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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
United Kingdom
House Of Lords
Disability Benefits
European Union
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes28Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Westminster Hour

Latest Episodes

Ben Wright is joined by the minister for energy and net zero, Polly Billington; shadow transport secretary, Richard Holden; and polling expert Joe Twyman. They discuss Andy Burnham's first week in power, his announcements on the cost of living and hi... more

Defence spending, a possible social media ban and the Makerfield by-election.

Policing, the impact of AI and Scottish politics.

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Rosa Prince
Journalist and commentator,
The Daily Telegraph / BBC contributor
Episode: Westminster Hour 31 May 2026
Jack Abbott
Labour MP for Ipswich, backbencher
Labour Party
Episode: Westminster Hour 31 May 2026
John Glenn
Conservative MP for Salisbury, former Treasury Minister
Conservative Party
Episode: Westminster Hour 31 May 2026
Pippa Hylings
Liberal Democrat spokesperson on energy security and net zero
Liberal Democrats
Episode: Westminster Hour 31 May 2026
Emma Einstein
Bishop and author of Middling
Church of England
Episode: Westminster Hour 24 May 2026
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

Hosts

Ben Wright
Host with extensive involvement on Westminster‑centric discussions; associated with BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour.
Nick Erdly
Co‑host known for political journalism and panel moderation on Westminster Hour.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 368 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 Kingdoma year ago
  • October?

    Bloody BBC to quote the late great Alf Garnett.

    Can’t even get the date right!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Pierre58
    United Kingdoma year 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 Kingdom4 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.

Audiences frequently praise depth of policy discussion and real‑time context to current events.
Feedback often mentions the value of hearing both MPs and journalists on complex issues.
Some episodes are critiqued for guest selection or perceived bias, especially when taking a single party's line.
Listeners appreciate the balanced, cross‑party format and strong moderation.
A number of episodes are noted for timely analysis of by‑elections and local government dynamics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#214
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#12
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#68
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#93
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#136
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#167
Italy/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 politically focused current affairs program that hosts cross‑party panels, ministers, journalists, and policy experts to dissect UK politics, governance, and public policy. Recent episodes repeatedly center on leadership dynamics, electoral reform, parliamentary scrutiny, and the balance between party strategies and pragmatic policymaking, often through controversial issues like the Horizon IT scandal, by-elections, and local government reform. A notable strength is its ability to thread broad international context with domestic politics, delivering insightful commentary on how public sentiment and institutional processes shape outcomes. It tends to attract listeners who want in‑depth, executive‑level discussion about policy trade‑offs, g... more

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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. Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
2. Political Fix
3. Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
4. Politics Unpacked
5. Politics Weekly UK

How many episodes of Westminster Hour are there?

Westminster Hour launched 16 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?

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What guests have appeared on Westminster Hour?

Recent guests on Westminster Hour include:

1. Rosa Prince
2. Jack Abbott
3. John Glenn
4. Pippa Hylings
5. Emma Einstein
6. Michael Crick
7. Olivia Blake
8. Jessica Asato

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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