Talking Politics

The murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton last year has sparked national outrage and accusations from Nigel Farage of “two-tier policing”.

But is there any evidence to suggest police are treating people differently based on their ethnicity, or was this just a case of “grotesque police incompetence”?

On this week’s episode of Talking Politics, Tom and Robert react to the disturbing bodycam footage from the scene and examine how a tragic murder became a national political flashpoint.

They also discuss Farage’s intervention in the case, the family's repeated calls for calm, and why he chose to speak out on the issue after weeks of avoiding media scrutiny.

A new tranche of files have been released today relating to the appointment of disgraced peer Lord Mandelson as US ambassador. But what do they include, and how embarrassing are they for Keir Starmer and his government?

Tom Bradby and Robert Peston discuss what’s included in the documents - from private messages between senior Labour figures, to Mandelson telling David Lammy that the government would "never regret" his appointment as ambassador, and Pat McFadden’s criticism of the PM.

Mandelson has said he regrets his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, denies criminality, and says his priority is to cooperate with the police and clear his name.

Tom and Robert are joined by ITV News Investigations Editor Daniel Hewitt following his exclusive interview with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

Burnham is hoping to return to Westminster by winning the Makerfield by-election - a move already fuelling excitement among his supporters that he could become Labour leader, and even Prime Minister, by the summer.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s other main challenger, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, has confirmed he would stand in any future leadership contest. He’s also thrown his weight behind rejoining the EU, putting Brexit firmly back on the political agenda.

With Nigel Farage’s Reform UK surging in the local elections, would changing leader prove Labour has completely "lost its mind", or could this finally be Burnham’s moment?

Keir Starmer is battling to stay in post and after a pivotal cabinet meeting, Tom and Robert are in Downing Street to gauge the mood of ministers.

All eyes are now on his main challenger threat, Wes Streeting. With his backers already making moves to oust the PM - will the Health Secretary act?

Meanwhile, with Andy Burnham seen on a train to London, will he take the risk of mounting a leaderhip challenge, despite the Mayor of Greater Manchester not having a seat in Parliament?

Is it too little, too late for the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer?

That's the opinion of Labour MP Catherine West when describing Starmer's speech on Monday, as he fought to save his job following a bruising set of local election results and subsequent calls for his resignation.

On this week's Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston look at whether there is a future for Starmer as PM.

Describing Friday's local election results as tough, Starmer claimed the country was facing both "dangerous times" and "dangerous opponents".

"If we don't get this right, our country will go down a very dark path," claimed the PM.

"I know people are frustrated by the state of Britain, frustrated by politics, and some people, frustrated with me," said Starmer.

"I know I have my doubters, I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will."

Over the weekend, Labour MP Catherine West spoke out, issuing an ultimatum that if a member of the cabinet had not challenged Starmer over the leadership by Monday, she would gather the 81 signatures to launch one herself.

Her most recent words appear to back down on this, but still build momentum on pressuring the PM to depart.

Ms West said she is gathering the names of Labour MPs to call on Sir Keir Starmer to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September.

With huge gains across England's council elections, has Nigel Farage's Reform UK become the main party of the right - or is it too soon to right the Conservatives off?

On Talking Politics Tom Bradby and Robert Peston break down the results with ITV News Elections Analyst Professor Colin Rallings and Professor Jane Green from Nuffield College, University of Oxford.

How much further can Reform go and on a massive day for Plaid Cymru and the SNP - what do results across England, Wales and Scotland mean for Labour and the future of the UK?

It’s going to be a seismic week for British politics, as millions of voters head to the polls across England, Scotland and Wales.

In this episode of Talking Politics, Tom and Robert are joined by ITV News Elections Analyst Colin Rallings, to unpack what’s at stake in the crucial May elections.

They break down the key councils in England to watch out for, and look at why devolved contests in Scotland and Wales could lead to the break-up of the UK. Plus - has Farage’s Reform party peaked, or could they still engulf the Conservative Party?

And why could a hostile leadership contest after the elections mean people never vote Labour again?

Keir Starmer has faced yet another day of scrutiny over his “disastrous” choice of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador.

On Talking Politics, Robert and Tom unpack why evidence from ex-foreign office official Philip Barton and the PM’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney exposed a series of missed opportunities and errors of judgement to stop the Mandelson appointment.

Robert explains why the whole saga shows a “world of surreal madness” at the heart of government, and how it could be “existential” for the PM.

Plus, reaction to yet another embarrassment for Starmer across the pond, as a leaked recording of the current US Ambassador threatens to overshadow the King’s state visit…

Keir Starmer is under fresh pressure over his controversial decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador.

Explosive testimony from sacked top Foreign Office official Olly Robbins has revealed there was “constant pressure” from Number 10 to push the appointment through - raising serious questions about how the decision was made.

On Talking Politics, Tom and Robert break down Robbins’ appearance at the Foreign Affairs Committee - and why the decision to sack him seems to have backfired on Starmer.

Was Olly Robbins made a scapegoat? And could this scandal rival the scale of Partygate?

Listen to this week’s episode to find out.

Donald Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz is underway but how long can it last, and have the Americans backed themselves into a corner?

On Talking Politics, Tom and Robert examine why the blockade could become a “slow and painful” strategy.

They also break down the latest “depressing” forecasts for economic growth from the International Monetary Fund, a major blow to the UK economic outlook.

And with fresh warnings from former Labour Defence Secretary and ex-NATO chief Lord Robertson that Britain’s security is “in peril,” Tom and Robert discuss how Sir Keir Starmer should respond.