Commons People

Parliament returned from summer recess but it has been anything but a calm and relaxing summer holiday as the fallout from the exam results fiasco and many, many more U-turns from the government left Boris Johnson and the Tories sinking in the polls to the dismay of the party’s MPs.HuffPost UK’s Arj Singh and Paul Waugh are joined by shadow education minister Emma Hardy to make sense of what’s gone wrong and whether the fallout will have any lasting effect. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Black Ballad is guest-editing HuffPost UK with a series by Black women on parenting, family, and our post-Covid future. In this special episode of Commons People, Arj Singh speaks with HuffPost UK's Nadine White, Black Ballad’s head of editorial, Jendella Benson and co-founder of the Five Times More campaign, Tinuke Awe to talk about the takeover and what Black Ballad's landmark motherhood survey shows about health inequality in Britain.To find out more, follow the link to see all of the features and articles written over the past week.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

No chance for parliament to wind down to summer recess as the intelligence and security committee published the long-awaited Russia report, which detailed how the government and intelligence agencies took their “eye off the ball” with regards to Russian meddling in British politics. Will Boris Johnson take heed of the warnings?Alongside Russia, the government also has to contend with Chinese relations following the visit of US secretary of state Mike Pompeo. Has Dominic Raab found himself in the middle of a feud between the global superpowers and how much of a threat is Beijing?Conservative MP and chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee Tom Tugendhat joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to unpack a big week for national security. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Security and foreign affairs was thrust to the forefront this week as Boris Johnson U-turned on Huawei’s involvement in UK 5G infrastructure. The change in tone to China was quickly followed by a very British coup as Julian Lewis stole the chair of the intelligence and security committee from No.10’s favoured Chris Grayling and prepared to publish the long-awaited report on Russian interference. Dominic Raab then revealed that Russian actors tried to influence December’s general election.Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss Russia, China, why BAME people with coronavirus should not be stigmatised and Keir Starmer’s first 100 days as Labour leader. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rishi Sunak this week delivered a £30bn mini-budget designed to save jobs from the deep recession caused by coronavirus. The chancellor again came forward with radical state intervention proposals while keeping backbench Tory MPs eager for low tax, small state economics happy. But were the plans radical enough?Labour peer and Gordon Brown’s former adviser Stewart Wood goes through details with Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth, with an eye on what Labour leader Keir Starmer can do to regain the public’s faith on the economy, including the controversial idea of a wealth tax. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson tried to reset the agenda on his premiership this week ahead of the lockdown all but lifting, setting out a “new deal” in the mould of Franklin D Roosevelt to get Britain to flourish once more following the coronavirus pandemic. But was he bold enough during the crisis itself?While Johnson was taking to the stage, a local flare up of cases in Leicester, China’s moves on Hong Kong and Donald Trump’s hoarding of coronavirus drugs showed just how gargantuan his task may be. Tory former minister and founder of the Big Tent Ideas Festival, George Freeman takes a look with Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After three months, Britain’s lockdown is coming to an end after Boris Johnson announced the openings of pubs, restaurants and other venues from July 4. But is it a risk? And what about those, particularly in the arts, that are still not yet allowed to fully reopen?Recorded before Rebecca Long-Bailey’s sacking, Labour’s shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss the lockdown easing and what it could mean for the country next, as well as whether Robert Jenrick can remain in position following his controversial intervention in a planning decision involving Tory donor Richard Desmond. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While Boris Johnson was discussing the boarding up of Churchill’s statue, Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford was campaigning for free school meals over the summer. Rashford’s open letter to the government saw a U-turn within 48 hours. With schools reopening also causing consternation, it hints at a government unsure of which way to turn.Conservative MP Robert Halfon joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss whether the government needs to pay more attention to its own backbenchers instead of treating them as an inconvenience. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

