Andy Burnham's week of maximum vibes

Andy Burnham's first week as Prime Minister has been all about creating good vibes. He's pledged to end rough sleeping, cut VAT on energy bills, cap bus fares at £2, and save Britain's pubs. The obvious question is: how is he going to pay for it all?Steve takes us inside Burnham's call with Donald Trump, where everything was surprisingly cordial and the pair ended up talking about their mums.But next week, the easy announcements give way to the hard choices. Burnham is expected to unveil major interventions on social care and unemployment. Can he deliver reform while also tackling the cost of living, boosting defence spending and keeping the public finances under control?Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducer: Euan DawtreyPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Grafton Pub Purge: inside the pub where Keir Starmer had drinks with allies as they were sacked one by one. It's fair to say that Andy Burnham's new cabinet has caused an astonishing amount of bitterness in the Labour Party. The Chancellor Shock: John Healey's surprise appointment as chancellor means he'll have to find £25bn, or the equivalent of 3p on income tax, to fund defence.Get ready for a Mega Budget: the new government is preparing announcements on bus fares and Thames Water, but it's still unclear how they will pay for spending pledges.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, George ClareExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Russel HernemanThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is Shabana Mahmood, the 'ruthless' politician set to enter Downing Street as Andy Burnham’s Chancellor? After a fierce cabinet debate effectively ended Ed Miliband's hopes for the Treasury, all eyes are on her. And what does her potential appointment means for the future of UK politics, from welfare reform to the economy?Meanwhile, Westminser has descended into a surreal waiting game as the incoming Prime Minister prepares to take power. No one knows if their job is safe, and desperate insiders have resorted to asking our very own Steven Swinford if he knows anything they don't. Will Ed Miliband, Wes Streeting or Yvette Cooper feature? And how exactly will Number 10 North work?Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who will be in Andy Burnham's cabinet? It looks like Ed Miliband will not be chancellor after all. We have scoops for you about who's in line for the big jobs in the Westminster cabinet reshuffle.Burnham needs to make room for allies like Louise Haigh and Lucy Powell, so who will be sacked on Monday when Burnham takes over as prime minister?Westminster is like a hornet's nest of briefing and counter-briefing as Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, Dan Jarvis, Yvette Cooper and others wait to hear what next week will bring.David Lammy has organised a whip-round for Keir Starmer's rather odd leaving present.And what will Burnham do once he's in post? We look at his immediate priorities and the possibility of a mega fiscal event in the autumn.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty Images.01:10 - Blocking Ed Miliband From Chancellor02:30 - Why the City Doesn't Trust the "London Left"03:50 - Will Miliband Accept a Demotion?05:05 - The Brutal Briefing War Behind Closed Doors06:40 - Defending the "Net Zero Zealot"07:45 - Cabinet Jenga: Filling the Great Offices of State09:25 - Angela Rayner & The "Day One" Loyalists11:05 - The Starmer Purge: Who Is Getting Sacked?12:45 - The Yvette Cooper Foreign Policy Question15:05 - Secret Policy Clashes: Josh Simons vs. Miatta Fahnbulleh17:15 - Angry Loyalists With "Nothing To Lose"19:40 - Starmer’s Bizarre Leaving Present21:30 - Flying to the World Cup Final22:35 - Burnham's Radical Plan for the Cost of Living25:00 - The Warning Over a "Mega Budget" & Wealth Taxes26:15 - North vs. South: The Growing Regional RebellionPicture: Getty ImagesEmail us: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A furious Nigel Farage has said he will ‘stick two fingers up to the establishment’ by resigning and then winning a by-election in Clacton. Kemi Badenoch has accused him of having a hissy fit and Andy Burnham has said it's a gimmick designed to distract from questions over undeclared gifts. Will the Conservatives and Labour field candidates in the Clacton by-election?Will a Reform UK victory in Clacton boost Nigel Farage's standing in the rest of the country? And can Nigel Farage be suspended after a parliamentary standards investigation even if he wins the by-election?Who is George Cottrell, aka Posh George? Listen to the series here podfollow.com/posh-georgeSteven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: ReutersEmail us: [email protected] podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage could face an investigation by the parliamentary watchdog after a Sunday Times investigation and podcast series raised questions about gifts and benefits in kind that he has received from George Cottrell, a crypto-gambler and convicted fraudster, who's better known as Posh George. Gabriel and Steve discuss how Reform UK has reacted to the story and what could happen next.Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing. Listen to the series here: podfollow.com/posh-george Episode 3 is out on Thursday 9th JulySteven Swinford, political editor, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessImage: Getty/AlamyThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham is keeping his cards close to his chest and no one seems to know who'll get what job. That means there's a huge amount of paranoia and jostling for position the Labour Party. Cabinet ministers and MPs are lavishing praise upon him, but they're worried about his plans - both on policy and personnel. There's a lot of ill-feeling that could bubble up to the surface surprisingly quickly.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty Images00:00 - Burnham's Intense One-on-One MP Meetings00:32 - Paranoia and Panic in the Cabinet01:44 - Will Burnham Appeal to Southern Voters?02:50 - Desperate Ministers Begging to Keep Their Jobs03:40 - The Ghost of 2007: Burnham's "Woman Problem"06:13 - Ed Miliband's Chancellor Dilemma07:18 - How Departments Are Pandering to Burnham08:29 - Is David Miliband Making a Comeback?10:54 - The Real Reason Angela Rayner Has Been Weakened13:10 - Burnham's Frustration with Westminster "Ambulance Chasers"16:56 - A Long Goodbye: Starmer's Farewell Barbecues17:30 - The £15 Billion Defence Plan Black Hole18:20 - Government Paralysis and the Rochdale CaseThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is considerable intrigue around Andy Burnham's possible cabinet, not least because the eldest Miliband brother is being linked to the position of Foreign Secretary. Are we about to see UK politic's Cain and Able story return for a second round? And most importantly, Is Andy Burnham ready?Burnham's debut speech caused headlines with his bold plans to reshape the British state. But there are difficult questions lurking behind the rhetoric, namely what does any of it actually mean? Plus, Reform UK gears up to choose their top candidates to challenge Burnham in his own backyard.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: ReutersEmail us: [email protected]:00 The Return of David Miliband?02:53 The Miliband Brothers Psychodrama04:23 Labour's "Boys Club" Optics Problem08:02 The Brutal Fight for Top Cabinet Jobs11:20 How Burnham is Manipulating Westminster13:56 Burnham vs Starmer: The Real Difference16:27 The Hidden Cost of Devolution (Tax Rises?)19:31 What is "Number 10 North" Really About?22:31 Why the Tories Fear Ed Miliband as Chancellor25:29 Nigel Farage's Secret Plot for the North27:35 The £5 Million Farage Crypto InvestigationThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer both want an orderly transition but one day in, it's looking anything but orderly.It's a transition beset with bad blood and uncertainty and also some serious technical hurdles. Is he building a plane mid-flight or is he more like Gromit, sitting on a speeding train, laying down the track in front of him?The biggest unanswered question facing Andy Burnham is who will be his chancellor. Three names are in contention: bookmakers' favourite Wes Streeting, rank outsider Shabana Mahmood, and Ed Miliband — the bête noire of the bond markets.Patrick reports from parliament's bars, where the champagne is flowing and Labour MPs have suddenly become shameless attention-seekers, hoping to seduce Andy Burnham's allies.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesAudio: ReutersEmail us: [email protected]:00 - Can Andy Burnham Build the Plane Mid-Flight?1:15 - Drama on the Commons Terrace: Euphoria & Champagne4:20 - Keir Starmer's "Revenge" Timetable6:30 - The Next Chancellor: Miliband vs. Streeting vs. Mahmood13:12 - Scrapping the Triple Lock & Upcoming Wealth Taxes17:37 - Inside Number 10: Starmer's Farewell Speech19:33 - The £10bn Defence Plan Rupturing Labour21:55 - Civil Service Gridlock: Why Access Talks Are Delayed25:20 - The Crypto Billionaire Bankrolling Nigel Farage & Reform UK29:00 - Will There Be an Emergency Election?This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham could be prime minister within weeks after Keir Starmer's resignation. He may now need to build a government before the World Cup final. This is where the real trade-offs start. How long can Andy Burnham's hopey, changey, Northern Soul vibes last in Downing Street? There's already an almighty row going on over who will be his chancellor.Also today, where did all go wrong for Keir Starmer and what did Labour MPs think of his resignation speech?Wes Streeting has said he will not contest Andy Burnham for the Labour leadership, but are there any other possible candidates for the leadership contest?Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessProducers: Harry Kitson, Euan DawtreyPicture credit: Getty ImagesAudio: Reuters00:00 — Starmer’s Resignation: The Total Lack of Contrition00:48 — A Surreal Timeline: Six Prime Ministers in a Decade01:56 — The Emotional Exit vs. The Bitter Backroom Reality03:04 — Where It Went Wrong: Sins of Tone & Policy U-Turns04:30 — The Brutal Verdict: "He Wasn't Up To It"05:47 — Outsourcing Power: Sue Gray, McSweeney, and Rachel Reeves08:46 — Enter Andy Burnham: Can He Rebrand the Labour Party?11:36 — Ed Miliband vs. The Financial Markets14:31 — Team Burnham's Impossible Economic Trade-offs16:36 — Will the Gloss Wear Off? The Unforgiving Spotlight of No. 1018:24 — Legitimacy Crisis: Nigel Farage Demands an Early Election20:06 — The Whitehall Machine in Total ChaosThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.