The Julia Hartley-Brewer Show

Keir Starmer is facing fresh questions over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal after the explosive evidence from former senior civil servant Olly Robbins — and the pressure on No.10 is building. Julia Hartley-Brewer asks: is the Prime Minister a dead man walking? With claims of disquiet from inside Downing Street, accusations of “jobs for the boys”, and Labour figures openly turning on their own leader, this row is fast becoming a full-blown crisis for Starmer. Joined by former Conservative adviser Claire Pearsall and independent MP Karl Turner, Julia tears into the toxic culture at the heart of government, whether Starmer misled Parliament, and why Labour nerves are jangling after PMQs and before the local elections. If the drip-drip of revelations continues, can No.10 survive the summer — or is this the scandal that finally breaks him? Also: Julia reacts to the alarming poll showing half of young people would never fight for Britain, asking what it says about patriotism, identity and whether this country is still worth defending. There’s also the growing fallout from the Iran crisis and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, with warnings of higher fuel costs, rising energy bills, supply chain shocks and fresh pain for British households already squeezed by Rachel Reeves’ faltering economy. And fury too over the tobacco and vapes bill, as MPs wave through a lifetime smoking ban for anyone born after 2008 — a common-sense health measure, or another open goal for smugglers, black-market gangs and the nanny state? Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer is under huge pressure after Sir Olly Robbins gave explosive evidence on the Peter Mandelson appointment — as he describes an 'atmosphere of pressure' to approve Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Julia reacts to the extraordinary claims that Mandelson’s appointment was effectively treated as a done deal before the vetting process had run its course, with senior figures allegedly pushing for approval and little appetite inside government to stop it. If warning signs were already there, why was the process handled in this way? And if Starmer knew more than he later admitted, did he mislead Parliament? Veteran journalist Adam Boulton joins Julia to give his verdict on Robbins’s defence, the sacking of officials, and whether the Prime Minister has made the crisis even worse by trying to pin blame on everyone around him. Was this simply a disastrous political judgement — or evidence of a deeper culture of arrogance at the heart of Labour? Also: Blue Labour founder Lord Maurice Glasman tears into the Labour establishment’s obsession with Peter Mandelson, explains why the party is losing working-class voters, and warns that Starmer now looks like a leader with no clear direction and no easy escape. The allegations discussed in this episode are denied by Peter Mandelson, who has not been charged - as of the time of publishing. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did Keir Starmer really not know Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting — or is Downing Street’s defence simply impossible to believe? In this episode of The Julia Hartley Brewer Podcast, Julia is joined by commentator Dan Hodges and former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith to dissect the growing row over Peter Mandelson’s appointment, the claims that officials knew for weeks, and the extraordinary questions now hanging over the Prime Minister’s judgment. If Mandelson was considered too high-risk for the usual clearance process, how was he allowed into one of the most sensitive jobs in British diplomacy? And if concerns about his links to Russia, China and Jeffrey Epstein were already widely known, why was he appointed at all? Dan Hodges lays out why he believes it is “inconceivable” that nobody in Downing Street was aware of the failed vetting outcome, while Sir Iain Duncan Smith argues the real issue is not whether Starmer was formally told, but whether he already knew enough to stop the appointment himself. Julia also examines the wider fallout: accusations of a cover-up, claims of a national security failure, and fresh scrutiny over whether the Prime Minister misled Parliament when insisting due process had been followed. As pressure mounts on Number 10, this is the inside analysis of the Mandelson scandal, Keir Starmer’s credibility, and the political storm now threatening to engulf Labour. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer is under fierce pressure after explosive claims surrounding Peter Mandelson’s appointment and the handling of his security vetting – as reports emerge that Mandelson FAILED the vetting. Keir Starmer says (implausibly) that the Foreign Office failed to tell cabinet that he had failed. On Talk today, Ben Habib and former Sun political editor Trevor Kavanagh tear into the Prime Minister’s defence, asking the question at the heart of the scandal: if serious concerns were raised about Mandelson, who knew what — and when? Was Downing Street genuinely kept in the dark, or is this another carefully lawyered denial from a government already accused of saying only what it thinks it can get away with? They examine reports that officials pushed ahead with Mandelson’s appointment despite failing security vetting, and why Starmer appears to have spent so much political capital backing one of Labour’s most controversial operators. From Mandelson’s long history of resignations and comebacks to renewed scrutiny of his links to Jeffrey Epstein, the conversation turns to the wider culture of protection, secrecy and entitlement at the top of British politics. Plus: Ben Habib argues this is bigger than one man — it is a symptom of a rotten Westminster system that rewards insiders, shuts out voters and closes ranks when challenged. Trevor Kavanagh says the official story simply does not add up, pointing to senior aides, missing phones, wiped messages and the growing belief that the establishment still thinks the rules are for everybody else. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Public anger erupted into protests after Surrey Police refused to release meaningful descriptions of the men suspected of a shocking alleged gang rape in Epsom — while deploying riot police to the peaceful demonstration by local residents demanding answers. The response begs the question: are authorities more interested in managing public reaction than protecting the public? Former military intelligence officer Philip Ingram warns that withholding basic information creates a dangerous vacuum, fuels mistrust and risks even greater unrest. Brendan O’Neill says the scenes in Epsom are yet more evidence of “two-tier policing” — with ordinary, law-abiding Britons treated more harshly than violent mobs on the streets. Note: the police were seemingly unable to prevent feral teenagers from rampading through Clapham. Also: Shabana Mahmood vows action against lawyers accused of helping migrants game the asylum system with false claims about sexuality, religion and domestic abuse. But journalists have exposed this taxpayer-funded racket for years - so it is surprising the BBC has finally decided to pick up the story. Despite Mahmood’s statement, public trust in the Labour government’s ability to address our border crisis is at record lows. And one year after the Supreme Court ruled that biological sex defines whether someone is a man or a woman in law, why are government departments, councils and NHS bodies still refusing to fully protect women-only spaces? Julia and her guests take aim at Labour’s weakness, the collapse of common sense in public institutions, rising anti-Semitic violence, and the wider sense that Britain’s leaders no longer put citizens first. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Reeves blames Donald Trump for the fallout from the Iran conflict just as the IMF warns Britain could suffer the biggest economic shock among developed nations. Julia Hartley-Brewer asks if this is really Trump’s fault, or whether Labour’s high-tax, net zero agenda left the UK dangerously exposed to soaring energy prices, weak growth and another brutal hit to living standards. Also in this episode, Labour claims success after moving 10,000 migrants out of asylum hotels. But is this really a win for the country, or simply a cynical accounting trick designed to hide the cost from the public? Julia is joined by former Conservative adviser Claire Pearsall to debate asylum hotels, shared accommodation, the ballooning welfare bill and why so many voters feel they are footing the bill for a system that no longer works. Julia also tears into Wes Streeting’s claims about sexism in the NHS, asking why ministers seem more interested in grievance politics than fixing the real failures in healthcare and protecting women’s dignity. And: Falklands veteran Simon Weston issues a chilling warning over Britain’s military weakness. With fresh alarm over defence cuts, troop numbers, energy insecurity and the growing threats from Russia and the Middle East, this is a blunt look at how vulnerable Britain has become. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three little girls — Bebe King, aged six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine — are dead. Eight more children carry life-changing injuries. And a devastating Phase One inquiry report has confirmed what many of us already feared: this was a preventable catastrophe, ignored because of incompetent parenting, a failure to take responsibility, and squeamishness about AR’s race and autism. Julia Hartley-Brewer and Tom Slater of Spiked tear apart the Southport Inquiry's findings — a report so damning it indicts virtually every agency meant to protect us. Police who found Axel Rudakubana on a bus with a knife and simply took him home. Teachers silenced for daring to call him sinister, accused of racial stereotyping. Mental health workers too frightened to enter his home without police escort. And parents who knew about the ricin, the Al-Qaeda manual, and the machete — but said nothing. This is the story of a country where woke cowardice has become more dangerous than the killers it refuses to confront. Where political correctness has cost lives — in Southport, in Nottingham, in Manchester. Where no single person is ever held responsible, because committees make decisions and individuals escape accountability. Lord Walney, former government adviser on political violence and extremism, joins the debate — on whether Rudakubana's parents should face criminal prosecution under Section 38B of the Terrorism Act, on the chronic failure of the Prevent strategy, and on whether AI surveillance could be our last line of defence. And with Lord Robertson warning that Britain's security is now "in peril," Julia addresses our country's calamitous defence strategy. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Parry and Julia discuss the Southport Inquiry - which found major failings among government agencies who failed to take responsibility for Axel Rudacabana - despite warning signals that he was a threat. The report also blamed his parents for their failure to prevent Mr Rudacabana’s attack. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer is facing fury over plans critics say would tie Britain back to Brussels by the back door, with ministers seeking sweeping powers to align UK food and agriculture rules with future EU law without full parliamentary scrutiny. Julia Hartley-Brewer is joined by Conservative commentator Benedict Spence to ask whether Labour is quietly unpicking Brexit, and why voters are still being told that every economic woe, from stagnation to inflation, is somehow Brexit’s fault. They also react to Reform UK’s latest intervention on immigration, as Nigel Farage lays out the claimed cost of the “Boris wave” of legal migration under Boris Johnson. With warnings that 1.6 million arrivals between 2021 and 2024 could leave British households facing a £20,000 bill through pressure on welfare, the NHS and infrastructure, Julia asks whether Westminster is finally being forced to confront the true cost of mass migration. The debate also turns to indefinite leave to remain, welfare for foreign nationals and what a serious border policy would actually look like. Also: Rear Admiral Chris Parry joins Julia on the Iran crisis, Donald Trump’s bid to choke Tehran’s exports through the Strait of Hormuz, and the looming threat of an oil shock that could hammer family finances and send inflation soaring. Can the US force the Iranian regime to blink, or is the world drifting towards a much wider conflict? And Julia reacts to growing backlash over the Chagos Islands as more questions are asked about Keir Starmer’s judgement on sovereignty, security and Britain’s shrinking military clout. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Iran ceasefire descends into confusion and fresh strikes raise fears of a wider regional war, Julia Hartley-Brewer asks the question many Britons will be thinking: why is Keir Starmer posing as a global statesman abroad when he cannot even control the English Channel at home? Brendan O’Neill, Chief Political Writer at spiked, joins Julia to tear into the misinformation surrounding Israel, Hezbollah and the wider Middle East crisis. He argues that much of the media coverage deliberately ignores the scale of the missile threat Israel has faced, slams those in Britain who excuse or glorify Hezbollah, and warns that anti-Israel activism on the streets has exposed a deeply worrying moral collapse on the Left. He also lays into Starmer’s Gulf trip, saying it is laughable for a Prime Minister who has failed to stop the small boats to pretend he can help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Julia and Brendan also discuss Britain’s vulnerability to rising oil, gas and fuel prices, and why decades of net zero dogma and political cowardice have left the country dangerously weak, over-dependent and exposed to global shocks. Also: retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army in Europe, gives Julia his blunt assessment of the so-called ceasefire, Donald Trump’s bombastic rhetoric, and whether America has really stepped back from the brink. And: Ben explains why mixed messages from Washington are fuelling instability, why NATO has been damaged but not broken, and why Britain and its allies must get tougher on Russian aggression, shadow fleet tankers and Moscow’s testing of Western resolve. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has declared a “big day for world peace” after brokering a two-week ceasefire with Iran — but has the world really stepped back from the brink, or has Tehran emerged stronger than ever? Julia Hartley-Brewer unpicks the fallout from six weeks of conflict, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the growing fear that the West has once again failed to finish what it started. With Iran reportedly demanding sanctions relief, compensation and control over key shipping routes, Julia asks whether this was a decisive act of strength, or a humiliating climbdown dressed up as victory? As oil prices, global markets and the cost of living hang in the balance, she examines what this means for Britain, for Israel and for the wider West. Also: Keir Starmer heads to the Gulf claiming Britain can help secure peace, despite the UK looking increasingly irrelevant on the world stage. The embarrassment deepens with fresh scrutiny of Britain’s military decline after HMS Dragon, sent to protect British interests, suffered technical problems and had to turn back. Julia is joined by Claire Pearsall and Jake Wallis Simons to debate whether Iran has been destroyed or emboldened, why Britain is no longer taken seriously in global defence, and whether Western leaders still understand what it means to confront an enemy. Plus: why was Kanye West granted a visa in the first place before being barred from the UK over anti-Semitism concerns? And should doctors be banned from striking, just like the police, prison officers and armed forces? Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell joins Julia Hartley-Brewer for his verdict on the latest junior doctors’ strike — and why Wes Streeting must not give in again. After last year’s 29% pay deal, the BMA is now demanding another 26%, with strike action already costing the NHS an estimated £3 billion since 2023. Dorrell warns that every Health Secretary eventually learns the same lesson about the BMA, and says ministers must stand firm on what is rational, affordable and fair. Julia also takes aim at the absurdity of using 2008 as the benchmark for “full pay restoration”, arguing public service pay contributed to the unsustainable economic environment that contributed to the 2008 financial crash. Also: Tom Slater joins Julia to take on a wider story of national decline — from a student loan system that traps young people in spiralling debt, to a university conveyor belt producing too many costly degrees and too few British-trained doctors. Why are bright young people being locked out of medical school while the political class pretends immigration is the only answer? And then there’s the collapse of law and order. Julia reacts to the case of a Waitrose worker sacked for confronting a shoplifter, and asks why decent employees are punished while thieves are effectively given free rein. Plus: should Kanye West be banned from performing at Wireless after his antisemitic outbursts, or is Britain once again applying totally inconsistent rules depending on who says what? And finally, a rare note of optimism as Julia and Tom celebrate the Artemis 2 mission and the spirit of exploration that still lifts humanity above the daily grind of broken Britain. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Hartley-Brewer is joined by Brendan O’Neill, Chief Political Writer at Spiked, to react to Trump’s latest Iran address to the nation, a row over Nato after he threatened to leave it, and the claim from much of the Left that this is an “unprovoked war”. They argue that Iran’s regime has already destabilised the region, that Britain cannot pretend the crisis has nothing to do with us, and that UK households will feel the pain through rising oil prices, market shocks and higher bills. They also take aim at Starmer’s instinct to answer every crisis with warmer ties to Brussels, asking whether Labour is using global instability to push Britain back towards the EU by the back door. And as Rachel Reeves reportedly rethinks North Sea drilling, Julia and Brendan expose how Net Zero dogma has left Britain dangerously vulnerable, less energy secure and more exposed to global shocks. Also: fury over an ITV drama about Elizabeth I reportedly seeking a trans actor for the lead role, sparking a row about woke revisionism, women’s erasure and the rewriting of British history. And after two nights of chaos in Clapham, they ask how Sadiq Khan can still claim London is safe. From weak policing and disappearing discipline to absent fathers, failing schools and a justice system too timid to punish bad behaviour, Julia and Brendan debate what is driving Britain’s growing sense of disorder. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer says Britain is “ahead of the game” on the cost of living — while families face rising fuel, energy, rent and tax bills. In this episode, Julia Hartley-Brewer dissects the Prime Minister’s latest press conference, his vague five-point plan, and Labour’s failure to explain how ordinary working people are meant to cope with the economic shock caused by the Iran conflict and threats to the Strait of Hormuz. As Donald Trump sends mixed messages on oil, NATO and America’s role in the region, Julia asks the key question: is Starmer showing strength, or simply drift? Julia is joined by Claire Pearsall to discuss soaring household costs, Ed Miliband’s energy promises, tax on fuel, and why so much of Labour’s “help” seems designed for Westminster talking points rather than real life in Britain. And former detective and Rochdale whistleblower Maggie Oliver gives her verdict on the long-awaited grooming gangs inquiry. She warns that survivors are still being failed, accountability is still missing, and the authorities responsible for years of cover-ups may once again escape justice. If this inquiry does not lead to prosecutions, reform and the truth about ethnicity, culture and institutional failure, what exactly is the point? Also: Julia reacts to the BBC’s handling of serious allegations surrounding star presenter Scott Mills, questions elite double standards after Tiger Woods’ latest car crash scandal, and dismisses the anti-space hysteria around Artemis II and the mission to the moon. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer is under pressure over the long-delayed national grooming gangs inquiry, after years of dismissing calls for a full investigation as “far right”. Now, with Baroness Anne Longfield’s terms of reference finally published, serious questions remain over whether the inquiry will truly uncover the full scale of one of Britain’s darkest scandals. In this episode, Julia Hartley-Brewer speaks to former Sun political editor Trevor Kavanagh and Rotherham grooming gang survivor and campaigner Sammy Woodhouse, who gives a harrowing first-hand account of the abuse she suffered, the institutional failures that let it happen, and the political class’s refusal to face the truth. Sammy warns that the scandal is not confined to a handful of northern towns, but is happening across the UK, with children still being failed by police, councils, social workers and politicians. She and Trevor both argue that unless the inquiry squarely addresses the role of ethnicity, culture and religion — and the fear of being called racist or Islamophobic — it will fail victims yet again. Julia also tackles the wider establishment crisis: from Labour’s handling of NHS strike threats to the continuing failure to scrap non-crime hate incidents and rein in Britain’s “thought police”. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As oil and gas prices jump following the Iran crisis, Julia Hartley-Brewer why it feels like Labour is rewarding dependents while punishing the people who get up early, go to work and pay the bills. Sir Iain Duncan Smith joins Julia to tear into the row over MPs receiving a £3,300 ‘cost-of-living payment’, a 6.2% increase in benefits and the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap. He argues ministers could give immediate relief by cutting fuel duty and energy taxes, and says Britain is mad to sit on North Sea oil and gas while importing more expensive energy from abroad. IDS also takes aim at Ed Miliband’s net zero agenda, calls out the “medicalising” of anxiety and depression, and warns the welfare bill is spiralling as more adults and children are classed as disabled. He also backs a ban on first-cousin marriage, saying the health risks are too serious to ignore. Then Baroness Kate Hoey says Labour is losing touch with the strivers who keep the country going. With pump prices rising, fears of fuel rationing growing and family budgets already stretched, she says ministers are making life harder for workers while chasing green fantasies. Hoey also warns that Keir Starmer’s EU reset is a Brexit betrayal in slow motion, with the proposed youth mobility scheme amounting to free movement by the back door. Also: Hoey questions the unanswered issues surrounding Morgan McSweeney’s missing phone, says Starmer’s judgement over Peter Mandelson raises serious concerns, and argues Red Wall voters will not forgive a government that hikes costs, weakens borders and edges Britain back towards Brussels. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s show with Alex Phillips: the extraordinary row over Morgan McSweeney’s allegedly stolen phone, the missing messages linked to Peter Mandelson, and the growing suspicion that Labour’s version of events simply does not stack up. Former Conservative adviser James Price joins Alex to ask: why were conflicting details reportedly given to police, why was such a sensitive device seemingly treated so casually, and why does every new Labour scandal come wrapped in yet another convenient explanation? Also: fury over reports that Sir Sadiq Khan could be heading to the House of Lords. After years of criticism over knife crime, policing, transport and London’s wider decline, Alex asks whether a peerage would be a reward for failure, or a tactical move to shore up support in a fracturing Labour party. With politics shifting to populist parties and Labour facing pressure on multiple fronts, can the government do anything to prevent voters flocking to other parties? And former Sun political editor Trevor Cavanagh joins the show for a hard-hitting discussion on illegal migration, small boats, border control and the public anger over crimes committed by people who should never have been allowed into the country in the first place. They discuss why Britain still seems unable — or unwilling — to defend its borders, protect its streets and tell the truth about the consequences. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove joins Philip Ingram on Talk War for a hard-hitting conversation on the global security crises reshaping the world. From the escalating confrontation with Iran and Donald Trump’s response, to growing pressure on NATO, the threat from Russia and China, and serious questions over whether Britain is prepared for modern conflict, this episode tackles the biggest defence and intelligence issues facing the UK and the West. Philip Ingram, former senior British military intelligence officer, and Sir Richard Dearlove dig into: Iran, the US and the Strait of HormuzAmerican military actionUK’s military readinessUK and the USIRGC If you want sharp analysis on war, geopolitics, intelligence, defence policy and national security, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Listen now to Talk War with Philip Ingram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour MP Karl Turner tells Julia Hartley-Brewer he simply does not believe Morgan McSweeney’s missing phone story adds up. Turner says the explanation “won’t wash”, compares it to the worst Westminster excuses of recent years, and admits the entire saga reflects badly on the Prime Minister’s judgement. Former senior military intelligence officer Philip Ingram also warns that any loss of a device used by the Prime Minister’s chief of staff raises serious national security questions. If sensitive contacts, messages or political discussions were on that phone, he says, investigators should already have carried out a full risk assessment and mitigation exercise. McSweeney reported a phone theft to police. Downing Street says any suggestion the incident was linked to the humble address over Peter Mandelson is “categorically untrue”, and insists the government will comply in full. Also: "Will the real Prime Minister please stand up?" Julia asks whether Ed Miliband is undermining the PM's authority as Labour refuses to back more North Sea oil and gas licences, even with conflict in the Middle East placing pressure on prices. Turner says we should be using Britain’s natural resources. And on migration and asylum, Turner concedes the system is failing, deportations are not happening, and taxpayers are still footing the bill for soaring numbers of asylum seekers in hotels and other accommodation. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Hartley-Brewer is joined by former Conservative government adviser Claire Pearsall for a wide-ranging discussion on the biggest political stories of the day. In this episode, Julia and Claire debate: A sharp, outspoken look at energy policy, national security, law and order, and the state of Britain’s public services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Donald Trump been talking to Iran to end the war? Or are his announcements intended to calm the markets? Julia Hartley-Brewer discusses the confusion over Washington’s shifting messages, the threat to the Strait of Hormuz, and what a longer Iran conflict could mean for Britain’s safety, energy prices and economic stability. With Keir Starmer refusing to give a clear timetable for lifting defence spending to 3%, Julia asks whether Britain is already dangerously exposed in a world growing more unstable by the day. From the risk posed by Iran’s missile capability to questions over Diego Garcia and the UK-US alliance, this is a hard look at whether Britain is prepared for the threats it now faces. Also in this episode: why soaring energy bills are the result of political choices, and not just global crises. Julia tears into the Net Zero consensus, green levies and Britain’s dependence on costly energy as Rachel Reeves prepares yet more “help” for households already squeezed to the limit. Plus, why white working-class boys are still among the most failed groups in Britain, and why identity politics continues to block an honest conversation about class, culture and opportunity. And the growing anger over sky-high vet bills, as the Competition and Markets Authority takes aim at a sector dominated by a handful of giant firms. Julia also speaks to Republican strategist Matt Terrill, former chief of staff to Marco Rubio, on Trump’s Iran strategy, the nuclear threat, and whether Starmer has weakened the special relationship. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.