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Talking Politics
Political Editor Robert Peston and News At Ten Anchor Tom Bradby discuss and debate all the key talking points of the political week. You can watch every episode on YouTube, ITVX and Spotify and listen on every podcast platform, including https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-politics/id1724952808 (Apple Podcasts). Hit subscribe on any platform to ensure you don't miss an episode.
- 238 - Is the UK defenceless against 'killer' AI?
Could AI really 'kill us all' by the end of the decade?
That was the claim of a resigning researcher at AI giant Anthropic, which has caught the world's attention.
Jacob Coxon said Anthropic, the company behind AI assistant Claude, was "racing straight to self-improving superintelligence" and "gambling" with the lives of humanity as a result.
So are the explosive claims and others like it genuine or just a hyperbolic marketing strategy?
On Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss that and what power the UK government has to force regulation on a global industry dominated by the US and China.
Having followed the technology's development and its political implications closely for many years, Robert also explains what the realistic threats are and why both the US and China have been reluctant to regulate until now.
Wed, 16 Sep 2026 - 25min - 237 - Did Green Party threat influence West Bank sanctions?
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has announced counter sanctions following the UK government's decision to ban imports from illegal settlements in the West Bank.
On Talking Politics, Robert Peston and Daniel Hewitt discuss the timing of the decision, whether it has been driven by Labour Party politics and if it will actually help keep the possiblity of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine alive.
Wed, 09 Sep 2026 - 30min - 236 - Can Burnham stop the UK heading for another financial crash?
The autumn Budget is looming, but rising borrowing costs could already be eating into Andy Burnham’s financial headroom. With the money available to deliver the 'radical' agenda he promised shrinking, the new PM and his Chancellor face tough choices: tax rises or spending cuts.
Can Burnham make those difficult choices and take on some of Labour’s most politically sensitive commitments, including the welfare bill and the pension triple lock, or will his tendency to ‘people please’ hold him back?
And with war in Iran continuing, driving up oil prices and impacting the health of the global economy, is Burnham’s biggest challenge the markets rather than his own MPs?
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss on this week's Talking Politics.
Wed, 02 Sep 2026 - 26min - 235 - Is the 'Burnham bounce' over - or here to stay?
Andy Burnham has only been prime minister for a little over two weeks - but has already made an impression with his very different style of leadership to Sir Keir Starmer and raft of policies relating to the cost of living, social care, and more.
He appears to have initially benefited from a bounce in the opinion polls, leading to some speculation about whether he will call an early general election.
But how much of his plans actually stand up to scrutiny - particularly his proposals for devolution? And is the 'Burnham bounce' real or, with unfavourable headlines on the prisoner early release scheme dominating this week, is the honeymoon period already over?
And does it give Reform UK and Nigel Farage the chance to bounce back?
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss on this week's Talking Politics.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 - 29min - 234 - Burnham backs off income tax change - so what is he planning next?
Andy Burnham has kicked off his 'cost of living' government with a flurry of announcements - starting with removing VAT from household energy bills and restoring the £2 cap on bus fares in England. But he has already rowed back on a potential rise in the tax-free personal allowance.
On Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston ask whether support is really being targeted towards those who most need it and whether it is ambitious enough to turn the country around. They also discuss his promise to end to factionalism, which coincided with a purge of the Starmerites.
Tom also asks Robert to explain exactly what 'war bonds' are and whether some creative government accounting could actually help solve the defence funding dilemma. Plus Robert analyses what the abolishment of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology means for AI in the UK.
Wed, 22 Jul 2026 - 32min - 233 - Can Andy Burnham bring down the cost of living?
Andy Burnham is finally Prime Minister - so from bus fares to energy bills, what could it mean for you? Could a rise in the top rate of tax be on the cards, despite Labour's manifesto commitment?
On Talking Politics, Robert Peston and Tom Bradby discuss what he can to do to address the top priority of making life more affordable for people up and down the country.
Mon, 20 Jul 2026 - 09min - 232 - Has Andy Burnham vetoed Miliband as his Chancellor?
Andy Burnham is just days from entering Number 10 - but what do we know about who will be in his top team?
In Talking Politics this week, Tom and Robert discuss who would be the best pick for Chancellor, and whether Ed Miliband’s Treasury dreams are over.
They break down what the handover of power will look like over the next few days, and how it could be impacted by the World Cup…
Tom and Robert also finish by reflecting on what the shocking murder of Ann Widdecombe could mean for British politics.
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 - 28min - 231 - Could Farage's by-election backfire?
Nigel Farage has sent shockwaves through Westminster as he announced he would stand down as an MP but then contest the seat at the by-election.
Is it all a stunt to distract from scrutiny over his financial support as opposition parties say?
On this weeks’ Talking Politics, Robert is joined by ITV News Political Correspondent Harry Horton to discuss what this means for Farage’s political future.
Labour say the saga is a ‘circus’, while the Tories accuse Farage of having a ‘hissy fit’.
Robert and Harry discuss whether Count Binface could finally make it to Parliament, and whether Farage will come out of all of this looking ‘silly’.
Tue, 07 Jul 2026 - 18min - 230 - Will Burnham have to put up taxes?
Andy Burnham is headed for Downing Street and could be Prime Minister in just three weeks. But can he really deliver his bold vision without putting up taxes?
In this episode of Talking Politics, Robert is joined by Harry Horton, fresh from Burnham's major speech in Manchester, to unpack his economic blueprint.
From the promise to build more council homes to bringing essential services like energy and water back under public control, they explore Burnham's big ideas, his plans for a "Number 10 of the North", and ask: how will he pay for it?
In the second half of the episode, Robert speaks to Carl Dinnen about another looming financial headache: Keir Starmer's Defence Investment Plan has exposed a £4.7 billion funding gap. If Burnham takes the keys to Number 10, how can he plug that hole while delivering his own ambitious programme for change?
Wed, 01 Jul 2026 - 30min - 229 - Who would be Burnham's chancellor?
Andy Burnham is on track to become Britain’s next prime minister, but we don’t yet know who he’ll pick as chancellor.
Could it be Ed Miliband, or would he spook the markets? Perhaps Yvette Cooper is a safe pair of hands, or could Wes Streeting get the keys to Number 11 despite his “brazen disloyalty” to his last boss?
On this week’s Talking Politics, Tom and Robert ask what a Burnham government could look like, and break down what his major policy changes could be.
Plus, Peston gives his advice to the next PM on welfare, defence and the pension triple lock.
Contains mild language.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 32min - 228 - Starmer resigns but what could go wrong for Burnham?
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston are in Downing Street to discuss Keir Starmer's resignation, after he set a timetable for his departure as PM.
