logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2023
29m 46s

Richard Sharp resigns: The Boris loan an...

GLOBAL
About this episode

Richard Sharp - the embattled, embroiled BBC Chairman has resigned after a report by The Commissioner for Public Appointments found a perceived conflict of interest and a breach of the Governance Code.

But this story goes much wider than one man, one job and an £800k loan to Boris Johnson.

It asks questions of the institutions that run Britain: a 'jobs for the boys culture’, a toxic legacy bestowed by the former Prime Minister, and questions about the Cabinet Secretary’s conduct.

Where does this all leave the BBC, the Civil Service and Rishi Sunak? We discuss.

You can watch our episodes in full at https://global-player.onelink.me/Br0x/Videos

The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.

Up next
Yesterday
Was Trump's latest 'peace plan' written by the Kremlin?
<p>The leak of a 28 point peace plan over the weekend - reportedly agreed between Washington and Moscow - sent shivers down the spine of European leaders and Ukraine's soldiers. </p><p>The proposals would force Ukraine to hand over swathes of territory to Vladimir Putin, limit th ... Show More
35m 33s
Nov 21
Ken Clarke on the Budget from hell
<p>Ken Clarke is perhaps the archetypal political Big Beast. Elected to parliament 55 years ago, he held cabinet roles under Margaret Thatcher, John Major and David Cameron - tipped many times for No 10, and yet never quite hardline enough on Europe to convince his Tory peers tha ... Show More
49m 37s
Nov 21
Weekend Edition: Did Sky Sports axe "Lil-Sis" Halo too fast? - The Sports Agents
<p>Only three days after launching, Sky had to take down its TikTok channel for female sports fans. Branded as the "lil-sis" of Sky Sports, it was complete with pink hearts and Barbies. </p><p>But were they on to something? How do we get more young women hooked on sport? The pers ... Show More
17m 9s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2022
Resetting the Boris Johnson government
<p>We examine the abrupt departure of Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick, what it means for the police investigation into the “partygate” scandal and how it plays into Boris Johnson’s hopes of resetting his government. We also look at the mini Cabinet reshuffle and the new No1 ... Show More
35m 37s
Nov 2021
The government vs the BBC: A Hundred Year War
This week Jack picks through the long and turbulent relationship between the government and the BBC, and asks why these two great pillars of British public life can't seem to get along. Veteran BBC Radio 4 presenter and author Edward Stourton and BBC historian Professor Jean Seat ... Show More
48m 25s
Jul 2022
Boris Johnson’s shambolic prime ministership
<p>Boris Johnson has resigned as British prime minister after a series of scandals meant his party could no longer support him.      </p> <p>Latika Bourke, the Sydney Morning Herald’s UK correspondent, tells us Johnson will be remembered most for his role in Britain leaving the E ... Show More
19m 39s
Jul 2022
The fall of Boris Johnson
<p>In this week’s bumper episode, we’ll be taking you behind the scenes on a week that brought Boris Johnson’s time as prime minister to a rather bitter close. We’ll take you through his handling of the Chris Pincher affair, the dramatic Cabinet resignations and the moments the p ... Show More
41m 20s
Jul 2022
Britain after Boris
<p>The FT’s UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and FT columnist Stephen Bush discuss what’s next for the country after Boris Johnson’s resignation. Plus, as the fears of recession grow, commodity prices are falling.&nbsp;</p><br><p><strong>Subscribe to the FT News Br ... Show More
11m 6s
Feb 2022
The net tightens for Boris Johnson
<p>We ask whether the prime minister can survive the latest scandal engulfing his government. Is the departure of his closest and longstanding aide Munira Mirza the beginning of the end? Or the start of a reset? Chief political correspondent Jim Pickard will discuss with chief po ... Show More
34m 17s
Jan 2022
How Partying Could Be Boris Johnson’s Undoing
<p>When allegations first emerged in November about parties held at 10 Downing Street, the residence and offices of the British prime minister, during a strict Covid lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson waved them away. </p><p>Yet in the weeks since, the scandal has only grown, ... Show More
25m 3s
Aug 2021
Boris Johnson to host Afghanistan crisis talks
<p><strong>Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/94500fca-aef3-4ab6-82d5-08005ee49c49" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ft.com/content/94500fca-aef3-4ab6-82d5-08005ee49c49</a></p><br><p>UK prime ministe ... Show More
9m 22s
Jun 2023
The Oliver Dowden Interview: Deputy PM on Business, AI and Partygate
UK Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden says government must focus on delivering results instead of the Westminster bubble. He joins host Lizzy Burden for a fireside chat at Founders Forum in this live episode of the Bloomberg UK Politics Podcast. In discussion of themes from AI t ... Show More
29m 47s
Jul 2022
The Final Days of Boris Johnson
<p>After a flurry of ministerial resignations and calls from members of his own party for his departure, Boris Johnson agreed on Thursday to resign as prime minister of Britain.</p><p>During his tenure, Mr. Johnson survived a series of scandals and skated past a lot of bad news. ... Show More
31m 51s