Not Another One

After a bumpy first year can the comprehensive spending review give the government a clearer sense of direction? There’s the winter fuel payment u-turn, more cash for free school meals, defence, NHS and a pledge to increase capital spending. But some departments face real terms cuts and the economy remains fragile. How is Rachel Reeves going to pay for her plans and will she have to find more money by the autumn? Plus, what’s been happening behind the scenes in Reform and do Sarah Vine’s reflections on the Cameron era have wider lessons? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bracing for an election victory last summer, Keir Starmer and his team were given a memo by Sue Gray, then chief of staff. Dubbed "Sue's s*** list" it warned of six domestic policy disasters waiting to happen. We review and add to it as Labour's challenges grow in office. Plus: our team can’t stop wrangling about the Strategic Defence Review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Strategic Defence Review implies significant increases in spending and Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the money will be found but without explaining how. Will any new money for defence be well spent and how will Starmer and Rachel Reeves fund the increases? Is defence a more urgent priority than other needs such as social care and the NHS? What will be the political consequences? And is the UK heading for war or investing to avoid one? We attempt to answer these epic questions and disagree in a constructive spirit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate the first birthday of the Not Another One podcast, the team discuss whether divisions over the vote would have split the Tory party, whether Labour would have stuck with Corbyn and how policy might be different. With added froth this week as we toast a year of these debates. Thanks to all our listeners. Cheers! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the election the chancellor was the dominant figure in the government. Whatever she wished to announce or implement was announced and implemented. Keir Starmer raised no objections. Now, her winter fuel payment cut is being reversed and Starmer has indicated he supports scrapping the two child benefit cap. Ministers are stirring over cuts being imposed in the public spending round. Is her authority being challenged and what will be the consequences? Plus the team assess Reform’s economic policies and the Tory leadership’s strategic dilemma. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer announced a u-turn on winter fuel payments in the face of growing backbench discontent this week. There’s also speculation more than 100 Labour MPs will rebel against benefit cuts. Meanwhile, there’s already speculation that Tory MPs might move against Kemi Badenoch. Are MPs more disloyal than they used to be or do they have more cause for insurrection against incompetent party leaderships? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Keir Starmer and the government seek to improve Britain’s Brexit deal our team ask whether its original architect will soon be returning to lead the Tories? The team explore Starmer’s reset with the EU along with the potentially significant practical and political consequences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer warns of an “island of strangers” in an attempt to counter the rise of Nigel Farage. What do the PM’s words tell us about him and the policies he was announcing? In this weekend edition our team explore the language of politics. Leaders tend to be identified by a few words- “the lady’s not for turning”, “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime” etc. Yet the words are often far removed from the policies they describe and in some cases the character of the leader. Why are soundbites and key phrases so central to politics and leadership? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Prime Minister caused controversy this week when he spoke of the dangers of a lack of integration, saying Britain risked becoming an island of strangers. Has Starmer miscalculated by using the language of Farage? Or is he right? Does he need to be on this terrain using this kind of rhetoric? Our team also ask whether there is any way to fix the UK’s immigration policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Often dubbed political history's masters of adapting to survive, the Tories currently face a threat that could be existential. Examining the fallout of the local and mayoral elections we look at what could save them from Farage and offer a bit of advice to Kemi Badenoch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.