Andy Burnham’s autumn of pain– podcast

Andy Burnham’s autumn of pain– podcast

Author: The Guardian August 27, 2026 Duration: 27:25
It’s been a month since Andy Burnham became prime minister. And while polls have shown a ‘Burnham bounce’, the coming months will force the new PM into making some tough – and potentially unpopular – decisions that will reveal how serious he is about delivering the changes he believes the country needs. Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker look at the choices facing Burnham. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">theguardian.com/politicspod</a>

Every seven days, the whirlwind of Westminster, Holyrood, and beyond offers more headlines than anyone can easily digest. That’s where Politics Weekly UK comes in, offering a necessary pause for reflection and analysis. Hosted by Guardian columnist John Harris, the conversation is joined by the paper’s political editor Pippa Crerar and policy editor Kiran Stacey. Together, they don’t just recount the events; they pull apart the parliamentary manoeuvres, scrutinise the policy announcements, and trace the human stories behind the soundbites. You’ll hear informed debate that cuts through the noise, drawing on the deep reporting resources and editorial insight that The Guardian is known for. This isn't about partisan point-scoring, but a clearer understanding of the forces shaping the country. Tuning into this podcast provides a coherent narrative through the complexity, making sense of what just happened and what might come next. It’s an essential companion for anyone trying to look beyond the day-to-day frenzy and grasp the deeper currents in British public life.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 50

Politics Weekly UK
Podcast Episodes
‘Party for sale’? Reform’s £72m donation causes backlash [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:55
There’s been a huge backlash against Reform UK after the party received £72m from two crypto billionaires over the weekend. Paul Nowak, the TUC leader, said the money showed democracy was ‘in crisis’. Labour is pushing f…
Labour shifts on Israel, but what difference will it make? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:20
It has been a huge week for Labour as Ed Miliband shifted the party’s stance on Israel by announcing sanctions on the illegal settlements in the West Bank and describing what is happening as ethnic cleansing. What is beh…
Is the UK about to see the rise of the far right? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:21
Alternative für Deutschland has claimed a historic win in Germany, continuing the pattern of populist far-right parties gaining power across Europe. In the UK, balaclava-clad far-right protesters have marched on Dover, a…
Introducing Black Box: The Chatbots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:45
New from the Guardian Investigates team: Across the world, hundreds of people have come to believe they have made extraordinary scientific discoveries with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. Others say their…
Can Zack Polanski win Keir Starmer’s old seat? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:23
The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has confirmed he will stand in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, which was triggered when Keir Starmer announced he was quitting as an MP. It’s going to be a tough race to win,…
Revisited – Brexit: an oral history [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:13
Revisited: This year marked 10 years since the UK chose to leave the EU. In a series of interviews with key players from both sides, Kiran Stacey looks back on the Brexit vote that changed the country for ever. Help supp…
Revisited: The Andy Burnham I know – Today in Focus podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:10
Today in Focus host and former north of England editor Helen Pidd has watched Andy Burnham’s career for years, and here she talks to his friends, colleagues and mentors to find out more about his rise to power. This epis…
Farage wins Clacton byelection, but was it worth it? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:40
Nigel Farage has won the Clacton byelection he triggered by resigning from the seat because he wanted to allow voters to ‘stick two fingers up at the entire establishment’. The Reform UK leader’s political finances were…