Politics Unpacked

Tony Blair is flexing his muscles, telling Andy Burnham that Britain should rejoin the EU within a decade - without another referendum. Could Burnham put it in Labour’s next manifesto?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Ayesha Hazarika

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Andy Burnham has agreed to review the Chagos deal after Donald Trump called it 'terrible' at their meeting in New York. But can it be renegotiated, or is it dead in the water?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.

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Andy Burnham is having his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump at the United Nations. But will Burnham’s past comments about the US president make for an awkward encounter?

Plus, Danny Dyer's expletive-filled view on Andy Burnham and fashion tips for Liberal Democrats.

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Carol Lewis.

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Ed Davey is trying to re-energise the Liberal Democrats at the party’s conference in Brighton - but do his speeches reveal a party struggling to find a clear national message?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Kidd and Timandra Harkness.

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While 'Never-Here-Keir' was accused of spending too much time abroad, Andy Burnham has preferred to host foreign leaders in the UK - and often away from Downing Street.

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon. 

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With the public finances under pressure, the unions meet John Healey and make a series of demands ahead of the Budget. Can Andy Burnham avoid the sense that he's running a 'traditional tax and spend socialist government'?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Sarah Ditum and Andy Silvester.

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Open AI boss Sam Altman says people are "right to be afraid" of artificial intelligence but that firms like his can be trusted to "do the right thing" - so should we rely on Silicon Valley to regulate itself?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Jane Mulkerrins and Robert Crampton.

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Donald Trump dismisses warnings about AI as a “hoax” by those who want to regulate the industry. But how worried should we be - and what happens if the president doesn’t take the threat seriously?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Charlotte Ivers.

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Reform UK is confident that the £72m in donations it received from two crypto-billionaires are legal, but could the government still change the law to force them to return the money?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Sonia Sodha.

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Britons face an expensive winter with rising bills and the prospect of higher taxes. Can Andy Burnham still deliver on his promise to make people feel “hopeful” as the cold sets in?

And on the anniversary of 9/11, is Britain safer or more dangerous than it was 25 years ago?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon.

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A successful party conference could tempt Andy Burnham to call an early general election, but will he take the risk?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Cindy Yu. 

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At PMQs, Andy Burnham says that national security "can't come at the expense of social security". 

But if he won't cut benefits to fund defence, where will he find the money?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges with Lara Spirit, Deputy Political Editor of The Sunday Times, and Chris Ward, Labour MP and former aide to Keir Starmer.

Picture: House of Commons

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Andy Burnham's first policy move risks angering President Trump, will there be a backlash from the US? 

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott.

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John Healey made his first major speech since becoming Chancellor, saying the economy is 'turning a corner' and promising growth. Is his optimism justified? 

Hugo Rikfind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd.

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Reform UK's conference is underway in Birmingham - but allegations the party breached political donation rules threaten to derail the event.

Nigel Farage insists his party has broken no laws. But with two senior officials stepping aside, the questions keep coming.

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon.

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Andy Burnham and Emmanuel Macron have met in No.10, with small boats high on the agenda - but have the French done enough to stop dinghies crossing the Channel?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Lara Spirit and Sarah Ditum. 

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Andy Burnham faces his first PMQs as Prime Minister - with Kemi Badenoch calling him a “yes man”, and one of his own MPs applying pressure over defence spending.

Hugo unpacks the exchanges with The Times’ Patrick Maguire and The Sunday Times’ Ben Riley-Smith.

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Andy Burnham returns to the despatch box for his first appearance as Prime Minister. Can he handle the Commons - and who are his critics within the Labour Party?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Matthew Parris.

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Kemi Badenoch has begun a reshuffle of her shadow cabinet, with high profile names including Priti Patel and James Cleverly out. What is she trying to achieve, and does the public know who any of them are?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Sebastian Payne and Libby Purves.

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The Chancellor says Andy Burnham is running a 'continuity government,' hinting that his economic policies won't differ much from Keir Starmer's. But can the prime minister really implement a 'fiscally disciplined' Budget without taking a hit to his poll ratings?

Ryan Tubridy unpacks the politics of the day with Sarah Ditum and Michael Binyon.

