Commons People

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the probable outcome of the 7 May Local Elections, and whether the predicted devastation for Labour across the country will spell the end of Keir Starmer's leadership.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction and the downfall of Labour under Keir Starmer's rule.08:20 – How would Keir Starmer be gotten rid off, and who would be replace him?12:54 – Would Ed Miliband step up again?15:08 – Is Shabana Mahmood up for being Labour Leader?15:37 – How about Yvette Cooper or John Healey?17:57 – Will anybody stand by Starmer?21:40 – Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner are the frontrunners to replace Starmer.30:32 – What will happen after the Local Elections results come in?44:04 – Bluffers Guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the origin of the "special relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States and whether Donald Trump has essentially killed it off.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction.01:29 – Where does the term "special relationship" come from?03:40 – How have Keir Starmer and Trump contributed to changing the special relationship?11:50 – King Charles state visit latest.18:32 – Selections from King Charles's Congress speech.20:28 – How did Trump break royal protocol?23:42 – UK-US ambassador's comments on America's "special relationship" with Israel.26:42 – Peter Mandelson scandal latest.31:14 – What will happen after King Charles state is done?39:21 – Bluffers guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds and King Charles clips were sourced from Associated Press via YouTube. Producer: Sam Cleal

Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the latest developments in the headline-making Peter Mandelson scandal, and whether Keir Starmer's recent conduct towards the civil service – and his past mistakes – are enough to see his premiership crumble.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction.01:17 – Who is Peter Mandelson and what's his connection with Jeffrey Epstein?08:24 – Why did Mandelson get a job if he had failed security vetting?13:08 – How did Keir Starmer respond?16:27 – How did senior civil servant Olly Robbins answer to being blamed for getting Mandelson in post?19:40 – Does former ambassador Karen Pierce not continuing in her role suggest Starmer is running a boys' club?21:45 – How the Mandelson saga has undermined Keir Starmer's rule-abiding reputation.23:12 – Why did Starmer take such a gamble on appointing Mandelson?26:20 – What's next for Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and who would replace him?36:35 – Morgan McSweeney to give testimony to the Foreign Affairs Committee.39:00 – Taxpayers will probably fund a large payout for Olly Robbins.40:00 – How will the Government and the civil service continue working together?41:30 – Bluffer's Guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

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.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction02:29 – Brexit explained (for those who have forgotten!)04:43 – the King's speech, Trump and why Starmer would want to align more closely with the EU.09:20 – how do British people feel about the EU?13:50 – what are the main political parties thinking?17:14 – British holidaymakers stranded at passport control.18:17 – MPs are angry at not getting a vote.21:19 – Steve Reed (Community Secretary) on an EU re-alignment.23:27 – What will happen next?28:16 – Bluffer's Guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

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.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction04:44 – Did Trump meet any of his military objectives?08:14 – The significance of the Strait of Hormuz12:52 – Iran's 10-point proposal18:02 – Trump's strained international relations (including with NATO)21:56 – Keir Starmer and King Charles's relationship with Trump and Trump's comments on UK armed forces25:13 – Can Iran build a nuclear bomb?29:05 – Keir Starmer's visit to the Middle East32:53 – The economic consequences of the war37:33 – Bluffer's guide and endYou can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal

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.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction05:00 – Sarah Everard and the impact of her death on society06:54 – Is there a pattern of sexist briefings against female cabinet ministers going on?09:42 – Is Keir Starmer's Government a "boy's club"?14:37 – What is it like being a female journalist in politics today.19:40 – What do "Adolescence" and "Inside The Manosphere" have to do with things?23:05 – Reform's Matt Goodwin and Danny Kruger's anti-women policies25:47 – What does the future hold – a female first secretary of state28:26 – What does the future hold – the male MP response30:25 – How do we make sure women are heard more?33:04 – Are female political correspondents outliers in Westminster?35:06 – Should there be a Minister for Men?36:59 – Bluffer's Guide and endYou can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal