Matt Hancock says sorry for Covid

At 1.57pm this afternoon, Penny Mordaunt's team were still insisting she would make it through to the final run off with Rushi Sunak to become Britain's next prime minister. But, just two minutes before the 2pm deadline, she pulled out of the race, crowning Rishi Sunak as the next Conservative party leader and the UK's first British Asian Prime Minister. It's quite a moment. Today The News Agents take stock of what we know about him, what we don't, and what his leadership will mean for the rest of the country. We hear from Empireland author Sathnam Sanghera on what it means for him, and do a bit of counting ourselves- cynics will tell you that if you add up all the supporters Boris Johnson claimed to have, all the supporters Penny Mordaunt believed she had and all the supporters Rishi Sunak had you arrive at a greater number than there are Tory MPs. We leave that to your musings without comment...Planning: Melissa TutesigensiProduction: Gabriel RadusExecutive Producers: Tom Hughes & Ellie CliffordFor 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.

24 Okt 202230min

The News Agents convene for a special Sunday night episode. Jon, Emily and Lewis talk through the big news breaking just an hour or so earlier that Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister, has decided *not* to throw his hat in the ring for this truncated leadership election, despite the backing of dozens of MPs and sizeable support amongst Conservative Party members. It paves the way for one of either Rishi Sunak, ex-Chancellor, or Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons, to become the UK's third premier of 2022. The former is now well and truly in the driving seat. If you thought last week was crazy, buckle up for the next few days. Production: Gabriel Radus & Dino SofosExecutive 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.

24 Okt 202233min

In the week to end all weeks, we've lurched from the shortest prime ministerial era *ever* to the potential return of the last PM... who's only been an ex-PM for 45 days. The race to be our next Conservative Prime Minister is well and truly on (again!). Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt has already thrown her hat into the ring, and the rumour is that former Chancellor Rishi Sunak will follow too. 
Jon and Lewis speak to former Special Advisor to Boris Johnson, Henry Newman, about whether the ex-PM will run, and what it means for the party. And Matt Forde, of the British Scandal podcast, joins Lewis and Jon in the studio to talk about the blurred lines between politics and comedy... and why, if you don't laugh sometimes, you'll cry.Planning: Melissa TutesigensiDeputy Editor: Gabriel RadusExecutive Producer: Ellie CliffordFor 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.

21 Okt 202233min

A day after announcing that she was a 'fighter, not a quitter', Prime Minister Liz Truss quits. A disastrous 24 hours for the Conservative government culminated in the PM's ousting at lunchtime today. She's the shortest serving Prime Minister in British political history.Today's episode looks at the events that led to Truss’ resignation after just 45 days in office, the candidates in the running to take over, and the likelihood of an early general election.Joining all three News Agents are Conservative Health Minister Robert Jenrick and former Tory party MP and now Editor of Conservative Home, Paul Goodman.Planning: Melissa TutesigensiSocial Editor: Will BatchelorProduction: Gabriel Radus & Ellie CliffordExecutive Producer: Tom HughesFor 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.

20 Okt 202237min

After Home Secretary Suella Braverman resigned, the Prime Minister appointed one of her fiercest critics, Grant Shapps, to the post. Her Conservative project seems dead in the water, and after tonight’s chaos, Lewis and Jon discuss in this emergency episode whether the final nail has been drilled into the coffin of Liz Truss’ government.Production: Ellie Clifford & Gabriel Radus

19 Okt 202222min

We were about to publish this episode... and then the Home Secretary resigned. It came amidst a backdrop of a day in which an embattled prime minister had to face a series of tough questions from members of her own party, and the party opposite, at Prime Minister's Questions. The chaos in British politics continues.Planning: Melissa TutesigensiSocial Editor: Ollie McGrathProduction: Gabriel RadusDeputy 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.

19 Okt 202234min

After yesterday's stunning economic U-turn, today was a day where it was eerily quiet... almost too quiet. Why? Have the Conservatives finally decided to coalesce around their beleaguered leader? Was Jeremy Hunt's announcement enough to quell the baying wolves? It certainly calmed the markets down.We explore what's happening now, what manoeuvring could be going on behind the scenes, and how pivotal tomorrow's Prime Minister's Questions is for her. If she comes through it well, she could be able to put her stuttering start behind her. And we talk to Conservative MP and former chief whip Andrew Mitchell in the studio, and we also talk President Biden's extraordinary intervention in UK politics. Jon tells him to, well, mind his own business.Plus - we want to hear your questions. Send them in via our socials or email us at newsagents@global.com.Planning: Melissa TutesigensiSocial Editor: Ollie McGrathProduction: Gabriel RadusDeputy 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.

18 Okt 202230min

Today saw one of the biggest political U-turns in the UK for decades. The new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt appeared on our TV screens announcing a raft of economic changes. Liz Truss, our Prime Minister, was nowhere to be seen.We ask four questions today:1) What just happened?2) Why has the Government done it?3) What does it mean for you, the listener? 4) And what does it mean for Truss and the chances of premiership?Planning: Melissa TutesigensiVision Mixer: Will Gibson-SmithProduction: Gabriel RadusSocial Editor: Ollie McGrathDeputy 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.

17 Okt 202230min