cards, despite Labour's manifesto commitment? On Talking Politics, Robert Peston and Tom Bradby discuss what he can to do to address the top priority of making life more affordable for people up and down the country.
July 15 · 28 min
Has Andy Burnham vetoed Miliband as his Chancellor?
Andy Burnham is just days from entering Number 10 - but what do we know about who will be in his top team? In Talking Politics this week, Tom and Robert discuss who would be the best pick for Chancellor, and whether Ed Miliband’s Treasury dreams are over. They break down what the handover of power will look like over the next few days, and how it could be impacted by the World Cup… Tom and Robert also finish by reflecting on what the shocking murder of Ann Widdecombe could mean for British politics.
July 7 · 18 min
Could Farage's by-election backfire?
Nigel Farage has sent shockwaves through Westminster as he announced he would stand down as an MP but then contest the seat at the by-election. Is it all a stunt to distract from scrutiny over his financial support as opposition parties say? On this weeks’ Talking Politics, Robert is joined by ITV News Political Correspondent Harry Horton to discuss what this means for Farage’s political future. Labour say the saga is a ‘circus’, while the Tories accuse Farage of having a ‘hissy fit’. Robert and Harry discuss whether Count Binface could finally make it to Parliament, and whether Farage will come out of all of this looking ‘silly’.
July 1 · 30 min
Will Burnham have to put up taxes?
Andy Burnham is headed for Downing Street and could be Prime Minister in just three weeks. But can he really deliver his bold vision without putting up taxes? In this episode of Talking Politics, Robert is joined by Harry Horton, fresh from Burnham's major speech in Manchester, to unpack his economic blueprint. From the promise to build more council homes to bringing essential services like energy and water back under public control, they explore Burnham's big ideas, his plans for a "Number 10 of the North", and ask: how will he pay for it? In the second half of the episode, Robert speaks to Carl Dinnen about another looming financial headache: Keir Starmer's Defence Investment Plan has exposed a £4.7 billion funding gap. If Burnham takes the keys to Number 10, how can he plug that hole while delivering his own ambitious programme for change?
June 24 · 32 min
Who would be Burnham's chancellor?
Andy Burnham is on track to become Britain’s next prime minister, but we don’t yet know who he’ll pick as chancellor. Could it be Ed Miliband, or would he spook the markets? Perhaps Yvette Cooper is a safe pair of hands, or could Wes Streeting get the keys to Number 11 despite his “brazen disloyalty” to his last boss? On this week’s Talking Politics, Tom and Robert ask what a Burnham government could look like, and break down what his major policy changes could be. Plus, Peston gives his advice to the next PM on welfare, defence and the pension triple lock. Contains mild language.
June 22 · 19 min
Starmer resigns but what could go wrong for Burnham?
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston are in Downing Street to discuss Keir Starmer's resignation, after he set a timetable for his departure as PM. Newly elected MP Andy Burnham has confirmed he will run to replace him as Labour leader. Tom and Robert break down what went so wrong for Starmer, less than two years after his landslide election win, and what obstacles could be in Burnham's way.
June 19 · 32 min
'Burnham will be our next PM' - so what happens now?
Andy Burnham’s big Makerfield by-election victory is set to reshape British politics as we know it. So what happens next? In this special Talking Politics episode, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston are joined by Election Analyst Professor Jane Green from Nuffield College, University of Oxford, to answer the key questions. Is Britain now waking up to a new prime minister? What does the Labour vote share in Makerfield tell us about potential voting in a General Election? Would Andy Burnham definitely perform better than Sir Keir Starmer? Could he call a General Election once he's prime minister? What does it mean for Reform’s chances at a national level? Are the Conservatives still in the picture? And is electoral reform now inevitable?
June 17 · 19 min
Starmer's post-Makerfield plan for Burnham and survival
Ahead of one of history’s most consequential by-elections this week, Keir Starmer has revealed how he plans to persuade Andy Burnham not to launch a leadership challenge. In this week’s Talking Politics, Robert joins Tom from Evian in France where Starmer is meeting world leaders at the G7 summit - in what could be his last foreign trip as PM. As voters in Makerfield prepare to head to the polls on Thursday, Robert explains why Starmer’s strategy to stay in Number 10 if Burnham wins the by-election is “almost emotional blackmail”. And: find out what Robert thinks the PM and Millwall Football Club have in common… Full list of candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election: Jake Austin, Liberal Democrats Count Binface, Count Binface Party Andy Burnham, Labour Party Dan Clarke, Libertarian Party John Alfred Dyer, Independent Ed Gemmell, Climate Party Paul Richard Gould, Independent Alan 'Howlin' Laud Hope, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party Robert Kenyon, Reform UK Robert Pownall, Independent Rebecca Shepherd, Restore Britain Sarah Wakefield, Green Party Peter Ward, Rejoin EU
June 11 · 20 min
Why John Healey's resignation is 'devastating' for Keir Starmer
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss Defence Secretary John Healey's resignation, after a row with the prime minister over military spending, in which he accused Keir Starmer of making the country "less safe". He wrote to the PM to resign with "great regret and reluctance", citing disagreements about defence spending ahead of the release of the delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP). Tom and Robert reflect on why this resignation is particularly damaging for Keir Starmer and whether his position is now beyond saving. -- Contains mild language.
June 10 · 31 min
Belfast riots: How our broken asylum system continues to fuel unrest
Tom and Robert are joined by Northern Ireland Reporter Stewart Robson following a night of violence and unrest in Belfast after Monday's stabbing attack. Stewart shares what he witnessed on the ground, describing a "real determination from some people to make it as dangerous as possible", and outlines the latest developments in the case - as the politicans, police and the victim's family call for calm". Tom and Robert unpack how the economic reality is fuelling anti-immigrant sentiment, discuss why successive Governments have struggled to control immigration, and look at whether opposing parties and their plans to fix the problems have any hope of success.
June 3 · 34 min
Henry Nowak murder: 'Incompetence' or 'two-tier policing'?
The murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton last year has sparked national outrage and accusations from Nigel Farage of “two-tier policing”. But is there any evidence to suggest police are treating people differently based on their ethnicity, or was this just a case of “grotesque police incompetence”? On this week’s episode of Talking Politics, Tom and Robert react to the disturbing bodycam footage from the scene and examine how a tragic murder became a national political flashpoint. They also discuss Farage’s intervention in the case, the family's repeated calls for calm, and why he chose to speak out on the issue after weeks of avoiding media scrutiny.

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