Politics Weekly UK

Politics Weekly UK is taking a break over Christmas. John Harris will be back on Thursday 2 January with his cultural highlights, and in the meantime you can listen back to our previous episodes here.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s Politics Weekly Westminster hosts, political editor Pippa Crerar and correspondent Kiran Stacey, to look back at 2024 and ahead to what 2025 might bring. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the news that a Chinese businessman has been accused of spying. Just how widespread is state-backed espionage in Westminster, and what does it mean for the UK’s relationship with China? Plus, Angela Rayner reveals the government’s white paper on devolution. Could this be the end of the district council?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The UK government has announced it is suspending Syrian asylum claims, after the fall of the decades-long Assad regime. So, what will happen to the Syrians who have made the UK their home? The Guardian’s John Harris hears from one woman settled in Yorkshire. And political correspondent Kiran Stacey joins us to talk through what Rachel Reeves’s spending review reveals about Labour’s priorities. This year the Guardian and Observer’s annual charity appeal is asking for your support to help individuals whose lives have been turned upside as a result of conflict. We’re partnering with War Child and MSF to help support individuals affected by the horrors of war, providing assistance from emergency aid to psychological support. Plus, we’ve also teamed up with Parallel Histories who help schools teach children about contested conflicts. If you can, please donate now at theguardian.com/donate24. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss how the UK government will approach the change of regime in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. And, how deep are tensions between the Labour government and the civil service, and should we be viewing Nigel Farage’s Reform UK as the unofficial opposition? This year the Guardian and Observer’s annual charity appeal is asking for your support to help individuals whose lives have been turned upside as a result of conflict. We’re partnering with War Child and MSF to help support individuals affected by the horrors of war, providing assistance from emergency aid to psychological support. Plus, we’ve also teamed up with Parallel Histories who help schools teach children about contested conflicts. If you can, please donate now at theguardian.com/donate24. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Green party made history in the general election, winning four seats for the first time. But how much will it be able to achieve in parliament when facing the gravity of the climate crisis? The Guardian’s John Harris sits down with Carla Denyer, the Greens’ co-leader and MP for Bristol Central, to ask her what comes next for the party. Because of industrial action taking place by members of the National Union of Journalists at the Guardian and Observer this week, we are re-running an episode from earlier in the year. For more information please head to theguardian.com. We’ll be back with new episodes soon.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at why the government is laying out their ‘plan for change’ five months in. Also, after being voted through the Commons, what next for the historic assisted dying bill?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

As MPs prepare to vote on a bill that would, for the first time, pass assisted dying into UK law, what are the arguments on either side? The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to two campaigners: Liz Carr, an actor and disability activist who believes the bill would endanger many marginalised groups, and Mark Mardell, a broadcaster who thinks the legislation doesn’t go far enough.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss how Rachel Reeves’s budget has upset businesses, as the annual CBI conference takes place. Plus, what is the government’s plan for the welfare state and getting Britain ‘back to work’?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Thousands of farmers descended on Westminster this week, to protest against changes made in last month’s budget over inheritance tax. The government claim that this will affect a small minority of farms. But with slim profits and many farmers saying it will spell the end of their businesses, has the government got it wrong? The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to some of those protesting against the changes, and environmental correspondent Helena Horton Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/politicspod. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Keir Starmer’s attempts to reset the UK’s relationship with China at the G20. Plus, rows flare in the Labour party over the assisted dying bill. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

After Donald Trump has announced his new defence secretary to be the former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, John Harris speaks to the Guardian’s defence and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, who is in Ukraine. Plus, at Cop29, Ed Miliband has said the green transition is unstoppable even with Trump as president. Is he right? John speaks to the former Green party leader Caroline Lucas Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/politicspod. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at the impact of president-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the US on the Labour party, defence, trade and international relations. Plus Kiran heads to the Cop29 climate summit Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/politicspod. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Donald Trump is going to be president of the United States for a second time. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by Jonathan Freedland, the columnist and host of Politics Weekly America, from Washington DC to ask how so many polls failed to predict his win. And back home in the UK, the political correspondent Kiran Stacey joins John to look at Kemi Badenoch’s first PMQs as leader of the opposition.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at Kemi Badenoch’s plan to get the Conservatives back in power, and consider what she will be like as an opposition leader. Plus, with the US election on Tuesday dominating headlines, how might the UK government be feeling about a possible Trump second term? Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/politicspod. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Rachel Reeves has finally laid out Labour’s spending plans in the party’s first budget in almost 15 years. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by political editor Pippa Crerar and political correspondent Kiran Stacey to discuss the fallout. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look ahead to Rachel Reeves’s budget. Can Labour persuade the country it is on the right track or will criticism of broken election promises on taxes dominate? Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/politicspod. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Ahead of the budget next week, the Guardian’s John Harris is in Birmingham, where the city council in effect declared itself bankrupt in 2023. He spends time with people struggling with the severe spending cuts and asks what will happen if the chancellor Rachel Reeves does not offer more financial support Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/politicspod. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at Wes Streeting’s plan for a ‘national conversation’ on NHS reform. Plus, with the budget just 9 days away, there is plenty of speculation on what will be in it and how departments are reacting to more cuts Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/politicspod. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has introduced a private member’s bill on assisted dying for terminally ill adults. John Harris speaks to her about whether her proposed legislation is the right path, and discusses the benefits and flaws of assisted dying with the columnist Polly Toynbee, who has long argued for a change to the law Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/politicspod. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod