The Story

After a whirlwind week in Westminster, we've decided to bring you an extra dose of Whitehall gossip. Check out this week's episode from our sister podcast: The State of It.

The prime minister thought it was all over for him this weekend, but a scrambled rearguard action has left him looking stronger than he has for some time. But to survive, Keir Starmer may now have no choice but to move leftwards. And there's much worse to come when the Mandelson files are released. Meanwhile, has Wes Streeting missed his moment to challenge the prime minister?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Hosts:
Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey.
Executive Producer: Molly Guiness.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Further listening: The State of It
Clips: Sky News.
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a week of chaos in Westminster, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer fights for survival. The crisis he faces reached fever pitch on Sunday with the resignation of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, followed swiftly the next morning by the departure of Tim Allan, his director of communications. On Monday afternoon, the pressure escalated further when Anas Sarwar, Labour leader in Scotland, became the most senior figure yet to publicly call for Starmer’s resignation. So can his government survive the next week ahead?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producer: Harry Stott, Sophie McNulty.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more: With Morgan McSweeney forced out, PM may not be far behind
Further listening: Mandelson, Epstein and the fight for survival at No 10
Clips: Times Radio, BBC, The Telegraph, Sky News, ITV News, GB News
Photo: Getty Images, The Times, Dinesh Mehta
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince William is making his first visit to Saudi Arabia this week to celebrate “growing trade, energy and investment ties” between the kingdom and the UK. But with a number of sensitive issues on the table – from defence and intelligence sharing to Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record – how will the prince walk the diplomatic tightrope? Should the UK be pursuing a closer relationship with the kingdom at all?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guests:
Roya Nikkhah, royal editor, The Sunday Times.
Sir William Patey, former UK Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Host: Luke Jones.
Producers: Julia Webster, Micaela Arneson.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]

Read more: Prince William to visit Saudi Arabia as diplomatic ‘secret weapon’
Further listening: Travelling with the Duchess in a war zone
Clips: NBC, BBC, HM Treasury.
Photo: Dana Chan, Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The British royal family isn't the only European monarchy in turmoil. In Norway the Epstein files have revealed intimate conversations between the Crown Princess and future Queen, Mette-Marit, and the paedophile after he was convicted. Meanwhile, her son is on trial facing charges on thirty-eight offences, including four counts of rape. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in prison. Could this be a fatal blow for the Norwegian royal family? And what does it tell us about the long tentacles of Jeffrey Epstein's influence in the palaces and parliaments of Europe?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Peter Conradi, Europe Editor, The Sunday Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more: The rape trial casting a dark shadow over Norway’s royal family
Clips: BBC News, CBS.
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Times journalist Helen Rumbelow spent two days sifting through the thousands of lurid, criminal and often coded messages between Jeffrey Epstein and his powerful friends. Buried among the shockingly misogynistic and disturbing exchanges, lies a revealing insight on how powerful men talk about women when they think no one is listening. In her widely shared article, Helen exposes not just the shocking content of those emails, but what they tell us about the mindset of powerful men.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Warning: This episode contains some strong language from the start.

Read by: Helen Rumbelow, feature writer and columnist, The Times.
Producer: Dave Creasey.
We want to hear from you - email: [email protected]
Read more: I studied the latest Epstein files. As a woman, this is what I felt
Clips: NBC.
Photo: Getty Images.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.