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Dover in Kent has been the focus of politics this week. Tory MP Natalie Elphicke, who represents the area, crossed the floor and joined Labour. It was not without controversy. Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer then head eddown to the area to discuss his plans for tackling illegal migration. While that was happening, it was revealed that the UK is no longer in recession. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss it all. Natalie Elphicke apologises for comments about ex-husband's victims – BBC News UK no longer in recession, official figures show – Sky News Keir Starmer unveils plan to use anti-terror powers to tackle small boats – BBC News Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's website and newsletter – The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left Emma Burnell's Album on Spotify House of Comments on Twitter Support House of Comments on Patreon - just £5 a month House of Comments is a C.A.H Multimedia production in association with Poli

Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell unpack the latest set of local election results and the Blackpool South by-election.  That vote was a huge swing towards Labour and Sir Keir Starmer's party has done well up and down the country. Things are not looking pretty for the Conservatives as they lose hundreds of councillors. However, they managed to hold onto Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen. Local election results 2024 – BBC News John Swinney set to become Scotland’s new First Minister in decisive comeback for former SNP leader – Independent Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's website and newsletter – The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left Emma Burnell's Album on Spotify House of Comments on Twitter

Someone (Charlotte) managed not to upload the entirety of this episode. Sorry! Here it is. Co-hosts Emma Burnell and Charlotte Henry unpack the forthcoming local elections. Will the Tories really do as badly as we think? They also discuss a breaking controversy surrounding Sadiq Kahn. Before that, they unpack the chaos in Scotland as the governing coalition collapses and Labour's plan to renationalise the railways. How a climate U-turn broke the Scottish government – Politico Labour pledges to renationalise most rail services within five years – BBC News Sadiq Khan apologises to Chief Rabbi for insinuating Islamophobia in response to his ceasefire call – Jewish News Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's website and newsletter – The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left Emma Burnell's Album on Spotify House of Comments on Twitter

Co-hosts Emma Burnell and Charlotte Henry unpack the forthcoming local elections. Will the Tories really do as badly as we think? They also discuss a breaking controversy surrounding Sadiq Kahn. Before that, they unpack the chaos in Scotland as the governing coalition collapses and Labour's plan to renationalise the railways. How a climate U-turn broke the Scottish government – Politico Labour pledges to renationalise most rail services within five years – BBC News Sadiq Khan apologises to Chief Rabbi for insinuating Islamophobia in response to his ceasefire call – Jewish News Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's website and newsletter – The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left Emma Burnell's Album on Spotify House of Comments on Twitter

From Conservative scandals, arrests in Scotland, smoking bans and welfare speeches, it has been a packed week in politics. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell return after recess to discuss it all. Peter Murrell charged with embezzlement following rearrest in Operation Branchform probe – Daily Record Tory MP Mark Menzies suspended over alleged misuse of campaign funds – BBC News William Wragg resigns Tory whip after divulging MPs’ phone numbers – The Guardian Britain just agreed the world’s toughest smoking ban. Conservatives hate it. – Politico Why do Lib Dems want to crack down on smoking but legalise cannabis? – Spectator Prime Minister’s speech on welfare: 19 April 2024 Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's website and newsletter - The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left Emma Burnell's Album on Spotify House of Comments on Twitter

History was made this week as Vaughan Gething become first minister of Wales. In so doing, the Labour politician became the first Black leader of any European nation. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss the significance of this moment and how the leaders of the different parts of the UK will work together if/when Sir Keir Starmer becomes prime minister. Elsewhere, they also discuss comments made by Mel Stride. The work and pensions secretary said that how we deal with mental health has "gone too far” in an interview. There is also the ongoing issue of Rwanda, which is going through the House of Lords. Vaughan Gething confirmed as Wales' new first minister - BBC News Mental health culture has gone too far, says Mel Stride - Telegraph Sam Freedman tweet Rwanda bill likely to be stalled at least till April after seven defeats in the Lords - Guardian Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's website and newsletter - The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Har

The Guardian revealed that Frank Hester, a major Conservative donor, has made racist, misogynistic and violent comments about Diane Abbott. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell look at how both the Tories and Labour have managed the incident. They also discuss MPs upcoming pay increase. Biggest Tory donor said looking at Diane Abbott makes you ‘want to hate all black women’ - Guardian Speaker fails to let Diane Abbott speak in PMQs debate on Tory donor’s remarks - Guardian Angela Rayner says she wants to see Diane Abbott get Labour whip restored – UK politics live - Guardian MPs awarded pay rise to £91,346 by independent body - Sky News Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's website and newsletter - The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left Emma Burnell's Album on Spotify House of Comments on Twitter Support House of Comments on Patreon - just £5 a month House of Comments is a C.A.H Multimedia production in association with

Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell unpack Jeremy Hunt's seemingly very boring budget. Millenials may though be one group that noticeably benefited from it, instead of pensioners. And why didn't Jeremy Hunt get told off for all the leaks? Before the Budget chat, they discuss two Conservative politicians who have had to make amends after making false allegations. Science secretary Michelle Donelan's department had to pay £15,000 after she accused an academic of being a member of Hamas. Baroness Jacqueline Foster had to apologise and pay damages and costs after accusing University Challenge contestant Melika Gorgianeh of being antisemitic. Michelle Donelan's false Hamas claim about academic cost taxpayer £15,000 - BBC News Why did the government have to settle the libel claim against Michelle Donelan? - Prospect University Challenge student gets payout from Tory peer over antisemitism claim - BBC News Budget summary: Key points from Jeremy Hunt's speech - BBC News Why millennials won the Bud

He's back. George Galloway has stormed to victory in the Rochdale by-election. It will be the fourth constituency he has represented in the House of Commons. Meow. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss whether the by-election has wider implications. They also look at the ugly spectre of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party after comments from Lee Anderson.  To finish, they delve into the 13 previously unreleased reports that the Home Office made public in a busy week. Given what is in them, it's no surprise they wanted them to get little attention.  Rochdale by-election: Landslide win for George Galloway - BBC News UK’s Tories tear themselves apart over Islamophobia - Politico Tories demand Lee Anderson be given the whip back in Red Wall MP revolt - Express Islamists are bullying Britain into submission - Suella Braverman, Telegraph Child asylum seekers in UK made to play game about who gets foster care places - Guardian Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's website and ne

Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell take to their mics early to discuss the chaos that erupted in the House of Commons during a debate about Gaza. Such debates may have little effect in the Middle East, but the incident will likely impact the future of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. His job is on the line after the unedifying scenes. Elsewhere, the episode looks at Kemi Badenoch's row with the former Post Office chair she sacked and Lizz Truss's trip Stateside. Politics latest: Motion of no confidence in Speaker after Gaza debate descends into chaos - Sky News MPs demand evidence in Post Office row as Kemi Badenoch blasted for ‘deeply embarrassing’ spat - Independent Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's website and newsletter - The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left Emma Burnell's Album on Spotify House of Comments on Twitter Support House of Comments on Patreon - just £5 a month House of Comments is a C.A.H Multimedia productio

It started out as a bad week for Sir Keir Starmer, as the Labour Party was once again engulfed in a row about antisemitism. Both Azhar Ali and Graham Jones were suspended, although the former will legally still have to appear on the ballot for Labour in the Rochdale by-election. However, Sir Keir's party went on to claim two big wins in votes in Wellingborough and Kingswood.  If that wasn't bad enough for Rishi Sunak, the prime minister got confirmation that the UK economy has slipped into recession. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss it all. Labour wins Wellingborough seat in by-election - BBC News Reform UK secures best-ever by-election results - Telegraph(£) Analysis: Tough week tests Keir Starmer's leadership - BBC News UK economy slipped into recession in 2023 - Financial Times(£) Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's website and newsletter - The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left Emma Burnell's Album on Spotif

Neither the prime minister or opposition leader have had a good week. Rishi Sunak has been shown to be leaden-footed on a couple of occasions, including a terrible incident in which he made a trans "joke" in front of the mother of murdered trans girl Brianna Ghey in the House of Commons.  Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer is facing a huge backlash as his party rows back on its £28 billion a year green commitments. The move demonstrates many of the things people don't like about the Labour leader and co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss it all. Uproar over Rishi Sunak’s crass trans jibe as Brianna Ghey’s mother visits Commons - Independent ‘Not a betting person’: Rishi Sunak rows back on £1,000 Rwanda bet - Guardian What happened in Rishi Sunak's disappearing Topjaw interview - Evening Standard UK's Labour Party expected to scale back $35 billion green spending pledge - Reuters Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's newsletter, The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's new

It has been a busy week in all corners of the UK. The Northern Ireland Assembly is finally set to return after an agreement to remove routine checks on the island of Ireland was agreed. Over in Scotland, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon faced the Covid inquiry. Back in London, Conservative MP and justice minister Mike Freer has decided to stand down due to the death threats he has received over his support for Israel. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss it all. DUP deal aimed at restoring power sharing in Northern Ireland is published - BBC News Sturgeon: I did not take Covid decisions for political reasons - BBC News Mike Freer QUITS: Veteran Tory justice minister stands down after his office faced 'arson' attack and he was forced to wear a stab vest - saying 'I've been driven out of politics by death threats - for supporting Israel' - Daily Mail Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's newsletter, The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinki

Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell may have dodged the draft, but Sir Simon Clarke has gone over the top. The former Cabinet minister called for Rishi Sunak to quit as prime minister in a scathing Telegraph op-ed. Is anyone going to follow him out of the trenches, or will Sunak survive for a few months longer? And just what political game is the Telegraph playing? It is all discussed on this week's show. Replace Sunak as PM or face decade of decline under Starmer - Telegraph I'm acting alone, says Simon Clarke after calling for PM to go - BBC News Andrew Neil vows to quit if Telegraph takeover goes ahead - Telegraph Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's newsletter, The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left House of Comments on Twitter Support House of Comments on Patreon - just £6 a month House of Comments is a C.A.H Multimedia production in association with Political Human.

