Will this be another nightmare week for Keir Starmer?

Will this be another nightmare week for Keir Starmer?

Author: The Guardian April 27, 2026 Duration: 33:01
Keir Starmer is facing another tumultuous week. His former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney will be grilled in front of MPs on Tuesday over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, there are rumours that Labour MPs are working out how to transition Starmer out of power and the prime minister might be forced to appear in front of the privileges select committee to defend himself against accusations he misled parliament. How long can this go on?. 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
Is Keir Starmer ‘complacent’ on defence? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:11
Keir Starmer has hit back at Labour peer George Robertson’s criticisms about defence funding. Why has the government been slow to prioritise defence and what trade-offs is Keir Starmer willing to make in order to increas…
Hormuz, Hungary and the UK shifting closer to the EU [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:04
After 16 years in power in Hungary, Viktor Orbán has been defeated, marking a huge shift in the European Union. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has defended potential legislation that will align the UK with European rules – with…
Trump and the Middle East: can Starmer do anything? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:16
Keir Starmer and the UK government are scrabbling to keep up with Trump’s fast-changing position on Iran and the Middle East. While a two-week ceasefire is in place, how long will it hold for? Peter Walker and Alexandra…
The Greens, Reform and the end of two-party politics? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:07
In part two of our interview, Kiran Stacey speaks to the political scientist Prof Rob Ford about the voters Labour and the Conservatives are losing to the Greens and Reform, and how May’s elections could play out. Help s…
Labour’s mistakes: is it too late to turn things around? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:56
In part one of a special two-part interview, Kiran Stacey talks to the political scientist Prof Robert Ford about Labour’s so-called ‘landslide win’, the long-lasting impact of Brexit on our politics, and the lessons tha…
How will the Iran war play at the ballot box in May? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:27
Pippa Crerar and Jessica Elgot look at how the continuing and deepening conflict in the Middle East will hit people in the UK, and how it could impact May’s elections. Plus, as parliament breaks for recess, has the assis…
Wes Streeting: ‘I don’t want to see Keir challenged in May’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:11
Wes Streeting gave a speech outlining his performance on the NHS and plans for the future. Was this his unofficial leadership pitch? Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey sit down with the health secretary to find out. Help supp…
Trump rows back on strait of Hormuz threat – what next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:43
The US president has extended by five days his deadline to ‘hit and obliterate’ Iran’s power stations and energy infrastructure if Tehran does not allow shipping to move freely. Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss what…
Off Duty: The Crime [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:35
On the evening of 29 December 2011, Officer Clifton Lewis was moonlighting as a security guard at a Chicago minimart when two men walked in. They shot Lewis several times, then took off with his gun and police star. A we…
Do the Conservatives have a problem with Muslims? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:51
At the launch of the Conservative local elections campaign on Thursday, Peter Walker asked Kemi Badenoch about her shadow justice secretary’s claim that Muslims praying in Trafalgar square was an ‘act of domination’. Her…