In the final episode of the All Out Politics podcast, Adam Boulton and guests review the political year of 2021. It was a 12 months dominated once again by the coronavirus pandemic but punctuated by Brexit, allegations of sleaze and questions about leadership. Joining Adam are The Times columnist and former Conservative MP Matthew Parris, The New Statesman's deputy online editor Rachel Cunliffe and Sky's chief political correspondent Jon Craig. They will each pick their 'person' and...

Adam Boulton and guests assess a stunning by-election defeat for the Conservatives in North Shropshire as the Liberal Democrats overturn a 23 thousand majority - with a 24% swing - and pile more pressure on Boris Johnson. They examine the impact of that result and what it means for the Prime Minister's leadership after a series of stories about sleaze and Downing Street parties. The panel also discuss the latest tensions between politicians and medical professionals over what to do about...

Is it one rule for them and another for us? Adam Boulton and guests assess an uncomfortable week for the Prime Minister after claims of a Christmas Party in 10 Downing Street last year - at the same time as the country was living with Covid restrictions. There followed a series of denials that a party took place before video footage emerged showing Downing Street officials joking about said alleged party. The panel also discuss the government's decision to introduce Covid 'Plan B' measures...

Adam Boulton and guests look at the state of the parties after this week's Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election in which the Conservatives held the seat with a reduced majority. The panel assess the impact of the Reform Party - which finished third - and speculate on when there could be another general election. They also reflect on the latest attempt by Sir Keir Starmer to get Labour on the front foot with this week's shadow cabinet reshuffle. Joining Adam this week are the political...

Adam Boulton and guests discuss the issue at the top of the political agenda - the distressing news of the deaths of 27 people who drowned in the English Channel trying to reach the UK. They also asses the Prime Minister's fortunes as Boris Johnson attempts to get back on the front foot after the sleaze row, the HS2 controversy, the rebellion on social care plans, a somewhat bungled speech to the CBI and the reported tensions with the Treasury. Joining Adam this week are the former Home...

Adam Boulton and guests discuss the government's levelling up agenda through the prism of changes to the HS2 and Northern Powerhouse rail projects. They also analyse the ongoing sleaze row which isn't going away despite the Prime Minister's attempts to close it down with a move to clean up the system. Joining Adam on the this week's podcast are the former Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, Lord Andrew Adonis; the co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer and Sky's chief...

Adam Boulton and guests discuss the sleaze allegations circling UK politics. The controversy has focused on Conservative MPs with second jobs, Sir Geoffrey Cox carrying out paid external work from his House of Commons office and the issue of lobbying following the Owen Paterson row. Should MPs have second jobs and how should the Conservatives respond to the claims? Joining Adam this week are the SNP MP Pete Wishart; the deputy political editor of The Spectator and columnist at the 'i' Katy...

Adam Boulton and guests analyse the good, the bad and the bubbly from this week's Budget statement by Rishi Sunak. Big spending commitments in line with Brown and Blair rather than Osborne and Cameron - and big tax rises to boot, with the tax burden now at a level not seen since 1949. A big boost for workers on Universal Credit and a business rate discount for shops, restaurants and gyms.. But with the threat of inflation on the horizon - and the promise of tax cuts by 2024 - did the...

Adam Boulton and guests discuss two types of risk this week. The risk to the public from Covid as ministers rule out introducing a Plan B to tackle rising cases of the virus - a decision which seems at odds with the advice from from the British Medical Association and the NHS Confederation. And the panel assess the risk to MPs and their safety as they remember Sir David Amess MP who died on October 15th. Joining Adam this week are the Conservative MP and member of the Covid Recovery...

Brexit is back on the agenda this week as Adam Boulton and guests discuss the thorny issue of Northern Ireland protocol. Negotiations have resumed between the UK and the European Union over the implementation of the protocol with the EU offering concessions on checks. But the role of the European Court of Justice appears the major sticking point so what next? Joining Adam this week are the former Permanent Secretary at the Department for Exiting the EU, Philip Rycroft; Die Welt’s...

Adam Boulton and guests reflect on the Conservative Party conference in Manchester where Boris Johnson outlined an optimistic vision for the country against a backdrop of rising prices and the removal of the Universal Credit uplift. Plenty of focus on the 'levelling up' agenda and a high wage, high skill, high productivity economy - but very little in terms of hard policies. Joining Adam are the chief political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph Christopher Hope, former government...

Adam Boulton and guests reflect on the Conservative Party conference in Manchester where Boris Johnson outlined an optimistic vision for the country against a backdrop of rising prices and the removal of the Universal Credit uplift. Plenty of focus on the 'levelling up' agenda and a high wage, high skill, high productivity economy - but very little in terms of hard policies. Joining Adam are the chief political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph Christopher Hope, former government...

Adam Boulton and guests reflect on Labour's conference in Brighton where Sir Keir Starmer had to overcome internal rows and a resignation before making his pitch to the party and the country in his first 'in person' speech as leader. And with the perfect storm of a supply chain problem, the end of the furlough scheme, the universal credit cut, and a cost of living crisis we'll look ahead to the Conservative gathering in Manchester and how the governing party plans to respond. Joining Adam...

Adam Boulton and guests look ahead to the Labour Party conference in Brighton as Keir Starmer finally gets his wish to address the party faithful in person. The leader has already outlined his vision in a 14 thousand word essay on 'The Road Ahead' but it could be a bumpy one as he grapples with the issue of changing the one-member-one vote approach to leadership elections. Joining Adam to preview the conference are the former Labour MP Caroline Flint, author and journalist Rachel Shabi and...

Adam Boulton and guests discuss the ins and outs of the Prime Minister's reshuffle and asses what they mean for Boris Johnson's government as he looks to grip both the domestic and international agendas for the months ahead. They also analyse the UK, US Australia security pact designed to help equip Australia with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines - in what's seen as the latest effort to counter China. Joining Adam this week are Columnist at The i newspaper Ian Dunt, the Deputy...

Adam Boulton and guests deliver an end of term report as Boris Johnson marks two years as Prime Minister. The pledges made on the steps of Number Ten Downing Street in 2019 have been overshadowed somewhat by the coronavirus pandemic. But what about the future? How can he reset the agenda to achieve the goals he set out on that sunny day in Westminster two years ago. Joining Adam this week are the former Conservative Cabinet Minister David Gauke, the writer and journalist - and Boris Johnson...

Adam Boulton and guests assess the government's Covid gamble after the Prime Minister lifted all remaining restrictions in England against a backdrop of increasing infections and deaths. The vaccination programme is powering on but those IN power have had to change tack somewhat over the issue of self-isolation and so called 'vaccine passports' which will soon be required at nightclubs and other large events. The panel also discuss another potential u-turn with the suggestion that National...

Adam Boulton and guests discuss politics and racism, two issues which have come together this week following the online abuse received by some of England's footballers after the defeat to Italy in the final of Euro 2020. This in the week the Runnymede Trust published a report suggesting racism is still 'systemic' in England and that people from ethnically diverse backgrounds still face inequalities across health, criminal justice, education, employment, immigration and politics. Joining...

As England is gripped by football fever ahead of the Euro 2020 final, Adam Boulton and guests assess the impact on the political scene in the country. They discus English identity and so called 'gesture politics' as the debate over taking the knee and booing national anthems continues. Joining Adam this week are: The editor-in-chief of The New Statesman and author of 'Who Are We Now? Stories of Modern England,' Jason Cowley, Political commentator Emma Webb and Sky's chief political...

Adam Boulton and guests assess the fallout from the Batley and Spen by election as Labour hold on with a slim majority. What does the result mean for Sir Keir Starmer and his party following the recent defeat in Hartlepool and the losses in the local elections? And what about the Conservatives who failed to add another blue brick to the red wall and follows the defeat in Amersham. The panel also discuss the political aftermath of Matt Hancock's departure as health secretary. Joining Adam...

Adam Boulton and guests assess the dynamic between numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street and the apparent tensions over the approach to tax and spend. Can the government keep its manifesto promise on the pensions triple lock and the pledge to sort out social care in England 'once and for all?' And what about the 200 million pound bill to pay for the successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia. It's all about the money this week and joining Adam to discuss whether Johnson/Sunak is the new Blair/Brown...

Adam Boulton and guests reflect on the week that was on the home and international fronts. The fallout from the G7 summit in Cornwall, the ongoing row over the Northern Ireland protocol, the Prime Minister's decision to delay removing all Covid restrictions in England by four weeks and the latest explosive claims by his former adviser Dominic Cummings. They also examine this week's meeting between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden in Geneva and the potential for a resetting of...

Adam Boulton and guests assess the UK's place in the world as the G7 summit gets underway in Cornwall. Where are we with the special relationship with the US? How are the leaders going to address the coronavirus pandemic and accelerate the progress of vaccinating the world? And what about the row over the government's decision to cut the aid budget which has angered many Conservative MPs this week? Joining Adam this week are the writer for The Times and The Center for European Policy...

Adam Boulton and guests discuss the explosive evidence given by the Prime Minister's former adviser Dominic Cummings to two select committees on the government's handling of the pandemic. In seven hours of testimony, Mr Cummings said that 'tens of thousands of people died, who didn't need to die,' suggested Boris Johnson is 'not fit for office' and argued that the Health Secretary should have been sacked 'for at least 15 to 20 things.' 'Fascinating but incendiary' was one MP's take on it as...