logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2021
31m 3s

A Chain of Mayors

BBC News
About this episode

Local leaders respond to the PM’s plan to “level up” the country. On the day Boris Johnson set out his plan to “level up” the UK by spreading power and opportunity more evenly, a collective noun of mayors from some of the key English regions give us their chain reactions. First, the Conservative West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, and then Tracy Brabin, Labour’s new Mayor of West Yorkshire.

But we start by speaking to the MP Bim Afolami about the week’s news from Westminster to Wembley – and hear his take on the government’s response to racism and some of his colleagues’ criticism of England players taking the knee.

Today's Newscast was made by Caitlin Hanrahan with Daniel Wittenberg. Emma Crowe is the Studio Director. The Assistant Editor is Emma Close. The Editor is Dino Sofos.

Up next
Yesterday
Labour Gets A Round Of Pub Support In
Today, the chancellor has announced a package of support for pubs and music venues after the government was forced to U-turn on their plans to bump up business rates. BBC Business editor Simon Jack joins Adam to explain the measures, whilst political correspondent Joe Pike drops ... Show More
38m 29s
Jan 26
Braverman Backs Reform
Today, Adam and Chris discuss ex-Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman defecting to Reform. She’s the third sitting Tory MP to do so in the last eleven days.Also happening in Westminster — the Prime Minister has been defending the decision to block Manchester mayor Andy Bu ... Show More
33m 51s
Jan 25
Labour Block Andy Burnham From Standing
Today, Andy Burnham has said he is "disappointed" after being blocked from standing as a candidate for the upcoming parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton by Labour's ruling body.As a directly elected mayor, Burnham had to get approval from Labour's national executive com ... Show More
15m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
Down Under Take Over
<p>Whether it's a love of Kylie, cricket or beer, Australia and Britain have plenty in common when it comes to popular culture - and politics, with a new wave of strategists from down under stirring things up in Westminster.</p><br><p>Patrick Maguire in for Matt Chorley speaks to ... Show More
42m 24s
Sep 2021
Making the news "less London"
To tell the story of the UK more fairly and more equitably there need to be more reporting voices outside London - that seems to be the journalistic mood of the moment. The BBC in March announced plans to shift focus from the capital in a “commitment to better reflect, represent, ... Show More
27m 57s
Apr 2024
Local elections: What’s at stake - for voters and parties?
The 2 May local elections will have more than 2,600 seats are at stake across 107 English councils. Labour’s Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham are among the 10 city mayors up for re-election.   Those in Blackpool South will also be voting for their next MP after ex-Tory Scott Benton br ... Show More
17m 33s
Feb 2024
Westminster’s Gaza disgrace – Politics Weekly UK
House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle made a dramatic apology today for his handling of a Gaza ceasefire vote that sent the commons into chaos. The Guardian’s John Harris spent the day in Westminster speaking to protestors, Labour MP Rachael Maskell, and the Guardian’ politi ... Show More
30m 52s
Feb 2024
Has the Tory party been taken over by 'right-wing nationalists'?
Former Deputy Tory Chair Lee Anderson was suspended from the Conservative party this weekend after accusing the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan of 'giving the capital city away to his (Islamist) mates.' In Sadiq Khan's first extended interview, he tells the News Agents that Anderson ' ... Show More
31m 51s
Dec 2023
Sunk! Is Sunak’s Tory Party over?
<p>It’s been a bruising 24 hours for Rishi Sunak including a ministerial resignation, emergency prime ministerial press conference and a former home secretary now firmly on manoeuvres. </p><p>Amol and Nick discuss the Today programme’s exclusive interview with that former home se ... Show More
50m 16s
Mar 2023
Gary Lineker row: How does the BBC get impartiality right?
Gary Lineker will return to BBC screens after reaching a deal with the corporation over an impartiality row. The Match of the Day host was removed from the show temporarily over comments made on his personal Twitter account about the UK government’s small boats policy. On the Sky ... Show More
20m 15s
Nov 2022
Gavin Williamson bullying claims: How problematic for the PM?
Rishi Sunak promised to lead the Conservatives with “integrity, professionalism and accountability”. Two weeks on, however, the prime minister and his judgement are under fierce scrutiny after rows involving Suella Braverman’s reappointment as home secretary and bullying claims s ... Show More
21m 40s
Apr 2024
Tory ‘red wall’ seats under threat
<p>Many ‘red wall’ constituencies across northern England, the Midlands and north Wales switched from Labour to the Conservatives in the 2019 general election partly thanks to then prime minister Boris Johnson’s energetic pledge to revitalise struggling communities outside the so ... Show More
33m 59s
May 2024
Elections fallout: What does it mean for the general election?
Labour are celebrating big wins in the Blackpool South by-election, in the local elections and in most of the mayoral races that have declared so far.     The Conservatives could lose up to 500 councillors, though their candidate Ben Houchen did hold on to his role as mayor of Te ... Show More
24m 23s