PODCAST · news
Commons People
by HuffPost UK
Each week, the HuffPost UK Politics team unpack the biggest stories from Westminster and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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Where exactly IS Andy Burnham on Brexit?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss Prime Minister Andy Burnham's ever-confusing stance on Brexit, his recent comments on Russian interference in UK elections and why Labour’s "great communicator" keeps ending up with his foot…
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Crunch Time For Polanski As The Greens Descend Into Chaos
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the Green Party conference and their controversial zionism is racism motion, plus how we think Zack Polanski will fare in today’s by-election. You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram...
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Are We Really Heading For An Early General Election?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the Labour Party conference, Andy Burnham's powerful speech and what he had to say about calling an early general election. You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This…
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Was Andy Burnham’s "First Date" With Trump A Success Or A Flop?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss how Andy Burnham fared during his first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump. You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music...
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Does Reform's £72m Windfall Mean They Can Buy The Next Election?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the two huge donations Reform UK received this week from crypto billionaires, and review new legislation being proposed to stop foreign donors interfering with UK politics. You can follow us…
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Reform Have Had A Week From Hell, But Can They Recover?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's podcast, we discuss how Reform's party conference went from bad to worse, and analyse whether they're capable of bouncing back from all this scandal. You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok....
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Is This The Week That Trump Finally Lost It?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss how President Trump has been "moving mad" this week, from posting to his social media 100 times a day to trying rename Lake Ontario "Lake America". You can follow us at @commons.people on...
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Is Andy Burnham Risking Putin’s Wrath With Fresh Support For Ukraine?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're asking whether UK-Russia relations have slipped into a new, more dangerous phase due – in part – to Andy Burnham's visit to Ukraine this week. You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and...
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Has Zack Polanski’s Party Blown It? Interview With A Green Peer
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the current state of the Green Party – once riding high in the polls – with former party leader and current peer, Natalie Bennett. You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok....
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What Happens Behind Closed Doors: Interview With A Top Government Special Adviser
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kevin sits down with Liz Bates, a former political journalist turned special adviser for Keir Starmer's Government. Liz lifts the lid on what a SPAD does, the "funereal" reality of Keir Starmer's...
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Trump And Burnham: Budding Bromance Or Disaster Waiting To Happen?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's budding political relationship, and analyse whether it will last the length of both of their terms in office. Timecodes 00:00 –...
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Andy Burnham Promised Unity. He Delivered A Cabinet Massacre.
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kevin and Kate take a look inside Andy Burnham’s day-one cabinet purge – who’s in, who’s out, why Wes Streeting is suddenly in charge of the army, what this all means for you and whether this new...
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Bye-Bye Keir Starmer. Here's What You'll Be Remembered For!
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss Keir Starmer's time in office as Prime Minister, and what are the main things he'll be remembered for – good and bad. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction. 07:00 – What did Keir Starmer do in…
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Andy Burnham Is Now An MP, But What Does This Mean For British Politics?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the Makerfield by-election result, what's next for Andy Burnham MP and whether it's over for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and, indeed, the Reform Party. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 05:46 –…
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Why Has The Brexit Debate Returned (Again)?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. This week, Kevin and Kate discuss why Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are keen to develop closer ties with the EU, and what that means in the context of Brexit. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 02:29 – Brexit explained (for those...
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Will The Two-Week Ceasefire Between Iran and The US Work?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. This week, Kevin and Kate are back together to ask whether Donald Trump’s war in Iran is really over after a two-week ceasefire was agreed to on Tuesday. Timecodes 00:00 – Introduction 04:44 – Did Trump meet any of his military...
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Are Politicians Taking Misogyny Seriously Enough?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kate is joined by special guest Millie Cooke – political correspondent for The Independent – to discuss whether Parliament is doing enough to tackle misogyny and the rise of the manosphere. Timecodes…
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Who's Up And Who’s Down Ahead Of May Elections?
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we're discussing the May local elections and weighing up the chances of all the main parties including Labour, Green, Conservative, Reform and the Lib Dems, as well as the SNP and Plaid Cymru in Scotland...
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Why The Iran War Matters For Everyone – Not Just Trump
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. For our returning episode, and our first in four and half years, we're talking about one of the most important subjects in UK politics right now – the Iran war. Join Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson as they dive deep into how...
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Baroness Angela Smith...On Tory Tax Bombshells And Labour's Future
Boris Johnson has taken the biggest gamble of his premiership with a National Insurance hike to fund the NHS and social care. Labour's leader in the Lords Angela Smith joins Ned Simons, Sophia Sleigh and Paul Waugh to chat through Tory tax rises and where Labour's at ahead of its party conference...