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Andy Burnham is in Wales for his first official visit to the former Labour heartlands since taking power. He'll be hoping to spark a Welsh Labour recovery - but can the PM win back voters?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Josh Glancy and Daisy McAndrew.

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Andy Burnham is set to announce tough new sanctions on West Bank settlements, but is warned they could turn into a de facto boycott of the whole country. How does he balance the competing demands within the Labour party?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.

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Andy Burnham has hinted at tax rises in the Budget, saying he “won’t be unrealistic” about the state of the public finances - but what do prime ministers mean when they talk about 'challenging' and 'difficult' decisions? 

 Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Charlotte Ivers 

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A visit to Ukraine is Andy Burnham's first chance to prove himself on the world stage. Will he, like other former PMs, end up over shadowing his foreign secretary?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Sebastian Payne.

Picture: Getty Images

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In his first month in office, Andy Burnham has tried to project a message of hope and optimism. But as problems pile up, will that start to look out of touch?

Ryan Tubridy unpacks the politics of the day with Daisy McAndrew and Michael Binyon.

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Asylum seekers are being given a pamphlet telling them that domestic abuse and sex with children is illegal.

The government says it needs to teach people from different cultures about British values, but opposition parties have branded it a disgrace.

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Sarah Ditum and Jimmy McLoughlin.

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Andy Burnham tells the Times that the job of being prime minister is to be popular, rather than making a "fetish" of toughness. But does that mean avoiding difficult decisions?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Robert Crampton and Alice Thomson.

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Tory defector Tim Montgomerie has been suspended from Reform UK. Was that inevitable when he talked in public about splits within the party?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Kidd and Megan Kenyon

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Reform UK has unveiled radical plans to cut the welfare bill, including stopping foreign nationals from claiming a range of benefits. and abolishing personal indepednent payments. But has the party made a risky strategic choice?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Phil Tinline.

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Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election but didn't attend the count. He claims to have beaten the establishment but with the parliamentary investigation into his finances reopening, what has he actually achieved?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Cindy Yu, Alys Denby and former Chairman of Reform UK David Bull.

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Andy Burnham promised 'good growth in every postcode,' but does he have the vision to turn the economy around, or will he be a continuation of Keir Starmer? 

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Fraser Nelson and Sarah Ditum. 

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Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Robert Crampton and Jane Mulkerrins.

Has Andy Burnham come unstuck over the vexed issue of early prisoner release? Is it ever OK to call someone a traitor in politics? And what exactly is Anthony Albanese saying about melons?

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With the latest YouGov poll for the Times showing Labour nudging ahead of Reform UK, pollster James Johnson argues that Andy Burnham should seize his 'goldilocks moment' and call an election.

He joins Ed Vaizey, Charlotte Ivers and podcaster Jimmy McLoughlin to unpack the politics of the day.

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Andy Burnham is due to embark on his summer tour of the UK. Is it a good use of the prime minister's time, and is he already reheating old policy ideas?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd.

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Andy Burnham has been advised to tone down his 'blokey' social media presence after posting a string of videos about football and the pub - but is the approach helping his image as a man of the people?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon.

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A Cambridge professor's resignation has reignited the debate over diversity and standards in British universities. Has the drive for equality gone too far?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Sarah Ditum.

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Kemi Badenoch defended the Conservative Party's decision to select a former neo-Nazi as a council candidate in Somerset. But after banishing Tory 'wets' like former minister Grant Shapps - is this a double standard?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Josh Glancy and Sonia Sodha.

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Westminster's favourite "will they, won't they" continues as Nigel Farage says he's open to talks with Rupert Lowe about reuniting the "patriotic right" - but is a deal really on the cards?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Charlotte Ivers.

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Reform would send the Royal Navy to the Channel to stop migrants crossing on small boats. Will the announcement help Reform reverse its slump in the polls? And would the plan really work?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Jack Blackburn.

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President Trump is hailing a historic agreement to disarm Hamas, but some are sceptical it will work - can he deliver lasting peace in Gaza?

Ryan Tubridy unpacks the politics of the day with Manveen Rana and Alys Denby.

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Drought and wildfires have hit England during the fourth heatwave of the summer. Are politicians are keeping up with a changing climate?

Carolyn Quinn unpacks the politics of the day with Juliet Samuel and Andy Silvester.

