Pat Leahy, Jennifer Bray and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to discuss today's unexpected announcement by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that he is stepping down.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did Leo Varadkar choose this moment to go?

The best analysis of the Irish political scene featuring Irish Times journalists, political thinkers and the occasional politician. Hosted by Hugh Linehan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Political Editor Pat Leahy sits in Hugh Linehan’s chair as podcast host this week for an Inside Politics election special as our politics team analyses the upcoming local and European elections. Jennifer Bray reminds us of the political landscape influencing the 2019 local elections which led to the ‘Green wave’ and Sinn Féin’s running aground. Jack Horgan-Jones analyses the impact a pandemic, a cost of living crisis and the war in Europe have had on voters and the resulting trends that have become embedded. Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn take a deep dive into the issues, candidates and political groupings in the sprawling European election constituencies. There is also an intriguing electoral race taking part on the 7th of June when voters in Limerick city and county will go to the polls to choose Ireland’s first directly-elected mayor. If the elections haven’t yet been top of mind for you, don’t miss this thorough look at the forthcoming ballots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will far-right politicians make inroads in local and European elections?

Hugh Linehan is joined by Pat Leahy and Harry McGee to look back on the week in politics: 
Taoiseach Simon Harris’s sure-footed performance as he delivered an apology to the Stardust tragedy victims.
Less good was Minister for Justice Helen McEntee’s appearance at an Oireachtas committee, where she struggled to answer a question about the State’s handling of international protection applicants.
Discussions about budget spending are starting early this year, a sign of the auction politics to come in the run-up to the general election.
 Plus the panel pick their Irish Times articles of the week: 
Justine McCarthy on the growing number of journalists becoming Government advisors.
Finn McRedmond in defence of snobbery.
And coverage of the dysfunction in University Hospital Limerick, as revealed by a coroner’s report on the tragic death of teenager Aoife Johnston.
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Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harris delivers on Stardust as McEntee fumbles the border question

London Correspondent Mark Paul joins Hugh Linehan to talk about the issues making an impact on British politics right now. The issues include upcoming local elections, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's drive to pass his Rwanda Bill, which will allow Britain to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda while their claims are processed, and the contrasting fortunes of the Conservative and Labour parties. 
In part two they look north to Scotland, where the Scottish National Party is showing signs of fatigue after a prolonged period in power. It is a weariness that shows in party leader Humza Yousaf's struggle to handle a wide range of controversies, from green policies to corruption, rape trial reforms and trans rights. 

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

From the Rwanda Bill to the Cass Report - the issues driving UK politics

On today’s Inside Politics podcast, Hugh Linehan, Jack Horgan-Jones and Jennifer Bray look back on the week in politics:
Two weeks in, Simon Harris has already experienced some minor controversies as Taoiseach. But how is he doing overall?
As the Greens head into their National Conference this weekend, will the party be happy with their standing as an election draws near? 
The EU Migration pact has the potential to be a significant political flashpoint and raises the question: Do  European matters receive enough scrutiny in the Oireachtas? 
Plus the panel pick their Irish Times articles of the week: 
Derek Scally on a German Luthern priest’s successful ploy to attract a younger congregation with help from Taylor Swift. 
Patrick Freyne’s unflattering review of a new RTE comedy sketch show.
And Conor Pope’s reporting on the egregiousness of Eir. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grading Harris, migration pact flashpoint, the lure of Taylor Swift

With its fast-growing economy and increasing significance as a player in European security, Poland’s political direction will have a major bearing on the future of Europe. But the centrist coalition led by Donald Tusk is grappling with how to unwind some of the oppressive legacy of its predecessors, the right nationalist Law and Justice party. 
Meanwhile, Poland’s neighbour to the West faces a different set of problems. An unpopular government, an economic recession and growing divisions over wars in Ukraine and Israel mean Germany is experiencing a crisis of confidence. 
Hugh Linehan explores these political and social pressures in Poland and Germany with Irish Times Berlin Correspondent Derek Scally.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did Leo Varadkar choose this moment to go?

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