The Crossbench with Conor Wilson

Josh Babarinde is the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne. Despite only being elected in 2024, Josh has enjoyed early success in his parliamentary career, gaining cross party support for his Domestic Abuse Bill that will for the first time, legislate for a statutory definition of domestic abuse. A survivor himself, Josh hopes to prevent others from going through what he and his mother endured as a...

Martin Rhodes is the Labour MP for Glasgow North. A vocal critic of the government's approach to welfare, Martin argues that the term "welfare state" is not the scary label that it is often portrayed as in the media. Speaking as oil prices rise and farmers warn of food shortages due to the Iran war, Martin expresses his relief that the UK resisted US encouragement to participate in offensive strik...

Patrick Hurley was elected to represent Southport in 2024 - The first Labour candidate to win in the coastal town. His eleation quickly turned to tragedy as just weeks into his new role, he received a phone call to tell him about an attack at a Taylor Swift Dance Class that left three girls murdered and many more injured. Patrick discusses the attack, the wave of misinformation that followed it an...

Dame Caroline Dineage is an entrepreneur and the Conservative MP for Gosport. Dame Caroline has served in a a variety of departments since being elected in 2010 including the DWP, Department of Justice, Department of Health and Social Care and Deptarment of Education. She currently is the chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and last year, found herself at the centre of the row b...

Calvin Bailey MBE is the Labour Member of Parliament for Leyton and Wanstead, first elected in July 2024. Born in Zambia and raised in London, he served 24 years in the Royal Air Force, reaching the rank of Wing Commander and received an MBE for distinguished service. His mixed heritage meant that racism was prevalent in his formative years and he discusses the effect of seeing his Mum confront fa...

"Persistent knobheadery" is a term few people had heard of until Labour's welfare rebellion led to an embarrassing climbdown. Today's guest, Brian Leishman, was one of four MPs suspended for so-called "persistent knobheadery" over his role in fighting against his government's planned reforms. Inspired into politics by Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party, Conor discusses the Chancellor's...

Tonia Antoniazzi is the Labour MP for Gower, first elected in 2017 and the constituency’s first female representative. A former teacher and international rugby player for Wales, she has served as the Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland and currently chairs the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. Tonia discusses her sporting career and pride at the growth of the women's game and her views on contr...

Gideon Amos OBE is the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington and the party’s spokesperson for Housing and Planning. A chartered architect and former chief executive of the Town and Country Planning Association, he has long championed sustainable development and local decision-making. His background makes him well placed to critique the government's performance in house building and planni...

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Connor James Naismith is a British Labour Party politician who has served as MP for Crewe and Nantwich since July 2024. Before entering Parliament, he was a Cheshire East councillor and worked in police complaints and oversight. Naismith gives his views on how much influence an MP really has, why he believes that the Renter's Rights Bill is an important piece of legislation and why he believes tha...

Christine Jardine is the Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2019 and 2024 with increasing majorities. A former journalist and academic, she worked for BBC Scotland, The Scotsman , and taught journalism before entering politics. In Parliament, she has served as the Lib Dem spokesperson across portfolios including Home Affairs, Treasury, and Scotland. Jar...

Steve Yemm is the Labour MP for Mansfield, elected in July 2024. Yemm is from working class roots, his father was a coal miner and his mother was a dinner lady. That background, combined with his experience of passing his 11+ and being exposed to life at a grammar school, has shaped his world view and ultimately his politics. After graduating university with a degree in applied chemstry, Yemm work...

Bob Blackman is the Conservative MP for Harrow East, first elected in 2010. A former Brent council leader and London Assembly member, he is now chair of the powerful 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs. Previously a secretary of the committee, Blackman had a front row seat to one of the most tumultuous episodes in British politics, witnessing first hand the rise and fall of Boris Johnson and Liz...