James O'Brien Daily

Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state yesterday, alongside Canada, Australia and Portugal. Around 151 UN member states now do so. Benjamin Netanyahu said the recognition is "a huge reward to terrorism". How do you greet this moment, and what do you think it’ll actually mean? And, several of Europe's busiest airports have spent the past few days in chaos after a maj...

President Trump’s state visit to the UK has come to a close. For some, Starmer’s played a blinder. He’s secured a new technology prosperity deal that’s set to draw in billions in investment and strengthened his relationship with Trump. For others, he’s capitulated to an immoral, fascistic President. How do you think it went? And, the French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, are sui...

US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has had his programme axed after suggesting that President Donald Trump used Charlie Kirk’s assassination to score political points. Arriving in Chequers today as part of his UK state visit, Trump described the decision to axe the show as “great news for America”.  How serious is this moment for freedom of speech? James discusses this and more LBC’s Washington E...

The UK has rolled out the red carpet for Donald Trump on his second state visit, with Keir Starmer preparing to welcome him to Chequers tomorrow for talks on tariffs, steel, and aluminium. But has Starmer played a stellar game in managing his relationship with Trump, or should he have stood up more firmly to the US president’s demands? James put the question to his listeners: Is Keir playing his c...

A United Nations inquiry has concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. It is the first time the allegation has been made publicly by a UN body, and has been greeted with fury by the Israeli government. With this conclusion, James asked listeners: What has Benjamin Netanyahu done to Israel’s reputation? And, currently in America, a growing number of organisations ha...

Over the weekend, Elon Musk made a speech online for the Far-Right “Unite the Kingdom” march in London, organised by Tommy Robinson. Musk told attendees to “either fight back or you die”, remarks that Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has condemned as dangerous incitement to violence. Today, James turned his focus to Musk’s words and asked listeners: how should Keir Starmer respond? And the politic...

Despite Keir Starmer’s insistence that he has full confidence in his “top team”, his leadership faces fresh scrutiny after losing two key allies: his Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, and, more recently, US Ambassador Peter Mandelson, who resigned following revelations of his links to Jeffrey Epstein. But while Downing Street backs Keir, does the country still back him? James also turned to in...

A manhunt is ongoing for the “college age” killer of conservative activist and influential Trump ally Charlie Kirk, who died after being shot at a university in Utah yesterday. Donald Trump has blamed the killing on "radical left political violence" - yet next to nothing is known about the killer. What did Charlie Kirk stand for and why has his killing prompted this extraordinarily political outpo...

Israel has launched a strike on Hamas officials in Qatar’s capital, Doha, reportedly including the group’s chief ceasefire negotiator, who was meeting there to discuss the potential for a ceasefire in Gaza. Is there any point in negotiating with Israel? And, Sir Keir Starmer has rejected growing calls to sack the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over his dealings with the convicted...

The NHS has for the first time published league tables ranking every trust in England. Is this really a good idea? And, the London tube strike concludes its second full day, with a union leader warning that industrial relations have "totally collapsed". How do you decide whether or not to support a strike? This episode was recorded on the 9th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on...

It’s Online Safety Day at LBC - James discusses what unfettered access to pornography has done to children and how we can know if the Online Safety Act is actually working to protect kids from harmful content. Also, the Met Police arrested almost 900 people at a protest against the proscribing of Palestine Action as a terror group on Saturday. Has the government made a mistake in banning the group...

James navigated an extraordinary moment in British politics with the breaking news of Angela Rayner’s resignation from Government. Before the announcement, James invited listeners to share their perspectives on the independent investigation led by Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s adviser on ministerial standards. Although the story has dominated headlines since Wednesday, James sought insig...

Pressure is mounting on the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner, after she admitted to underpaying stamp duty on her £800,000 flat. Should she stay, or should she go? And, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has testified before the US House Judiciary Committee to discuss freedom of speech. Democrat congressman, Jamie Raskin, referred to Farage as a "Putin-loving, fre...

Sir Keir Starmer is considering introducing digital ID cards in a bid to crack down on small boat crossings. These ID cards would be issued to everyone, nationwide - but what are the security pros and the invasion of privacy cons? Also, James speaks to Jessica Elgot, Deputy Political Editor of The Guardian on her story that has cast serious doubt over Kemi Badenoch’s claim she received an offer to...

The government is temporarily suspending new applications for a scheme allowing refugees to bring their family members to the UK. The move has been called out as another attempt to appeal to those swept up by growing anti-immigrant sentiment. How can this country operate when such views dominate so much of the discourse and who is Keir Starmer trying to appeal to exactly? And, Zack Polanski has be...

This summer, thousands of St George's flags have been seen painted on roundabouts and hung from lamp-posts across the country. Supporters say the flags are an expression of English pride, whilst critics say they're a nationalist expression of racism. What do you think, and how do the flags make you feel?  And, the most comprehensive poll of British 16 and 17-year-olds has revealed that nearly...

To finish off LBC’s week-long guest series is Sir Ed Davey. He asks the callers what they think of his controversial boycotting of King Charles’ state banquet for Donald Trump’s visit next month. Do you think he was right to refuse the invitation because of Trump's inaction regarding Gaza? Next, Ed looks bigger. During his second term, Donald Trump has changed the world order. In Ed’s opinion, he...

Continuing LBC’s week-long guest series is James Cleverly, the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing. James’ colleague and former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said that children are being overdiagnosed with mental health conditions and that society needs to remember that growing up is naturally “messy and uneven”. Are we doing our children a disservice, and how helpful is a diagnosis if your c...

Continuing LBC’s week-long guest series is Emily Thornberry, Labour MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Despite asylum hotel numbers dropping from 400 to just over 200 and new policies targeting the asylum claim back-log left by the previous government, this summer has seen more anti-immigration protests than ever before. Sometimes the simple questions have the most complex answe...

To kick off LBC’s week-long guest series, former Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt stepped in for James O’Brien to tackle one of the most divisive issues in British politics: the small boats crisis. On the same day Reform UK unveiled their plans on illegal immigration, Penny asked listeners: Do you believe today’s politicians are capable of solving it—and if not, why not? Penny then widened the discu...

This is a catch-up version of James O'Brien's Mystery Hour from the 14th August. The James O'Brien Daily Podcast will return after the bank holiday, on Tuesday 26th August and will be presented all that week by very special guests! James returns on the 1st September.

One in four Labour members have said they’d consider supporting Jeremy Corbyn’s new left-wing, pro-Gaza party at the next general election. This news comes at a pertinent time - a UN-backed food security body announced today that famine has been confirmed in Gaza City. Lewis speaks with Zack Polanski, Deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales and Jan Egeland, General Secretary of the N...

Israel has taken the first steps in a take-over of Gaza City and wider occupation of the entirety of Gaza. This comes despite widespread condemnation and warnings that the offensive will likely lead to the displacement and death of many more Palestinians. Lewis discusses the ongoing conflict with the callers and is joined by Yaakov Katz, former advisor to the previous Israeli Prime Minister, Nafta...

By the end of March this year there were 200 “asylum hotels”, housing around 30,000 asylum seekers. Yesterday, a high court ruled that asylum seekers will have to be removed from the Bell Hotel in Essex - a site of large protests after an asylum seeker staying there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. To break it down, Lewis speaks with Lauren Starkey, independent social worke...

Welcome to another instalment of James O’Brien Daily hosted by Lewis Goodall of the LBC and The News Agents, who’s stepping in for James all this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hails Monday's talks with Donald Trump and European leaders as "significant" - despite progress to a peace deal or a security guarantee. Trump has, however, contacted Putin to arrange a meeting between him and...