The News Agents

A 3am call, and a Tory MP talking about a life or death situation in which he was being held captive in a flat.

Amazingly, that wasn't even the weirdest bit. As the day, and the story, unfolded, there were allegations of campaign money donated by Conservative supporters being used to pay for the MP's medical bills and more.

Mark Menzies , Fylde MP, is just - remarkably - the latest in a long line of MPs - both Tory and Labour - who have lost the whip this parliament.

What's going on? Has scandal become easier to detect? Harder to hide? Or is this what the end of every reign starts to feel like?

We talk to the Times journalist who broke the story, Billy Kenber, and to the man whose job at the heart of Downing Street was interfacing between the PM and his MPs' each time scandal broke, Craig Oliver.

Later, whats going on in the West Midlands race? We have exclusive Savanta polling.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producers: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Yes, yes, yes. She crashed the economy, has blamed everyone else, made Britain a laughing stock, inflicted higher mortgage rates on millions of households, and was the shortest serving prime minister in our history. But her 49 days has spawned a 100,000 word book (be thankful she didn’t last ten years - can you imagine how long that book would be?). And it does have a central argument - that Britain has become an administrative state, with civil servants ruling the roost.

Does she have a point? We speak to John McTernan, Tony Blair's former political advisor, and Tom Fletcher, diplomat who's co-authored a report for the UCL Policy Unit on the need for Whitehall reform.

Meanwhile Rishi Sunak is likely to get his Rwanda legislation passed this week. But will getting planes off the ground happen anytime soon?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producers: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

It was a conference that few people here would have ever noticed. Suella, Nigel, Orban - speakers deemed "far right" by the Brussels authorities - found their conference filled with Belgian police as they took to the stage for their NatCon gathering.

The Federal Deputy served a court order on the grounds the conference "endangered public safety" and asked for its immediate closure. Cue great excitement amongst the Nat Conners. They could not be more delighted with this intervention which allowed them to rail - with some justification - against "Belgian democracy".

Has it helped their cause and fuelled their victimhood narrative? Or were police right to act? Later, Rishi wants to ban smoking for anyone born after Jan 1st 2009. Can he? and should he?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producers: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

On Saturday night, Israel warned its citizens to go to a safe room and prepare to spend the night there.

Two hours later, Iran began sending drones into Israeli territory - revenge for the killings of 7 men in the Iranian consulate two weeks ago in Damascus, Syria.

Of the 350 drones, 99 percent were intercepted. Tragically -and miraculously - there was only one reported injury - a 7 year old Israeli bedouin child.

So what happens next? Does Israel retaliate? Or heed it's allies and 'walk away with a win'. We talk to Tim Marshall and Yaakov Katz who know this war well.

Later, Liz Truss tells our colleague Iain Dale she has 'unfinished business'. Is that a sign she's coming back? Her new book is out tomorrow. His interview with her is out tonight. We give you the sneak peak.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producers: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents...

An array of stardust as the likes of legendary jockeyAP McCoy and Team GB icon Denise Lewis joined Gabby & Mark on the podcast.

Is your Premier League club trying to kill off season tickets and is Everton's latest points deduction fair?

Does Seb Coe deserve credit for announcing prize money will be paid to Athletes who win gold at the Olympics - and after terror threats at Champions League games - how will Paris ensure fan safety at the Games this summer?

All this and much more on the Sports Agents over the last seven days.

Here's a little flavour of some of the highlights...

On today's episode, we speak to Europe's first black leader - Vaughan Gething, the new First Minister of Wales. In an extended conversation, we talk his rise to the top of Welsh politics amidst experiences of racism, his political motivations and what is next for Wales if Labour return to power.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producers: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

TW: This episode includes discussions around suicide. If you need someone to talk to, Samaritans listen. Call them on 116 123.

Last week, The National Union of Education voted overwhelmingly at their conference to 'abolish Ofsted' - saying it causes more harm than good and needed urgent and fundamental reform.

They can't, of course, but today we - with your help - are asking if Ofsted is fit for purpose.

We hear from teachers and heads - our listeners - who tell us what needs to change.

We speak to Julia Waters, the sister of Ruth Perry, the Head of Caversham Primary who killed herself in the aftermath of an 'inadequate' rating and inspection, and finally we speak to Ofsted's new head - Sir Martyn Oliver.

Does he think Ofsted has made mistakes? Did he fire anyone following the coroners verdict into Ruth's death? Would he change the one word summary ruling of 'outstanding' down to 'inadequate'.

And how does he reflect upon words and actions of Amanda Spielman, his predecessor at Ofsted - criticised by many teachers for failing to find the right, compassionate tone in the face of that tragedy.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producers: Laura FitzPatrick & Shane Fennelly

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

William Wragg, the MP who found himself blackmailed by a person to whom he'd sent explicit photographs - last night resigned the Conservative party whip.

It means Sunak has lost another MP - Wragg will quit parliament anyway after the next election. He was the victim of a honeytrap which lured him into believing the messages he was receiving from a stranger.

But he was also unwise enough to share colleagues contact details when pressured by his blackmailer. Today we go back to the origins of the honeytrap story with the Politico journalist who broke the story, Aggie Chambre.

Later we look at Sunak's relationship with the voter - as revealed in this morning's LBC interview with various callers. What does it tell us about his campaigning strategy?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

It is a truth near-universally acknowledged (amongst pollsters at least) that Labour will be the largest party at the next election.

But how would they actually differ from the Tories in terms of what they do once in power?

They've pledged not to raise taxes and not to remove the recent cuts. They're determined to be fiscally responsible - which means little room for spending plans.

So what will actually change - at a moment when the country is crying out for repair?

We talk to Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

And - Suella has returned from Israel and come to the LBC studios to share her thoughts on the Middle East and the shape of the Tory party. Does she represent a significant chunk of the country in what she thinks? We discuss.

Oh and Liz Truss was given advice by the Queen - which she ignored...

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Police are re-examining claims Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner may have broken electoral law more than a decade ago by failing to pay a capital gains tax worth around £2000. Is there a real story here? Is it about impropriety? Class? Big money vs. small money? And who’s behind it?

Later author of Autocracy Inc. Anne Applebaum on Donald Trump's plan to “end the Ukraine war“ and why it makes no sense.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week on The Sports Agents, your questions for Gabby & Mark on everything from Olympics predictions, to how the panel on Match of the Day is selected!

