Bloomberg UK Politics (Bloomberg)

The latest hot inflation data makes difficult reading for the Bank of England, which may have to raise interest rates further. And it’s a political hot potato for the PM, who has pledged to halve inflation by the end of the year. We get reaction from Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Gareth Davies, analysis from Bloomberg’s Senior UK Economist Dan Hanson, and bring you this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions. Hosted by Stephen Carroll, Lizzy Burden and Yuan Potts.

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The EU Commission President has rejected attempts to change the Northern Ireland Protocol, blaming the problems with it on Brexit rather than Brussels.

Simon Hoare, Conservative MP for North Dorset and chair of the Northern Ireland affairs committee, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Roger Hearing he is disappointed with the commission response. Hoare also says the new DUP leader Edwin Poots is likely to be more flexible in negotiations on this issue than he appeared to be in the leadership campaign.

Plus Andrew Wilson, professor of East European Studies at University College London and author of Belarus: The Last European Dictatorship joins to discuss the results of EU pressure over the Ryanair plane incident - saying the coerced confession of the detained journalist is a "hostage video".

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Labour leader Keir Starmer hammers Liz Truss at her third Prime Minister's Questions, saying the Conservatives' policies, credibility, and Chancellor are all gone, and that Truss has built her mandate on "fantasy economics". The Prime Minister defended her record, saying that she is a "fighter not a quitter". Bloomberg's Stephen Carroll and Caroline Hepker bring you the highlights and reaction from Labour MP Jon Trickett, who was in the chamber for the exchanges. 

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The House of Lords has rejected government plans to break international law over Brexit. Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesperson, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing he wouldn't be surprised if Boris Johnson quietly dropped the bill given opposition from Joe Biden.

Plus, Pfizer and BioNTech make a breakthrough in their search for a coronavirus vaccine. Gordon Dougan, professor at the Department of Medicine at Cambridge University, tells us when he sees life returning to normal.

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 The Bank of England's Andrew Bailey has been reassuring MPs today about the stability of the banking sector. Hosts Yuan Potts, Caroline Hepker and Tom Mackenzie discuss that - and the health of the wider UK economy - with reporter Lucy White. The BOE governor also says early-retiring 'Boomers' are driving up inflation. We speak to 55/Redefined founder Lyndsey Simpson about encouraging over 50s to stay in work. Plus: we discuss the challenges for newly-elected SNP leader Humza Yousaf (age 37, not a Boomer). 

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The Brexit Party won't contest Tory-held seats. Joey Jones, strategic counsel at Cicero and former spokesman for Theresa May tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing, that it may well be a huge moment in the election. Plus Labour transport spokesman Andy McDonald says the nationalisation of the railways will be cost-free for the taxpayer - but the costs of Labour's plans will only be declared when the manifesto is published.

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The UK is still hoping to negotiate a deal with the United States, after Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on British goods. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the decision was 'disappointing', and Keir Starmer promised to focus on the UK's interests in a 'new era' for global trade. We discuss the government's options with our politics and economics reporter Lucy White. Hosted by Lizzy Burden and Stephen Carroll.

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Katy Clark, Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland and a life peer says the Chancellor should spend more to support the economy. She tells Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker that tougher covid restrictions are needed in the U.K. and better enforcement in Scotland.

Plus: George Dibb from the Institute for Public Policy Research and Amanda Tickel, the head of tax and trade policy at Deloitte discuss what will be in the Chancellor's budget.

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After three eventful party conferences, we're back in the studio with a look at two major policy issues. The latest economic data shows a return to weak growth in August, but our Senior UK Economist Dan Hanson tells us the outlook remains gloomy. Plus: as the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visits Israel, we discuss the implications of the conflict with Hamas for the wider Middle East with Lebanon's Ambassador to the UK, Rami Mortada, military strategy expert Frank Ledwidge and Bloomberg's EMEA News Director Rosalind Mathieson. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Yuan Potts. 

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Could the U.K. still be heading for a no-deal Brexit at the end of the year? Therese Raphael, columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek there's a real chance. Plus, Iain Anderson, Executive Chairman of Cicero/AMO joins from Dublin, where he says it could be curtains for Leo Varadkar in February's election. 

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One of the most striking things about the coronavirus crisis is how devolved administrations have taken differing paths. Delyth Jewell, Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales East, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek that right now Boris Johnson is effectively prime minister of England only.

Plus, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Therese Raphael joins to talk about the prime minister's two headaches: lifting lockdown despite overwhelming public support for it, and preparing for Brexit when everyone is furloughed.

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 The government says it's inevitable that we'll all have to pay more tax to fill the hole in the public finances. After bumper profits from energy companies BP and Shell, our reporter Ellen Milligan joins Bloomberg's Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll to discuss whether more could be raised from windfall taxes. Markets reporter Valerie Tytel discusses a landmark move by the Bank of England to sell some of its bonds, plus we hear from Institute for Economic Affairs Director General Mark Littlewood about why he thinks some elements of Liz Truss's economic plan should be revived. 

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We speak to the Lord Mayor Peter Estlin on the day Rory Stewart announces his is running for Mayor of London against Sadiq Khan in May 2020. Estlin also discusses Brexit telling Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Sebastian Salek that a trade deal with the U.S. is important but won't be quick.

