The News Agents

Northern France is full of the ghosts of British history. Today it haunts our present.

The News Agents went undercover and spoke directly to a people smuggler - who traffics asylum seekers across the Channel in small boats for thousands of pounds a traveller. Lewis reports from the beaches of Dunkirk.

Field Producer & Newsgathering Producer: Rory Symon

Editor: Gabriel Radus

Executive Editor: Tom Hughes

Commissioning Editor: Vicky Etchells

The News Agents Investigates is presented by Lewis Goodall.

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original podcast.

Michael Heseltine is a politician with a long political memory. He heard Neville Chamberlain declare war on Germany in 1939. He saw Suez unfold. He attended Churchill’s funeral.

He’s served Conservative prime minister after Conservative prime minister and became the man who eventually even brought down Margaret Thatcher. He never reached the highest office himself, but having seen so many who did up close, and witnessed so much of Britain’s political journey over the last century, there can be few who can offer more perspective, more wisdom about the state we are in and where we might yet go, than he.

In the latest of our extended political interviews, Lewis talks to Heseltine about his life, his journey, his passionate belief that we must re-enter the EU and how he worries that the current Home Secretary is echoing the rhetoric and division of Enoch Powell.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Rishi Sunak has refused to answer whether his government is set to scrap the Northern leg of HS2 between Birmingham and Manchester.

The indecision is already creating division within the Conservative Party ahead of the party conference next week. So today we ask whether Rishi Sunak really cares about the north of England.

And we look at the latest "flip-flop" from Labour leader Keir Starmer.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Emily and Jon host a weekly 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.

Laurence Fox's weird sexist rant last night on GB News got short shrift from the organisation which immediately suspended him from the platform, and followed on later by suspending their presenter, Dan Wootton.

But GB news has still got plenty of presenters on its books who spout conspiracy, confect outrage, and misinform. This didnt come from nowhere - so why is everyone suddenly arguing this is a turning point for the fledgling broadcaster? We discuss the growth and the direction of GB News.

Later, We look at 'the Voice' referendum in Australia into Aboriginal representation. Is this the Aussie's brexit moment? And will it tear the country apart?

Suella Braverman wants to make it harder for people to call themselves a refugee.

She's in Washington setting out her case for a major overhaul of the UN Refugee Convention - signed in 1951 in the aftermath of the Second World War (but updated continually since).

She says the numbers of people crossing the channel now make it unsustainable. Is she right? And where are her numbers coming from....

Also today we speak to Naomi Klein on the war against objective truth - her new book is about being confused with a conspiracy theorist.

And Lewis is back from the Lib Dem conference and an interview with Ed Davey.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Rishi Sunak and his lectern are promising 'long term decisions for a brighter future'. But just whose future is getting brighter?

Plans for HS2 are in chaos after rumours the PM might be about to ditch the wildly over-budget rail project. He's called environmental policies heavy handed - and ditched some of those targets. And now his ministers are starting to suggest that inheritance tax could be 'deeply punitive'. Will that be axed too?

And we discuss the outlier poll for ABC news which gives Trump a 10 point lead over Biden in a presidential election.

[Clip credit: Trevor Phillips on Sky News]

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Gordon Smart was the editor of The Scottish Sun, and deputy editor of the Sun. But before that, he was the paper's showbiz editor who got to know very well, among others, Russell Brand. He sits down with Emily and Lewis to talk about the man that's been accused of sexual assault and rape, as well as debauchery in tabloid journalism and showbiz in the 2000s and 2010s.

Russell Brand denies all allegations of sexual impropriety.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

92 year old Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of News Corp, the owner of The Sun, The Times and Fox News - he was in charge of his media empire for 70 years.

In true Succession style, his eldest son, Lachlan takes over. Emily and Lewis ask one of his former prodigal sons, Gordon Smart - who once was deputy editor of The Sun and editor of The Scottish Sun - about the man who used to be his boss.

And later, we discuss the ramifications of Rishi Sunak's changes to his net-zero policies.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Zac Goldsmith, one time energy minister, who resigned from Rishi Sunak's government, has accused his old boss of delivering a 'moment of shame' after he revealed plans to adjust (water down) his commitment to green policies.

Rishi Sunak was propelled into explaining his new position in a hastily arranged press conference after details were leaked to the BBC. What effect will these changes have environmentally, economically, and politically.

And why are Tory MPs now tearing strips off each other? We speak to Lord Greg Barker - former energy minister and Anna Valero who advises the chancellor.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Will Gibson-Smith

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

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.