McSweeney: What We Learned

In the final PMQs before the local elections, Kemi Badenoch moves on from questions about Peter Mandelson and targets Keir Starmer on welfare spending and the economy.Tim Shipman and Patrick Maguire join Hugo Rifkind to unpack the exchanges in the Commons.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After two blockbuster sessions of the Commons committee looking into the appointment and vetting of Peter Mandelson, what did we learn from the evidence of former Foreign Office mandarin Sir Phillip Barton and former Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney?Daniel Finkelstein is joined by Tom McTague and Ollie Cole to find out where this leaves Keir Starmer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The prime minister faces a challenging week, with MPs set to vote on whether to hold an inquiry into claims he misled MPs over the Peter Mandelson scandal, and his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney due to be grilled by MPs.So will the coming days hasten his departure? And could a Granita-style pact between Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner be the solution to the Labour Party's problems?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Sebastian Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US could punish Britain over the Iran war by questioning UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands - will that worsen US-UK relations ahead of the King's state visit next week? Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the US President says there’s “no time frame” for ending the war with Iran, Times columnist Matthew Parris says Donald Trump is "too deranged to remain in office" - but is that a fair assessment?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times Radio Focus Group is back ahead of May's local elections.JL Partners brings together a group of wavering Tories - voters from across England who backed the Conservatives at the last General Election, and are now considering switching to Reform UK.Do they think the 'Badenoch Bounce' is a real thing, what are their remaining concerns about Nigel Farage in 10 Downing Street, and just how disillusioned are they with the traditional main parties?Hugo Rifkind is joined by JL Partners founding director Tom Lubbock to discuss the findings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer claims that the evidence given by Olly Robbins "puts to bed all the allegations" he was dishonest about Peter Mandelson's vetting process as Kemi Badenoch calls on him to stand down over the scandal. Hugo Rifkind is joined by Ed Vaizey and Fraser Nelson to unpack the exchanges in the commons.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sacked Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins says No.10 took a “dismissive” approach to Peter Mandelson’s vetting - so where does this now leave Keir Starmer?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Ollie Cole, Charlotte Ivers and Patrick Kidd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer will blame the civil service for the vetting failures behind Peter Mandelson's appointment - but will his defence stand up to scrutiny?Hugo unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Libby Purves.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer says he's 'furious' he wasn't told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting before his appointment as US ambassador. Just how much trouble is the prime minister in?Ed Vaizey unpacks the politics of the day with Alys Denby and Michael Binyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.