Party Games

The world heaves a sigh of relief as giant man-baby Donald Trump is voted out of office. As the Loser-in-Chief throws a tantrum in the Oval Office, how should the UK try to build bridges with Joe Biden’s team? Plus yet another big week in Brexit, yet another climbdown on free school meals during the holidays, and yet another new political party for Nigel Farage. Get in touch on twitter.com/paulosbourne and twitter.com/partygamespod

How did Boris Johnson’s promise to level up the north of England turn into a war on Manchester? And what will the leaders of other northern cities do, after it was singled out for collective punishment? Plus the continuing fight to save Britain’s creative industries — we hear from Jessie Murphy, who’s behind the Let Music Live campaign (twitter.com/letmusicliveuk) — and the latest on the never-ending Brexit drama, where talks are on, then off, then on again. More at twitter.com/paulosbourne and twitter.com/partygamespod

One by one, the world’s political covidiots contract the virus whose dangers they’ve downplayed for so long. As Donald Trump claims victory over the pandemic, and Boris Johnson insists he’s the only person in Britain not to blame for a rise in cases, we look at the lack of political leadership on both sides of the Atlantic. Plus we reveal the terrifying identity of Britain’s most experienced Cabinet minister. More at twitter.com/paulosbourne and twitter.com/partygamespod.

Boris Johnson imposes new coronavirus restrictions — but it’s your fault — definitely not his — even if the Prime Minister has spent the summer urging you to pop to the pub and get back to work. We try to figure out what happens next. Plus Keir Starmer’s first Labour conference speech as leader — and what does David Cameron like to talk about? More at twitter.com/paulosbourne and twitter.com/partygamespod

Now is not the time for a comedian, especially one whose jokes have gone flat. As coronavirus returns and a big Brexit deadline looms, we ask how things went so wrong for Boris Johnson. The man who told us to pop out for a pint and a pie now wonders how covid infections spiralled, while breaking international law and asking the EU to trust him. More at twitter.com/paulosbourne and twitter.com/partygamespod

How did the government blunder into the A-level fiasco? And why did the u-turn take so long? It’s only the latest in a long line of mistakes — how do these crises keep blindsiding ministers? Plus the difference between migrants and refugees — something many of those ranting in Dover don’t seem to understand, and the government’s war on posh ice cream. More at twitter.com/paulosbourne and twitter.com/partygamespod.

If coronavirus restrictions are reimposed, who’s to blame? The public? Or the politicians who told them to get back to the beach, the bar and the office? Plus why the war on obesity is likely to fail, Donald Trump edges a little closer to becoming a dictator, and there’s an exciting new career opportunity. More at twitter.com/paulosbourne and twitter.com/partygamespod

Boris Johnson promises an independent coronavirus inquiry — almost certainly by accident. It wraps up another chaotic week of mixed messages on the pandemic, which we assess in the latest podcast. Plus Downing Street’s furious reaction to the coup against Failing Grayling, and the Scottish problem that threatens to derail Keir Starmer’s progress as Labour leader. More at twitter.com/paulosbourne and twitter.com/partygamespod.

The pubs are opening again, but not in Leicester. Will other cities see local lockdowns? Plus the holes in Boris Johnson’s economic revival plan, the growing stand-off with China over Hong Kong, the fallout from Sir Mark Sedwill’s departure from the top of the civil service, and an exciting new way to make money. More at twitter.com/paulosbourne and twitter.com/partygamespod.

How did the government end up being taught a lesson about humility and social justice by Marcus Rashford. We explore what caused the latest PR blunder by Downing Street. Plus the strange case of the disappearing scientists, Boris Johnson talks up the prospects of a deal with the EU, and hawks Tim Tams to an unsuspecting British public in the hope of a “ripper” post-Brexit deal with Australia.