The State of It

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**The State of It**

Real reporting from the coalface of British politics.

Join The Times and The Sunday Times’s political heavyweights Steven Swinford, Ben Riley-Smith, Patrick Maguire and Lara Spirit as they dig deep into the latest tea room tip offs, reveal insider conversations and bring analysis, authority and insight.

No party loyalty. No spin. Not hosted by some old politicians. Taking you into the real business of politics, from those who live it daily.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest Episodes:

Burnham's three big tests - and trouble at Reform UK Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

The prison early release scheme is Andy Burnham's first big test as prime minister. There are no good options. Can he make a successful argument that he's picked the least bad?
No 10 wants the Autumn Budget to be all about devolution, but they also need to raise money - a lot of money.
Fraser believes there are reasons to be cheerful about welfare reform. Can Labour MPs really get behind a plan that inevitably will come with painful political decisions?
Reform UK has suspended Tim Montgomerie as a member. What's going on within the party?
And Gabriel lifts the veil on Insight's reporting into George Cottrell and Christopher Harborne's donations to Nigel Farage and Reform UK.

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Gabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday Times

Fraser Nelson, columnist, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Farage wins Clacton – but his £5m headache remains Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Nigel Farage has done the inevitable and defeated Count Binface in the Clacton by-election. To celebrate, Reform threw a gigantic Glastonbury-style festival on Clacton beach. Farage-fest 2026 featured disco, live music and even a Ferris wheel.

But during his victory speech, Farage admitted for the first time that he may have made a mistake by failing to declare the £5m gift he received from Christopher Harborne.

Now, just hours after his victory, the parliamentary standards watchdog has resumed its investigation into the Reform leader. So, after the Ferris wheel and the fanfare, what next for the embattled Farage?

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Picture: Getty images

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PC Harper's killers: Andy Burnham's first major test Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Last week, Andy Burnham said he had reached “the very limits of what is possible”, appearing powerless to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers. But after a wave of public outrage, he has now promised to stop it. This is Burnham’s first major collision between style and substance – can his positive-vibes politics really trump the reality of a political nightmare?

Then over to Clacton, where a tanned Nigel Farage has embedded himself in his constituency. What comes next for Reform’s leader after he does the inevitable and defeats Count Binface in the by-election? Can he get Reform back on track after a difficult few months?

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Picture: PA media

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will a Reform-Restore alliance unite the right? Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

Has Andy Burnham's vibes-based politics collided with the reality of governing as he wrestles with the prison early release crisis?

Restore leader and right-wing insurgent Rupert Lowe has publicly reached out to Nigel Farage, urging him to unite the right. Can Farage and Lowe finally put the bad blood behind them, or is the divide simply too deep?

And on the left, the Greens have endured a bruising few weeks, with leader Zack Polanski's social media habits creating unwelcome headlines. But has Westminster been too quick to write them off? With Polanski at the helm, anything is possible.

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Picture: Getty Images

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Burnham Bounce: how long can it last? Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

Andy Burnham's first week as prime minister has been decisive, optimistic and proactive. Labour has overtaken Reform UK in the polls for the first time in more than a year. Now Burnham is taking on education and social care reform: knotty political questions with many landmines. We look at the pitfalls that lie ahead.

Zack Polanski's Green Party is losing support. And as Reform and the Conservatives fight to be the main party of the right, how does the new Labour government change things for Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch?

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Gabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday Times

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Producer: Euan Dawtrey

Picture: Getty Images

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham's week of maximum vibes Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

Andy Burnham's first week as Prime Minister has been all about creating good vibes. He's pledged to end rough sleeping, cut VAT on energy bills, cap bus fares at £2, and save Britain's pubs. The obvious question is: how is he going to pay for it all?

Steve takes us inside Burnham's call with Donald Trump, where everything was surprisingly cordial and the pair ended up talking about their mums.

