The BBC vs. Lineker: They think it’s all over ... it isn’t

For the last decade, the spectre of Nigel Farage has been haunting British politics. From UKIP to the Brexit Party, he has loomed in the background of Westminster, threatening but never quite managing to pose a real threat to the two major parties. All that changed today. With just six votes in it, Reform took their first seat from Labour, in Runcorn - which had been one of the safest seats in the country. The party has secured other big council and mayoral wins too. Farage now claims that he, not Kemi Badenoch, is the leader of the opposition. Is he right? How will Labour respond to this Reform victory in the by-elections? What does it mean for Keir Starmer's government? And does it mark the end of the two party system as we know it?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

2 Touko 41min

This week on The Sports Agents...Gabby and Mark were live from Lords Cricket Ground this week for the launch of the 2026 Women's T20 Cricket World Cup in England and Wales. They spoke to World Rugby Player of the Year, Ellie Kildunne, about their own home World Cup this summer, the new trend for celebrations, and the cowboy craze (01:15). At Lords we also caught up with the new Head Coach of the England women's cricket team, Charlotte Edwards. Her task is to take the team from an Ashes whitewash to a home World Cup victory - so how's she going to pull that off? (20:30)After Liverpool won the Premier League (sorry Mark!) we marvelled at the smooth handover from talisman Juergen Klopp to Premier League newbie Arne Slot with Football Correspondent for the Sunday Times, Jonathan Northcroft, and John Gibbons from the Anfield Wrap (09:30). Tennis players are suing the governing bodies over prize money, "invasive" phone searches and more. So we caught up with the man behind the lawsuit, Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the Professional Tennis Players Association (15:30). Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at thesportsagents@global.com New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

2 Touko 24min

Trump has sent 50 million dollars of military aid to Ukraine - the first shipment of aid since he took power. The money started flowing after Ukraine signed that much discussed minerals deal: in it, America recognised Russia's “full scale invasion of Ukraine". So has the minerals deal finally made peace possible? Or is it little more than a shakedown of the Ukrainians?Later, the Labour MP who says he wouldn’t be disappointed if more UK universities closed. Do we have too many universities? And are some Labour figures now starting to parrot the language and talking points of Reform?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

1 Touko 40min

Today, America's GDP figures show the economy is dramatically contracting, and recession continues to loom. It’s not an ideal backdrop for Trumps 100 day celebration. Jon has been in Detroit, where Trump has been addressing autoworkers terrified by Trump's tariffs. So, with 100 days of Trump 2.0 under our belts, we answer your most pressing questions about how it's gone so far, and whether things are only going to get crazier. The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

30 Huhti 41min

Mark Carney’s election win in Canada has shown what a potent political force Trump can be - to those campaigning against his economic bullying. But could it have wider implications at home for Keir Starmer? Will the PM now feel more comfortable prioritising a trade deal with the EU over the US? And what does having an ally on America's border mean for the way the UK Government now deals with Trump? Jon's been at an election watch party and is now headed to Detroit across the border - as Donald Trump marks his 100 days in office. Later, Amazon vs Trump: why, according to the White House, it’s a "hostile act" for the consumer giant to tell its customers the truth about tariffs.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

29 Huhti 32min

Polls have narrowed as Canadians head to the ballot box. Mark Carney has led a remarkable fightback for the Liberal party, driven in no small part by a newfound sense of Canadian nationalism - determined not to be cowed by Donald Trump, disgusted by his overtures to turn the country into America's 51 state.But with the election looking tightly contested, Jon's been on the Conservative party campaign trail in Oakville, Ontario, where "Maple Leaf MAGA" is also coming out in force - could Donald Trump have killed their chance of returning to government?Later, Emily speaks to Sacha Lord - the chair of The Night Time Industries Association and former advisor to Andy Burnham - on what's going wrong with the British economy, and why Keir Starmer unfollowed him on X.And, as Virginia Giuffre's family describe the ongoing pain and trauma she endured until she ended her life, Emily asks why it took her suicide for people to believe her account.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

28 Huhti 44min

A special edition of The News Agents this weekend as Canadians head to the polls for an election which may be decided by anti American antipathy for Donald Trump. But we begin in Rome after that meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy. Big questions for both leaders. Has Trump now recognised he’s been played by Putin? And will Zelenskyy have any choice but to agree to concede sovereign Ukrainian territory to bring the war to an end?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

27 Huhti 38min

Over ten years ago, Black Mirror burst onto our screens, bringing with it dystopian futures and exploring themes of how humanity would deal with rapidly evolving technology. Now in its seventh series, how much of this is a far-off future? And in 2025, are we now closer to the world of Black Mirror than ever before? Charlie Brooker joins Emily and Lewis in the studio to talk about how his own anxieties shape Black Mirror, the future of TV in a world of AI, and why he believes humanity will triumph in the end. The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

25 Huhti 36min