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We're back with our first show of the year, and so are the rail strikes. As government ministers and union leaders trade barbs, our UK correspondent Lizzy Burden gives us a briefing on the state of play with five days of train disruption this week. Healthcare reporter Lisa Pham has the latest on the various crises facing the NHS, while Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll discuss the positive sounds coming from Dublin over Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol. 

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In this special episode, we focus on the thing that can end the pandemic: an effective vaccine.

Helen Buckingham, Nuffield Trust Head of Strategy, explains the logistical challenge of rolling one out. She tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing the regulatory bar won't be lowered despite the speed at which vaccines are being developed.

Plus, why is the anti-vaxxer movement apparently growing during a pandemic? Dr Harriet Leyland, clinical advisor for the GP booking app MyGP, and Hal Sosabowski, Professor of Public Understanding of Science at Brighton University, join to discuss.

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The next Prime Minister is facing a myriad of challenges: a worsening energy crisis, climate change and tricky trade relations with China. Bloomberg's Asia government reporter Rebecca Choong-Wilkins tells Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll how Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak's tough talk on China is going down in Beijing. Energy reporter Will Mathis talks us through the options open to government in tackling soaring energy costs, and we hear from Thames Water about the risks to supply as we head into another heatwave. Plus, the Downing Street cat Larry gets his claws into the Tory leadership debate. 

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Boris Johnson's new policy to send asylum seekers 4,000 miles to Rwanda for processing has being criticised as draconian, expensive and a publicity stunt. But the government has defended the move as a way to deter migrants from crossing the Channel. Bloomberg government reporter Joe Mayes joins Caroline Hepker and Yuan Potts on this special programme along with the former UN Adviser to Rwanda Joseph Mullen and the Migration Observatory's Peter Walsh. 

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The number of pubs in Britain has been on the slide for decades, but last year saw more closures than in 2021 or 2020. Our reporter Helen Chandler-Wilde tells us what's driving the trend, and the issues the industry wants government to tackle. Plus: we speak to former British spy Christopher Steele, who ran MI6's Russia desk, about the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the challenges facing UK intelligence services. Hosted by Lizzy Burden and Stephen Carroll.

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 Political disarray and weak investment are being blamed for dashing hopes of what Boris Johnson once called a 'Galactic Britain'. Our tech reporter Tom Seal reports on why officials and space industry executives are frustrated. Investor James Bruegger of Seraphim Space explains what the sector wants now from government. Plus, the New Year started much like the old one ended for Rishi Sunak, with a focus on migration. Our UK government editor Stuart Biggs explains why the latest figures on small boat crossings are facing particular scrutiny. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Caroline Hepker. 

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Plans to go ahead with the country's first new deep coal mine in 30 years have been waved through by the government despite outrage from environmentalists and complaints that it will undermine the U.K.'s staging of the COP26 international climate conference in November.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron is the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, a constituency near the proposed mine. He tells Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Roger Hearing claims that it will bring long-term jobs to the area are bogus, and the U.K. will be laughed out of the room in climate talks.

Plus how do you persuade minority communities to get a coronavirus vaccine? We discuss with Kawsar Zaman, who has founded a nationwide volunteer-led campaign to increase the uptake of the jab.

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Our weekly election panel weigh in on major parties' manifestos for the General Election campaign. Plus we can't let them get away without asking about debates and D-Day. We're joined by Alice Perry, former chair of Labour's National Executive Committee, Luisa Porritt, former Liberal Democrat member of the European Parliament and Chris Wilkins, former speechwriter to Theresa May. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and James Woolcock. 

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More problems at the U.K. border with the EU. The Road Haulage Association says the volume of goods going to the bloc fell by over two-thirds in January because of post-Brexit red tape. The government says they do not recognize the figures and there has been "intensive engagement with the road haulage industry for months"

Mick Whitley, Labour MP for Birkenhead, who voted for the Brexit deal, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Roger Hearing the problems need to be sorted out and the government needs to make sure the deal works for everyone.

Ben Judah, author of the Policy Exchange's report on British diplomacy in Washington, joins to discuss how London can improve getting its voice heard in White House and on Capitol Hill.

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Boris Johnson is facing a backlash after announcing his plans to ease the UK lockdown.

Responding to new guidance that some have called confusing, James Sunderland, Conservative MP for Bracknell, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek that people need to take a certain level of personal responsibility to stay safe and avoid spreading the virus.

Plus, could the next big economic shock be a no-deal Brexit? Anand Menon, politics professor at Kings College London, explains why backbench pressure to lift the lockdown might make it more likely.

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UK business leaders are more optimistic about the state of the economy. We bring you a special report ahead of the budget. CEOs including WPP's Mark Read, British Land's Simon Carter and M&S Chair Archie Norman tell us why things might not be as bad as they seem. Kallum Pickering, Senior Economist at Berenberg is also in the bullish camp.

Plus, Bloomberg's senior economics writer Philip Aldrick previews Hunt's budget.  

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Joe Biden has been formally recognised by Congress as the next U.S. president. But the process was disrupted by violent protests after pro-Trump demonstrators stormed Capitol Hill, overrunning police lines and entering both chambers.

Tim Loughton, Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing it's a totally different form of populism to anything that's ever been seen in the U.K.

Plus, Iwan Morgan, emeritus professor of U.S. history at the UCL Institute of the Americas explains what this means for the special relationship.

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The Chancellor Rachel Reeves answers Bloomberg's questions about when we'll see results from her plans to boost growth. We also have reaction from business leaders: Snap's EMEA President Ronan Harris for a view from the tech world; Andy Briggs, CEO of Phoenix, one of the UK's largest pension funds; and Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Caroline Hepker.

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Boris Johnson is stepping up his ambitions for mass testing, revealing plans for whole cities to be tested to root out asymptomatic carriers.

So how realistic are the plans? Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Manchester Gorton, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Caroline Hepker why he's not optimistic.

Plus, with Americans heading to the polls today, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Therese Raphael joins to talk about what a Biden victory would mean for Britain.

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Bloomberg has learned that Rachel Reeves has received the latest economic forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility, and it's not good. The fiscal watchdog has downgraded growth, putting the Chancellor at risk of breaking her fiscal rules. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research has a more upbeat view. We hear from Niesr's Senior Economist Benjamin Caswell. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Yuan Potts.

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Disinformation specialists Valent Projects have found evidence of a significant online campaign against the extension of London's ULEZ, involving thousands of fake social media accounts. CTO Fergus McKenzie-Wilson explains their findings, and the complexity of tracking such campaigns online. Behavorial scientist Patrick Fagan, formerly lead psychologist at Cambridge Analytica, tells us about his new book on online manipulation and how to avoid it. Plus: Patrick English from YouGov on how voters feel about the government's migration policies. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll. 

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As tensions remain high at the Ukrainian border, Bloomberg Westminster explores the situation abroad and at home. Reporting from Moscow, Bloomberg's Henry Meyer says Vladimir Putin's position is hardening on demands to end NATO expansion. And Marie Dumoulin from the European Council on Foreign Relations tells Caroline Hepker and Yuan Potts that Europeans have shown themselves surprisingly united.

Plus, as the U.K. plans potential sanctions against Russia, Rachel Davies, Head of Advocacy at Transparency International, says the government has offered warm words about cracking down on dirty money but is yet to close loopholes.

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Street lighting is not the answer to the epidemic of violence against women and girls in Britain, according to Farah Nazeer, CEO of Women's Aid, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker. On this special programme, Cordelia Tucker O'Sullivan from charity Refuge also says that the government's strategy is a missed opportunity to address the root causes of violence.

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UCL Europe Institute Manager Oliver Patel speaks to Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker and Sebastian Salek as Boris Johnson and Jean-Claude Juncker meet for the first time. Bloomberg's Maria Tadeo joins from Luxembourg, and Alex Morales is in Bournemouth for the Lib Dem conference.

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Rishi Sunak is facing 48 hours of major political challenges: he's taking tough questions at the Covid Inquiry today, while two crucial groups of Tory MPs are deciding whether or not to back his Rwanda deportation bill. Our senior reporter Alex Wickham joins us to discuss.

Plus: Nigel Farage is out of the jungle, but will he have an effect on the migration debates in Westminster? Tiwa Adebayo reports. We also look ahead to MPs grilling executives from Thames Water over the company's finances, with Bloomberg's Eamon Farhat. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll. 

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Women have more wealth, sit on more corporate boards, and invest more than ever before. Britain's first female chancellor Rachel Reeves is just one of the signs of power becoming more equal. So we went to Bloomberg's inaugural Women, Money, & Power summit to ask the influential women there what they make of the UK and its new government. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Lizzy Burden.

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Schools dominate the agenda again today, after a report that the unpublished PHE study the government is using to justify sending children back to the classroom this month also finds that older pupils are as likely to spread the virus as adults.

Andrew Mitchell, Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield and former international development secretary, joins to talk that, plus aid for Lebanon.

And the TUC's Jay McKenna tells Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Sebastian Salek why workers should get paid to quarantine, even if it's after coming back from holiday.

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Robert Stheeman has borrowed more than £3 trillion for the government in his 21 years running the Debt Management Office. He's been speaking to Bloomberg about the challenges of raising debt through a pandemic, the 2008 financial crash, and Liz Truss's premiership.

Bloomberg's Alice Gledhill brings us details of her interview. Plus: the Resolution Foundation forecasts average rents will rise by 13% over the next three years. Senior economist Cara Pacitti tells us what's gone wrong in the housing market, and how it could be fixed. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Lizzy Burden.  

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Women and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch wants new buildings to offer separate male and female toilets before any gender-neutral facilities. Our senior government reporter Alex Wickham analyses what the announcement tells us about Rishi Sunak's political positioning. Plus: how worried are banks about landlords and mortgage arrears? We speak to James Tatch from industry group UK Finance. Hosted by Lizzy Burden, Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll.

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Joe Twyman, co-founder of Deltapoll, says there is still everything to play for in the campaign. He tells Bloomberg Westminster that with 14 days to go, most voters won't pay attention until the leaders debate on 6th December. Plus Bloomberg Brexit Editor Ed Evans and Adam Blenford, who edits the Bloomberg Brexit Bulletin Newsletter, join Caroline Hepker to discuss the NHS, anti-semitism and climate change.

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Scottish Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba says an election must be called after Boris Johnson's resignation. Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke tells Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll why he's backing Liz Truss in the Tory leadership race. Yuan Potts has the latest from Westminster, and Matthew Shaddick of Smarkets tells us the unusually wide field of candidates for Tory leader has helped to boost interest in the betting markets. 

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Former deputy speaker and Conservative candidate Nigel Evans tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing how his leader should get in the most powerful punches in the first TV debate with Jeremy Corbyn. But are there some good upper-cuts to come from the red corner too? Bloomberg's senior executive editor David Merritt and Brexit Bulletin Newsletter editor Adam Blenford join for pre-match analysis.

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Yet more strike action could mean a miserable week for many Brits. We ask Labour's Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions, Jonathan Ashworth, how his party would deal with the shortage of workers in the UK and how much of a pay rise they would offer nurses. Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker and Yuan Potts discuss the pressures facing the health service and how the pay disputes could be resolved, with reporter Sabah Meddings. 

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies says today's wage data mean an extra £2 billion spending on pensions. IFS Research Economist Heidi Karjaleinen explains why the government should rethink its 'triple lock' pledge. It's not the only costly project in Westminster: the Houses of Parliament are expected to need £22 billion to be fully restored. That's before Bloomberg's scoop yesterday that parts of the palace contain the defective concrete known as RAAC. Plus, Keir Starmer meets unions leaders in Liverpool. Our reporter Eamon Farhat is there finding out what the Labour leader is telling his left-wing backers. Hosted by Caroline Hepker, Yuan Potts and Lizzy Burden. 

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A report warns government borrowing could top £300 billion this year. So should the government get Britain's finances back on track after coronavirus?

Charlotte Nichols, Labour MP for Warrington North, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing the economy needs to become less reliant on financial services and focus on manufacturing instead. She also says Labour needs to undergo a cultural shift so it can be a strong opposition again.

Plus, how do you enforce a lockdown? Julia Mulligan, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, explains what her force is doing, and how crime stats have been impacted by coronavirus.

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Boris Johnson ruffled a few feathers this week, saying devolution had been "Tony Blair's biggest mistake" and a "disaster" in Scotland.

So how successful has the two-decade transfer of power been? Akash Paun, senior fellow at the Institute for Government tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Caroline Hepker it's broadly gone well, but there are big challenges ahead.

And can devolution only ever be a stepping stone to independence? Fergus Mutch, former communications director of the SNP, and Mark Reckless of the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party join to discuss.

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The crisis over Matt Hancock and his resignation shows how far standards of scrutiny on advisers, conflicts of interests and boundaries have slipped, says Cath Haddon, senior fellow at the Institute for Government.

Haddon tells Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Roger Hearing there is a worrying pattern of rules not being followed on access and governance.

Bloomberg Executive Editor David Merritt joins to discuss how different Sajid Javid will be as Health Secretary, and the political fallout from all this for Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party.

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The U.K. has become the first western country to approve a coronavirus vaccine after the Pfizer-BioNTech jab was cleared by regulatory authorities. Bloomberg's health reporter James Paton joins to explain what the rollout will look like.

That comes as England leaves lockdown and moves to a toughened up tier system. Publican Dave Mountford from the Forum of British Pubs tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek the government is failing the hospitality sector because it fundamentally doesn't understand the industry.

Plus, EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier tells ambassadors the three main obstacles to a deal still haven't been resolved, and he can't guarantee an agreement. We ask Bloomberg Opinion columnist Therese Raphael if now is finally the time to panic.

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The Chancellor delivers his plan for what will replace the furlough scheme when it ends next months. In this special episode of Bloomberg Westminster, Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek take a closer look at the emergency statement which included a new job support scheme and tax reduction for the hospitality and tourism industries. But if you ask Labour MP Kate Hollern; it may be too little, too late.

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Paul Sweeney, Labour MSP for Glasgow Region, says business is stuck in a grey area with current Covid restrictions. Sweeney tells Bloomberg Westminster's Yuan Potts and Caroline Hepker governments need to step up financially.

Craig Watkins, CEO of Kantar Public says three-quarters of voters are very concerned about the omicron variant but do not much trust politicians and civil servants.

Plus London is a ghost town already, even without a lockdown, according to David Merritt, Bloomberg's EMEA News Director and U.K. Government Reporter Joe Mayes.

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It's a big day for acting prime minister Dominic Raab. He chairs his first Cabinet meeting and joins world leaders including Donald Trump for a virtual G-7 summit. David Lidington, former cabinet minister and Theresa May's de facto deputy, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek about the pitfalls of the job.

Plus, a leaked report has reignited tensions within Labour. Can new leader Keir Starmer unite the sparring factions? And what direction will he take the party in? David Kogan, author of Protest and Power: The Battle for the Labour Party, joins to discuss.

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This week the Office For National Statistics has said problems with its labour force survey may not be solved until 2027. The figures are crucial for Bank of England policymakers making interest rate decisions. But sources tell Bloomberg the ONS is facing deep rooted cultural issues with junior staffers reluctant to raise issues with bosses. We speak to Bloomberg's UK economics reporter Tom Rees about his exclusive. Hosted by Yuan Potts and Lizzy Burden.

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 The High Court says Sadiq Khan can go ahead with his ULEZ vehicle charging policy, rejecting a case by Conservative-led councils against its expansion. We discuss the green policy debates taking place within both main parties, with our Greener Living reporter Olivia Rudgard. We quiz Creative Industries Minister John Whittingdale on the government's new taskforce on illegal adverts. Plus: Farage fallout. Could more NatWest executives go after the controversy over account privacy? Our finance reporter Will Shaw joins us. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Yuan Potts. 

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The government starts the week on a positive note, announcing that it's offering millions more people the coronavirus vaccine.

But trouble may be brewing in Parliament, where MPs face a vote on the planned cut to Universal Credit. Simon Hoare, Conservative MP for North Dorset, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek he's considering supporting Labour's motion to keep the £20 increase.

Plus, how much difference does that boost mean for recipients? Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, joins to discuss that and free school meals. 

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London's Mayor and Labour's mayoral candidate in the May election tells Bloomberg he is keen to push for a safe reopening of the City as soon as possible. Bloomberg's UK government reporter Joe Mayes joins to discuss what's at stake for Labour in the local polls.

And U.K. Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing about the challenges to his industry from the lockdown and also from the new post Brexit rules governing touring in Europe.

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Fresh from a meeting with the Home Secretary, Henry Smith, Conservative MP for Crawley, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing the French aren't pulling their weight on the migrant crisis.

Plus, Kantar Public CEO Michelle Harrison joins to discuss her latest polling, including growing pro-EU sentiment.

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Labour MP for Slough, Tan Dhesi, says the Government is risking a trade war with our European neighbors. He says their Brexit policy is an 'absolute shambles'. Plus, after the Alliance Party more than doubled its representation at Stormont, we speak to deputy leader Stephen Farry. He tells Bloomberg's Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll that an escalation by the UK Government over the Northern Ireland Protocol would be a 'grossly irresponsible act' which could damage the region and the UK's international relationships.

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The new Lord Mayor of London, Nicholas Lyons, says jobs will be lost in the City as a recession looms. He is optimistic, however, about a change of tone in EU-UK relations, as he likens Brexit to "shooting yourself in the foot". Lyons tells Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll that the government needs to get behind business and create an environment for investment. Plus: we hear from Rishi Sunak and CBI Director-General Tony Danker as the Prime Minister addresses the annual conference of the UK's biggest business lobby group.

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Bloomberg Brexit Editor Edward Evans joins Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek to talk about how an early election might play out. Maria Tadeo joins from Brussels after the EU delays a decision on the length of an extension to Article 50.

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Labour's Liam Byrne says we need a much more comprehensive ban on second jobs. The MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill tells Bloomberg Westminster's Yuan Potts and Caroline Hepker he also wants 'dramatic steps' to clean up political donations.

Plus: Bloomberg Opinion columnist Therese Raphael on the government's reform plans. Will they keep backbenchers onside as well as placating voters?

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New changes to lockdown measures mean new challenges for policing them.

In today's special, Stephen Mold, police and crime commissioner for Northamptonshire, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek the police is taking a step back from enforcing social distancing rules.

And what has the last three months done to our basic freedoms? Rosalind Comyn, policy and campaigns officer at Liberty, explains why it's not a foregone conclusion that we'll get back all the rights we had before lockdown.

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Shadow Schools Minister Stephen Morgan says the U.K. government's Schools White Paper lacks ambition. On teachers' pay, the Labour MP tells Bloomberg Westminster's Yuan Potts and Caroline Hepker, the profession needs to be rewarded fairly, but he doesn't commit to an inflation-proof pay rise.

Plus, we speak to Bloomberg's Stephanie Baker about her investigation into how some of Russia's richest have avoided being sanctioned, and to Opinion columnist Therese Raphael about whether the Prime Minister is out of political danger.

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The government's plans to restrict travellers into the U.K. are strict and draconian, but the airlines and airports have expressed great concern about the effect on their business.

Navendu Mishra, Labour MP for Stockport tells Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Roger Hearing the measures should have been brought in long ago to reduce the spread of the virus, and they are still not comprehensive enough.

Plus Bloomberg Opinion columnist Therese Raphael joins to discuss the prospects of loosening the lockdown in England after improvements in the numbers of cases and hospital admissions. 

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Jamie Driscoll, the Labour Mayor of the North of Tyne says he regrets the Government's relaxation of mask-wearing rules earlier this year. On vaccines, Driscoll says we need 'boosters not boosterism'.

Plus: Should companies be forced to give up their Covid vaccine patents? Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of Public Services International tells Bloomberg Westminster's Yuan Potts and Caroline Hepker that the Covax programme has not delivered for poorer nations.

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The U.K. hitting its 15 million vaccinations target adds to pressure on Boris Johnson to begin reopening the economy sooner than he had planned - including from his own backbench colleagues.

But Tobias Ellwood MP for Bournemouth East tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing the prime minister needs to be very careful in order to avoid having to reimpose restrictions, and that teachers should be in the next tranche of those vaccinated to help with getting schools reopened.

Eddie Brummelman, Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam, joins to discuss his research with children to find out why people are so keen to follow political leaders with narcissistic personality traits.

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Ukraine says Russia has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro. If confirmed, it would mark the first use of the weapon in combat since it was created at the start of the Cold War. Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marc Champion and head of Bloomberg Media Editorial David Merritt discuss what this development means for Ukraine, and for the UK government. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll.

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Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has been sacked after only 38 days in office. Lizzy Burden is outside Downing Street, waiting to see Liz Truss at the iconic podium. Plus Bloomberg's Executive Editor David Merritt joins Caroline Hepker and James Woolcock in the studio, he says businesses are calling the UK "uninvestable". Labour Shadow Minister Tan Dhesi joins to stress the case for a new government and the Chief of Staff to former Chancellor George Osborne Rupert Harrison talks to Caroline Hepker and Tom Mackenzie about how to get out of a financial crisis.

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Three months after Britain's biggest business lobby was hit by multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, we ask recently-appointed Director General Rain Newton-Smith whether the CBI is back in the government's good books and what they want to see on tax, growth and investment. Plus: the longest strike in NHS history starts today. Bloomberg's Julian Harris on what it means for patients, the economy and the government's pledges. Hosted by Yuan Potts, Caroline Hepker and Lizzy Burden. 

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Angela Rayner and Dominic Raab stand in for Prime Minister's Questions, as Rishi Sunak is at the G-20 in Bali and preoccupied with events on the Poland-Ukraine border. The focus at the dispatch box was on inflation, tax havens and bullying allegations. Our UK correspondent Lizzy Burden joins Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll to discuss PMQs, while Gideon Skinner from Ipsos briefs us on the latest polling on Rishi Sunak. 

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There's a pay deal on the table for NHS staff in England, and intensive discussions underway with teachers over resolving their dispute. In the week of the budget, are things starting to turn around for Rishi Sunak's government? Our political reporter Emily Ashton brings us the latest on the strikes, while YouGov's Patrick English says public perceptions of the Conservative Party remain deeply negative. Plus: Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey tells Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll that her party will be asking tough questions about the Budget moves on pension allowances. 

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Bloomberg's Harry Wilson discusses his scoop about a loan to Prince Andrew after years of the Duke of York's finances remaining murky. Plus Bloomberg's David Merritt on how this relates to public perception of the Conservative Party.

Also Peter Walsh, Researcher at Oxford University's Migration Observatory, discusses the record number of migrants crossing the English Channel with host Caroline Hepker.

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This general election there is only one female leader on the ballot, the Green party co-Leader. Yet increasingly, women hold many of the key jobs in Westminster. We're profiling these key frontline female politicians. This week, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch: a Conservative rising star marked as a potential successor to Rishi Sunak, but also known for her debating skill and strident views on diversity and inclusion issues. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Ailbhe Rea.  

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New data shows the economy dipped into recession in the second half of 2023, but does it really matter? Ana Andrade from Bloomberg Economics walks us through the implications. Plus, Ed Arnold from defence think tank The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) joins us to discuss the NATO meeting and Donald Trump's stance on the alliance. Hosted by Lizzy Burden and Caroline Hepker. 

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As school pupils return to the classroom on International Women's Day, how is this going to help mothers and families, without risking a resurgence of virus cases?

Apsana Begum, Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing it's too early to reopen schools because many headteachers are not ready with sufficient safeguards and testing.

Plus Joeli Brearly, founder and chief executive of the campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed joins to talk about the "motherhood penalty" whereby mothers are less likely to keep their jobs or get promotion, and how this has been worsened by the pandemic.

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Chris Philp, Under-Secretary of State for Technology and the Digital Economy, says there's 'no reasonable, technical or legal basis' why the UK's current deal with the EU to allow data to flow freely would be affected by the tensions over Brexit. He tells Bloomberg's Stephen Carroll and Caroline Hepker that despite the fresh EU legal action and the cancelled deportation flight to Rwanda, the government is still focused on growing the technology sector. Also in the show, Labour MP Karin Smyth tell us the government's immigration policy is 'truly shameful' in the wake of the flights controversy. 

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Rishi Sunak has promised his government will start flying asylum seekers to Rwanda to be processed before the next election. But the only UK government plane landing there today was carrying the Home Secretary James Cleverly, who's trying to salvage the plan. Our East Africa Correspondent Ondiro Oganga is following the trip from Kigali.

Before he left, Cleverly announced sweeping changes to visa requirements for people trying to legally move to the UK. Ben Brindle from the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory discusses the significance of the changes.

Plus: a company in hot water. Bloomberg's Jess Shankleman explains how a flood of concerns over Thames Water is soaking up attention in Westminster. Hosted by Lizzy Burden and Yuan Potts. 

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In a special holiday edition of Bloomberg Westminster, author and columnist John Kampfner tells Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing why he thinks Germans have found a better way of doing politics and economics.

Kampfner says chancellor Angela Merkel exemplifies a more grown-up way of dealing with a difficult national history and relations with the outside world, and why Britain could learn some useful lessons from modern Germany.

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 The ONS has updated its growth figures for 2021, and it means the UK is no longer the worst performer in the G7. Our senior economy reporter Philip Aldrick and Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth explain the changes and discuss what it means for the government. Plus: James Woolock reports on the latest changes, as Keir Starmer unveils his new front bench. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll.Anchor, Bloomberg Radio 

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After the election, the Brexit issue is fully resolved for the British people, says Roger Mortimer, professor of public opinion & political analysis at King's College London. But he tells Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Roger Hearing that Brexit was only a symptom of a wider disillusionment with Labour, and the party has to turn that round if it ever wants to win an election again. Plus Bloomberg's UK government editor Tim Ross and Brexit editor Ed Evans, set out the timetable of the new Johnson administration. 

