The News Agents

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Another pledge broken: will Starmer face a backlash from his party? Jul 17, 2023

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What's happening to Keir Starmer's policies? Yesterday he ditched another one, confirming that he would maintain the Conservative austerity policy that saw child benefit scrapped after two children.

Cue major backlash - and today a resignation from a Labour mayor (famously no fan of Starmer) citing too many broken promises from the leader. Meanwhile, Keir is warming to his theme of fiscal prudence. Is it enough to convince people that Labour has a fresh promise?

Later, we look at the resurgence of the morality police in Iran - over women who've ditched their head coverings. Is it a sign of confidence in the draconian regime - or are they losing their grip on the public ?

Wes Streeting on class, trans rights and binge drinking Jul 14, 2023

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Shadow Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, grew up in poverty with his single mother on an east London council estate. But if Labour win the next election, he's nailed on to be in the cabinet.

His life story - which includes Christine Keeler, finding his feet at Cambridge and coming out as gay - is something he's kept relatively quiet about until the publication of his memoir: One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up.

In this special edition of The News Agents, Lewis speaks to the Labour MP for Ilford North about class, sexuality and religion, and he asks him about his political ambitions

Could Huw Edwards have a case for libel? Jul 13, 2023

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The world's worst kept secret was revealed last night when Huw Edwards was named as the BBC presenter at the centre of the media storm.

In an emotional statement, his wife revealed he was in hospital and in a bad way. The Sun decided not to print further allegations. The BBC's own news teams went ahead with new breaking stories.

Where do we draw the line between HR complaints and investigative reporting?

Former editor of The Sun, David Yelland, is back with us - he asks if the BBC understand the asymmetric war being waged on it by News UK.

And later - has Boris Johnson really forgotten the pin number of his mobile phone?

Why hasn't Boris Johnson handed over his phone to the Covid inquiry? Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

'I love deadlines ... I love the whooshing sound they make when they go by.'

Monday 4pm was the cut off for Boris Johnson to hand over his phone and Whatsapp messages to the Covid Inquiry. 48 hours later that phone still hasn't reached its end destination.

Johnson says he's cooperating. The phone is with his lawyers. But the inquiry is waiting...

Meanwhile the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has delivered a shot across the bows to his old boss accusing those who criticise the civil service of 'self-defeating cowardice'.

On today's episode we look at the political fall out and we also ask how an organisation like the BBC should cover a story about itself from the inside.

Naming, shaming and a second allegation Jul 11, 2023

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Another day of stories about a high profile BBC presenter at the centre of a sex scandal and and still no name.

Come 4pm, BBC News announced a second young person had come forward with a complaint about the same presenter.

We explore how privacy laws work in the media, when social media plays such a huge role - is this the Wild West when it comes to keeping a name out of the public domain?

This week on The News Agents: USA - Is Biden really that 'rock-solid' with the UK? Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

Emily and Jon host a new weekly podcast; giving you everything you need to know about the world of US politics and how it affects you.

Episodes are available every Tuesday exclusively on Global Player and all other platforms every Wednesday.

Find the latest episode of News Agents USA here on Global Player.

The Sun, The Scandal and the BBC Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

The front pages proclaim just one story in town: the sex photos that were allegedly sold by an underage crack addict to a top BBC presenter.

But look a little deeper, and there may be more to this story than meets the eye. What do we know about the money that's changed hands? What does it tell us about the relationship between The Sun newspaper and the BBC? And where is the line between privacy and transparency?

Today we talk to former editor of The Sun, David Yelland, who tells us whether he would have published this story. And we ask what it tells us about media power in the digital age.

Later, we look at the sudden collapse of the Dutch government, over asylum issues. Does anyone in Europe have an answer to small boats?

Zuckerberg v Musk: it's war Jul 07, 2023

Show notes

Mark Zuckerberg launched his new platform, Threads, this week. It's designed to knock Twitter - owned Elon Musk - off of its perch.

This story is a parable of our age. Men of unbelievable wealth and unbelievable power locking battle. Whoever wins, if anyone wins, it will have reverberations on our culture, on our politics, on the tapestry of our lives.

And Lewis also talks to the SNP leader for Westminster, Stephen Flynn MP, about his political make-up.

Perverts, weirdos and by-elections Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

The prospect of another by-election looms after Parliament's standards committee recommended an eight-week suspension of former Conservative whip, Chris Pincher.

If the name is familiar, it’s because he was arguably the one who sealed the fate of Boris Johnson and led ultimately to his resignation.

Today we discuss the ramifications of the sexual assault and we look at Keir Starmer's pledge to give working class kids better oracy skills.

The interview Boris Johnson won't want you to see Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

Exclusive footage of Boris Johnson from the One Decision Podcast has been shared with The News Agents.

He was facing questions from hosts Julia Macfarlane and Richard Dearlove about Ukraine, democracy and global security.

Towards the end, Julia asked him about his own response to British democracy - his refusal to accept the findings of the 'kangaroo court' privileges committee into his wrongdoing.

She also asked him about Chris Pincher - the deputy chief whip who resigned from government over sexual assault allegations - and that's where Johnson's answers got really odd...

Later on the show we talk about the escalating violence in Israel and Jenin, and why Netanyahu's personal fortunes may be influencing his military moves...

Joining The News Agents today were freelance journalist Julia Macfarlane, Channel 4's foreign correspondent Secunder Kermani, & Cambridge Gates Scholar and expert on populism, Ayala Panievsky.

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