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The State of It
Real reporting from the coalface of British politics.
Join The Times and The Sunday Times’s political heavyweights Steven Swinford, Ben Riley-Smith, Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit as they dig deep into the latest tea room tip offs, reveal insider conversations and bring analysis, authority and insight.
No party loyalty. No spin. Not hosted by some old politicians. Taking you into the real business of politics, from those who live it daily.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1404 - A snap election - surely not?
The Labour Party conferencestarts in Liverpool this weekend. It's a chance for Andy Burnham to lay out his vision for the country. Expect worldview, class, solidarity and hope. How much criticism is likely to come from allies of Keir Starmer? Darren Jones, Starmer's former right-hand-man, has been giving interviews. Will others do the same?
Could Burnham call a snap election?
An MRP mega poll for The Times and Sky News suggested that if an election were held now Labour would win 241 seats, the Conservatives would have 130 and Reform UK would be in third on 123 seats. The split on the right makes it tempting for Labour to call a snap election. Is that a realistic possibility?
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
00:00 - Tactical Voting: The Left’s New “Cheat Code”?
00:10 - Heading to Liverpool: Navigating Labour Conference
01:26 - Decoding Andy Burnham’s “Hope Again” Vision & Liverpool Roots
04:07 - Inside Number 10: How the New Team is Bedding In
06:56 - The Reform UK Threat & Marginal Seat Panic
09:12 - The Dangers of Relying on Tactical Voting
14:10 - Snap Election Rumours: Is Burnham About to Gamble?
18:55 - Labour Infighting: Sacked Cabinet Ministers Strike Back
23:07 - Critiques From Within & What Success Looks Like
26:07 - John Healey Interview Preview
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
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Fri, 25 Sep 2026 - 27min - 1403 - Raise taxes, fix welfare later: Labour's tough sell
What a difference a year makes
The Labour Party conference awaits. Has Andy Burnham's folksy charm and optimism taken the party as far as it can, or can he consolidate power and popularity?
Six-party politics
A YouGov poll for The Times and Sky News puts Reform UK and the Conservative Party on level pegging for the first time in 18 months. Thursday's mega poll, the first MRP from YouGov in a year, will be a fascinating snapshot of the shifting electoral tectonic plates. Labour MPs are pinning their hopes on a split on the right, but will Burnham's government be able to build enough support from potential Green and Liberal Democrat voters?
What will Andy Burnham's government do about welfare?
Three reports into work and benefits are imminent: Charlie Mayfield's recommendations about how to keep people in work, Alan Milburn's report into Neets (young people not in education, employment or training) and a government review of mental health conditions. All of them put the welfare system into the spotlight. The timing creates a political problem for the government because next month's budget will not address the welfare bill. Raising taxes without fixing welfare is difficult for a prime minister who has talked about the power of politics to change things. Meanwhile his chancellor, John Healey, is buffeted by rising borrowing costs, which hit £18.3 billion in August, up nearly a fifth on August last year.
Brexit re-litigated?
On the plane to New York, Andy Burnham refused to rule out rejoining the European Union. A year ago he said he hoped the UK would rejoin the EU in his lifetime. Could he really be tempted to try to boost economic growth by aligning more closely with the EU or putting rejoining the EU in the next manifesto?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 22 Sep 2026 - 32min - 1402 - Trump and Burnham meet: what could go wrong?
The Burnham Trump meeting
Andy Burnham and Donald Trump will meet for the first time in New York next week. It's the biggest foreign policy moment in Burnham's premiership so far and there are many different ways in which it could go wrong. Burnham wants to be more confrontational with Trump than Starmer was...without damaging relations with the US.
Autumn budget: the walls are closing in
It's now accepted that next month's budget will be a money-raising budget. Does the new government have a plan for growth?
Are the Liberal Democrats still relevant?
The Liberal Democrats are about to hold their conference and some of their MPs are worried that Ed Davey isn't doing enough as leader. We look at their electoral strategy and their prospects.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Pictures: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, 18 Sep 2026 - 29min - 1401 - Mr Hope and Mr Sensible step into the danger zone
Will Labour raise taxes?
The cost of government borrowing is going up and up. That means the chancellor, John Healey, may well need to cut spending or raise taxes next month - and tax rises are much more likely.
Labour MPs are overwhelmingly happy for the first time in living memory, but is that because they haven't woken up to the grim economic reality? The Labour Party conference slogan this year is 'Hope Again', but while the prime minister is projecting optimism, the chancellor is cutting a much more sombre figure as his fiscal headroom shrinks. Will Andy Burnham's desire to lead on economic policy survive next month's budget?
How likely is an early election?
The assumption has been that Burnham will either stick to the Labour manifesto or he'll call an early election. Would he consider breaking, or at least bending, the manifesto to pay for all the things he wants to do?
The donations row explained
Labour's plan to block donations to Reform UK from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo is nakedly partisan. The row shines a light on the strange world of political donations and the surprisingly vague laws that govern them. How much of a difference would the £72m make to Reform's electoral prospects?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 15 Sep 2026 - 35min - 1400 - Assisted dying is dead. What next?
MPs have voted against the assisted dying bill. The legislation was defeated by a margin of 16 votes, with 286 MPs in favour and 270 against, after 314 MPs backed the plan last year. It's a huge moment in the House of Commons.
Why did the support for it fall away? How much of a difference did it make that Andy Burnham was not a supporter? Does it mean the issue is off the table for the foreseeable future? Where do we go from here? Does it galvanise the prime minister's mission to reform social care and palliative care?Plus, Andy Burnham is turning left, trying to appeal to the voters that Keir Starmer lost to the Greens and the Liberal Democrats. Will it work? And are the odds of an early election narrowing?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Parliament TV
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, 11 Sep 2026 - 22min - 1399 - Why the UK is risking US anger with Israel sanctionsEd Miliband, the foreign secretary, is announcing sanctions on Israelover West Banksettlements. Why is it such a priority for Andy Burnham's government and what are the risks? It creates yet another diplomatic sticking point for the prime minister when he meets President Trumplater this month. At Reform UK's conference, a protester who disrupted Nigel Farage's speech was whacked with a stick and had her hair pulled. The party's economic spokesman Robert Jenrick says she had it coming. An astute political calculation or will it put off wavering voters?Has Reform weathered the storm after last week's resignations in the wake of the Verbatim/Channel 4 undercover investigation that showed senior aides arranging off-the-books polling? The party denies all wrongdoing. Does the story seriously damage them in the eyes of voters?John Healey's first speech as chancellor was a chance to show a radical new vision and also to show the markets he can be trusted not to do anything too radical. The problem is you can't do both. We look at some of the calculations going into next month's budget.
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Parliament TV
Audio: Sky News
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 08 Sep 2026 - 29min - 1398 - Reform's conference begins with a crisis
Reform UK’s 2026 conference has begun in Birmingham under a cloud after Channel 4 broadcast allegations of an attempt to circumvent the rules on foreign donations — prompting Nigel Farage to turn on two of his closest aides, Dan Jukes and James Orr.
Farage’s relationship with Jukes has been described as “father-son” so it’s a huge step for Farage and for Reform. Find out how it all unfolded in the early hours.
The extraordinary fallout has overshadowed Farage’s big migration announcement with Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally running mate and the man who hopes to be the next French prime minister.
Nigel Farage says Reform UK has done nothing wrong and that the investigation was carried out by far left activists. How much does the story damage Brand Reform? Are voters more interested in his small boats policy or in the questions raised by the documentary?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, 04 Sep 2026 - 24min - 1397 - Starmerism with a human face: when vibes meet realityAndy Burnham wants the first day back in the Commons to be all about hope. But how long can he and his chancellor John Healey keep up the feel-good vibes? After much talk of change, there's a whiff of continuity in the air. Find out what is making Labour MPs most nervous and angry - and why.The toughest calls on defence spending and the economy are deferred to 2027, creating a juggernaut for next year.The PM says that public control is a priority but a decision on Thames Water has been postponed.
What is Labour's policy on North Sea oil and gas drilling?
Scoop: the government will confirm gas drilling at Jackdaw, but it's unclear what they'll do about the more controversial Rosebank oil and gas field.What did we learn from Kemi Badenoch's reshuffle?
Kemi Badenoch's ruthless shadow cabinet reshuffle has demonstrated her hold over her party. But will it help the Conservatives' electoral prospects?Reform UK Conference: what to expect
Polling suggests Nigel Farage is most likely to be the UK's next prime minister, and at their conference this week Reform UK will attempt to show us all what it would be like. What would a Reform government deliver in its first 100 days?Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 01 Sep 2026 - 31min - 1396 - West Bank sanctions: the snag - and Burnham's blockbuster autumnScoop: Ed Miliband is expected to announce two different kinds of sanctions over Israeli settlements in the West Bank. We have the details, but will the plan be enforceable?Get ready for politics on hyperspeed this autumn: a decision on North Sea oil and gas, an announcement about the prisoner early release scheme, two welfare reviews, conferences, a budget and a 10-year plan. But amidst the flurry of activity, is Andy Burnham putting off some tough decisions?Reform UK says British-born workers should get priority for social housing. We look at the shifting Overton window on citizenship as three parties on the right - The Conservative Party, Reform UK and Restore UK - jostle for votes.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Fraser Nelson, columnist, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
00:00 - Parliament Returns: The Autumn Political Agenda
01:45 - Ed Miliband, Gaza Sanctions & West Bank Trade Bans
07:50 - Early Release Scheme & Police Backlash (PC Harper Case)
10:45 - The Mini-Budget, Welfare Reviews & 10-Year Plan
15:00 - Reform UK's Housing Policy & Citizenship Split
23:30 - Kemi Badenoch Meets Giorgia Meloni in Rome
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 25 Aug 2026 - 27min - 1395 - Burnham's three big tests - and trouble at Reform UKThe prison early release scheme is Andy Burnham's first big test as prime minister. There are no good options. Can he make a successful argument that he's picked the least bad?No 10 wants the Autumn Budget to be all about devolution, but they also need to raise money - a lot of money. Fraser believes there are reasons to be cheerful about welfare reform. Can Labour MPs really get behind a plan that inevitably will come with painful political decisions?Reform UK has suspended Tim Montgomerie as a member. What's going on within the party?And Gabriel lifts the veil on Insight's reporting into George Cottrell and Christopher Harborne's donations to Nigel Farage and Reform UK.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday Times
Fraser Nelson, columnist, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 - 35min - 1394 - Farage wins Clacton – but his £5m headache remains
Nigel Farage has done the inevitable and defeated Count Binface in the Clacton by-election. To celebrate, Reform threw a gigantic Glastonbury-style festival on Clacton beach. Farage-fest 2026 featured disco, live music and even a Ferris wheel.
But during his victory speech, Farage admitted for the first time that he may have made a mistake by failing to declare the £5m gift he received from Christopher Harborne.
Now, just hours after his victory, the parliamentary standards watchdog has resumed its investigation into the Reform leader. So, after the Ferris wheel and the fanfare, what next for the embattled Farage?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Picture: Getty images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, 14 Aug 2026 - 18min - 1393 - PC Harper's killers: Andy Burnham's first major test
Last week, Andy Burnham said he had reached “the very limits of what is possible”, appearing powerless to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers. But after a wave of public outrage, he has now promised to stop it. This is Burnham’s first major collision between style and substance – can his positive-vibes politics really trump the reality of a political nightmare?