Plus, Sky Sports NFL analyst Phoebe Schecter on Louis Rees-Zammit's chances of becoming a regular starter for the reigning Super Bowl champs, after he made the switch from Rugby to NFL.

And a closer look at the 'fractured' state of Golf - a week away from The Masters - with English pros Richard Bland and Laurie Canter on the reality of playing on the controversial breakaway LIV Golf tour.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Ian Hislop, editor of The Private Eye and team captain on Have I Got News For You sits down with Lewis for an extended conversation about political satire in the modern era of the Westminster psychodrama, and what it was like to have contestants like Piers Morgan and Boris Johnson on his show.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

In the early hours of Thursday morning Layla Moran - the only British MP of Palestinian heritage- received news she’d been longing to hear for months.

Her family had finally escape from Gaza. Through perilous crossings and treacherous check points a family of five - including a seventy year old grandmother and two young children- had walked to safety.

As Layla herself recognises their relief is starkly contrasted with the two million others who can’t escape. Today we hear that story.

And we ask why the Lib Dem’s have referred Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron to the ethics adviser over questions of whether he concealed what he knew about the illegality of Israel’s war. We will discuss whether there is a case for government to answer. And where the war in Gaza goes now.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Prime Minister has called the Israeli Prime Minister's actions in Gaza 'increasingly intolerable' in a phone call with Netanyahu after the deaths of three British aid workers in an Israeli airstrike.

The words are tougher than we've seen before.

But the PM is now coming under pressure to end arms sales to Israel. Will he wait for America to move first? Is he watching to see where public opinion goes? Should Keir Starmer be more forthright - as the Lib Dem leader has been - in taking the initiative and call for arms sales to end - something many in his party are desperate to see.

We speak to Zarah Sultana , the Labour backbencher who's been at the forefront of this appeal - and to former Labour front bencher Jess Philips.

Later, what time is it on The Moon and why does NASA believe we need to sort it out?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

A new law has Police Scotland saying that they'd investigate every online hate crime.

But what they've categorised as a hate crime has caused controversy. Why? And should the state decide what is and isn't a protected characteristic?

And - Israel accept responsibility and apologise for a rocket strike that's killed foreign aid workers in Gaza. It comes after a precision stirke on the Iranian consulate in Syria. What is the IDF doing - and is it ostracising their greatest allies the US even further?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week, The Sports Agents dug into why Arsenal are still in a league of their own when it comes to the commercial success of their Women's team, how Gabby became 'obsessed' with Andy Murray and if Gareth Southgate would be a perfect fit for Man United's new owners?

And to keep you going over the extended Easter weekend Gabby & Mark also found out all about Corinthians FC - one of the finest teams in English football history, that you've probably never heard of!

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

Your questions answered in a special Q&A edition of the podcast with Emily, Jon and Lewis.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Rory Symon

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Forget everything you know about an exploding world population.

The sad truth is, our birthrate is plummeting globally to the point where there soon won't be enough young workers to take care of the aging population.

What happens then? Can you financially incentivise people to have kids? Should we be thinking harder about immigration?

And why does this subject - and its pronatalist rhetoric - so often become the domaine of the authoritarian right?

We'll hear from Elon, Jordan and Jacob - about why we should all be having more babies.

Plus Robert Colville and Stephen J Shaw.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Once you have revealed that China is hacking British citizens on a major and global scale, the next question is - well, what are you going to do about it?

Well this is the one the prime minister is currently pondering. He's talking about putting China on an 'enhanced' list - which basically sounds like a glorified registration. But is he prepared to risk trading links? Or shut down Confucious institutes in the UK - China's soft power - or even say no to tiktok?

Also - the Tavistock child gender identity services are shutting their doors for good this week, after the Care Quality Commission declared the care they were offering our children was 'inadequate'. We speak to the investigative journalist Hannah Barnes, who helped expose the failures at the Tavistock. And we ask where children in need of help should seek it now?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The bombing of a Moscow concert hall left at least 137 dead and even more wounded.

The regrouped ISIS - now ISIS K- have claimed responsibility even though Putin is insisting on blaming Ukraine.

Why has ISIS come for Putin? What does it tell us about the strategic alignments now dominating the Middle East, and does this act of terror bring the threat of more closer to home?

Also - another by-election looms in the marginal seat of Blackpool South as Tory MP Scott Benton resigns. And Donald Trump wins a golf course. Organised by Donald Trump.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Influential left-wing commentator Owen Jones is in News Agents HQ a day after he quit the Labour Party - despite being a member since he was 15 - on account of what he perceived to be Keir Starmer's fundamental 'dishonesty'. We ask him why he thinks that, whether Labour have lost his vote forever, and if he wants to become the left-wing's Nigel Farage.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This week, The Sports Agentstook a closer look at the state of Rugby Union, reflected on Nottingham Forest becoming the latest Premier League club to suffer a points deduction, as well as, the infamous story of one, Ali Dia...

On Tuesday, Andy Burnham - Greater Manchester Mayor and furious Everton fan - certainly didn't hold back when discussing why the Premier League needs an independent regulator.

Top comedians Dara O'Briain and Josh Widdicombe were then on hand to talk about their six-part podcast series exploring the phenomenon of Ali Dia’s overnight rise to the Premier League – for 53 minutes.

Then on Thursday, it was Rugby Union under the microscope as Courtney Lawes, Louis Rees-Zammit, Premiership CEO Simon Massie-Taylor and Wales legend Sam Warburton joined Gabby & Mark to debate the biggest threats to Rugby's future.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

At 6pm on Friday the Princess of Wales released a video statement. In it, she discusses her cancer diagnosis for the first time.

She acknowledges the difficulties facing their family in maintaining their privacy throughout her diagnosis and treatment. Will she now be left alone? And will the conspiracy theories stop?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly and Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

There's only one poll that counts and that's the actual election and that's not today. We know that, we get it, but the latest numbers from YouGov are worth looking at to see a direction of travel that might be staring us in the face.

Tonight's poll for The Times puts the Conservatives on 19 percent and Reform Party just behind them on 15. Is it conceivable that they overtake today's party of government at the general election?

And what is the demographic that is propping up the newcomer Reformistas?

Later, why is the Rwanda bill being pushed back if there is - according to the PM - a 'migrant emergency'?

