Commons People

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing the eerie similarities between incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. How much do they really have in common? You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sa...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing whether a much-talked-about money scandal has landed Reform UK's leader and Clacton MP Nigel Farage in more trouble than he can come back from. Is his career really "dead in the water" as Piers Morgan said this week? Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction. 03:16 – How did the scandal begin?...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss Brexit on its tenth anniversary, and talk over the idea that the Brexit referendum *cursed* British politics, given the churn of Prime Ministers we've had since then. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction. 03:12 – Brexit defined in 20 seconds. 03:43 – What does Brexit have to do with Keir Starmer...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the Makerfield by-election result, what's next for Andy Burnham MP and whether it's over for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and, indeed, the Reform Party. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 05:46 – Why is Andy Burnham so popular? 09:19 – Why are so many Labour MPs behind Andy Burnham? 11:27 – Wha...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the all-important Makerfield by-election, and whether Andy Burnham is likely to succeed and consequently pose a threat to Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 01:58 – Can Keir Starmer survive in number 10? 08:55 – The latest on Andy Burnham's Makerfield campaign 14:26...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss what’s going on with right-wing political party Reform UK, and whether their ongoing meltdown could see them lose in the all-important Makerfield by-election in Greater Manchester. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 04:29 – Where is Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage? 07:44 – Farage's comments on...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the climate crisis on our doorstep and whether politicians are doing enough to acknowledge it AND combat it. You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Keir Starmer is on the ropes, Wes Streeting has walked out, and Andy Burnham is making his play for the crown. This week on HuffPost UK's Commons People, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson break down the massive stakes of the Makerfield by-election. With Reform UK surging and Labour HQ described as "a morgue on a spaceship hurtling towards destruction," can the King of the North secure his ticket...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we analyse what's really going on in Downing Street this week as Keir Starmer's Government – and the Labour party at large – deal with the fallout of last week's elections. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction. 01:40 – What happened to Labour at the 2026 Local Elections? 05:16 – Who wants Starmer to g...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the probable outcome of the 7 May Local Elections, and whether the predicted devastation for Labour across the country will spell the end of Keir Starmer's leadership. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction and the downfall of Labour under Keir Starmer's rule. 08:20 – How would Keir Starmer be gotten r...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the origin of the "special relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States and whether Donald Trump has essentially killed it off. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction. 01:29 – Where does the term "special relationship" come from? 03:40 – How have Keir Starmer and Trump contributed to...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the latest developments in the headline-making Peter Mandelson scandal, and whether Keir Starmer's recent conduct towards the civil service – and his past mistakes – are enough to see his premiership crumble. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction. 01:17 – Who is Peter Mandelson and what's his connecti...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. This week, Kevin and Kate discuss why Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are keen to develop closer ties with the EU, and what that means in the context of Brexit. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 02:29 – Brexit explained (for those who have forgotten!) 04:43 – the King's speech, Trump and why Starmer would want to align more clo...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. This week, Kevin and Kate are back together to ask whether Donald Trump’s war in Iran is really over after a two-week ceasefire was agreed to on Tuesday. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 04:44 – Did Trump meet any of his military objectives? 08:14 – The significance of the Strait of Hormuz 12:52 – Iran's 10-point proposal 18:02 –...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kate is joined by special guest Millie Cooke – political correspondent for The Independent – to discuss whether Parliament is doing enough to tackle misogyny and the rise of the manosphere. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 05:00 – Sarah Everard and the impact of her death on society 06:54 – Is there a...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing the May local elections and weighing up the chances of all the main parties including Labour, Green, Conservative, Reform and the Lib Dems, as well as the SNP and Plaid Cymru in Scotland and Wales, respectively. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 01:01 – When are the local elections and why a...

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. For our returning episode, and our first in four and half years, we're talking about one of the most important subjects in UK politics right now – the Iran war. Join Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson as they dive deep into how the war is having a knock-on effect on the UK’s cost of living already, how it's impacting the UK-US s...

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.

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/priv...

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 t...

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 p...

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 s...

It’s the fifth anniversary of the vote to leave the EU and Brexit is still having a profound impact on British politics. Tory former spad Salma Shah and the UK In A Changing Europe’s Anand Menon join Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to unpack the successes and failures of the last five years, and discuss what Brexit means for politics in 2021 and beyond. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone a...

Boris Johnson this week delayed so-called “freedom day” from Covid restrictions in a bid to get more vaccines into more arms and protect the NHS. But the prime minister has angered many Tory MPs, who simply do not believe he will stick to the new “terminus” of July 19th. Lib Dem health spokesperson Munira Wilson joins Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to discuss why her party abstained on extending restric...

It’s a huge week for Boris Johnson as Joe Biden and leaders of some of the world’s wealthiest countries arrive in Cornwall for the G7 summit. But the prime minister has embroiled himself in a row with the EU over the terms of his own Brexit deal, which has angeried the US president and is threatening to overshadow the event. Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy joins Arj Singh and Ned Simo...