Commons People

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing the May local elections and weighing up the chances of all the main parties including Labour, Green, Conservative, Reform and the Lib Dems, as well as the SNP and Plaid Cymru in Scotland and Wales, respectively.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction01:01 – When are the local elections and why are they important?03:31 – What are Labour's chances in the local elections?04:48 – How will the Tories fare?06:09 – Will Reform’s success at the polls be reflected in the elections?09:17 – Will the Greens continue with their success?11:22 – How will the Lib Dems affect things?13:44 – Will wins for the SNP and Plaid Cymru signify the end of United Kingdom?16:43 – Are we looking at the end of the two-party system in the UK?19:28 – Will there be a Labour leadership contest after 7 May?25:33 – What does all the mean for the cost of living crisis?26:37 – Bluffer’s guideYou can watch full episodes on YouTube @HuffPost-UK and 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. For our returning episode, and our first in four and half years, we're talking about one of the most important subjects in UK politics right now – the Iran war. Join Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson as they dive deep into how the war is having a knock-on effect on the UK’s cost of living already, how it's impacting the UK-US special relationship and whether it's also reshaping other international alliances and existing wars, like Ukraine.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction04:11 – How did we get here?10:08 – What does the Strait of Hormuz have to do with things?13:37 – Trump and NATO17:36 – Will the Gulf countries become more pro-Ukraine?21:32 – Will the King's state visit go ahead?23:30 – The knock-on effect on the UK cost of living26:47 – How long is the war going to last?30:57 – Will any countries join the war?35:02 – Bluffer's guide36:30 – OutroYou can watch full episodes on YouTube @HuffPost-UK. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson has taken the biggest gamble of his premiership with a National Insurance hike to fund the NHS and social care.Labour's leader in the Lords Angela Smith joins Ned Simons, Sophia Sleigh and Paul Waugh to chat through Tory tax rises and where Labour's at ahead of its party conference Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As MPs head off to their constituencies, rising Covid cases and Channel crossings of asylum seekers are ensuring Boris Johnson cannot put his feet up.Home Affairs Committee chair Yvette Cooper joins Ned Simons and Paul Waugh to chat through her joust with the Priti Patel this week, as well as the wider problems facing both the government and Labour this summer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The chancellor's late, late move to outflank Tory rebels on international aid cuts won the day, despite MPs voting against the three line whip. But is the rebellion over and will Rishi Sunak and his party rue the damage caused to their brand?Ned Simons and Paul Waugh are joined by former international development secretary (and former chief whip) Andrew Mitchell.Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Football may or may not be coming home, but Boris Johnson and Liz Truss want British firms to export more abroad. Can the UK’s tricky relations with China help or hinder that post-Brexit ambition?Shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry joins Ned Simons and Paul Waugh to chat through trade, as well as the next steps for Keir Starmer’s Labour after its ‘Batley bounce’.Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sajid Javid made a phoenix-like return to the Cabinet this week, replacing Matt Hancock after the former health secretary was sensationally caught on camera breaking Covid rules by kissing an aide in his office.Senior Tory and Commons education committee chair Rob Halfon joins Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to discuss a rocky week for the government, and the Covid crisis that’s creeping up in English schools.Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the fifth anniversary of the vote to leave the EU and Brexit is still having a profound impact on British politics.Tory former spad Salma Shah and the UK In A Changing Europe’s Anand Menon join Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to unpack the successes and failures of the last five years, and discuss what Brexit means for politics in 2021 and beyond.Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson this week delayed so-called “freedom day” from Covid restrictions in a bid to get more vaccines into more arms and protect the NHS.But the prime minister has angered many Tory MPs, who simply do not believe he will stick to the new “terminus” of July 19th.Lib Dem health spokesperson Munira Wilson joins Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to discuss why her party abstained on extending restrictions, and also why the Tories’ so-called culture war was losing them votes in their traditional southern seats.Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a huge week for Boris Johnson as Joe Biden and leaders of some of the world’s wealthiest countries arrive in Cornwall for the G7 summit.But the prime minister has embroiled himself in a row with the EU over the terms of his own Brexit deal, which has angeried the US president and is threatening to overshadow the event.Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy joins Arj Singh and Ned Simons to discuss how Johnson can reset and repair relations with Biden, and discuss what Labour can learn from the US Democrats in the face of the UK’s own culture war.Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.