1 - The Reporters
In the spring of 2009, a small group of reporters at the Telegraph were given access to hundreds of thousands of pages of parliamentary expense claims, covering every single MP in the country. Working in secret, they beg…
Expenses
Behind the polished facade of Westminster, a story was waiting to be told-one that would shake public trust to its core. Expenses, from The Telegraph, is the definitive audio account of how a single hard drive and a determined newsroom exposed the intricate system of MPs’ allowances, triggering a political earthquake. This isn't just a recap of headlines; it's a documentary-style journey into the frantic efforts of journalists as they pieced together a scandal that redefined accountability. Each episode pulls you into the tense atmosphere of that investigation, blending narrative depth with firsthand perspective. You'll hear how culture, politics, and society collided in a perfect storm, revealing the human and institutional flaws at the heart of the story. For anyone fascinated by how power really operates and how journalism can hold a mirror to it, this podcast offers a gripping, moment-by-moment reconstruction. The series stands as a landmark in political reporting, unpacking the mechanisms and the personalities behind a saga that forever changed the British Parliament.
Episodes
6 - The Editor
For ten years, the man who led the Telegraph in 2009 has kept quiet about what happened during the scandal. But some stories are worth returning to. Guest: Will Lewis To claim our subscription offer: www.telegraph.co.uk/…
5 - The Lawyer
The Telegraph’s reporting on expenses involved a secretly copied disc, a million pages of sensitive personal information, and the most powerful institution in the land.What would the paper have to do to avoid getting sto…
4 - The Politician
What was it like to be working in Parliament when the expenses scandal broke? It’s a question that most MPs are reluctant to answer. But not all of them. Guest: Norman Baker --------To claim our subscription offer: www.t…
3 - The Campaigner
When New Labour came to power in 1997, they made a promise that they’d eventually come to regret.And one journalist did more than anyone else to hold them to it. Guest: Heather Brooke --- For our full Expenses coverage:…
2 - The Cartoonist
On a normal day Matt Pritchett, our front page cartoonist, gets into the office at around 8am and starts to figure out where the news is heading. But there weren’t many normal days in May 2009. ———— For our full Expenses…
