The UK stays alert, and confused: Politics Weekly podcast

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Jonathan Freedland and Peter Walker dissect the latest news from Westminster. Ayesha Hazarika and Andrew Gimson explore the future of opposition politics and Simon Jenkins brings us back through 20 years of London mayoral elections. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

13 May 2020 English United Kingdom News

Andy Burnham’s first election hurdle: Brexit

Andy Burnham may already be facing a tricky obstacle in his push to return to Westminster. Past comments about rejoining the EU have come back to haunt him, particularly given that the Makerfield constituency voted overwhelmingly to leave in the Brexit referendum. Plus, Wes Streeting has confirmed he will stand…

18 May 24 min

NEW: Stacey Abrams on why gutting of the US Voting Rights Act is ‘evil’ – Stateside with Kai and Carter

The US supreme court demolished the 1965 Voting Rights Act when they ruled in Louisiana v Callais in April that states can’t consider race in redistricting. Southern states from Tennessee to Alabama have rushed to erase majority Black districts, sparking chaos for the midterm elections. Kai Wright talks with Stacey…

17 May 35 min

Is Andy Burnham about to return to Westminster?

Andy Burnham has announced he will attempt to return to Westminster after the Labour MP Josh Simons said he will vacate his Makerfield seat in order for Burnham to run in a byelection. It follows a day of breaking news in which the health secretary, Wes Streeting, resigned, saying he…

14 May 26 min

Labour plotters v stubborn Starmer: will he resign? – Today in Focus: The Latest

Tensions are running high in Westminster as Keir Starmer has told his cabinet he’s not going anywhere. But with several ministers quitting the government, and more than 80 MPs calling for him to go, how much longer has he got? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar…

12 May 11 min

A messy day for Starmer: is Labour ungovernable?

Keir Starmer kicked off the day with a speech aimed at persuading MPs against launching any kind of leadership challenge. By lunchtime, Angela Rayner was speaking at the CWU conference calling for Andy Burnham to return. In the afternoon the list of MPs calling on him to resign was slowly…

11 May 36 min