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How can the class of 2020 and 2021 make up for months of missed learning and avoid becoming the children that lost out during the pandemic?

Lee Elliot Major is the country's first Professor of Social Mobility. He told us the crisis is a chance to reassess our whole education system.

Marwa Alsaraf, a year three teacher in Birmingham, gave us her experience of a very challenging year for staff and pupils alike.

And Paul Howard-Jones, Professor of Neuroscience and Education at the University of Bristol, shared his take on what children have missed out on this year and what can be done about it.

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The prime minister has pledged a green revolution, with 160 million pounds of infrastructure spending to support companies building turbines off the British coast.

Anna McMorrin, Labour MP for Cardiff North, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing she welcomes any plan to build back greener, but the government has so far failed to deliver on any of its green pledges.

PLus, as the home secretary complains about the "failed asylum system", Robert McNeil, deputy director at the Oxford Migration Observatory, joins to set out the facts and figures on migration into the UK.

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The former Chief Economist of the Bank of England, Andy Haldane, says the central bank is risking a deeper recession if it doesn't cut rates soon. He says the economy is heading for a year of  "at best of anemic growth" given the current outlook.

Haldane also tells us that he preferred the original version of Labour's £28 billion green investment plan, and that the government's fiscal rules should be changed to allow more spending on investment. Hosted by Lizzy Burden and Stephen Carroll. 

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As the Bank of England intervenes in the bond market, does Labour have a better plan for the economy? Bloomberg's Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll ask former shadow transport minister Sam Tarry, and get his take on Keir Starmer's keynote speech to the party conference. Plus: will the government's fiscal proposals be good for business? We get a view from Kitty Ussher, Chief Economist of the Institute of Directors. And a different approach to a budget: our interview with Ireland's finance minister, Paschal Donohoe. 

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With just over three weeks left for Conservative party members to cast their votes in the leadership race, candidates have been trading blows over the soaring cost of energy. Jamie Rush, Chief European Economist at Bloomberg Economics breaks down what it means for the wider economy. Plus: will the lights stay on? Bloomberg's Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll dig into the complexities of the UK energy market with Bloomberg's climate change and renewable energy reporter, Will Mathis.

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A group of senior Conservatives are planning a surprise rebellion against government plans to force it to reverse its cuts to the foreign aid budget.

One of the rebels, Tobias Ellwood Conservative MP for Bournemouth East and chair of the Commons defence select committee, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Yuan Potts and Roger Hearing it's essential for Britain to preserve its commitment to working for a fairer world.

Sean Tipton, spokesperson for the travel trade group ABTA joins to highlight the industry's concerns about government policy on holiday arrangements and the traffic light system restrictions on destinations.

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As new tighter measures are set to be put in place in London to deal with a surge in virus cases, Boris Johnson is still holding out against a "circuit-breaker" national lockdown.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing it's not enough to just use the three-tier system - people need a couple of weeks staying at home countrywide, and a better test and trace system to stop the virus coming back.

Plus, on the day Boris Johnson had threatened to walk away from Brexit talks if no progress had been made, John Longworth, director of the Centre for Brexit Policy and former Brexit Party MEP joins to discuss what the prime minister should do now.

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What are the risks of letting Christmas happen? Even the limited lifting of restrictions is running against advice from some of the country's leading scientists, but others say the psychological and economic harm of not letting it go ahead is worse.

Linda Bauld, Professor of Public Health at Edinburgh University tells Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Roger Hearing about the risks of bringing people together around the Christmas dinner table.

Plus Ellen Townsend, professor of psychology at Nottingham University and Anthony Costello, professor of global health and sustainable development at University College London debate the arguments for and against restrictions to curb the virus.

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Boris Johnson is trying to stave off a Tory rebellion over his lockdown plan for England, after suggestions that the measures may be extended beyond 2 December.

Martin Vickers, Conservative MP for Cleethorpes, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Sebastian Salek he'll back the proposal and would also consider voting to prolong them if virus cases don't fall.

But just how realistic is reducing the R rate to below 1? Dr Arthur Hosie, director of life sciences and education at the University of Staffordshire, says it's ambitious, but the four nations will need to work together.

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Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar stunned the political world with his resignation - we discuss what his departure means for the future of Ireland with former Irish ambassador to the United States, Daniel Mulhall.

Plus, Keir Starmer's commitment to diversity is under question the Labour Party's adviser on race Doreen Lawrence reportedly said he failed to listen to her. Martin Forde KC, who was tasked by Starmer with investigating previous allegations of racism within Labour joins us with his perspective. Hosted by Ailbhe Rea and Caroline Hepker. 

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Boris Johnson's threat to change the Withdrawal Agreement and break international law has been condemned by MPs across the House.

Chris Hazzard, Sinn Fein MP and the party's Brexit spokesperson, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing how it could lead to a resurgence of violence in Northern Ireland.

Plus, happy first birthday Bloomberg Westminster! We look back at the twists and turns that have ensued in the year we've been on air.

And Bloomberg Opinion's Therese Raphael joins to discuss the big issues of the day.

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How much of a risk is it that Afghanistan without the West will once again become a base for terrorists? The killings at Kabul airport have been attributed to ISIS-K, but Al Qaeda is also still active in the country.