Newly elected MP Andy Burnham has confirmed he will run to replace him as Labour leader.
Tom and Robert break down what went so wrong for Starmer, less than two years after his landslide election win, and what obstacles could be in Burnham's way.
Mon, 22 Jun 2026 - 19min - 227 - 'Burnham will be our next PM' - so what happens now?
Andy Burnham’s big Makerfield by-election victory is set to reshape British politics as we know it.
So what happens next?
In this special Talking Politics episode, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston are joined by Election Analyst Professor Jane Green from Nuffield College, University of Oxford, to answer the key questions.
Is Britain now waking up to a new prime minister?
What does the Labour vote share in Makerfield tell us about potential voting in a General Election?
Would Andy Burnham definitely perform better than Sir Keir Starmer?
Could he call a General Election once he's prime minister?
What does it mean for Reform’s chances at a national level?
Are the Conservatives still in the picture?
And is electoral reform now inevitable?
Fri, 19 Jun 2026 - 32min - 226 - Starmer's post-Makerfield plan for Burnham and survival
Ahead of one of history’s most consequential by-elections this week, Keir Starmer has revealed how he plans to persuade Andy Burnham not to launch a leadership challenge.
In this week’s Talking Politics, Robert joins Tom from Evian in France where Starmer is meeting world leaders at the G7 summit - in what could be his last foreign trip as PM.
As voters in Makerfield prepare to head to the polls on Thursday, Robert explains why Starmer’s strategy to stay in Number 10 if Burnham wins the by-election is “almost emotional blackmail”.
And: find out what Robert thinks the PM and Millwall Football Club have in common…
Full list of candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election:
Jake Austin, Liberal Democrats
Count Binface, Count Binface Party
Andy Burnham, Labour Party
Dan Clarke, Libertarian Party
John Alfred Dyer, Independent
Ed Gemmell, Climate Party
Paul Richard Gould, Independent
Alan 'Howlin' Laud Hope, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Robert Kenyon, Reform UK
Robert Pownall, Independent
Rebecca Shepherd, Restore Britain
Sarah Wakefield, Green Party
Peter Ward, Rejoin EU
Wed, 17 Jun 2026 - 19min - 225 - Why John Healey's resignation is 'devastating' for Keir Starmer
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss Defence Secretary John Healey's resignation, after a row with the prime minister over military spending, in which he accused Keir Starmer of making the country "less safe".
He wrote to the PM to resign with "great regret and reluctance", citing disagreements about defence spending ahead of the release of the delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP).
Tom and Robert reflect on why this resignation is particularly damaging for Keir Starmer and whether his position is now beyond saving.
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Contains mild language.
Thu, 11 Jun 2026 - 20min - 224 - Belfast riots: How our broken asylum system continues to fuel unrest
Tom and Robert are joined by Northern Ireland Reporter Stewart Robson following a night of violence and unrest in Belfast after Monday's stabbing attack.
Stewart shares what he witnessed on the ground, describing a "real determination from some people to make it as dangerous as possible", and outlines the latest developments in the case - as the politicans, police and the victim's family call for calm".
Tom and Robert unpack how the economic reality is fuelling anti-immigrant sentiment, discuss why successive Governments have struggled to control immigration, and look at whether opposing parties and their plans to fix the problems have any hope of success.
Wed, 10 Jun 2026 - 31min - 223 - Henry Nowak murder: 'Incompetence' or 'two-tier policing'?
The murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton last year has sparked national outrage and accusations from Nigel Farage of “two-tier policing”.
But is there any evidence to suggest police are treating people differently based on their ethnicity, or was this just a case of “grotesque police incompetence”?
On this week’s episode of Talking Politics, Tom and Robert react to the disturbing bodycam footage from the scene and examine how a tragic murder became a national political flashpoint.
They also discuss Farage’s intervention in the case, the family's repeated calls for calm, and why he chose to speak out on the issue after weeks of avoiding media scrutiny.
Wed, 03 Jun 2026 - 34min - 222 - How embarrassing are new Mandelson files for Labour?
A new tranche of files have been released today relating to the appointment of disgraced peer Lord Mandelson as US ambassador. But what do they include, and how embarrassing are they for Keir Starmer and his government?
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss what’s included in the documents - from private messages between senior Labour figures, to Mandelson telling David Lammy that the government would "never regret" his appointment as ambassador, and Pat McFadden’s criticism of the PM.
Mandelson has said he regrets his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, denies criminality, and says his priority is to cooperate with the police and clear his name.
Mon, 01 Jun 2026 - 25min - 221 - Andy Burnham is in but can he win?
Tom and Robert are joined by ITV News Investigations Editor Daniel Hewitt following his exclusive interview with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Burnham is hoping to return to Westminster by winning the Makerfield by-election - a move already fuelling excitement among his supporters that he could become Labour leader, and even Prime Minister, by the summer.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s other main challenger, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, has confirmed he would stand in any future leadership contest. He’s also thrown his weight behind rejoining the EU, putting Brexit firmly back on the political agenda.
With Nigel Farage’s Reform UK surging in the local elections, would changing leader prove Labour has completely "lost its mind", or could this finally be Burnham’s moment?
Mon, 18 May 2026 - 22min - 220 - Keir Starmer: Is the coup over?
Keir Starmer is battling to stay in post and after a pivotal cabinet meeting, Tom and Robert are in Downing Street to gauge the mood of ministers.
All eyes are now on his main challenger threat, Wes Streeting. With his backers already making moves to oust the PM - will the Health Secretary act?
Meanwhile, with Andy Burnham seen on a train to London, will he take the risk of mounting a leaderhip challenge, despite the Mayor of Greater Manchester not having a seat in Parliament?
Tue, 12 May 2026 - 19min - 219 - Can Keir Starmer survive this week as PM?
Is it too little, too late for the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer?
That's the opinion of Labour MP Catherine West when describing Starmer's speech on Monday, as he fought to save his job following a bruising set of local election results and subsequent calls for his resignation.
On this week's Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston look at whether there is a future for Starmer as PM.
Describing Friday's local election results as tough, Starmer claimed the country was facing both "dangerous times" and "dangerous opponents".
"If we don't get this right, our country will go down a very dark path," claimed the PM.
"I know people are frustrated by the state of Britain, frustrated by politics, and some people, frustrated with me," said Starmer.
"I know I have my doubters, I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will."
Over the weekend, Labour MP Catherine West spoke out, issuing an ultimatum that if a member of the cabinet had not challenged Starmer over the leadership by Monday, she would gather the 81 signatures to launch one herself.
Her most recent words appear to back down on this, but still build momentum on pressuring the PM to depart.
Ms West said she is gathering the names of Labour MPs to call on Sir Keir Starmer to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September.
Mon, 11 May 2026 - 33min - 218 - Election results: Has Reform replaced the Tories as the party of the right?
With huge gains across England's council elections, has Nigel Farage's Reform UK become the main party of the right - or is it too soon to right the Conservatives off?
On Talking Politics Tom Bradby and Robert Peston break down the results with ITV News Elections Analyst Professor Colin Rallings and Professor Jane Green from Nuffield College, University of Oxford.
How much further can Reform go and on a massive day for Plaid Cymru and the SNP - what do results across England, Wales and Scotland mean for Labour and the future of the UK?
Fri, 08 May 2026 - 30min - 217 - How Reform could cause an 'earthquake' in May elections
It’s going to be a seismic week for British politics, as millions of voters head to the polls across England, Scotland and Wales.
In this episode of Talking Politics, Tom and Robert are joined by ITV News Elections Analyst Colin Rallings, to unpack what’s at stake in the crucial May elections.
They break down the key councils in England to watch out for, and look at why devolved contests in Scotland and Wales could lead to the break-up of the UK. Plus - has Farage’s Reform party peaked, or could they still engulf the Conservative Party?
And why could a hostile leadership contest after the elections mean people never vote Labour again?
Wed, 06 May 2026 - 27min - 216 - McSweeney in the spotlight: new Mandelson evidence deepens crisis for PM
Keir Starmer has faced yet another day of scrutiny over his “disastrous” choice of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador.
On Talking Politics, Robert and Tom unpack why evidence from ex-foreign office official Philip Barton and the PM’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney exposed a series of missed opportunities and errors of judgement to stop the Mandelson appointment.
Robert explains why the whole saga shows a “world of surreal madness” at the heart of government, and how it could be “existential” for the PM.
Plus, reaction to yet another embarrassment for Starmer across the pond, as a leaked recording of the current US Ambassador threatens to overshadow the King’s state visit…
Tue, 28 Apr 2026 - 26min - 215 - Starmer v Robbins: Why top official's evidence is 'devastating' for the PM
Keir Starmer is under fresh pressure over his controversial decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador.
Explosive testimony from sacked top Foreign Office official Olly Robbins has revealed there was “constant pressure” from Number 10 to push the appointment through - raising serious questions about how the decision was made.
On Talking Politics, Tom and Robert break down Robbins’ appearance at the Foreign Affairs Committee - and why the decision to sack him seems to have backfired on Starmer.
Was Olly Robbins made a scapegoat? And could this scandal rival the scale of Partygate?
Listen to this week’s episode to find out.
Tue, 21 Apr 2026 - 28min - 214 - 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.
Tue, 14 Apr 2026 - 23min - 213 - 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.
Thu, 09 Apr 2026 - 31min - 212 - 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.
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 - 18min - 211 - 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.
Tue, 24 Mar 2026 - 17min - 210 - 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.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 - 22min - 209 - 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...
Wed, 11 Mar 2026 - 18min - 208 - 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.
Tue, 03 Mar 2026 - 18min - 207 - 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.
Mon, 02 Mar 2026 - 23min - 206 - 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.
Fri, 27 Feb 2026 - 15min - 205 - 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.
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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
Wed, 25 Feb 2026 - 25min - 204 - 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?
Wed, 18 Feb 2026 - 27min - 203 - 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.”
Wed, 11 Feb 2026 - 33min - 202 - 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.
Mon, 09 Feb 2026 - 26min - 201 - 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.
Wed, 04 Feb 2026 - 35min - 200 - 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 reallywent 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 shouldStarmer have handled it instead?
Meanwhile, Robert exclusively reveals why events in Canada could put King Charles's trip to America in jeopardy.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 - 25min - 199 - 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.comMon, 19 Jan 2026 - 26min - 198 - 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.comWed, 14 Jan 2026 - 26min - 197 - 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.comTue, 13 Jan 2026 - 23min - 196 - 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.comWed, 07 Jan 2026 - 32min - 195 - 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.comWed, 17 Dec 2025 - 32min - 194 - How Trump's new Security Strategy changes EVERYTHING for Britain and Europe
Tom and Robert discuss Trump's National Security Strategy - a 33-page document which sets down in black and white his vision of the world, and which has ramped up anxiety across Europe. In it, the threat of aggression from Russia and President Putin are all but disregarded - no wonder Moscow says it's 'largely consistent' with their own vision for global affairs. There's also little attention paid to the threat from China; instead, it's Britain and the EU who come under fire, as it warns of "civilisational erasure" as a result of immigration. What can Britain, and its European allies, do as the United States appears to take another step away from them? And how grave are the implications of this new Strategy for Ukraine?
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 10 Dec 2025 - 30min - 193 - Inside the Reeves-OBR Budget 'shambles' as Chancellor faces calls to resign
Warning: This episode contains some discussion of racist language which listeners may find distressing.
A week on from Rachel Reeves' Budget, Paul Brand and Robert Peston take stock of the extraordinary row between the Treasury, the Chancellor, and the OBR over who knew and said what about the public finances in the preceding weeks.
Robert says it's the result of one of the 'biggest shambles in terms of Budget preparation' that he can recall. But has the Chancellor ridden out the storm - or could she still have to resign?
Also: A former classmate of Nigel Farage has alleged the Reform UK leader racially "tormented" him when they were at school together. Farage says the claims are 'categorically' untrue - but how politically damaging could they be for him?
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 03 Dec 2025 - 31min - 192 - Will Budget tax rises and delay tactics come back to haunt Rachel Reeves?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has finally revealed her Budget plans, albeit after the Office for Budget Responsibility published them first, by mistake.
But will tax rise upon tax rise win over doubting voters - or will her tactic to delay many of the key measures coming in return to haunt Labour?
In Talking Politics, Paul Brand and Robert Peston are joined by Professor Jane Green, director of the Nuffield Politics Research Centre, to pick apart the Budget strategy.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 26 Nov 2025 - 36min - 191 - Starmer claims his government has restored respect in politics
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has told ITV News his government has restored respect to politics since coming into power.
When he came into Downing Street in July 2024, Starmer promised to "restore honesty and integrity to government”.
However, since then, it's fair to say it's been a stormy ride for him and the Labour Party.
Shortly after becoming prime minister, he attracted attention for the scale of the gifts he had been receiving, and more recently in September his deputy Angela Rayner resigned after breaking the ministerial code.
When asked if he could "hand on heart" say that his government had restored respect to politics, Starmer answered, "yes".
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comFri, 21 Nov 2025 - 11min - 190 - The tax rises we predict will be in the Chancellor's Budget
After months of furious speculation, briefing, leaking, and U-turning, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves is finalising her all-important second Budget.
