Pippa Crerar, political editor of the Guardian, is joined by a range of guests.To look ahead to the Budget on 30 October, she speaks to Labour MP and parliamentary aide to the Cabinet Office Torsten Bell and the shadow housing minister Baroness JoJo Penn.With the foreign secretary David Lammy heading to China this week, Labour peer, Helena Kennedy, who co-chairs the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China and the former Conservative MP Richard Graham, who, until recently, chaired the all-party parliamentary group on China assess UK-China relations. Former cabinet minister and Conservative MP, Sir Gavin Williamson MP explains why he wants to remove all 26 bishops from the House of Lords. And to discuss how the Taylor Swift row has been handled, Pippa spoke to Tom Baldwin, a former Labour party communications director and biographer of Keir Starmer and Katie Perrior, the founder of the public relations firm iNHouse.

George Parker of the Financial Times analyses the week's political developments at Westminster.In the week of Sir Keir Starmer's 100 days in Number Ten, the former deputy chief of staff to David Cameron, Baroness Kate Fall, and Tony Blair's former director of political operations, John McTernan, discuss the political fallout of the resignation of the Prime Minister's chief of staff, Sue Gray.To discuss the forthcoming budget George is joined by former Treasury minister and crossbecnh peer, Lord O'Neill and the Head of Bloomberg Economics, Stephanie Flanders. Following his retirement from the House of Lords, the Labour politician and founding member of the Social Democratic Party, Lord Owen, discusses his life in politics. Two former Conservative MPs, David Gauke and Miriam Cates discuss the latest in the Conservative leadership contest.

George Parker of the Financial Times analyses the week's political developments at Westminster. Following the Prime Minister's visit to Washington, the former UK Ambassador to the US, Lord Darroch, and Sir Keir Starmer's former director of strategy, Deborah Mattinson, assess the global security situation and what impact the US election will have on Western foreign policy.To discuss the state of the NHS following a damning report from former minister Lord Darzi, George is joined by former Labour Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, and former Conservative Chair of the Health Select Committee Steve Brine.Professor Richard Davies of the LSE, presenter of a new radio documentary about the Port Talbot steel works, explains what this week's government announcement about the plant means for the future of steel-making in Britain.And, as the Spending Review gets underway, George brings together two former Treasury ministers, Danny Alexander and David Gauke, to lift the lid on how departments can wring money out of the exchequer.

Caroline Wheeler of the Sunday Times is joined by a range of guests. To analyse Labour's first few weeks in government, she speaks to Labour MP Rosie Duffield and the former shadow cabinet minister Jonathan Ashworth, who now heads up the Labour Together think tank. Two former Conservative leadership contenders, Sir David Davis and Dame Andrea Leadsom discuss the Tory leadership contest. A leading authority on disaster recovery, Professor Lucy Easthope looks at the long awaited report into Grenfell and what lessons should be learnt. And, two new MPs, Labour's Jonathan Hinder and Lib Dem Marie Goldman, discuss what it's like to make a maiden speech.

Is the new Labour government right to claim it's inherited the worse public finances since the second world war? How can regional mayors help in the mission to train and skill up the British workforce? Can a new Conservative leader rebuild the party after its catastrophic defeat at the election? And how are sketchwriters, addicted to rollercoaster politics, adapting to a new era of political civility?

Pippa Crerar, political editor of The Guardian looks back at the political week in which the new Labour government presented its first KIng's Speech in fifteen years. To discuss the government's legislative programme Pippa is joined by former Conservative Minister George Freeman MP and by Labour MP Mary Creagh, who was re-elected to Parliament earlier this month - having lost her seat in the 2019 election. Former EU High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Baroness Cathy Ashton and Lord Kim Darroch, who was Ambassador to the United States during the Obama and Trump presidencies, discuss the foreign policy challenges facing Sir Keir Starmer. Following the announcement, in the King's Speech, that the government will remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in Parliament's upper chamber, Pippa Crerar speaks to Charles Courtenay, the Earl of Devon, about his thoughts on the plan. And, what books should a new Prime Minister read? Conservative peer, journalist and author Daniel Finkelstein and Helen Lewis, author and staff writer at The Atlantic magazine, offer their selection of books.

The BBC's Deputy Political Editor, Vicki Young, hosts a live edition of The Week in Wesminster, in the week the general election was announced.Joining her in the studio: The Spectator's Political Editor, Katy Balls, the Financial Times' Political Editor, George Parker, and Guardian columnist and writer, Gaby Hinsliff.

Sonia Sodha of The Observer assesses the latest developments at Westminster. Following the Prime Minister's speech on global insecurity she speaks to former Conservative Defence Secretary, Sir Liam Fox MP, and former Labour International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander. Theo Bertram, director of the Social Market Foundation and a former Labour adviser, discusses whether election 'pledge' cards are a good idea following Sir Keir Starmer's campaign event this week. After a knife-edge vote on excluding from Parliament MPs accused of serious offences, Sonia speaks to Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP and Conservative MP Nigel Mills. And, after claims a Liberal Democrat candidate was deselected because of his Christian faith, Sonia brings together the Rt Rev Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, and Polly Toynbee, journalist and vice president of Humanists UK, to discuss whether Christianity and modern politics are compatible.

Ben Riley-Smith of The Telegraph is joined by a range of guests to analyse the latest developments at Westminster.To discuss Labour's prospects following the local election results, Ben speaks to former Labour leader, Lord Kinnock.Labour candidate and economist Miatta Fahnbulleh, and Rupert Harrison, a Conservative candidate and former Chief of staff to George Osborne, discuss the economy in the run up to the general election.As John Swinney becomes First Minister of Scotland, Ben brings the SNP's Ian Blackford together with Many Rhodes, editor of Holyrood Magazine, to discuss whether he can bring unity back to the party.And finally, in a week that saw celebrities turn out for the Met Gala in New York, can our politicians take a leaf out of their book when it comes to making the right style decisions. Ben is joined by judge on The Great British Sewing Bee, Patrick Grant, and Katie Perrior, former director of communications in Downing Street for Theresa May.

Steve Richards analyses the results of the local elections - and what it means for a general election - with a panel of journalists: George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times; Sonia Sodha, chief leader writer at The Observer and Iain Martin from The Times.

George Parker of the Financial Times is joined by a range of guests to analyse the latest developments at Westminster. To discuss the boost to defence spending pledged by Rishi Sunak, he speaks to Labour peer and former head of the navy, Admiral Lord West and former soldier and the chair of the defence select committee, Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood.Labour MP, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Conservative MP, Sir Edward Leigh discuss Parliament's approval of the controversial Rwanda deportation bill and consider what happens next.Twenty years on from a near-fatal car crash, dotcom entrepreneur and crossbench peer, Martha Lane-Fox explains what her 'mountain mission' is and discusses technology and artificial intelligence. And, to reflect on the life of former Labour minister and crossbench peer Frank Field who died this week, he is joined by Labour MP Dame Angela Eagle whose constituency bordered his and former Work and Pensions Secretary, Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith

Sonia Sodha of The Observer is joined by a range of guests to analyse the latest developments at Westminster. To discuss the confrontation between Israel and Iran she speaks to former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and former British diplomat Sir William Patey. Following newspaper allegations about Conservative MP Mark Menzies she looks at how parties deal with such issues with Francis Elliott, editor of The House magazine, and Anne Perkins, a former political correspondent for The Guardian. Paul Johnson of The Institute for Fiscal Studies explains some new research looking at the success of SureStart and discusses how future governments can do meaningful social policy in an era of fiscal restraint. And, to reflect on the release of Liz Truss's book and her opposition to Rishi Sunak's smoking ban, Sonia is joined by Mark Littlewood, director of the Truss-supporting 'Popular Conservatism' group, and Anna Soubry, a former Conservative MP and public health minister.

Steve Richards is joined by a panel of guests to discuss the political landscape ahead of a general election. Steve is joined by The Spectator's Fraser Nelson, Whitehall Editor at the Financial Times, Lucy Fisher, and Britan Editor at the New Statesman, Anoosh Chakelian.

George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times, looks back at the political week in which the Conservative party's biggest donor, Frank Hester, was reported to have used racist language about Diane Abbott, Britain's first black woman MP. It overshadowed a new government announcement on extremism which was unveiled by Communities Secretary Michael Gove. To discuss both those stories George is joined by one of the Conservative party's most prominent black politicians, Shaun Bailey, who was a former candidate for Mayor of London and now sits in the House of Lords, and Lord Mann, a former Labour MP who is now the government's independent adviser on antisemitism. Following news that the government intends to bring forward a mechanism to ban foreign state ownership of UK newspapers George is joined by Baroness Stowell, Conservative Chair of the Lords Communication and Digital Committee, and Lionel Barber, the former editor of the Financial Times. The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, was quizzed by MPs this week about his Budget in which he made a further cut to National Insurance. Lord Macpherson, a former Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, discusses whether the Chancellor could phase out national insurance altogether and looks at the economic situation in this election year and beyond. And, after a torrid week, are the wheels coming off the Number Ten operation? And can anything lift the darkening mood among Tory MPs? To discuss that George brings together Sir Craig Oliver, former Downing Street Director of Communications, and Katy Balls, political editor of The Spectator.

Pippa Crerar, political editor at The Guardian, dicusses the Budget with Dame Angela Eagle, Labour MP on the treasury Select Committee and Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP on the treasury Select Committee.She then discusses the Rwanda legislation in the House of Lords with Baroness Shami Chakrabarti and Baroness Catherine Meyer.There's an interview with Mark Drakeford, first minister of Wales who will step down later this month.Plus, what if the US and UK election campaigns coincide? With Lord Kim Darroch, former UK ambassador to USA and Lord Daniel Finkelstein, former national security adviser.

Bloomberg's Emily Ashton discusses the latest developments at Westminster. Emily is joined by Lord Barwell, who served as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Theresa May in Downing Street, and former political adviser to the Labour Party, John McTernan, as they discuss the results of the Rochdale by-election.To discuss Islamophobia, Emily is joined by Baron Walney, the government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, and Baroness Gohir, who leads the charity, Muslim Women's Network UK.Emily is joined by the Institute for Government's Jill Rutter, and Dame Sara Thornton, the UK's former Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to discuss the role of commissioners and independent advisers, following the sacking of David Neal, the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.And finally, as the Prime Minister hosted a cabinet in Yorkshire this week, Emily brings together the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, and Seb Payne, Director of the centre right think tank, Onward, to discuss the importance of politicians getting out of Westminster.

Following the chaotic scenes in Parliament on Wednesday Sonia Sodha of The Observer analyses the political week. Dr Ruth Fox of The Hansard Society explains why an opposition day debate about Gaza, and calls for a ceasefire, descended in to bitter arguments about parliamentary procedure. John Nicolson of the SNP discusses why his party thinks the Commons Speaker should resign over the issue. And, to reflect on the wider crisis, Sonia speaks to former Middle East Minister Tobias Ellwood and the Chair of the International Development Select Committee, Sarah Champion, who has just returned from a trip to the Egypt-Gaza border. On Monday the Business Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, gave a robust response to claims made by the former Chairman of the Post Office who she had previously sacked over the Horizon scandal. Sonia speaks to two MPs who were in the chamber for that statement: Conservative Conor Burns and Labour's Kevan Jones, who has campaigned for many years on behalf of wrongly convicted sub-postmasters. And, after Keir Starmer's chief of staff suggested Labour could make use of citizens' assemblies to decide on contentious issues, Sonia brings together Louise Caldwell, who took part in the Irish citizens' assembly on abortion, and Joe Twyman of Deltapoll, who has helped run such assemblies in the past.

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

Ben Riley-Smith of The Daily Telegraph discusses the latest developments at Westminster in the week that the Democratic Unionist Party ended its boycott of the Northern Ireland Assembly after reaching a deal with the UK government over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Ben speaks to the Conservative chairman of Parliament's Northern Ireland Committee, Sir Robert Buckland MP, and Claire Hanna, MP for the nationalist SDLP.To discuss Nicola Sturgeon's evidence to the Covid inquiry, and her legacy as Scotland's First Minister, Ben speaks to Ian Blackford MP, former SNP Westminster leader, and Kezia Dugdale, ex leader of Scottish Labour and now director of the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow.The Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, declared this week that the UK is ready to bring forward formal recognition of a Palestinian state. To analyse that Ben is joined by Tom Fletcher, formerly David Cameron's foreign affairs adviser and then UK Ambassador to Lebanon, and Alicia Kearns MP, the Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.And, as Labour begins formal 'access talks' with the civil service, Ben gets some reflections on how the civil service approaches such talks with the former Cabinet Secretary Robin, now Lord, Butler.

Pippa Crerar, political editor of The Guardian analyses the latest political developments at Westminster. Former Conservative Cabinet Minister Damian Green and Labour MP Sarah Owen discuss whether the government should introduce tax cuts in the forthcoming Budget.This week marks the centenary of the first Labour government. Journalist and broadcaster Anne Perkins and Tom Baldwin, former Labour adviser and author of ‘Keir Starmer: The Biography’, discuss what that victory meant for the Labour movement and the current fortunes of Keir Starmer. The newly-appointed chair of the Standards in Public Life Committee, Doug Chalmers, discusses his new role.And, Katy Balls, Political Editor of The Spectator magazine, discusses the digital strategy of political parties with Tom Edmonds, who runs a digital consultancy. He also worked for the Conservative party and ran their digital campaigns, under David Cameron, at the 2015 election.

Paul Waugh, chief political commentator of the i Newspaper, assesses the latest developments in Westminster. In a week of challenges for the Conservative Party over their Rwanda plan, Paul is joined by Sir John Hayes MP and Labour's Baroness Hayter, to discuss what happens next. Meanwhile in the small Swiss town of Davos, government ministers and tech billionaires rub shoulders to discuss global challenges. Former Downing Street Director of Communications, Guto Harri, is joined from Davos by the Financial Times' Gillian Tett to discuss what it's all about.Gareth Davies, Comptroller & Auditor General of the National Audit Office sets out the challenges facing government following his speech to Parliament this week.And finally, in a week of polls, Deltapoll's Joe Twyman and Sophie Stowers from UK in a changing Europe, discuss how seriously we should take the polls as we prepare for a general election this year.

George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times, assesses the latest developments at Westminster as the Prime Minister authorises air strikes against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and pays a surprise trip to Ukraine. George speaks to former UK ambassador to Washington and former national security adviser, Lord Darroch, about the military action and the global security situation. With the Post Office scandal taking centre stage in Parliament this week George brings together Conservative MP and former postal services minister, Paul Scully, and SNP MP and chair of the Post Office All Party Parliamentary Group, Marion Fellows. Conservative MP Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Labour's Dame Angela Eagle debate the role of the Office for Budget Responsibility in shaping economic policy. And, as Rishi Sunak pitches himself as the continuity candidate ahead of a general election, George speaks to John Major's former political secretary, Lord Hill, and Keir Starmer's former director of policy, Claire Ainsley, about whether the 1992 election provides any lessons for the main parties.

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

The Observer's Sonia Sodha and guests look back on the political week. Conservative MP Danny Kruger and executive co-chair of the National Care Association Nadra Ahmed discuss migration and social care. Labour MP and former culture secretary Ben Bradshaw and Conservative MP and chair of the British Museum APPG Tim Loughton talk about the row over the Parthenon sculptures. PMQs is dissected by Ayesha Hazarika, former political adviser to Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman, and Sir Craig Oliver, former director of communications at No 10 under David Cameron. And the late Alistair Darling is remembered by Catherine MacLeod and Torsten Bell, who were both his former advisers.

Ben Riley-Smith and guests look back on a week in which the general election battle lines became clearer. Did the Chancellor's Autumn Statement give with one hand to take away with another? Are the UK's net migration figures unsustainably high? How are the main parties selecting candidates for the next election? And what's the point of state visits? Producer: Leala Padmanabhan

What's the future for the UK's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda? Does Rishi Sunak have an ideological core? What are the UK's big challenges on the world stage? And what role does the 'people's channel' GB News have in political culture?

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

Is Labour on course for government after its historic by-election wins? How are MPs personally affected by the Israel Gaza conflict? Are politicians operating in an era of no money? And might Rishi Sunak defy the bookies and call a general election in the spring, or push on until January 2025? Financial Times political editor George Parker and guests look back on a busy week in Westminster as MPs returned after the party conferences.

Paul Waugh, chief political commentator for the i paper, analyses the latest developments at Westminster. Following reports that a Parliamentary researcher had been arrested amid claims of spying for Beijing, Paul assesses the state of UK-China relations with Conservative MP, Richard Graham, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary China Group, and Labour peer Helena Kennedy, who was sanctioned by China in 2021. Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the TUC, discusses the state of industrial relations in Britain and Labour's plan for new workers' rights. Amid speculation that the Treasury is mulling a one-off break from the pensions triple lock, Paul speaks to Conservative peer and former pensions minister, Ros Altmann, and deputy chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, Mike Brewer. And, as elections get underway to fill newly vacant select committee chairs, Paul assesses what it's like to campaign and compete for the affections of what’s sometimes called ‘the most sophisticated electorate’ in the country - Mary Creagh, former Labour MP and chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, and Steve Brine, the current Conservative chair of the Health Select Committee, swap tales from campaigns past.