Dr Tim Wilson, director, the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at St Andrew's University, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Yuan Potts and Roger Hearing it's unclear whether the Taliban can control what goes on, but it would not be in their interest to allow terrorists to operate from inside their territory.

Tom Keatinge, director of the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute, joins to discuss the ways in which money reaches the Taliban and the other groups and how it can be blocked.

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Rishi Sunak says the 'golden era' of relations with China is over, but that the UK should engage with Beijing on key issues. Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition in Northern Ireland's Assembly wants the Prime Minister to engage with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The SDLP's Matthew O'Toole tells Bloomberg's Stephen Carroll and Yuan Potts that issues over post-Brexit trade could be resolved quickly by the UK government, as a bill to extend the deadline for elections to Stormont is fast-tracked through Westminster. Plus, our Senior International Affairs reporter Marc Champion joins us to discuss Rishi Sunak's recalibration of the UK's foreign policy priorities. 

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The definitive guide to how, in one weekend, the UK Government organised the sale of a bank for £1, potentially saving Britain's tech sector, and how the story is upending Westminster. Bloomberg's Caroline Hepker and Yuan Potts walk us through how a little-known bank based in California has people making comparisons to 2008. Plus City Minister Andrew Griffith speaks to Lizzy Burden about the government's intervention, which is winning praise even from Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson Sarah Olney. She joins to talk about her priorities for this week's Budget. 

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Schools in England and Wales begin reopening today, and MPs return to Parliament.

Former cabinet minister David Gauke, now head of public policy at Macfarlanes, gives Bloomberg Westminster's Caroline Hepker and Sebastian Salek his take on how the government has handled the pandemic, whether to raise taxes, and the chances of a Brexit deal this year.

Plus, are MPs able to do their jobs properly if they can't all get to Westminster? And who's the new head of the Civil Service? Hannah White, deputy director of the Institute for Government, joins to discuss.

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Labour's efforts to charm business appear to be working, according to a new Bloomberg survey of financial professionals. We discuss Keir Starmer's latest comments on tax and relations with the EU. Our UK Political Editor Kitty Donaldson joins us fresh from attending a Q&A with former PM Liz Truss on her time in office. Plus: with London Fashion Week underway, Helen Brocklebank of luxury industry body Walpole tells us why they want action from the government on tax-free shopping. Hosted by Lizzy Burden, Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll. 

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Labour's Michael Shanks stormed to victory in the by-election in Scotland's Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, providing a boost to Keir Starmer heading into his party conference this weekend. Our UK government editor Alex Morales tells us what the win means for Labour in Scotland, and what to expect from the Liverpool conference. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has been in Spain discussing migration with leaders including Italy's Georgia Meloni. We ask Bloomberg's Alessandra Migliaccio in Rome if the Italian leader is a good ally for Rishi Sunak. Hosted by Stephen Carroll and Caroline Hepker.

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Firms across the UK are in 'damage control'mode. That's according to a new survey from the Confederation of British Industry which shows six in ten businesses asked predicted that the budget wouldn't increase the country's investment appeal. But should the lobbyists have raised these concerns earlier? As the group gathers for its annual conference in London we discuss the state of play with Bloomberg's UK Business reporter Sabah Meddings. Hosted by Caroline Hepker and Lizzy Burden.

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After the Met Police conclude their probe into rule-breaking gatherings at Downing Street during lockdown, we get the latest from Westminster with our reporter James Woolcock. Plus: what are Russians being told about the war in Ukraine? We discuss the media landscape with Jade McGlynn from Oxford University. She tells Bloomberg's Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll that many young people, who have grown up under Putin, are as supportive of the war as older people.

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Andrew Boff, Conservative Chair of the London Assembly says the Met Police is one of the best forces in the world, but when it comes to its failings Mayor Sadiq Khan has to take some responsibility, too.

Plus, Zoe Billingham, former HM Inspector of Constabulary, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Yuan Potts and Caroline Hepker that police forces up and down the country are looking at their cultures, which need to be worked at on a daily basis.

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The U.K. has overtaken Italy to become the European country with the most coronavirus deaths. Is it fair to criticize No 10 for that accolade?

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Roger Hearing and Sebastian Salek how her constituency is suffering even more because of following government guidelines.

Plus, what will offices look like once we get back to work? Bloomberg Opinion columnist Therese Raphael joins to discuss.

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Wera Hobhouse says the U.K. needs to turbocharge investment in renewables. The Liberal Democrat MP for Bath says the longer the country puts off ending its dependence on fossil fuels, the more difficult it will become. Plus, as the IPCC warns 'it's now or never' on carbon emissions, we get the view of Jack Richardson from the Conservative Environment Network, which represents more than 130 Tory MPs.

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Thousands of students across the country are stuck in lockdown in their halls of residence as the virus surges in the undergraduate population, and asking whether this is worth £9,000 a year.

Daniel Zeichner MP for Cambridge, tells Bloomberg Westminster's Sebastian Salek and Roger Hearing the crisis was completely predictable, and universities have had to come up with innovative solutions because the government didn't provide an adequate test and trace system.

David Bell, vice-chancellor of Sunderland University, joins to discuss how students are coping and what university authorities can do to help them, and avoid further major outbreaks.

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