Chris Kane, Labour MP for Stirling and Strathallan, joins 650 for a conversation about family history, community, public service and the path from local radio to Westminster.

Chris grew up in Stirling in a close-knit family, with his father running the electrical shop founded by his grandfather. He reflects on the stories that have stayed with him: one grandfather’s experience landing on D-Day, and another’s life changing overnight when his own father was killed in a mining accident. Chris’s grandfather had to leave school, become a grocer’s apprentice and help support his family before eventually founding the business that remains in the family today.

Chris also discusses working at a local radio station from the age of 15, watching the legacy of pit closures in his community, becoming involved in politics through his local community council, and progressing through every level of elected local government in Scotland before entering Parliament in 2024.

He makes the case for valuing political experience, shares the nerve-racking reality of election night, and explains why becoming an MP can feel like starting a senior job with no formal training.

650 meets the people behind the politics, with one mission: to interview all 650 MPs.

Steve Race MP, Labour MP for Exeter, joins 650 for a deeply personal conversation about grief, family, identity and the path to Parliament.

Raised in a council house near Hull, Steve talks about the lasting impact of his sister’s life and death from Hurler syndrome, his mother’s fight to secure the right care and opportunities for her, and why those experiences made the NHS and advocacy central to his politics.

He discusses coming out in the 1990s, moving to Manchester for university, working for Ben Bradshaw MP, LGBTQ+ representation and the renewed pressure on minority rights. Steve also shares his views on class, social mobility, casework, Exeter, and the balance between representing a constituency and acting on national and international responsibilities.

650 is a podcast about the people behind the politics, with one mission: to interview all 650 MPs.

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Natasha Irons MP joins 650 to discuss the story behind her path to Parliament.

The Labour MP for Croydon East reflects on her grandparents arriving from Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation, growing up in South London, and how social housing gave her family the stability and dignity to build a future.

Natasha talks about the moment she first felt politics could be for someone like her, her 15 years working in television marketing at Channel 4, becoming a local councillor, and why she eventually decided to stand for Parliament.

She also shares the reality of balancing Westminster with raising two young children, the intensity of election campaigns, her belief in the importance of local government, and what she hopes to achieve for young people and her community.

650 is a podcast project with one mission: to interview all 650 MPs and create a portrait of the people behind power.

www.650podcast.com.

Instagram/X: @650podcast

TikTok: @650.podcast