And we answer the question on everyone's lips - where is Jon's favourite Amish town - and what's it called..

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon and Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Margaret Thatcher has been out of power for thirty years but this week it's started to feel like she's back in the room.

Rachel Reeves, shadow chancellor, gave the agenda-setting Mais lecture to the City of London last night, setting out her vision for Labour's first term in office and invoking the spirit, if not the policies, of Thatcher.

David Lammy, her colleague, was quick to endorse both women when asked about it on the Politico podcast. Is the mention of Thatcher a way of winning over the unconvinced? Or is it a message about the radical nature of what is to come?

Later, We discuss the Rwanda plan and the absence of effective diplomacy in Gaza with former foreign secretary David Miliband.

And why has Leo Varadkar decided to quit frontline Irish politics?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Production: Rory Symon and Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Even after Kate Middleton appeared IRL at a local Windsor farm shop, the Tiktok conspiracy theories continued. Was it really Kate? Was the photo staged? Why did the video look different to the still image? On and on.

The Royals have always generated frenzied gossip. What was once shared over a neighbourly picket fence is now just dispersed online. But does that change how the Royals should respond? Should they hold their nerve or feed the beast? We talk to Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt.

Later, EU leaders have caved into the demands of European farmers by imposing higher tariffs on Ukrainian imports. Are they more scared of Putin or their own pitchfork protesters? And what will it mean for the war?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Production: Rory Symon and Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The weekend has been awash with talk of yet another leadership putsch. Is Penny Mordaunt on manoeuvres? Is Kemi Badenoch scheming? The answer is probably no - for now - but it points to a sense of inexorable crisis in a party which is only now realising the scale of the loss that may be careering down the tracks towards them.

Could enough of the parliamentary party be persuaded that more of them could survive if they replaced Rishi? And would Rishi REALLY pull the rip cord - announcing an election - if he felt that coming? We speak to the 1922 committee Treasurer, Geoffrey Clifton Brown.

Also, what is Ofcom up to? And is it running scared of GB News? We discuss.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Production: Rory Symon and Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Clips:

BBC Breakfast: Kemi Badenoch with Jon Kay

The Exploding Heads: GB News/Ofcom

This week, The Sports Agents were invited to the head offices of 'The Enhanced Games' to interview President Aron D'Souza - who wants to put on an Olympic-style event where all the athletes are permitted (even encouraged) to dope... Don't forget your popcorn for this one!

Then on Thursday, Gabby & Mark were joined by boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, to discuss the role the sport is playing in Saudi 'sportswashing'.

Plus, why owners of football clubs can't seem to stop at buying just one, and why Liverpool are following suit?

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

British politics has been dominated by race this week. The big picture is that certain ideas which would once have been unsayable are now commonplace within the Conservative Party.

Sayeeda Warsi was at the centre of the Cameron modernisation project, where he sought to bring ethnic minorities into the tent. Now she’s in the wilderness and gives us a perspective of the changes which have taken place in her party. Among other things she calls some Tory ministers “arsonists” who seek to divide and that Michael Gove should be “nowhere near” communities and extremism policy.

And the Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to resign or be replaced by elections as he is a “block” on the peace process. Will Biden be next to call for Israeli elections? Jon was bored at home so made a rare Friday appearance

Editor: Tom Hughes

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Production: Rory Symon and Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Michael Gove has announced today that the government is redefining extremism. But given they've taken up to 15 million pounds worth of donations from a man who said Diane Abbott should be shot, do they really have any credibility doing so this week?

Lewis interviews Keir Starmer in an exclusive for LBC and asks whether Diane Abbott has a place back in his Labour Party.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Production: Rory Symon and Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The PM has belatedly conceded that the comments in which a Tory donor expressed his urge to 'shoot all black women' WAS actually racist.

He's still not giving the money back. No, that would be a step too far.

He praised Frank Hester's move to 'apologise' and 'show remorse'. Hester apologised only for his rudeness, we should remember, not his threatening misogynist racist language.

How does it feel to be sent out by Sunak to do the rounds - defending this stuff? And why are the men in grey suits meeting with the Prime Minister? Is this normal ? Or suspicious? Does Rishi still have control of his party - or is his authority on the wane?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Production: Rory Symon and Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Today's Tory 'was it racist?' row centres a donor who's given the Conservatives more than ten million pounds.

The Guardian scoop revealed comments he made 5 years ago - centring on the now-suspended Labour MP Dianne Abbott whom he blamed for making him 'want to hate all black women'.

Rishi Sunak has called the comments 'clearly unacceptable' but refused to call them racist.

Is there any chance he'll chose to return the money? And why is the Tory party struggling with yet another case of the 'Lee Anderson's'.

Later, an exclusive: The prison in England where MORE inmates are on drugs than are NOT. What's going wrong with our prison system? And what's the knock-on effect?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Production: Rory Symon and Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Lee Anderson has defected to the Reform Party, saying he’d done a lot of soul-searching on his political journey, and wants his country back.

He had of course already been kicked out of the Conservative Party for those ‘islamist’ slurs against Sadiq Khan, so when we say ‘defected’ we mean from being a party-less whip-less MP. Nevertheless, the move may chill his former colleagues - and the PM himself, who will wonder if the Lee he championed as his former deputy chair DOES in fact ‘speak for millions around the country’ and whether he will take voters with him.

Later, ’THAT PHOTO’. Why the news agencies wont touch it, and why the apology from the Princes of Wales did little to clarify. Do we owe our Royals privacy ? Or do they owe us transparency? The News Agents have a heated debate.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Rory Symon

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Welcome to The Sports Agents, a brand-new twice-weekly addition to The News Agents podcast family, hosted by Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman...

This week Gabby & Mark explored the big scandal in Formula One surrounding Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, found out a little more about Manchester City and England star Phil Foden and discussed Saudi Arabia's increasing influence in heavyweight boxing.

Here's a little flavour of what you can expect.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

There is fury surrounding a bid by the former head of CNN to buy The Telegraph and The Spectator due to the involvement of the Abu-Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI investment group

In an exclusive interview, media executive, Jeff Zucker - who is leading that group - tells us about a "serious campaign" against his bid, and that the Chair of The Spectator Andrew Neil, is a "hypocrite" in his opposition to the takeover bid, because he says Mr Neil wanted to be at the heart of the deal.

