logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2020
30m 7s

Tory tribes go back to war

Financial Times
About this episode

Boris Johnson found himself in another parliamentary stand-off over Brexit legislation this week, and eventually found a compromise with rebellious Conservative MPs. Why is the prime minister struggling with his party and is he becoming a diminished figure in Westminster? Plus, with the takeover by US chipmaker Nvidia of British-based chip designer Arm, and Hitachi's decision to withdraw from a major nuclear power project in Wales, does the UK have a coherent industrial policy?


Presented by Sebastian Payne, with George Parker, Robert Shrimsley, Jim Pickard and Peggy Hollinger. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Josh de la Mare. The sound engineer is Breen Turner. The editors were Liam Nolan and Aimee Keane. Music by Metaphor Music.


Review clips: US government, UK Parliament, Sky News



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Jul 4
A year of Keir
This week marks a year of Keir Starmer’s government. But if Labour was expecting to celebrate the anniversary – it didn't pan out that way. Despite claiming a narrow victory with the contentious welfare bill, the government appeared to have one of its roughest weeks on record. Ho ... Show More
37m 29s
Jun 27
Starmer’s welfare woes
Sir Keir Starmer faced a huge rebellion from within his own party this week after scores of MPs opposed changes to make it tougher to collect some disability benefits. This episode — recorded just before the prime minister’s concessions on welfare reform — unpacks why the rebelli ... Show More
35m 10s
Jun 20
Starmer on standby
Will he? Won’t he? President Donald Trump has given little indication as to whether America will join in the conflict between Israel and Iran. So where does this leave the UK and its assets in the region? How does the prime minister play his hand with the president, and what does ... Show More
27m 10s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
Will Young: popstar to politician? Plus Westminster ceasefire row
Nish and guest co-presenter Liz Bates set the scene on what went on to become a chaotic night  in the Commons, that put speaker Lindsay Hoyle’s job at risk. They call out the “pathetic and petty” political game playing that sought to use the suffering of people in Gaza to embarra ... Show More
56m 22s
Jun 2024
Why the Brits are fed up with the Tories
Unless there’s some sort of miracle for the Tories in the next few days, the party is about to be all but wiped out when the Brits head to the polls on July 4.UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has led a disastrous campaign, but the Conservative Party’s demise has been long in the mak ... Show More
14m 45s
Jun 2024
Reform's election promises examined | Royal return
Reform have launched their manifesto which they're calling "Our Contract With You" in South Wales.  The "contract" is promising big spending, dwarfing what Labour and the Conservatives have committed to.  The party says it will pay for the plans by measures including scrapping ne ... Show More
20m 34s
Oct 2023
Is the Labour left finished in Britain?
With Labour Party leader Keir Starmer dragging his party onto the center ground, host Aggie Chambre asks what remains of the left in Britain — and what the future may hold for this increasingly marginalized group. She hears from three Labour MPs in the left-wing socialist campaig ... Show More
44m 52s
May 2021
Why by-elections matter
As the dust settles after the Hartlepool by-election, Jack Blanchard looks back at some of the great by-election contests of recent years — and ponders whether these quintessentially British political battles are always as significant as they seem. Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney recalls ... Show More
39m 41s
Apr 2024
Will Labour just be another version of the Tories?
It is a truth near-universally acknowledged (amongst pollsters at least) that Labour will be the largest party at the next election. But how would they actually differ from the Tories in terms of what they do once in power?They've pledged not to raise taxes and not to remove the ... Show More
36m 39s
Jun 2024
Landslides and wipe-outs - reaction to latest election poll
Sir Keir Starmer could be heading to Downing Street with a majority of 194 seats, bigger than what Tony Blair achieved in 1997, according to the first polling projection by YouGov of the campaign.  The projection shows a historic Labour landslide, with the party getting the highe ... Show More
19m 8s
Jun 2024
Is Being a Politician the Worst Job in the World?
On July 4th—while the U.S. celebrates its break from Britain—voters in the United Kingdom will go to the polls and, according to all predictions, oust the current government. The Conservative Party has been in power for fourteen years, presiding over serious economic decline and ... Show More
36m 24s
Sep 2022
After Boris: What now for the Tories?
With days to go until Boris Johnson’s replacement is announced, host Ailbhe Rea considers whether the Conservatives are now on their way out of office — or whether this is just one more clever shape-shift from the most successful political party in the world. She meets Johnson’s ... Show More
42m 27s
Jun 2024
Can the Conservative Party manifesto revive Sunak's campaign?
Rishi Sunak has launched the Conservative's election manifesto, promising to slash taxes in a bid to revive the party's floundering campaign.       In his address at the home of the British Grand Prix, the prime minister pledged £17bn in tax cuts including lowering national insur ... Show More
24m 2s