The chancellor’s impossible choice: economic necessity or political disaster?

Loading player...
John Harris speaks to the Guardian’s economics editor, Heather Stewart, about the unenviable choice facing Rachel Reeves. What price will she pay if she raises the basic rate of income tax for the first time in half a century? Meanwhile, has language and policy that would once have been confined to the far-right fringe entered mainstream politics? Sunder Katwala, the director of the thinktank British Future, joins John to discuss whether racist rhetoric can be pushed back to the margins Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
6 Nov 2025 English United Kingdom News

Other recent episodes

Revisited: How the Beatles helped my autistic son find his voice

In this podcast from 4 April, John Harris speaks to Today in Focus about how music helped him connect with his son, James. Harris tells Helen Pidd what he has learned about the way some autistic people experience music, and how songs opened up the world for James. Plus, they…
1 Jan 29 min

Review of 2025: another fine mess?

John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look back at the biggest political moments of 2025, and discuss what 2026 might bring. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
18 Dec 2025 51 min

John Crace on his book, The Bonfire of the Insanities

Pippa and Kiran speak to the Guardian’s sketch writer, John Crace, about his latest book, The Bonfire of the Insanities: How Does This Government Thing Work Again?, which is a compilation of his daily work starting from Rishi Sunak’s government to Keir Starmer’s. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
15 Dec 2025 41 min