Is Keir Starmer Britain's Joe Biden?

Chris Patten has done it all. Conservative cabinet minister under Thatcher and Major, our last Governor of British Hong Kong, then back home overseeing policing reform in Northern Ireland, EU Commissioner in Brussels, Chairman of the BBC, Chancellor of Oxford University, you name it, Patten has more chance than anybody of having done it. But his sort of Tory Party is one which increasingly feels consigned to history. What does it mean for Britain’s future if there are no successors to the sort of politics he embodied? Now in his 80th year, Lewis went to Patten’s salubrious Barnes home, to discuss a remarkable career in national and international politics. He talks the future of China, the Iran conflict, Starmer’s handling of Trump and how Farage is Britain’s biggest pub bore.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

20 Juni 38min

This week on The Sports Agents...Does the government actually have a good reason for the £2.5bn from the Chelsea FC sale not helping millions of children worldwide? And was former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich poisoned? (03:30)How do you train a horse for Royal Ascot? A full behind the scenes episode from one of Britain's best yards, which trained the late Queen's horses. (13:30)And what is it like to race for 24 hours in Le Mans? How do you stay awake for the night driving? (20:30)In response to the comments made in this podcast Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion. We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far. While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.”You can watch our full episodes on YouTube here. Got a question for The Sports Agents? Email us at thesportsagents@global.comNew episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

20 Juni 25min

Sir Keir Starmer has put his cabinet on alert for a possible US attack on Iran. Just 24 hours after insisting Donald Trump had given no indication he was about to “get involved” in the conflict between Israel and Iran, the Prime Minister called a COBRA meeting to review how Britain might respond to a major escalation. Would Starmer be able to say no to Trump? What might Trump ask us to do? And how did we get here in under a week?Later, we are joined by the Hungarian deputy foreign minister to discuss their welcome of Netanyahu, NATO, Ukraine and whether Hungarians are falling out of love with Viktor Orban.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

19 Juni 38min

Later on this episode we’re joined by author of 'Sapiens' and 'Nexus' - Yuval Noah Harari - to talk politics and AI. But we begin with war. The speed of the escalation between Iran, Israel, and the US has been staggering. Trump is flirting with entering a war he doesn’t want, with an enemy he may not be able to control. At the heart of this conflict are questions over Iran’s ability to make nuclear weapons. Netanyahu believes it’s an imminent threat. Trump’s own administration didn’t believe this back in March. So what’s actually changed? And is Iran actually nuclear ready? We discuss with Iranian analyst and former state department advisor Vali Nasr.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

18 Juni 51min

Louise Casey's report on grooming gangs is incredibly tough reading. She details, over 200 pages, the repeated failings of local authorities, police forces, government departments and indeed the legal system, which treats the victims of the most horrific abuse as somehow culpable. She was tasked to look into the issue following a clamour for a national inquiry earlier this year. Bundled up in those calls - propelled by Elon Musk - was the claim that Pakistani men were responsible for the vast majority of "group-based" child sexual exploitation offences. Baroness Casey has looked at that claim. She has found a comprehensive failure of adequate data gathering, although from the records of three police forces says there is an "over-representation" of Asian and Pakistani men. She is concerned about the politicisation of the debate, the risks of racists hijacking the issue, and most profoundly, about fixing a system which still sees girls subject to heinous abuse at the hands of male predators.Baroness Casey came in to speak to Emily and Lewis, as the Prime Minister backed her call for a new national inquiry. 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

17 Juni 35min

What is Israel's end game in Iran? Does it genuinely believe Iran is making nuclear weapons - or is this about overthrowing the whole regime? Did Trump make Iran more dangerous when he ripped up the diplomatic deal Obama had forged with the country? And will Trump end up dragging America into a brand new Middle East war? We talk to CNN correspondent and Ex Files host, Christiane Amanpour and ask how Iranians themselves are feeling about the prospect of their own leaders being toppled. Later, why is abortion still technically illegal in England and Wales. And does the law need to change? Tomorrow MPs will be given a free commons vote. We ask Labour backbencher Stella Creasy why pressure from America is making her bring this amendment now.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

16 Juni 40min

The last two decades have led to the last 24 hours: Israel, going for broke and launching an all out assault on Iran’s nuclear programme. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu claims he is trying to prevent a “nuclear holocaust.” But why now? And in acting in this way will Israel succeed in halting an Iranian nuclear weapon or guarantee it?PLUS Lewis talks at length to Zia Yusuf, the former Reform Chairman about that weekend, where he resigned and unresigned in the space of 72 hours. Is Reform really about to storm Westminster, or rather is it its best disguised joke?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

13 Juni 59min

This week on The Sports Agents...We hear the secrets behind match fixing from convicted match fixer and former professional footballer, Moses Swaibu. With the Lucas Paqueta trial coming to an end, Swaibu tells us how many people it takes to fix a match, what signs you can look out for, and how to put an end to all of this. (01:00)Mark heads down to Soccer Aid to chat to a host of sporting stars. What does Joe Hart make of Manchester City's transfer business? How does Bryan Habana rate the Lions' chances on tour? And can he still race a cheetah? (14:45)Got a question for The Sports Agents? Email us at thesportsagents@global.comNew episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

13 Juni 25min