Next Week in Westminster

The Next Week in Westminster team get out the Post-it notes and whiteboard to predict the Andy Burnham cabinet, with the help of Emma Burnell, the editor of the website, LabourList. Marcus and Sam discuss whether the by-election in Clacton triggered by Nigel Farage is really about the people vs. the establishment. The Immigration and Asylum Bill is due to get its second reading in the Commons - bu...

Former Defence Minister Al Carns, MP joins Sam Tarry in the Next Week In Westminster studio to explain what Andy Burnham needs to do to get his full support, and what vision he would like Andy Burnham to champion. And, as a former Royal Marines officer, Al knows better than most what the UK needs to focus on in these dangerous times; how AI and robotics must be invested in properly, and how the UK...

The prime minister-in-waiting now seems unlikely to be tested in any leadership contest - former minister Al Carns joins Sam Tarry and Marcus Jones to discuss how risky this could be. We get a stark warning of the state of UK’s defence, and Al Carns suggests some ways to remedy this. Also, Neil Duncan-Jordan MP warns how Artificial Intelligence is undermining society, and why nimble legislation is...

Sam Tarry and Marcus Jones explore the permutations of a Burnham cabinet and what it means for future legislation. We hear why in-house lobbyists should be more tightly controlled. Why live music is the life and soul of the UK. And could plans for Net-Zero damage the economy? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit n...

Straight off the train from Makerfield, Sam Tarry discusses with Marcus Jones the impact of Andy Burnham’s by-election on the country. As London Climate Action Week begins, Next Week In Westminster asks what it can do to help shape policy. And how the World Cup is revealing Gen-Z drinking habits. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bo...

How new legislation could see Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard labelled a threat to the UK’s national security. The Consumer Association, Which?, tells us why they are pleased with the new Civil Aviation Bill. Baroness Scott of Needham Market calls for more research on ME/ CFS, and talks to Sam the debilitating effect it has on people with the disease. And the Conservative MP for Meridian and So...

Marcus and Sam take a deep dive into the way that small businesses will be helped with the Commercial Payments Bill. We talk to the Small Business Commissioner Emma Jones and the Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, Tina McKenzie. We also look at the amendments on the Steel Industry Bill as it rushes through the Commons, and, with more and more cyber attacks on the UK, will the Cybe...

Next Week In Westminster hears why the Chief Executive of the King’s Fund, Sarah Woolnough, feels her heart sink every time there is another announced NHS reform. With the Social Housing Renewal Bill in the Lords, Shelter’s Charlie Berry laments the amount of council housing that has been lost in the past forty years. And Lord Wallace of Saltaire warns that the civil service and political parties...

It may be Whitsun recess next week, but with the Burnham by-election underway it's unlikely to be quiet. Sam Tarry and Marcus Jones give their verdict on how it could play out and what the result means for the parliamentary session ahead. Meanwhile the Steel Nationalisation Bill had its second reading this week as the first of many bills to begin their journey through Parliament this session. Sam...

Amid a titanic week in Westminster, the King’s Speech arrived with the plan of what comes next. Sam Tarry and Marcus Jones unpack some of the biggest bills of the coming parliamentary session, including the European Partnership Bill, Steel Industry Nationalisation, NHS reform, and what they mean for the country in the months ahead. We also hear from Christopher Snowdon of the Institute of Economic...

The impact from the elections across Britain will be felt for a long time. Even before the full results are known, the picture so far is one of gloom for the Labour Party. Reform is surging across the country, the Greens are eating into Labour’s London heartlands, and Keir Starmer’s authority is draining by the day. As the results come in, Next Week in Westminster’s Sam Tarry and Marcus Jones brin...

Hereditary peers no longer will sit in parliament, with the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act ending 700 years of tradition. Next Week In Westminster’s Marcus Jones sat down with three hereditary peers as they were preparing to vote in the House of Lords for the last time. And Lords Borwick, Devon and Leicester had some thoughts on how they would design a system of governance from scratch. Thi...

Parliament only has a few days before prorogation, but how many days does Keir Starmer have, with the crisis over Mandelson’s vetting for the post to Washington? Sam Tarry and Marcus Jones delve into the crisis in government, and examine the Bills that might still pass in this session. We hear from Tan Dhesi, MP about the state of Britain’s defence, and we find out the Price of a Pint from 30,000...

Next Week In Westminster reflects on the way the Hillsborough Law could now succeed and how public officials will have to tell the truth - we hear a strong personal view from Ian Byrne, MP, who was at the stadium on the day of the disaster. With the concerns over the nation’s preparedness in time of war, Next Week in Westminster asks if people around the country are themselves ready for any crisis...

Baroness Gabby Bertin tells Marcus Jones about the terrible influence violent internet porn is having on a whole generation of young people. Her amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill will go a long way in changing that - and she explains how more can be done to make the internet a safer place for young people. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers o...

With Westminster returning from recess, there is a lot to get done before prorogation. In this episode, Next Week In Westminster talks to Baroness Bertin about the urgent need to prohibit violent internet porn. And Lord Borwick talks about the more than 30-year wait for a nationwide standard for wheelchair accessible taxis. And we explore the effects of using “may” instead of “must” in legislation...

With just a few weeks left of this parliamentary session, Sam and Marcus take a look at the Bills still in parliament - which ones are likely to become law and which might be carried over, or even fall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nextweekinwestminster.substack.com

Parliament is in recess for two weeks, and in May, a new King’s Speech is expected. So Next Week In Westminster is looking back on the major bills that have been enacted in this session so far. With those Acts in mind, Marcus Jones and Sam Tarry give their assessment of the government under Sir Keir Starmer. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get...

Next Week in Westminster does a deep dive into the world of pensions, examining the progress of Bills that could change your pay and your pension. Marcus speaks to one of the peers drafting amendments to the government bills, and we hear from a landlady whose clients are concerned for their retirement. Also, Sam speaks to the Economist magazine’s expert on assisted dying to find out how much Westm...

In the House of Lords on Wednesday, Baroness Scott of Bybrook has submitted an Oral Question: Supporting councils to regenerate struggling high streets and towns. Next Week In Westminster’s Marcus Jones talked to Jane Scott about her concerns for town centres across the country. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visi...

On Monday, 16th March, the House of Commons has the second reading of the Grenfell Tower Memorial (expenditure) Bill. Next Week In Westminster’s Sam Tarry went to meet the MP for Kensington and Bayswater, Joe Powell at the foot of the tower as it was being dismantled. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nextweeki...

In the week beginning 16th March, Sam goes to the Grenfell Tower and meets the local MP, Joe Powell, to discuss the Grenfell Memorial Bill in parliament on Monday. The Lords are looking into raising the National Minimum Wage on Tuesday. And the Commons discusses how many ministers should get a ministerial salary. Meanwhile, Marcus talks to Baroness Scott about her question in the Lords on Wednesda...

The Labour rebellion has been building over government plans to drop jury trials for many cases in the Courts and Tribunals Bill. The second reading of the bill is in the House of Commons on Tuesday 10th March. Next Week In Westminster’s Sam Tarry spoke to Karl Turner MP who is a passionate supporter of the jury system. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscri...

In this episode, Next Week in Westminster: A smartphone ban for schools and restrictions on social media for children. We talk to Labour MP Karl Turner about his passionate disagreement with the government over reducing jury trials and if there could be a compromise between the Lords and the Commons on abolishing hereditary peers. 10.40 - Courts and Tribunals Bill 14.45 - Karl Turner MP on the Lab...

A lot of parliamentary time and media coverage has been focused on the Assisted Dying Bill, but there is an urgent need to improve care for those who are very ill or dying. Rachael Maskell leads the Commission on Palliative and End-of-Life Care, and has a backbench debate scheduled on Thursday 5th March to call for better access to care across the country. She tells Next Week In Westminster’s Sam...