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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218 episodes
Updated July 22

Episodes218

Newest first

April 14 · 23 min
How bad could things get for the UK economy as Iran war bites?
Donald Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz is underway but how long can it last, and have the Americans backed themselves into a corner? On Talking Politics, Tom and Robert examine why the blockade could become a “slow and painful” strategy. They also break down the latest “depressing” forecasts for economic growth from the International Monetary Fund, a major blow to the UK economic outlook. And with fresh warnings from former Labour Defence Secretary and ex-NATO chief Lord Robertson that Britain’s security is “in peril,” Tom and Robert discuss how Sir Keir Starmer should respond.
April 9 · 31 min
Sir Keir Starmer tells Talking Politics why Israel should stop attacking Lebanon
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has told ITV News' Talking Politics podcast that Israel is "wrong" to continue its strikes on Lebanon amid a ceasefire with Iran, saying it "should stop" as a "matter of principle". The exclusive interview with ITV News' Political Editor Robert Peston is the prime minister's first since the establishment of a fragile two-week ceasefire deal made between the US and Iran.
April 8 · 18 min
Starmer in Gulf: Will Iran ceasefire pull UK out of crisis?
A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran has brought a moment of relief, but how stable is this fragile truce - and what comes next? In this week’s episode of Talking Politics, Robert joins Tom from Saudi Arabia where he’s travelling in the region with the PM ahead of an exclusive interview. Tom and Robert break down how Trump has been left humiliated by the deal, and discuss whether world leaders think the President has ‘lost his marbles’. Plus, they ask if the war signifies the end of Nato, or whether it’s just a bump in the road for the alliance.
March 24 · 17 min
Iran oil crisis: Is Rachel Reeves doing enough to keep energy bills down?
Rachel Reeves has vowed to support “those who need it most” if energy bills surge amid the Iran war - but is she already “boxed in”? In this week’s Talking Politics, Tom and Robert break down the Chancellor’s options and why Rachel Reeves is determined not to repeat the mistakes of Liz Truss. Could this spiral into a crisis on the scale of 2008? Robert gives his predictions for the long-term economic fallout of the conflict. Plus: why large bets placed just before Donald Trump’s peace talks announcement on Monday have triggered accusations of insider trading.
March 18 · 22 min
Trump and Starmer’s Iran fallout: Can UK keep out of the war?
Trump has ramped up attacks on Starmer, blasting his handling of the Iran war and claiming the special relationship was good "until Keir came along." On this week’s episode of Talking Politics, Tom and Robert discuss whether the UK–US partnership can survive - and how much Trump’s broadsides really matter. Starmer says he doesn’t want to get drawn into the “wider” war, but how long can that position hold? Tom and Robert are also joined by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, to discuss the Iran war, why Canada is prioritising new alliances beyond the US, and whether the UK should cancel the King’s state visit to America.
March 11 · 18 min
Mandelson files released: Will they ruin Starmer?
The Mandelson files are out - and they raise serious questions. The new documents show Starmer was warned of a “general reputational risk” linked to Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein before Mandelson’s appointment as US Ambassador. In this episode of Talking Politics, Robert and Tom unpack the key revelations, ask whether Starmer can recover politically, and explore why Mandelson asked for a £500,000 payout after he was sacked And Robert reveals why reading the files made him feel like his head was exploding...
March 3 · 18 min
Could war in the Middle East wreck the UK economy?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the government has 'restored economic stability' despite downgraded growth forecasts for 2026, whilst the US-Israel war with Iran means narrow improvements in the economy revealed in her spring statement are likely to be overturned. On Talking Politics, UK Editor Paul Brand and Political Editor Robert Peston discuss what it means for energy prices, interest rates and economic growth - and whether the UK can afford to become further involved in the conflict.
March 2 · 23 min
What does US-Israel war with Iran mean for Starmer?
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced he will allow the US to use British bases for 'defensive' strikes on Iranian missile sites, but says the UK government 'will not join offensive action now'. Donald Trump says he’s ’very disappointed’ in Starmer and condemned the delay in making that decision. So is the UK at war with Iran and what does it mean for the UK-US special relationship? On this episode of Talking Politics Robert speaks to Julie Etchingham who is in Erbil, northern Iraq, about the escalating war in the Middle East and what it means for Starmer.
