Andy Burnham has pulled the lever marked ‘Brexit’, threatening to reignite the wars of yesteryear. The soft left are delighted, but there’s unease in his cabinet. Is this a route back to a referendum, or just a meagre SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) deal? Or is Burnham already firing the opening shots of his election campaign — at the expense of the leave-voting areas he promised to win over? Has he already failed the Makerfield test?

It’s budget season, and speculation is mounting over what’s inside John Healey’s red box. This is billed as a budget for the high street: for the white van man and the beauticians of Rotherham, funded by a crackdown on online retail giants. But with John Lewis sounding the alarm, how far will the chancellor go?

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images

00:00 - The Brexit Wars Return

02:51 - Why Andy Burnham Wants Closer EU Ties

05:25 - Nigel Farage Delighted & Secret Cabinet Rifts

08:04 - The Real Cost: Free Movement & Single Market Traps

10:50 - Is Labour Priming The Polls For An Early Election?

13:46 - Has Burnham Abandoned The 'Makerfield Test'?

17:46 - The Russia Claim: Anatomy Of A 24-Hour U-Turn

20:06 - "Authenticity" Or Chaos? Burnham's Loose Talk

22:25 - The Budget: John Healey Targets 'White Van Man'

26:11 - High Street vs Online Giants: Retailers Strike Back

28:56 - Historic Tax Hikes: Distracting From The Pain

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zack Polanski's defeat in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election puts him in a tough position. The Green leader lost the by-election by 3,300 votes to Sagal Abdi-Wali, the Labour candidate. He's also facing criticism after the Green Party voted to declare that Zionism is racism. Polanski did not vote and has been accused of failing to show leadership. How tenable is his position now?

Plus, parliament is back next week and the real business of government gets going. We look at what's in store and how the chancellor, John Healey, is preparing for a very, very difficult budget.

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producer: Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images

00:00 - By-Election Result: Labour Wins Holborn & St Pancras

00:36 - Is Zack Polanski’s Leadership in Trouble?

01:56 - Green Party Rifts & The Palestine Motion Controversy

07:34 - Is This the Beginning of the End for Polanski?

11:06 - Andy Burnham’s Electoral Boost & Labour’s Position

11:44 - Parliament Returns: Navigating the Autumn Budget

13:18 - John Healey, Treasury Trips, and Bank of England Warnings

16:39 - Defence Spending vs Public Services Dilemma

20:39 - Welfare Reviews, Jackdaw Gas Field & Election Speculation

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemi Badenoch's attack on Reform UK was all about character and her attack on Labour was all about economics. In her speech at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, she said she would to scrap inheritance tax on family homes and that under a Conservative government, couples would be able to leave an extra £1m inheritance tax free to their children.

Badenoch was withering about Nigel Farage and Reform UK, saying: "The circus goes on and on and it will never stop because this is who Reform are — so to those who say ‘unite the right’, we are not uniting with that.”

We look at the Conservatives' electoral strategy, their prospects — especially compared with a year ago — and the vibes among their MPs.

Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Ben Riley-Smith, political editor, The Sunday Times

Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.