The News Agents

This Friday, Jon and Lewis answer your questions about the Afghan data leak - what were the legal loopholes? Why hasn’t the Speaker resigned? And is there a situation where you'd ever disobey a super injunction?

Later, why is the Labour party at war with Diane Abbott? And is the story of the couple caught having an affair at a Coldplay concert really a public interest story worth our attention?

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

As almost 100,000 fans head to Wembley Stadium to watch Oleksandr Usyk fight Daniel Dubois to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion, Gabby and Mark are joined by boxing reporter, Steve Bunce, who never fails to make us laugh! (09:00)

Plus, Gabby and Mark look back at the best bit from this week's shows!

Watch our full episodes on YouTube at @sportsagentspod

TikTok: @thesportsagents

Instagram: @thesportsagents

X: @sportsagentspod

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Guest Booker: Kirsty Giddings

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

Last night the Prime Minister chucked four of his more rebellious MPs out of the parliamentary Labour Party. Technically, he 'removed the whip' which means that for now they cannot call themselves Labour MPs. Was he right to move against them? Does it make him stronger or weaker in his job? And what message does it send out about how Starmer wants to govern?

Later, why were key intelligence figures not informed of the Afghan data breach? And did the government mislead the courts over the severity of the situation?

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Questions are still mounting after the super-injunction imposed on The News Agents - to stop us reporting the story of a catastrophic data breach that put up to 100,000 Afghan allies at risk - was lifted.

Who bears the heaviest burden of responsibility for creating this mess?

Emily, Jon and Lewis discuss the questions that the Tories, who imposed the super injunction in 2023, need to face up to - and why Labour, who upheld the super-injunction for nearly a year, must also be held accountable.

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

The government admitted today that the superinjunction which for two years prevented us from reporting on a “catastrophic” data breach which put the lives of 100,000 Afghans at potentially lethal risk by the Taliban was “constitutionally unprecedented”.

The Defence secretary stood up in the Commons to issue an apology to those Afghans whose data had been leaked, and said that it had been “deeply uncomfortable” to have kept parliament - and the public - in the dark.

On the day that the story finally became public, John Healey came in to speak exclusively to Lewis, the first journalist to be issued with a superinjunction by the MoD.

You can listen to Lewis’s special episode on the story that the government spent two years from preventing us from telling here:

https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/episodes/7DrsZBQ/

For nearly two years the government has taken The News Agents and other journalists to a secret court to prevent us from reporting a story of huge public interest.

In August 2023 Lewis was told of a massive data breach at the Ministry of Defence - a dataset including the names and contact details of 18000 applicants to the ARAP programme, the scheme for Afghans who had helped the British armed forces in the 20 year war in the country.

These people were already at risk of reprisal from the Taliban and now their details were out there, provided courtesy, in effect, of the British government. Including family members, nearly 100,000 people were affected. This led to a constitutionally unprecedented super-injunction, where the government forbade us from reporting the story, under threat of prison.

We can now finally tell you the full extraordinary story as to what has happened - The News Agents were the only media organisation there every step of the way, in a case of huge importance to our politics, to the thousands of Afghans affected - and potentially to the way our democracy works in the years to come.

More in Common's latest research of 20 thousand people suggests nearly 90 percent of us have little or no trust in politicians. 70 percent of voters think this country is on the wrong track, and the prevailing word used to describe Britain is 'broken'. What does that mean for main stream political parties? How do they convince people politics can improve their lives? And will the next electoral race be between populists on the left and populists on the right?

We dig into the 7 political tribes as described by More in Common's Luke Tryl and ask the man who wants to lead the Green Party - Zack Polanski why he believes Ecopopulism is the only answer to Reform UK.

You can take More In Common's quiz to find out which political tribe you are here: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/seven-segments/

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

It would be an exaggeration to say the vultures are already circling the wagon - but there are already conversations taking place about Keir Starmer's future. Bloomberg and Sky have both reported that sources in Labour are already contemplating the prospect of a move against the PM next May after the local elections.

Absolutely crucial to those results will be Wales. Labour has never been out of power since devolution in Wales - more than a quarter of a century ago. But if polling is to be believed, that could. all be about to change. Reform and Plaid Cymru, the Welsh independents, both appear to be edging ahead of Labour. And if that happens it could be a huge problem - both an existential challenge for Welsh Labour, and possibly for the PM himself.

The stakes couldn't be much higher. And with that in mind, Lewis sat down with Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales. In a wide-ranging interview, she talks frankly about her relationship with Keir Starmer, where she thinks Labour needs to move to stop the haemorrhaging of support, and gives one of the most frank assessments yet of Israel's actions in Gaza from a senior Labour figure.

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

More bonus content from our new-look weekend edition!

The British & Irish Lions are soon to face Australia in the big three Tests, after wrapping up their warm-up games. So Gabby caught up with former Lions & England flanker, James Haskell to talk about Henry Pollock, where the team need to improve, what it's like to get a late call up like Owen Farrell and almost killing Rory Best on Tour.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault support is available. You can contact The Survivors Trust on 0808 801 0818 or online for confidential help.

You can watch our full episodes on YouTube here!

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Video Producer: Sam Trudgill

Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland

Guest Booker: Kirsty Giddings

Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network

Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".

The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

Gregg Wallace’s friends have been telling newspapers that his "autistic hypersensitivity" meant that he had an “oddity of filters and boundaries", including an inability to wear underwear or any tight clothing. Gregg himself has complained that the BBC neglected its duty of care to him and his recently diagnosed autism. Fifty more people have come forward this week to complain to the BBC about his alleged over-sexualised behaviour on Masterchef. Does Gregg Wallace believe he’s the real victim here? Why is he selling wellness consultation? And why did those around him who saw what he was doing not stop him?

Later, is Iran a threat to Britain on UK soil? How should the government respond to Iran - as diplomatic state or terrorist organisation?

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/