The Week in Westminster

31/01/2026


Listen Later

Sonia Sodha assesses the latest developments at Westminster.

This week Sir Keir Starmer became the first Prime Minister in eight years to visit China. To discuss the visit Sonia is joined by Labour MP and Chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee Liam Byrne, and the Conservative MP Sir Andrew Mitchell, who served as Deputy Foreign Secretary in Rishi Sunak’s government.

Following the Home Secretary's announcement of reforms to the police services in England and Wales Sonia spoke to two MPs, both former police officers, to discuss the proposals. Labour's Jonathan Hinder served in London for nine years, reaching the rank of inspector. He was also the head of the Police Now training academy and the Liberal Democrat Wendy Chamberlain, worked for the Scottish Police College as well as the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

To discuss the issue of loneliness in young men, Sonia is joined by MP Mims Davies, who is a former Conservative Minister for Loneliness and now co-chairs the parliamentary group on Men and Boys' Issues and Chris Hemmings, the Founder of Men’s Therapy Hub, who is also a psychotherapist who specialises in working with men and boys.

And, this week saw the launch of a new Conservative group for, what it calls, the 'politically homeless' on the centre right. So what role do political movements play in political parties? To discuss this Sonia speaks to Amber Rudd, a former Conservative Cabinet Minister and vice chair of Prosper UK, and Labour peer Stewart Wood, who is a former adviser to Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband. He is also a signatory to Mainstream, which says it is the home for 'Labour's radical realists'.

...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
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,724 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,055 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,527 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,793 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,824 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,083 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,961 Listeners

Political Fix by Financial Times

Political Fix

156 Listeners

Politics Weekly UK by The Guardian

Politics Weekly UK

281 Listeners

Any Questions? and Any Answers? by BBC Radio 4

Any Questions? and Any Answers?

44 Listeners

Daily Politics from the New Statesman by The New Statesman

Daily Politics from the New Statesman

150 Listeners

Westminster Hour by BBC Radio 4

Westminster Hour

48 Listeners

Politics Unpacked by Times Radio

Politics Unpacked

118 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

65 Listeners

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson by BBC Radio 4

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

115 Listeners

Newscast by BBC News

Newscast

712 Listeners

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards by Steve Richards

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

57 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II

4,168 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,218 Listeners

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government by Institute for Government

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

27 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

763 Listeners

Westminster Insider by POLITICO

Westminster Insider

41 Listeners

The Expert Factor by IFS/IfG/UKICE

The Expert Factor

4 Listeners

How To Win An Election by Times Radio

How To Win An Election

26 Listeners

Not Another One by Steve Richards, Miranda Green, Tim Montgomerie and Iain Martin

Not Another One

28 Listeners