Sunday Supplement

BBC Radio Wales

4.5 (8)
Government
Updated Biweekly

Political news, discussions and analysis from Wales, the UK and the world.

3d ago

Labour conference, Orange Order march, new Reform leader in Wales, Russia's Baltic presence, Victorian architecture

It's Labour's first UK conference since Andy Burnham became its leader and prime minister. It's also the first since its devastating losses in May's elections. Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock joins us from Liverpool. Members of the Orange Order were given last-minute permission by the high court to pass through a nationalist area of Portadown in County Armagh for the first time in nearly 30 years. Dr Thomas Leahy is a senior lecturer in British and Irish politics at Cardiff University and explains the significance of the decision. After a terrible week and Dan Thomas' resignation as their leader, Reform have appointed Helen Jenner to take his place. She tells us what her leadership will look like and Nick Tyrone, author of new book The Rise of Reform will discuss how Reform became the party it is. Lithuania has made evacuation plans in the event of a Russian attack. Estonia's foreign affairs committee chair, Marko Mihkelsen, outlines how the Baltic states are preparing for the possibility of war. And the Victorian Society has held its first AGM in Llandudno in twenty years. Dr Kathryn Ferry is a seaside resort historian, and we'll hear from her how Llandudno developed from a hamlet surrounded by marshland into a modern tourist attraction for the Victorians. Continuing with our series meeting politicians, this week we return to the Senedd to meet one of Plaid Cymru's three MSs in the Afan Ogwr Rhondda constituency, Elyn Stephens.
Sep 20

Reform's week in Wales, independence, health, renters rights, defections

In the wake of Reform leader in Wales, Dan Thomas standing down after being arrested, UK deputy Leader Richard Tice says there's no reason to suspend him pending the investigation. Welsh, Scottish and northern Irish leaders met in Cardiff this week to say that Westminster's time is over. Conservative and unionist MS Andrew RT Davies and pro-independence Plaid Cymru MS Sera Evans set out their stall. NHS waiting times have crept up again. Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor explains what he plans to do about it. Renters rights were raised in First Minister's questions on Tuesday. The TUC's Joe Allen has looked at how many MSs are landlords and tells us all about it, whilst Katie Dalton outlines the challenges for renters in Wales. After Sarah Cooper-Lesadd's surprising defection from far right Reform to left leaning Plaid Cymru, the Express' David Williamson recalls the various defections seen in Cardiff Bay and Westminster over the years. And in our series meeting politicians of all colours, this week we have Lord Don Touhig in the studio.
Sep 13

World safety after 9/11, the far right in Europe, constituency boundaries, childhood in Wales, Glyndwr's People

25 years after the deadly terror attacks on the World Trade Centre, is the world a safer place? Lord Peter Ricketts was working at the foreign office at the time. Far right party AfD won Sachsen-Anhalt's state election last weekend, whilst far right French party National Rally made a deal on migrants with Reform UK. Protests against migrants followed in Dover. Chief political editor at DW, Michaela Küfner and Cardiff University's Dr Marta Lorimer discuss the rise of the far right in Europe. Wales is not done with changing Senedd constituencies. Chief Executive of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, Shereen Williams joins us to encourage participation in their boundary review. Following terrible PISA results for Wales and a medical report highlighting the poor health of our children, Wales' first Future Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe and children's laureate Nicola Davies ponder what life is like for a child in Wales today. And September 16 is Owain Glyndwr day. To mark the occasion, author Paul Hughes is launching his book Glyndwr's People, all about those who served and lived around the so-called last true Prince of Wales. And continuing with our series meeting Welsh policitians, we have deputy speaker in the House of Lords, Baroness Ilora Finlay of Llandaff.
Sep 6

Reform, Burnham, policing, TUC Cymru, life after No. 10

Fresh from Reform's annual conference in Birmingham, their chief whip in the Senedd, Llyr Powell reacts to all the weekend's events. Andy Burnham has done his first Prime Minister's Questions. Newport West and Islwyn MP Ruth Jones tells us how the parliamentary Labour Party thinks he's doing. Devolving policing has come back under discussion after the new PM said he's open to considering it. Professor Laura McAllister co-chaired the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales that looked at it, and Lauren McEvatt was a member. They discuss the pros and cons. Laura Doel has taken up the role of General Secretary for TUC Cymru. She explains what she hopes to achieve in the role. And Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is stepping down as an MP to concentrate on world affairs. Writer and historian Tom Egerton illustrates what former PMs do with their time after leaving office. And following the success of meeting new members of the Senedd we've decided to get to meet more politicians. This week, it's our chance to get to know the MP for mid and south Pembrokeshire, Henry Tufnell.
08/30/2025

More highlights from the year so far

Vaughan Roderick looks back at highlights from Sunday Supplement over the past few months, including a row over rail funding, the future of Ukraine and Syria, the passing of Pope Francis, and the 'Great Bibles' going on display at the National Library of Wales. Interviews with Ben Lake MP, Ukrainian journalist and refugee Kateryna Gorodnycha, Children's Commissioner Rocio Cifuentes, Syrian doctor Mohammad Alhadj Ali, Delyth Jewell MS and Lord Don Touhig, Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones and the National Library's Timothy Cutts.

5 Episodes

4.5

out of 5

8 Ratings

If you want to know what is going on in Wales, this is the podcast to listen to!

08/31/2013

WinniefromStLouis

I listen to this podcast every week to catch up on the truly important issues being discussed in Wales. I only wish that I understood enough Welsh to listen to it on Radio Cymru. Mr. Roderick is extremely knowledgeable and seems very fair to both sides of any issue. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone who loves Wales.