On todays show, the government plan to end jury trials for crimes with expected sentences of under 3 years. Ali and Zoe are joined by journalist Ben Smoke to discuss rising authoritarianism form the Labour Party. Then Pink News writer Amelia Hansford joins the show to break down NHS England’s review into HRT for trans adults.

Before this, its the week unwrapped!

From warnings over ‘reputational risk’ t to a £75,000 taxpayer-funded payout, the first tranche of Peter Mandelson files have been published! How damaging is this story for Keir Starmer? Ali and Zoe discuss.

Here are the key points:

Mandelson paid out £75,000

Mandelson was offered a severance payment of £75,000 after initially asking the Foreign Office to pay him more than £500,000

Starmer Warned 

It was flagged to Sir Keir that "Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein's house while he was in jail in June 2009" and noted there was "general reputational risk" over his relationship with Epstein .

It warned the PM that a political appointment - Lord Mandelson - rather than a diplomatic one was more risky: "If anything goes wrong, you could be more exposed as the individual is more connected to you personally."

Powell Mandelson's Appointment “Weirdly” rushed

Powell, one of Sir Keir's most trusted advisers, found Lord Mandelson's appointment in December 2024 was "weirdly rushed" and that he had been "particularly cautious about the appointment".

Minutes of a call in September 2025 show that Mr Powell had "raised concerns about the individual and reputation" to Morgan McSweeney, the PM's then chief of staff, and adds: "MM responded that the issues had been addressed."

--

The Iran war continues as deaths continue to rise and concerns of rising inflation mount here in the UK. Ali and Zoe break down the conflict so far and the consequences internationally.

Iran's new supreme leader says key oil route will remain closed 

Iran’s new Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in first appointment the critical Strait of Hormuz will remain essentially closed as a “tool of pressure” and that Iran’s neighbors are being targeted due to US bases.

US- Israeli targets Oil facilities causing widespread health concern

BBC identify at least 4 US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities

Smoke plumes caused by oil depot and refinery strikes drifted across Tehran on Monday, satellite images show, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that attacks on oil facilities could pose serious health risks to residents.

--

David Lammy’s plans to scrap Jury trials for crimes with sentences of less than three years has passed its first hurdle in the House, despite Labour rebels making their opposition known.

Journalist Ben Smoke joins to discuss the reforms, what they mean and if Keir Starmer is an authoritarian.

The measures, announced in December after a review by a retired judge Sir Brian Leveson, would scrap jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years.

MPs have voted to allow a bill that would curb access to jury trials in England and Wales to progress to the next stage, despite some Labour MPs stating their opposition to the reforms.

The Courts and Tribunals Bill passed by 304 votes to 203, a majority of 101, with 10 Labour MPs rebelling against the government, and dozens abstaining.

--

Then Pink News journalist Amelia Hansford joins to discuss NHS England's ‘evidence review’ into HRT for trans adults, a move which has some concerned about trans people's ability to access medical care

NHS England is reportedly reviewing the evidence on the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgender adults as part of its newly announced consultation.

The public health service confirmed the evidence review and several others in a report published as part of an upcoming public consultation into proposed changes to NHS youth gender services.

The Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment (EHIA) report was published after NHS England announced the decision to ban new masculinising and feminising (MAF) hormone prescriptions for under-18s, claiming the evidence for the medication’s benefits are “really weak.”

Hosts: Zoe Grunewald and Ali Milani

Guests: Ben Smoke and Amelia Hansford

Producers: Hugh Smiley and Jules Bradford

On todays show, the government plan to end jury trials for crimes with expected sentences of under 3 years. Ali and Zoe are joined by journalist Ben Smoke to discuss rising authoritarianism form the Labour Party. Then Pink News writer Amelia Hansford joins the show to break down NHS England’s review into HRT for trans adults.

Before this, its the week unwrapped!

From warnings over ‘reputational risk’ t to a £75,000 taxpayer-funded payout, the first tranche of Peter Mandelson files have been published! How damaging is this story for Keir Starmer? Ali and Zoe discuss.

Here are the key points:

Mandelson paid out £75,000

Mandelson was offered a severance payment of £75,000 after initially asking the Foreign Office to pay him more than £500,000

Starmer Warned 

It was flagged to Sir Keir that "Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein's house while he was in jail in June 2009" and noted there was "general reputational risk" over his relationship with Epstein .

It warned the PM that a political appointment - Lord Mandelson - rather than a diplomatic one was more risky: "If anything goes wrong, you could be more exposed as the individual is more connected to you personally."

Powell Mandelson's Appointment “Weirdly” rushed

Powell, one of Sir Keir's most trusted advisers, found Lord Mandelson's appointment in December 2024 was "weirdly rushed" and that he had been "particularly cautious about the appointment".

Minutes of a call in September 2025 show that Mr Powell had "raised concerns about the individual and reputation" to Morgan McSweeney, the PM's then chief of staff, and adds: "MM responded that the issues had been addressed."

--

The Iran war continues as deaths continue to rise and concerns of rising inflation mount here in the UK. Ali and Zoe break down the conflict so far and the consequences internationally.

Iran's new supreme leader says key oil route will remain closed 

Iran’s new Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in first appointment the critical Strait of Hormuz will remain essentially closed as a “tool of pressure” and that Iran’s neighbors are being targeted due to US bases.

US- Israeli targets Oil facilities causing widespread health concern

BBC identify at least 4 US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities

Smoke plumes caused by oil depot and refinery strikes drifted across Tehran on Monday, satellite images show, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that attacks on oil facilities could pose serious health risks to residents.

--

David Lammy’s plans to scrap Jury trials for crimes with sentences of less than three years has passed its first hurdle in the House, despite Labour rebels making their opposition known.

Journalist Ben Smoke joins to discuss the reforms, what they mean and if Keir Starmer is an authoritarian.

The measures, announced in December after a review by a retired judge Sir Brian Leveson, would scrap jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years.

MPs have voted to allow a bill that would curb access to jury trials in England and Wales to progress to the next stage, despite some Labour MPs stating their opposition to the reforms.

The Courts and Tribunals Bill passed by 304 votes to 203, a majority of 101, with 10 Labour MPs rebelling against the government, and dozens abstaining.

--

Then Pink News journalist Amelia Hansford joins to discuss NHS England's ‘evidence review’ into HRT for trans adults, a move which has some concerned about trans people's ability to access medical care

NHS England is reportedly reviewing the evidence on the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgender adults as part of its newly announced consultation.

The public health service confirmed the evidence review and several others in a report published as part of an upcoming public consultation into proposed changes to NHS youth gender services.

The Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment (EHIA) report was published after NHS England announced the decision to ban new masculinising and feminising (MAF) hormone prescriptions for under-18s, claiming the evidence for the medication’s benefits are “really weak.”

Hosts: Zoe Grunewald and Ali Milani

Guests: Ben Smoke and Amelia Hansford

Producers: Hugh Smiley and Jules Bradford

On todays show, the government plan to end jury trials for crimes with expected sentences of under 3 years. Ali and Zoe are joined by journalist Ben Smoke to discuss rising authoritarianism form the Labour Party. Then Pink News writer Amelia Hansford joins the show to break down NHS England’s review into HRT for trans adults.

Before this, its the week unwrapped!

From warnings over ‘reputational risk’ t to a £75,000 taxpayer-funded payout, the first tranche of Peter Mandelson files have been published! How damaging is this story for Keir Starmer? Ali and Zoe discuss.

Here are the key points:

Mandelson paid out £75,000

Mandelson was offered a severance payment of £75,000 after initially asking the Foreign Office to pay him more than £500,000

Starmer Warned 

It was flagged to Sir Keir that "Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein's house while he was in jail in June 2009" and noted there was "general reputational risk" over his relationship with Epstein .

It warned the PM that a political appointment - Lord Mandelson - rather than a diplomatic one was more risky: "If anything goes wrong, you could be more exposed as the individual is more connected to you personally."

Powell Mandelson's Appointment “Weirdly” rushed

Powell, one of Sir Keir's most trusted advisers, found Lord Mandelson's appointment in December 2024 was "weirdly rushed" and that he had been "particularly cautious about the appointment".

Minutes of a call in September 2025 show that Mr Powell had "raised concerns about the individual and reputation" to Morgan McSweeney, the PM's then chief of staff, and adds: "MM responded that the issues had been addressed."

--

The Iran war continues as deaths continue to rise and concerns of rising inflation mount here in the UK. Ali and Zoe break down the conflict so far and the consequences internationally.

Iran's new supreme leader says key oil route will remain closed 

Iran’s new Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in first appointment the critical Strait of Hormuz will remain essentially closed as a “tool of pressure” and that Iran’s neighbors are being targeted due to US bases.

US- Israeli targets Oil facilities causing widespread health concern

BBC identify at least 4 US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities

Smoke plumes caused by oil depot and refinery strikes drifted across Tehran on Monday, satellite images show, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that attacks on oil facilities could pose serious health risks to residents.

--

David Lammy’s plans to scrap Jury trials for crimes with sentences of less than three years has passed its first hurdle in the House, despite Labour rebels making their opposition known.

Journalist Ben Smoke joins to discuss the reforms, what they mean and if Keir Starmer is an authoritarian.

The measures, announced in December after a review by a retired judge Sir Brian Leveson, would scrap jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years.

MPs have voted to allow a bill that would curb access to jury trials in England and Wales to progress to the next stage, despite some Labour MPs stating their opposition to the reforms.

The Courts and Tribunals Bill passed by 304 votes to 203, a majority of 101, with 10 Labour MPs rebelling against the government, and dozens abstaining.

--

Then Pink News journalist Amelia Hansford joins to discuss NHS England's ‘evidence review’ into HRT for trans adults, a move which has some concerned about trans people's ability to access medical care

NHS England is reportedly reviewing the evidence on the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgender adults as part of its newly announced consultation.

The public health service confirmed the evidence review and several others in a report published as part of an upcoming public consultation into proposed changes to NHS youth gender services.

The Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment (EHIA) report was published after NHS England announced the decision to ban new masculinising and feminising (MAF) hormone prescriptions for under-18s, claiming the evidence for the medication’s benefits are “really weak.”

Hosts: Zoe Grunewald and Ali Milani

Guests: Ben Smoke and Amelia Hansford

Producers: Hugh Smiley and Jules Bradford

On todays show, the government plan to end jury trials for crimes with expected sentences of under 3 years. Ali and Zoe are joined by journalist Ben Smoke to discuss rising authoritarianism form the Labour Party. Then Pink News writer Amelia Hansford joins the show to break down NHS England’s review into HRT for trans adults.

Before this, its the week unwrapped!

From warnings over ‘reputational risk’ t to a £75,000 taxpayer-funded payout, the first tranche of Peter Mandelson files have been published! How damaging is this story for Keir Starmer? Ali and Zoe discuss.

Here are the key points:

Mandelson paid out £75,000

Mandelson was offered a severance payment of £75,000 after initially asking the Foreign Office to pay him more than £500,000

Starmer Warned 

It was flagged to Sir Keir that "Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein's house while he was in jail in June 2009" and noted there was "general reputational risk" over his relationship with Epstein .

It warned the PM that a political appointment - Lord Mandelson - rather than a diplomatic one was more risky: "If anything goes wrong, you could be more exposed as the individual is more connected to you personally."

Powell Mandelson's Appointment “Weirdly” rushed

Powell, one of Sir Keir's most trusted advisers, found Lord Mandelson's appointment in December 2024 was "weirdly rushed" and that he had been "particularly cautious about the appointment".

Minutes of a call in September 2025 show that Mr Powell had "raised concerns about the individual and reputation" to Morgan McSweeney, the PM's then chief of staff, and adds: "MM responded that the issues had been addressed."

--

The Iran war continues as deaths continue to rise and concerns of rising inflation mount here in the UK. Ali and Zoe break down the conflict so far and the consequences internationally.

Iran's new supreme leader says key oil route will remain closed 

Iran’s new Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in first appointment the critical Strait of Hormuz will remain essentially closed as a “tool of pressure” and that Iran’s neighbors are being targeted due to US bases.

US- Israeli targets Oil facilities causing widespread health concern

BBC identify at least 4 US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities

Smoke plumes caused by oil depot and refinery strikes drifted across Tehran on Monday, satellite images show, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that attacks on oil facilities could pose serious health risks to residents.

--

David Lammy’s plans to scrap Jury trials for crimes with sentences of less than three years has passed its first hurdle in the House, despite Labour rebels making their opposition known.

Journalist Ben Smoke joins to discuss the reforms, what they mean and if Keir Starmer is an authoritarian.

The measures, announced in December after a review by a retired judge Sir Brian Leveson, would scrap jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years.

MPs have voted to allow a bill that would curb access to jury trials in England and Wales to progress to the next stage, despite some Labour MPs stating their opposition to the reforms.

The Courts and Tribunals Bill passed by 304 votes to 203, a majority of 101, with 10 Labour MPs rebelling against the government, and dozens abstaining.

--

Then Pink News journalist Amelia Hansford joins to discuss NHS England's ‘evidence review’ into HRT for trans adults, a move which has some concerned about trans people's ability to access medical care

NHS England is reportedly reviewing the evidence on the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgender adults as part of its newly announced consultation.

The public health service confirmed the evidence review and several others in a report published as part of an upcoming public consultation into proposed changes to NHS youth gender services.

The Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment (EHIA) report was published after NHS England announced the decision to ban new masculinising and feminising (MAF) hormone prescriptions for under-18s, claiming the evidence for the medication’s benefits are “really weak.”

Hosts: Zoe Grunewald and Ali Milani

Guests: Ben Smoke and Amelia Hansford

Producers: Hugh Smiley and Jules Bradford

On today’s show Ali and Zoe are joined by foreign affairs journalist Colin Freeman to help break down Donald Trump’s war with Iran and the UK’s position in the chaos. Then film director Daniel Everitt-Lock will joins the studio to discuss his brand new film Our Planet, The People, My Blood, a documentary following the fight against the Ministry of Defence to get compensation and recognition for the British Atomic Veterans.

Before this it's the week unwrapped:

Last week the Greens shocked the political establishment by Winning the Gorton and Denton by-election. In a turn of events that was shocking for everyone, except for producer Hugh who called it (yes I did), Hannah Spencer won by a decent margin in Manchester. 

3 men have been arrested on suspicion of spying for china, including the husband of a, at the time of recording, sitting Labour MP. David Taylor, husband of East Kilbride now former Labour MP Joani Reid arrested Wednesday by Counter Terrorism Police in London on suspicion of spying for China

All the wrong lessons learned from Gorton and Denton as Shabanna Mahmood today announced new asylum rules, which make legal projections temporary for asylum seekers. Cases will be reviewed every 30 months, after which they could be sent to their country of origin, provided it is deemed safe to do so.

After the week unwrapped Colin Freeman joins to break down the conflict in Iran. The US alongside Israel have launched strikes on Iran, in what some have described as the start of WW3.

The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February. In response, Iran’s foreign ministry declared its intent to defend its homeland.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps initiated counterattacks, deploying drones and missiles towards Israel, while further strikes targeted US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, and Qatar.

The US and Israel launched widespread strikes on 28 February, targeting Iran's missile infrastructure, military sites and leadership in the capital, Tehran, and across the country.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led the country since 1989, was killed during the first wave of strikes. Israel's military said dozens more senior figures in the powerful Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) were also killed.

From 1945 to 1996 there were over 2,000 nuclear weapons tests conducted by global superpowers, including the USA, Russia, China, the UK, France, India and Pakistan. Most of these countries never tested within their respective lands, and put millions of people across the world at risk. Joining Ali and Zoe to discuss this less spoken scandal is the director for Our Planet ,The People, My Blood, Daniel Everitt-Lock.

Find more information as well as the first screenings of Our Planet, The People, My Blood here

Guest Bio:

Why have foreign fighters flocked to Ukraine? Veteran foreign correspondent Colin Freeman investigates and finds that Orwellian, Spanish Civil War type idealism is far from the only answer. For some, it is a yearning for adventure and a desire to embrace old-school warrior values that the West no longer seems to prize.  For some, it is a flight from a life gone wrong. 

ZELENSKY'S FOREIGN LEGION delivers the intense frontline storytelling of a 3-Para or Black Hawk Down, while teasing out psychological complexity from the testimony and the back-stories of the soldiers Colin has interviewed at length. His thorough research and in-person experience have combined to create a fascinating new perspective on an era-defining conflict.

Colin Freeman is a former chief foreign correspondent of The Sunday Telegraph, now a freelance foreign affairs writer. He has been reporting on Ukraine since the outbreak of the Russian invasion, writing mainly for the The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator.

He started his journalism career on the Grimsby Evening Telegraph, before moving to the London Evening Standard. In 2003 - bored with a job covering local government -  he moved to Iraq to pursue a career as a foreign correspondent, spending two years in Baghdad. He spent the next two decades reporting all over Africa, the Middle East and Asia, covering events including the Arab Spring uprisings, the 2014 Ebola outbreak in west Africa, and the Somali piracy crisis. Over the years, he has written for the Economist, the British Journalism Review, Tortoise Magazine, The Lady, Country Life and pretty much anywhere else that will have him. He also contributes regularly to From Our Own Correspondent on BBC Radio Four. 

Daniel's career started 14 years ago, shooting corporate videos and commercial. Since then he has worked his way up to an IATSE 667 Director of Photography, and associate member of the CSC. He is a British and Canadian Citizen currently living between London, UK, and Toronto, Canada. (eligible for tax credits in both countries)

To date he has shot over 13 scripted feature films, multiple series, and 2 feature documentaries.

He has also had the pleasure and honour of working 2nd unit alongside prolific cinematographers, including Seamus MacGarvey ASC, BSC, on 'The Nevers' for HBO.

Hosts: Zoe Grunewald and Ali Milani

Guests: Colin Freeman and Daniel Everitt-Lock

Producer: Hugh Smiley

This episode was recorded on polling day before the results were out. Ali and Zoe break down the many controversies from each major party in this election, what a loss means for Labour and Reform and why no one is talking about the Conservatives.

The Gorton and Denton by-election is proving to be one of the most controversial by-elections in memory (i paper)

Three incidents related to the behaviour of political parties has resulted in complaints to Greater Manchester Police (i paper)

Professor Jon Tonge has described the three way race as a “toxic campaign”

Campaigning Controversies:

Green

Local academic Professor Rob Ford found himself quoted in Green Leaflets without permission under the headline “Everyone agrees, Labour are done”

Ford said he did not endorse the Greens (i paper)

Green tactics have faced criticism as a video appeared showing campaigners tearing down Labour signposts and putting them in the skip.

Reform

Reform have also not been without their controversies

A leaflet dropped through the doors in the constituency claiming to be from a ‘concerned 74 year old neighbor called Patricia Clegg,’ sparked complaints to the Police

Clegg’s son has claimed that she ‘never signed off’ on the leaflet and has received a backlash online.

Reform have also been involved in a ‘printing error’. 

Reform sent about 81,000 leaflets to the constituency’s voters from a “concerned neighbour” which did not state they had been funded and distributed by the party.

However it will not face a sanction for leaflets that omitted the party’s imprint, after a high court judge accepted this was due to an inadvertent printing error (The Guardian)

Reform have also been accused of allegedly trying to ‘bus in’ supporters from as far away as Blackpool and Kent to dominate audiences.

Reform admitted that it sent about 81,000 leaflets to the constituency’s voters from a “concerned neighbour”, which did not state they had been funded and distributed by the party.

Labour 

Labour has also been embroiled in controversy over a campaign leaflet 

Residents in Gorton and Denton have received a flyer purporting to be from a firm called ‘Tactical Choice’ (Daily Mail)

Text on the leaflet have said the strategic choice would be labour candidate Angelika Stogia.

The flyer reads “The Tactical Choice says Vote Labour”

Labour has also been accused of ‘gaslighting public’ with edited reform clip (Matt Goodwin)

Within hours of Goodwin’s announcement as a candidate, Labour managed to dig up a clip of him speaking at an event where he appeared to deride Manchester. 

Labour shared video on X of Goodwin telling audience he was “unfortunate enough” to be in Manchester

Mr Goodwin hit back claiming that statement was referring to Conservative Party Conference (The Telegraph)

The 19th of February 2026 was the 66th Birthday of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and also the day he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. In their statement Thames Valley police said that that they are “carrying out searches at address in Berkshire and Norfolk” and that Andrew “remains in Police Custody at this time”. This marks the first time in British history that a senior, working royal has been formally arrested.

This week Ali and Zoe discuss the arrest of the royal formerly known as Prince Andrew and what it means for the future of the Royal Family. They also discuss the government's social media crackdown and the highest youth unemployment rate in 10 years.

On Andrew's arrest, the King Stated:

I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office.

What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.

In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation.

Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.

As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.

Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all. Charles R.

Thames Valley Police Statement:

"As part of the investigation, we have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.

"The man remains in police custody at this time.

"We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance. Please also remember that this case is now active so care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court.

"Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: "Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.

"'It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence.

"'We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.'"

UK unemployment hit its highest rate for nearly five years. Those aged between 16-24 are bearing the brunt, with the unemployment rate rising to 16.1%, the highest in more than 10 years.

'No platform gets a free pass,' Keir Starmer has said as he announces a crackdown on social media sites. The government has announced a sweeping crackdown on tech firms to protect children from illegal content. This comes after Elon Musk’s Xai generated sexualised images of women without consent and in som cases even created said images of minors.

Nigel Farage has announced his own fake shadow cabinet! The party has stated what roles its leading members would take up if they were to win a general election. Alongside this and several policy announcements, Reform UK has instated James Orr, a staunch anti-abortion Christian as their head of policy. Ali, what do you make of Reform’s shadow, shadow cabinet.

Reform's appointments are as follows:

Robert Jenrick, chancellor

Zia Yusuf, shadow home secretary. He promised to stop the Channel crossings and derogate from any international treaty which frustrates or upends deportations. Yusuf currently lists himself in his twitter bio as “Shadow Home Secretary, Reform UK”

Richard Tice will be deputy prime minister and secretary for business, trade and energy.

Suella Braverman, shadow secretary of state for education and skills, completing his shadow cabinet appointments. Braverman will also be tasked on taking on the “world of DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion]” in her new brief.

Lee Anderson, who was the first Tory MP to defect to Reform, will remain as the party’s chief whip.

Reform MPs Danny Kruger, Andrew Rosindell, Sarah Pochin are yet to receive official roles.

James Orr, head of Policy

With the Gorton and Denton by-election fast approaching, it's looking like a 3 horse race being that’s too close to call! Ali and Zoe break down the polling and what a win in Manchester would mean for Labour, Reform and the Green Party.

This week on Politics Uncensored, Zoe Grunewald and Ali Milani break down the humiliating decline of the Starmer project: from billionaire outbursts to by-election chaos and a party machine built to crush the left now turning in on itself.

In the Week Unwrapped, Manchester United part-owner Jim Ratcliffe claims Britain is being “colonised” by immigrants, citing numbers that simply don’t add up. After shifting his tax residency to Monaco during Covid, is this just another case of elite hypocrisy dressed up as patriotism?

Then Reform UK candidate Matt Goodwin pulls out of a key Gorton and Denton hustings at the last minute, claiming bias. Labour call him a snowflake. Polling suggests Reform could take the seat. Is this by-election now a straight referendum on Keir Starmer?

We also unpack Labour’s new bill to ban foreign-controlled companies from bankrolling British politics - a move that could hit Reform hard. But does it go far enough? And why are individual overseas donors still free to give?

After the break, investigative journalist Paul Holden, author of The Fraud, joins the show to explain how Morgan McSweeney and Peter Mandelson built the machine that delivered Starmer to power and why it may now be collapsing under the weight of its own factional warfare.

With Anas Sarwar openly questioning the Prime Minister, and figures like Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana charting paths outside the party, we ask: is this just a bad week for Labour or the beginning of the end for Blairism itself?

Guest bio:

Paul Holden has over a decade of experience in investigating cases of grand corruption and corporate malfeasance, including as the senior researcher on the book and feature documentary Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade. He has published six books, three of them bestsellers in his native South Africa, and has written for publications including the Guardian and the Independent. He is a Network Fellow at the Safra Centre for Ethics at Harvard University.

Hosts: Ali Milani and Zoe Grunewald

Producer: Hugh Smiley

Fresh evidence has emerged suggesting that Mandelson shared sensitive UK information with Jeffrey Epstein. Uncertainty lingers on the horizon for Starmer over what the document handover could hold 

Comedian and satirist Will Sebag-Montefiore joins Ali Milani and Zoe Grunewald this week to break down Peter Mandelson, the Epstein files and the mistreatment of his victims.

Keir Starmer apologised to victims this morning “I am sorry for believing Mandelson’s lies and for appointing him.” (Sky News)

The prime minister has lost many from his side yesterday, since evidence has emerged that he knew about Mandelson’s close relationship with Epstein (Sky News)

Keir Starmer has been blocked twice by his own side in the last 24 hours. PM was unwilling to hand over the Mandelson documents, according to Downing Street (Sky News)

Starmer wanted to have exemptions on the documents being exposed, but was again blocked by his own side, showing that he no longer commands the majority (Politico, Sky News Podcast)

At Prime Minister’s question, the PM mentioned that he knew Epstein and stayed in touch with him after his Pedophilia conviction.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell has called for the PM to resign

Evidence suggests that Mandelson forwarded information to Epstein from No. 10 in sometimes under four minutes (Independent)

Epstein and Mandelson also revealed information to each other about Gordon Brown prior and post the election, including the statements

Guest bio:

Will Sebag Montefiore is an internet sensation (in the same way Thai Sweet Chilli Sensations are Thai)

He has 70+ million views across his digital platforms. You can see him in Poldark (BBC), Endeavour (ITV) but not Malpractice (BBC) because his scene got cut.

His comedy work includes acting in Green Wing Resuscitated alongside Olivia Colman, writing and performing for BBC Radio 4 and regular appearances on Rosie Holt's NonCensored podcast.

He has performed alongside Mark Rylance at Shakespeare's Globe and did pretty well in his Year 6 SATS.

His satirical videos have been shared by the likes of Adrian Lester, Alastair Campbell, Owen Jones, Dermot

O’Leary, Dawn Butler, Lorraine Kelly, James O'Brien, Andy Haynes and, unfortunately, Joey Barton. Will is deeply ashamed

of that last one but look, a retweet’s a retweet.

Hosts: Ali Milani and Zoe Grunewald

Guest: Will Sebag-Montefiore

Producer: Hugh Smiley

In the week unwrapped Ali and Zoe discuss if the UK a surveillance state! Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced new sweeping powers for Police including 40 new live facial recognition vans and the use of AI to track down criminals. Shabana Mahmood has said that forces are “fighting crime in a digital age with analogue methods”

Then they break down Home secretary Suella Braverman's defection to Reform UK. In a not so shocking move, another former Tory MP has jumped ship and joined Nigel Farage’s Reform, with Braverman stating that she “feels like she's come home” 

After this they round up the segment by discussing Keir Starmer's trip to China. The broadcast of the meeting was all smiles and positivity from Xi Jinping and the PM. As the so called special relationship with the US looks and more and more unreliable, is the UK turning to China for security guarantees?

For the first big topic the two discuss Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham being denied by the NEC to stand as an MP in the Gorton and Denton by election. The official Labour leadership line is that Burnham was blocked due to the cost and risk of also running a mayoral election. However, many would claim that the decision was instead about concerns over Burnham challenging Keir Starmer as PM.

Labour retained a sizeable 13,413 majority in Gorton and Denton at the 2024 general election, with 50.8 per cent of the vote. However, this was down substantially from the 2019 result, when the party held a 22,175 majority and 67.2 per cent vote share.

Reform came second, with 14.1 per cent of the vote – a 9.2 point increase on 2019 – while the Greens came third, with 13.2 per cent (up 10.7 points). The turnout was also down from 61.7 per cent to 46.8.

Nigel Farage’s party has unveiled right-wing activist Matt Goodwin as its candidate to contest the seat. Speaking at a party press conference in the constituency, Mr Goodwin said: “This by-election is a referendum on Keir Starmer.

“It’s a chance for the hardworking law abiding tax paying people from this seat to have their say on Keir Starmer and to make political history.”

To round up the show Zoe and Ali discuss the several killings by ICE in Minnesota, including Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Trump has signalled 'more relaxed' federal tactics in the state but is there an end in sight to Trump's spiralling authoritarianism?

Hosts: Ali Milani and Zoe Grunewald

Producer: Hugh Smiley

This week on the week unwrapped:

Former Tory MP, former shadow Minister and still the MP for Romford Andrew Rosindell has defected to reform. This comes after Robert Generic’s not so shocking defection last week.

Andrew Rosindell has resigned from the Conservative Party and defected to Reform UK.

The former shadow minister and MP for Romford said the Tories were "irreparably bound to the mistakes of previous governments" and not willing to take "meaningful accountability" for poor decisions.

He said he had spoken to Nigel Farage on Sunday evening before agreeing to join his party. The Reform UK leader called him "a great patriot" who "will be a great addition to our team".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has not ruled out banning British under-16-year-olds from social media, saying "all options are on the table".

Sir Keir said: "We need to better protect children from social media.

