Bloomberg UK Politics

Rishi Sunak has refused to apologise for his joke about Keir Starmer’s stance on gender identity, made during Prime Minister’s Questions when the mother of murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey was present. Our UK government editor Stuart Biggs discusses how damaging this moment is for Sunak, and what voters may remember from this political week. Lizzy Burden reports on Labour backtracking on its £28 billion green spending pledge and what it could mean for the party. Plus: why equal pay for ethnic minority workers should be an election issue. We speak to Dianne Greyson, founder of the Ethnicity Pay Gap Campaign about the legal changes she’s seeking from politicians. Hosted by Stephen Carroll.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rishi Sunak faces a backlash for a jibe over the Labour leader's stance on transgender issues during Prime Minister's Questions. Keir Starmer called "shame" after Sunak raised the topic in front of the mother of murdered transgender teen Brianna Ghey, who was in attendance. Health issues more generally dominated this week's exchange between the leaders. Also today: we speak to Stephen Millard, deputy director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, about their forecast for UK living standards to improve before the general election. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Kwasi Kwarteng is stepping down as an MP at the next election. The former Chancellor was best known for his disastrous mini-budget under Liz Truss. We wanted to understand what it's like being at the centre of a media storm, how to manage it, and how crises have changed in the online world. We speak to Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor and Downing Street Head of Communications, who went to jail over the phone-hacking scandal. He now runs a strategic communications agency and is the host of the 'Crisis What Crisis?' podcast. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Lizzy Burden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 The restoration of power-sharing in Northern Ireland at the weekend was like a wedding, with speeches full of warm words and good intentions, according to politics professor Jon Tonge. He joins us to discuss how much credit Rishi Sunak can claim, as the Prime Minister visits Stormont today. The Alliance Party's Kate Nicholl tells us what it's like to take up her seat in the Assembly, almost two years after she was first elected, and her party's priorities as the business of government resumes. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Lizzy Burden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Party did its best to woo industry leaders at their annual business conference in London. It was a sold-out event with attendees from the likes of Microsoft and Aviva. We ask Bloomberg UK government reporter Emily Ashton if the party's pro-business makeover will pay off. One high-profile Labour recruit from the business world is Richard Walker, Executive Chairman of Iceland supermarkets and a former Conservative party donor, he tells us why he switched sides. Plus, advice from an unlikely source - former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng shares his perspective on how the next government should manage its money. Hosted by James Woolcock and Caroline Hepker.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keir Starmer's been to Iceland, and he can't wait to tell the Prime Minister about a man called Phil he met there, and what Phil thinks about the UK economy. The Prime Minister also wants to talk to Phil, and tell him about so-called Labour U-turns on banker bonuses. We unpack this week's Prime Minister's Questions and hear from BlackRock Investment's Deputy Head Alex Brazier about tomorrow's Bank of England decision and the economic outlook ahead of the general election. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Lizzy Burden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democratic Unionist Party has agreed to end its boycott of Northern Ireland's power-sharing assembly, concluding two years of post-Brexit paralysis. Our reporter Olivia Fletcher joins us from Belfast on the latest deliberations. Plus: Reg Empey, former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and one of the negotiators of the Good Friday Agreement, gives us his view. We also speak to Bloomberg's Eamon Farhat who's analysed the demographics of the seats Labour needs to flip if Keir Starmer is to win the keys to 10 Downing Street. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Lizzy Burden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has won the endorsement of Tory donor and Iceland chair Richard Walker, in a blow to Rishi Sunak. Our business reporter Sabah Meddings brings us the latest on Labour's business charm offensive. Plus: is housing going to be the political flashpoint of the next election? Zoopla's Executive Director Richard Donnell and our Corporate Finance Czar Neil Callanan tell us about the state of the property market and the policy risks ahead. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Lizzy Burden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disappointing polling, a Canada trade deal on ice, and less money to spend on tax cuts all add up to a week of bad news for Rishi Sunak. Our reporter Joe Mayes brings us his exclusive story detailing the latest Treasury analysis ahead of the upcoming budget. Director of think-tank the British Foreign Policy Group, Evie Aspinall, talks us through the breakdown in trade talks between the UK and Canada. Plus, we get insight on what a controversial bid for ownership of the Telegraph newspaper says about politics and media in the UK from Rasmus Nielsen, professor of political communication at the University of Oxford. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and James Woolcock.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 A new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies says the next government will face the worst fiscal inheritance in 70 years and that the country will have to reckon with "big decisions and trade-offs". IFS Deputy Director Carl Emmerson says both parties need to be more honest with voters. City Minister Bim Afolami discussed his plan, unveiled today, for a new platform that will allow investors in private companies to trade shares. We get the investor perspective on the policy from Tony Dalwood, CEO of Gresham House. Plus, Rwanda is central to the government's asylum policy. Bloomberg's Africa Editor Neil Munshi has a special report about the country's economic transformation and suppression. Hosted by James Woolcock and Caroline Hepker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.