Good evening and welcome to the Pompey Politics Podcast.

I'm Ian Tini Morris.

And I'm Simon Sandsbury.

Good evening, everybody, and after a couple of weeks of local focus, I think there is

my post-traumatic quasi-quarteng disorder has eased back a little bit.

So we're prepared to venture this evening into matters of national importance.

And it's the Sunday and the Jeremy Hunt hasn't been thrown under a bus yet.

So things are looking up for me, Simon, are they not?

Yeah, this week's Chancellor seems to be, well, seems to still be in post.

So, you know, let's see.

It's early days.

We've got a few days left of the month yet.

Absolutely.

So focus this evening is on the autumn statement.

And as with these things, it's always good to bring on a couple of learned guests. And we've

got a fresh face on the podcast. So welcome to Mark Coates. We'll give Mark a chance to introduce

himself a bit later. But it would be fair to say, Mark,

a Labour activist and potential counsellor next May in the slightly blue stronghold of Hailing Island.

Yeah, I'd like to be the first. That would be one for my bucket list.

Absolutely. And I wouldn't like to say an old familiar face but a familiar face

nonetheless uh welcome steve pet and with that he's just dropped off the stream what have you said

excellent we'll let steve battle away with the he'll be he'll be back um as well indeed as is ever

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