Missing millions and Michelle Mone
The Tory Peer Michelle Mone is to take a leave of absence from the House of Lords to 'clear her name' from the allegations she profited to the tune of more than £20 million from a PPE Covid contract. She hasn't voted in the Lords since the end of April - just days before her home was raided by the National Crime Agency. And today, Labour has urged the lower chamber, the House of Commons to vote to secure the release of secret texts, emails and documents relating to the 200 million pounds of contracts secured by the PPE Medpro company. And we talk to Lord Ed Vaizey - former Tory Culture Minister - about clandestine conversations between the UK and Greece on how to return the Parthenon (Elgin) Sculptures (Marbles) to Athens. Is this about art? theft? history? Or is it diplomacy?Social Media: Georgia FoxwellVideo: Will Gibson-SmithProduction: Gabriel Radus Deputy Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Dino SofosFor exclusive daily videos from The News Agents visit Global Player: https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/You can watch our interviews in full at https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.
6 Dec 202238min
Is the House of Lords indefensible?
On today's episode we launch the Christmas Countdown - our (and your) favourite soundbites of political inanity of 2022. Please send in the moments you want us to revisit and react to.But before we get there, we talk about Sir Keir Starmer's plans to abolish the House of Lords and redistribute the economy more faithfully around the country. Is it justifiable to have an unelected upper chamber in 2022? And what would the replacement actually look and sound like? We speak to Baroness Hilary Armstrong, a Labour peer, and Conservative MP Vicky Ford.Social Media: Georgia FoxwellVideo: Will Gibson-SmithProduction: Gabriel Radus Deputy Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Dino SofosFor exclusive daily videos from The News Agents visit Global Player: https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.
5 Dec 202234min
The cryptocurrency con
You're 30 years old, worth billions as a result of a crypto exchange you've set up - and in the space of one Sunday afternoon it all turns to dust. What must that feel like? On this episode of The News Agents we speak to someone who's been there, done that and has got the badge (the prison sentence). Nick Leeson single-handedly brought down one of Britain's most famous financial institutions in 1995 - Barings Bank - and spent four years in a Singapore jail as a result. He speaks to us about the tight spot Sam Bankman Fried now finds himself in, and how similar it was to his own.Planning: Melissa TutesigensiSocial Media: Georgia FoxwellVideo: Will Gibson-SmithProduction: Gabriel Radus Deputy Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Dino SofosFor exclusive daily videos from The News Agents visit Global Player: https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.
2 Dec 202229min
Why is Trump hanging out with racists (again)?
Donald Trump is insisting he was set up by Kanye (Ye) West over that dinner party he accidentally hosted for a white supremacist leader. NBC News is reporting Trump's fury at West - who he thinks is deliberately trying to embarrass him off the electoral map. But some think Trump can do that all by himself. Today, we hear from a former advisor to two Bush presidents (George H.W & George W.) who tells us the stringent security around ex-presidents means NO ONE could turn up to dinner without clearance. And talking of former populist leaders, Boris Johnson has announced he will stand again in his relatively marginal West London seat. He could very well lose. What's that all about?Planning: Melissa TutesigensiSocial Media: Georgia FoxwellVideo: Will Gibson-SmithProduction: Gabriel Radus Deputy Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Dino SofosFor exclusive daily videos from The News Agents visit Global Player: https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.
1 Dec 202229min
Should private schools get tax breaks?
Sir Keir Starmer wants private schools to pay more tax. He's also talking about removing their charitable status. Today at PMQ's he asked the PM why Winchester deserved 6 million pounds to spend on rowing clubs and rifle clubs which could be going to fund the state sector instead. Is the country where Starmer is now - or does this policy represent a polemic talking point which creates more class warfare than cash? And what do head teachers think about it? Today, we hear from the state sector, the private sector , a former advisor to the government on education and a staunch progressive. Warning: there is nuance.Planning: Melissa TutesigensiSocial Media: Georgia FoxwellVideo: Will Gibson-SmithProduction: Gabriel Radus Deputy Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Dino SofosFor exclusive daily videos from The News Agents visit Global Player: https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.
30 Nov 202233min
Quitters not Fighters? - The Tory MPs fleeing Parliament
12 Tory MPs have already announced they're standing down at the next election. That includes some young politicians who would once have represented the party's future.Today, we look at how many more are likely to follow - with a looming December 5th deadline by which they need to submit their names. We speak to Seb Payne - author of Broken Heartlands - and the Tory Peer and Pollster Robert Haywood . And also to China - where police are now checking the apps on people's phones to learn of planned protests. Rishi Sunak has called for a 'robust pragmatism 'in relations with China. Honestly? There's nothing that new in that - we go back through the decades - to Tiananmen and John Major - to look at how the West has tried to deal with China.Planning: Melissa TutesigensiSocial Media: Georgia FoxwellVideo: Will Gibson-SmithDeputy Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Dino SofosFor exclusive daily videos from The News Agents visit Global Player: https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.
29 Nov 202227min
Tony Blair on Qatar, Starmer and kissing Tories
Sir Tony Blair speaks exclusively with The News Agents. He has words that may surprise Matt Hancock and Liz Truss, and a gentle message for Keir Starmer to go further.He talks about gesture politics over the banning of Qatar state advertising - and he tells us he thinks he's kissed at least one Tory.Watch the full interview with Tony Blair exclusively on Global Player. https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/2JsSYUgsZkC/?category=the-news-agents/Video: Will Gibson-Smith Social Media: Georgia FoxwellProduction: Sophie Snelling & Gabriel RadusDeputy Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Dino Sofos
28 Nov 202237min
Living in a house that might kill you
There are thousands of homes in Britain not fit for purpose with people living in neglected and dangerous conditions - with damp, mould and vermin.Lewis talks to social housing campaigner, Kwajo Tweneboa, former Levelling Up and Housing Secretary, Simon Clarke to get to the heart of what needs to change.And playwright James Graham talks to us about the art of bringing to life political events.Planning: Melissa TutesigensiSocials: Georgia FoxwellVideo: Will Gibson-SmithProduction: Gabriel RadusExecutive Producer: Dino SofosFor exclusive daily videos from The News Agents visit Global Player: https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/news-agents/the-news-agents/The News Agents is a Global Player Original and a Persephonica Production.
25 Nov 202239min
