A Mucky Business with Tim Farron

It's 100 days since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, and this week Tim asks how much of it has been substance and how much has been noise.

Tim is joined by Paul O'Kane, the new director of Christians on the Left and former Member of the Scottish Parliament, who was in Downing Street the day Burnham arrived.

They take stock of the first 100 days and look ahead to tomorrow's Budget.

Plus, Tim reflects on the government's new "Be Ready" campaign, which urges households to prepare for emergencies, and answers one of YOUR questions.

If you haven't sent yours in yet, email it to [email protected].

This is the third episode in our series on Burnhamism.

Catch up on the others:

Episode 1: Journalist and author Rob Hutton joins Tim to look back at Burnham's Labour conference speech and some of its key proposals.

Episode 2: Sir Steve Webb, the former pensions minister, explains the triple lock and asks whether Burnham's plan can really pay for better social care.

This week, Tim continues his mini-series on Burnhamism by looking at one of the biggest promises in Andy Burnham’s conference speech: replacing the pensions triple lock with a “double lock” to help pay for a National Care Service.

To make sense of it, Tim is joined by Sir Steve Webb, the former Lib Dem pensions minister who introduced the triple lock in government and now advises on pensions at LCP. They ask whether Burnham’s plan can really pay for better social care, and Steve shares an idea from LCP for funding it: a 1p income tax contribution with an opt-out. Steve also reflects on how his Christian faith shaped his time in politics.

Plus, Tim asks whether we can afford the society we’ve created.

And, of course, Tim answers one of YOUR questions. If you haven’t sent yours in yet, email it to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

This week, Tim kicks off a brand-new mini-series on Burnhamism: the ideas and policies behind Andy Burnham's speech at the Labour Conference.

Over the coming weeks, Tim will be unpacking some of those announcements, looking at what they could mean in practice and how achievable they really are.

To get things started, Tim is joined by journalist and author Rob Hutton, who spent years covering British politics for Bloomberg and now writes the parliamentary sketch for The Critic.

They look back at the conference and take a closer look at some of Burnham's key proposals.

Plus, Tim reflects on Brexit.

With Burnham saying a future referendum on re-joining the EU is "possible," it's creeping back into the headlines, but can Christians keep the peace this time around?

And, of course, Tim answers one of YOUR questions.

If you haven't sent yours in yet, email it to [email protected].

The end of party conference season is here, and that means it's time for our final episode looking at the big stories coming out of it!

This week, Tim is joined by Conservative MP Rebecca Smith, who returns to the show for the second time since becoming an MP in 2024.

They look back at her first two years in Parliament, what she's learned along the way, and what she thinks the future holds for the Conservative Party in British politics.

Tim also reflects on harvest and asks whether we really do enough to give thanks for our food and for the people who produce it.

And there's an invitation from Tim to an event at his church!

You can book your place at cho.parrstchurch.org.

As always, Tim also answers one of your questions.

If you haven't sent yours in yet, make sure you do - email your question to [[email protected]]

And if you'd like to support the team behind the podcast, you can do so at stewardship.org.uk/partners/AMB.

It’s Labour’s turn for party conference, and one speech is dominating the conversation: Andy Burnham’s.

Tim is joined by former Loughborough MP Andy Reed, who worked alongside Burnham during his early days in Parliament, to unpack the speech, the policies Burnham announced, and what they might mean for Labour.

Andy also reflects on life after politics - and what comes next when Westminster is no longer your day job.

Plus, Tim turns his attention to AI, asking what it means for Christians - and whether we can, or should, engage with it.

And, as always, Tim answers one of your questions.

So if you haven't sent yours in already, make sure you do!

Email your question to [email protected].

If you'd like to support the team making this podcast, you can do so at stewardship.org.uk/partners/AMB.

We're continuing our conference season, and this time it's the Lib Dems' turn.

Tim is joined by Munira Wilson, the party's education spokesperson and MP for Twickenham.

They discuss the rise of Reform, the donations row that overshadowed Reform's own conference, and whether the Lib Dems still have a place in British politics.

She also shares whether her faith makes her everyday job easier or harder.

Plus, Tim reflects on this week's Mucky Question: when does patriotism become idolatry?

And, as always, Tim answers one of your questions. So if you haven't sent yours in already, make sure you do! Email your question to [email protected].

If you'd like to support the team making this podcast, you can do so at stewardship.org.uk/partners/AMB.

This week Tim is joined by Sarah Smith MP, the Labour representative for Hyndburn and Haslingden in Lancashire.

They discuss Andy Burnham's first months in No.10, his Catholic faith, and Sarah's push for SEND reform at the Department for Education.

Plus Tim tackles this week's Mucky Question - can you govern by giving power away? He digs into Andy Burnham's devolution plans and whether real power can ever truly leave Westminster.

And he answers a listener's question, as always. Got one of your own? Email [email protected].

If you’d like to support the team making this podcast, you can do so at stewardship.org.uk/partners/AMB.