Sonia Sodha of The Observer analyses the latest developments at Westminster as politicians return from their summer break. Following the concrete crisis in schools she speaks to the Conservative chairman of the Education Select Committee and former education minister, Robin Walker, and Dame Meg Hillier, Labour chair of the Public Accounts Committee. To analyse the latest revisions in GDP data, which showed the UK had fared much better following the pandemic than previously thought, Sonia is joined by Professor of Economics at Cambridge University, Diane Coyle. As MPs debate the government's Energy Bill Sonia brings together the former Environment Secretary, George Eustice, and Parliament's only Green MP, Caroline Lucas, to discuss whether Tory factionalism is harming the transition to net zero. And, as Keir Starmer's shadow cabinet reshuffle prompts headlines about the 'return of the Blairites', she speaks to Tony Blair's former Chief Whip, Hilary Armstrong, and Times political correspondent, Patrick Maguire.

Steve Richards and guests discuss the fallout from the by-elections - and the challenges facing the main political parties - with a panel of journalists: Pippa Crerar, Political Editor of the Guardian; Fraser Nelson, Editor of The Spectator magazine and Lucy Fisher, Whitehall Editor at the Financial Times

The i Newspaper's Chief Political Commentator, Paul Waugh, discusses the biggest political stories of the week with guests. Paul Waugh discusses the public sector pay settlements with former Treasury Minister, Dame Angela Eagle, and the Conservative Chair of the Education Select Committee, Robin Walker. Baroness Catherine Ashton, former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, delivers her assessment of the NATO Summit. Labour Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Dame Diana Johnson, and fellow Conservative Committee member, Tim Loughton, discuss the Illegal Migration Bill. And, former Conservative special adviser Sam Freedman, and The Guardian's Media Editor, Jim Waterson, discuss what the arrival of new social media app 'Threads' means for politicians and journalists.

Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor of The Spectator, discusses the week's biggest political stories of the week with guests. Isabel Hardman discusses the future direction of the Conservative Party with Conservative MP Danny Kruger and Gavin Barwell, Conservative peer and former chief of staff to Theresa May. In the week of the 75th annniversary of the NHS, Lord Nigel Crisp former Chief Executive NHS England and Crossbench peer and Sally Warren, Director of Policy, The King’s Fund discuss the challenges facing the NHS. Isabel discusses the presence of Bishops in the House of Lords with The Rt Revd Dr David Walker, The Bishop of Manchester And, Professor Meg Russell, director of the Constitution Unit at UCL and Rob Hutton, Sketchwriter for The Critic, discuss 'Parliamentary ping pong'.

As the Government unveils its long-awaited NHS workforce plan George Parker of The Financial Times is joined by the chairman of the Health Select Committee, Steve Brine MP, and Labour peer and former NHS clinician, Robert Winston. After the Court of Appeal ruled that the Government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful, George speaks to Conservative MP Sally-Ann Hart, who represents the south coast seat of Hastings and Rye, and Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti, the former director of the human rights group Liberty. The Conservative peer Andrew Tyrie, who formerly led the Competition and Markets Authority, discusses whether industry regulators are up to the job after the Chancellor met various regulators this week to discuss the cost of living crisis. And, following reports that many Conservative MPs are absent from Westminster as they try to defend marginal seats and campaign in the upcoming by-elections, Conservative MP Lucy Allan and former Conservative strategist Andrew Cooper, now a non-affiliated peer, discuss Tory chances at the next general election.

Pippa Crerar, political editor of the Guardian, discusses the political stories of the week with guests. Treasury Select Committee members, Andrea Leadsom and Rushanara Ali, discuss the Bank of England's interest rate rise and mortgages. Matthew Taylor, a former adviser to Tony Blair and Chief Executive of the NHS, and Lord Bethell, a former government minister, discuss the Covid Inquiry. The biographer, Sir Anthony Seldon, gives his verdict on Boris Johnson's leadership. And, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, CEO of UK Music, and music journalist, Lisa Verrico, discuss the place of politics at Glastonbury Festival.

