The News Agents

Latest Episodes:

The toxic culture of Westminster: An MP resigns on air Jul 04, 2023

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The SNP's deputy leader in Westminster, Mhairi Black MP, joins us exclusively in News Agents HQ to announce she's stepping down at the next election.

We discuss the "toxic" culture that's led to Black - the youngest MP in 350 years when she was elected in 2015 - to leave parliament, and we ask why so many other MPs won't be standing again.

Are the 'New Conservatives' a help or a headache for Rishi Sunak? Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

If you landed in this country and wondered what its problems were you might see the long queues for the health services, the high inflation, the shortage of workers to fill public sector jobs and the difficulties the country has with its supply chains.

The New Conservatives are a new fringe Conservative group trying to solve a different problem.

They think we need to cut immigration numbers by 400k, stop foreign workers visas, and offer the jobs (that we can't currently fill) to British workers. So that's now on Rishi's plate for him to ponder.

We talk to their leader Tom Hunt and ask him how he'd get Brits to do those jobs.

And after the press regulator IPSO ruled the Jeremy Clarkson column in the Sun was 'sexist, pejorative and prejudicial' we talk to IPSO's chairman Lord Faulks.

Does Rishi Sunak care about climate change? Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

Rishi Sunak and now former government minister Lord Zac Goldsmith have a war of words over why Goldsmith resigned this morning. Sunak says its because of the latest Privileges Committee report. Goldsmith says it's because Sunak and his government are not serious about climate change.

It comes in a week where it's been announced that this June has been the hottest ever, and the head of the Climate Change Committee, Lord Deben, questions how serious the Conservative government are about sticking to net zero policies. Does Rishi Sunak not care about climate change? We speak to Lord Deben himself, Ed Conway, Economics Editor at Sky News, and Lara Spirit of The Times.

A nightmare verdict for Suella's dream Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

The Court of Appeal thwarts Home Secretary Suella Braverman's eye-wateringly expensive Rwanda plan (for now) - cue a government appeal and derision and fury from a number of Tory MPs, some of whom have also been named in the latest Privileges Committee report for their choice language on Twitter and other social media platforms in response to the findings against Boris Johnson a couple of weeks ago.

And why are there riots on the streets of Paris? We talk to writer Nabila Ramdani who's reporting on the streets.

How water became a dirty word Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

As we record, the government is on standby in case Thames Water collapses. The country's largest water company has £14billion of debt, and is rudderless after the exit of their chief executive.

It's prompting many to ask questions about privitisation more widely. How did bills get so high, as quality got so bad? That's before you even get on to the shit in the sea. We ask what we've learnt about taking essential industries out of public control.

And, we discuss football, national identity, brexit , and what it means to lose - with the cast and director of Dear England - James Graham's latest play at the National Theatre.

Matt Hancock says sorry for Covid Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

Matt Hancock appeared before the Covid inquiry to offer a profound apology. He threw the government pandemic strategy under a bus with his assessment that the covid strategy had been “completely wrong“.

Two years ago our gratitude to health workers knew no bounds.

This week the harsh reality set in: as the PM confirmed he wouldn’t be able to meet the public pay review recommendations for wage rises. What does that say about our relationship with the NHS?

And we talk to actor Tom Hollander currently staring in The Patriots - a play about Putin and modern Russia when the country itself is shifting.

Has Putin lost control? Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

On Saturday morning it looked like we might see the collapse of one of the world's longest standing dictators, Vladimir Putin. By Monday things were suspiciously calm, and the uprising against him - by his own former chef - was being flat out denied.

So what just happened in Russia? Was it the start of a revolution? Or a massive mistake? Will this weaken Putin's grip or strengthen his hand?

And what to make of the mercenary leader - Prigozhin- who is literally in it for the money? We talk war tactics and the psychology of an autocrat.

The Titan submersible: when is tourism too extreme? Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

This week, the world has been captivated ( and wrapped up in hope) by the tragedy of the five people who've died in an attempt to visit the wreck of the Titanic.

Jon sits in for Lewis this week and asks whether extreme tourism is going too far - whether we should push the boundaries of exploration (even if at potential great cost to others) and why the public; and the media, have been transfixed by the story.

And we speak to Peter Kyle, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, on the anniversary of Brexit.

Who's to blame for this mortgage pain? Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

For the thirteenth time in a row interest rates have gone up.

They’re now at 5% - the highest level since 2008.

What is the knock on effect for all of us paying mortgages?

Why are we struggling so much more than other countries to bring down inflation?

And what will the political ramifications to all this be - will it make it easier for Labour to win an election - or will people rally to their government at a time of crisis and prefer the devil they know, to the devil they don't?

Lost at sea - why are we obsessed with the sunken sub? Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

The world is watching a vessel we cant even find.

Newsrooms are counting down the hours of oxygen they think are left in the Titan capsule. International rescue teams are putting resources and lives at risk to bring back the missing five. What drives our obssession with this story? And how comfortably does it sit when we know thousands of people die at sea every year.

We hear from a former NASA Astronaut and accident investigator. We also talk to Spencer Matthews - his brother Michael died climbing Mount Everest - he explains the adventurers' mindset and tells us how important it was to bring Michael's body home.

Later we discuss the downfall of Crispin Odey - named the Harvey Weinstein of the City of London - by his alleged victims of sexual assault - with one of the women who broke the story, the Financial Times' Madison Marriage.

When approached by the Financial Times for comment, Crispin Odey denied the claims against him and a law firm representing Odey Asset Management declined to comment in detail on the allegations.

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