It started out as a bad week for Sir Keir Starmer, as the Labour Party was once again engulfed in a row about antisemitism. Both Azhar Ali and Graham Jones were suspended, although the former will legally still have to appear on the ballot for Labour in the Rochdale by-election. However, Sir Keir's party went on to claim two big wins in votes in Wellingborough and Kingswood. 

If that wasn't bad enough for Rishi Sunak, the prime minister got confirmation that the UK economy has slipped into recession. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss it all.

Labour wins Wellingborough seat in by-election - BBC News

Reform UK secures best-ever by-election results - Telegraph(£)

Analysis: Tough week tests Keir Starmer's leadership - BBC News

UK economy slipped into recession in 2023 - Financial Times(£)

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Neither the prime minister or opposition leader have had a good week. Rishi Sunak has been shown to be leaden-footed on a couple of occasions, including a terrible incident in which he made a trans "joke" in front of the mother of murdered trans girl Brianna Ghey in the House of Commons. 

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer is facing a huge backlash as his party rows back on its £28 billion a year green commitments. The move demonstrates many of the things people don't like about the Labour leader and co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss it all.

Uproar over Rishi Sunak’s crass trans jibe as Brianna Ghey’s mother visits Commons - Independent

‘Not a betting person’: Rishi Sunak rows back on £1,000 Rwanda bet - Guardian

What happened in Rishi Sunak's disappearing Topjaw interview - Evening Standard

UK's Labour Party expected to scale back $35 billion green spending pledge - Reuters

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It has been a busy week in all corners of the UK. The Northern Ireland Assembly is finally set to return after an agreement to remove routine checks on the island of Ireland was agreed. Over in Scotland, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon faced the Covid inquiry. Back in London, Conservative MP and justice minister Mike Freer has decided to stand down due to the death threats he has received over his support for Israel. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss it all.

DUP deal aimed at restoring power sharing in Northern Ireland is published - BBC News

Sturgeon: I did not take Covid decisions for political reasons - BBC News

Mike Freer QUITS: Veteran Tory justice minister stands down after his office faced 'arson' attack and he was forced to wear a stab vest - saying 'I've been driven out of politics by death threats - for supporting Israel' - Daily Mail

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Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell may have dodged the draft, but Sir Simon Clarke has gone over the top. The former Cabinet minister called for Rishi Sunak to quit as prime minister in a scathing Telegraph op-ed. Is anyone going to follow him out of the trenches, or will Sunak survive for a few months longer? And just what political game is the Telegraph playing? It is all discussed on this week's show.

Replace Sunak as PM or face decade of decline under Starmer - Telegraph

I'm acting alone, says Simon Clarke after calling for PM to go - BBC News

Andrew Neil vows to quit if Telegraph takeover goes ahead - Telegraph

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A new in-depth poll by YouGov caused waves as it predicted a wipeout for Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives at the next General Election. Some were keen to put a particular spin on it, claiming Reform was the key issue. The pollsters were not impressed...

In the same week, there was a row over Rwanda (again). Two Conservative deputy chairmen resigned and Therese Coffey got herself in a muddle. Ultimately, the Bill passed but it now faces the Lords.

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In the hours before this episode was recorded, US and UK forces struck 16 targets in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. It is the first time prime minister Rishi Sunak has sanctioned military action. He will address the House of Commons on Monday. Some opposition politicians, including the Lib Dems, argue Parliament should already have been recalled. 

Funnily enough, the Lib Dems have not been so keen on Parliament being recalled over the fallout from the Post Office scandal. Leader Sir Ed Davey's time as Post Office minister is under ongoing scrutiny. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss how that could continue in a General Election campaign.

Everywhere is war - Politico

Middle East crisis: At least five killed after UK-US strikes on Yemen - as Houthis warn it will not go 'unanswered' - Sky News

Britain to increase Ukraine support to £2.5bn, Rishi Sunak announces - BBC News

What actually happened in the Post Office Horizon scandal? - ITV News

The devaluation of shame - Hard Thinking on the Soft Left

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It is 2024 and that means... General Election! Sir Keir Starmer started the year with a speech, while prime minister Rishi Sunak heavily hinted in an interview that we are heading for an election in October/November. There's a US election on the way too... In fact, around two billion people around the world are going to head to the polls in the next 12 months. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell unpack what it all might mean. 

The show also covers the ongoing fallout from the Post Office scandal, after an ITV drama brought it to public attention once again. It might make things uncomfortable for Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey on the campaign trail, as he was the minister in charge at the time.

Rishi Sunak suggests general election in second half of year - BBC News

Rishi Sunak’s strategic genius - The Economist

Trump's Colorado appeal may force US Supreme Court to rule on his future - Reuters

Ed Davey accuses Post Office bosses of misleading him over Horizon IT scandal - Guardian

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We've made it to the end of 2023, so it is time for the House of Comments Christmas Special! Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell round of the year by discussing the economy and Peter Bone losing his seat, before reflecting on all that has gone on over the last 12 months. There are some 2024 predictions in there too!

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Crisis at Christmas

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Rishi Sunak nearly had a good week. After an internal battle, the prime minister managed to get his Rwanda Bill through pretty comfortably at second reading, having already put in a good showing in front of the Covid inquiry. However, a flash of temper at PMQs rather put a downer on things.  Worse, he might face yet another by-election prompted by sleaze. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss it all.

Whilst we were recording this episode, news broke that Prince Harry had won his phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). He has been awarded £140,600 in damages. The implications go far beyond MGN's bank account though.

Potential by-election as ex-Tory MP Scott Benton faces Commons suspension - BBC News

Rishi Sunak squeaks through in key Rwanda vote despite Tory infighting - Politico

Harry wins 15 claims in phone-hacking case against Mirror publisher - BBC News

'No Empathy': Rishi Sunak Condemned Over Reaction To Child Homelessness Question - Huffington Post

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Crisis at Christmas

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Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell return to discuss a chaotic week and a chaotic government. Rows about immigration and "stopping the boats" continue, and this week include the resignation of immigration minister Robert Jenrick and the Rwandan government raising concerns over the UK's emergency legislation. 

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has been at the Covid inquiry and Nadine Dorries thinks there is a conspiracy...

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