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Yvette Cooper On The Art Of Govt And Opposition
As MPs head off to their constituencies, rising Covid cases and Channel crossings of asylum seekers are ensuring Boris Johnson cannot put his feet up. Home Affairs Committee chair Yvette Cooper joins Ned Simons and Paul Waugh to chat through her joust with the Priti Patel this week, as well as…
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Sunak's Overseas Aid Ambush: With Andrew Mitchell
The chancellor's late, late move to outflank Tory rebels on international aid cuts won the day, despite MPs voting against the three line whip. But is the rebellion over and will Rishi Sunak and his party rue the damage caused to their brand? Ned Simons and Paul Waugh are joined by former...
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Trading places: Will Liz Truss’s ‘Donut’ Strategy Leave Us With Brexit Indigestion?
Football may or may not be coming home, but Boris Johnson and Liz Truss want British firms to export more abroad. Can the UK’s tricky relations with China help or hinder that post-Brexit ambition? Shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry joins Ned Simons and Paul Waugh to chat…
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Return Of The Saj
Sajid Javid made a phoenix-like return to the Cabinet this week, replacing Matt Hancock after the former health secretary was sensationally caught on camera breaking Covid rules by kissing an aide in his office. Senior Tory and Commons education committee chair Rob Halfon joins Arj Singh and Paul...
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Brexit Birthday Special
It’s the fifth anniversary of the vote to leave the EU and Brexit is still having a profound impact on British politics. Tory former spad Salma Shah and the UK In A Changing Europe’s Anand Menon join Arj Singh and Paul Waugh to unpack the successes and failures of the last five years, and discuss...
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Is The Tory Culture War Backfiring In Its Traditional Heartlands?
Boris Johnson this week delayed so-called “freedom day” from Covid restrictions in a bid to get more vaccines into more arms and protect the NHS. But the prime minister has angered many Tory MPs, who simply do not believe he will stick to the new “terminus” of July 19th. Lib Dem health…
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Joe Biden Jets In Amid An Almighty Brexit ‘Mess’
It’s a huge week for Boris Johnson as Joe Biden and leaders of some of the world’s wealthiest countries arrive in Cornwall for the G7 summit. But the prime minister has embroiled himself in a row with the EU over the terms of his own Brexit deal, which has angeried the US president and is...
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Why Cummings Showed The UK Must Ditch ‘Glorious Amateurism’
Dominic Cummings took no prisoners this week when laying out claims of a series of “disastrous” government failures that meant tens of thousands of people died of Covid unnecessarily. Conservative MP Bob Seely joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to talk about the former No.10 aide's...
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Why Labour Should Be Braver To Win Back The Red Wall
Weeks of optimism and cheer as Covid restrictions were eased gave way to another bout of nationwide nervousness amid localised spikes in infections attributed to the variant of the virus first detected in India, prompting debates about how to contain the variant and whether the June 21 unlocking...
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What Is ‘Levelling Up’ And Can Boris Johnson Deliver?
The government’s legislative agenda for the next year or so was unveiled in this week’s Queen’s Speech. But it was perhaps more notable for what wasn’t in it. Boris Johnson’s plan to reform social care was still absent despite his 2019 claim to voters that he had one prepared. And the prime...
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Local Elections Special: What Went Wrong For Labour
Labour suffered a disastrous series of results in the “super Thursday” local elections, capped by a huge and humiliating defeat to the Tories in a parliamentary by-election in the red wall seat of Hartlepool. There were more losses in red wall and other marginal council areas with the Tories even...
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Will Voters Care About The Boris Johnson Flat Saga?
It’s been a nightmare week for Boris Johnson, who kicked the hornet’s nest when he blamed Dominic Cummings for a series of damaging leaks. The former adviser replied with a stinging public attack, which has left the prime minister fending off multiple bad headlines around his handling of the…
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Labour Think They’ve Found Tories’ Weak Spot, But Is It Enough To Win? With Lord Mandelson
Allegations of cronyism and government by WhatsApp have been intensifying around the Conservatives as Boris Johnson’s texts to manufacturer and Tory donor James Dyson add to the lobbying scandal engulfing former PM David Cameron and members of the Cabinet. Labour think they’ve found a message to...
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Could The EU Vaccine War Give Boris Johnson An Election Boost?
With local elections around the corner, Boris Johnson’s Tories find themselves in a stronger position than they would have imagined just a few short months ago. Will the successful deployment of coronavirus vaccines wipe the memory of the issues Britain endured during repeated lockdowns, giving…
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Is Boris Johnson The Right Man To Help Women?
The scale of protests, anger and shared feeling amongst women that they aren’t safe in British society after the killing of Sarah Everard has sparked a change in attitudes towards women’s safety in Westminster. But is a government led by a prime minister who’s been accused of sexism multiple…
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Britain’s Equality Flaws
The disappearance of Sarah Everard, Harry and Meghan’s bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview, and the resignations of two government equality advisers have revealed just how much work there still is to do to make Britain a more equal society for all. Joining Arj Singh, Rachel Wearmouth and Paul…
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Does Rishi Sunak’s Budget Change The Fight For Labour?
