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The State of It
If you're going to raise taxes, why not just say so?
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Before the election, Rachel Reeves said she wasn't going to raise taxes on working people. Well, guess what? It looks like that's exactly what she's about to do. We reveal the measures the treasury is considering. And even the Labour whips are talking about a spring leadership challenge. Could a former leader make a comeback? And is Keir Starmer's Terminator demeanour helping or hindering him?
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
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Gabriel Pogrund speaks out on Labour Together scandal
39:09|The Labour Together scandal is the latest storm threatening to capsize the government - and Gabriel has been right at the heart. For the first time, he describes what happened when a Labour think tank set private investigators on a journalist. Their secret report falsely accused Gabriel of acting as a Russian agitator and "grotesquely subverted" his faith in an attack on his and his colleagues' reporting in The Sunday Times.Hosts:Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Euan DawtreyExecutive producer: Dan BoxEmail us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
Wes Streeting bottles it and Labour's left grabs the steering wheel
30:06|Listen to what Labour ministers and MPs are saying about their colleagues in a week of chaos in Westminster. The prime minister thought it was all over for him this weekend, but a scrambled rearguard action has left him looking stronger than he has for some time. But to survive, Keir Starmer may now have no choice but to move leftwards. And there's much worse to come when the Mandelson files are released. Meanwhile, has Wes Streeting missed his moment to challenge the prime minister? Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Euan DawtreyExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture credit: Getty ImagesAudio credit: Sky NewsEmail us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
Bonus episode: Epstein tried to befriend me
28:37|A guest slot to give you a taste of our new podcast, The State of It: USA. Give it a go and please subscribe.His enemies were hoping that Donald Trump would come out badly from the Epstein files, but he hasn't. Gerry argues that the scandal is a parable about modern capitalism, and remembers the time Jeffrey Epstein tried and failed to make friends with him. Katy tells the inside story of her interview with Peter Mandelson.Also, what can we expect when the Clintons testify to the Epstein investigation? And what does President Trump mean when he says "nationalise the vote"?Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday TimesGerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street JournalProducer: Euan DawtreyExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessEmail us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
How the Mandelson scandal threatens Starmer
30:10|The extraordinary emails between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein could constitute the biggest scandal since the Profumo affair. Lord Mandelson has quit the Lords but it's a bit more complicated than that, and the prime minister still has a lot of firefighting to do.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesCaroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducer: Euan DawtreyExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture credit: Getty ImagesEmail us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
Bonus episode: Flying to China with the PM
19:12|Bonus episode.Join Caroline and Steve on the plane with the prime minister. Why did he end speaking to journalists from a loo? What's it like to travel with a PM? And how can Starmer balance concerns about espionage and human rights with the UK's business interests?Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesCaroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Euan DawtreyExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture credit: Getty ImagesEmail us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
Lose this by-election and all hell breaks loose
35:33|We reveal what MPs are saying about the decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. It creates a new D-Day for Keir Starmer: 26th February. On Labour's left wing, it's Operation Stop Streeting.Meanwhile, the prime minister's off to China but can he make the case to voters that getting closer to China will make everyone feel better off? And Gabriel reveals something startling about Starmer's recent phone call with Donald Trump.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesCaroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Euan DawtreyExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture credit: Getty ImagesEmail us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
Widespread bafflement and anger
35:39|The extraordinary tale of how the Chagos deal went down in Number 10. Plus, how long can Keir Starmer maintain his softly, softly approach to Donald Trump? With the news that China's mega embassy has been approved, we hear about Gabriel's attempts to get his hands on a note sent by Boris Johnson to the Chinese embassy. And who else is heading into the arms of Reform UK?Caroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Euan DawtreyExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture credit: Getty ImagesEmail us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
No one likes us, we don't care
37:28|Keir Starmer's sending mixed messages to his MPs: warm words but ice cold briefings about any leadership machinations. Can the two positions co-exist? Gabriel gives the inside story of the scoop that could lead to the departure of West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford.And has Reform hit a ceiling?Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesCaroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Euan DawtreyExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture credit: Getty ImagesEmail us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
Starmer, Farage and your monthly bills
31:23|Starmer wants to win over voters on the cost of living but can he make a convincing case, especially when Nigel Farage is planning to campaign on the same issue? Meanwhile the mood in the Labour Party remains bleak. Will Wes Streeting move against Keir Starmer? It surely can’t go on like this…or can it? Plus, in a new world order, there’s only so long you can sit on the fence.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesCaroline Wheeler, political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducer: Euan DawtreyExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessEmail us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk