House Of Comments's Posts

In this episode Mark Thompson and Emma Burnell discuss the lack of any coverage of republicanism in the wake of wall-to-wall royal wedding coverage, the opening of the Grenfell Inquiry and the resignation from the Labour Party of Ken Livingstone.

No Mark this week - Emma gamely tries an AV anaolgy in his place.  In the meantime Emma Burnell and Nick Denys pay tribute to Tessa Jowell, discuss the ongoing Customs Union mess and Trump's ripping up of the Iran deal.

On the eve of the local elections, Emma, Nick and Mark discuss the Alfie Evans case and the horrendous circus that surrounded this tragedy.  We also discuss the eventual resignation of Amber Rudd - Nick's forgotten her so quickly he calls her Amanda! Did she lie or just tell an untruth - yes, we get that semantic.  We discuss the potential for peace between North and South Korea and the role of Donald Trump. Also should we protest his visit?  Finally we discuss the local elections. Good luck to everyone standing and campaigning today!

In this special episode, Nick Denys interviews Claire Ainsley, Executive Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and author of the forthcoming book _The New Working Class: How to win hearts, minds and votes. _

The UK, USA and France have taken joint action in response to the chemical attacks carried out on Syrians by President Assad. We try to look not just at why this action was taken, but also why doing so is so polarising.  One issue we aren't polarised on is the disgraceful treatment of the Windrush generation by the Home Office. But is it cock up or conspiracy?  Are our elections being hacked? Could they be in future? We try to look at the issues behind the scandals.  And finally, what would we put in a Brexit Museum?

You know it's been a tough week when your "Any finally" story is on a leaflet so racist you can't even call it dog whistling.  This week Emma, Mark and Nick discuss Labour's antisemitism problem, everyone's Cambridge Analytica problem, the release of John Worboys and the aforementioned leaflet from Havering Tories.

This week, Emma, Mark and Nick discuss the chemical attack on British soil, the likelihood of it being sanctioned by Russia and what can be done about that.  We also discuss the Irish border and the EU's position that they can't go further with the negotiations until this is settled.  Finally we look at the latest bullying and abuse scandal in the Houses of Parliament.

In this special episode, released on the eve of International Women's Day, Emma interviews Jo Swinson MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, about her new book E[qual Power: and how you can make it happen](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Equal-Power-How-Make-Happen/dp/1786491877).  They discuss All Women Shortlists, the Lord Rennard affair, body image and other key suggestions for improving gender equality.

Labour have changed their minds on the customs union. Have our regulars or guest Hugo Sugg? Well, what do you think? Emma asks Ben Bradley MP- genius or goat? And we discuss the UK's reaction to snow and the effect on those living on the streets.

This week, Emma, Mark and Nick discuss the ongoing crisis in local government. There's surprising agreement about whose fault it is. We also discuss the Telegraph and Daily Mail front page attacks on George Soros and the unfolding scandal of aid workers abusing their beneficiaries in Haiti and Chad.

In this special episode, Emma interviews Ava Etemadzadeh - a young Labour Party activist who has been in the headlines having made a complaint against a Labour MP as part of the ongoing "Pestminster" scandal.  As the Parliamentary report into future measures to tackle abuse of staff is published we discuss if it is sufficient, what needs to be done to protect volunteers and how we can all work to change the culture of politics.

This week, Regular gang Emma Burnell, Nick Denys and Mark Thompson discuss the leak of the Brexit papers and the latest Tory wobbles. Worse than normal or just par for a rather depressing course?  We also discuss the fall in provision of Social Housing, the ways councils and governments are and are not getting to grips with it and the controversy in Haringey caused by one council's approach.

No Nick this week, but we're delighted instead to be joined by Chloe Schendel-Wilson - a Conservative member and activist.  This week we discuss the collapse of Carillion. What does it mean for the future of private outsourced provision of public services?  We also discuss the latest internal wranglings on Labour's NEC.  Finally, what do Tony Blair and Nigel Farage have in Common?  Yes we discuss the prospect of a second, third, first, whatever(!?) referendum.

We have no Nick this week sadly.  Luckily we're joined by Chloe Schendel-Wilson a Conservative activist in his place.  This week we discuss the collapse of Carillion and what this means for private provision of public services. We also discuss the Momentum's clean sweep in Labour's NEC elections and their subsequent move to replace Ann Black with Christine Shawcroft.  Finally, what have Tony Blair and Nigel Farage got in common? Yes, we discuss the second/third/whatever referendum.

We're Back!  The gang are back together for 2018 to discuss politics as we understand it and even as we don't. In this episode we discuss the NHS Winter crisis, the appointment of Toby Young, the latest on the Trump White House and - somewhat foolishly - our predictions for 2018\. How wrong can we be right?

Mark Thompson, Emma Burnell and Nick Denys are face to face (for the first time ever!) for this recording of a special House of Comments in the aftermath of the 2017 general election. What went wrong for May? What went right for Corbyn? Is May now finished? They discuss all of this and more. Also round the table was cultural commentator Tim Worthington who provided a very useful and, given how much political pundits have got wrong recently, a much needed non political geek perspective!

The old band are back together again! Mark Thompson, Emma Burnell and Nick Denys discuss the 2017 General Election campaign. Is Theresa May really strong and stable? Are Labour definitely going to lose? Did Paul Nuttall walk on the moon? Find out the answers to two of these questions and fewer in this special edition of the podcast.

Mark Thompson is joined by Labour activist Emma Burnell and Henry Hill of Conservative Home to discuss the ramifications of the triggering of Article 50 on the day it happened

Mark Thompson and Emma Burnell reunite to discuss the momentous result of the EU Referendum to vote to leave the EU and its likely effects on British politics

Mark chairs a debate between four of the candidates standing for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner in Devon and Cornwall. The candidates are Gareth Derrick for Labour, Alison Hernandez for the Conservatives, Richard Younger-Ross for the Lib Dems and Jonathan Smith for UKIP. We cover all sort of ground including Hillsborough and the aftermath of the inquest verdict, online crime, the remit of the role of PCC and even whether it is ever morally justified to commit a crime.