The Week in Westminster

15/03/2025


Listen Later

Sonia Sodha of The Observer assesses the latest developments at Westminster.

This week the Prime Minister kickstarted a mission to remake the state which he describes as "overstretched" and "flabby". He started by announcing he would abolish the arms-length body, NHS England. But there was ongoing disquiet in the Labour party about possible cuts to welfare spending which could be coming down the track. Sonia discusses all of this with former Conservative minister, Lord Willetts, who now chairs the Resolution Foundation, and Claire Ainsley, former director of policy for Keir Starmer.

After a week of intense diplomatic manoeuvring, could a ceasefire in Ukraine be on the horizon? Sonia brings together Bronwen Maddox, director of the foreign policy think tank Chatham House, and Johnny Mercer, former Conservative MP and Minister for Veterans, who has just returned from a trip to Ukraine.

Splits within Reform UK deepened this week following the party’s suspension of one of its five MPs, Rupert Lowe, after allegations of bullying and threatening violence.

Professor Jane Green of Oxford University analyses whether the ongoing row will halt Reform's surge in support.

And, MPs who like to use TikTok are regularly flouting parliamentary rules on filming videos for social media. So do the rules need to change? Former Deputy Speaker, Nigel Evans, and Daily Mail political sketchwriter, Quentin Letts, discuss whether it's really a good idea.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Week in WestminsterBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2

4.2

24 ratings


More shows like The Week in Westminster

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,406 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,852 Listeners

F1: Chequered Flag by BBC Radio 5 Live

F1: Chequered Flag

785 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,829 Listeners

Politics Weekly UK by The Guardian

Politics Weekly UK

262 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,764 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,068 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,973 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,063 Listeners

Westminster Hour by BBC Radio 4

Westminster Hour

45 Listeners

Any Questions? and Any Answers? by BBC Radio 4

Any Questions? and Any Answers?

40 Listeners

The New Statesman | UK politics and culture by The New Statesman

The New Statesman | UK politics and culture

139 Listeners

Politics Unpacked by The Times

Politics Unpacked

127 Listeners

Political Fix by Financial Times

Political Fix

165 Listeners

Coffee House Shots by The Spectator

Coffee House Shots

189 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

80 Listeners

Newscast by BBC News

Newscast

691 Listeners

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards by Steve Richards

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

61 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

779 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,026 Listeners

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government by Institute for Government

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

22 Listeners

Westminster Insider by POLITICO

Westminster Insider

28 Listeners

Political Currency by Persephonica

Political Currency

111 Listeners

The Today Podcast by BBC Radio 4

The Today Podcast

36 Listeners

How To Win An Election by The Times

How To Win An Election

20 Listeners