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Andy Burnham has become the latest Prime Minister to promise to fix England's social care system. More than 20 attempts have failed over the past 30 years - so what makes this one any different?

Carolyn Quinn unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.

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Andy Burnham wants Britain to value "the hard hat as much as the graduation cap", pushing more young people towards technical training - but is that what the economy really needs?

Carolyn Quinn unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott.

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Andy Burnham is setting out how he plans to tackle some of Britain's biggest problems, with defence, social care and devolving income tax powers to local mayors all in his sights - but will his actions match his ambitions? 

Calum MacDonald unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd.

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Keir Starmer's reserved style didn't give impressionists much to work with. Andy Burnham is different: expressive, animated and occasionally cringey - but will being endlessly parodied help or hurt his popularity? 

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Patrick Kidd.

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Andy Burnham's first week in Downing Street has been full of promises - from tax cuts, to public services - but it's left Kemi Badenoch asking, "Is that it?" as she calls on him to be more ambitious. 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Josh Glancy and Sarah Ditum. 

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm.

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Andy Burnham has so far shown his new government knows how to spend money, but what about the harder bit - explaining where the savings will come from? Is the new PM already bumping into fiscal reality? 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton.

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Andy Burnham has met with his new cabinet for the first time since becoming prime minister. It's very northern, and it definitely doesn't include allies of Keir Starmer - will the exiled Starmerites make his life difficult?

Hugo Rifkind is joined by Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott to unpack the politics of the day. 

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As Andy Burnham becomes the UK's seventh Prime Minister in a decade, how can he avoid the fate of his predecessors?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Janice Turner and Seb Payne.

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Andy Burnham has officially been elected Labour leader. In three days time, he'll become Prime Minister. He says he's got "a plan" - but can he deliver?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Theo Bertram and Alys Denby.

You can hear more of Ed on Times Radio every Friday, 10am-1pm.

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Andy Burnham is days away from announcing his cabinet, with Shabana Mahmood expected to be named as chancellor. Spare a thought for Ed Miliband...

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Cindy Yu and Matthew Parris. 

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm.

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Keir Starmer delivers his final Prime Minister's Questions before leaving office, calling it "the end of my political journey" in an at-times emotional final appearance at the despatch box.

Hugo Rifkind is joined by Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit to unpack the exchanges, assess Starmer's legacy, and ask how his performances at PMQs will be remembered.

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As counterterrorism police now lead the investigation into Ann Widdecombe's death, Reform UK MPs are raising concerns about their own safety. Is it time to rethink how Britain's politicians are protected?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott.

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm.

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Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Janice Turner. 

Are Andy Burnham's plans for government really ready? Do voters think Nigel Farage has behaved incorrectly over undeclared  gifts? And is Labour's woman problem worse than it realises?

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm.

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Andy Burnham is being swept to power by Labour on a 'tidal wave of obsequiousness' - is he making the best use of his moment of maximum power? Why is there a backlash against Count Binface? And what is 'posh boy summer'? 

Ed Vaizey is joined by Alys Denby and Michael Binyon to unpack the politics of the day. 

You can hear more of Ed on Times Radio every Friday, 10am-1pm.

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Andy Burnham has promised to make Labour MPs feel "happy and fulfilled" by easing party discipline and turning the Whips' Office into something more like an HR department. It's a very different approach to Keir Starmer's leadership - but will it work?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Sarah Ditum and Patrick Kidd.

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In the penultimate PMQs before the summer recess, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly face off in the Commons - but with questions hanging over Nigel Farage's future, there's surprisingly little mention of the Reform UK leader...

Ed Vaizey is joined by Lara Spirit and Matthew Syed to unpack the exchanges from the House of Commons.

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Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Charlotte Ivers.

Why is Andy Burnham taking a "one-and-done" approach to Cabinet appointments? And who is reading Keir Starmer's Substack?

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Nigel Farage is under pressure after The Sunday Times revealed he had not declared benefits from an ally previously convicted of fraud in the US. He denies any wrongdoing.

How serious is the challenge to his leadership, and to Reform UK? 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Sebastian Payne.

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm

And you can hear the full story of the Sunday Times revelations about Nigel Farage in a new podcast by the Insight team. It's called Posh George: The criminal behind Farage. Listen here.

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Kemi Badenoch has sought advice from all her living predecessors except one - so who didn't get the call?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Will Lloyd and Alys Denby.

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Kemi Badenoch has accused female Labour MPs of engaging in "failed identity politics" by asking Andy Burnham to commit to making 50 per cent of his ministers women.

Is she right to accuse them of "moaning"?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Sarah Ditum and Matthew Parris.

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm.

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Kemi Badenoch accuses Keir Starmer of leaving defence spending in a mess for Andy Burnham, but Starmer blames the Tories for underfunding the military when they were in government. 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges with Patrick Maguire, Stefan Boscia and comedian Alisdair Beckett-King. 

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm. 

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Keir Starmer unveils the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan in one of his final acts as prime minister. But what will the incoming PM, Andy Burnham, make of it all?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott.

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm.

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Andy Burnham has set out his vision for spreading power across the UK, including a new "No. 10 North".

Hugo Rifkind is joined by Patrick Maguire, Seb Payne and Joshi Herrmann to unpack the speech by the man who is almost certainly going to be prime minister within weeks.

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Andy Burnham is the de-facto prime minister - has the Labour Party left the country in stasis while we wait for him to arrive in Downing Street?

And why is an immigration minister arguing in public with the home secretary, and not getting the sack? 

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon.

You can hear more of Ed on Times Radio every Friday, 10am-1pm

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How will Andy Burnham handle Donald Trump, does he have a genuine chance to reform welfare, and should we sympathise with the SNP MP accused of faking her Scottish accent?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Fraser Nelson and Daisy McAndrew.

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Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch for the first time since announcing his resignation. The Tory leader asks if Starmer felt let down by his cabinet - but did her personal jibes go too far?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges with Patrick Maguire and Ryan Tubridy. 

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm.

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Keir Starmer's resignation was distinctly less dramatic than previous Prime Ministers' - is Britain just too used to upheaval in Downing Street?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Charlotte Ivers.

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Keir Starmer resigns, paving the way for Andy Burnham to be the next Prime Minister.

What sort of leader will Burnham be, and why is the UK on its way to its seventh PM in a decade?

Lara Spirit unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves, Sebastian Payne and Theo Bertram, former adviser to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

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Andy Burnham hails it as a 'change moment' - but Keir Starmer insists he'll stand if a leadership contest is triggered. Was Makerfield the PM's goodbye election?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Will Lloyd and Alys Denby.

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Trump's deal to end the war with Iran has been roundly criticised in Washington - what will it do to America's reputation?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Juliet Samuel.

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David Lammy stands in at the despatch box for the last PMQs before the Makerfield by-election. The Deputy Prime Minister says he's proud to serve under Starmer, while Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho claims Labour is "a government on life support".

Hugo Rifkind is joined by Patrick Maguire and the Chancellor's former Political Director Matt Pound, to unpack the exchanges from the Commons.

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm.

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Keir Starmer is rubbing shoulders with global leaders at the G7 summit.  But have his foreign affairs credentials been undermined by John Healey's resignation?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Sarah Ditum and James Marriott.

You can hear more of Hugo on Times Radio from Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm.

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Keir Starmer announces a social media ban for under-16s as Andy Burnham looks poised to trigger a leadership challenge. Is the Prime Minister shoring up his legacy or will he fight on?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Jack Blackburn and Janice Turner

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Keir Starmer’s grip on power looks weaker than ever after the resignation of John Healey. Can the prime minister really hang on? 

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Alys Denby.

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The Defence Secretary John Healey resigned, claiming Keir Starmer's lack of funding for the military will make the UK "less safe"

Hugo Rifkind spoke to The Times' Chief Political Commentator Patrick Maguire and Times Radio's Political Editor Anna Mikhailova about the damage the resignation has done to the Prime Minister's authority.

And before the news of Healey's resignation broke, Hugo spoke to the New Statesman's Political Correspondent Megan Kenyon and the academic and podcaster David Runciman about whether social media was fanning the flames of unrest in Belfast.

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Keir Starmer clashes with Kemi Badenoch over defence spending, with the Tory leader accusing him of 'scrabbling around for a legacy'.

Patrick Maguire and Stefan Boscia join Hugo Rifkind to unpack the exchanges. 

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Rather than aiming to be liked, should modern day politicians relish the relentless, universal public and online hatred they face and use it to fuel their arguments? 

