PoliticsJOE Podcast

We sat down with Children's Minister Josh MacAlister to hear about the government's launch of a new Child Protection Authority. In a wide-ranging conversation, MacAlister tells us about his role, the mess the Labour government inherited from the Conservatives, and how to properly address the needs of victims.

As another year draws to a close, we are joined for another therapy session by none other than Ian Hislop.The editor of Private Eye took time out of his busy schedule to run through the insanity that has been the year in politics.From the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform and Zack Polanski's Green Party, to the complete and utter collapse in support for Keir Starmer's Labour government, this year in British politics gives ample ground for Ian to reflect on the year that has been.Elsewhere the royals have had a year to forget with Andrew losing all of his titles for his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Another Epstein link had Britain's Ambassador to the US lose his job, even though Peter Mandelson certainly had a mutual friend with Donald Trump through his meetings with the New York financier.Ian also gives his take on how the fiasco that was the founding of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's Your Party, and how Donald Trump has managed to alienate the globe by throwing the might of the White House around on the world stage.

Welcome to the final PMQs podcast of the season! Today Keir Starmer came under fire for two ongoing strikes: The resident doctor strikes set to go ahead in the run up to Christmas, and the ongoing hunger strikes in British prisons.

Yesterday, Keir Starmer defended his record in government before the Liaison Committee. Ava and Laura check his report card.

Join Ava and Laura on Facetime as they react to Bonnie Blue's endorsement of Reform UK.

After an impassioned defence of the Employment Rights Bill in the Commons on Monday, Angela Rayner is back in the Labour limelight. She rivals only Wes Streeting, the supposed faithful, for number of rumours swirling about a leadership bid. Laura and Seán get to the bottom of things.

Ava and Laura react to one of Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch's sharper exchanges in recent weeks, and hear questions from Rachael Maskell, Ed Davey, and Sojan Joseph.

Author, journalist, and train nerd John Elledge joins Ava to talk Labour's nationalisation of rail under the freshly unveiled Great British Railways.

Ava comes back from her slot on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and gave us the lowdown on what was missing from the debate on the BBC yesterday.