MPs have left Westminster for the summer, but politics continues - with Nigel Farage promising to spend six weeks fighting a war on crime.

Can opposition parties use the break to put pressure on the government, did David Cameron deserve his reputation for 'chillaxing', and why did Tony Blair's team hope he wouldn't call from the sun lounger?

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With Hugo away, Patrick Maguire joins the political masterminds to ask whether Keir Starmer was right to punish rebellious Labour MPs by removing the whip.

They also consider whether giving the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds will help Nigel Farage at the next election, Rachel Reeves' unpalatable options over tax, and Donald Trump's appearance at the Club World Cup.

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This week the political masterminds consider what's happening on the populist left and right, with more Tories defecting to Reform UK and talk of a new party led by Jeremy Corbyn.

How small has the Conservative coalition become, do the voters expect Keir Starmer to wield a 'magic wand', and what would a new party be called?

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It's been a dramatic political week, with Keir Starmer attempting to answer speculation about the chancellor's future after she was seen in tears at prime minister's questions.

The political masterminds discuss what really happened at PMQs, how the prime minister has responded, and whether the government is in search of a new strategy. Plus, just how big is Polly's whiteboard?

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The political masterminds are answering your questions this week, including - should Keir Starmer look to Harold Wilson, or ignore historical precedents? Can politicians make the case for borrowing more? And what can Reform learn from the Lib Dems about coming second?

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The government has held a meeting of the Cobra committee to discuss the Israel-Iran crisis - but how important is it really during a national emergency, and is it the UK's version of the White House Situation Room?

The political masterminds also discuss the political impact of backing America during a conflict, and whether Keir Starmer can start ignoring Kemi Badenoch at prime minister's questions.

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The political masterminds ask whether Rachel Reeves' Spending Review charts a course to victory at the next General Election, before turning to another set of national elections - can Reform UK win in Labour's heartlands when Welsh voters go to the polls in a year's time?

And who will win the Lib Dem KitKat of victory?

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With tough choices facing the government, the political masterminds look at what goes on behind the scenes ahead of a spending review - and how reluctant ministers are brought into line.

And as the Tories finally put the boot into the Liz Truss legacy, have they found a new strategy on the economy - and will anyone notice?

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The political masterminds are joined by former Tory cabinet minister David Gauke, fresh from leading the sentencing review for Keir Starmer's government. When does bringing people into the big tent work, and when is does it go wrong? They talk about Tony Blair's tsars, Gordon Brown's GOATS and Chris Grayling's gaffe.

They also discuss cabinet tussles over the spending review, and Robert Jenrick's vigilante video tackling fare dodgers.

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Keir Starmer is changing course on the winter fuel allowance - where does it sit in the league table of political U-turns, and will it please anybody?

The political masterminds also discuss the Conservative Party's existential polling spiral, why Starmer's approval ratings have fallen so far in the year since the General Election was called, and why Hugo agrees with Polly that babies should get the vote.

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