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with James Marriott and Carol Lewis. 

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The prime minister is reportedly entering his "legacy era", with a major defence spending plan and new restrictions on children's social media use - but what will Keir Starmer's legacy actually be?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd.

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Andy Burnham has officially confirmed he'll challenge Keir Starmer in a Labour leadership contest if he wins the Makerfield by-election, but Starmer says he's not going anywhere.

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon

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Keir Starmer has accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of "trying to whip up division" over the murder of Henry Nowak. Why is Musk interfering in UK politics? 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Cindy Yu.

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Nigel Farage asks the prime minister to take action against "two-tier policing", but Keir Starmer accses the Reform UK leader of exploiting the murder of Henry Nowak.

Plus: Kemi Badenoch seizes on the Mandelson files to accuse the government of raising taxes to fund higher welfare spending.  

Hugo unpacks the exchanges at prime minister's questions with Patrick Maguire, Stefan Boscia and comedian Andy Parsons. 

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Pat McFadden's assessment of Labour MPs will fuel claims that the party cares more about welfare recipients than taxpayers - is Keir Starmer's Labour becoming the Welfare Party?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott. 

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Polling suggests that union members are just as likely to support Reform UK as they are to back Labour. Is Nigel Farage now leader of the 'party of the working class'?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Patrick Kidd.

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Is Labour having a policy debate in public healthy for our democracy? What's behind an online conspiracy claiming Vladimir Putin is dead? And have we forgotten the power of a boozy lunch?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Sarah Ditum.

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Tony Blair is said to be "fired up" and poised to escalate his involvement in Labour's leadership race, after being criticised by both Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting.

Why can't the Labour party stop squabbling with itself?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Jenni Russell and Daisy McAndrew.

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Sir Tony Blair says Labour has “no coherent plan” for the country, attacking the party’s direction under Keir Starmer and its plan to change leader - but does his intervention matter?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Robert Crampton and Anne McElvoy

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Medical leaders have compared social media to tobacco as pressure grows on Keir Starmer to change his mind and back a ban for under-16s. Will political pressure force another u-turn?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Josh Glancy

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Nigel Farage has hit out at Elon Musk over his support for the hardline Restore Britain in the Makerfield by-election - could Rupert Lowe’s party split the right-wing vote?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Patrick Kidd and Carol Lewis 

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Andy Burnham has officially launched his campaign to be Makerfield's next MP, which he hopes will propel him to Downing Street.

How can a Cambridge-educated former cabinet minister make the case that he's taking on the political establishment?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon.

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Net migration has fallen to its lowest level since before the pandemic - but will it have any impact on the public's view?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Fraser Nelson and Cindy Yu.

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It's the first PMQs since Labour's local election hammering, but despite the leadership challengers circling Keir Starmer is surprisingly upbeat.

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges in the House of Commons with Patrick Maguire and Cleo Watson, former deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson.

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Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting are each setting out their pitch to be the next Prime Minister. But do their stories of triumphing over adversity make them better politicians?

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and James Marriott.

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Under pressure over his stance on rejoining the EU, Andy Burnham could face a bruising contest against Reform if selected for the Makerfield by-election. But what happens if he loses?  

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Sonia Sodha and Sarah Ditum. 

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Andy Burnham is plotting his route back to Westminster, where he intends to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. But would he make a good Prime Minister? And why is he so adored by some parts of the party?

Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Thangam Debbonaire and Michael Binyon.

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Labour's leadership crisis has deepened, plunging the government into chaos - can Keir Starmer continue? And what kind of Prime Minister would Wes Streeting be? 

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Syed and Jenni Russell. 

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Hugo speaks to broadcaster, former MP and speechwriter to three prime ministers Gyles Brandreth.

They unpack the latest twists in Westminster, life as a government whip amid a Tory civil war, and which prime minister was the funniest behind closed doors.

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Keir Starmer insists he's staying on in Downing Street, but an increasing number of his ministers and MPs disagree.

What happened to the promise that politics would tread more lightly on our lives? 

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers, James Marriott and Theo Bertram.

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Keir Starmer's speech was his last attempt to convince his MPs he's the right man for the job, but will it work?

Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne, Libby Purves and Matt Pound, a former advisor to the prime minister

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