The State of It

The Times
  • 4.1 (125)
  • Politics
  • Updated weekly

Real reporting from the coalface of British politics. Join The Times and The Sunday Times’s political heavyweights Steven Swinford, 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.

  1. Andy Burnham builds a plane mid-flight as Starmer checks out

    3 days ago

    Andy Burnham builds a plane mid-flight as Starmer checks out

    Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer both want an orderly transition but one day in, it's looking anything but orderly. It's a transition beset with bad blood and uncertainty and also some serious technical hurdles. Is he building a plane mid-flight or is he more like Gromit, sitting on a speeding train, laying down the track in front of him? The biggest unanswered question facing Andy Burnham is who will be his chancellor. Three names are in contention: bookmakers' favourite Wes Streeting, rank outsider Shabana Mahmood, and Ed Miliband — the bête noire of the bond markets. Patrick reports from parliament's bars, where the champagne is flowing and Labour MPs have suddenly become shameless attention-seekers, hoping to seduce Andy Burnham's allies. 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 0:00 - Can Andy Burnham Build the Plane Mid-Flight? 1:15 - Drama on the Commons Terrace: Euphoria & Champagne 4:20 - Keir Starmer's "Revenge" Timetable 6:30 - The Next Chancellor: Miliband vs. Streeting vs. Mahmood 13:12 - Scrapping the Triple Lock & Upcoming Wealth Taxes 17:37 - Inside Number 10: Starmer's Farewell Speech 19:33 - The £10bn Defence Plan Rupturing Labour 21:55 - Civil Service Gridlock: Why Access Talks Are Delayed 25:20 - The Crypto Billionaire Bankrolling Nigel Farage & Reform UK 29:00 - Will There Be an Emergency Election? 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.

    25 min
  2. Keir Starmer resigns. Andy Burnham prepares for power

    4 days ago

    Keir Starmer resigns. Andy Burnham prepares for power

    Andy Burnham could be prime minister within weeks after Keir Starmer's resignation. He may now need to build a government before the World Cup final. This is where the real trade-offs start. How long can Andy Burnham's hopey, changey, Northern Soul vibes last in Downing Street? There's already an almighty row going on over who will be his chancellor. Also today, where did all go wrong for Keir Starmer and what did Labour MPs think of his resignation speech? Wes Streeting has said he will not contest Andy Burnham for the Labour leadership, but are there any other possible candidates for the leadership contest? Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times Executive producer: Molly Guinness Producers: Harry Kitson, Euan Dawtrey Picture credit: Getty Images Audio: Reuters 00:00 — Starmer’s Resignation: The Total Lack of Contrition 00:48 — A Surreal Timeline: Six Prime Ministers in a Decade 01:56 — The Emotional Exit vs. The Bitter Backroom Reality 03:04 — Where It Went Wrong: Sins of Tone & Policy U-Turns 04:30 — The Brutal Verdict: "He Wasn't Up To It" 05:47 — Outsourcing Power: Sue Gray, McSweeney, and Rachel Reeves 08:46 — Enter Andy Burnham: Can He Rebrand the Labour Party? 11:36 — Ed Miliband vs. The Financial Markets 14:31 — Team Burnham's Impossible Economic Trade-offs 16:36 — Will the Gloss Wear Off? The Unforgiving Spotlight of No. 10 18:24 — Legitimacy Crisis: Nigel Farage Demands an Early Election 20:06 — The Whitehall Machine in Total Chaos 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.

    21 min
  3. Andy Burnham wins Makerfield: what happens now?

    19 Jun

    Andy Burnham wins Makerfield: what happens now?

    Andy Burnham's victory in Makerfield makes him Labour leader and prime minister in waiting. How will the next days and weeks play out? Keir Starmer has said he will stand in a leadership contest if one is triggered. So does that mean a bloody contest rather than a coronation? In a special episode recorded live on Times Radio with Ed Vaizey, we go through the possible scenarios. And if Andy Burnham does become prime minister, what will he do with power? Who will be in his cabinet? We're told that Shabana Mahmood has turned down the offer of chancellor and will stay as home secretary. Is Ed Miliband still a likely candidate for chancellor? And what to do about Wes Streeting? We also look at the Conservative win in Aberdeen South. Is this a green shoot for the Conservative Party? And will the Makerfield result prompt some soul searching in Reform UK? Ed Vaizey, presenter, Times Radio Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times Producers: Harry Kitson, Erin Carney Executive producer: Molly Guinness Picture: Getty Images 00:00 - Intro: "They’re Going to Have to Drag Him Out" 00:20 - Welcome to The State of It: The Makerfield Shockwave 00:56 - An Extraordinary Result: How Andy Burnham Defied Political Gravity 03:00 - "Vote Burnham, Get Starmer Out" Campaign Strategy 04:05 - Keir Starmer Strikes Back: Leadership Contest or Coronation? 06:37 - Starmer's Response: "I'm Not Going to Walk Away" 07:14 - Inside Starmer's Bunker: Refusing an Orderly Transition 09:16 - The Secret List: 80+ MPs Backing Andy Burnham 11:06 - Nigel Farage's Disappointment: Reform UK Share Drops 12:00 - Kemi Badenoch's Tories Resurge in Scotland 13:04 - Did Reform UK Choose the Wrong Candidate? 14:04 - The Identity Schism Deepening Inside Reform UK 16:00 - What Does an Andy Burnham Premiership Actually Stand For? 17:48 - Tax Overhauls: Radical Land Tax vs. Council Tax 18:38 - The NATO Summit and the Defense Investment Plan Dilemma 21:00 - Tough Decisions on Welfare Cuts and Benefits 23:16 - The Power Brokers: Louise Haig & Anneliese Midgley 24:40 - Cabinet Secrets: Ed Miliband vs. Shabana Mahmood 27:12 - Shabana Mahmood’s Hardline Immigration Reforms 28:22 - Wes Streeting's Defiance: Forcing a Platform Battle? 32:38 - What Happens to the Hardcore Starmer Loyalists? 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.

