12/07/2025
The Week in Westminster
BBC
4.0 • 258 Ratings
🗓️ 12 July 2025
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Pippa Crerar of The Guardian assesses the latest developments at Westminster.
Following President Macron's state visit to the UK, Pippa discusses the visit and joint announcement on channel crossings with former Conservative Immigration Minister Damian Green, who also served as First Secretary of State for Theresa May and the Labour MP for Dover and Deal Mike Tapp.
Conservative MP Damian Hinds, a former Education Secretary, and Labour MP Jen Craft discuss the debate over the future of special educational needs and disabilities provision for children.
Also, Pippa interviews Paul Johnson, the outgoing director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
And, to reflect on the life and legacy of the former Conservative Cabinet Minister Lord Tebbit, who died this week, Pippa speaks to Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London and Mary Ann Sieghart, political commentator and writer.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.1 | This is Pippa Carrera with the week in Westminster. |
| 0:08.4 | As the Prime Minister put his tumultuous first year in office behind him this week, |
| 0:13.1 | he may have been hoping for a smoother start to his second year. |
| 0:17.2 | It began, though, as the last ended, |
| 0:19.3 | with Labour MPs feeling wary of the government's latest plans for reform, |
| 0:24.2 | this time of children's special educational needs and whether it was about improving the system or saving money. |
| 0:31.2 | But it wasn't long before Keostommer's focus returned once again to international affairs, |
| 0:36.4 | with the arrival on Tuesday of the French President |
| 0:39.0 | Emmanuel Macron for the first state visit of a European leader since Brexit. He was welcomed |
| 0:45.8 | by King Charles at a state banquet at Windsor Castle. Allow me to propose a toast to France |
| 0:52.1 | and to our new Entente. |
| 0:56.0 | An Entente not only past and present but for the future |
| 1:01.0 | and no longer just cordial but now Emeka. |
| 1:06.0 | I'mika. Over the following days, that new closer relationship was put to the test |
| 1:19.9 | as the Prime Minister and the President thrashed out a new deal on irregular migration, |
| 1:24.8 | a major domestic issue in both countries, |
| 1:27.2 | before announcing it to the media on Thursday. |
| 1:30.1 | For the very first time, migrants arriving via a small boat |
| 1:33.9 | will be detained and returned to France in short order. |
| 1:39.8 | In exchange for every return, a different individual we are allowed to come here via a safe route, |
| 1:47.5 | controlled and legal. |
... |
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