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Westminster Hour

BBC Radio 4
Labour Party
Conservative Party
Donald Trump
Keir Starmer
Rachel Reeves
Ukraine
NHS
Reform UK
NATO
UK Economy
Brexit
Iran
Liberal Democrats
House Of Lords
Disability Benefits
European Union
United Kingdom
Kemi Badenoch
Public Finances
Green Party

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

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Artwork for Westminster Hour

Latest Episodes

The Prime Minister under fire, and what is "Progressive Politics"?

Sentencing policy, the minimum wage and the case for the centre ground.

Ben Wright and guests on the latest convulsions in the Labour Party.

A make or break week ahead for Keir Starmer?

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Michael Crick
Political journalist and biographer
Newsnight/Channel 4 News
Episode: Westminster Hour 17 May 2026
Olivia Blake
Labour MP, loyal to leadership
Labour Party
Episode: Westminster Hour 17 May 2026
Jessica Asato
Labour MP for Lowestoft
Labour Party
Episode: Westminster Hour 10 May 2026
John Whittingdale
Conservative MP for Maldon
Conservative Party
Episode: Westminster Hour 10 May 2026
Tim Bale
Professor at Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Episode: Westminster Hour 10 May 2026
Lyndon Kemp-Karen
Leader, Kent County Council (Reform UK)
Reform UK
Episode: Westminster Hour 10 May 2026
Gawain Tola
Board member, Reform UK
Reform UK
Episode: Westminster Hour 10 May 2026
Lisa Smart
Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove
Liberal Democrats
Episode: Westminster Hour 10 May 2026
Tony Travers
Professor at London School of Economics
London School of Economics
Episode: Westminster Hour 3 May 2026

Host

Ben Wright
Host of Westminster Hour; BBC Radio 4

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 367 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 Kingdom8 months ago
  • October?

    Bloody BBC to quote the late great Alf Garnett.

    Can’t even get the date right!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Pierre58
    United Kingdom8 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.

Strong sense of credibility and timeliness in coverage.
Listeners value the mix of insider access and balanced debate.
Guests and topics spark thoughtful discussion across the political spectrum.
Production and hosting style are generally praised for measured interviewing.
Some episodes draw criticism for perceived bias or guest selection.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#8
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#136
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#35
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#47
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#95
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#133
Germany/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?

A sophisticated, issue-driven discussion program that brings together MPs, journalists, and policy experts to unpack current UK political events, governance challenges, and public policy trade-offs. Episodes frequently dissect leadership dynamics, party strategies, Brexit-era debates, and local versus national implications, often with live reactions to elections, parliamentary developments, and international issues. Noteworthy is the mix of insider perspectives, cross-party viewpoints, and timely analysis that helps listeners understand the mechanics of Westminster and its impact on everyday life. This show is likely to appeal to politically engaged professionals, policy enthusiasts, and decision-makers who value clear debate and diverse vi... more

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How many listeners does Westminster Hour get?

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How many subscribers and views does Westminster Hour have?

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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. Any Questions? and Any Answers?

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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What guests have appeared on Westminster Hour?

Recent guests on Westminster Hour include:

1. Michael Crick
2. Olivia Blake
3. Jessica Asato
4. John Whittingdale
5. Tim Bale
6. Lyndon Kemp-Karen
7. Gawain Tola
8. Lisa Smart

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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