To finish off LBC’s week-long guest series is Sir Ed Davey. He asks the callers what they think of his controversial boycotting of King Charles’ state banquet for Donald Trump’s visit next month. Do you think he was right to refuse the invitation because of Trump's inaction regarding Gaza?

Next, Ed looks bigger. During his second term, Donald Trump has changed the world order. In Ed’s opinion, he is no longer a reliable ally to the UK. Of course, not everyone agrees with this - meaning Keir Starmer’s approach to Trump is a source of great debate. Ed thinks a different approach is needed, what do you think?

This episode was recorded on the 29th of August. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Continuing LBC’s week-long guest series is James Cleverly, the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing. James’ colleague and former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said that children are being overdiagnosed with mental health conditions and that society needs to remember that growing up is naturally “messy and uneven”. Are we doing our children a disservice, and how helpful is a diagnosis if your child is genuinely struggling? 

And, the fertility rate for England and Wales has hit a record low according to the latest figures - our population is aging rapidly. Why is this happening and what can we do to try and fix it, beyond the obvious?

This episode was recorded on the 28th of August. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Continuing LBC’s week-long guest series is Emily Thornberry, Labour MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Despite asylum hotel numbers dropping from 400 to just over 200 and new policies targeting the asylum claim back-log left by the previous government, this summer has seen more anti-immigration protests than ever before. Sometimes the simple questions have the most complex answers: why is it all kicking off now?

And, Russia's military has crossed into the eastern industrial region of Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine, the first attack of such a large scale in the region. Donald Trump seems to think he can end the war and is reportedly prepared to provide intelligence and air support as part of a Ukrainian post-war security guarantee - but do you trust Donald Trump to negotiate a peace?

This episode was recorded on the 27th of August. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

To kick off LBC’s week-long guest series, former Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt stepped in for James O’Brien to tackle one of the most divisive issues in British politics: the small boats crisis. On the same day Reform UK unveiled their plans on illegal immigration, Penny asked listeners: Do you believe today’s politicians are capable of solving it—and if not, why not?

Penny then widened the discussion, posing whether the UK is still a capable nation. From the NHS to benefits, shoplifting, the exodus of wealth from London, and even trolling from our closest allies. Penny asked listeners whether Britain’s institutions—and national pride—are faltering.

And, Penny turned her attention to an issue close to her, the hospitality sector, where half of UK job losses are now concentrated. As entry-level roles disappear, is government policy stifling opportunity in what has long been a barometer of the wider economy?

This episode was recorded on the 26th of August. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

This is a catch-up version of James O'Brien's Mystery Hour from the 14th August. The James O'Brien Daily Podcast will return after the bank holiday, on Tuesday 26th August and will be presented all that week by very special guests! James returns on the 1st September.

One in four Labour members have said they’d consider supporting Jeremy Corbyn’s new left-wing, pro-Gaza party at the next general election. This news comes at a pertinent time - a UN-backed food security body announced today that famine has been confirmed in Gaza City. Lewis speaks with Zack Polanski, Deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales and Jan Egeland, General Secretary of the Norwegian Refugee Council and one of the architects of the Oslo Accords to hear their thoughts.

And, Lewis dives back into the controversial proposition he made yesterday - that there should be a 100% inheritance tax. Fellow LBC presenter, Iain Dale, and lead writer for The Times, Sebastian Payne, join Lewis in fiery debate. 

This episode was recorded on the 22nd August. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O’Brien, all this week from 10am on LBC.

Israel has taken the first steps in a take-over of Gaza City and wider occupation of the entirety of Gaza. This comes despite widespread condemnation and warnings that the offensive will likely lead to the displacement and death of many more Palestinians. Lewis discusses the ongoing conflict with the callers and is joined by Yaakov Katz, former advisor to the previous Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett.

And, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who’s been considering tightening inheritance tax in order to help balance the deficit, has been warned the move will hurt young families. Lewis disagrees, and proposes a bold 100% inheritance tax. What are your thoughts?

This episode was recorded on the 21st August. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O’Brien, all this week from 10am on LBC.

By the end of March this year there were 200 “asylum hotels”, housing around 30,000 asylum seekers. Yesterday, a high court ruled that asylum seekers will have to be removed from the Bell Hotel in Essex - a site of large protests after an asylum seeker staying there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. To break it down, Lewis speaks with Lauren Starkey, independent social worker & anti-human trafficking campaigner, and Lizzie Dearden, home affairs and security journalist.

And, the government is launching a new Civil Service internship that’ll be open only to students of lower socio-economic backgrounds, in an effort to make Whitehall more representative of the wider population. Investigating this is LBC’s Political Editor Natasha Clark, who joins Lewis to explain the impacts this internship could have.

This episode was recorded on the 20th August. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O’Brien, all this week from 10am on LBC.

35:26.820

Welcome to another instalment of James O’Brien Daily hosted by Lewis Goodall of the LBC and The News Agents, who’s stepping in for James all this week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hails Monday's talks with Donald Trump and European leaders as "significant" - despite progress to a peace deal or a security guarantee. Trump has, however, contacted Putin to arrange a meeting between him and Zelensky as a next step.

Lewis talks through what this all means with some special guests, including Lord Peter Ricketts, cross-bench peer & former UK national security adviser, Carlo Masala, professor of international politics and author of "If Russia Wins", and Aria Shahrokhshahi, a British filmmaker who now volunteers on the front lines on Ukraine.

And, Lewis discusses Palestine Action and the home secretary’s defence of its proscription as a terrorist group - a move met with condemnation by many. To date, over 700 people have been arrested for supporting the group.

This episode was recorded on the 19th August. Catch Lewis Goodall, in for James O’Brien, all this week from 10am on LBC.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with Keir Starmer and other European leaders, are meeting Donald Trump today in an effort to end the Ukraine War. Just last night Russian drone attacks killed at least 10 people across Ukraine. Lewis discusses this pivotal moment with Hanna Hopko, Former head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament & Co-founder International Centre for Ukrainian Victory, and Leigh Turner, Former British Ambassador to Ukraine & author of "Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties".

And, following yesterday’s nationwide strike in Israeli, with protestors demanding a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages, Lewis speaks with Noga Tarnopolsky, a freelance journalist based in Jerusalem and Idit Ohel, the mother of Alon Ohel, an Israeli hostage kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th.

This episode was recorded on the 18th August. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.