282 episodes
- Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss the current state of the Green Party – once riding high in the polls – with former party leader and current peer, Natalie Bennett.
You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. What Happens Behind Closed Doors: Interview With A Top Government Special Adviser
13/08/2026 | 26 mins.Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kevin sits down with Liz Bates, a former political journalist turned special adviser for Keir Starmer's Government. Liz lifts the lid on what a SPAD does, the "funereal" reality of Keir Starmer's resignation to those on the inside and the difference between reporting the news and influencing the story.
Timecodes
00:00 – Introduction.
05:07 – What is a special adviser and what do they do?
07:59 – What was it like working for Steve Reed, the former Housing Secretary and Environment Secretary?
13:10 – Behind the scenes of Keir Starmer's resignation in July.
18:30 – Why does a SPAD also lose their job when the minister they're serving does?
20:32 – What's next for Liz and what does she think about the future of Andy Burnham's Government.
23:35 – Bluffers Guide and end.
You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.- Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's budding political relationship, and analyse whether it will last the length of both of their terms in office.
Timecodes
00:00 – Introduction.
02:34 – What's happened between Andy Burnham and Donald Trump since he became Prime Minister?
04:54 – What's Trump's record with British Prime Ministers in the past?
15:10 – What is Burnham's history with Trump?
17:44 – How will Ed Miliband fare
20:21 – Why is Trump so obsessed with North Sea drilling?
22:25 – What's next for Burnham and Trump, and what could go wrong?
34:03 – Bluffers Guide and end.
You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. - Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kevin and Kate take a look inside Andy Burnham’s day-one cabinet purge – who’s in, who’s out, why Wes Streeting is suddenly in charge of the army, what this all means for you and whether this new government is already heading for a smash-up.
00:00 – Introduction
01.48 – Andy Burnham's first days in office
08.14 – Who's out?
19.30 – Who's in?
24.24 – Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband (and his previous Trump comments...)
28.07 – Wes Streeting (and his lack of military experience)
40.55 – What's the reaction to the reshuffle been like in the Labour party?
48.24 – What's Farage had to say?
49.40 – Bluffers Guide and end.
You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Dayna McAlpine
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. - Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, we discuss Keir Starmer's time in office as Prime Minister, and what are the main things he'll be remembered for – good and bad.
Timecodes
00:00 – Introduction.
07:00 – What did Keir Starmer do in office? – The good stuff
13:46 – What did Keir Starmer do in office? – The bad stuff
26:01 – What did Keir Starmer do in office? – The middle ground stuff
32:39 – What's next for Keir Starmer?
38:32 – Was he a good or bad Prime Minister?
41:11 – Bluffers Guide and end.
You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About Commons People
Welcome to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, our resident politics writers and Westminster regulars – Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson – unpack the week's biggest story in a way that even the most politically dense can understand. Join us for straightforward, up-to-date and in-depth commentary on British politics from people in the know! From HuffPost UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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