Then over to Clacton, where a tanned Nigel Farage has embedded himself in his constituency. What comes next for Reform’s leader after he does the inevitable and defeats Count Binface in the by-election? Can he get Reform back on track after a difficult few months?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Picture: PA media
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 11 Aug 2026 - 29min - 1392 - Will a Reform-Restore alliance unite the right?
Has Andy Burnham's vibes-based politics collided with the reality of governing as he wrestles with the prison early release crisis?
Restore leader and right-wing insurgent Rupert Lowe has publicly reached out to Nigel Farage, urging him to unite the right. Can Farage and Lowe finally put the bad blood behind them, or is the divide simply too deep?
And on the left, the Greens have endured a bruising few weeks, with leader Zack Polanski's social media habits creating unwelcome headlines. But has Westminster been too quick to write them off? With Polanski at the helm, anything is possible.
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 04 Aug 2026 - 26min - 1391 - The Burnham Bounce: how long can it last?
Andy Burnham's first week as prime minister has been decisive, optimistic and proactive. Labour has overtaken Reform UK in the polls for the first time in more than a year. Now Burnham is taking on education and social care reform: knotty political questions with many landmines. We look at the pitfalls that lie ahead.
Zack Polanski's Green Party is losing support. And as Reform and the Conservatives fight to be the main party of the right, how does the new Labour government change things for Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch?
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday Times
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 28 Jul 2026 - 27min - 1390 - Andy Burnham's week of maximum vibes
Andy Burnham's first week as Prime Minister has been all about creating good vibes. He's pledged to end rough sleeping, cut VAT on energy bills, cap bus fares at £2, and save Britain's pubs. The obvious question is: how is he going to pay for it all?
Steve takes us inside Burnham's call with Donald Trump, where everything was surprisingly cordial and the pair ended up talking about their mums.
But next week, the easy announcements give way to the hard choices. Burnham is expected to unveil major interventions on social care and unemployment. Can he deliver reform while also tackling the cost of living, boosting defence spending and keeping the public finances under control?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, 24 Jul 2026 - 29min - 1389 - No, you're a factionalist: Labour's new battle linesThe Grafton Pub Purge:inside the pub where Keir Starmerhad drinks with allies as they were sacked one by one. It's fair to say that Andy Burnham's new cabinet has caused an astonishing amount of bitterness in the LabourParty. The Chancellor Shock: John Healey'ssurprise appointment as chancellor means he'll have to find £25bn, or the equivalent of 3p on income tax, to fund defence.Get ready for a Mega Budget: the new government is preparing announcements on bus fares and Thames Water, but it's still unclear how they will pay for spending pledges.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, George Clare
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Russel Herneman
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 21 Jul 2026 - 30min - 1388 - Shabana Mahmood: The 'ruthless' incoming Chancellor?
Who is Shabana Mahmood, the 'ruthless' politician set to enter Downing Street as Andy Burnham’s Chancellor? After a fierce cabinet debate effectively ended Ed Miliband's hopes for the Treasury, all eyes are on her. And what does her potential appointment means for the future of UK politics, from welfare reform to the economy?
Meanwhile, Westminser has descended into a surreal waiting game as the incoming Prime Minister prepares to take power. No one knows if their job is safe, and desperate insiders have resorted to asking our very own Steven Swinford if he knows anything they don't. Will Ed Miliband, Wes Streeting or Yvette Cooper feature? And how exactly will Number 10 North work?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thu, 16 Jul 2026 - 29min - 1387 - Burnham's cabinet: Ed Miliband fails the smell testWho will be in Andy Burnham's cabinet? It looks like Ed Miliband will not be chancellor after all. We have scoops for you about who's in line for the big jobs in the Westminster cabinet reshuffle.Burnham needs to make room for allies like Louise Haigh and Lucy Powell, so who will be sacked on Monday when Burnham takes over as prime minister?Westminster is like a hornet's nest of briefing and counter-briefing as Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, Dan Jarvis, Yvette Cooper and others wait to hear what next week will bring.David Lammy has organised a whip-round for Keir Starmer's rather odd leaving present.And what will Burnham do once he's in post? We look at his immediate priorities and the possibility of a mega fiscal event in the autumn.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images.
01:10 - Blocking Ed Miliband From Chancellor
02:30 - Why the City Doesn't Trust the "London Left"
03:50 - Will Miliband Accept a Demotion?
05:05 - The Brutal Briefing War Behind Closed Doors
06:40 - Defending the "Net Zero Zealot"
07:45 - Cabinet Jenga: Filling the Great Offices of State
09:25 - Angela Rayner & The "Day One" Loyalists
11:05 - The Starmer Purge: Who Is Getting Sacked?
12:45 - The Yvette Cooper Foreign Policy Question
15:05 - Secret Policy Clashes: Josh Simons vs. Miatta Fahnbulleh
17:15 - Angry Loyalists With "Nothing To Lose"
19:40 - Starmer’s Bizarre Leaving Present
21:30 - Flying to the World Cup Final
22:35 - Burnham's Radical Plan for the Cost of Living
25:00 - The Warning Over a "Mega Budget" & Wealth Taxes
26:15 - North vs. South: The Growing Regional Rebellion
Picture: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 14 Jul 2026 - 27min - 1386 - Nigel Farage's Clacton by-election gamble
A furious Nigel Farage has said he will ‘stick two fingers up to the establishment’ by resigning and then winning a by-election in Clacton. Kemi Badenoch has accused him of having a hissy fit and Andy Burnham has said it's a gimmick designed to distract from questions over undeclared gifts.
Will the Conservatives and Labour field candidates in the Clacton by-election?Will a Reform UK victory in Clacton boost Nigel Farage's standing in the rest of the country? And can Nigel Farage be suspended after a parliamentary standards investigation even if he wins the by-election?Who is George Cottrell, aka Posh George? Listen to the series herepodfollow.com/posh-george
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 07 Jul 2026 - 25min - 1385 - Nigel Farage and Posh George: why it matters
Nigel Farage could face an investigation by the parliamentary watchdog after a Sunday Times investigation and podcast series raised questions about gifts and benefits in kind that he has received from George Cottrell, a crypto-gambler and convicted fraudster, who's better known as Posh George. Gabriel and Steve discuss how Reform UK has reacted to the story and what could happen next.
Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.
Listen to the series here: podfollow.com/posh-george
Episode 3 is out on Thursday 9th July
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Image: Getty/Alamy
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mon, 06 Jul 2026 - 27min - 1384 - Paranoia in the Labour Party: the Andy Burnham enigma
Andy Burnham is keeping his cards close to his chest and no one seems to know who'll get what job. That means there's a huge amount of paranoia and jostling for position the Labour Party. Cabinet ministers and MPs are lavishing praise upon him, but they're worried about his plans - both on policy and personnel. There's a lot of ill-feeling that could bubble up to the surface surprisingly quickly.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
00:00 - Burnham's Intense One-on-One MP Meetings
00:32 - Paranoia and Panic in the Cabinet
01:44 - Will Burnham Appeal to Southern Voters?
02:50 - Desperate Ministers Begging to Keep Their Jobs
03:40 - The Ghost of 2007: Burnham's "Woman Problem"
06:13 - Ed Miliband's Chancellor Dilemma
07:18 - How Departments Are Pandering to Burnham
08:29 - Is David Miliband Making a Comeback?
10:54 - The Real Reason Angela Rayner Has Been Weakened
13:10 - Burnham's Frustration with Westminster "Ambulance Chasers"
16:56 - A Long Goodbye: Starmer's Farewell Barbecues
17:30 - The £15 Billion Defence Plan Black Hole
18:20 - Government Paralysis and the Rochdale Case
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thu, 02 Jul 2026 - 19min - 1383 - "You can't have more Milibands than women in top jobs" - Cain and Abel mark II
There is considerable intrigue around Andy Burnham's possible cabinet, not least because the eldest Miliband brother is being linked to the position of Foreign Secretary. Are we about to see UK politic's Cain and Able story return for a second round? And most importantly, Is Andy Burnham ready?
Burnham's debut speech caused headlines with his bold plans to reshape the British state. But there are difficult questions lurking behind the rhetoric, namely what does any of it actually mean? Plus, Reform UK gears up to choose their top candidates to challenge Burnham in his own backyard.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
00:00 The Return of David Miliband?
02:53 The Miliband Brothers Psychodrama
04:23 Labour's "Boys Club" Optics Problem
08:02 The Brutal Fight for Top Cabinet Jobs
11:20 How Burnham is Manipulating Westminster
13:56 Burnham vs Starmer: The Real Difference
16:27 The Hidden Cost of Devolution (Tax Rises?)
19:31 What is "Number 10 North" Really About?
22:31 Why the Tories Fear Ed Miliband as Chancellor
25:29 Nigel Farage's Secret Plot for the North
27:35 The £5 Million Farage Crypto Investigation
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 30 Jun 2026 - 29min - 1382 - Andy Burnham builds a plane mid-flight as Starmer checks out
Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer both want an orderly transition but one day in, it's looking anything but orderly.
It's a transition beset with bad blood and uncertainty and also some serious technical hurdles. Is he building a plane mid-flight or is he more like Gromit, sitting on a speeding train, laying down the track in front of him?
The biggest unanswered question facing Andy Burnham is who will be his chancellor. Three names are in contention: bookmakers' favourite Wes Streeting, rank outsider Shabana Mahmood, and Ed Miliband — the bête noire of the bond markets.
Patrick reports from parliament's bars, where the champagne is flowing and Labour MPs have suddenly become shameless attention-seekers, hoping to seduce Andy Burnham's allies.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
0:00 - Can Andy Burnham Build the Plane Mid-Flight?
1:15 - Drama on the Commons Terrace: Euphoria & Champagne
4:20 - Keir Starmer's "Revenge" Timetable
6:30 - The Next Chancellor: Miliband vs. Streeting vs. Mahmood
13:12 - Scrapping the Triple Lock & Upcoming Wealth Taxes
17:37 - Inside Number 10: Starmer's Farewell Speech
19:33 - The £10bn Defence Plan Rupturing Labour
21:55 - Civil Service Gridlock: Why Access Talks Are Delayed
25:20 - The Crypto Billionaire Bankrolling Nigel Farage & Reform UK
29:00 - Will There Be an Emergency Election?
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 25min - 1381 - Keir Starmer resigns. Andy Burnham prepares for power
Andy Burnham could be prime minister within weeks after Keir Starmer's resignation. He may now need to build a government before the World Cup final. This is where the real trade-offs start. How long can Andy Burnham's hopey, changey, Northern Soul vibes last in Downing Street? There's already an almighty row going on over who will be his chancellor.
Also today, where did all go wrong for Keir Starmer and what did Labour MPs think of his resignation speech?
Wes Streeting has said he will not contest Andy Burnham for the Labour leadership, but are there any other possible candidates for the leadership contest?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Producers: Harry Kitson, Euan Dawtrey
Picture credit: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters
00:00 — Starmer’s Resignation: The Total Lack of Contrition
00:48 — A Surreal Timeline: Six Prime Ministers in a Decade
01:56 — The Emotional Exit vs. The Bitter Backroom Reality
03:04 — Where It Went Wrong: Sins of Tone & Policy U-Turns
04:30 — The Brutal Verdict: "He Wasn't Up To It"
05:47 — Outsourcing Power: Sue Gray, McSweeney, and Rachel Reeves
08:46 — Enter Andy Burnham: Can He Rebrand the Labour Party?
11:36 — Ed Miliband vs. The Financial Markets
14:31 — Team Burnham's Impossible Economic Trade-offs
16:36 — Will the Gloss Wear Off? The Unforgiving Spotlight of No. 10
18:24 — Legitimacy Crisis: Nigel Farage Demands an Early Election
20:06 — The Whitehall Machine in Total Chaos
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mon, 22 Jun 2026 - 20min - 1380 - Andy Burnham wins Makerfield: what happens now?
Andy Burnham's victory in Makerfield makes him Labour leader and prime minister in waiting. How will the next days and weeks play out?
Keir Starmer has said he will stand in a leadership contest if one is triggered. So does that mean a bloody contest rather than a coronation?
In a special episode recorded live on Times Radio with Ed Vaizey, we go through the possible scenarios.
And if Andy Burnham does become prime minister, what will he do with power? Who will be in his cabinet? We're told that Shabana Mahmood has turned down the offer of chancellor and will stay as home secretary. Is Ed Miliband still a likely candidate for chancellor? And what to do about Wes Streeting?
We also look at the Conservative win in Aberdeen South. Is this a green shoot for the Conservative Party?
And will the Makerfield result prompt some soul searching in Reform UK?
Ed Vaizey, presenter, Times Radio
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Harry Kitson, Erin Carney
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
00:00 - Intro: "They’re Going to Have to Drag Him Out"
00:20 - Welcome to The State of It: The Makerfield Shockwave
00:56 - An Extraordinary Result: How Andy Burnham Defied Political Gravity
03:00 - "Vote Burnham, Get Starmer Out" Campaign Strategy
04:05 - Keir Starmer Strikes Back: Leadership Contest or Coronation?
06:37 - Starmer's Response: "I'm Not Going to Walk Away"
07:14 - Inside Starmer's Bunker: Refusing an Orderly Transition
09:16 - The Secret List: 80+ MPs Backing Andy Burnham
11:06 - Nigel Farage's Disappointment: Reform UK Share Drops
12:00 - Kemi Badenoch's Tories Resurge in Scotland
13:04 - Did Reform UK Choose the Wrong Candidate?
14:04 - The Identity Schism Deepening Inside Reform UK
16:00 - What Does an Andy Burnham Premiership Actually Stand For?
17:48 - Tax Overhauls: Radical Land Tax vs. Council Tax
18:38 - The NATO Summit and the Defense Investment Plan Dilemma
21:00 - Tough Decisions on Welfare Cuts and Benefits
23:16 - The Power Brokers: Louise Haig & Anneliese Midgley
24:40 - Cabinet Secrets: Ed Miliband vs. Shabana Mahmood
27:12 - Shabana Mahmood’s Hardline Immigration Reforms
28:22 - Wes Streeting's Defiance: Forcing a Platform Battle?
32:38 - What Happens to the Hardcore Starmer Loyalists?
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, 19 Jun 2026 - 33min - 1379 - Ghostings and betrayals: Starmer's cabinet prepares for an Andy Burnham coup
Makerfield is the most consequential by-election in history. Andy Burnham is confident he'll win. What happens then? When and how does he make a move? What can Keir Starmer do to thwart him? We have several scoops for you today.
Listen to find out which cabinet ministers are thinking of resigning after Makerfield and which senior figure has been ghosting the PM.
If Andy Burnham does get to Number 10, the whole direction of his premiership will depend on who he picks for his cabinet. We bring you the latest on what his team is thinking.
And of course it's also possible that Reform UK could beat Labour in Makerfield — what then?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Video editor: George Clare
Picture credit: Getty Images
Audio: Times Radio
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 16 Jun 2026 - 28min - 1378 - A circular firing squad: the bitter war over defence spending
Exclusive stories from the front line of the government's war over defence spending.
And there's a swagger about Andy Burnham's team: they're more and more confident that he'll win in Makerfield. What happens next? And how will the enmity between Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer influence the outcome?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 09 Jun 2026 - 30min - 1377 - The tragic death of Henry Nowak and a political reckoningNigel Farage has said that the death of Henry Nowak is proof that "we’re living in a two-tier culture...where the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities". Police bodycam footage shows Nowak, 18, being arrested for alleged racial abuse minutes before he died from stab wounds in December 2025. It's a tragedy that's very quickly become political. We explain why it's an issue that's particularly tricky for Labour to respond to. Also, a snapshot of strange by-election campaign where cabinet members are not welcome, Labour MPs might be allowed a selfie with Andy Burnham (if they're lucky), and the future of the country is decided upon by a tiny group of people in a club where they hold auctions of exotic birds.And what the Mandelson files tell us about the Labour Party – and about Patrick Maguire Syndrome.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Henry Nowak with his father, Mark (Family handout/PA)
Audio: PA, ITV
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 02 Jun 2026 - 31min - 1376 - We’re all just normal people railing against politics
In the Makerfield by-election, Reform UK have put forward a local plumber in the hope of derailing Burnham’s push for power — but a string of deeply questionable old social media posts has left the campaign wobbling. Meanwhile, on Reform’s right flank, Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party is threatening to split the vote after a Sunday Times poll put them on 7% — enough to potentially hand Labour the advantage.
Back in Downing Street, Rachel Reeves is machine-gunning her colleagues. The question is whether she genuinely believes she can survive in post under an Andy Burnham leadership.
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 26 May 2026 - 28min - 1375 - Inside Keir Starmer's plan to remain PM till 2027Scoop: Keir Starmer thinks he can remain prime minister till 2027, even if Andy Burnham wins in Makerfield...And if Burnham loses, what then?Fear and loathing in Number 10: we have details about the extraordinary levels of anger at the top of government.Makerfield is the most consequential by-election in history. Can Andy Burnham win in this pro-Brexit, anti-establishment seat? He's pitching himself as the anti-politics candidate, while simultaneously plotting his route to Downing Street.And if he does win, what will he do with power? Could he end up as a Keir Starmer in running shorts?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 19 May 2026 - 28min - 1374 - What the hell’s going on in Westminster?
Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary, but he hasn't launched a leadership challenge. Why not? More than 90 Labour MPs have now called for the prime minister to go, but Keir Starmer is hanging on. What can he do now? And what's the next move for Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thu, 14 May 2026 - 26min - 1373 - Keir Starmer: the end game
An extraordinary day in British politics: Keir Starmer vows to fight on, but the resignations keep on coming. How long can the prime minister survive? What's next, and who will move first? Wes Streeting has one shot: will he take it? What is Andy Burnham's plan?
Recorded at Temple Church as part of the Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 12 May 2026 - 37min - 1372 - BONUS: Reform shake Labour to its core
For now, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer vows to stay as the Reform leader Nigel Farage calls this a “truly historic shift in British politics”
Steven and Lara caught up at the Times office in Westminster just after 4pm to unpack the results from England’s local council and mayoral elections, alongside national contests in Scotland and Wales, as Reform and the Greens surge and Labour suffer huge losses.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Picture credit: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, 08 May 2026 - 25min - 1371 - "They're going to have to drag him out" - Starmer prepares for a leadership battle
Thursday's local elections are set to blow apart Britain’s political duopoly, and the fallout for Labour could be existential. Pressure is mounting on the Prime Minister as rivals circle. Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham are all positioning. But who moves first?
Meanwhile, it's not all smooth sailing for the insurgents. Questions over Reform's Nigel Farage’s £5 million gift from Thai-based crypto tycoon Christopher Harborne aren’t going away.
And on the left flank, Green Party leader Zack Polanski has seen his approval ratings dip after questioning police tactics during the Golders Green attack.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Picture credit: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 05 May 2026 - 31min - 1370 - Mandelson: Starmer’s original sin comes back to haunt him
Morgan McSweeney has told MPs that the revelations about Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein were like a knife through his soul. The more we learn about the appointment process, the madder it sounds. And the odd thing is that crucial decisions were not written down: there are no receipts.
There's a mood building in the Labour Party that Keir Starmer will need to go big or go home: come up with a bold agenda, make the case for it and then deliver it. Has he got it in him? And how far to the left will he take the government?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 28 Apr 2026 - 34min - 1369 - Starmer picks a fight with the wrong guy
Sir Olly Robbins dropped bombshell after bombshell when he spoke to MPs. Robbins, who was sacked as the Foreign Office’s chief civil servant, has accused Downing Street of placing the department under constant pressure to get Lord Mandelson through vetting. He also said the prime minister had tried to find an ambassadorial job for Matthew Doyle, another Labour peer who's been in trouble for a friendship with a paedophile. Where does it all leave Sir Keir Starmer?
Plus, we reveal when the next tranche of Mandelson files will be published.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Parliament TV
Audio credit: Parliament TV
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 21 Apr 2026 - 31min - 1368 - BONUS: Can Keir Starmer survive the Mandelson vetting scandal?
Everything you need to know about the latest instalment of the Mandelson scandal. What Labour MPs are saying about Keir Starmer; our verdict on whether he can survive it, and why Patrick thinks the prime minister is doing "the political equivalent of smoking outside a hospital".
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters, x.com/KemiBadenoch, x.com/Nigel_Farage
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, 17 Apr 2026 - 16min - 1367 - Guns or Butter: the great defence spending rowKidney machines replaced with rockets and guns: Keir Starmer says security is his priority but where will the money for defence come from and when will he tell us?On the road with Nigel Farage.If the polls are right, which major cabinet minister is likely to lose their seat? Spoiler: most of them.And as Labour moves closer to the EU, can they convince voters that it's a good idea?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 14 Apr 2026 - 31min - 1366 - Get ready for a pub brawl, it's local election time
As Reform rolls its tanks onto Labour’s lawn across the old Red Wall and the Greens set their sights on London, Starmer braces for a bruising set of local elections.
Has David Lammy given up on London? And Steve reveals Reform's antagonistic campaigning slogan...
Meanwhile, with the economic toll from the Iranian conflict unfolding, we explain how it might take Gabriel a little longer to find his daily packet of Quavers.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 07 Apr 2026 - 25min - 1365 - Keir Starmer's fight with "reckless" striking doctors. And Labour's Zack Polanski problemInside the negotiations between the government and the doctors' union, the BMA. Why is Keir Starmer putting himself front and centre of this rather than leaving it to his health secretary, Wes Streeting?Even though the Green Party's spring conference this weekend descended into chaotic rows, their leader Zack Polanski has a plan to win over the unions, and it might just work. We have some exclusive words from him. Scoop: what exactly is going wrong with the small boats talks between Britain and France?
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 31 Mar 2026 - 28min - 1364 - Angela Rayner's next move and Morgan McSweeney's missing messagesWe reveal what happened when Morgan McSweeney lost his phone, and what it means for the Mandelson files. As Angela Rayner looks like she's preparing to challenge Keir Starmer, other senior Labour MPs are jostling for position.What is the government willing and able to do to help in the Strait of Hormuz? Spoiler: not much.And as the questions about Britain's economy and place in the world get harder, are fewer Labour politicians interested in asking, let alone answering, them?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 24 Mar 2026 - 30min - 1363 - Why Starmer is happy to argue with Trump — and how he might help him over IranEXCLUSIVE: how the British government could intervene in the Strait of Hormuz. Is falling out with Donald Trump politically helpful for Keir Starmer?What is the government likely to do about energy bills?Angela Rayner is back and she's trying to reassure the City that everything would be fine if she were PM.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 - 25min - 1362 - The key to the Keir Starmer puzzle: bonus with How To Win An Election
What does Keir Starmer do all day? Who is now pulling the strings in Downing Street? And why is it all going so wrong? Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund speak to Hugo Rifkind about their updated edition of their book, Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer.
Hugo Rifkind, presenter, Times Radio and How To Win An Election
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Picture credit: Russel Herneman
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
Times+ members can buy it here with a 20% discount https://timesbookshop.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sat, 14 Mar 2026 - 19min - 1361 - How bad are the Mandelson files for Starmer?
