Whitehall Sources

The first TV debate between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak is in the books, but what did we learn? Nigel Farage is firmly back in the UK political fray: what does this mean for the Conservatives? And former MP and housing minister Sir Brandon Lewis CBE joins to discuss how to fix the country's housebuilding problem, and why Labour might have taken a page out of the Conservatives' book when drawing up their plans.

The conversation covers various aspects of the ongoing election campaign, including the performance of the Conservative and Labour parties, the impact of policy announcements, the handling of key issues such as Brexit and the economy, and the upcoming manifesto launches and leadership debates. The discussion also delves into the strategies and challenges faced by the party leaders, as well as the role of media and public perception in shaping the election narrative.We're joined by Patrick Diamond, former policy adviser to Tony Blair.

Jo Tanner joins Kirsty and Calum. The conversation discusses the announcement of the general election and the strategy behind it. It explores the mishaps and challenges faced by the Conservative Party, including the timing of the announcement and the optics of the Prime Minister speaking in the rain. The conversation also delves into the potential impact of the election on issues such as the compensation scheme for victims of the contaminated blood scandal and the postmasters' scandal. The conversation touches on the swing in voter support and the challenges faced by both the Conservative and Labour parties in winning over voters. It concludes with a discussion on the negative campaigning strategies employed by the parties. The conversation discusses the challenges and pitfalls of election campaigning, including the timing of the election, campaign strategies, and the importance of optics. It also touches on the rules and guidelines for campaign communications, the role of technology and social media, and the potential for embarrassing moments on the campaign trail.

Kirsty Buchanan, former special advisor to Theresa May, and Calum Macdonald discuss the prison system in the UK, and Sir Keir Starmer's six pledges for the next general election. The conversation touches on the challenges of the prison system, the need for a fresh look at remand and recall, and the importance of rehabilitation and reform. It also explores the effectiveness of political pledges and the need for realistic and achievable goals. The conversation covers various topics, including the Labour Party's five missions and the addition of a sixth mission related to border security. The discussion also touches on the timeline for achieving these missions and the importance of managing expectations. The hosts then shift to a clip of an interview with Rishi Sunak on the Loose Women program, where he is questioned about his policies towards pensioners. The hosts analyse the interview style and the effectiveness of different interview techniques.

In this episode, Calum and Kirsty discuss the recent defection of Natalie Elphicke from the Conservative Party to Labour, the appointment of John Swinney as the new First Minister of Scotland, and the issue of antisemitism on university campuses. They highlight the controversy surrounding Elphicke's defection and the potential impact on both parties. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Swinney as he takes on the role of First Minister. Finally, they delve into the issue of antisemitism on university campuses and the need for universities to take a zero tolerance approach to ensure the safety and well-being of Jewish students.

We discuss the local elections in the UK and their implications for the Conservative Party and Rishi Sunak. We consider the impact of immigration on the elections, the performance of Sadiq Khan in the mayoral election in London, the role of personality in local elections, and the support for Rishi Sunak among Conservative councillors. We highlight the key wins and losses for both parties, including Labour's success in the North East and the Conservatives' loss in Harlow. The conversation also explores the impact of Keir Starmer's stance on Gaza on Labour's performance and the potential challenges for the party in areas with a significant Muslim population. It concludes with a discussion on the future prospects for Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, and the importance of focusing on the needs of the country rather than party politics.

It's the eve of local elections across England and Wales, and Calum and Kirsty give the rundown on what to expect, and what they really mean. Plus as Humza Yousaf announces his resignation as First Minister, and John Swinney or Kate Forbes tipped to replace him, what comes next in Scotland? And the government announces the first departure of a failed asylum seeker to Rwanda - but they did it voluntarily, and were paid £3000 to do so.

Kirsty's got fresh gossip from all of her swanky Westminster events about the timing of an election; Calum explains why Humza Yousaf might not be First Minister of Scotland for much longer; and will Labour be the Government to finally improve rail services?

We're joined by James Price.The conversation covers various topics including the investigation into Conservative MP Mark Menzies, standards in public life, and the ongoing debate over the Rwanda deportation bill. The hosts and guests discuss the lack of action by the Conservative Party in response to the allegations against Menzies and the need for better crisis management. They also explore the challenges of maintaining standards in public life and the difficulties in rehabilitating politicians who have made mistakes. The conversation concludes with a brief discussion on the ping pong between the government and the House of Lords over the Rwanda deportation bill. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the potential outcome of the ping pong between the House of Commons and the House of Lords regarding the controversial Nationality and Borders Bill. They also talk about Liz Truss's new book and whether she is being unfairly mocked for her reflections as a former prime minister. The hosts then shift the discussion to Kemi Badenoch and her recent interventions on various issues, highlighting her ideological consistency and leadership potential.