It now looks like the rates of income tax won't rise after all - but, as Robert explains, there is a more hidden 'tax' on income that will affect millions of British workers and raise billions of pounds.
How will it all affect you, and how will it affect the Prime Minister's job security?
And what was the thinking behind the unusually family-focused video he posted on social media on International Men's Day?
Is it a sign that he's changing his style of leadership?
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 19 Nov 2025 - 27min - 189 - Home Sec Shabana Mahmood: 'Illegal migration is tearing our country apart'
It is about to get a lot harder to claim asylum in Britain.
The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced significant changes to the UK's immigration system - the biggest, the government claims, of the modern era. She insists they will 'unite a divided country', but denies playing a political game to gain support from Reform voters.
Robert sat down with the Home Secretary to dig into the plans, how they will work in practice, and whether they risk another major rebellion within the Labour party.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 17 Nov 2025 - 13min - 187 - Health Secretary forced to deny he wants the top job after Downing Street rumours swirl
This week on Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston analyse the rumours of a coup to oust Sir Keir Starmer.
In an extraordinary 24 hours, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting is forced to deny on the record that he wants the top job.
And the Prime Minister has had to say he will fight any leadership challenge.
Also, what next for the BBC after the Director General resigns and Donald Trump threatens to sue?
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 12 Nov 2025 - 37min - 186 - Will Budget tax rises WRECK trust in Labour? We asked its deputy leader
Rachel Reeves has, once again, said it without really saying it: Brace yourselves for tax rises.
In an unusual pre-budget speech today, the Chancellor said she would "make the choices necessary” as speculation mounts that she is preparing to raise income tax to help fill a gap in the public finances.
In her first in-depth interview since becoming Labour's deputy leader, Tom and Robert are joined by Lucy Powell to discuss whether the Labour 'brand' could be fatally hurt by this decision - and what it does to public trust in politics.
She says the government must 'tread carefully' when it comes to issues that threaten to undermine public trust.
They also discuss how Labour can turn the tide on Nigel Farage - and why she believes Labour is 'ceding the agenda' to Reform UK.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comTue, 04 Nov 2025 - 43min - 185 - Why Rachel Reeves is likely to raise income tax to fill Budget black holeIn this episode of Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and political editor Robert Peston analyse the Chancellor's dwindling options for her upcoming budget and predict the impact of the decisions she might make.
They discuss how Rachel Reeves will fill that multi-billion-pound hole in the country's finances, whether she will increase income tax despite previous promises not to, and how she can hold onto the country's highest tax bracket.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 29 Oct 2025 - 32min - 184 - David Lammy: We can't let 'hooligans and fascists' appropriate the British flag
Robert is joined by the Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who says he wants his children to feel "confident" in the UK and England flags.
The Deputy PM - and Justice Secretary - claimed the flag was being appropriated by the far-right. He also spoke about a new AI tool being used in the justice system to help transcribe interviews. And he said it was "right" that MPs scrutinise Prince Andrew's living arrangements.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comThu, 23 Oct 2025 - 15min - 183 - Pressure grows on the government to strip Prince Andrew of ALL his titles
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston chat with Lord Simon Case, who has served as right-hand man to both Prince William and four Prime Ministers, as Cabinet Secretary.
They discuss the growing pressure on the government to officially strip Prince Andrew of all his titles, including his Dukedom.
Lord Case also breaks down the threat China poses to the UK and explains why No.10 remains dysfunctional over a year since the general election.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comTue, 21 Oct 2025 - 44min - 182 - UK government used Chinese owned data centre, Cummings tells Peston
Dominic Cummings has disclosed in an exclusive interview with ITV News that government data has been stored on infrastructure owned and controlled by Chinese interests.
He told the Talking Politics podcast that he had been warned about the Chinese ownership in “early 2020”, shortly after becoming chief aide to the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
UK official sources have confirmed to Peston that Global Switch has provided data and communication services to the government.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comFri, 17 Oct 2025 - 32min - 181 - Trump sold peace to the Middle East: but will it last?
Donald Trump has hailed the Gaza ceasefire as a new dawn but what obstacles still stand in the way of lasting peace in the Middle East?
A diplomatic solution has long been sort but the President has a different approach: money. Will he be able to successfully sell the commercial opportunities of peace in the long term?
Robert and Tom also weigh up Tony Blair's potential part in the path to peace, given his history in both Northern Ireland and Iraq.
And Robert explains exactly how the government has entered another crisis over the dropped China spy court case.
Got a question for Tom or Robert? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we’ll look to answer it in our next Talking Politics Q&A episode.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comTue, 14 Oct 2025 - 39min - 180 - The Jenrick 'white faces' race row and Badenoch's stamp duty promise
What's the fallout in the Robert Jenrick 'white faces' row? And will Kemi Badenoch's offer to ditch stamp duty win over voters?
In this Talking Politics, Robert Peston joins Tom Bradby from the Conservative's conference in Manchester to give expert analysis minutes after the Tory leader's speech.
Got a question for Tom or Robert? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we’ll look to answer it in our next Talking Politics Q&A episode.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 08 Oct 2025 - 32min - 179 - 'Coverage of Gaza war inaccurate': Peston interviews Kemi Badenoch | Talking Politics | ITV News
In this special edition of Talking Politics from the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston sits down with the leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch.
They discussed the challenges of anti-semitism and racism in the country, as well as the problems facing the party with the number of councillors deserting to Reform.
The Tory leader criticised the BBC and other media organisations for what she said was ‘inaccurate’ coverage of Israel’s war in Gaza.
And, in response to the controversy surrounding comments made by Robert Jenrick which were seen by many to be ‘racist’, Ms Badenoch defended the shadow justice secretary, saying his words were ‘taken out of context’.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comTue, 07 Oct 2025 - 08min - 178 - 'This is the fight of our times': Peston interviews the Prime Minister
For this special edition of Talking Politics, Peston sits down with Sir Keir Starmer for a one-on-one interview right after a well-received speech at the Labour conference, in which he spent much - if not most - of his time taking aim at Nigel Farage.
The Prime Minister claimed the next election will be a battle between Reform and the Labour Party, describing it as "the fight of our times" - and said it would be a "mistake" to ignore the threat Reform posed, dismissing claims he was fueling the fire by making Farage the focus of his attacks.
Peston also asks him - after the many bruising experiences of late - whether he ever thinks about packing it all in and handing the job over to someone else.
All episodes of Talking Politics are also available to watch on the ITV News YouTube channel and ITVX.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 01 Oct 2025 - 10min - 177 - Starmer attacks Farage - will it help or harm UK's 'least popular' PM?Can Sir Keir Starmer’s vision for a renewed Britain - littered with attacks on Nigel Farage - help reset the prime minister’s own dire standing with the public?
In this special Talking Politics at Labour’s conference in Liverpool, Robert Peston and Tom Bradby react minutes after the PM’s keynote speech.
And after a poll revealed Starmer is the least popular PM since records began, can the vision for growth he set out to a supportive flag-waving audience of Labour members help restore voter confidence in his government outside the conference hall?
Or could his repeat scripted jibes at the Reform UK leader play into his rival’s hands?
Got a question for Tom or Robert? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we’ll look to answer it in our next Talking Politics Q&A episode.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comTue, 30 Sep 2025 - 25min - 176 - Exclusive: Hugh Grant says hacking victims have been ‘personally betrayed’ by Sir Keir Starmer
In an exclusive interview Talking Politics, actor and campaigner Hugh Grant said he feels let down by the Labour government.
He claims the Prime Minister had promised hacking victims that they would introduce a new law bringing tougher regulations for British newspapers while in opposition.
But Mr Grant says they feel “personally betrayed” by seeing the PM forging close relationships with major publishers.
The Hollywood star, who was the victim of press intrusion himself, has campaigned on behalf of hacking claimants since 2011, as part of the group Hacked Off.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 29 Sep 2025 - 25min - 175 - Rachel Reeves’ £30bn tax rise NIGHTMARE
The Treasury is expecting £30 billion tax rises in November’s Budget - so how will chancellor Rachel Reeves fund that without breaking her spending rules?
In Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston look at her possible solutions and why the next moves represent a nightmare for the chancellor.
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage claims Reform would save Britain billions cracking down on legal migration by removing the indefinite leave to remain for many who have made Britain home.
And while the controversial immigration policy’s funding plan has been widely questioned - could it add up to another voting win for Reform?
Plus, what does the freedom of speech row that took Jimmy Kimmel off air for a few days tell us about the Trump regime? And how has Robert’s question to the US president captured the imagination of Jon Stewart and the makers of Diaper Diplomacy?
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comTue, 23 Sep 2025 - 43min - 174 - Special episode: Robert grills Ed Davey on immigration, windfall taxes and why he thinks Elon Musk is running a criminal enterprise
In this special interview for Talking Politics and the Peston show, Robert Peston speaks to Sir Ed Davey from the Lib Dem party conference.
The pair discuss the surge in right-wing politics, whether windfall taxes on banks would choke economic growth and why the Lib Dem leader thinks Elon Musk is running a criminal enterprise.
You can watch the interview on the latest episode of Peston on Monday night and on ITVX thereafter.
Got a question for Robert and Tom? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 22 Sep 2025 - 13min - 173 - President Trump's state visit: Has Starmer's 'kowtowing' paid off?
Tom Bradby is joined by Political Editor Robert Peston and US Correspondent Dan Rivers from the Prime Minister's country residence Chequers, where he has just survived a press conference alongside the US President. Has Sir Keir Starmer, in spite all of his difficulties on the domestic front, played it perfectly with the world's most powerful man - and as a result, bagged billions upon billions of investment from some of America's top companies?
Plus, Tom and Dan discuss: After his day at Windsor Castle, why is it that Donald Trump seems to love and respect King Charles and the Royal Family so much?
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comThu, 18 Sep 2025 - 25min - 172 - Starmer’s leadership crisis worsens: How much trouble is he in?
He's already lost his deputy Angela Rayner, the questions are mounting over Peter Mandelson’s disastrous appointment, and now one of Keir Starmer's top aides Paul Ovenden has been forced to quit after an ITV News exclusive revealed his own shocking private messages.
So how will the PM navigate the deepening leadership crisis without one of his key strategists?
In Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston are joined by our Political Correspondent Shehab Khan, who exposed the PM’s aide's sickening messages about Diane Abbott, to assess the fallout from the story.
Tom and Robert then discuss the looming threat to Starmer's position as he prepares to host Donald Trump's state visit and the emboldening of the far-right movement in the UK and US in the wake of the assassination of pro-Trump activist Charlie Kirk.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comTue, 16 Sep 2025 - 39min - 171 - Q&A: Does Angela Rayner deserve a pay off after resigning?
Should ministers like Angela Rayner get thousands of pounds in severance pay if they resign?
Will Rayner's resignation trigger more investigations into politicians and government officials to see what claims they’re making that they shouldn’t?Could Keir Starmer ever take Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights?How can we have a Deputy PM in David Lammy who openly backs claims for reparations into the billions regarding slavery in the past?And after 10 years of social media churning ‘politics’ for entertainment, can it ever now stop being a soap opera?
In this Q&A Tom Bradby and Robert Peston answer that audience question and more, including:
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comFri, 12 Sep 2025 - 21min - 170 - Mandelson sacked over Epstein revelations: Reaction and analysis
Keir Starmer has sacked Peter Mandelson as Britain's UK ambassador to the US following the release of more damaging emails he sent to Jeffrey Epstein.
In this emergency episode of Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston react to the continued fallout after the bombshell birthday book revelations and assess the damage to the prime minister and the Labour government.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comThu, 11 Sep 2025 - 20min - 169 - Why the Mandelson-Epstein birthday book revelations are CATASTROPHIC for Keir Starmer
The Jeffrey Epstein birthday book revelations have further implicated Donald Trump and Bill Clinton and forced a grovelling apology from the UK Ambassador to the US’s Peter Mandelson.
In Talking Politics, Robert Peston and Tom Bradby examine why Mandelson’s past letters to the convicted paedophile financier - released now by a US congressional committee - are so catastrophic for Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The duo analyse how Kemi Badenoch used the issue to finally dominate at PMQs, compare Mandelson’s precarious political predicament with Angela Rayner’s recent resignation over unpaid stamp duty and discuss the other biggest headaches facing Starmer heading into Autumn’s Budget, including why tax rises are now inevitable.Got a question for Tom and Robert?
Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we’ll answer it in our weekly Talking Politics Q&A show
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 10 Sep 2025 - 35min - 168 - Angela Rayner OUT, Farage gloating: Is Starmer more vulnerable than ever?
After a momentous day in British politics, Julie Etchingham is joined by Political Editor Robert Peston and Political Correspondent Harry Horton who is at the Reform UK conference in Birmingham.
Angela Rayner finally fell on her sword, triggering a major reshuffle of Starmer's top team. David Lammy is stepping up as his deputy, Yvette Cooper becomes Foreign Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood fills in as Home Secretary. Is that the end of the chaos in Westminster for now - or is it just beginning?
Meanwhile, Harry Horton joins us from Birmingham where Nigel Farage kicked off Reform UK's biggest-ever conference in high spirits. He talks us through some of the familiar faces there, and why party members see it as a watershed moment for their movement.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comFri, 05 Sep 2025 - 24min - 167 - Q&A: When did politicians STOP answering the question? Is this year Rachel Reeves’ last chance to fix the economy?
In this Q&A Tom Bradby and Robert Peston answer some of our audience’s burning questions, namely:
When did politicians first stop answering the question? And what are your strategies to make them answer it?The cost of living crisis is getting worse and Rachel Reeves appears clueless to fix it. So is this Autumn now her last chance?If Britain is broke, why do we need to give money to wealthy pensioners?Got a question for the team? Email us on talkingpolitics@itv.com or comment on our social media posts.
You can catch up with the latest episode of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 03 Sep 2025 - 26min - 166 - Why is Nigel Farage rowing back on his party's immigration policies?
In this special episode of Talking Politics, Tom Bradby is joined by Scotland Correspondent Peter Smith to discuss Reform, immigration and Nigel Farage’s latest ‘flip-flop’.
Why did Mr Farage today change his tune on his party’s immigration policy for women and children, after saying at a press conference just yesterday that ‘absolutely anyone’ who comes here illegally will be detained and deported? How do Reform’s immigration policies in general hold up to scrutiny? And why could tackling the small boats crisis determine which party wins the next general election?
You can catch up with the latest episode of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube, or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we'll answer them on our Talking Politics Q&A show.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 27 Aug 2025 - 24min - 165 - Why did the UK side with the 'tech bros' over Britain's creatives in AI battle?
In this special episode of Talking Politics, Film director turned Member of the House of Lords Baroness Beeban Kidron exclusively tells ITV News why she thinks the government is pushing the Artificial Intelligence Bill, and siding with the big tech companies.
She tells us why celebrities like Elton John and Dua Lipa are backing her campaign to stop the government from using copyrighted creative work to train AI and what AI-produced films could mean for the industry.
You can catch up with the latest episode of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube, or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comTue, 26 Aug 2025 - 27min - 164 - Ukraine peace talks at the White House: Has Zelenskyy evaded Putin's 'trap'?
In this emergency episode of Talking Politics, Tom Bradby is joined by Global Security Editor Rohit Kachroo and US Correspondent Dan Rivers to react to the talks hosted by President Trump at the White House today. Is this a major step towards real, lasting peace in Ukraine - or has the difficult part of the discussions only just begun? What will the possible Ukraine-Russia-US meeting have in store - and is there any agreement on territories that will satisfy the different demands of Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy?
You can watch all episodes of Talking Politics on YouTube or the news section of ITVX.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 18 Aug 2025 - 23min - 163 - Nicola Sturgeon's 'searingly personal' interview with Julie Etchingham
In this special episode, Julie Etchingham is joined by ITV News' Scotland Correspondent Peter Smith to discuss her exclusive interview with the former First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon.
Julie reveals how Sturgeon is "lifting the lid" on some deeply personal matters - and Peter explains how the "formidable" politician was one of the few people he would get nervous about interviewing.
They also reflect on some of the biggest moments of her titanic career, such as her relationship with Alex Salmond, her arrest in 2023, her attempt at gender recognition reform and much more.
You can watch 'Nicola Sturgeon: The Interview' on ITVXand on the ITV News YouTube page.
And, you can catch up with the latest episode of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we'll answer them on our Talking Politics Q&A show.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 11 Aug 2025 - 27min - 162 - Q&A: Are the far left finished in UK Politics? What are the chances of a coalition government in 2029?
In this Q&A special Tom Bradby and Robert Peston answer our audience’s questions, namely:
Are the far left finished in UK politics? Or could Jeremy Corbyn’s new party pose a threat to Labour?What are the odds of our next government in 2029 being a coalition?Will Reform end up defeating itself? And could you ever see Nigel Farage leading the Conservatives?Got a question for the team? Email us on talkingpolitics@itv.com or comment on our social media posts.
You can catch up with the latest episode of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 06 Aug 2025 - 17min - 161 - Trump talks at Turnberry: The new deadline set for Russia
On this special edition of Talking Politics, Carl Dinnen joins Tom Bradby from President Trump’s golf course in Turnberry where he hosted Prime Minister Keir Starmer for talks.
Trump’s shifting position on Putin and the new ceasefire deadlineHow well Keir Starmer is handling the UK/US relationship with Trump in powerTrump and Starmer’s positions on the starvation crisis in GazaThe awkward moment Trump reignited his beef with the Mayor of London Sadiq KhanWhy Trump struggled with deflecting questions about his relationship with Jeffrey EpsteinGot a question for our Q&A show? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
Tom asks Carl what it was like being in the room with the two very different leaders and what he made of the issues discussed, including:
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 28 Jul 2025 - 20min - 160 - Why Starmer was EXPOSED in front of MPs | Could Farage really deport prisoners? | Why is the PM's team so secretive?
What’s the problem at the heart of Nigel Farage's new prison pledge? And why was Keir Starmer so unprepared to talk poverty?
With Tom Bradby away, Paul Brand joins Robert Peston to discuss that, plus:
- Why Kemi Badenoch’s reshuffle may have surprised James Cleverly
- Can the PM placate Donald Trump during his golfing holiday in Scotland?
- Why are UK officials - unlike other nations - so reluctant to reveal details of the PM’s movements?
Got a question for our Q&A show? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 23 Jul 2025 - 24min - 159 - Why the Afghan data breach is so unnerving | Britain’s foreign policy FAILS | Trump’s state visit dilemma
Why is the Afghan data breach so unnerving? And why was Keir Starmer kept in the dark by his defence secretary?
Why lessons are still to be learned from Britain's past foreign policy failingsHow Keir Starmer and Donald Trump might have approached the Blair-Bush Iraq conflictThe US President’s changing tactics in dealing with Vladimir PutinWhy Trump and King Charles’ differing visions for the state visit is causing Downing Street kittensGot a question for Tom and Robert? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we'll answer them on our Talking Politics Q&A show.
In this episode of Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss that plus…
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 16 Jul 2025 - 34min - 157 - Q&A: Should Labour target Reform voters?
WATCH the full episode here: https://youtu.be/T2wBEjJcaVQ
Who is the Norman Tebbit of politics today?Is Nigel Farage's £250,000 offer to non-doms to avoid tax good politics?Why does standing in the Mayoral Elections cost £10,000?How can the Lib Dems take advantage of Labour and Tory failings?Got a question for Tom and Robert that you want featured in next week's show?
On this episode of Talking Politics Q&A, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston dig into how moves to court Reform voters will only damage Labour.
Plus, they answer:
Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we'll answer them on our Talking Politics Q&A show.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comFri, 11 Jul 2025 - 26min - 156 - Why we could all be carrying ID cards in new migration controls
What are the flaws in Britain and France’s new effort to control migration and stop the boats?
Why could we all be carrying identity cards before the next election?
Plus what is the difficult economic truth that ALL politicians need to start talking about?
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston reveal all in Talking Politics…
Got a question for Tom and Robert? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we'll answer them on our Talking Politics Q&A show.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 09 Jul 2025 - 47min - 155 - How Trump's reacted to Elon Musk’s new America Party
Another week, another public spat between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. This time it came after billionaire Musk announced he was launching a new party, the America Party, to challenge the Republican and Democratic "Uniparty".But what did Trump have to say about it, and will this feud ever end?
On this week's Talking Politics USA, Tom Bradby and Robert Moore discuss the bromance that’s turned into a bust-up, and where Trump goes from here.
Also on the show, President Trump and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer are very different leaders but are the challenges they face the same and what can they learn from each other?
Want to get in touch? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 09 Jul 2025 - 25min - 154 - Q&A: What's Labour’s next embarrassing U-turn?
WATCH the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg_6UdoB3bM
What's Labour’s next embarrassing U-turn?If Starmer continues to lose the faith of his party and the country, could he be forced to call a general election?The latest opinion polls show Reform slipping to only 2% ahead of Labour, with the Tories 10 points behind. So, is talk of a Labour crisis exaggerated?Why have we seen a rebellion within Labour about welfare reforms, but nothing when it comes to the genocide in Gaza?Got a question for the team? Email us on talkingpolitics@itv.com or comment on our social media posts.
In this Q&A special coinciding with the one-year anniversary of Labour's general election win, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston answer our audience’s questions about the party and the government, namely:
You can catch up with the latest episode of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comFri, 04 Jul 2025 - 19min - 153 - Why tearful Rachel Reeves presents a HUGE problem for Keir Starmer
On this episode of Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston dig into Labour’s governing woes and debate whether Sir Keir Starmer’s chancellor Rachel Reeves will pay the price.
You can catch up with the latest episode of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for Tom and Robert? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we'll answer them on our Talking Politics Q&A show.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 02 Jul 2025 - 36min - 152 - Government's HUGE welfare bill climbdown and where it leaves us - live Q&A and reaction
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston hosted a live question and answer session as rebel Labour MPs dealt Sir Keir Starmer his biggest humiliation yet in government. The prime minister's welfare reform bill passed its second reading in the Commons in the end, but it was watered down so heavily it was barely recognisable from when it was first unveiled. So what happens now to those in receipt of personal independence payments and Universal Credit? And with the government's series of U-turns this week losing them billions of pounds of planned savings, where on earth does Chancellor Rachel Reeves look now to plug the gap?
You can also watch all episodes of Talking Politics on YouTube and ITVX.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comTue, 01 Jul 2025 - 34min - 151 - How Zohran Mamdani won and what it means for the Democrats. Plus a week of wins for Donald "Daddy" Trump
You might not have heard of Zohran Mamdani, but last week he took New York by storm to win the city's Democratic primary, beating establishment figure Andrew Cuomo and put himself within touching distance of becoming the city's next mayor.
So who is he, how did he do it and why do some people view him as so controversial?
On this week's Talking Politics USA, our Washington producer Aisha Kherallah spoke with Tom Bradby about the 33 year old's remarkable rise.
Also on the show, Tom and correspondent Rachel Younger discuss a week of wins for President Trump - aka "The Daddy" - and what it might mean for his grip on power.
Want to get in touch? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 30 Jun 2025 - 29min - 150 - Q&A: Could the UK ever ban the burka? Have you ever seen a politician cry?
WATCH the full episode here: https://youtu.be/KyZqfgQaBgE
Can you ever envisage a UK government banning the burka?Was anti-terror law really written to stop groups like Palestine Action?Is the UK legally obliged to give free accommodation to illegal migrants?Do disaffected Labour voters receive enough media coverage of the Lib Dems and Greens?Have you ever seen a politician cry?Got a question for the team? Email us on talkingpolitics@itv.com or comment on our social media posts.
In this Q&A special Tom Bradby and Robert Peston answer our audience’s questions, namely:
You can catch up with the latest episode of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comFri, 27 Jun 2025 - 14min - 149 - Has Trump handed Putin the right to strike without impunity?
Has Donald Trump's approach to Iran and Israel empowered Vladimir Putin? Is Britain buying US nukes for the RAF a bad deal? And why is the government in yet another U-turn mess on welfare?
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston talk through all the key political talking points.
Got a question for Tom and Robert? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we'll answer them on our Talking Politics Q&A show.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 25 Jun 2025 - 45min - 148 - What America's strikes on Iran could mean for the region, the UK and the world
On Talking Politics USA this week, Tom Bradby is joined by Robert Peston, Emma Murphy in Iraq and Dan Rivers in Washington to discuss America's strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and the potential consequences for the Middle East and the rest of the world.
The team discuss what Iran might do next, whether President Donald Trump and his administration really want regime change in Iran, and what America's actions tell us about the state of the relationship between the UK and the U.S.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com to make sure we're talking about the issues that matter most to you.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 23 Jun 2025 - 32min - 147 - How will Donald Trump’s actions now affect the next American elections?
In a special edition of Talking Politics USA, Lucy Watson is joined in the studio by Jessica Taylor, election expert and analyst for the Cook Political Report, who joined ITV News on US Election night in 2024 as Donald Trump swept to a second term in the White House. They discuss:
How the growing conflict in the Middle East is splitting the MAGA faithfulWhat impact will Trump's popularity have on next year's midterm electionsAnd the potential frontrunners to lead the Democratics and Republicans in 2028Catch up with the latest episode of Talking Politics USA on ITVX, YouTube or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for the team? Email us on talkingpolitics@itv.com or comment below.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comFri, 20 Jun 2025 - 24min - 146 - Exclusive: Why Kim Leadbeater expects assisted dying vote victory
In a Talking Politics exclusive, the architect of the assisted dying bill Kim Leadbeater joins the podcast as MPs prepare for a crucial vote on the era-defining legislation.
She explains to Paul Brand why she is "positive and optimistic" a majority will support the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in Friday’s defining vote.
And while Health Correspondent Rebecca Barry outlines the concerns from sections of the medical community - and the many unknowns that remain on how assisted dying will be implemented - Kim argues why MPs are ruling on "the most robust assisted dying bill in the world".