George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times, discusses the week's biggest political stories of the week with guests. Dame Margaret Beckett, former Labour deputy leader and Lord Howard, the former Conservative Party leader, discuss the Privileges Committee report into former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Baroness Bertin, Conservative peer and former press secretary to David Cameron, discusses political peerages and the reform of the House of Lords. Former Labour Cabinet minister, Lord Mandelson and Conservative MP and former Business Secretary Greg Clark discuss whether the government should have an industrial strategy. And, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney discuss what it's like to fight a by-election.

Steve Richards considers the reasons behind Boris Johnson's dramatic resignation from Westminster, and the wider political implications, with panel guests: Ben Riley-Smith from the Daily Telegraph; Observer columnist Sonia Sodha; and Henry Hill - deputy editor of ConservativeHome.

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

Anne McElvoy analyses the results of the local elections - and their potential impact on politics at Westminster - with a panel of journalists: Harry Cole, political editor of The Sun; George Parker from the Financial Times; and Sonia Sodha - columnist at The Observer.

George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times, discusses the week's biggest political stories with guests. Vicky Ford, former Africa minister and chair of the APPG on Sudan; and Sir Simon Fraser, former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office discuss the situation in Sudan. Baroness McGregor-Smith, Conservative peer and former President of the British Chambers of Commerce; and Lord Wood of Anfield, former adviser to Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband, discuss the relationship between political parties and business. The Duke of Wellington gives his verdict on the government's plans to tackle sewage pollution in rivers and talks about his Lords amendment that sparked the now-contentious debate. And General David Leakey, former Black Rod; and Professor Kate Williams, historian and TV presenter, look at Westminster's role in the Coronation.

Isabel Hardman, assistant editor of The Spectator, discusses the week's biggest political stories with guests. David Gauke, former Conservative MP and justice secretary; and Jill Rutter, from the Institute for Government and former senior civil servant discuss Dominic Raab‘s resignation, and relations between ministers and the civil service. Luke Tryl, director of More in Common and former adviser to former education secretary Nicky Morgan; and Carl Shoben, of Strategic Communications for Survation, and former Labour adviser and strategist (for Tony Blair and Jeremy Corbyn) discuss local elections. Kezia Dugdale, former leader of the Scottish Labour Party and director of Glasgow University’s John Smith Institute; and Stephen Gethins, former SNP MP and professor of Practice in International Relations, St Andrew’s University look at The SNP’s recent troubles. And Selaine Saxby, Conservative MP, maths graduate and former maths teacher; and Stian Westlake, chief executive of Royal Statistical Society ask whether maths matters.

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

Paul Waugh, Chief Political Commentator of the i paper, looks back at a dramatic week in which former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was questioned by the Privileges Committee over whether he deliberately misled Parliament over parties in Downing Street during the pandemic. Paul is joined by the former editor of The Daily Telegraph, Charles Moore, who was given a life peerage by Boris Johnson in 2020, and Lord Sumption, a former senior judge who sat on the UK Supreme Court. With parliamentary standards in the spotlight Paul is also joined by Dr Hannah White of the Institute for Government and Tammy Banks, an outgoing lay member of Parliament's standards committee, who reflects on her six year stint in the role, including the political fallout from the investigation in to former Conservative MP Owen Paterson for breaching paid advocacy rules. After Parliament voted overwhelmingly to approve the new Windsor Framework Paul speaks to the former Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, to discuss the chances of a return to power-sharing in Northern Ireland and to look ahead to the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. And, to assess whether this week's Conservative soap opera will have any effect on upcoming elections, Paul speaks to Professor Tim Bale, author of a new book about the Conservative Party after Brexit, and Professor Jane Green, co-Director of the British Election Study.

George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times, discusses the week's biggest political stories with guests. Dame Angela Eagle MP, a former Labour treasury minister, and Conservative MP Anthony Browne assess the Budget. Alexander Downer, former Australian foreign minister, and Bronwen Maddox, director of Chatham House, take a look at the Aukus deal and China. The Parthenon Sculptures are debated by Ben Bradshaw MP, former Labour culture secretary, and Emily Sheffield, ex-editor of the Evening Standard newspaper. Plus an interview with Lord Heseltine ahead of his 90th birthday on Tuesday.