The News Agents

Latest Episodes:

Are the Conservatives now admitting defeat? Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Tory frontbencher Grant Shapps has appeared to concede the Tories are now heading for defeat at the election and warned voters against allowing Labour a 'supermajority'. Does scaring people work as a campaign strategy? And is a supermajority a big problem for voters?

We also hear from Lewis, who is on the campaign trail with Lib Dem leader Ed Davey.

And later in the show we talk privilege, class, and pesky questions, after Rishi Sunak was asked what he had to go without when he was growing up.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Zeynel Can Yuce

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: : Rory Symon, 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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Rishi Sunak launches his manifesto. Is Britain still listening? Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

Rishi Sunak launched the Conservative manifesto today at Silverstone. We’ve been trying to swerve the racing metaphors but the odd one crept in. He talked a LOT about tax cuts - doubling down on his disproven claim of Labour tax rises, but offered few new policies.

The performance was polished. But has the public stopped listening? We talk to Home Secretary James cleverly and Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell.

Later WE HAVE THE QUIZ RESULTS. And A WINNER is crowned.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Zeynel Can Yuce

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: : Rory Symon, 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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Macron, Angela Rayner, Misogyny and Class Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

Angela Rayner has told Lewis she carries the weight of working class women on her shoulders, and doesn't ever want to be the Labour Leader.

Meanwhile in Paris, President Macron has thrown caution to the wind and 'done a Rishi'. He's called a snap parliamentary election to take on the party of Marine Le Pen. How should centrist leaders tackle their Far right parties? By bringing their policies into the fold - or defeating them and shutting them down? Does either really work?

And in London, Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey pledges to put social care at the heart of his manifesto to 'Save the NHS'.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Zeynel Can Yuce

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: : Rory Symon, 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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

D-day misstep: is it all over for Sunak? Jun 09, 2024

Show notes

It's manifesto week - Lib Dems announce theirs on Monday. Tories Tuesday. And Labour Thursday.

But the cloud of Sunak's speedy D Day departure still hangs over him. Will this be terminal for Sunak?

Later Lewis is in Leigh with North West voters there.

And we have a QUIZ for you. Stay to the end.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: : Rory Symon, 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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Q&A general election special Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

In this week's general election Q&A special Emily, Jon and Lewis answer your questions on safe seats, compulsory voting, and the constituency they'd choose to stand in if they were running for parliament. All that and more.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: : Rory Symon, 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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Weekend Edition - The Sports Agents Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

This week on The Sports Agents,

The extraordinary story of Khalida Popal - the first ever captain of the Afghanistan Women's National Football Team - hounded out of her country by those who believed women have no right to play and who orchestrated her team's daring escape from Afghanistan, when the Taliban returned.

Then, as Manchester City announced legal action against the Premier League, Gabby & Mark found out if this new legal action could influence the outcome of their long-awaited hearing into 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules - Sports lawyer Daniel Geey gave us his verdict.

And former footballer-turned-agent, Paul Dalglish, joined us to discuss the ethics and issues in football agency, their role in multi-million pound transfers and why the industry needs to evolve.

Just scroll back through The Sports Agents feed to listen to these interviews in full.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

EXCLUSIVE: Nadine Dorries on the 'disgusting' Tory Party chair Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

Overnight, Richard Holden, The Tory Party chair parachuted himself into the safe seat of Basildon & Billericay. Which is 280 miles away from his former seat - North West Durham.

Today, his former colleague and former Tory cabinet minister tells us why he's 'disgusting', and what she thinks will happen to Rishi's Tory party now. Does she accept that the rot set in with the lies, hypocrisy and calumny of Boris Johnson?

You'll find out.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Zeynel Can Yuce

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: : Rory Symon, 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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Why are Labour calling Sunak a liar? Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Rishi Sunak accused Keir Starmer of planning to put people's taxes up by £2,000 if he got into power - sums he said had been independently verified. This morning we learned they werent, after a top civil servant put the record straight.

Labour are calling the PM a liar (he repeated his claim 11 times), but the Tories are standing by their figure - and say all's fair in love and campaign war.

We discuss what TV debates do for viewers' understanding of policy, and find out what voters in Leigh took away from the TV clash. Later, Richard Holden, the actual Tory chairman, seems to be vacating one seat and parachuting himself into a safer one down south. His colleagues are up in arms.

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Producer: Zeynel Yuce

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: : Rory Symon, 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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

The Sunak vs. Starmer TV debate: who won? Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

The first election debate is done. Sunak and Starmer had it out live, on television, for an hour. Did we learn anything? Jon and Emily watched from home and give their analysis. Meanwhile Lewis has been in the dreaded “spin room” in Salford, trying to parse through the politicians’ bluster. At the end of it all- will any of it make a difference?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus

Social Media Editor & Video Production: : Rory Symon

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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents

Will Farage win in Clacton? Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

We’re in Clacton-on-Sea today. So, coincidentally, is Nigel Farage the new leader of the Reform party and prospective parliamentary candidate.

We caught up with him, with the ex-leader Richard Tice, and with their Conservative opponent Giles Whatling. We also hear from people in the town about what they make of the latest offering from Farage. Can his soap box speeches stand up to scrutiny on any single policy?

Editor: Tom Hughes

Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell

Video Production: Shane Fennelly

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/

https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agents