Talking Politics

Keir Starmer: Is the coup over?

Keir Starmer is battling to stay in post and after a pivotal cabinet meeting, Tom and Robert are in Downing Street to gauge the mood of ministers. All eyes are now on his main challenger threat, Wes Streeting. With his backers already making moves to oust the PM - will the Health Secretary act? Meanwhile, with Andy Burnham seen on a train to London, will he take the risk of mounting a leaderhip challenge, despite the Mayor of Greater Manchester not having a seat in Parliament?

Can Keir Starmer survive this week as PM?

Is it too little, too late for the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer? That's the opinion of Labour MP Catherine West when describing Starmer's speech on Monday, as he fought to save his job following a bruising set of local election results and subsequent calls for his resignation. On this week's Talking Politics, Tom Bradby and Robert Peston look at whether there is a future for Starmer as PM. Describing Friday's local election results as tough, Starmer claimed the country was facing both "dangerous times" and "dangerous opponents". "If we don't get this right, our country will go down a very dark path," claimed the PM. "I know people are frustrated by the state of Britain, frustrated by politics, and some people, frustrated with me," said Starmer. "I know I have my doubters, I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will." Over the weekend, Labour MP Catherine West spoke out, issuing an ultimatum that if a member of the cabinet had not challenged Starmer over the leadership by Monday, she would gather the 81 signatures to launch one herself. Her most recent words appear to back down on this, but still build momentum on pressuring the PM to depart. Ms West said she is gathering the names of Labour MPs to call on Sir Keir Starmer to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September.

Election results: Has Reform replaced the Tories as the party of the right?

With huge gains across England's council elections, has Nigel Farage's Reform UK become the main party of the right - or is it too soon to right the Conservatives off? On Talking Politics Tom Bradby and Robert Peston break down the results with ITV News Elections Analyst Professor Colin Rallings and Professor Jane Green from Nuffield College, University of Oxford. How much further can Reform go and on a massive day for Plaid Cymru and the SNP - what do results across England, Wales and Scotland mean for Labour and the future of the UK?

How Reform could cause an 'earthquake' in May elections

It’s going to be a seismic week for British politics, as millions of voters head to the polls across England, Scotland and Wales. In this episode of Talking Politics, Tom and Robert are joined by ITV News Elections Analyst Colin Rallings, to unpack what’s at stake in the crucial May elections. They break down the key councils in England to watch out for, and look at why devolved contests in Scotland and Wales could lead to the break-up of the UK. Plus - has Farage’s Reform party peaked, or could they still engulf the Conservative Party? And why could a hostile leadership contest after the elections mean people never vote Labour again?

McSweeney in the spotlight: new Mandelson evidence deepens crisis for PM

Keir Starmer has faced yet another day of scrutiny over his “disastrous” choice of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador. On Talking Politics, Robert and Tom unpack why evidence from ex-foreign office official Philip Barton and the PM’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney exposed a series of missed opportunities and errors of judgement to stop the Mandelson appointment. Robert explains why the whole saga shows a “world of surreal madness” at the heart of government, and how it could be “existential” for the PM. Plus, reaction to yet another embarrassment for Starmer across the pond, as a leaked recording of the current US Ambassador threatens to overshadow the King’s state visit…