The Story

The end of Britain’s political duopoly now looks complete, as Labour suffers a catastrophic by-election defeat to the Greens in Gorton and Denton. Reform comes second, while the Tories lose their deposit with just 2% of the vote. Keir Starmer is now a prisoner of the left, and Britain is undergoing a tectonic realignment of its electoral politics.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Hosts: 

• Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
• Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
• Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times

Producer: Euan Dawtrey.

Executive Producer: Molly Guinness.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a six-month-long investigation into maternity care in England, the government has published its initial findings. The report reveals a catalog of failures at 12 NHS trusts – from inadequate staffing and poor facilities to racial discrimination. So what do bereaved families make of the findings? And can this broken system be fixed?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests: 

• Eleanor Hayward, health editor, The Times. 
• Poppy Koronka, health reporter, The Times. 

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Micaela Arneson. 

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: NHS ‘incentivised’ to record baby deaths as stillborn

Further listening: Inside England's maternity scandal, part one

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested, then Peter Mandelson. The fallout has been swift, dramatic, and is still unfolding. Hosts Manveen Rana and Luke Jones answer your biggest questions about the two men and what comes next. 

Neither men have been changed and they both deny any wrongdoing. We don’t know what evidence was used in their arrests. 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Hosts: Manveen Rana & Luke Jones.

Producers: Sophie McNulty & Harry Stott.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Commons Speaker reported Peter Mandelson as flight risk to Met Police

Further listening: Andrew is arrested

Clips: The Times, Parliament TV, Newsweek.

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, the government released its plan to reform SEND, the system that supports children with special educational needs and disabilities, in England. It’s used by around one in five children and Keir Starmer is promising £4 billion over 3 years to overhaul it. But what’s changed, who’s affected and how will the government pay for it?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:

• Georgia Lambert, education and news reporter, The Times.
• Hayley Harding, SEND campaigner. 

Host: Luke Jones.

Producers: Olivia Case and Micaela Arneson.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Keir Starmer: I’ll ensure no child with special needs is left behind

Further listening: Broken trust: Inside England's maternity scandal

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine is still fighting – but the strain is visible. How has the conflict changed since those first days of war? Why would a free and fair election in Ukraine be so difficult? And is peace even conceivable?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests: 

• Anthony Loyd, special correspondent for The Times.
• Neo, Ukrainian drone unit commander.
• Anastasiia Romaniuk, researcher based in Kyiv.
• With thanks to our Ukrainian voices from the ground: Iryna Bortniuk, Pavlo Tkachenko, Natalia Zubar, Logan & Ostap.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Harry Stott and Julia Webster.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: War diary: love and desperation on Ukraine’s front line

Further listening: A new peace plan, and a critical moment for Zelensky

Clips: BBC

Photo: Photo: Paul Brookbanks, Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past decade, thousands of families say they have been failed by England's maternity services. With a review into 12 NHS trusts due to publish its interim findings this week, we hear from some of those affected. What went wrong? And can future tragedies can be prevented?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Poppy Koronka, health correspondent, The Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Shabnam Grewal. 

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised, the following organisations may be able to help:

• Sands is a UK charity that provides support to anyone affected by the death of a baby. Please visit www.sands.org.uk or call the helpline on 0808 164 3332
• The Birth Trauma Association is a charity that supports women and families who have experienced traumatic birth. Visit www.birthtraumaassociation.org or call the helpline on 0203 621 6338
• Tommy's is a charity focused on pregnancy research in the UK. Visit their website www.tommys.org or call 0800 0147 800

Read more: NHS maternity failings leave women feeling blamed for poor care

Clips: Parliament TV, Channel 4 News, Ockenden Maternity Review, Sky News,

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jesse Jackson, the civil rights firebrand, preacher, and two-time presidential candidate rose from segregated South Carolina to the front lines of America’s fight for justice. Marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson transformed protest into political power, inspiring generations and paved the way to the first black president. We take a look at his influential, and controversial life.

Guest: Anna Temkin, deputy obituary editor, The Times.

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Dave Creasey and Julia Webster.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Rev Jesse Jackson obituary: civil rights campaigner

Clips: CBS, NPR, ITV, WCNC, BBC, The Obama White House, ThamesTV.

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After her horrific rape ordeal, Gisèle Pelicot did not want a public trial. But, in an exclusive extract from her new book, she reveals why she changed her mind.

This episode is from the audiobook A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot, read by Emma Thompson.

Read by: Emma Thompson.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: ‘I saw him rape me. My body tortured, cast unconscious into the pit of men’

Photo: Getty Images.

Further information: Published in hardback by Bodley Head on Feb 17 at £22.

To order a copy of A Hymn to Life go to timesbookshop.co.uk.

Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25.

Special discount available for Times+ members World Europe.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has denied all wrongdoing. This is the first time a member of the royal family has been arrested since the English Civil War in the 1600s. What does this mean for the future of the British monarchy?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:

• Valentine Low, former royal correspondent, The Times.
• Dr. Tom Frost, senior lecturer, Loughborough University.

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producers: Taryn Siegel and Olivia Case. 

We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested for misconduct in public office

Clips: ABC News, Talk TV, Sky News, CNBC.

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.