‘While there’s British interference, the...

The tiny, astonishingly wealthy country has become a major player on the world stage, trying to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. What’s driving this project? By Nesrine Malik. Read by Sulin Hasso. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod 

Every Wednesday and Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2025, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from June: with his brilliant mind and impeccable credentials, it’ ... Show More

Many of his supporters hoped the prime minister would restore the UK’s commitment to international law. Yet Labour’s record over the past year has been curiously mixed By Daniel Trilling. Read by Simon Darwen. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod 

After nearly two years without a government, could power sharing in Northern Ireland finally be back? And, another week, another Tory faction plotting to overthrow the prime minister. The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by our political editor, Pippa Crerar, and the Spectator’s ... Show More

Heather Stewart and Rafael Behr discuss ‘crime week’, as the government attempts to shift the narrative. Plus, Katy Hayward, Daniel Boffey and Jess Sargeant look at what’s behind the latest tensions over the Northern Ireland protocol. Help support our independent journalism at th ... Show More

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 Un ... Show More

As the Conservative party remains split on how to respond to allegations of sleaze, Rowena Mason and Heather Stewart bring us up to date on what is happening. Plus, Nesrine Malik and Daniel Bruce of Transparency International look at how political systems may become corrupt over ... Show More

Jessica Elgot and Sonia Sodha run over a turbulent week in Westminster. Henry Hill and Laura Round discuss the difficulties for Conservatives in responding to the proposed overseas aid cut. Plus, Severin Carrell speaks to the new leader of the Scottish Labour party leader, Anas S ... Show More

Marine Le Pen’s party won a significant victory in the first round of the French parliamentary elections. Can they be stopped? Angelique Chrisafis reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus