The State of It

As Downing Street prepares for a high-stakes European summit, questions are mounting over whether an "honest conversation" about closer ties with Brussels, from youth mobility and tuition fees to tariffs on Chinese cars, will quickly turn into a headache for Andy Burnham. Do Labour MPs, let alone the British public, have the stomach for another round of the Brexit wars?

Meanwhile, attention turns to welfare as Alan Milburn outlines radical proposals to replace sickness and disability benefits for 18 to 24-year-olds with a new Youth Allowance and billions in employment support. With Burnham preparing to throw his weight behind the reforms, can he win over Labour MPs without triggering another backbench rebellion?

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does Labour have the will to implement serious welfare reform and bring down the benefits bill? Alan Milburn's report on Neets, young people not in education, employment or training, comes out next week. Andy Burnham's plan is to spend money first, to bring the welfare bill down in the long run. What will voters make of that?
Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party is promising £36bn in welfare cuts, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is pitching itself as the party of the working man and promising even deeper cuts.
Meanwhile, Russell Brand’s convictions for rape and sexual assault have dragged Ed Miliband’s infamous 2015 election interview with Brand back into the headlines. The education secretary, Lucy Powell, has mounted an awkward defence, which hasn't gone down that well. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but then again, so is due diligence.

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Donald Trump took an almighty shellacking in the US midterms, Andy Burnham is left waiting to see what the American president does next. Will Trump escalate the war in Iran or find a way out? The difference could mean the difference between soaring inflation and higher energy bills, or falling oil prices, stronger growth and relief for households. With Britain largely powerless to influence the decision, Westminster is watching Washington closely.

Meanwhile, Russell Brand’s conviction has reopened questions about Labour’s embrace of him in 2015. What are the political consequences for Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham? And could the controversy over the defence barrister’s arguments about rape myths lead to changes in how judges direct juries?

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brexit is back, but did it ever really go away? Andy Burnham is preparing to make some big concessions to the EU to get his latest deal over the line. On the table? Youth mobility, equal university fees for EU students and Britain aligning with EU tariffs on Chinese electric cars — all while the bloc pushes ahead with its ‘Made in Europe’ protectionist plan, which threatens to shut British industry out.

Meanwhile, Shabana Mahmood has been forced to water down her immigration reforms to head off a rebellion of more than 100 Labour MPs. Care workers who meet their visa conditions will keep a five-year route to settlement, rather than face the tougher new rules; around 300,000 fewer people will be caught by the changes. Has she suffered a humiliating climbdown, or has she still pushed through one of the biggest shake-ups of legal migration in decades?

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Pictures: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Healey’s first Budget is being dubbed the “Bronski Beat Budget”: a Chancellor running away from the big decisions on welfare and defence. With growth downgraded, energy bills set to soar and taxes at record highs, how much room for manoeuvre does he really have? And is this Burnham’s economy now, with the Chancellor merely keeping the engine running until the Prime Minister’s 10-year plan arrives?

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Pictures: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.