Bloomberg UK Politics

The government's decision not to compensate women who say they were unfairly treated over changes to the pension age has sparked a backlash from opposition politicians and some backbench Labour MPs. Is the decision over the WASPI campaign the latest example of the government alienating a core constituency of voters? Our Associate Editor Ailbhe Rea joins us to discuss. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and James Woolcock. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 saw major political moments, including the first Labour government in 14 years, a Conservative meltdown and an electoral breakthrough for Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Bloomberg's UK Political editor Alex Wickham joins us to review the year and look ahead to 2025. Hosted by James Woolcock and Stephen Carroll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A supposed spying scandal is threatening to undermine an attempt to reset ties between the UK and China, but does Britain have any levers to pull in the relationship? Conservative MP, and former party leader, Iain Duncan Smith, joins us to discuss why he sees Beijing's spying as being 'on a scale beyond all comprehension' compared to other countries, and what practical steps he thinks the Labour government should be taking. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Yuan Potts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are almost 3,500 children's homes in England, and it's overwhelmingly the private sector providing services to the most vulnerable. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has called out private providers for making "excessive profits". How do promises of a crackdown sit with Labour's pledge to attract more private investment to the UK? Our UK business reporter Sabah Meddings joins us with details of her investigation. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Yuan Potts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new poll says a majority of both pro- and anti-Brexit voters would support compromises on free movement in return for more trade. So is a more uncertain world shifting opinion on the EU? We discuss with Mark Leonard, co-founder and director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, which carried out the research. Hosted by Yuan Potts and Caroline Hepker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Property developer and former Tory donor Nick Candy has joined Nigel Farage's Reform UK. He's the latest in a slew of high profile Conservatives to switch allegiances, including former minister Andrea Jenkyns. But can the upstart party and its divisive leader handle the scrutiny and break through to the big league? Bloomberg Reporter Jack Ryan joins us to discuss. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Yuan Potts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women have more wealth, sit on more corporate boards, and invest more than ever before. Britain's first female chancellor Rachel Reeves is just one of the signs of power becoming more equal. So we went to Bloomberg's inaugural Women, Money, & Power summit to ask the influential women there what they make of the UK and its new government. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Lizzy Burden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keir Starmer is in the Middle East on a trip planned to discuss trade ties, but conversations will now be dominated by the weekend's events in Syria, which saw the regime of Bashar al-Assad toppled. Over a decade after MPs voted against intervening in Syria, we discuss what the latest shift means for the region and the UK with Paul Wallace, who leads Bloomberg's team covering economics and government in the Middle East. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Lizzy Burden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Keir Starmer has set out new targets for fighting crime in Britain, in a major speech aimed at resetting his premiership after a faltering start. The government will aim to add 13,000 to the police force and ensure every neighborhood in England and Wales has a named officer in charge of local crime problems. But are his plans enough to reverse years of cuts? We ask Festus Akinbusoye who was the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire until earlier this year. Hosted by Yuan Potts and Lizzy Burden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week the Office For National Statistics has said problems with its labour force survey may not be solved until 2027. The figures are crucial for Bank of England policymakers making interest rate decisions. But sources tell Bloomberg the ONS is facing deep rooted cultural issues with junior staffers reluctant to raise issues with bosses. We speak to Bloomberg's UK economics reporter Tom Rees about his exclusive. Hosted by Yuan Potts and Lizzy Burden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's election looks set to return a coalition keeping incumbent parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in power. What do the results mean for Keir Starmer's ambitions to reset the relationship with the UK's closest neighbour? We discuss with Bloomberg's UK politics correspondent Ellen Milligan and our Dublin reporter Olivia Fletcher. Hosted by Lizzy Burden and Stephen Carroll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's 'plan for change' will see new targets across government. Today's defence industrial strategy aims to prioritise investment in UK defence firms amid global insecurity. But will it be enough and when will it happen? We discuss with Bloomberg's UK Political Editor, Alex Wickham. Hosted by Yuan Potts and Caroline Hepker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MPs will tomorrow debate the issue of assisted dying, as they consider a bill put forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. It will be subject to a free vote, but health secretary Wes Streeting is among those opposed to it. We speak to Conservative MP and co-sponsor of the bill Kit Malthouse about why he is backing the changes. Hosted by Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will consult with car manufacturers about electric vehicle production mandates that most won't even come close to meeting this year. It comes after Stellantis announced plans to close its van factory in Luton, citing the government's 'stringent' EV target. Will the economic realities dull Labour's green ambitions? We discuss with Bloomberg Opinion columnist Lara Williams. Hosted by Lizzy Burden and Stephen Carroll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today the government releases its 'Get Britain Working' white paper. It's a strategy Keir Starmer says will help lower the country's £137 billion benefits bill by tackling economic inactivity. But how will Labour's plans go down with business leaders and their own MPs? Bloomberg's associate editor Ailbhe Rea joins us to discuss. Hosted by Lizzy Burden and Caroline Hepker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Firms across the UK are in 'damage control'mode. That's according to a new survey from the Confederation of British Industry which shows six in ten businesses asked predicted that the budget wouldn't increase the country's investment appeal. But should the lobbyists have raised these concerns earlier? As the group gathers for its annual conference in London we discuss the state of play with Bloomberg's UK Business reporter Sabah Meddings. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Lizzy Burden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine says Russia has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro. If confirmed, it would mark the first use of the weapon in combat since it was created at the start of the Cold War. Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marc Champion and head of Bloomberg Media Editorial David Merritt discuss what this development means for Ukraine, and for the UK government. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest inflation data shows the pace of prices is picking up, rising to 2.3% in October. Our Chief UK economist Dan Hanson explains why, and if it's likely to increase further. Given the cost of living was a major election issue, our UK government reporter Joe Mayes discusses how worried the Labour government is and what their response might be. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Caroline Hepker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Betrayed'. That's how National Farmers' Union Vice President Rachel Hallos described members' feelings towards the government, a year after Keir Starmer told their conference how much Labour valued the industry. She joins us today to explain why farmers are so angry at plans to impose 20% inheritance tax on some farming estates. Hosted by Yuan Potts and Caroline Hepker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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