

Talking Politics
ITV News
Political Editor Robert Peston and News At Ten Anchor Tom Bradby discuss and debate all the key talking points of the political week - and answer your questions in our weekly Q&A episodes.Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com You can watch every episode on YouTube, ITVX and Spotify and listen on every podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts. Hit subscribe on any platform to ensure you don't miss an episode.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 29, 2025 • 33min
Why Rachel Reeves is likely to raise income tax to fill Budget black hole
In this episode of Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and political editor Robert Peston analyse the Chancellor's dwindling options for her upcoming budget and predict the impact of the decisions she might make. They discuss how Rachel Reeves will fill that multi-billion-pound hole in the country's finances, whether she will increase income tax despite previous promises not to, and how she can hold onto the country's highest tax bracket.Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com

Oct 23, 2025 • 16min
David Lammy: We can't let 'hooligans and fascists' appropriate the British flag
Robert is joined by the Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who says he wants his children to feel "confident" in the UK and England flags. The Deputy PM - and Justice Secretary - claimed the flag was being appropriated by the far-right. He also spoke about a new AI tool being used in the justice system to help transcribe interviews. And he said it was "right" that MPs scrutinise Prince Andrew's living arrangements.Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com

Oct 21, 2025 • 45min
Pressure grows on the government to strip Prince Andrew of ALL his titles
Tom Bradby and Robert Peston chat with Lord Simon Case, who has served as right-hand man to both Prince William and four Prime Ministers, as Cabinet Secretary.They discuss the growing pressure on the government to officially strip Prince Andrew of all his titles, including his Dukedom.Lord Case also breaks down the threat China poses to the UK and explains why No.10 remains dysfunctional over a year since the general election.Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com

Oct 17, 2025 • 32min
UK government used Chinese owned data centre, Cummings tells Peston
Dominic Cummings has disclosed in an exclusive interview with ITV News that government data has been stored on infrastructure owned and controlled by Chinese interests.He told the Talking Politics podcast that he had been warned about the Chinese ownership in “early 2020”, shortly after becoming chief aide to the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson.UK official sources have confirmed to Peston that Global Switch has provided data and communication services to the government.Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com

Oct 14, 2025 • 39min
Trump sold peace to the Middle East: but will it last?
Donald Trump has hailed the Gaza ceasefire as a new dawn but what obstacles still stand in the way of lasting peace in the Middle East?A diplomatic solution has long been sort but the President has a different approach: money. Will he be able to successfully sell the commercial opportunities of peace in the long term? Robert and Tom also weigh up Tony Blair's potential part in the path to peace, given his history in both Northern Ireland and Iraq.And Robert explains exactly how the government has entered another crisis over the dropped China spy court case.Got a question for Tom or Robert? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we’ll look to answer it in our next Talking Politics Q&A episode.Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com

Oct 8, 2025 • 32min
The Jenrick 'white faces' race row and Badenoch's stamp duty promise
What's the fallout in the Robert Jenrick 'white faces' row? And will Kemi Badenoch's offer to ditch stamp duty win over voters?In this Talking Politics, Robert Peston joins Tom Bradby from the Conservative's conference in Manchester to give expert analysis minutes after the Tory leader's speech. Got a question for Tom or Robert? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we’ll look to answer it in our next Talking Politics Q&A episode.Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com

Oct 7, 2025 • 9min
'Coverage of Gaza war inaccurate': Peston interviews Kemi Badenoch | Talking Politics | ITV News
In this special edition of Talking Politics from the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston sits down with the leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch.They discussed the challenges of anti-semitism and racism in the country, as well as the problems facing the party with the number of councillors deserting to Reform.The Tory leader criticised the BBC and other media organisations for what she said was ‘inaccurate’ coverage of Israel’s war in Gaza.And, in response to the controversy surrounding comments made by Robert Jenrick which were seen by many to be ‘racist’, Ms Badenoch defended the shadow justice secretary, saying his words were ‘taken out of context’.Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com

6 snips
Oct 1, 2025 • 10min
'This is the fight of our times': Peston interviews the Prime Minister
In a compelling conversation, Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party, dissects the looming election showdown with Nigel Farage and Reform. He claims this is 'the fight of our times' and emphasizes that neglecting Reform's threat would be a grave mistake. Starmer critiques Farage's policies on immigration, highlighting the dangers of stripping rights from settled migrants. He also discusses the need for sustained economic growth and how he will be judged on public services and living standards.

Sep 30, 2025 • 26min
Starmer attacks Farage - will it help or harm UK's 'least popular' PM?
Can Sir Keir Starmer’s vision for a renewed Britain - littered with attacks on Nigel Farage - help reset the prime minister’s own dire standing with the public?In this special Talking Politics at Labour’s conference in Liverpool, Robert Peston and Tom Bradby react minutes after the PM’s keynote speech.And after a poll revealed Starmer is the least popular PM since records began, can the vision for growth he set out to a supportive flag-waving audience of Labour members help restore voter confidence in his government outside the conference hall?Or could his repeat scripted jibes at the Reform UK leader play into his rival’s hands?Got a question for Tom or Robert? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com and we’ll look to answer it in our next Talking Politics Q&A episode.Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com

11 snips
Sep 29, 2025 • 25min
Exclusive: Hugh Grant says hacking victims have been ‘personally betrayed’ by Sir Keir Starmer
Hugh Grant, the renowned actor and a staunch advocate against press intrusion, opens up about his deep disappointment with the Labour government and Sir Keir Starmer. He reveals the personal betrayals felt by voiceless victims of phone hacking, especially after the Millie Dowler case. Grant critiques Starmer's alliances with major publishers, arguing they undermine the promise of press reform. He passionately demands new legislation for newspaper accountability and emphasizes the challenges of balancing press freedom with necessary regulations in today's chaotic media landscape.


