Starmer clings on, Burnham steps up w/ MP Nadia Whittome

Starmer clings on, Burnham steps up w/ MP Nadia Whittome

Author: Pod Save the UK May 21, 2026 Duration: 1:06:16

This week, Nish and Coco make sense of another chaotic week in Westminster, as Keir Starmer clings on in Downing Street, Wes Streeting resigns, and Andy Burnham’s route back to Parliament suddenly becomes very real.

They’re joined by Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East and one of the earliest MPs to call for Starmer to go, to unpack the mood inside the Labour Party, whether Burnham is really the answer, and what Labour needs to do to win back progressive voters. 

Plus: after Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, aka Tommy Robinson’s latest rally in London, how should progressives respond to the far right without simply echoing its politics?

And: Nigel Farage faces questions over a £5m gift from a crypto billionaire. Does the man of the people have some very expensive explaining to do?

CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS 
BT: Search ‘Why BT’ to find out more.
VANTA: https://www.vanta.com/PSTUK 
INCOGNI: https://www.incogni.com/podsavetheuk Code: podsavetheuk
SHOPIFY: https://shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk

GUESTS 
Nadia Whittome MP

USEFUL LINKS
@Femi_Sorry: Tommy Robinson supporters expose themselves so fast! - Unite The Kingdom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBdc_HsSA5Y 

CLIP CREDITS
Femi Oluwole
Nigel Farage Interview: The Sun

Pod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.

Get in touch - contact us via email: podsavetheuk@crooked.com
Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK
Instagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk
X: https://x.com/podsavetheuk


The political landscape in Britain is often dissected from within the Westminster bubble, but Pod Save the UK offers a different kind of conversation. This podcast cuts through the noise of the daily headlines with a blend of sharp analysis and relatable frustration, asking the bigger questions about power, policy, and what it all means for people across the country. The hosts, seasoned in activism and political commentary, break down the week’s events without relying on insider jargon or dry parliamentary procedure. You’ll hear discussions that connect government decisions to everyday life, exploring the real-world impact of legislation and the forces shaping national debates. It’s a space for understanding the mechanics of British politics while challenging the status quo, always with an eye on how to build a more equitable future. For anyone feeling adrift in the constant churn of news cycles, this series provides clarity and a sense of shared perspective, making complex issues accessible and engaging. Tune in for a candid, often witty, and consistently insightful take on the state of the nation, where the focus is on substance over spin and holding power to account.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Pod Save the UK
Podcast Episodes
What can the left learn from Zohran Mamdani’s win? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:38
Nish and Coco celebrate the win of Progressive New York Democratic Mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani - and ponder what British lefties can learn from his social-media friendly campaign. And is Chancellor Rachel Reeves ab…
Pod Save the Truth w/ Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:53
Enough is enough! Nish stages an intervention with Coco about her troubling relationship with Chat GPT. Or as Coco puts it: her mate “Chatty G”. But Coco’s not the only one embracing generative AI - it’s creeping into po…
Decency or division: Starmer takes aim at Reform [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:32
It’s conference season, and at the Labour conference in Liverpool - flagshagging, snake-oil merchants and leadership jockeying - is it Keir Starmer’s final chance for a reset? Nish and Coco are joined by political journa…
Your loss, Zack’s gain? Polanski’s vision for the UK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:46
Oh dear lefties… We just can’t stop tearing each other apart, huh? One short month into the evolution of the new political party experiment undertaken by independent MPs Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn - and the whole th…