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Westminster Hour

BBC Radio 4
Labour Party
Conservative Party
Labour Government
Keir Starmer
Rachel Reeves
Economic Stability
NHS
Conservative Leadership Contest
Donald Trump
Joe Biden
University Funding
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
Winter Fuel Payment
Irregular Migration
Investment Summit
DP World
Green Party
Rishi Sunak
Brexit
MP Safety

The big political stories with lively discussion and expert comment and analysis from politicians and journalists, 10pm every Sunday on BBC Radio 4.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes28Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernment

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Westminster Hour

Latest Episodes

The political battle over North Sea oil drilling

Ben Wright and guests discuss the war with Iran and the cost of living.

Should the UK send warships to the Gulf?

The war over Iran and the fallout for the UK.

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Alex Wilson
Former Tory councillor; Reform UK Group leader on London Assembly
Reform UK
Episode: Westminster Hour 29 March 2026
Polly Billington
Labour MP for East Thanet; former political journalist
Labour Party
Episode: Westminster Hour 22 March 2026
John Glenn
Conservative MP for Salisbury; former Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Conservative Party
Episode: Westminster Hour 22 March 2026
Sam Friedman
Specialist in education policy; former adviser to Michael Gove; senior fellow at Institute for Government
Institute for Government
Episode: Westminster Hour 22 March 2026
Lucy Fisher
Whitehall editor of the Financial Times
Financial Times
Episode: Westminster Hour 22 March 2026
Meg Hillier
Labour MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, Chair of the Treasury Select Committee and the Liaison Committee
Labour Party / Parliament
Episode: Westminster Hour 15th March 2026
Andrew Mitchell
Conservative MP, former International Development Secretary
Conservative Party / Parliament
Episode: Westminster Hour 15th March 2026
Karen Von Hippel
Defence analyst, RUCI fellow
Royal United Services Institute
Episode: Westminster Hour 8 March 2026
Rosa Prince
Bloomberg Opinion columnist
Bloomberg Opinion
Episode: Westminster Hour 8 March 2026

Host

Ben Wright
Host of Westminster Hour

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 365 ratings
  • Really!!!

    I used to respect this forum. As a proud Hindu and perhaps a more proud British citizen, loved that the press was independent (relatively) and spoke truthfully about the issues at hand. But I really despaired while listening to this podcast. To give an example.. your audience was waxing eloquent about the ‘integrated Britain’ of old, the need to show the ‘far right’ what British values are! What about the fact that entire swathes of Muslim communities remain segregated, follow a different commu... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Cjanoam
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • October?

    Bloody BBC to quote the late great Alf Garnett.

    Can’t even get the date right!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Pierre58
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Thanks For Everything Carolyn

    So sad that Carolyn is hanging up her hat. She’s been a delight. Thank you for your unique style of interviewing. Other political interviewers look and learn, rude confrontation does not achieve results.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lexie 77
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Excellent

    Carolyn Quinn is a great interviewer, and always gets the balance just right in these discussions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SocksyG
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Well worth a listen

    Informative, interesting, Caroline Quinn is fantastic

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    killiskey
    Ireland4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some find the podcast biased towards certain political views, which can detract from its overall quality.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth discussions and expert commentary on current political events.
Many listeners highlight the engaging and knowledgeable hosts, calling for a continued focus on pressing social issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#119
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#11
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#188
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#9
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#14
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#87
Australia/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Westminster Hour 22 March 2026
Q: Sam, what do you think about the policy on indefinite leave to remain and how it might affect integration and the labour market?
Sam argues the policy risks making integration harder and could create precarity for long-term residents; he stresses the need for competence in policing visas, careful targeting of support, and avoiding negative welfare impacts, while acknowledging the importance of skilled migration and NHS workers.
Westminster Hour 22 February2026
Q: Is it time for parliament to get involved with the royal family?
Catherine and Patience suggest that while scrutiny is necessary, it must not interfere with ongoing investigations.
Westminster Hour 22 February2026
Q: What could radical change look like for NEETS?
Alan Milburn emphasizes the need for a holistic system that supports young people in education and employment.
Westminster Hour 1 February 2026
Q: Should he be allowed back in? And if so, should he be allowed to sit as a Labour peer, do you think?
I can tell you if I was in charge of it, he wouldn't be returning to the House of Lords as Labour Lord.
Westminster Hour 12 October 2025
Q: What do you think the prospects are for this to last?
It's very early days. 20 points is a lot, and they're substantive, with significant complexities ahead.

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 Hour

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

Focused on the evolving political landscape, this show features lively discussions and expert commentary on significant issues affecting the UK. Topics frequently covered include government policies, party dynamics, and social issues such as youth unemployment and education reform. The format typically showcases insights from politicians and journalists, facilitating a deeper understanding of both domestic and international political challenges. Noteworthy is the podcast's ability to convey the urgency of current events, making it relevant for listeners interested in staying informed about UK's political climate.

Where can I find podcast stats for Westminster Hour?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Westminster Hour. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Westminster Hour and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Westminster Hour get?

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What are the audience demographics for Westminster Hour?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Westminster Hour, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Westminster Hour have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Westminster Hour has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Westminster Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Westminster Hour:

1. The Week in Westminster
2. Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
3. Political Fix
4. Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
5. Politics Unpacked

How many episodes of Westminster Hour are there?

Westminster Hour launched 15 years ago and published 28 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 Hour?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Westminster Hour?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Westminster Hour from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Westminster Hour?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Westminster Hour. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Westminster Hour?

Recent guests on Westminster Hour include:

1. Alex Wilson
2. Polly Billington
3. John Glenn
4. Sam Friedman
5. Lucy Fisher
6. Meg Hillier
7. Andrew Mitchell
8. Karen Von Hippel

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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