The Story

With the election now just around the corner, Labour says that if it wins, it’ll take away the tax breaks Britain’s private schools have benefited from for years. The introduction of VAT could push fees up by twenty percent, forcing middle class parents out and putting severe pressure on the sector. So why is Labour making this such a key part of its manifesto, and what could it mean for the futur...

The state of our rivers is set to be one of the discussion points of the election and time’s ticking on Thames Water’s request for a 56 per cent increase in customers’ bills. As Ofwat mulls that one, it might ask how a company which leaks raw sewage into our rivers managed to rack up unsustainable levels of debt while also paying out dividends to shareholders.  Warning: this podcast includes...

Our modern world is built on chips; they control everything from our cars to the stock market, dishwashers to missile systems, computers to - potentially soon - augmented humans. But with China and America battling for control over production - and about ninety percent of advanced chips made in geo-politically sensitive Taiwan - how secure is the future of our world? This podcast was brought to yo...

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative , hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday. In Côte d’Ivoire, the Tanoé-Ehy Forest stands as one of West Africa’s last untouched rainforests, a refuge for unique flora and fauna. Despite boasting West Africa's highest biodiversity, aggressive human activities have spared only...

Donald Trump’s 'hush money' trial is in its final stages as the prosecution and defence teams have both now rested their cases. The jury will return on Tuesday for closing arguments - and maybe even a verdict. This is ultimately a trial of two competing stories. So who told theirs best? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe to...

Rishi Sunak has announced a general election for July 4 after a day of fevered rumour in Westminster. The prime minister addressed the nation from outside No 10 and pledged to “fight for every vote" while Sir Keir Starmer urged people to vote Labour to "stop the chaos". Manveen Rana was at the heart of it all in Westminster. Why now? And are the parties ready? This podcast was brought to you...

President Raisi’s death has been met with celebrations by those who hate the regime and mourning by those who love it. But could the vacuum left by his passing create a moment of danger for the regime’s hardline clerics and open up an opportunity for Iran’s reformers?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://t...

After decades of buck-passing and over 3000 deaths the infected blood inquiry published its final report finding that patients were betrayed by 'cover-up'. The chairman of the inquiry said the ‘scale of what happened is horrifying’ and the prime minister has apologised. So, as ministers prepare to pay out billions of pounds in compensation, will this be enough for the families of those affected? H...

The Hinduja family still leads the Sunday Times Rich List. But this year’s list records the largest fall in the billionaire count in the guide’s 36-year history. So why is it happening now and where are the billionaires moving to? Alfie Best, who remains on track to become Britain's first Romany gypsy billionaire, could have the answer.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support o...

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative , hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday. The High Andes are one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the world, but without urgent intervention, this landscape and its surrounding natural beauty will be lost. Environment Editor for The Times, Adam Vaughan is join...

“Shockingly poor quality” is the verdict of a parliamentary inquiry into the UK’s maternity services. It found a system that lacked compassion and concluded, "poor care is all too frequently tolerated as normal". How did this happen? Hannah Barnes talks to Manveen about the birth that left her traumatised and her work to bring it to light.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the suppor...

Today we bring you the first episode of the Times's newest podcast 'The Royals'. Our hugely experienced Royal Editors Roya Nikkhah from The Sunday Times and Kate Mansey of The Times explore the ever-evolving world of the British monarchy. This week, it's all about the children. King Charles and the Duke of Sussex were both in London but no meeting took place - why?  Hosted on Acast. See...

A Times investigation into leaked records has identified convicts, fugitives and bankrupts who have secretly invested millions in the Emirates. More than £200 million of property in Dubai has been bought by criminals convicted in British courts and people who have failed to pay debts in the UK. What makes Dubai so attractive to criminals?  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support...

The trial of nine suspects accused of plotting to overthrow the German government has begun in Stuttgart. The leaders of the far-right group is a 72-year-old self-styled aristocrat and a former AfD MP who was found with a bullet proof vest and night vision goggles. So who exactly are these people? And could the AfD's likely success in the upcoming European elections pose a real threat to German de...

Open relationships are more popular than ever - but what's it like being in one? And what’s the history of non-monogamous, consensual, romantic relationships - from prehistoric times, via the Second World War to the modern internet age? This podcast contains descriptions of sex and sexual acts. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subs...

This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative , hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday. Even for countries with adequate water resources, water scarcity is not uncommon. But for those who live in remote and poverty-stricken areas of the world, water scarcity can be the difference between life and death. With reports su...

After an international manhunt, the FBI and Interpol say they have found a man wanted on multiple charges in four US states, who faked his death before fleeing America for Scotland. But the Glasgow resident at the centre of the case insists he is the victim of a "monstrous" miscarriage of justice – that he is not Nicholas Rossi, but is Arthur Knight, an Irish-born orphan who has never visited the...

Pro-Palestinian protests that started at US campuses weeks ago have now spread to the UK and many parts of Europe. The US student protests are reminiscent of the 1968 Vietnam War protests which resulted in a political shift to the right and the election of Richard Nixon. Could Donald Trump leverage this civil unrest for political gain, just as Nixon did in 1968?  This podcast was brought to y...

The Sunday Times’ investigative team, Insight, has combed through 6,000 top secret documents to piece together the story of multiple military and government cover ups into the murder of civilians during the Afghan conflict. Today, in part two, we hear about the methods used to stymie, block and obstruct the course of justice.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers o...

The Sunday Times’ investigative team, Insight, has combed through 6,000 top secret documents to piece together the story of multiple military and government cover ups into the murder of civilians during the Afghan conflict. Today, in part one, we hear about the senior special forces commander, codename N1466, who blew the whistle.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of read...

The former MI5 double agent, Anthony Blunt, was unmasked as a Soviet mole in 1979 but the full extent of what he did isn’t known. Could he have been more dangerous than we thought? A new book has uncovered how he may have helped Hitler during the Second World War.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://theti...

This Bank Holiday Monday listeners of The Story are treated to an episode of another podcast from The Times 'Off Air with Jane & Fi.' In this episode they are joined by author Salman Rushdie to discuss his new memoir 'Knife' where he talks about the vicious attack he survived in New York in 2022. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times...

Netflix's latest hit, Baby Reindeer, is a fictional account of a real-life stalking, which our guest has experienced, too. So what happens in complicated stalking cases, when the lines between criminality, complicity and consent are blurred? If you've been affected by any of the issues we've talked about today, do have a look at Paladin, the charity that Sarah used for help at paladinservice.co.uk...

They were some of the most turbulent years of British politics as Prime Minister Theresa May steered her Brexit deal, via unprecedented disasters and triumphs, through parliament. The ultimate insider, Tim Shipman, Sunday Times’ chief political commentator was there throughout and shares new revelations and his unfiltered reflections on the politicians who led us through it all. This podcast was b...

After 13 months in power, First Minister Humza Yousaf has resigned - and for the second time in as many years the SNP is looking for a new leader. So, how did it come to this for the once-dominant party? And what could it mean for the general election and the campaign for Scottish independence? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subs...