Keir Starmer is being accused of misleading MPs over his appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador. How bad is it for the prime minister?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thu, 12 Mar 2026 - 17min - 1360 - Oil and trouble for the British economy
While Keir Starmer may get some credit with the public for his response to the war in Iran, he's still stuck with its consequences: rising prices just when he'd said he was going to cut the cost of living. Meanwhile has Reform UK's response compromised its ability to campaign on the cost of living? Also, who is now wielding the power in Number 10?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 10 Mar 2026 - 28min - 1359 - How Starmer's Iran response alienates everybody
We take you inside the Iran discussions in Number 10. What do they reveal about Keir Starmer's thinking and about Labour's electoral predicament?
And as polling suggests that two parties with 2% of MPs command 44% of the vote, does Labour have a coherent argument to coax voters away from the Green Party and Reform UK?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 03 Mar 2026 - 31min - 1358 - The end of the Labour party as a going concern in electoral politics?
The end of Britain’s political duopoly now looks complete, as Labour suffers a catastrophic by-election defeat to the Greens in Gorton and Denton. Reform comes second, while the Tories lose their deposit with just 2% of the vote. Keir Starmer is now a prisoner of the left, and Britain is undergoing a tectonic realignment of its electoral politics.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, 27 Feb 2026 - 19min - 1357 - Ukraine extra: burner phones and lost children
Join Caroline as she visits Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion. Burner phones to make sure the Russians don't track them as they travel in on a train called the Bravery Express. A meeting with the first lady, and with a woman who was captured and held in a forced labour camp. Kyiv is a busy, modern city where some residents have to find tents to get heating and electricity.
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thu, 26 Feb 2026 - 15min - 1356 - A by-election reckoning — and unexploded bombs everywhere
Three separate scandals have raised serious questions over Keir Starmer's judgement. It's empowered Labour MPs who were once written off as cranks. And with many files still to come out, the questions will keep on coming.
Meanwhile, the PM is selling the idea that the Gorton and Denton by-election is a two-horse race between Reform UK and Labour, but will voters believe him when the Green Party is campaigning hard on Gaza? Also, is parliament fit for purpose on the subject of the royal family?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 24 Feb 2026 - 31min - 1355 - Gabriel Pogrund speaks out on Labour Together scandal
The Labour Together scandal is the latest storm threatening to capsize the government - and Gabriel has been right at the heart. For the first time, he describes what happened when a Labour think tank set private investigators on a journalist. Their secret report falsely accused Gabriel of acting as a Russian agitator and "grotesquely subverted" his faith in an attack on his and his colleagues' reporting in The Sunday Times.
Hosts:
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Dan Box
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 17 Feb 2026 - 39min - 1354 - Wes Streeting bottles it and Labour's left grabs the steering wheel
Listen to what Labour ministers and MPs are saying about their colleagues in a week of chaos in Westminster.
The prime minister thought it was all over for him this weekend, but a scrambled rearguard action has left him looking stronger than he has for some time. But to survive, Keir Starmer may now have no choice but to move leftwards. And there's much worse to come when the Mandelson files are released.
Meanwhile, has Wes Streeting missed his moment to challenge the prime minister?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Audio credit: Sky News
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 10 Feb 2026 - 30min - 1353 - Bonus episode: Epstein tried to befriend me
A guest slot to give you a taste of our new podcast, The State of It: USA. Give it a go and please subscribe.
His enemies were hoping that Donald Trump would come out badly from the Epstein files, but he hasn't. Gerry argues that the scandal is a parable about modern capitalism, and remembers the time Jeffrey Epstein tried and failed to make friends with him. Katy tells the inside story of her interview with Peter Mandelson.
Also, what can we expect when the Clintons testify to the Epstein investigation? And what does President Trump mean when he says "nationalise the vote"?
Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times
Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, 04 Feb 2026 - 28min - 1352 - How the Mandelson scandal threatens Starmer
The extraordinary emails between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein could constitute the biggest scandal since the Profumo affair. Lord Mandelson has quit the Lords but it's a bit more complicated than that, and the prime minister still has a lot of firefighting to do.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 03 Feb 2026 - 30min - 1351 - Bonus episode: Flying to China with the PM
Bonus episode.
Join Caroline and Steve on the plane with the prime minister. Why did he end speaking to journalists from a loo? What's it like to travel with a PM? And how can Starmer balance concerns about espionage and human rights with the UK's business interests?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 - 19min - 1350 - Lose this by-election and all hell breaks loose
We reveal what MPs are saying about the decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. It creates a new D-Day for Keir Starmer: 26th February.
On Labour's left wing, it's Operation Stop Streeting.
Meanwhile, the prime minister's off to China but can he make the case to voters that getting closer to China will make everyone feel better off?
And Gabriel reveals something startling about Starmer's recent phone call with Donald Trump.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 - 35min - 1349 - Widespread bafflement and anger
The extraordinary tale of how the Chagos deal went down in Number 10.
Plus, how long can Keir Starmer maintain his softly, softly approach to Donald Trump?
With the news that China's mega embassy has been approved, we hear about Gabriel's attempts to get his hands on a note sent by Boris Johnson to the Chinese embassy. And who else is heading into the arms of Reform UK?
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 20 Jan 2026 - 35min - 1348 - No one likes us, we don't care
Keir Starmer's sending mixed messages to his MPs: warm words but ice cold briefings about any leadership machinations. Can the two positions co-exist?
Gabriel gives the inside story of the scoop that could lead to the departure of West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford.
