Warning: This episode contains some discussion of racist language which listeners may find distressing.

A week on from Rachel Reeves' Budget, Paul Brand and Robert Peston take stock of the extraordinary row between the Treasury, the Chancellor, and the OBR over who knew and said what about the public finances in the preceding weeks.

Robert says it's the result of one of the 'biggest shambles in terms of Budget preparation' that he can recall. But has the Chancellor ridden out the storm - or could she still have to resign?

Also: A former classmate of Nigel Farage has alleged the Reform UK leader racially "tormented" him when they were at school together. Farage says the claims are 'categorically' untrue - but how politically damaging could they be for him?

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has finally revealed her Budget plans, albeit after the Office for Budget Responsibility published them first, by mistake.

But will tax rise upon tax rise win over doubting voters - or will her tactic to delay many of the key measures coming in return to haunt Labour?

In Talking Politics, Paul Brand and Robert Peston are joined by Professor Jane Green, director of the Nuffield Politics Research Centre, to pick apart the Budget strategy.



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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has told ITV News his government has restored respect to politics since coming into power.

When he came into Downing Street in July 2024, Starmer promised to "restore honesty and integrity to government”.

However, since then, it's fair to say it's been a stormy ride for him and the Labour Party.

Shortly after becoming prime minister, he attracted attention for the scale of the gifts he had been receiving, and more recently in September his deputy Angela Rayner resigned after breaking the ministerial code.

When asked if he could "hand on heart" say that his government had restored respect to politics, Starmer answered, "yes".





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After months of furious speculation, briefing, leaking, and U-turning, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves is finalising her all-important second Budget.

It now looks like the rates of income tax won't rise after all - but, as Robert explains, there is a more hidden 'tax' on income that will affect millions of British workers and raise billions of pounds.

How will it all affect you, and how will it affect the Prime Minister's job security?

And what was the thinking behind the unusually family-focused video he posted on social media on International Men's Day?

Is it a sign that he's changing his style of leadership?

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It is about to get a lot harder to claim asylum in Britain.

The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced significant changes to the UK's immigration system - the biggest, the government claims, of the modern era. She insists they will 'unite a divided country', but denies playing a political game to gain support from Reform voters. 

Robert sat down with the Home Secretary to dig into the plans, how they will work in practice, and whether they risk another major rebellion within the Labour party.

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This week on Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston analyse the rumours of a coup to oust Sir Keir Starmer.

In an extraordinary 24 hours, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting is forced to deny on the record that he wants the top job.

And the Prime Minister has had to say he will fight any leadership challenge.

Also, what next for the BBC after the Director General resigns and Donald Trump threatens to sue?

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Rachel Reeves has, once again, said it without really saying it: Brace yourselves for tax rises.

In an unusual pre-budget speech today, the Chancellor said she would "make the choices necessary” as speculation mounts that she is preparing to raise income tax to help fill a gap in the public finances.

In her first in-depth interview since becoming Labour's deputy leader, Tom and Robert are joined by Lucy Powell to discuss whether the Labour 'brand' could be fatally hurt by this decision - and what it does to public trust in politics. 

She says the government must 'tread carefully' when it comes to issues that threaten to undermine public trust.

They also discuss how Labour can turn the tide on Nigel Farage - and why she believes Labour is 'ceding the agenda' to Reform UK.



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In this episode of Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and political editor Robert Peston analyse the Chancellor's dwindling options for her upcoming budget and predict the impact of the decisions she might make.

They discuss how Rachel Reeves will fill that multi-billion-pound hole in the country's finances, whether she will increase income tax despite previous promises not to, and how she can hold onto the country's highest tax bracket.




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Robert is joined by the Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who says he wants his children to feel "confident" in the UK and England flags. 

The Deputy PM - and Justice Secretary - claimed the flag was being appropriated by the far-right. He also spoke about a new AI tool being used in the justice system to help transcribe interviews. And he said it was "right" that MPs scrutinise Prince Andrew's living arrangements.

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Tom Bradby and Robert Peston chat with Lord Simon Case, who has served as right-hand man to both Prince William and four Prime Ministers, as Cabinet Secretary.

They discuss the growing pressure on the government to officially strip Prince Andrew of all his titles, including his Dukedom.

Lord Case also breaks down the threat China poses to the UK and explains why No.10 remains dysfunctional over a year since the general election.

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