February 26 · 15 min
Green Party wins in Gorton and Denton | What it really means for British politics
Shockwaves are surging through British politics after a dramatic by-election in Gorton and Denton. In this episode of Talking Politics, Robert and Tom unpack what the Greens’ victory means for Labour - was Starmer “nuts” for not taking the left-wing party more seriously? And will he have to step down? With cries of dodgy practices and unfair treatment, they also discuss ‘family voting’ and whether it was an issue in the contest.
February 25 · 25 min
How Commons Speaker Hoyle tipped off police about Mandelson 'flight risk'
In a week that started with Peter Mandelson's arrest, and will end with a crucial by-election for the PM, Tom and Robert discuss whether Mandelson's arrest will prove terminal for Starmer. They unpack why Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle warned the Met that Mandelson was a flight risk - triggering his arrest. The former Business Secretary denies any wrongdoing, and says his overriding priority is to cooperate with the police investigation and clear his name. But will Mandelson's arrest define the PM's premiership? Tom and Robert discuss what could happen in this week's by-election in Gorton and Denton and how it could be the most important result of the PM's career. -- Full list of candidates in the Gorton and Denton by-election Nick Buckley – Advance UK Charlotte Cadden – Conservatives Dan Clarke – Libertarian Party Matt Goodwin – Reform UK Sir Oink A Lot – The Official Monster Raving Looney Party Joseph O’Meachair – Rejoin EU Sebastian Moore – Social Democratic Party Jacqueline Pearcey – Liberal Democrats Hannah Spencer – Green Party Angeliki Stogia – Labour Party Hugo Wils – Communist League
February 18 · 27 min
The astronaut-turned-politician Trump wanted punished 'by death'
Meet Senator Mark Kelly: distinguished Navy Pilot, NASA astronaut and Democratic Senator for Arizona, but when Kelly urged service members to refuse illegal orders, Donald Trump said he should be punished “by death”. Trump later clarified, "I'm not threatening death, but I think they're in serious trouble." Now Kelly's contemplating a run for the Presidency himself. Tom sits down with the Senator to discuss the death threats and lawsuits that have followed, why he believes you need to "stand up to bullies" and his advice to the UK: "You don't want somebody like him in charge of the UK." Is the US a reliable ally? If he was still serving, would he obey orders to invade Greenland? And what lessons can the UK learn from the MAGA movement?
February 11 · 33 min
Who could replace Starmer and how could they do it?
Tom and Robert discuss how much trouble how much trouble Sir Keir Starmer is in, who could replace him as PM and how Labour chooses a new leader. It follows the latest relation that Downing Street's former Director of Communications Matthew Doyle was given a peerage, despite him campaining in 2017 for a councillor who had been charged with child sex offences. At Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer said Doyle "did not give a full account of his actions" before he was made a Lord in January. Doyle has had the whip removed and apologised. In a statement he said: “I want to apologise for my past association with Sean Morton. His offences were vile and I completely condemn the actions for which he was rightly convicted. My thoughts are with the victims and all those impacted by these crimes.”
February 9 · 26 min
Will Starmer survive the week?
Can Sir Keir Starmer survive the Peter Mandelson scandal? Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss his chances, after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar becomes the most senior serving Labour figure to call for the PM to stand down. It comes after the resignation of Downing Street Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, who had masterminded Starmer's path to power but accepted responsibility for advising the PM to appoint Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador. The latest release of files relating to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein have revealed the extent of his friendship with Mandelson. Pressure is mounting on Starmer after he admitted Mandelson's links to Epstein, following his sex offence conviction, were mentioned in his vetting. Starmer told MPs Mandelson had 'repeatedly' lied during in the vetting process. ITV News has attempted to contact Mandelson multiple times in relation to the allegations against him but has not received a response. Being named in emails and documents released from the US Department of Justice is not evidence of wrongdoing.
February 4 · 35 min
Epstein-Mandelson what does it all mean for Starmer?