And has Reform hit a ceiling?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 13 Jan 2026 - 37min - 1347 - Starmer, Farage and your monthly bills
Starmer wants to win over voters on the cost of living but can he make a convincing case, especially when Nigel Farage is planning to campaign on the same issue? Meanwhile the mood in the Labour Party remains bleak. Will Wes Streeting move against Keir Starmer? It surely can’t go on like this…or can it? Plus, in a new world order, there’s only so long you can sit on the fence.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 06 Jan 2026 - 31min - 1346 - Get ready for a wild year in Westminster
Hold onto your hats for a year that promises plenty of political drama.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 30 Dec 2025 - 30min - 1345 - The State of It's Christmas Awards
Political moment of the year? Civil war of the year? And who or what gets The Actual State of It Award? 2025 offered rich pickings for our inaugural Christmas awards.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 23 Dec 2025 - 33min - 1344 - Who will move first: Streeting or Burnham?
Senior Labour figures say a challenge to Keir Starmer's leadership could come as early as next month. But who will move first? Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner are all on manoeuvres.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 16 Dec 2025 - 29min - 1343 - Angela Rayner's main character energy
Angela Rayner turned down a chance to appear on I'm a Celebritybecause she wasn't done with politics. Will she return to cabinet or make a bid for the leadership herself? Patrick has been told what she really thinks of the idea of a pact with Wes Streeting.
Also, Keir Starmer's plan for turning things around – and the bear traps on the path ahead.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Clips: The Liz Truss Show
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 09 Dec 2025 - 35min - 1342 - The stench of decay coming from Downing Street
The budget gave Labour MPs a lift but for how long? They're already getting uneasy, and some members of the cabinet are so cross that they're proactively ringing The Times. Also, Patrick reminisces about his weekend at the Your Party conference...and Brexit makes a comeback.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 02 Dec 2025 - 28min - 1341 - Bonus Episode: Labour's economics-free budget
The dust has settled on Rachel Reeves’s budget. What does it really mean for the country? Is there any real economics behind it? And is it politically fatal for Labour? Tune in to our bonus episode recorded live in Westminster.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Fraser Nelson, columnist, The Times
Mehreen Khan, economics editor, The Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 - 28min - 1340 - Starmer and Reeves's reverse Midas touch
Rachel Reeves may have appeased Labour MPs but at what cost? We exclusively reveal just how bad relations are between Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. We also discuss whether recent allegations against Nigel Farage are a big problem for him, and the political fall-out from Gabriel's story that West Midlands Police acted on false intelligence when they banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from an Aston Villa game.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Clips: Times Radio
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 25 Nov 2025 - 31min - 1339 - Mahmood vs the liberal luminaries
Shabana Mahmood brings Blue Labour values to the Home Office, but can the human rights lawyer in Keir Starmer hold the line? Also, after last week's episode unleashed chaos in Westminster, we look at the anatomy of a briefing war and the chancellor's sudden u-turn on income tax. And today's scoop: how the Corbynite left is eating itself while Zack Polanski is eating their lunch.
Warning: offensive language
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Clips: Parliament Live, Times Radio
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 18 Nov 2025 - 39min - 1338 - Have a go if you think you're hard enough
We reveal how the prime minister intends to fight a leadership challenge that he now sees as inevitable. Meanwhile the chancellor plans to scrap the two-child benefit cap to appease some Labour MPs, even though there are no votes in it. And why are phrases like 'carpet bombing' and 'harassment' being applied to Steve's reporting style?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 11 Nov 2025 - 33min - 1337 - If you're going to raise taxes, why not just say so?
Before the election, Rachel Reeves said she wasn't going to raise taxes on working people. Well, guess what? It looks like that's exactly what she's about to do. We reveal the measures the treasury is considering. And even the Labour whips are talking about a spring leadership challenge. Could a former leader make a comeback? And is Keir Starmer's Terminator demeanour helping or hindering him?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 04 Nov 2025 - 34min - 1336 - Has Starmer gone woke?
In this half-term special, Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire tackle the week’s heavyweight political stories. Gabriel lifts the lid on a capital S scoop from his morning's round of whatsapping, and Patrick explores what Plaid Cymru’s triumph in Caerphilly means for Labour and Reform? And has Keir Starmer really gone woke?
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 28 Oct 2025 - 31min - 1335 - The tepid bath of managed decline
A two-scoop episode. We reveal one of the controversial measures coming in next month's budget. And there's trouble ahead for the UK's most senior official. Both stories raise questions about the government's grip on the levers of power.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 21 Oct 2025 - 34min - 1334 - Is that a dungeon you're planning?
Is Tony Blair his own nation state? Did the security minister mislead the House? And what's lurking in the basement of the proposed Chinese embassy? We also hear about Patrick's road trip with Nigel Farage and why the Speaker rang Caroline to say "hello, Mrs Angry".
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
Picture credit: Getty Images
Audio credit: 1942 British Council Film Collection
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, 15 Oct 2025 - 35min - 1333 - Badenoch woos WhatsApp plotters
We have details about a secret WhatsApp group of MPs who are tempted to move against Kemi Badenoch sooner rather than later. At the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, there's plenty of manoeuvring and existential angst, and you can also hear Patrick Maguire singing along to Tiffany at a 100th birthday disco for Margaret Thatcher.
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 - 36min - 1332 - What ministers won't say in public
Welcome to The State of It, coming to you from Liverpool where the Labour Party is finishing its annual conference. Keir Starmer's team seem happy after his leader's speech, but what are his MPs really saying about him? Was he wise to call Nigel Farage a racist? How will Rachel Reeves balance the books in November's budget? Oh, and which cabinet ministers excelled at last night's karaoke?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, 01 Oct 2025 - 40min - 1331 - Introducing...The State of It
Real reporting from the coalface of British politics. Join The Times and The Sunday Times’s political heavyweights Steven Swinford, Caroline Wheeler, Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund as they give you the latest tea room tip offs, reveal insider conversations and bring analysis, authority and insight.
No party loyalty. No spin. Not hosted by some old politicians. Taking you into the real business of politics, as only those who live it can.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, 23 Sep 2025 - 1min
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