logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
40m 29s

Has Rishi's party decided he's no good?

GLOBAL
About this episode

A mystery is afoot: in a critical week for the Government's Rwanda policy - with a looming Commons vote in 24 hours - a YouGov poll has emerged which spells Tory election disaster for Rishi.

Look closely and you see that the poll started on December 12th - the same day the Rwanda policy last went through the Commons. Could it be the two are in fact related? In other words, are senior conservatives trying to spell out to Sunak that he must harden up his policy or face wipeout? Or even replacement?

And if so, how should Rishi respond?

We talk to former Levelling Up Minister Sir Simon Clarke, and Conservative Home's Editor Paul Goodman. And with Iowa temperatures down at -28 degrees celsius, will the big winner of the first Republican caucus be... the sofa?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Laura FitzPatrick

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal

You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Up next
Aug 22
Q&A: Trump, Putin and 100% inheritance tax
Does Putin have something on Trump? Is Trump deliberately deflecting attention from the Epstein saga? Is Starmer's advisor, Morgan McSweeney, overestimated by the media? And what response has Lewis had to his 100% inheritance tax theory...?This Friday, Lewis and Jon answer your q ... Show More
34m 25s
Aug 22
SPECIAL REPORT: Gabby goes behind the scenes with the Red Roses - The Sports Agents
As part of a special weekend edition of The Sports Agents - Gabby's been at Twickenham - the home of England rugby - to speak to key members of England's Red Roses squad ahead of the start of the Women's Rugby World Cup! Over 375,000 tickets have already sold for a 32-match home ... Show More
35m 42s
Aug 20
Where are asylum seekers supposed to live now?
Anti-migrant protesters are celebrating today, with The Bell Hotel in Epping set to close its doors to asylum seekers after becoming a battleground over the summer on the issue.A High Court ruling ordered The Bell to stop housing migrants on a planning technicality. It did not re ... Show More
33m 10s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
Rishi Sunak’s ‘questionable radicalism’
Rishi Sunak is pitching himself as the change candidate at the next election with a raft of policy shake-ups - but does the substance match the rhetoric? The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Robert Shrimsley and political editor George Parker to discuss wh ... Show More
31m 52s
May 2023
Local elections: How bad was it for the Conservatives?
For Prime Minister Rishi Sunak the results were ‘disappointing’, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer claimed his party was heading for power and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey wore a ‘Cheshire cat’ grin. What do this week’s local elections in England show about the likely direction of the nex ... Show More
24m 6s
Mar 2024
Will the economy save Sunak?
The prime minister is urging his MPs to unite or face electoral defeat. Rishi Sunak has rallied backbenchers to hold their nerve, as he cleaves to the prospect of an improving economy rescuing the Tory party’s fortunes. But in a week where the government’s flagship Rwanda policy ... Show More
34m 54s
Aug 2023
Could a reshuffle revitalise Sunak’s government?
It’s almost time to wave goodbye to the summer, but is Rishi Sunak also poised to bid farewell to some of his ministers? The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Stephen Bush and political editor George Parker to discuss a cabinet shake up. Plus, the FT’s US p ... Show More
35m 52s
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
Dec 2023
201. Question Time: Could the Tories remove Rishi Sunak?
Could Nigel Farage be the next Conservative Party leader? What is happening in Myanmar? How do Rory and Alastair deal with public criticism? Listen to Rory and Alastair answer all these questions and more in this week's Question Time. 🌏 Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ http ... Show More
33m 54s
Feb 2024
Inside the Tory plot to oust Rishi Sunak
A former adviser to the prime minister is working with a secretive group of Tories to remove him from office before the general election. MPs have been out publicly backing Rishi Sunak and denying their involvement, but it risks setting off yet another civil war in the party. So ... Show More
28m 25s
Jun 2024
How do you recover from a political car crash?
Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika joins Sky’s Beth Rigby and Conservative peer Ruth Davidson to talk about the latest developments in the general election campaign.       On this episode, they discuss whether Rishi Sunak can recover from his D-Day blunder, the fallout from Do ... Show More
44m 41s
Feb 2024
Who still votes Conservative?
The Conservatives are languishing in the polls, while Labour is riding high – but beneath the headline figures, how does the voter appeal of the main parties break down by sex, age and other factors? The FT’s Lucy Fisher is joined by Political Fix regulars Stephen Bush and Mirand ... Show More
36m 42s
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