In response, Andrew Neil refuted Mr Zucker's claims about him, saying "his memory is playing tricks on him." He added: "I have made it clear I will have nothing to do with [the group] and will walk away in the unlikely event [Mr Zucker] succeeds in acquiring The Spectator.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Michelle Donelan is Rishi Sunak’s Science Secretary. She has accepted that she libelled an academic. That’s unusual. It’s even more unusual that the taxpayer is paying her libel bill.

Lewis asks, why this has come about? Discover that to some extent, as always, all roads lead to Boris Johnson. We also ask whether we need to look at this through a different lens- whether this weird episode is part of the Conservative Party’s “Islamist” obsession.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Chancellor of the Exchequer made a fat joke about the Leader of the Opposition on the floor of the House of Commons as he delivered his Spring Budget today.

It was one of the only things he said that wasn't pre-trailed, making for an unremarkable speech about further temporary fuel duty freezes, National Insurance cuts and the creation of the Great British ISA.

Lewis has all the details with LBC's Poilitical Editor Natasha Clark and The Times' Economics Correspondent Jack Barnett.

Meanwhile, Emily has been locked in a battle with Trump's most die hard conspiracy theorist, Marjorie Taylor Green. They spent Super Tuesday in Trump's Mar-a-Lago ballroom, where the former President sped to victory.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Production: Rory Symon and Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The Conservative Party have just received their worst polling results of all-time, with Ipsos now showing Tory support at just 20 points.

It's the worst Tory numbers since polling began in 1978, so Lewis picks it all apart and analyses how bad things have got for Rishi Sunak on the eve of the budget.

Later in the show we're in Washington DC with Jon and Emily for Super Tuesday.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Production: Rory Symon and Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

After everything that’s happened - the million plus deaths from Covid, the January 6th insurrection, the indictments, the law suits the debts and the sexual abuse - why are we even talking about a Donald Trump comeback?

Britain doesn't get it, most of Europe doesn't. But America does. Today, we take you -not just behind the curtain, but right into the heart of the MAGA bunker - and the strategy for 2024.

Which voters do they need? Who have they lost? And what’s the plan if Trump wins?

Later, in the least surprising news ever, the Supreme Court has ruled Donald Trump MUST stay on the ballot in Colorado. What will Nikki Haley voters do once her path to the nomination closes?

And who is the third Republican nominee for President? We have the interview.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The News Agents: USA, on Global Player

We're in Richmond, Virginia for Donald Trump's last rally before he is almost certainly crowned the Republican candidate for president. But who are the voters queuing for miles to get into the sold-out event? What do they think - and what motivates them to vote for a man indicted 91 times?

We're the only foreign press able to get into the rally. The Trump team wouldn't let anyone else in. Listen to find out what it's like at the heart of MAGA America.

Click here to find us on Global Player

George Galloway has said that Keir Starmer’s woken up to his “worst nightmare”, after the former Labour MP won the Rochdale by-election by almost 6,000 votes.

Jon and Lewis analyse Galloway’s victory, and ask what this means for Keir Starmer ahead of this year’s General Election. Is it really the nightmare scenario Galloway is making it out to be?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Clips:

GB News, George Galloway

LBC, Ellie Reeves

Cherwell, Oxford University, George Galloway

Right now the Treasury are flying more kites than you would see on top of Parliament Hill on a windy day.

This comes ahead of next week’s budget - the last before the general election.

But one policy is particularly eye-catching. It's the idea that the Tories are about to tax non-doms - the flagship Labour policy. Whether you want to call it shooting Keir’s fox or stealing his clothes, it would be an audacious move.

Also, how do the Royal family square the circle of remaining in the public eye while wanting maximum privacy at this difficult time? Couldn’t their communications be more effective?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

Liz Truss was doorstepped by the BBC in Westminster today and asked to explain why she'd been talking about the dangers of the 'deep state' at a Washington Conference over the weekend.

Keir Starmer went one step further in his Commons questions - asking Rishi Sunak why he hadn't kicked her out of the party for her 'tin hat' conspiracy theories?

Keir Starmer loves Liz Truss as he's seen polling showing just how unpopular she is with the public. He's trying to tie her travails to those of a weak leader, too scared to move against the former PM.

Later, is it the Home Secretary's job to tell Gaza protesters to go home? James Cleverly gave The Times an interview to say it was stretching police resources, and everyone already understood their message. Is that how protesting works? Is that how politics work?

We speak to the former Met Assistant Commissioner Helen King and Liberty - who's taking Suella to the High Court today.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

Clips:

BBC, Liz Truss

Sky News, Chris Philp

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"!

Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, two of the UK’s best sports broadcasters, host a brand new twice-weekly podcast exploring the stories behind the sports... 

Drawing on their wealth of experience and insight, with exclusive interviews and expert analysis, Gabby & Mark tackle the big issues and explain not just what’s happening, but why. They'll also bring a healthy dose of humour when needed too.

The Sports Agents will bring you inside the greatest sporting events from around the world in what promises to be a truly memorable year of sport.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

The Sports Agents is a Global Player Original Podcast.

Paul Scully, former Minister for London, has given his first extended interview to The News Agents since he talked about 'no-go' areas in Tower Hamlets and Birmingham. What did he mean? And what was he trying to say about Lee Anderson?

What is it about the Tories deputy chairmen that makes them say this stuff? Today, we have a go at answering that.

Is Rishi scared of losing the voters he thinks Lee Anderson stands for? And is he right to think Lee talks for the Red Wall? Or is that just a slur in it's own right? Later, what was President Biden doing in an ice cream parlour talking about Gaza.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Gabriel Radus

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

Clips:

X, Rosie Holt

LBC, Michael Tomlinson

BBC Radio London, Paul Scully

MSNBC, Joe Biden

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Former Deputy Tory Chair Lee Anderson was suspended from the Conservative party this weekend after accusing the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan of 'giving the capital city away to his (Islamist) mates.'

In Sadiq Khan's first extended interview, he tells the News Agents that Anderson 'practices the politics of hate' and the Tory party has shown a tacit approval for it. We also chat Rochdale and whether the SNP should get a second chance from the Speaker to hold their Meaningful Vote on a ceasefire.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

Clips:

Lee Anderson with Chris Hope on GB News on Friday

Rishi Sunak on BBC Radio York this morning

Mark Harper on Nick Ferrari on LBC this morning

Sky News doorstep of Mr. Anderson this afternoon

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Joe Lycett is one of the biggest comedians in Britain today. He has also, over time, become more and more political. He’s had a new show on Channel 4 this week, Joe Lycett vs Sewage, where he has tried to expose and understand one of the biggest public policy scandals of our time. In this extended conversation with Lewis, he talks about what drives him, his slow politicisation, and why arguments about “woke” comedy, leave him cold.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Sir Paul Marshall is a Tory donor, hedge fund millionaire, co-owner of GB News and - according to his anonymous Twitter account - amplifier of far right conspiracy theories and extremist views on the Great Replacement Theory.

In today’s episode, Hope Not Hate has worked with The News Agents to ask why a front runner bidding to buy the Telegraph has been engaging with anti Muslim statements by Britain First - and has - since we first approached him - deleted hundreds of likes and retweets from his now empty account.

Sir Paul has said they are not aligned with his views and represent 'a small proportion’ of his social media posts. Will the government find him a fit and proper person to own media in the UK?

Later, chaos in the Commons. What did last night’s ruckus really mean? Will the Speaker survive? Are our MPs safe ?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Why did Kemi Badenoch accuse a whistleblower of lying - in a row over compensation payouts to Post office victims?

And why isn't the Prime Minister prepared to investigate what was actually said?

Today, Keir Starmer put those questions to the government in the tone of a barrister preparing a quiet but devastating court case. Is Kemi sure she's right, even though the sacked chairman of the Post Office is fighting back? And what happens to her - the darling of the Tory right and leadership front runner - if she's proved wrong.

Later, how much power does Sue Gray wield in the Labour party? We talk to Keir Starmer's biographer Tom Baldwin.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Prince William has expressed his deep concern about the terrible human cost of the middle east conflict and expressed his desire to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible.

There's lots of head scratching going on right now: is the heir to the throne calling for a ceasefire? Is this the governments line or just the monarchy's position? Did this come from the Foreign Office? And should he be getting involved at all?

Meanwhile, as Labour finally find a way of demanding an immediate ceasefire, we talk to the SNP's Stephen Flynn who says it wouldn't have happened without pressure from them.

Later, why is Rishi Sunak quoting Eisenhower to talk to the NFU? And what is happening to England's rural vote...?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Rory Symon

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia has laid the blame for her husband's murder directly with Putin.

Few world leaders seem to disagree. There is much grave talk of 'consequences' and 'action'.

But what does that really mean? Short of Putin losing the Ukraine war, what would really hurt him enough to stop him murdering?

We talk to hugely influential Putin critic Bill Browder who tells us who the 'next Navalny' will be if we don't act now.

Later, why is Kemi Badenoch calling the former chairman of the Post Office a liar? Henry Staunton has stood by his allegations that the government was dragging its feet on Post Office compensation payouts ahead of the election. Is she really going to go to war over this?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Rory Symon

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Two more Labour wins in two more by-elections. Kingswood and Wellingborough were very safe Conservative seats, but now they've turned red.  

The Conservatives have now suffered the most by-election defeats of any government since the 1960s - so what does this mean in a General Election year?

Later, we reflect on the life of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who has died in a Russian prison.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The UK is in recession - which means the economy has been shrinking for most of the last year.

What does that do to our standard of living? And what are the political choices that have to be made?

The Tories are still talking about tax cuts - even if that means more cuts to public services. Labour has ditched its mega promise of borrowing 28 billion to invest in the economy.

So what's the way out?

Later, as Putin confesses he found Tucker Carlson a bit of a soft interviewer, we discuss how you do accountable interviewing in an age where 'facts dont matter'.

In the past 7 days Sir Keir Starmer has had to face down a leak over his big policy U-turn, a policy U-turn and the suspension of two Labour candidates for anti-Israel and/or anti-Semitic comments. A third person in the room at the time is, we understand, being 'spoken to'.

It's probably not been a great week for party morale - but has any of it hit Labour's poll lead?

And will any of it translate into actual voting in the by election results tomorrow? We talk to pollster Luke Tryl from More in Common.

Later - rats, open sewage, cockroaches and drugs. Chief Inspectorate of Prisons Charlie Taylor talks us through the worst report he's ever penned on our prison system as we ask whether the justice system or the accommodation limitations dictate who is put behind bars.

A Prison Service Spokesperson said:

“The findings of this inspection are unacceptable which is why we’re taking urgent action to address the concerns raised. This includes deploying extra frontline officers to reduce violence and improve safety, undertaking refurbishments to improve living conditions, and ensuring offenders get greater access to the education and skills they need to turn their backs on crime.”

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer insists he took "decisive action" by suspending the Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali from the Labour party.

Should it have come quicker? How damaging has it been to the wider party? And what on earth is going to happen in what's fast becoming the weirdest by election in modern history - with not one but three former Labour candidates.

Later, we look at Rafah, in Gaza - now bracing itself for a ground incursion from an Israeli government that seems hell-bent on finishing a military mission. What does it take to get Netanyahu to stop? Will the US cease selling him weapons? And how does this sit alongside international negotiations for a prolonged ceasefire.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Keir Starmer has gone out of his way to break with his party's antisemitic past and to reshape the Labour parliamentary party.

But this weekend, shadow ministers found themselves in the unenviable position of having to defend the Labour candidate for Rochdale for 'mistakenly believing a conspiracy theory' instead of calling him out for his antisemitic remarks about whether Israel had turned a blind eye to the Hamas atrocities as 'a green light for a full on Gaza invasion'.

Azhar Ali is standing against George Galloway which is perhaps why Labour is nervous. What should happen to all those other MPs suspended by the party leader for antisemitic remarks?

And where does this leave Keir Starmer on his Middle East foreign policy more widely?

Also, Trump has encouraged Russia to invade NATO countries that dont pay their bills. Well of course he has. Why is Europe surprised? And has it figured out America under Trump is not going to care about our security? We discuss why we've been so slow to listen to what he's saying.

**This episode was recorded before Labour withdrew their support for Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali**

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

When will strikes end - and are Labour the party to stop the constant drumroll of them?

We're joined by the most charismatic man on the left of British politics - who has become synonymous with the public sector striking. Mick Lynch.

And later, we talk all things Biden as he hits back against accusations that his mind is ailing - only to then make yet another gaff.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The worst kept secret in politics was freed from its shackles today as Sir Keir Starmer confirmed Labour would drop their 28 billion pound spending pledge on the green economy.

It will confirms Rishi's criticism of a flip-flop leader. Why is Keir running scared of spending?

Later, is Rishi's own party calling on him to apologise for his trans gag in the Commons yesterday? Why won’t he? We discuss where it’s left him.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

How has Rishi Sunak shown so little emotional intelligence that he ended up making his customary 'trans joke'?

In the presence of the mother of a brutally murdered trans teenager.

What does this tell us about the disconnect between his politics and the people he serves? And what does it mean for the divisive culture war that has formed the rump of so much recent conservative campaigning?

Today we discuss decency, standards in public life and leadership with Lord Simon McDonald, and ask whether we've allowed intolerable rhetoric to become normalised in the slapstick of party politics.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Liz Truss and her mates have been selling their version of popular conservatism in central London this morning.

They were delighted to see Lewis at their launch who spoke to Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nigel Farage about both their vision and their seeming hypocrisy.

We ask Sir Charles Walker, of the same party, if he recognizes this brand of conservatism or if they are in fact “useful idiots“ for the right-wing fringe Reform UK party .

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Northern Ireland's new first minister Michelle O'Neill has had her knuckles metaphorically rapped by the PM - who's warned politicians to "focus on the day to day" of the brand new power sharing deal - and not start conversations about a united Ireland.

Could Ireland really unite within he decade? How many voters want to see that happen? And are we missing the bigger picture of what this deal actually means and where the vulnerabilities still lie?

Later, Chris Steele is the former MI6 officer sued by Trump over the 'pee pee gate dossier'. That case has now been thrown out by a judge. He talks us through what it was like being sued by the former president and his fears that the US security services will be cowed into covering up what they know - if Trump returns.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Justice Minister and MP for Finchley and Golders Green, Mike Freer, announced he would be leaving politics this week, fearing for his and his family's safety after an arson attack on his office.

Years on from the two shocking murders of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, we ask why has it become so dangerous to become an MP?

Lewis travels to Mike Freer's burnt-out constituency office in North London, and we hear from Kim Leadbeater MP, the sister of Jo Cox, who now sits in Parliament as an MP in her late sister's constituency.

Later, LBC's Henry Riley tells a tale about one Laurence Fox.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Paris is under siege. And this time, it's the farmers. But why?

After weeks of tractors on the straße in Germany, France are hit by similar trouble. It's causing great consternation for an increasingly weak French president Emmanuel Macron.

So today we ask, is Macron losing control of France as the far-right rises in Europe? And how big of a problem is this for the EU in Brussels?

Later, we talk to the Conservative mayor of West Midlands, Andy Street.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

It’s been four years since we formally left the EU - and its been eight years of trying to square an impossible circle. How do you keep Brexiteers happy, the EU on board and Northern Ireland’s government up and running, all at once?

Well today Rishi came through with a deal which might - big emphasis MIGHT hit the spot.

We take you through what we know.

Later, Nicola Sturgeon explains to the Scotland Covid inquiry which she didn’t, sorry did, sorry didn’t really delete her WhatsApp messages. It all gets a bit emotional.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Last weekend the Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch made clear - in her trademark no nonsense style - that she wished all those trying to plot against and undermine Rishi Sunak would shut up and go away.

In unrelated news, the Guardian revealed last night she's part of a Whatsapp group called.... The Evil Plotters. Are the rumblings of Prime Ministerial removal getting louder? Is policy being dictated by those he fears? And what to make of the IMF warning his chancellor NOT to cut taxes at the next election because our public services can;t afford it?

Later, we look at the power sharing deal in Northern Ireland - could this be Rishi's legacy?

And we ask whether Laurence Fox, who lost his libel case at the High Court, can or cannot be called 'a racist'.

We approached Mr Fox for comment and he had nothing to add.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast in the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.

Episodes are available every Tuesday or Wednesday, on Global Player.

Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

The Telegraph editor began the morning by asking how ‘everyday British life would change in a global conflict’. Trump has already called it for WW3.

On today’s episode we ask why the language has ratcheted up and whether we are already in a war without fully realising.

How will President Biden respond to the deaths in Jordan of US servicemen?

And is this all part of the Israel-Hamas war - or is Iran using that as a pretext to provoke America?

Later, why is Truss at war with Rishi-again - this time, over vaping.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Alabama has executed convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith with nitrogen gas, the first time this method of capital punishment has been used anywhere in the world.

On today's show Lewis asks how it has come to this, and whether the US government will be gassing more of its criminals

Later, we take a huge handbrake turn to talk to the creator of the year's biggest TV show and cultural phenomenon - The Traitors. He tells Lewis how they choose the Traitors and even hints at a celebrity version.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The head of the army - General Sir Patrick Sanders - has said the UK needs to train and equip a citizen army to be on the front door for any future war with Russia.

The PM has hastily ruled out conscription but on today's episode, we consider whether the era of peace is over. And ask what we are prepared to do if the threats deepen.

Later, election denier Trump has talked up a purge of bureaucrats and security forces. Are we happy to nod Trump through as he advocates a police state? And why are senior politicians here cheering him on?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The week started with Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary calling out the BBC for bias and a failure of impartiality.

She struggled to give many examples of either.

Today, Prospect magazine has done a deep dive into what it calls ‘the right-wing cabal waging war on the principles of our public broadcaster‘.

Is the BBC in thrall to the government? Or is it another institution the government is fighting?

Later, What was Sir Simon Clarke hoping to achieve by calling for the PM to go?

And is the rebellion now dead - or just getting going.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Today we hear from Ziv, who was at the Nova music festival and saw her friends die. Her boyfriend is a hostage. And from Eli whose 18 year old daughter Liri is being held by Hamas.

And we ask the Israeli government why they’re so convinced their plan is working.

The Israeli government insists their war against Hamas is working. But there are 130 Israeli hostages still in Gaza, and many many thousands of dead civilians.

Later, we discuss voter ID and whether the Tories are disenfranchising the young from voting.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

PSA: If you want all the latest on the departure Ron de Santis and the Republican Presidential primary race we have a full bonus episode for you on The News Agents: USA. Find it here.

Keir Starmer has accused the Conservative Party of 'desperate, divisive and damaging' politics by picking fights with British instutitions like the National Trust and the RNLI.

The Labour leader has previously stayed clear of the culture wars and stuck on the hard-fought territory of the economy and the new shape of the Labour Party.

But today's speech placed charities and cultural insititutions at the heart of British life as something he was prepared to defend.

Has he given the Tories new amunition? Or found a whole new constituency of voters?

Plus - PopCon - not the fantastic snack but the new Tory group headed up by one Liz Truss. But will the most unpopular British leader of modern history be able to make the Popular Conservatives at all relevant as he gear up to this year's election?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

2024 is still young but from Gaza to Ukraine to Pakistan, somewhere new is seemingly pulled into the mire of geopolitical clashes what seems like every day.

In an extended interview, Lewis asks Lord David Owen - Britain's oldest foreign secretary - about the state of the world and where we fit in.

And, ahead of an election that could see Labour and Lib Dems play a prominent role in the balance of Westminster power, we ask the man who left the Labour Party to found the SDP party - the precursor to the Liberal Democrats what he makes of the parties, and of Westminster today.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Rishi won his Rwanda bill as the rebels all but melted away.

But how much of a victory is it - and can he convince the Lords to leave it alone?

The former deputy prime minister is having trouble finding Rwanda. And the former Deputy Chair is unhappy with Labour sniggling(?) at him. Rishi's poll position just got worse.

Later, we look at the issue raising alarm bells for the medical community. As the government passes new legislation on their regulation - are physicians associates putting patients lives at risk?

And before we go Count Binface graces The News Agents galaxy so we never again forget his name....

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

After a couple of dramatic resignations last night from Tory rebels, the government appears fairly confident it CAN get it's Rwanda bill through the commons.

But at what cost?

Rishi has had to fight both flanks of his party. And those on his right are increasingly sounding like they're prepared to sack off the ol' rule of law to stop judges getting in the way of Rwanda flights taking off.

Is the government prepared to follow them? And what kind of Conservatism would that be?

Later, we look at Iran flexing its muscles in the region - why is it attacking Syria, Iraq and Pakistan?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast in the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.

Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.

Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

60 Tory rebels are currently off signing amendments to Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill including - checks notes - his two deputy chairmen who are on the government payroll.

What message does this send out? And why havent they resigned their posts if they cannot even back their Prime Minister?

Rishi is trying to fend off ANY amendment but he is - checks notes again - in the process of hiring extra lawyers, with 5,000 more sitting days - to make sure every individual migrant appeal gets fast tracked out of the way. Is this really the best use of our overstretched legal system?

And, we look at the effect boundary changes could have on the election and - if you're looking for Iowa caucus coverage we have a whole episode on the US elections on our sister podcast The News Agents USA out this evening - find it here.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

A mystery is afoot: in a critical week for the Government's Rwanda policy - with a looming Commons vote in 24 hours - a YouGov poll has emerged which spells Tory election disaster for Rishi.

Look closely and you see that the poll started on December 12th - the same day the Rwanda policy last went through the Commons. Could it be the two are in fact related? In other words, are senior conservatives trying to spell out to Sunak that he must harden up his policy or face wipeout? Or even replacement?

And if so, how should Rishi respond?

We talk to former Levelling Up Minister Sir Simon Clarke, and Conservative Home's Editor Paul Goodman. And with Iowa temperatures down at -28 degrees celsius, will the big winner of the first Republican caucus be... the sofa?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The war in Gaza has escalated. The UK, US and allies have attacked Houthi militia in Yemen, who themselves have been attacking Western shipping routes in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, on Thursday South Africa took Israel to court, in the ICJ, the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

They contend that Israel is committing acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel denies the claims.

In this episode Lewis asks whether the case is credible and what might happen if Israel loses. He also talks in an extended interview to Eylon Levy, the ubiquitous spokesman for the Israel government to ask him when the war might end and how Israel can continue to justify the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Chris Christie - the only Republican candidate to publically call out Trump’s flaws - has pulled out of the presidential race. Does his departure open the door to Nikki Haley - to beat Trump to the Republican nomination?

If she wins the New Hampshire primary in ten days time then all bets are off. Last night saw a cantankerous debate between the two candidates left in the race - whilst Trump was AWOL once again.

Is this the last chance Republicans have to turn the race around?

Also, who is Stephen Bradshaw, what did he do, and why has he become the latest villain in the post office scandal?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The wrongly convicted Post Office victims have waited up to twenty years to have their prosecutions cancelled.

Today, in one swift sentence, the Prime Minister declared them null and void. An initial payout will be made to each of 75 thousand pounds - a drop in the ocean for many of those who've lost livelihoods, homes and jobs. But it is at least a start.

Why did the solutions suddenly come so thick and fast (I think we know).

What does it tell us about the way we consume news, scandal and corporate malpractice?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.

Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.

Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

One of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged trafficking victims has stood by her claim that sex tapes exist of Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton on Little St James Island, and has painted a lurid picture of Donald Trump's sexual activities.

Sarah Ransome - who was in her twenties at the time - had accused Epstein of filming guests on his island in compromising situations, only to then withdraw her testimony and say she made it all up. But today, as court documents disclosed her allegations, she confirmed her original testimony to ITV's Good Morning Britain. Is she a credible witness who's faced intimidation or a fantasist?

A spokesperson for Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group said on Monday: “We categorically reject all allegations made by Sarah Ransome. In 2016, Ms Ransome retracted her claims and then in 2019 after settling her claims with Epstein and Maxwell, she also admitted to The New Yorker that the “tapes” had been “invented”. The allegations are baseless and unfounded. 

“The actions of Jeffrey Epstein were abhorrent and we support the right to justice for the many victims impacted by his abuse.” 

Donald Trump's spokesman also said Sarah Ransome's claims about the former president were "baseless", "simply false and have no merit".

And with regards to Virginia Guiffre, Prince Andrew said he has never met her and has denied her allegations.

We talk to an investigative journalist at the Miami Herald, Ben Wieder, who forced the court to make those documents public.

Also today, where does the Post Office saga lead us now? And are politician's able to force a change of the law?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Why are more than 700 postmasters still trying to clear their names and access even the most basic compensation more than two decades after they were falsely accused of theft?

On today's episode Adeep Sethi tells us how his family warned the Post Office in 2002 about Horizon's problems - he has the proof in a newspaper article. Twenty two years on, and torn apart, they are still fighting for justice.

