logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
29m 9s

Has 'Small Boats Week' been a disaster f...

GLOBAL
About this episode

A week that was dedicated to show that the Conservatives have a plan on how to 'stop the boats' has instead been dominated by tragedy - the death of 41 migrants in the sea near Lampedusa while the deputy chair of the Tory party told Channel-crossing migrants to 'f*** off' back to France - and farce - as 39 asylum seekers were removed off barge accommodation just days after moving in due to a bacterial infection in the nearby waters.

Has this week been a major step back for Rishi Sunak in his attempts to fulfil one of his flagship policies? We discuss with Sir Craig Oliver, former director of communications at No.10.

We talk parliamentary standards with Sir Chris Bryant - and Gary Lineker joins us to justify to heartbroken Spurs fan Jon why Harry Kane is right to leave Tottenham for Bayern Munich.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Planning Producer: Alex Barnett

Video Producer: Rory Symon

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

Up next
Yesterday
The test that will define Keir Starmer
It would be an exaggeration to say the vultures are already circling the wagon - but there are already conversations taking place about Keir Starmer's future. Bloomberg and Sky have both reported that sources in Labour are already contemplating the prospect of a move against the ... Show More
43m 3s
Yesterday
Weekend Edition: Lions with James Haskell - Pollock, Farrell's late call-up & almost killing a teammate - The Sports Agents
More bonus content from our new-look weekend edition! The British & Irish Lions are soon to face Australia in the big three Tests, after wrapping up their warm-up games. So Gabby caught up with former Lions & England flanker, James Haskell to talk about Henry Pollock, where the t ... Show More
20m 51s
Jul 10
Why does Gregg Wallace believe he’s the real victim?
Gregg Wallace’s friends have been telling newspapers that his "autistic hypersensitivity" meant that he had an “oddity of filters and boundaries", including an inability to wear underwear or any tight clothing. Gregg himself has complained that the BBC neglected its duty of care ... Show More
29m 5s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2020
EmergencyCast: I Saw No Ships Come Sailing In
The new mutant strain of COVID has shattered the Government’s Christmas strategy and plunged Britain into isolation and chaos. Is government dithering to blame or are the hard right, libertarian, chlorinated chickens coming home to roost? Are we really looking at 20,000 new hospi ... Show More
25m 24s
Sep 2023
Crystal Keir: Labour's Small Boats Plan
Sir Keir Starmer seeks new deal with EU to stop smugglers.Labour’s Emily Thornberry joins Adam and Chris to take us through what their plan is.And, the government’s target to reduce the hospital waiting list in England is in doubt according to the prime minister. He was speaking ... Show More
35m 41s
May 2023
Missing Millennials: Why Brits are No Longer More Right-Wing with Age
 Thirteen years of Conservative rule have upended one of the oldest political clichés in the book: that people become more right-wing as they mature. Director of the think tank Onward Sebastian Payne explains why, and confirms that he is standing to be Selby’s next Conservative M ... Show More
25m 57s
Jan 2024
Who’s behind the Tory plots?
The FT’s Whitehall Editor Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s George Parker and Robert Shrimsley to lift the veil on the Tory party plots against the prime minister. As rightwingers prepare to launch the new Popular Conservatives (PopCons) group and the demand for a new direction f ... Show More
31m 6s
Sep 2023
Cancelling HS2 and GB News + Lib Dem Layla Moran
The Conservative Party heads to Manchester for its Conference as rumours swirl that Rishi Sunak is going to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the HS2 high speed rail line that was supposed to unlock the potential of The North - a bit awkward then! Coco and her special guest ... Show More
1 h
Mar 2024
Labour’s worst nightmare?
Veteran agitator George Galloway is returning to parliament after storming a divisive by-election in Rochdale. He claims his victory puts “scores” of other Labour seats at risk. Lucy Fisher is joined by FT colleagues George Parker, Robert Shrimsley and Jim Pickard to analyse the ... Show More
29m 18s
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
May 2024
Will Farage get a job with Trump? Why can't the water companies go bankrupt?
On Monday we published an investigation by business editor Will Dunn into England's water and sewage crisis. Will joins Hannah Barnes, associate editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent, on this episode of You Ask Us to answer some listener questions on the water comp ... Show More
22m 20s
Jun 2024
Election ’24 Update – Stella Creasy on Labour’s tightrope walk
In our latest Election update: If Labour are set for a massive majority, why are they still so cautious on policy? Labour’s Stella Creasy tells Andrew Harrison why the party refuses to over-promise – why Starmer won’t talk about rejoining the EU – where she stands on the controve ... Show More
51m 30s
Apr 2024
Tory MP suspended | What's going on with climate targets?
Conservative MP Mark Menzies has been suspended from the parliamentary party in light of allegations he abused local Tory party funds to pay off "bad people".    Mark Menzies strongly disputes the claims which also allege he used campaign funds to pay his personal medical bills. ... Show More
20m 30s