Immigration system in crisis: sky-high hotel bills and a convict on the loose

Immigration system in crisis: sky-high hotel bills and a convict on the loose

Author: The Guardian October 27, 2025 Duration: 26:25
Another week, another immigration crisis. A powerful parliamentary committee has accused the Home Office – for this government and the last – of squandering billions of pounds on asylum accommodation and overseeing a ‘failed, chaotic and expensive’ system. The report came days after the barely believable revelation that the convicted sex offender whose case sparked protests at the Bell hotel in Epping was accidentally let out of prison on Friday instead of being deported. He is now back in custody. Pippa Crerar and Eleni Courea discuss the ongoing firefighting at the Home Office and its impact on the public consciousness. Plus, what now for Labour after a crushing defeat in Caerphilly and the election of its new deputy leader, Lucy Powell? Finally, we go back to the China spy row – will this be the week the mystery is cracked open? • Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. 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
Make-or-break week for Badenoch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:19
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey are at the Conservative party conference in Manchester, where Kemi Badenoch is trying to convince disgruntled Tory MPs to hold their nerve. But how much longer will the party give her to tur…
Starmer takes the gloves off in fight with Farage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:41
The UK prime minister has used his conference speech to take aim at Nigel Farage, warning that Reform UK offers only ‘division and decline’ while promising ‘renewal’ and ‘decency’ under Labour. John Harris, Pippa Crerar…
Andy Burnham live in conversation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:44
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey sit down with the mayor of Greater Manchester live at the Labour party conference in Liverpool. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politicspod">t…
Kent, where the politics of small boats and asylum has exploded [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:02
The conversation about asylum and immigration is at the centre of British politics, and nowhere more so than in Kent. This week, John Harris is on the road in a special episode looking at both sides of the immigration st…
What does the UK recognising Palestinian statehood really mean? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:56
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the UK’s recognition of Palestine as a state. With the US and Israel criticising the move, what will it mean for the war in Gaza, and for diplomacy? Plus, what do we know about the s…
Trump on tour: pomp, pageantry and politics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:20
Donald Trump is back on UK soil for his ‘unprecedented’ second state visit. Will the US president’s trip help to distract from Keir Starmer’s challenges at home? Or could it leave the prime minister even more exposed? Ki…
Could Trump’s visit be a useful distraction for Starmer? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:06
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the fallout from Keir Starmer’s handling of the sacking of the US ambassador, Peter Mandelson. And with growing questions about whether the prime minister can survive, they ask wheth…