Welfare cap breached by £8.6 billion: Do MPs care?

Episode 70 (31 January 2025)

The Government is now taking difficult decisions on everything from social security to a third runway at Heathrow which could cause splits in their own ranks. But why are MPs not paying more attention to the mechanisms the House of Commons has established to control the social security budget and repeal or reform old EU laws? And the House of Lords provides good news for Sir Paul McCartney but bad news for ticket touting by “posh people” at the Royal Albert Hall. Listen here

A withering select committee takedown

Episode 69 (24 January 2025)

This week we highlight Professor Alexis Jay’s damning verdict on the Conservative government’s lacklustre response to child abuse inquiry recommendations and the first major test of Northern Ireland’s “Stormont Brake” under the Windsor Framework. Plus, we take a look at the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill and how it measures up to its German counterpart.

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Assisted dying bill - special series #1: Money, sittings and witnesses

Episode 68 (24 January 2025)

In this first “mini pod” of a series exploring one of the most controversial bills currently before Parliament – the proposed legislation to legalise assisted dying – Ruth Fox and Mark D’Arcy delve into the heated debates surrounding the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. This Private Member’s Bill has already ignited passionate discussions during its first Public Bill Committee sitting.

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