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Westminster Insider

POLITICO
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
Conservative Party
Brexit
Reform UK
Boris Johnson
Donald Trump
Ukraine
Rishi Sunak
Tony Blair
Westminster
Rachel Reeves
UK General Election
Election Campaigns
Gordon Brown
Liz Truss
Theresa May
Eton
Homelessness
Nigel Farage

POLITICO’s weekly political series lifts the curtain on how Westminster really works, offering in-depth insight into the political issues which typically only get broad-brush treatment in the wider media.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes188Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsDocumentarySociety & CulturePolitics

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Artwork for Westminster Insider

Latest Episodes

Climate change, Palestine, Brexit, the Iraq War. Westminster has seen it all when it comes to protests, and the inhabitants of Parliament are largely desensitised to the angry cries at the gates. This week on Westminster Insider host Sascha O'Sulliva... more

Ten years — and six prime ministers — ago Britain was on the brink of voting to leave the European Union.

Host Patrick Baker was in his first job as a TV news producer during the referendum campaign. A decade on, he’s gone back to the people who liv... more

At the local elections, the Conservative Party lost hundreds of councillors and dozens of seats across England, Scotland and Wales, but Kemi Badenoch declared a comeback.

So this week, Sascha O'Sullivan goes inside the Conservative Party's hopes fo... more

As Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and former health secretary Wes Streeting jostle for influence in the Labour party, host Sascha O'Sullivan looks at what it takes to turn around a party's fortunes mid-term.

Former John Major aide Daniel Fink... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Matthew Elliott
Chief executive and co-founder of the Vote Leave campaign
Vote Leave
Episode: The Brexit Referendum: Ten years on
Henry Hill
Journalist, political editor at The Critic
The Critic
Episode: Why the Conservatives are so cheery: inside the Tory reboot
Scarlett Maguire
Pollster, founder of Merlin Strategy
Merlin Strategy
Episode: Why the Conservatives are so cheery: inside the Tory reboot
Mel Stride
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Conservative Party
Episode: Why the Conservatives are so cheery: inside the Tory reboot
James Cowling
Director, Next Gen Tories
Next Gen Tories
Episode: Why the Conservatives are so cheery: inside the Tory reboot
James Nation
Advisor to Rishi Sunak during chancellor years and SPAD
Former Sunak adviser
Episode: How to replace a Prime Minister and get away with it
Claire Ainsley
Policy director for Keir Starmer and director at Progressive Policy Institute
Progressive Policy Institute
Episode: How to replace a Prime Minister and get away with it
Beatrice Timpson
Deputy Press Secretary to Liz Truss
Liz Truss administration
Episode: Starmer’s week from hell: Inside the Number 10 bunker
Robert Midgley
Former tech-savvy civil servant in Number 10
British government (Theresa May/Boris Johnson era)
Episode: Starmer’s week from hell: Inside the Number 10 bunker

Hosts

Sascha O'Sullivan
Host of Westminster Insider
Patrick Baker
Host of Westminster Insider

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 754 ratings
  • Far too pro Israeli

    A real shame

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Nathan C UK
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • A different but good listen

    A clever podcast which investigates further into the world of politics and unearths less covered but more insightful aspects of the life and history of politicians and the political world in general. The podcast is good at taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture with interesting guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Lmacc25
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Great ep

    Enjoyer the ep on the pressures/requirements on PMs

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Niky_Noodles
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Budget

    Really enjoyed today’s budget episode. Fun way of doing a chaotic lead up to a big moment for Rachel Reeves!!! If Sunak’s health and social care levy and stuck around, I wonder if there would be an easier way for Reeves to get away with it as you say…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    viral.listener
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Inept

    Really good if you want to hear how inept government is and how their media and think tanks are locked in this useless ecosystem of fecklessness. It’s just on a repeat cycle.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Niky_Noodles
    United Kingdom10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback highlights strong reporting and high production values, though some episodes attract polarized opinions on coverage or host choices.
Audience often notes the show's usefulness for understanding leadership transitions, policy debates, and the mechanics of government.
Listeners appreciate the insider access and civically engaged analysis, with guests offering firsthand perspectives that illuminate Westminster dynamics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#63
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#138
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#44
India/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#75
South Africa/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#91
Belgium/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#112
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Brexit Referendum: Ten years on
Q: What were the core strategies that defined Vote Leave's campaign?
Vote Leave emphasized a core vote strategy, targeted swing voters with tailored messages, and built a cross-party, nationwide operation while leveraging influential endorsers to convey the take-back-control message.
Why the Conservatives are so cheery: inside the Tory reboot
Q: What is the core idea behind the Conservative reboot?
To present a credible, competent government that can deliver growth, reduce debt, and appeal to both older and younger voters by focusing on practical economic reforms rather than flashy slogans.
Nick Thomas-Symonds: Don't panic, my EU reset plan will work
Q: What is the government's plan for aligning with the single market and naming concrete sectors for alignment?
The plan involves a pragmatic, sector-by-sector assessment to identify where alignment already happens and where it is in the national economic interest to pursue it, with a bill to provide an overarching framework expected to be introduced and completed by the end of 2026.
The Battle for Labour's oldest stronghold: Wales
Q: What is Labour's challenge in Wales as the election approaches?
Welsh Labour faces concerns about neglect from both Cardiff and Westminster, competition from Reform and Plaid Cymru, and the difficulty of communicating effectively under a new proportional representation system that changes how votes translate into seats.
ChatG-MP: Inside Westminster's AI revolution
Q: What sparked Parliament to start using AI tools for speeches and communications?
MPs began experimenting with AI to explore efficiency, but rapidly realized the potential for both enhanced productivity and the propagation of misinformation, pushing the conversation toward formal regulatory considerations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Westminster Insider

What is Westminster Insider about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This weekly briefing pulls back the curtain on how Westminster operates, centering insider perspectives from politicians, journalists, and civil servants. Episodes typically explore leadership transitions, crisis management, parliamentary procedure, and UK–EU dynamics, often yarned together with historical context and cross-border comparisons. A distinguishing trait is the willingness to surface candid anecdotes from inside briefings, ministerial kitchens, and Downing Street conduct, alongside sober analyses of policy trade-offs and infrastructure debates. It frequently features high-profile guests and has a knack for turning complex parliamentary logistics into actionable takeaways for listeners considering political strategy, policy impac... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Westminster Insider?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Westminster Insider:

1. Political Fix
2. Politics At Sam and Anne's
3. The Politics Show
4. Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
5. How To Win An Election

How many episodes of Westminster Insider are there?

Westminster Insider launched 6 years ago and published 188 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Westminster Insider?

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What guests have appeared on Westminster Insider?

Recent guests on Westminster Insider include:

1. Matthew Elliott
2. Henry Hill
3. Scarlett Maguire
4. Mel Stride
5. James Cowling
6. James Nation
7. Claire Ainsley
8. Beatrice Timpson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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