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The Week in Westminster

BBC Radio 4
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
Donald Trump
Conservative Party
Rachel Reeves
Ukraine
China
Reform UK
NATO
Assisted Dying
NHS
UK Politics
Parliament
Budget
House Of Lords
Brexit
European Union
Kemi Badenoch
United Kingdom
Welfare Reform

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes18Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

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Artwork for The Week in Westminster

Latest Episodes

As Andy Burnham is confirmed as the Labour candidate for the Makerfield by-election, George Parker asks whether this signals the start of a long goodbye for Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. He brings together Labour MP, Miatta Fahnbulleh, who resi... more

Caroline speaks to the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who is also Minister for Equalities and Women, about the tumultous week for Sir Keir Starmer as almost 100 Labour MPs called on him to go.

Claire Ainsley, who was policy director for Ke... more

Radio 4's assessment of developments at Westminster

The appointment of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador dominated Commons proceedings again this week. Isabel discusses where it leaves Sir Keir Starmer's authority with Labour MP Sarah Champion and Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin.

Isabel discusses ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Bridget Phillipson
Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities
UK Government
Episode: 16/05/2026
Robert Colville
Director of the Centre for Policy Studies
Centre for Policy Studies
Episode: 16/05/2026
Sarah Olney
Liberal Democrat spokesperson on business and EU relations
Liberal Democrats
Episode: 16/05/2026
Matthew Elliott
Conservative peer; former Vote Leave figure
Conservative Party
Episode: 16/05/2026
Iain Dale
LBC presenter and political commentator
LBC
Episode: 16/05/2026
Ayesha Hazarika
Labour peer and political commentator
Labour Party
Episode: 16/05/2026
Patrick Maguire
Chief Political Commentator for The Times and co-author
The Times
Episode: 09/05/2026
James Heal
Deputy Political Editor
Spectator Magazine
Episode: 09/05/2026
Lucy Fisher
Whitehall Editor
Financial Times
Episode: 09/05/2026

Hosts

Caroline Wheeler
Host of The Week in Westminster,iNews; frequently leads Westminster discussions with policy and political insight
Vicki Young
Host of The Week in Westminster,BBC News; brings newsroom and Westminster reporting perspective
Isabel Hardman
Host of The Week in Westminster,The Spectator / BBC Radio 4; political commentator with insider perspective
Sonia Sodha
Host of The Week in Westminster,BBC Radio 4; policy analyst focusing on social policy and economy

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 314 ratings
  • BAFTA material no less …

    this podcast is as if ”yes minister” and ”absolute power” had had a love child. great satire; if only it were.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    familieheinzbecker
    Germanya year ago
  • The week in Westminster 25th February 2024

    I have just turned this off as the presenter, has interrupted every answer that has been given by her quests. This used to be the one political program that was worth listening to but over the last few weeks I have become very disillusioned.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    mmmme111
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • More Steve Richards Please

    This programme is at its best when presented by Steve Richards. His own podcasts are excellent too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lexie 77
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • How few people do they want to listen?

    This is very much an insiders clique programme, why are plebs listening? Tax payers not invited, and certainly don’t expect the government to be held to account. Ms. Quinn still hasn’t called them out on the 2010 Tory foundation lie that all the money was gone when they came to power; don’t expect them to be asked why they’ve blown up the economy! It’s strange that for 13 years the presenters have accepted that Gordon Brown was personally responsible for the credit crunch (don’t mention it wa... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Wombat Aberdeen
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Totally out of touch

    This show’s misnamed it should be Westminster Bubble. The presenters have so little clue that they think the Labour Party have been in government for the last 13 years.

    Here’s a Tory (simper simper) droning on; lying blatantly; don’t mention we’ve borrowed TRILLIONS; we’ve just smashed the economy! Aww how wonderful you are!

    Labour: we might borrow, less than Con have to give the rich tax cuts, to invest … not permitted to say a paragraph… What! You’ll never be able to do that!

    Plaid Cymru; Lib... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    FredTLW
    United Kingdom4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Strong weekly summaries; some listeners want more critical questioning of guests.
Balanced, insider insight into Westminster with credible guests.
Polished, informative, and essential Westminster briefing for professionals.
Consistently informative with a wide range of guests; some listeners crave more accountability from hosts.
High-quality analysis and timely topics, though a few episodes feel insular to insiders.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#134
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#2
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#128
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#106
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#108
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#116
Italy/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

28/02/2026
Q: Jo, what does that mean for seats like yours in the Red Wall?
Jo White explains the need for fighting on multiple fronts and exposing weaknesses of both sides, including how Labour and Reform are positioning themselves against Greens and the Conservatives.
07/02/2026
Q: Is there a danger that some of what is released damage our international relationships?
The Joint Committee on National Security does not have the power to release any documents without the permission of the government.
07/02/2026
Q: Do you think that that commitment to tackling violence against women and girls has been undermined by the row surrounding Peter Mandelson?
I don't think it's been undermined at all.
07/02/2026
Q: Can the Prime Minister tell us, did the official security vetting he received mention Mandelson's ongoing relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein?
Yes, it did.
24/01/2026
Q: Do you think it's right that he makes that trip to China?
Concerns were raised about the context and implications of the trip, especially in relation to human rights.

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 The Week in Westminster

What is The Week in Westminster about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A brisk, Westminster-focused weekly roundtable featuring politicians, policy experts, and seasoned political commentators. Episodes cover leadership dynamics within major parties, parliamentary procedures, by-elections, and the UK's stance on Europe, along with macroeconomic and public policy issues such as health, courts reform, and digital regulation. The show tends to blend insider analysis with broader political context, often weighing governance norms, civil service culture, and constitutional questions against current events. A standout aspect is the rotating lineup of high-profile guests and analysts, which provides a mix of parliamentary insight, policy critique, and strategic commentary that's likely valuable for listeners in gover... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Week in Westminster?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Week in Westminster:

1. Westminster Hour
2. Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
3. Political Fix
4. Politics Unpacked
5. Westminster Insider

How many episodes of The Week in Westminster are there?

The Week in Westminster launched 19 years ago and published 18 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Week in Westminster?

Recent guests on The Week in Westminster include:

1. Bridget Phillipson
2. Robert Colville
3. Sarah Olney
4. Matthew Elliott
5. Iain Dale
6. Ayesha Hazarika
7. Patrick Maguire
8. James Heal

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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