The legal tug of war between the Covid inquiry and the Cabinet Office continues this week. Gaby Hinsliff sits in for John Harris, and talks to the former Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell and the former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal about the possible reasons for the government’s position. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Rishi Sunak is fighting fires this week as Boris Johnson and Suella Braverman steal the headlines. And as new net migration figures are released on Thursday, can the prime minister take back control of the narrative? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnists Rafael Behr and Gaby Hinsliff. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Some of the big figures on the political right, including two cabinet ministers, have been speaking this week at the National Conservatism conference in London. How much sway does this vocal group have over government? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the former Tory minister David Gauke and the Observer’s Sonia Sodha to discuss. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Keir Starmer and Ed Davey have both refused to rule out forming a coalition between their parties at the next general election. Following disastrous results for the Conservatives in the local elections, what will this mean for Labour and the Liberal Democrats? The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff, standing in for John Harris this week, asks political editor Pippa Crerar and former Conservative special advisor Salma Shah what a Labour/Lib Dem pact could look like. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

More than a million NHS workers will get a 5% pay rise after health unions accepted a government offer. But the Royal College of Nursing has rejected the offer. The Guardian’s John Harris speaks to Pat Cullen, the general secretary of the RCN and Frances O’Grady, a Labour peer and former general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, about the future for public sector workers. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod