Weeks of optimism and cheer as Covid restrictions were eased gave way to another bout of nationwide nervousness amid localised spikes in infections attributed to the variant of the virus first detected in India, prompting debates about how to contain the variant and whether the June 21 unlocking needs to be delayed.
Labour MP and Keir Starmer’s new parliamentary private secretary Sharon Hodgson joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to chat through Covid, winning voters in red wall seats like hers, and being braver on Brexit.
Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Labour Should Be Braver To Win Back The Red Wall

Each week, the HuffPost UK Politics team unpack the biggest stories from Westminster and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News & Politics

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Government

Boris Johnson has taken the biggest gamble of his premiership with a National Insurance hike to fund the NHS and social care.
Labour's leader in the Lords Angela Smith joins Ned Simons, Sophia Sleigh and Paul Waugh to chat through Tory tax rises and where Labour's at ahead of its party conference Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Baroness Angela Smith...On Tory Tax Bombshells And Labour's Future

As MPs head off to their constituencies, rising Covid cases and Channel crossings of asylum seekers are ensuring Boris Johnson cannot put his feet up.
Home Affairs Committee chair Yvette Cooper joins Ned Simons and Paul Waugh to chat through her joust with the Priti Patel this week, as well as the wider problems facing both the government and Labour this summer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yvette Cooper On The Art Of Govt And Opposition

The chancellor's late, late move to outflank Tory rebels on international aid cuts won the day, despite MPs voting against the three line whip. But is the rebellion over and will Rishi Sunak and his party rue the damage caused to their brand?
Ned Simons and Paul Waugh are joined by former international development secretary (and former chief whip) Andrew Mitchell.
Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sunak's Overseas Aid Ambush: With Andrew Mitchell

Football may or may not be coming home, but Boris Johnson and Liz Truss want British firms to export more abroad. Can the UK’s tricky relations with China help or hinder that post-Brexit ambition?
Shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry joins Ned Simons and Paul Waugh to chat through trade, as well as the next steps for Keir Starmer’s Labour after its ‘Batley bounce’.
Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trading places: Will Liz Truss’s ‘Donut’ Strategy Leave Us With Brexit Indigestion?

Sajid Javid made a phoenix-like return to the Cabinet this week, replacing Matt Hancock after the former health secretary was sensationally caught on camera breaking Covid rules by kissing an aide in his office.
Senior Tory and Commons education committee chair Rob Halfon joins Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to discuss a rocky week for the government, and the Covid crisis that’s creeping up in English schools.
Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Labour Should Be Braver To Win Back The Red Wall

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