Episodes

  • Can the BBC survive Trump's $10bn lawsuit?

    Can the BBC survive Trump's $10bn lawsuit?
    Dec 17 2025
    It's Trump vs the BBC as the President of the United States attempts to sue the broadcaster for $10bn over its Panorama documentary.

    The BBC has admitted it made a "mistake" with its edit of a Trump speech on the day his supporters stormed the Capitol. The President's lawyers said it falsely portrayed him as a "violent insurrectionist" and was a “brazen attempt” to interfere in the US election.

    The question now is, what could the consequences be for the BBC? Should they fight the case or settle with the President? And what will the broadcaster look like as the government begins a consultation on its future? Tom Bradby joins Political Editor Robert Peston to discuss.

    Also, what will politics have in store for us in 2026? Tom and Robert both predict that Sir Keir Starmer will still be Prime Minister this time next year, despite all the recent talk of plots and challenges to his authority.

    Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
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    33 mins
  • How Trump's new Security Strategy changes EVERYTHING for Britain and Europe

    How Trump's new Security Strategy changes EVERYTHING for Britain and Europe
    Dec 10 2025
    Tom and Robert discuss Trump's National Security Strategy - a 33-page document which sets down in black and white his vision of the world, and which has ramped up anxiety across Europe. In it, the threat of aggression from Russia and President Putin are all but disregarded - no wonder Moscow says it's 'largely consistent' with their own vision for global affairs. There's also little attention paid to the threat from China; instead, it's Britain and the EU who come under fire, as it warns of "civilisational erasure" as a result of immigration. What can Britain, and its European allies, do as the United States appears to take another step away from them? And how grave are the implications of this new Strategy for Ukraine?

    Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
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    31 mins
  • Inside the Reeves-OBR Budget 'shambles' as Chancellor faces calls to resign

    Inside the Reeves-OBR Budget 'shambles' as Chancellor faces calls to resign
    Dec 3 2025
    Warning: This episode contains some discussion of racist language which listeners may find distressing.

    A week on from Rachel Reeves' Budget, Paul Brand and Robert Peston take stock of the extraordinary row between the Treasury, the Chancellor, and the OBR over who knew and said what about the public finances in the preceding weeks.

    Robert says it's the result of one of the 'biggest shambles in terms of Budget preparation' that he can recall. But has the Chancellor ridden out the storm - or could she still have to resign?

    Also: A former classmate of Nigel Farage has alleged the Reform UK leader racially "tormented" him when they were at school together. Farage says the claims are 'categorically' untrue - but how politically damaging could they be for him?

    Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
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    32 mins
  • Will Budget tax rises and delay tactics come back to haunt Rachel Reeves?

    Will Budget tax rises and delay tactics come back to haunt Rachel Reeves?
    Nov 26 2025
    Chancellor Rachel Reeves has finally revealed her Budget plans, albeit after the Office for Budget Responsibility published them first, by mistake.

    But will tax rise upon tax rise win over doubting voters - or will her tactic to delay many of the key measures coming in return to haunt Labour?

    In Talking Politics, Paul Brand and Robert Peston are joined by Professor Jane Green, director of the Nuffield Politics Research Centre, to pick apart the Budget strategy.



    Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
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    36 mins
  • Starmer claims his government has restored respect in politics

    Starmer claims his government has restored respect in politics
    Nov 21 2025
    Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has told ITV News his government has restored respect to politics since coming into power.

    When he came into Downing Street in July 2024, Starmer promised to "restore honesty and integrity to government”.

    However, since then, it's fair to say it's been a stormy ride for him and the Labour Party.

    Shortly after becoming prime minister, he attracted attention for the scale of the gifts he had been receiving, and more recently in September his deputy Angela Rayner resigned after breaking the ministerial code.

    When asked if he could "hand on heart" say that his government had restored respect to politics, Starmer answered, "yes".





    Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
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    11 mins
  • The tax rises we predict will be in the Chancellor's Budget

    The tax rises we predict will be in the Chancellor's Budget
    Nov 19 2025
    After months of furious speculation, briefing, leaking, and U-turning, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves is finalising her all-important second Budget.

    It now looks like the rates of income tax won't rise after all - but, as Robert explains, there is a more hidden 'tax' on income that will affect millions of British workers and raise billions of pounds.

    How will it all affect you, and how will it affect the Prime Minister's job security?

    And what was the thinking behind the unusually family-focused video he posted on social media on International Men's Day?

    Is it a sign that he's changing his style of leadership?

    Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
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    27 mins
  • Home Sec Shabana Mahmood: 'Illegal migration is tearing our country apart'

    Home Sec Shabana Mahmood: 'Illegal migration is tearing our country apart'
    Nov 17 2025
    It is about to get a lot harder to claim asylum in Britain.

    The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced significant changes to the UK's immigration system - the biggest, the government claims, of the modern era. She insists they will 'unite a divided country', but denies playing a political game to gain support from Reform voters.

    Robert sat down with the Home Secretary to dig into the plans, how they will work in practice, and whether they risk another major rebellion within the Labour party.

    Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
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    14 mins
  • Health Secretary forced to deny he wants the top job after Downing Street rumours swirl

    Health Secretary forced to deny he wants the top job after Downing Street rumours swirl
    Nov 12 2025
    This week on Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston analyse the rumours of a coup to oust Sir Keir Starmer.

    In an extraordinary 24 hours, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting is forced to deny on the record that he wants the top job.

    And the Prime Minister has had to say he will fight any leadership challenge.

    Also, what next for the BBC after the Director General resigns and Donald Trump threatens to sue?

    Got a question for the team? Email talkingpolitics@itv.com
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    37 mins