But next week, the easy announcements give way to the hard choices. Burnham is expected to unveil major interventions on social care and unemployment. Can he deliver reform while also tackling the cost of living, boosting defence spending and keeping the public finances under control?

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producer: Euan Dawtrey

Picture: Getty Images

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No, you're a factionalist: Labour's new battle lines Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

The Grafton Pub Purge: inside the pub where Keir Starmer had drinks with allies as they were sacked one by one. It's fair to say that Andy Burnham's new cabinet has caused an astonishing amount of bitterness in the LabourParty.
The Chancellor Shock: John Healey'ssurprise appointment as chancellor means he'll have to find £25bn, or the equivalent of 3p on income tax, to fund defence.
Get ready for a Mega Budget: the new government is preparing announcements on bus fares and Thames Water, but it's still unclear how they will pay for spending pledges.

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, George Clare

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Russel Herneman

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shabana Mahmood: The 'ruthless' incoming Chancellor? Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Who is Shabana Mahmood, the 'ruthless' politician set to enter Downing Street as Andy Burnham’s Chancellor? After a fierce cabinet debate effectively ended Ed Miliband's hopes for the Treasury, all eyes are on her. And what does her potential appointment means for the future of UK politics, from welfare reform to the economy?

Meanwhile, Westminser has descended into a surreal waiting game as the incoming Prime Minister prepares to take power. No one knows if their job is safe, and desperate insiders have resorted to asking our very own Steven Swinford if he knows anything they don't. Will Ed Miliband, Wes Streeting or Yvette Cooper feature? And how exactly will Number 10 North work?

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Burnham's cabinet: Ed Miliband fails the smell test Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Who will be in Andy Burnham's cabinet? It looks like Ed Miliband will not be chancellor after all. We have scoops for you about who's in line for the big jobs in the Westminster cabinet reshuffle.
Burnham needs to make room for allies like Louise Haigh and Lucy Powell, so who will be sacked on Monday when Burnham takes over as prime minister?
Westminster is like a hornet's nest of briefing and counter-briefing as Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, Dan Jarvis, Yvette Cooper and others wait to hear what next week will bring.
David Lammy has organised a whip-round for Keir Starmer's rather odd leaving present.
And what will Burnham do once he's in post? We look at his immediate priorities and the possibility of a mega fiscal event in the autumn.

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images.

01:10 - Blocking Ed Miliband From Chancellor

02:30 - Why the City Doesn't Trust the "London Left"

03:50 - Will Miliband Accept a Demotion?

05:05 - The Brutal Briefing War Behind Closed Doors

06:40 - Defending the "Net Zero Zealot"

07:45 - Cabinet Jenga: Filling the Great Offices of State

09:25 - Angela Rayner & The "Day One" Loyalists

11:05 - The Starmer Purge: Who Is Getting Sacked?

12:45 - The Yvette Cooper Foreign Policy Question

15:05 - Secret Policy Clashes: Josh Simons vs. Miatta Fahnbulleh

17:15 - Angry Loyalists With "Nothing To Lose"

19:40 - Starmer’s Bizarre Leaving Present

21:30 - Flying to the World Cup Final

22:35 - Burnham's Radical Plan for the Cost of Living

25:00 - The Warning Over a "Mega Budget" & Wealth Taxes

26:15 - North vs. South: The Growing Regional Rebellion

Picture: Getty Images

Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage's Clacton by-election gamble Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

A furious Nigel Farage has said he will ‘stick two fingers up to the establishment’ by resigning and then winning a by-election in Clacton. Kemi Badenoch has accused him of having a hissy fit and Andy Burnham has said it's a gimmick designed to distract from questions over undeclared gifts.

Will the Conservatives and Labour field candidates in the Clacton by-election?
Will a Reform UK victory in Clacton boost Nigel Farage's standing in the rest of the country?
And can Nigel Farage be suspended after a parliamentary standards investigation even if he wins the by-election?

Who is George Cottrell, aka Posh George? Listen to the series here podfollow.com/posh-george

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images

Audio: Reuters

Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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