This week Rishi Sunak delivered his heavily-trailed Budget, revealing a spend now, tax later approach to the economic recovery from coronavirus. It included big spending on Covid support measures but a sting in the tail as taxes were hiked to their highest level since the 1960s. There were also...
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The Route Out Of Lockdown Is Revealed But The Road To Recovery Looks Less Certain
After Boris Johnson revealed his “road map” for the country to exit lockdown but with the vaccination programme continuing to go well, attention is turning towards the path to economic recovery. What will chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget next week do to help those in need now? What might it tell…
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Is Britain’s Gambling Problem Finally Going To Be Met With Action?
As the lockdown continues in Britain, attitudes are changing across Westminster to problem gambling as restrictions leave people couple up at home, inundated with betting ads and turning to online gambling sites for entertainment. Can an unlikely cross-party coalition of campaigners bring about...
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Are ‘Incompetent’ Ministers Trapping People In Unsafe, Unsellable Homes?
The government is facing another big Tory rebellion, this time over the cladding scandal which has seen people trapped in unsafe, unsellable flats after the Grenfell disaster, because their buildings are covered in unsafe material. Boris Johnson’s lockdown caution is also causing consternation on...
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The Candidates Set Out Scottish Labour's Future
Monica Lennon and Anas Sarwar join Rachel Wearmouth and Paul Waugh to discuss what Scottish Labour’s future is in Scotland and what they would do as the next Scottish Labour leader. Will they support an independence referendum? And how do they view the stewardship of the devolved government by…
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Boris Johnson Walks Into Another ‘Elephant Trap’
Yet more sobering coronavirus death statistics this week raised the prospect of restrictions continuing for some while yet. And with lockdown comes renewed attention to the plight of many juggling work and childcare, with many left without the means to provide classes or food for their children....
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Will The Red Wall Be Left Behind In The Fight Against Climate Change?
This week Britain faced a grisly milestone, with the highest number of daily deaths with coronavirus reported. The government has vowed to get tough on members of the public who are flouting lockdown measures, but is that where blame should lie? As the government tries to explain that we’re all…
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American Carnage, With Rosie Duffield MP And Anand Menon
If you thought 2020 was bad, get a load of 2021. It started with Boris Johnson putting England into a seven-week coronavirus lockdown with cases spiralling out of control. In the race of injections versus infections, has the prime minister overpromised again? Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s desperate…
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As 2020 Comes To A Close, Do We Dare Ask What 2021 Brings?
Enjoy Christmas with your family, but don’t enjoy it too much, or for too long, or with too much of your family. That was the message from Boris Johnson this week as a coronavirus spike sparked a rethink of the government’s festive Covid message. Is the government right to emphasise personal...
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Brexit Special: More Deadlines Than Hot Dinners
Brexit talks were on, then off, then back on again after another crunch week of negotiations passed without Boris Johnson or the EU deciding to compromise and get a deal, or go for no deal. The prime minister’s dinner in Brussels with Ursula von der Leyen failed to break the deadlock and fears of...
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Should Labour Back A Tory Brexit Deal? With Lucy Powell MP
This week brought the welcome news that the first coronavirus vaccine has been approved for use in the UK. Has the announcement on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine come at a useful time for Boris Johnson as his backbenchers show their dismay at lockdown tiers being imposed across the country? Another...
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Rishi Sunak Delays The Pain Ahead Of Covid Christmas (With Andrew Mitchell MP)isode
Rishi Sunak warned that the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic was only beginning as he unveiled his spending review. While there were giveaways to former red wall seats to assist in ‘levelling up’, the decision to cut the overseas aid budget drew cross-party criticism. Will the...
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Johnson And Starmer Struggle To Break Free From Their Recent Past (With Ian Lavery MP)
Factional infighting ruled Westminster this week as two of its most divisive figures returned to the front pages. For Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings leaving the No.10 team offered a chance to reset his government, only for another bout of isolation after coming into contact with an MP infected...
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Cummings And Goings At No.10 (With Tom Tugendhat MP)
Downing Street splits burst open this week with the resignation of Dominic Cummings ally and longstanding Boris Johnson aide Lee Cain as director of communications. Cummings didn’t follow through on threats to follow Cain out of the door but what may seem like a Westminster bubble story does…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Each week, the HuffPost UK Politics team unpack the biggest stories from Westminster and beyond.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Commons People currently has 260 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Commons People about?
Each week, the HuffPost UK Politics team unpack the biggest stories from Westminster and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How often does Commons People release new episodes?
Commons People publishes regularly with 260 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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