What Happens Behind Closed Doors: Interview With A Top Government Special Adviser

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss how President Trump has been "moving mad" this week, from posting to his social media 100 times a day to trying rename Lake Ontario "Lake America".You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're asking whether UK-Russia relations have slipped into a new, more dangerous phase due – in part – to Andy Burnham's visit to Ukraine this week.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal and Dan Faber. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the current state of the Green Party – once riding high in the polls – with former party leader and current peer, Natalie Bennett.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kevin sits down with Liz Bates, a former political journalist turned special adviser for Keir Starmer's Government. Liz lifts the lid on what a SPAD does, the "funereal" reality of Keir Starmer's resignation to those on the inside and the difference between reporting the news and influencing the story.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction.05:07 – What is a special adviser and what do they do?07:59 – What was it like working for Steve Reed, the former Housing Secretary and Environment Secretary?13:10 – Behind the scenes of Keir Starmer's resignation in July.18:30 – Why does a SPAD also lose their job when the minister they're serving does?20:32 – What's next for Liz and what does she think about the future of Andy Burnham's Government.23:35 – Bluffers Guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's budding political relationship, and analyse whether it will last the length of both of their terms in office.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction.02:34 – What's happened between Andy Burnham and Donald Trump since he became Prime Minister?04:54 – What's Trump's record with British Prime Ministers in the past?15:10 – What is Burnham's history with Trump?17:44 – How will Ed Miliband fare 20:21 – Why is Trump so obsessed with North Sea drilling?22:25 – What's next for Burnham and Trump, and what could go wrong?34:03 – Bluffers Guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kevin and Kate take a look inside Andy Burnham’s day-one cabinet purge – who’s in, who’s out, why Wes Streeting is suddenly in charge of the army, what this all means for you and whether this new government is already heading for a smash-up.00:00 – Introduction01.48 – Andy Burnham's first days in office08.14 – Who's out?19.30 – Who's in?24.24 – Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband (and his previous Trump comments...)28.07 – Wes Streeting (and his lack of military experience)40.55 – What's the reaction to the reshuffle been like in the Labour party?48.24 – What's Farage had to say?49.40 – Bluffers Guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Dayna McAlpine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss Keir Starmer's time in office as Prime Minister, and what are the main things he'll be remembered for – good and bad.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction.07:00 – What did Keir Starmer do in office? – The good stuff13:46 – What did Keir Starmer do in office? – The bad stuff26:01 – What did Keir Starmer do in office? – The middle ground stuff32:39 – What's next for Keir Starmer?38:32 – Was he a good or bad Prime Minister?41:11 – Bluffers Guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing the eerie similarities between incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. How much do they really have in common?You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing whether a much-talked-about money scandal has landed Reform UK's leader and Clacton MP Nigel Farage in more trouble than he can come back from. Is his career really "dead in the water" as Piers Morgan said this week?Timecodes00:00 – Introduction.03:16 – How did the scandal begin?09:56 – Nigel Farage and his gold bullion side hustle.13:01 – Are the British public particularly sensitive to money scandals?13:59 – Reform's recent electoral disappointments.17:32 – What's happening inside the Reform UK party?23:35 – What's next for Reform UK?31:07 – Bluffers Guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss Brexit on its tenth anniversary, and talk over the idea that the Brexit referendum *cursed* British politics, given the churn of Prime Ministers we've had since then.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction.03:12 – Brexit defined in 20 seconds.03:43 – What does Brexit have to do with Keir Starmer resigning this week?11:10 – What did Rishi Sunak have to do with Brexit?12:11 – Liz Truss's impact on the economy.14:13 – How Boris Johnson "got Brexit done".17:38 – How Theresa May failed to get Brexit done.21:21 – David Cameron: the man who caused Brexit.27:10 – How is Brexit still impacting us today and what is the feelings of the general public?32:25 – Nigel Farage still wants a crack at Brexit.34:54 – Has Brexit been a curse on No.10?37:03 – Bluffers Guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.