Tom and Robert discuss the Peter Mandelson fallout, after the former Business Secretary was forced to resign from the Labour Party and the House of Lords following the latest release of Epstein files. Amongst the 3m documents are emails appearing to show that at the height of the financial crisis, Mandelson was sharing highly sensitive government information with the sex-offender financier. So what exactly was that information and how could Epstein have used it? Meanwhile, where does all this leave Keir Starmer after he made Mandelson US Ambassador when his association with Epstein was public knowledge. Mandelson is yet to comment publicly on the allegations, but has said that he regrets his friendship with Epstein. Tom and Robert also discuss the Polish PM's claim that Epstein could have been a Russian spy, and the continued problems the Epstein files bring the royal family - with the files revealing more details of the contact Epstein had with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson after his conviction for child sex offences. The former prince has strenuously denied any wrongdoing and the former Duchess has previously expressed regret over her association with Epstein.
January 28 · 25 min
Behind the scenes of the Starmer vs Burnham by-election row
As Keir Starmer tries to shake off the backlash of Andy Burnham's failed bid to get on the ballot for the Gorton and Denton by-election...what really went on behind closed doors? Downing Street and the Greater Manchester Mayor have both denied reports he was told in advance that he would be blocked by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee. But Robert Peston has the inside story. And with Labour leadership candidates waiting in the wings... how should Starmer have handled it instead? Meanwhile, Robert exclusively reveals why events in Canada could put King Charles's trip to America in jeopardy.
January 19 · 26 min
Why the UK is in a TERRIBLE position after Trump's Greenland tariffs threat
Why has Keir Starmer ruled out economic retaliation against Donald Trump’s new tariff threat over the US purchase of Greenland? And what options does it leave him and other world leaders to persuade the US president not to bring in 10% tariffs on 1 February for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland? Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss the fallout from Trump’s latest jaw-dropping power play in this special edition of Talking Politics. Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
January 14 · 26 min
Has the government's latest U-turn on digital IDs ruined Rachel Reeves' big day?
Rachel Reeves today unveiled a huge rail infrastructure project, the long-awaited Northern Powerhouse Rail, which she insists "isn't just political, this is personal. "But her big announcement comes on the day of yet another U-turn by the government, this time on digital IDs. So, has the latest volte-face overshadowed the Chancellor's big day? And with all these U-turns stacking up, we ask the seemingly eternal question: what does this government really stand for? Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
January 13 · 23 min
Can Labour REALLY solve Britain’s housing crisis?
Do you want to buy your own home? Are you a renter paying record high housing costs? Are you a council tenant living in squalid conditions? Or are you one of the 350,000 homeless without a place to live, trapped in temporary accommodation? Having unearthed British housing at its very worst, Investigations Editor Daniel Hewitt grills Housing Secretary Steve Reed on what Labour are doing to solve the national crisis. It was the government’s number one priority on the first day of taking office, but 18 months on, house building remains slow, homelessness is still rising, and if the polls are to be believed, voters are not impressed. So what’s the plan to turn it around? Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
January 7 · 32 min
Why Trump REALLY wants Greenland - and why it should worry Starmer
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss President Trump's frenetic start to 2026, which has escalated fears of a military seizure of Nato territory Greenland. As Robert explains, Trump's obsession with the giant Danish island is not going to go away. Trump says it's in the interest of ‘national security’ - but is there something else driving him? Something which Greenland has - and which China has - that the United States doesn't? All of this comes just days after Donald Trump attacked Venezuela and captured its president Nicolás Maduro - and just before the US seized a Venezuela-linked Russian oil tanker for violating US sanctions. Tom and Rober discuss the potential consequences of two NATO allies being caught in a military standoff, and what Sir Keir Starmer can do to resolve tensions between the US and Europe - tensions that threaten to put the whole world in a much more dangerous place. Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
Dec 17, 2025 · 32 min
Can the BBC survive Trump's $10bn lawsuit?
It's Trump vs the BBC as the President of the United States attempts to sue the broadcaster for $10bn over its Panorama documentary. The BBC has admitted it made a "mistake" with its edit of a Trump speech on the day his supporters stormed the Capitol. The President's lawyers said it falsely portrayed him as a "violent insurrectionist" and was a “brazen attempt” to interfere in the US election. The question now is, what could the consequences be for the BBC? Should they fight the case or settle with the President? And what will the broadcaster look like as the government begins a consultation on its future? Tom Bradby joins Political Editor Robert Peston to discuss. Also, what will politics have in store for us in 2026? Tom and Robert both predict that Sir Keir Starmer will still be Prime Minister this time next year, despite all the recent talk of plots and challenges to his authority. Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com