How does woke start winning again? – from The Audio Long Read

How does woke start winning again? – from The Audio Long Read

Author: The Guardian August 18, 2025 Duration: 35:24
British progressives have suffered major setbacks in recent years, in both public opinion and court rulings. Was a backlash inevitable, and are new tactics needed? By Gaby Hinsliff. Read by Carlyss Peer Find more from The Audio Long Read here Read the text version here. 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: 100

Politics Weekly UK
Podcast Episodes
Could Reform UK and the Tories merge? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:40
Nigel Farage was handed a £9m donation this week, amid reports he said elsewhere that a deal with the Conservatives before the general election was ‘inevitable’. John Harris speaks to Kiran Stacey about what this means f…
Can Keir Starmer save Rachel Reeves? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:13
Pippa and Kiran discuss the prime minister’s speech on Monday and ask whether it will take attention away from allegations that the chancellor misled the public with her budget statements. Plus: chaos at Your Party’s fir…
The budget: Labour’s big tax and spend gamble [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:07
John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey give their reactions to the chancellor’s autumn budget. Has Rachel Reeves done enough to silence her critics?. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.th…
A make-or-break week for the UK government [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:00
It is finally budget week, so Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the context of Rachel Reeves’s big moment and how high the stakes are. Plus, Kiran talks about what happened behind the scenes of his trip to Johannesbu…
How dangerous are Labour’s asylum plans? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
There was outrage from Labour MPs on Monday evening as Shabana Mahmood outlined her plans to shake up the asylum system. Will these policies be watered down? John Harris finds out what is happening behind the scenes with…
Labour’s risky asylum pitch – podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:34
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at radical plans from the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to tackle the ‘out of control’ asylum system. Plus, has the briefing row only made Keir Starmer’s rivals more coordinated?. He…
Why is the Labour party in such a mess? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:30
John Harris is joined by Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey as an attempt to halt leadership manoeuvres against Keir Starmer has spectacularly backfired and put Starmer’s potential rival Wes Streeting on the front foot. Plus,…
Can the BBC survive this crisis? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:00
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the resignations of the BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, and its head of news, Deborah Turness. Plus, the growing unease within Labour about Keir Starmer’s leadership and what MPs…
Nicola Sturgeon on leadership, scandal and trolling the trolls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:37
In a special, bonus episode of Politics Weekly, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey sit down with Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon for a frank conversation about her time in office and the future of nationalist…