uk politics

Former prime minister David Cameron is back in the government after Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle. Pressure had been mounting on Sunak to sack Suella Braverman after a controversial opinion piece in The Times last week. So why is Cameron back? And what do the appointments mean for the Conservatives and their election strategy?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. 

Guest: Steven Swinford, Political Editor, The Times.

Host: Luke Jones. 

Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk 

Music: 'Fantasy on David Cameron (Cameron's lament in C minor)' courtesy of Thomas Hewitt Jones. Follow Thomas at @thewittjones on Twitter and @thomashewittjonesmusic on Facebook. And you can hear the full track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhyORjJ00Rk 

Clips: Sky News, Times Radio, BBC News, BBC Radio 4, TalkTV.

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

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

Rishi Sunak’s premiership is almost one year old. Is this where the Tory party wants to be 12 months out from an election?

Can a party that’s been in power for 13 years win again? And what has to happen to make that possible?

We talk to Ben Riley-Smith author of The Right to Rule and political editor of The Telegraph.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Producer: Phoebe Dampare-Osei

Video Producers: Rory Symon & Ben Bate

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

The Times Briefing for Saturday 10th October

For more on these stories throughout the day tune into Times Radio - on DAB, online, through your smart speaker or on the Times Radio app  

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

The Times Briefing for the afternoon  Friday 13th October

For more on these stories throughout the day tune into Times Radio - on DAB, online, through your smart speaker or on the Times Radio app  

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

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

The News Agents at the Labour Party Conference: Day 1

The Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves joins The News Agents following her speech in Liverpool.

We discuss her plans to tax tech firms, her unwillingness to tax the rich and the Labour members carrying Palestinian flags outside the conference centre.

We also talk about the war that has begun formally today in Israel, after Hamas carried out a series of terror attacks this weekend.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Producer: Rory Symon

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

The Tory conference is over, but the next one - Labour - looms large.

What will Sir Keir Starmer do with the new look rail plans? Will they resurrect HS2 or get into line behind Sunak's plans? And whilst the mood of the country may demand change, how confident is Labour or bringing them on side?

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".

On today's podcast:
(1) Reports a key part of HS2 is about to be scrapped throw Rishi Sunak's pre-election narrative off track.

(2) Bank of England policymaker Catherine Mann says interest rates have only just reached restrictive territory.

(3) Loretta Mester say the Federal Reserve will probably need to raise rates once more this year.

(4) Jamie Dimon said artificial intelligence is likely to make dramatic improvements in workers' quality of life, even if it eliminates some jobs. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's podcast:

(1) Jeremy Hunt will today say he's increasing the National Living Wage to at least £11 an hour amid growing party discontent over Britain's tax burden.

(2) A stop-gap spending bill passed by the US Congress over the weekend will keep the government open until the 17th of November.

(3) Household water bills in the UK are set to rise by an average of 35% by 2030 as utility firms plan to ramp up investment.

(4) The billionaire Bill Ackman is said to be interested in pursuing a deal with Elon Musk's X Corporation, as part of a new investment vehicle.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On tonight' episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, Rosanna Lockwood sits in for Piers and mediates and debate between vegan chefs Bosh Boys and a Welsh hill farmer, Rosanna looks into whether modern fairy tales should leave feminism to the real world. Also Rosanna pays tribute to the great Michael Parkinson who passed away at the age of 88.

Watch Piers Morgan Uncensored at 8 pm on TalkTV on Sky 522, Virgin Media 606, Freeview 237 and Freesat 217. Listen on DAB+ and the app. 

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

Donald Trump was indicted for a third time this week and a fourth is on the way. He emerged from a DC courthouse this week actually inviting more - he thinks it's helping him, feeding into a long-established persecution complex which he feels will been a key asset in his bid to be re-elected.

In this episode, we ask a simple question: is he right? And is he right everywhere? If it is helping him secure the Republican nomination, will all this actually end up hurting his chances of obtaining the thing he truly craves - the presidency itself?

And in the latest of our extended political conversations Lewis talks to Labour peer and refugee champion Lord Alf Dubbs about a political life which stretches back to Clement Attlee and Nazi-occupied Prague.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Producer: Will Gibson Smith

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