A new in-depth poll by YouGov caused waves as it predicted a wipeout for Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives at the next General Election. Some were keen to put a particular spin on it, claiming Reform was the key issue. The pollsters were not impressed... In the same week, there was a row over Rwanda (again). Two Conservative deputy chairmen resigned and Therese Coffey got herself in a muddle. Ultimately, the Bill passed but it now faces the Lords. YouGov MRP shows Labour would win 1997-style landslide if election were held today Tories facing 1997-style general election wipeout - Telegraph Sunak faces revolt over Rwanda bill as two senior Tories quit - Guardian Rishi Sunak urges Lords to back Rwanda bill - BBC News Rwanda asylum plans were against Tory promises, SNP say - The National Rwanda: Therese Coffey mistakes country's capital for another country during attack on Labour's Yvette Cooper - Sky News Therese Coffey Tweet Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's newsletter, The Addition Emma

In the hours before this episode was recorded, US and UK forces struck 16 targets in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. It is the first time prime minister Rishi Sunak has sanctioned military action. He will address the House of Commons on Monday. Some opposition politicians, including the Lib Dems, argue Parliament should already have been recalled.  Funnily enough, the Lib Dems have not been so keen on Parliament being recalled over the fallout from the Post Office scandal. Leader Sir Ed Davey's time as Post Office minister is under ongoing scrutiny. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss how that could continue in a General Election campaign. Everywhere is war - Politico Middle East crisis: At least five killed after UK-US strikes on Yemen - as Houthis warn it will not go 'unanswered' - Sky News Britain to increase Ukraine support to £2.5bn, Rishi Sunak announces - BBC News What actually happened in the Post Office Horizon scandal? - ITV News The devaluati

It is 2024 and that means... General Election! Sir Keir Starmer started the year with a speech, while prime minister Rishi Sunak heavily hinted in an interview that we are heading for an election in October/November. There's a US election on the way too... In fact, around two billion people around the world are going to head to the polls in the next 12 months. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell unpack what it all might mean.  The show also covers the ongoing fallout from the Post Office scandal, after an ITV drama brought it to public attention once again. It might make things uncomfortable for Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey on the campaign trail, as he was the minister in charge at the time. Rishi Sunak suggests general election in second half of year - BBC News Keir Starmer’s New Year speech Rishi Sunak’s strategic genius - The Economist Trump's Colorado appeal may force US Supreme Court to rule on his future - Reuters Ed Davey accuses Post Office bosses of misleading him over Horizon IT sca

We've made it to the end of 2023, so it is time for the House of Comments Christmas Special! Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell round of the year by discussing the economy and Peter Bone losing his seat, before reflecting on all that has gone on over the last 12 months. There are some 2024 predictions in there too! UK at risk of recession after economy shrinks - BBC News Rishi Sunak facing another by-election as MP Peter Bone loses seat in recall petition - Sky News Charlotte Henry on ThreadsCharlotte Henry's newsletter, The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left House of Comments on Twitter Support House of Comments on Patreon - just £6 a month Crisis at Christmas House of Comments is a C.A.H Multimedia production in association with Political Human.

Rishi Sunak nearly had a good week. After an internal battle, the prime minister managed to get his Rwanda Bill through pretty comfortably at second reading, having already put in a good showing in front of the Covid inquiry. However, a flash of temper at PMQs rather put a downer on things.  Worse, he might face yet another by-election prompted by sleaze. Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell discuss it all. Whilst we were recording this episode, news broke that Prince Harry had won his phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). He has been awarded £140,600 in damages. The implications go far beyond MGN's bank account though. Potential by-election as ex-Tory MP Scott Benton faces Commons suspension - BBC News Rishi Sunak squeaks through in key Rwanda vote despite Tory infighting - Politico Harry wins 15 claims in phone-hacking case against Mirror publisher - BBC News 'No Empathy': Rishi Sunak Condemned Over Reaction To Child Homelessness Question - Huffington Post Charlotte Hen

Co-hosts Charlotte Henry and Emma Burnell return to discuss a chaotic week and a chaotic government. Rows about immigration and "stopping the boats" continue, and this week include the resignation of immigration minister Robert Jenrick and the Rwandan government raising concerns over the UK's emergency legislation.  Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has been at the Covid inquiry and Nadine Dorries thinks there is a conspiracy... New Rwanda bill gives ministers power to disregard some human rights law - BBC News Minister quits over Rishi Sunak’s new plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda - Politico Nadine Dorries tweet Charlotte Henry on Threads Charlotte Henry's newsletter, The Addition Emma Burnell on Twitter Emma Burnell's newsletter, Hard Thinking on the Soft Left House of Comments on Twitter Support House of Comments on Patreon - just $6 a month House of Comments is a C.A.H Multimedia production in association with Political Human.