Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 07/04/2024

It’s happened. The scenario Labour politicians hoped would not come to pass is now a reality: Donald Trump is heading back to the White House. The official line from Labour is that everything is fine – they will work with whoever holds the office of president. However, privately there have long been nerves and concerns as to what a Trump comeback would mean for the Starmer government. Where are the fault lines likely to appear? And what does a second Trump term mean for foreign secretary David Lammy, considering his previous comments about the Donald? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and John McTernan. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Nigel Farage could well be the big winner in the UK from Donald Trump’s victory across the pond, with the MP for Clacton having a direct line to the most powerful office in the West. But, as Katy Balls argues on Coffee House this morning, he poses a greater threat to Labour than simply his proximity to Donald Trump. Reform UK are beginning the process of building power bases across the UK – starting this weekend in Wales – and the party believes it can take voters from Labour. Meanwhile, the US election has proven the salience of the economy and immigration as election-deciding issues: areas where Reform UK cut through. How can Labour combat an insurgent Reform party? What lessons should Starmer take from the result in the US? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and Scarlett Maguire, director at JL Partners. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

The post–mortem has begun on the US election with the Democrats desperately trying to figure out what just happened. To make sense of the result, Katy Balls is joined by Kate Andrews and James Kanagasooriam, chief research officer at Focaldata. On the podcast they discuss: how an election that seemed to be on a knife–edge ended in a landslide; how the Democrats misjudged the issues that matter to their core voter coalition; how global election trends and the ‘incumbency problem’ played a part; and how the term ‘asymmetric realignment’ can describe the voting patterns we saw yesterday. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

It’s happened. The scenario Labour politicians hoped would not come to pass is now a reality: Donald Trump is heading back to the White House. The official line from Labour is that everything is fine – they will work with whoever hold the office of president. That was the message from Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions as he congratulated president-elect Trump, and made a point of mentioning they had recently had dinner together. However – Kemi Badenoch focused on David Lammy’s past criticisms of Trump at PMQs. Is this a unique tension for the Labour government? James Heale discusses with Michael Gove and Katy Balls.

Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet continues to take shape: Chris Philp has been appointed shadow Home Secretary, with the biggest news being Robert Jenrick's decision to accept the position of shadow Justice Secretary. Jenrick's proposal to leave the ECHR was one policy disagreement with Badenoch, could this cause the Conservatives problems in the future? And what do her appointments say more broadly about her programme: has she put party unity above policy? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and the FT's Stephen Bush. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.

Kemi Badenoch is the new leader of the opposition, and we have an early indication of who will make up her shadow cabinet. She has already chosen her chief whip in loyalist Rebecca Harris; Nigel Huddleston and Dominic Johnson will be party chairman; Laura Trott will be shadow education secretary; Neil O’Brien will be shadow minister for education – crucially, a Jenrick backer. Is she going for party unity? Who will take the top jobs in team Badenoch? Also on the podcast, it’s anything-but-the-budget-week for Labour, who are trying to move the agenda along from last week’s fiscal event with a raft of announcements. Today, the prime minister unveiled his plan to ‘smash the gangs’ and announced that university tuition fees would rise. But can they justify the increase to students?  Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. New eras begin for both major parties, as Rachel Reeves' budget becomes reality, and Kemi Badenoch sets our her vision as Tory leader. Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.

Kemi Badenoch has won the Tory leadership election. She beat Robert Jenrick in a tight race, winning 53,806 votes against his 41,318. What will a Badenoch opposition look like? What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? Cindy Yu speaks to Michael Gove and Katy Balls.

The fallout from Labour's Budget continues. On the media round this morning, Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, admitted that it will hit working people, and the cost of government borrowing has only risen since Rachel Reeves delivered her speech to Parliament. Katy Balls, Kate Andrews and James Heale take us through the reaction from various groups, including small business owners, farmers and the markets. Is the Budget unravelling? Also on the podcast, they look ahead to tomorrow's Tory leadership result; could low turnout make a difference? Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Kate Andrews is joined by Katy Balls and the OBR's Prof David Miles to discuss the day two reactions to Rachel Reeves's Budget. Who were the losers, and is it too early to say who the winners are? Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Cindy Yu.