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Tomorrow voters in Yorkshire’s Batley and Spen constituency head to the polls for the fourth time in five years. The previously safe Labour seat is under threat and this by-election is seen as a test of Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. The Conservatives are hoping to win and could get a helping hand from former Labour MP George Galloway who is running for the Workers party and may split Labour's vote. Manveen Rana went to find out what was happening locally.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe before June 29th and save 50% on your first 6 months at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: -Tony Earnshaw, Democracy reporter at Yorkshire Live.-George Galloway, Workers Party for Britain candidate. -Julian Heather Liberal Democrat activist.-Nadeem Raja, general manager of the Indian Muslim Welfare Society.-Gulam maniyar, former Labour councillor.  Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, BBC News, Joe.co.uk, ITV News, Conservative PartyThe by-election candidates are (listed alphabetically by surname):Paul Bickerdike - Christian Peoples AllianceMike Davies - Alliance For Green SocialismJayda Fransen - IndependentGeorge Galloway - Workers PartyTom Gordon - Liberal DemocratsThérèse Hirst - English DemocratsHowling Laud Hope - The Official Monster Raving Loony PartySusan Laird - Heritage PartyKim Leadbeater - Labour PartyOliver Purser - Social Democratic PartyCorey Robinson - Yorkshire PartyAndrew Smith - Rejoin EURyan Stephenson - Conservative PartyJack Thomson - UK Independence PartyJonathan Tilt - Freedom AllianceAnne Marie Waters - The For Britain MovementThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not often that CCTV footage changes the political landscape. What does the scandal surrounding Matt Hancock tell us about the way government works? And what does his departure mean for the NHS and the pandemic? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe before June 29th and save 50% on your first 6 months at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: BBC, ITV, Sky, The Telegraph.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Turkish mob boss who's on the run, has been making unverified claims on YouTube about corruption and organised crime linked right to the top of president Erdogan's government. His tell-all videos have captivated the nation and turned him into an unlikely social media star.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe before June 29th and save 50% on your first 6 months at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Hannah Lucinda Smith, Turkey correspondent at The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Nobel-winning greats and pacey thrillers to memoirs and historical novels, Times Radio's Stig Abell returns to the podcast for our guide to the best reads for the beach.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe before June 29th and save 50% on your first 6 months at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Books recommended in this episode:Non-fiction:1) The Sleeping Beauties And Other Stories of Mystery Illness by Suzanne O'Sullivan (hardback / audiobook)2) One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time by Craig Brown (hardback / paperback / audiobook)3) Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took on the West by Catherine Belton (hardback / paperback / audiobook)Fiction:1) Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (hardback / audiobook)2) Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (hardback / audiobook)3) The Passenger by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz (hardback)Guests: -Robbie Millen, literary editor of The Times.-Andrew Holgate, literary editor of The Sunday Times.Host: Stig Abell. Clips: Baillie Gifford podcast; Suzanne O'Sullivan reading her own book on Audible; Meg Mason reading her own book at a Book People virtual event; Klara and the Sun from Faber on SoundCloud.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Joe Biden put his VP Kamala Harris in charge of stemming the tide of migrants into the United States in March - a seemingly intractable problem. Since then, many have criticised Harris for not having made a visit to the US- Mexican border, despite being in charge of its management. After mounting pressure - yesterday the Vice President announced she would go and visit personally - but is it a little too late? Today we look at the reputation of a second-in-command who came into office with the world's expectations on her shoulders.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Alistair Dawber, Washington correspondent for The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: NBC, Fox News.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fraudsters make millions by exploiting a weak banking system, but who are the crooks behind it all? One of our journalists has turned the table on scammers by recording his calls with them and reporting their methods to the authorities. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ali Hussein, Chief money reporter for The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They've been booed and criticised but the England team insist they'll begin tonight's match by taking the knee. A former professional footballer tells us why it matters to the players so much.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Clarke Carlisle, ex-professional footballer, pundit and mental health consultant.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: BBC.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week marks five years since Britain voted to leave the European union. Today we go back to the heart of Brexitland in Boston, Lincolnshire.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: -Zoe Beaty, Freelance writer for The Times and local in Boston. Her article can be found here.-Iga Paczkowska, Boston resident.-Gerry Roffey, Boston resident.Host: Asya Fouks.Clips: BBC, CNN.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Princess Diana's 1995 interview with BBC journalist Martin Bashir is among the most famous in broadcasting history. But last month an independent investigation found that Bashir had engaged in “deceitful behaviour” in a “serious breach” of the BBC’s guidelines. So why was Bashir rehired in 2016? And with a review of editorial policy now underway, does the scandal now threaten to engulf the whole corporation?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Rosamund Urwin, senior reporter, The Sunday Times.- Tom Bower, investigative journalist and former BBC Panorama reporter.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips from: BBC.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebel MPs have been lining up to criticise plans to reduce the foreign aid budget from 0.7% of our national income to 0.5%, a loss of £4 billion. Today we explore the impact of these cuts In Westminster and in Mozambique - one of Africa's poorest countries.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests:Henry Zeffman, chief political correspondent, The Times.Andrea Wojnar, Mozambique Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips from: BBC, CBS, and UNFPR.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.