Starmer's Stay Of Execution
Politics Unpacked
Anna Covell
4.1 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 16 February 2026
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Cabinet ministers believe Sir Keir Starmer may now survive beyond May because Labour's leadership contenders are too busy squabbling to unite behind a successor. But can the PM get through the next few months without another self-inflicted wound?
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Cindy Yu and Patrick Kidd.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hello, hello, I'm Hugo Rifkin, and now we're going to be unpacking the politics of the day |
| 0:09.3 | as the PM attempts to reset over recess and questions swirl about free the freedom of the press. |
| 0:15.2 | And one of our columnists is going to make the case for letting children experience alcohol. |
| 0:19.4 | With me now, pouring a glass of something |
| 0:21.4 | inadvisable. It is Patrick Kid. Hello, Patrick. Good morning, Hugo. You didn't actually bring me a drink. That was a joke. You should have done. I should have done. It's quite negligent. Clarit, a claret for Eleven's. That would work. When I've done Ed Vasey, there's always been a bottle open. Well, yeah, I bet. And an empty one next door as well. And also, I'm joined by Cindy You. |
| 0:39.3 | Hello, Cindy. Hi, Hugo. |
| 0:41.3 | No. been a bottle open. Well, yeah, I bet. And an empty one next door as well. And also I'm joined by Cindy You. Hello, Cindy. Hi, Hugo. What a great way to start a Monday to have a drink. So you're down the line and I choose to believe sitting next to a mehito. I'm just going to believe it. You can't stop me. Let's start with some politics. The prime Minister comes into this week of recess badly wounded. |
| 0:54.7 | He's just experienced might be the worst two weeks of his premiership |
| 0:57.7 | and his number 10 operation has been gutted by senior departures. |
| 1:00.8 | But he's still there. |
| 1:02.3 | And he now apparently has a plan to fight on to surer footing in the lead up to the Gordon and Denton by-election later this month. |
| 1:10.1 | Patrick, look, the fact that he's still |
| 1:12.9 | there is to some people a surprise. How damaged is he? How bad is it right now? Well, they blinked |
| 1:20.7 | the people who wanted to get rid of him. A week ago, we thought he wasn't going to last the week. |
| 1:25.7 | And in fact, when Anasawa resigned mid-afternoon last Monday, |
| 1:29.0 | I was rung up by a paper wanting me to do a political obituary by 5 o'clock. |
| 1:32.9 | Oh, wow. |
| 1:33.4 | Really? |
| 1:33.9 | Can you, yeah. |
| 1:35.2 | So I did, and then that wasn't used, and then I polished it, |
| 1:37.9 | and it probably now won't get used until May or maybe not even after that. |
| 1:42.2 | I think the moment came and went when no one followed Anasawa. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Anna Covell, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Anna Covell and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.