Meanwhile, Robert Peston shares his analysis after grilling Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the G7 in Canada on splits among world leaders over the Iran-Israel conflict and the handling of the grooming gangs inquiry.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 18 Jun 2025 - 40min - 145 - What can Trump do about Israel vs Iran? Pete Souza on the power of images. Plus what was the president's military parade like?
This week on Talking Politics USA, we hear from U.S. correspondent Dan Rivers about what influence Donald Trump could have on the developing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Lucy Watson speaks to Pete Souza, the man who was Barack Obama's chief photographer for eight years in the White House and thinks the images from today's administration are more like a "reality show".
And Stacy Foster recalls her whirlwind time covering for Dan in DC - from rushing coast to coast to cover the protests in Los Angeles, to trying to grab a glimpse of President Trump's much-discussed military parade.
Want to get in touch? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 16 Jun 2025 - 31min - 144 - Q&A: What's Starmer achieved as PM? Plus which MP should take a lie detector test?
In this week's Q&A, Paul Brand and Robert Peston answer the political questions that matter to you, including:
What has Keir Starmer achieved since he became PM?What can the government realistically do to bring the cost of living down?Why isn't financial, legal and political education part of the curriculum?Which MP would you pick to take a lie detector test?Catch up with the latest episode of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for the team? Email us on talkingpolitics@itv.com or comment on our social media posts.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comFri, 13 Jun 2025 - 23min - 143 - Will Rachel Reeves’ spending spree pay off? And will her Farage jokes backfire?
In this special edition of Talking Politics, Paul Brand is joined by Political Editor Robert Peston, Economics Editor Joel Hills and Investigations Editor Daniel Hewitt to pour over the key inclusions - and omissions - in Rachel Reeves’s spending review, discussing…
The chancellor's key announcementsThe winners and losers as the austerity era endsWhat the headline announcement on affordable housing means for the country’s housebuilding crisisWhy this is the most significant political moment for this governmentWhere the money has been found for savingsAnd whether Rachel Reeves’s many jokes at Nigel Farage’s expense will backfire on her.Got a question for the team? Email us on talkingpolitics@itv.com or comment on our social media posts.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 11 Jun 2025 - 26min - 142 - Q&A: Trump vs Musk - who will come out on top?
In this week's Talking Politics USA, Lucy Watson, US correspondent Dan Rivers and former White House adviser Laura Schwartz answer your questions, including:
If Elon Musk and Donald Trump continue fighting, who will come out of it worse?What's the difference between Trump's travel ban and his 2017 'Muslim ban'?How effective is Trump's 'Mexican wall' and immigration policies?How can a President who claims to understand business not understand the negative effect from constantly changing tariff arrangements?Why are the Democrats' approval ratings down so low?Is the While House press office just a propaganda machine?Do you have a question you'd like the team to answer? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 09 Jun 2025 - 17min - 141 - The Trump-Musk bromance IMPLODES - is the President in trouble?
Lucy Watson, Dan Rivers, and Laura Schwartz gather for an impromptu bonus episode after relations between the world's richest man and perhaps the world's most powerful man collapsed at lightning speed.
Elon Musk ramped up the row between the pair yesterday after claiming, without evidence, that Trump's administration hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because the president is mentioned in them. He wrote on X: "Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public."
So what on earth just happened? Where did this spat begin? And how damaging could this be to the U.S. President?
The team will be back on Monday with another Q&A session.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comFri, 06 Jun 2025 - 19min - 140 - Trump's Ukraine Envoy on whether US will give up on peace, inside a Putin phone call, and dealing with Trump's character
Keith Kellogg has perhaps the hardest job of all in the Trump administration. The retired general is the US President's Special Envoy for Ukraine, putting him right at the forefront of the American effort to end Russia's invasion - travelling between Washington, Kyiv, Turkey, the Middle East, attempting to reconcile the very, very different demands of Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and an increasingly impatient Donald Trump. And it has not been an easy ride. He was the first American official to meet with Zelensky after Trump called him a 'dictator' back in February; he was just a metre away when the pair later had that extraordinary shouting match in the Oval Office. And this week, he's been tasked with diffusing escalating tensions after Ukraine's audacious drone attack on Russian war planes. So it was quite a moment for our US Correspondent Dan Rivers to sit down with him for an extended interview, to discuss whether there is really ANY path to peace any more, and what it's been like dealing with Donald Trump behind the scenes.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comThu, 05 Jun 2025 - 17min - 139 - Are Robert Jenrick’s video stunts clever or harmful? Plus Rachel Reeves’ next spending challenge
In this episode of Talking Politics, UK Editor Paul Brand and Political Editor Robert Peston evaluate the potential political gain and public damage from Robert Jenrick's recent video stunts.
The pair are then joined by Economics Editor Joel Hills to preview the challenges for Rachel Reeves heading into next week's Spending Review, including whether tax rises could now be unavoidable.
Plus, they dig into why the UK’s recent tariffs arrangement has caused absolute consternation among the country’s biggest food suppliers.
Watch or listen to the latest episode of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube or on your favourite podcast platform.
Got a question for the team? Email us on talkingpolitics@itv.com or comment on our social media posts.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comWed, 04 Jun 2025 - 27min - 138 - Exclusive: Simon Case on why China's Taiwan intent is an enormous threat to the UK
In this special edition of Talking Politics, Robert Peston meets ex-Civil Service chief Simon Case. Sir Simon served four prime ministers as Civil Service chief before standing down as Cabinet secretary in December.
The future of America in EuropeThe struggle of government spending trade-offsThe infamous Truss letter: His side of the story You can watch or listen to more episodes of Talking Politics on ITVX, YouTube or on your favourite podcast platform. Got a question for Robert and the team? Email us on talkingpolitics@itv.com or comment on our social media posts and we’ll feature them in our Q&A special episodes.
In a wide-ranging conversation about the prime minister's plans to significantly invest in the UK's defence capability, including its nuclear deterrent, Sir Simon warned that the UK and West "better be ready" for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Plus:
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comMon, 02 Jun 2025 - 1h 19min - 137 - Meeting the MAGA media at the White House, Musk's farewell & the TACO trend irking Trump
This week on Talking Politics USA, Dan goes behind the scenes at the White House to meet Natalie Winters, co-host of Steve Bannon's 'War Room' and one of the new MAGA media cohort who have been granted greater access by President Donald Trump.
As Elon Musk bids farewell to the White House, Lucy Watson and Laura Schwartz join Dan to discuss whether this really is goodbye to the world's richest man and what his legacy will be.
Plus after Trump goes to war with Harvard, Dan reflects on meeting students at the university and the team discuss the new TACO meme which is ruffling the president's feathers.
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.comTue, 03 Jun 2025 - 36min
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