The State of It
The Times
Real reporting from the coalface of British politics.
Join The Times and The Sunday Times’s political heavyweights Patrick Maguire, Steven Swinford, Gabriel Pogrund and Caroline Wheeler and as they dig deep into the latest tea room tip offs, reveal insider conversations and bring analysis, authority and insight.
No party loyalty. No spin. Not hosted by some old politicians. Taking you into the real business of politics, from those who live it daily.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Categories: News & Politics
Listen to the last episode:
Listen to what Labour ministers and MPs are saying about their colleagues in a week of chaos in Westminster.
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?
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 Guinness
Picture credit: Getty Images
Audio credit: Sky News
Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk
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.
Previous episodes
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1354 - Wes Streeting bottles it and Labour's left grabs the steering wheel Tue, 10 Feb 2026 - 0h
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1353 - Bonus episode: Epstein tried to befriend me Wed, 04 Feb 2026 - 0h
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1352 - How the Mandelson scandal threatens Starmer Tue, 03 Feb 2026 - 0h
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1351 - Bonus episode: Flying to China with the PM Wed, 28 Jan 2026 - 0h
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1350 - Lose this by-election and all hell breaks loose Tue, 27 Jan 2026 - 0h
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1349 - Widespread bafflement and anger Tue, 20 Jan 2026 - 0h
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1348 - No one likes us, we don't care Tue, 13 Jan 2026 - 0h
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1347 - Starmer, Farage and your monthly bills Tue, 06 Jan 2026 - 0h
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1346 - Get ready for a wild year in Westminster Tue, 30 Dec 2025 - 0h
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1345 - The State of It's Christmas Awards Tue, 23 Dec 2025 - 0h
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1344 - Who will move first: Streeting or Burnham? Tue, 16 Dec 2025 - 0h
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1343 - Angela Rayner's main character energy Tue, 09 Dec 2025 - 0h
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1342 - The stench of decay coming from Downing Street Tue, 02 Dec 2025 - 0h
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1341 - Bonus Episode: Labour's economics-free budget Fri, 28 Nov 2025 - 0h
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1340 - Starmer and Reeves's reverse Midas touch Tue, 25 Nov 2025 - 0h
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1339 - Mahmood vs the liberal luminaries Tue, 18 Nov 2025 - 0h
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1338 - Have a go if you think you're hard enough Tue, 11 Nov 2025 - 0h
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1337 - If you're going to raise taxes, why not just say so? Tue, 04 Nov 2025 - 0h
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1336 - Has Starmer gone woke? Tue, 28 Oct 2025 - 0h
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1335 - The tepid bath of managed decline Tue, 21 Oct 2025 - 0h
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1334 - Is that a dungeon you're planning?  Wed, 15 Oct 2025 - 0h
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1333 - Badenoch woos WhatsApp plotters Wed, 08 Oct 2025 - 0h
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1332 - What ministers won't say in public Wed, 01 Oct 2025 - 0h
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1331 - Introducing...The State of It Tue, 23 Sep 2025 - 0h