"We're looking at what is happening in Australia - all options are on the table in relation to what further protections we can put in place - whether that's under-16s on social media or an issue I am very concerned about, under fives and screen time.

"Children are turning up age four at reception having spent far too much time on screens."

Then after this Ali and Zoe discuss Blue Monday, which refers specifically to the third Monday in January, though some variations place it on the second or fourth. In 2026, it lands on 19 January, coinciding with the current date and amplifying its relevance amid ongoing winter conditions.

Then Ali and Zoe discuss Keir Starmer's response to Donald Trump's threat of a 10% tariff on NATO allies for opposing US control of Greenland.The Prime minister pushed back in his speech this morning, calling for “calm discussion between allies” and stating that Trump was “completely wrong” to slap tariffs on the UK and other European countries.

Keir Starmer has stated that the decision about the future of Greenland “belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.” (Source, BBC)

“The use of tariffs is completely wrong” Keir Starmer

“A partnership does not mean abandoning principle.” Keir Starmer

Starmer has also added that a tariff war isn’t in anybody’s interests because it will be businesses, workers and families across the country who will be hit by a trade war.”

Then to wrap up the show the two discuss Zoe's new Substack article When “what’s good for us” stops meaning "us". About how wellness culture promises control and self-care — but what happens when it starts to hollow out our shared collective lives?

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Politics Uncensored gives you the news that matters. With unfiltered analysis and debate from leading politicians, journalists and experts, this show removes the political fluff to offer an honest and uncensored look at how Westminster really works.

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FUBAR is radio as it should be: uncensored talk, comedy, entertainment, sports, and music without the long, boring commercial breaks.

FUBAR has the best presenters and comedians fronting shows you won’t hear anywhere else. It’s like hearing them live at a gig, or on post-watershed TV—but all coming from that shiny vibrating biscuit you keep in your pocket. Or the screen in front of you now.

Robert Jenrick was sacked from the shadow cabinet today with Kemi Badenoch citing “irrefutable evidence” that he was planning on defecting to Reform in the most damaging way possible. Perhaps that evidence is everything he’s done since Kemi became leader, or perhaps, the fact that he has now ditched the Conservatives.

After discussing Robert Jenrick's not so shocking departure, Callum Mason, deputy money editor at the I joins the show to discuss how student loans have screwed over young people.

Kemi Badenoch's Statement:

Badenoch said in a statement: “I have sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership with immediate effect.

“I was presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect in a way designed to be as damaging as possible to his shadow cabinet colleagues and the wider Conservative party.

“The British public are tired of political psychodrama and so am I. They saw too much of it in the last government, they’re seeing too much of it in THIS government. I will not repeat those mistakes.”

“When I was elected leader, I committed to doing politics differently. Disloyalty and dishonesty undermine trust in politics,” she said.

“When individuals choose to walk away from that effort for personal ambition, that tells you nothing about the Conservative party and everything you need to know about them.”

Student Loans:

Since 2017 interest on student loans has vastly overtaken the annual loan repayments made by university leavers, with the total interest added reaching £15bn in 2023-2024.

In 2012, tuition fees were tripled – from £3,000 to £9,000 a year – and the terms of student loans were changed so that we paid sky-high amounts of interest on the balance.

Zoe and Ali then discuss Former Conservative former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform ‘after begging Tories for peerage’ and Increasingly further far right party UKIP have taken their next big leap forward by choosing a logo that looks suspiciously like the Nazi iron cross… allegedly

Guest bio:

Callum Mason is a Money and Business Reporter at The i Paper. He specializes in finance, personal finance, construction and real estate, as well as banking and financial services, exploring the intricate dynamics of financial markets. Callum's work has been featured in notable publications such as Tes, Global Finance Herald, Headlinemoney, and Cigalah Group.

Joining Ali and Zoe to try make sense of this break down in international order is Professor of International Studies at the Clinton Institute in Dublin, and founder of the EA WorldView, Scott Lucas.

Beyond the international chaos, the three discuss internal struggles as well. ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) shot Renee Nicole Good, in her car in Minnesota. They claimed that she attempted to run over ICE officers but videos of the incident suggest she was attempting to drive away.

"What has happened to my country" says Scott Lucas as he outlines the increasing divide in the US. A Fox news host highlighting that Renee Nicole Good, the woman killed, has “pronouns in her bio” and “leaves behind a lesbian partner and a child from a previous marriage”. JD Vance on Twitter described her as a “deranged leftist”.

On Greenland, the three outlines the weak response from the UK and other European countries:

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has since warned that, in the event of a US invasion of the territory, "everything stops… including NATO".

"It makes absolutely no sense to ⁠talk about the US needing to take over Greenland.

"The US has no right to annex any of the three countries in ​the Danish Kingdom.

"I would therefore strongly urge the ‌US to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people, who have very clearly ​said that they are not for sale."

Responding, Sir Keir told Sky News: "I stand with her. She's right about the future of Greenland."

