The News Agents

An impromptu Prime Minister's press conference this morning raised more questions than it answered.

Rishi Sunak was responding to the resignation of Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick last night - which blindsided the government - and left the PM defending his Rwanda policy and promising he would disapply human rights law to get it through. Today - a stark message for those in the party trying to cause trouble - from Tory backbencher and 1922 committee stalwart Sir Charles Walker - who joins us on the show.

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

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon

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

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: 

https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Boris Johnson’s appearance before the Covid Inquiry always had the feeling of the end of season pre-Xmas finale. It began with protests from the bereaved - who Johnson had avoided by arriving early.

He offered his apology , insisted the UK death rate had been comparatively normal, and couldn’t quite explain what if anything he thought he’d got wrong.

Later- Suella in the Commons. What was that speech about?

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

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

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

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: 

https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

The Home Secretary will bring in tough new rules to curb legal migration next Spring.

Workers will be required to earn nearly forty thousand pounds to come here. Care workers will be exempt but won’t be allowed to bring a loved one. What will the unintended consequences be? And can we afford it ?

Later, the Rwanda policy is looking for a defibrillator. What does the government have in mind?

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

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

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

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.

Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.

Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

The Conservative Party has lost half a million voters since their October party conference - according to a brand-new poll of polls.

They suggest Rishi's personal popularity is now lower than... Liz Truss.

Why is this happening and is it reversible or terminal?

Which political direction will it pull the PM in?

And later who is Keir Starmer talking to when he warns Labour will not be making big spending plans - and confesses his admiration for the controversial Margaret Thatcher?

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

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

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

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: 

https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Matt Hancock has had his moment in the Covid Inquiry's sun. In characteristic form, he's been an appropriate mix of quoteworthy, weird and often both. At the heart of his testimony lies some extraordinary allegations. We dig deep.

And in the latest of our extended political interviews, we talk to veteran Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, about her battles with the far right, the far left and how identity politics has brought her own rising sense of Jewishness to the forefront of her politics.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon

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

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: 

https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

On 15 September 2008 the world changed forever. The collapse of Lehman Brothers Bank heralded the financial crash and the worst recession in 60 years.

It would change our politics - perhaps forever. One man predicted the scale and depth of what was to come - the chancellor who fought to stabilise the UK economy on the brink of collapse.

That was Alistair Darling, whose death was announced this afternoon. Today we look at the impact that extraordinary time and his critical interventions had on this country - and we talk to his mentee - the shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves about the man he was.

Later we reflect on the death of a statesman and foreign affairs titan - Henry Kissinger - at the age of 100 and ask if the man who witnessed an entire century will be better remembered for good or ill.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon

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

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: 

https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

With The Telegraph newspaper up for sale we are asking a wider question about who owns our news.

Does it matter if foreign parties have a stake ? Does it matter if foreign governments do? And can an owner remain truly impartial when their business depends upon it?

We discuss the intersection between politics, newspaper coverage and big money.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

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

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Rishi Sunak has cancelled a meeting with the visiting Greek PM. Downing Street says it was because he raised the issue of the return of the Elgin Marbles/Parthenon Sculptures on the BBC, after expressly being asked not to.

The Greeks say no such deal was ever made, and they didn't fancy a downgraded meeting with the Deputy PM Oliver Dowden.

Meanwhile Keir Starmer's team say he had a very productive meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis on immigration and security - and they find it odd that a NATO ally was sent home empty handed. What does the row tell us about the PM's concerns? Also on the show, Lawrence Fox is fighting a libel case at the High Court to get his name cleared after he was called 'a racist' on twitter. We discuss.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Rory Symon & Shane Fennelly

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

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Emily and Jon host a weekly US politics podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.

Episodes are available every Tuesday, on Global Player.

Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.