George Floyd’s death continued to reverberate around the world this week, with protests in Bristol leading to the tearing down of Edward Colston’s statue due to his links to the slave trade. Is Britain finally facing up to the systemic racism present in the country?One person not facing up to his failings is Boris Johnson, as the government continues to ignore calls to say mistakes were made in the response to the coronavirus pandemic.Joining Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth, Lib Dem leadership candidate Layla Moran.  Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Coronavirus news took a backseat as the protests against racial injustice fanned across the world following George Floyd’s death in custody of Minneapolis police. Britain too had tough questions to answer as a report detailing the disproportionate effects of coronavirus on Black and minority ethnic (BAME) people was published.Conservative MP Bim Afolami joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth as they discuss the BAME report, whether Boris Johnson has been strong enough in his response to Donald Trump’s actions and whether the government is still following the science on Covid-19.  Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The government has announced its new test and trace system as well as easing some lockdown restrictions but the only news people are talking about is Dominic Cummings and his lockdown eye test. Boris Johnson has staked a lot on sticking by his adviser, but is the Vote Leave guru worth the price?Joining Arj Singh and Paul Waugh, former Tory special adviser Salma Shah and former Labour adviser Matthew McGregor discuss whether the Cummings affair will damage the party’s image permanently, and explore Keir Starmer’s response to the scandal. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nicola Sturgeon has now laid out Scotland’s lockdown exit strategy, a week after breaking with Boris Johnson and opposing the easing of restrictions that happened in England. Many think the Scottish first minister has handled the pandemic response better than the UK PM, but does it hold up under scrutiny?Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to talk about how Scotland is faring during the pandemic, as well as where Keir Starmer’s focus in the week it was revealed this year’s Labour conference has been cancelled. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain was told to ease itself back to work as Boris Johnson’s government tries to devise a lockdown exit strategy that keeps the coronavirus at bay without long-term damage to the economy. Confused messaging from the government however has led to difficult questions, particularly those from Keir Starmer at PMQs. Does Boris Johnson have the answers?Questions too are beginning to be asked of China, both in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and more broadly about its global role. Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight Bob Seely joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to talk about the government’s test and trace app, the UK’s failure to learn from Asia, and how the government can manage the economy post-recession. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson went toe-to-toe with Sir Keir Starmer for the first time in PMQs this week, with Labour’s leader impressing many. But what is his long-term strategy and how is he managing the one thing he can control - the Labour party? Meanwhile as the prime minister prepares for a minor easing of the coronavirus lockdown, there is no end in sight for the UK’s theatres, music venues and comedy clubs. Could the country lose ‘the next Stormzy’ as working class artists turn away in search of cash?Joining Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth, shadow culture minister Tracy Brabin discusses her new leader and the economic impact of the lockdown. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson capped off an eventful April as prime minister with the birth of his son with partner Carrie Symonds, two days after returning from three weeks off with severe coronavirus. Has the last month changed the prime minister’s outlook on the crisis? Top of his to do list is when and how to end the lockdown so the country can begin to get back to some semblance of normality, with Johnson’s deputy Dominic Raab was cautious not to discuss while he held the reins of government. Joining Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth, new Conservative MP for Rother Valley Alexander Stafford gives an insight into the government’s Covid-19 strategy, as well as whether he thinks Sir Keir Starmer can reclaim red wall seats like his for Labour. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The government seems unable to give a straight answer on a range of questions as problems with PPE persist and no sign of an exit strategy being presented to the public. Is no one able to make decisions during Boris Johnson’s absence? As the country continues to strive through the lockdown, worries about the economy are being joined by the affects it is having one the public, particularly for school children and women with abusive partners. Shadow minister for domestic violence Jess Phillips joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to discuss what needs to be done to limit the effects of the pandemic lockdown. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An unsettling week for Westminster as prime minister Boris Johnson was admitted to intensive care with coronavirus. His admission to hospital left Dominic Raab as de facto PM whilst Johnson recovers but who’s now running the government’s handling of the pandemic as it enters the peak for the UK?For Labour, their search for a new leader is finally over as Keir Starmer won the vote to take over from Jeremy Corbyn. Starmer moved quickly to organise his shadow cabinet, with a few notable admissions and omissions. Do the appointments show how he intends to lead? Labour MP Wes Streeting gives Arj Singh, Rachel Wearmouth and Kate Forrester the news from the PLP’s zoom video chat. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the second week of Britain’s lockdown comes to an end, the government’s response to coronavirus is beginning to come under attack. As Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock and Chris Whitty self-isolate, a lack of answers over testing and protective equipment is prompting scathing criticism. Where have ministers gone wrong, and can they fix it?Senior Conservative MP and chair of the Commons science committee Greg Clark joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth to talk about the government’s handling of the pandemic. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson has put Britain on lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus across the country. Businesses are shut with the public asked to only leave their homes for essential travel or exercise. But has the message been muddled? And did the response come fast enough?Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth joins Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth via video call to discuss the government’s response and the future of Labour as Jeremy Corbyn bows out as Labour leader. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A truly unprecedented week in Westminster, as prime minister Boris Johnson told the country to stay at home as Britain begins to edge towards the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. The public were urged to stay away from pubs, theatres, schools and work from home to try protect those more in immediate risk from Covid-19.The monumental change to how we live now has shocked markets worldwide, with the government announcing £350 billion of measures to help businesses and those unable to work. Is it enough though and what more can the government do?Joining Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth, and keeping a safe social distance, is Conservative MP Andrew Griffith. Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell every weekday evening.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.