"Denmark is a close European ally, a close NATO ally. And the future therefore has to be for Greenland, for the Kingdom of Denmark, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark."

In the week unwrapped Ali and Zoe discuss the backlash to Elon Musk's X Ai Grok unconsensually undressing women, even minors on the platform. Keir Starmer has responded to Elon Musk's inaction describing the issue as “disgraceful, it’s disgusting and it’s not to be tolerated. X has got to get a grip of this”. Elon Musk has since limited the image editing feature of Grok to paid users.

Guest Bio

Scott Lucas became Professor of International Politics in 2014, having been on the staff of the University of Birmingham since 1989 and a Professor of American Studies since 1997.

He began his career as a specialist in US and British foreign policy, but his research interests now also cover current international affairs --- especially North Africa, the Middle East, and Iran --- New Media, and Intelligence Services.

A professional journalist since 1979, Professor Lucas is the founder and editor of EA WorldView, a leading website in daily news and analysis of Iran, Turkey, Syria, and the wider Middle East, as well as US foreign policy.

Scott Lucas has also featured on Times Radio and Politics Joe

Sources:

https://www.ucdclinton.ie/our-staff/scott-lucas

https://eaworldview.com/about/the-editor/

https://news.sky.com/story/trump-says-hes-very-serious-about-taking-greenland-despite-warnings-it-will-end-nato-13490953

After this Labour MP Richard Burgon gets grilled on the importance of jury trials, the government's scapegoating of migrants and why he is staying in the Labour Party.

Before this Ali Zoe break down the sentencing of Nathan Gill for bribery, the potential end of jury trials the majority of criminal cases and "premium" car brand being removed from the Motability scheme.

After this, Laura and Zoe discuss the government's "harsh" new asylum seeker restrictions proposed by Shabana Mahmood. To round out the show Ali interview Aditya Chakrabortty to discuss the efficacy of a wealth tax

Keir Starmer’s position as PM is looking more and more unstable as he wishes to “investigate” briefings against Wes Streeting and other would be challengers.

And to end the show, Zoe and Ali discuss the 23,000 released emails from Jeffrey Epstein, that shine new light in his relationship with president Donald Trump

After this, Sam Atwell from the Health Foundation joins to discuss the Mayfield Report's findings that 800,000 more people are out of work sick then in 2019.

Finally, Green Party co-Deputy Leader Mothin Ali joins the show to discuss what lessons his party will learn from Zohran Mamdani's victory, why Wes Streeting is nothing like the soon to be New York Mayor and his message to Labour MPs tempted to join the Greens

Then Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South joins to break down the "embarrassing" Keir Starmer political project and why he would "consider" joining the Green Party.

Next, Ali and Professor Ellis Cashmore have an extremely heated debate over the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporter’s ban… and whether they trust the police reports.

Finally.. Ali and Tom Allingham from Save the Student discuss the government’s plan to increase university fees- will this wipe out the last of our students or make universities great again?

But before that in the Week Unwrapped they break down Nigel Farage's connections to extreme anti abortion activists in the US, Zack Polanski's Green Party reaching 115k members and London reaching the lowest Murder rate since monthly records began.

Then Ali and Zoe celebrate the 0.1% increase in forecasted growth! But UK inflation rate is still at 3.8%, food costs continue to rise steeply, job openings are dropping and unemployment is rising. But don’t worry! Thanks to the triple lock, pensions will grow by 4.8%.

They are then joined by Deputy Editor of Conservative Home Henry Hill to discuss Conservative Conference, namely Robert Jenrick's anger at seeing "no white faces" in Birmingham.

Finally, Ali and Zoe are joined by co-leader of the Progressive Judiaism group, Rabbi Charley Baginsky to discuss how we cab heal religious divides after the attack on a Synagogue in Manchester and an arson attack on a mosque.

Check out Milo Edwards' Stand-up tour here: https://www.miloedwards.co.uk/liveshows

This week on Politics Uncensored Ali is away, so Zoe is instead joined by New Statesman Policy Correspondent Harry Clarke Ezzidio to break down the weeks news: The introduction of Digital ID cards, the Your Party's membership chaos and Ed Davey's public spat with Nigel Farage.

After this, local democracy reporter for MyLondon Kumail Jaffer joins to break down Donald Trump's attacks on Sadiq Khan and London. Rounding the episode off political advisor and activist Matthew Torbitt makes the case for an Andy Burnham rebellion

First with Dr Georgios Samaras, who is an assistant professor of public policy at King’s College London on the London protests this weekend, to break down Tommy Robinson's far-right rally.

Then they speak to Dr Erica Frantz to discuss Trump’s state visit and it’s implications following the wave of political violence in the US after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

They are joined by political commentator Chloe Dobbs to discuss the Government’s new pilot scheme that will see some migrants arriving on small boats detained and returned across the Channel, while the UK agrees to take in an equal number of asylum seekers who haven’t attempted the journey and pass security checks. Plus, they dive into the backlash around Channel 4’s new Bonnie Blue documentary — with critics accusing the programme of glamorising and normalising extreme pornography.