The State of It

Arguing in the Labour party is ramping up. Andy Burnham has further fuelled the Brexit wars, floating a return to free movement and even EU membership, even though he claimed there was “nothing socialist” about free movement a decade ago. Is this political manoeuvring, or does Burnham himself know where he wants to end up?

Meanwhile, Labour’s cabinet is split over North Sea drilling and immigration, with ministers publicly contradicting one another. Is Burnham a sort of Scouse Boris, coasting on charisma alone?

And then there’s Wednesday's Budget. A fuel duty freeze, help with energy bills and a possible bank tax are all in the mix — but with the public finances under pressure, could John Healey have a rabbit up his sleeve?

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

00:00 - The Free Movement Bombshell
00:33 - The Scoop: How Andy Burnham Reopened the Brexit Debate
01:22 - Did Burnham Cross His Own Red Lines?
03:41 - Testing the Waters: Tactical Leak or Honest Mistake?
05:46 - A Scouse Boris? Burnham’s High-Risk Politics
07:44 - European Summit Secrets & Whitehall Panic
09:20 - Cabinet Mutiny: The Ministers Pushing Back
12:10 - Rejoining vs Growth: The Threat to British AI & Industry
13:30 - Burnham vs His Past Self: The 2016 Anti-EU Speech
15:48 - Cabinet Split Round 2: The Rosebank Oil War
18:24 - Resignation Watch: Will Ed Miliband Walk?
21:17 - The Brutal Pile-On Against Shabana Mahmood
23:26 - Leaked Budget: OBR Warns of Record-Breaking Taxes
25:04 - Cost of Living: Fuel Duty, Energy Hikes & "Puffin" Borrowing
26:55 - John Healey's Warning: "An Economic Storm Is Coming"
29:40 - The Global Crisis: Why the Government Can’t Save Your Wallet
31:25 - Final Predictions & Tomorrow's Budget Special
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.
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Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane, a close ally of Andy Burnham, has sounded the alarm over the upcoming budget, warning the Prime Minister can’t “vibe-code his way to growth”.
Patrick joins John Healey on the road, getting a glimpse of the Chancellor’s pro-business pitch — and the bottle of HP Sauce he keeps in his briefcase.
Ben takes us inside the budget, unpacking four key areas: help with business costs, support for households facing rising energy bills, a fuel duty freeze and a package to tackle youth unemployment. Can Healey’s budget deliver meaningful change, or is the big stuff still being kicked down the road?
Ben reflects on his time with Andy Burnham, exploring the mayor’s ambitions, political instincts and frustration with Westminster — and what his first 100 days reveal about his wider national project.

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

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

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.

Andy Burnham's welfare reforms are likely to start with more, not less, spending. In his review into Neets, young people not in education, employment or training, Alan Milburn will propose restricting access to universal credit for 16 to 24-year-olds, and spending money instead on employment support. The prime minister will tell MPs the government needs to spend first, cut later to bring about meaningful welfare reform. That may please Labour MPs but will the bond markets keep the faith?
Meanwhile, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is facing opposition within Labour over plans to double the wait for indefinite leave to remain from five to 10 years. Will Burnham back her reforms, or carve out an exception for migrant care workers?

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

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

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.

In this live recording of The State of It, Patrick and Steve assess the state of play ahead of budget day.
John Healey is preparing a steady-as-she-goes budget, but with the big decisions on welfare, defence and tax rises pushed into next year, is Labour ducking the difficult choices?
Meanwhile, AI evangelists want Britain to seize the opportunities, while Ed Miliband is pushing back on environmental grounds. Cue an almighty cabinet row.
Reform UK’s poll lead has narrowed as Restore eats into its support. But is Westminster writing off Nigel Farage too soon? Reform remains the most trusted party on immigration and is sharpening its economic pitch to working-class voters.
Finally, Andy Burnham faces one of Labour’s biggest challenges: reforming the welfare system.

Recorded in Westminster as part of The Battle of Ideas festival.

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images

00:00 - "The bond vigilantes are ready to split our throats"
00:09 - Inside Healey’s budget: Bank taxes & disappearing headroom
02:04 - "He’s a dud": Cabinet backbiting over the Chancellor
04:34 - The budget trap: Delaying big tax rises until next year
07:02 - Courting the squeezed middle: Business rates vs Reform UK
08:53 - Shock YouGov polling: Only 3% expect to be better off
11:24 - Is Reform UK finished, or are the pundits wrong?
15:45 - The bizarre reason Number 10 secretly wants a Tory comeback
18:12 - Cabinet AI civil war: Silicon Valley vs British jobs
22:30 - The UK grid crisis: Can we even power AI data centres?
24:51 - The Milburn Review: Plans to ban benefits for under-25s
29:19 - Broken PIP system: Backdated lump sums and 18-year assessment delays
32:15 - Can Labour ever shake the "welfare party" label?
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.

Andy Burnham has pulled the lever marked ‘Brexit’, threatening to reignite the wars of yesteryear. The soft left are delighted, but there’s unease in his cabinet. Is this a route back to a referendum, or just a meagre SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) deal? Or is Burnham already firing the opening shots of his election campaign — at the expense of the leave-voting areas he promised to win over? Has he already failed the Makerfield test?

It’s budget season, and speculation is mounting over what’s inside John Healey’s red box. This is billed as a budget for the high street: for the white van man and the beauticians of Rotherham, funded by a crackdown on online retail giants. But with John Lewis sounding the alarm, how far will the chancellor go?

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

00:00 - The Brexit Wars Return
02:51 - Why Andy Burnham Wants Closer EU Ties
05:25 - Nigel Farage Delighted & Secret Cabinet Rifts
08:04 - The Real Cost: Free Movement & Single Market Traps
10:50 - Is Labour Priming The Polls For An Early Election?
13:46 - Has Burnham Abandoned The 'Makerfield Test'?
17:46 - The Russia Claim: Anatomy Of A 24-Hour U-Turn
20:06 - "Authenticity" Or Chaos? Burnham's Loose Talk
22:25 - The Budget: John Healey Targets 'White Van Man'
26:11 - High Street vs Online Giants: Retailers Strike Back
28:56 - Historic Tax Hikes: Distracting From The Pain
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.