We ask Tory MP and campaigner David Davis whether British justice has failed.

A spokesperson for Fujitsu - who rolled out the Horizon system - said: "Fujitsu has apologised for its role in their suffering. Fujitsu is fully committed to supporting the Post Office Horizon IT statutory Inquiry in order to understand what happened and to learn from it. Out of respect for the Inquiry process, it would be inappropriate for Fujitsu to comment further at this time.”

And how did Helen Harrison - partner of disgraced Tory MP Peter Bone - get selected as the candidate for his newly vacated seat of Wellingborough? It's a News Agents mystery.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

What's next for Ukraine and Russia? For Israel and Gaza? As tensions expand and inflame in the vital trading channel of the Red Sea and Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities, what is next for both regions?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The Prime Minister has pretty much ruled out a May election.

He said today that he is "working on the assumption" that the General Election will be in the second half of the year... but he is yet to nail down an exact date.

We discuss why he's holding out, the possible dates to put in your diary and how that could cross over with the US Presidential election in November.

And later, the Labour leader Keir Starmer sets out his ambitions for the election year.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

It's 2024. (Almost certainly) election year. Parties are in election mode and the pressure is on the PM to demystify when he will call the public to the polls.

When will he? Why would earlier or later suit him? And will any date change the Tories' stuttering chances?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Arvind Badewal & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

In part two of their end of year review, Jon, Emily and Lewis look back on the news from the months of July to December.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Arvind Badewal & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

In part one of their end of year review, Jon, Emily and Lewis look back on the news from the months of January to June.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Arvind Badewal & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Your questions answered in a (very merry) Christmas Q&A special with Jon, Emily and Lewis.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Arvind Badewal & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

75% of democracies in the world go to the polls next year. It's a year of enormous significance - not just for the US and for the UK, but for massive geopolitical bodies - South Africa, India, Russia etc.

Where will we be come this time next year?

Lewis (mostly) talks to those that know the regions best.

Editor & birthday boy: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer & special correspondent: Gabriel Radus

Producer : Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Macron relents to the far-right and introduces tough immigration laws into multicultural France. What does this mean for the right-wing Marine Le Pen's hopes of being president - and for a country whose history is so interlinked with migration?

Our new Health Secretary calls junior doctors 'doctors-in-waiting' - is that the best way to end a new flurry of strikes that could further cripple our limping health system?

And Liz Truss gets a new portrait at her old home.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The Supreme Court of Colorado has used an arcane section of the 14th Amendment of the US constitution to disqualify Donald Trump from standing for president, on the grounds of the part he played in mounting an insurrection against the state.

It’s got to be a good thing, generally, if insurrectionists aren’t allowed to stand for high office. But the judgement raises critical questions about the power of the law versus the power of democracy. And who decides who is and who isn’t an enemy of the state.

Trump‘s rivals fear he will use the ruling to rocket fuel his next stint of fundraising, by calling it a witch-hunt. Democrats are waiting to to see if it’s overturned by the Supreme Court - the ultimate arbiters.

Meanwhile on the mean streets of Wellingborough - another by-election looms after the suspension of Tory MP Peter Bone. We take you to both Colorado and Wellingborough you lucky things…

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Wes Streeting is hoping to become the first Labour Health Secretary in 14 years. How honest is he prepared to be about what the health service needs and what Labour is prepared to spend?

On today's episode, he tells us that frankly the system we have is "not the envy of the world".

Can they really fix it by closing a non-dom tax loophole and praying for growth? We also hear what he really thinks of Israel's actions in Gaza and of the death threats he's received in his own constituency.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

What did Michelle Mone mean when she said all she’d done was “lie to the press“ after she threatened journalists with lawsuits if they dared to investigate her story?

Today we follow all the unanswered questions - is our defamation law serving the public?

What did the government know about the missing Mone millions?

And should she still sit in the House of Lords?

Tax Lawyer Dan Neidle and Labour shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds join us.

After that, we speak to former UK Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher on the horror and pain that the war between Israel and Hamas continues to inflict on all those affected; and is Jon Sopel running a covert cannabis farm in his basement?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The Far Right are growing in strength, power and number across Europe and beyond. In election after election extremist forces are becoming bigger and bigger players, destroying old more traditional conservative parties.

In this episode of The News Agents Investigates, Lewis heads to the Netherlands, where an old political face, Geert Wilders, could now be king of all he surveys. But Holland is just one story, a microcosm of one of the biggest political tales of our time- the slow collapse of the centre and the forces of moderation on the right of politics.

Online conspiracy, misinformation and the polarisation arising from the Gaza War is fuelling the fire. Liberal democracy could be burnt along with it.

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Video Producer: Rory Symon

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Prince Harry won, the press lost.

In a landmark court verdict, a high court judge on Friday ruled that phone hacking and other unlawful practices to obtain stories were "habitual" at the Mirror Group's newspapers.

The judge also said that senior executives at the company knew about these methods, as did Piers Morgan, who once edited the Daily Mirror.

Morgan has taken to the airwaves to once again deny.

Lewis asks what this ruling means for Harry, the royal family, the press and Piers Morgan himself. He talks to a lawyer representing the victims of phone hacking, a former Daily Mirror editor and a former phone hacker.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Vladimir Putin’s “Results of the Year “ was a marathon televised chat show where for 4+ hours he answered none of the questions the Russian public desperately wished they could ask.

“When will the war end? When are our soldiers coming home? Are you as ill as the rumours suggest? Why is the Russia on TV not the real Russia?"

Today we ask if Putin’s buoyant mood suggests he thinks he’s about to win the Ukraine war.

We talk to those from the Bush and Obama administration who know all about Putin's methods well and ask if América is going to give up on Ukraine.

Later we discuss disgraced Scott Benton - the Blackpool South MP who could be out of a job … cue *another* by-election..

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The incoming chair of the BBC, Samir Shah, has suggested that Gary Lineker may have breached BBC guidelines with his 'ad hominem attacks' on two Conservative MPs.

It was only two months ago that the BBC drew up its new social media guidelines - Do they make sense? Does Lineker care? And how much is the corporation responding to pressure from the right wing papers? Later - Mark Drakeford is stepping down as Wales First Minister - and is Rishi out of trouble now after winning last night's Rwanda vote?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com