Inside Whitehall James Starkie and Jonathan Gullis MP

James is joined this week by the Sunday Times Deputy Political Editor, Harry Yorke. They look at the TV debates between the political leaders. With the first of those debates for the 2024 General Election held last week, Harry and James look back at the history of debates in the UK and how they impact elections.
Take a peak inside the 'spin room' with Harry, who has covered multiple TV debates, and the pair discuss who won last weeks debates and how much they really matter.
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James and Jonathan discuss the moment the 2024 General Election was called and what Jonathan has had to do since. When did Jonathan find out? How do candidates prepare for an election? What's the difference between leafletting and canvassing? Listen to find out.
The episode was recorded whilst Jonathan was still an MP, due to the dissolution of Parliament there are no longer any MPs for the duration of the election and Jonathan is now an official Conservative Party candidate.
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Jonathan and James were joined by George Eustice MP. George has spent the best part of a decade in Government, culminating in his time as Secretary for State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Recorded before the announcement of the timing of the General Election, we talked to George about his time working for David Cameron and the Conservative Party during opposition. From David Cameron's leadership campaign through to preparing the Conservative Party for government we take a look at how you go from being seen as the party of opposition to a potential party of government.
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Jonathan and James were joined by Liz Truss MP to discuss her recent book 'Ten Years to Save the West'. In a wide ranging interview the former Prime Minister discusses her time in office, her career as a minister and how she fist got involved in politics.
Liz describes the time she met Tony Blair in a laundry lift, whether or not she will appear on Dancing on Ice and what the future may hold for her.
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The Ten Minute Rule Bill,. sometimes abbreviated to 'TMRB', is a way in which Members of Parliament can introduce their own bills. The vast majority of ours laws will pass because the government has put forward and passed legislation but the TMRB offers one avenue MPs can attempt to pass their own.
Jonathan takes us through his own experience of passing a TMRB, being one of the first of the 2019 intake of MPs to do so. We also get an insight into the fabled MPs tearoom and discuss the limits of free speech.
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With the local elections dominating the news we go inside local government with the former leader of Stoke on Trent City council, Abi Brown. Abi became the face of Stoke for many leading a number of high profile projects such as the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone and, working with local MPs like co-host Jonathan Gullis, secured significant new funding for the area.
Abi is also active within the Local Government Association and shared insights with us on how to run a council and the ways local government interacts with national politicians and central government.
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