    33 min
  4. Ghostings and betrayals: Starmer's cabinet prepares for an Andy Burnham coup

    16 Jun

    Ghostings and betrayals: Starmer's cabinet prepares for an Andy Burnham coup

    Makerfield is the most consequential by-election in history. Andy Burnham is confident he'll win. What happens then? When and how does he make a move? What can Keir Starmer do to thwart him? We have several scoops for you today. Listen to find out which cabinet ministers are thinking of resigning after Makerfield and which senior figure has been ghosting the PM. If Andy Burnham does get to Number 10, the whole direction of his premiership will depend on who he picks for his cabinet. We bring you the latest on what his team is thinking. And of course it's also possible that Reform UK could beat Labour in Makerfield — what then? Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times Executive producer: Molly Guinness Video editor: George Clare Picture credit: Getty Images Audio: Times Radio 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.

    29 min
  5. A circular firing squad: the bitter war over defence spending

    9 Jun

    A circular firing squad: the bitter war over defence spending

    Exclusive stories from the front line of the government's war over defence spending. And there's a swagger about Andy Burnham's team: they're more and more confident that he'll win in Makerfield. What happens next? And how will the enmity between Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer influence the outcome? Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson Executive producer: Molly Guinness 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.

    31 min
  6. The tragic death of Henry Nowak and a political reckoning

    2 Jun

    The tragic death of Henry Nowak and a political reckoning

    Nigel Farage has said that the death of Henry Nowak is proof that "we’re living in a two-tier culture...where the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities". Police bodycam footage shows Nowak, 18, being arrested for alleged racial abuse minutes before he died from stab wounds in December 2025. It's a tragedy that's very quickly become political. We explain why it's an issue that's particularly tricky for Labour to respond to. Also, a snapshot of strange by-election campaign where cabinet members are not welcome, Labour MPs might be allowed a selfie with Andy Burnham (if they're lucky), and the future of the country is decided upon by a tiny group of people in a club where they hold auctions of exotic birds.And what the Mandelson files tell us about the Labour Party – and about Patrick Maguire Syndrome. Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson Executive producer: Molly Guinness Picture: Henry Nowak with his father, Mark (Family handout/PA) Audio: PA, ITV 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.

    32 min
  7. We’re all just normal people railing against politics

    26 May

    We’re all just normal people railing against politics

    In the Makerfield by-election, Reform UK have put forward a local plumber in the hope of derailing Burnham’s push for power — but a string of deeply questionable old social media posts has left the campaign wobbling. Meanwhile, on Reform’s right flank, Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party is threatening to split the vote after a Sunday Times poll put them on 7% — enough to potentially hand Labour the advantage. Back in Downing Street, Rachel Reeves is machine-gunning her colleagues. The question is whether she genuinely believes she can survive in post under an Andy Burnham leadership. Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson Executive producer: Molly Guinness Picture credit: 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.

    29 min
  8. Inside Keir Starmer's plan to remain PM till 2027

    19 May

    Inside Keir Starmer's plan to remain PM till 2027

    Scoop: Keir Starmer thinks he can remain prime minister till 2027, even if Andy Burnham wins in Makerfield...And if Burnham loses, what then?Fear and loathing in Number 10: we have details about the extraordinary levels of anger at the top of government.Makerfield is the most consequential by-election in history. Can Andy Burnham win in this pro-Brexit, anti-establishment seat? He's pitching himself as the anti-politics candidate, while simultaneously plotting his route to Downing Street.And if he does win, what will he do with power? Could he end up as a Keir Starmer in running shorts? Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson Executive producer: Molly Guinness Picture credit: 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.

    29 min
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4.1
out of 5
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About

Real reporting from the coalface of British politics. Join The Times and The Sunday Times’s political heavyweights Steven Swinford, 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.

Information

  • Channel
    The Times
  • Creator
    The Times
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © News UK
  • Show Website
    The State of It
  • Provider
    News Corp UK & Ireland Limited

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