meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Politics Weekly UK

The big stink: will a new watchdog clean up our waterways?

Politics Weekly UK

The Guardian

News, Politics

4.01.4K Ratings

🗓️ 21 July 2025

⏱️ 30 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the government’s plans to overhaul the water industry. Will they be able to clean up the waterways of England and Wales, and what could it mean for bills? Plus, what is Keir Starmer’s latest move to help restore public trust in politics? And, as MPs break for summer, Pippa and Kiran hand out their end-of-year awards …. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is The Guardian.

0:10.1

Hello, Jonathan Friedland here,

0:12.4

host of the Guardian's Politics Weekly America podcast.

0:15.7

Has Donald Trump been quietly building a political dynasty

0:19.8

to rival that of the Kennedys?

0:22.6

That's the question I'm answering in a new three-part special series.

0:27.6

Why did Ivanka and Jared step back from political life?

0:31.7

Is Don Jr. the obvious successor?

0:34.4

Or could the silent Maga favourite, Baron, be a dark horse?

0:39.5

In this series, I speak to the people who've spent time with members of Donald Trump's family,

0:44.1

getting their take on who helped him get to the White House and who might take over once he leaves.

0:49.7

Just search for Politics Weekly America wherever you listen to your podcasts.

0:58.8

It is clear that the water industry in this country is broken.

1:09.3

Our rivers, lakes and seas are polluted with record levels of sewage. The first

1:17.3

year has been so utterly chaotic that I think the Secretary of State should actually now be

1:21.8

considering his role in all of this. Quite frankly, I think Steve Reid now needs to resign and hand the job over to somebody

1:28.7

that could be more effective, more capable. I'm Pippa Carrera. And I'm Kieran Stacey.

1:33.5

You're listening to Politics Weekly for The Guardian.

1:42.6

Well, you might be sitting there packing a suitcase, buying extra sun cream, making last-minute plans for your summer holidays.

1:50.6

But Kieran and I is still here and still in the broom cupboard on our final summer push.

1:56.3

Our last live podcast, there will be lots of other things coming out over the summer to keep an eye on.

2:00.0

But we're here because Parliament's still here. Two more days and then the MPs disappear back to their constituencies. Everyone they hope has a bit of a breather, although I'm not sure previous summers have necessarily given them the respite they've hoped for. And Kieran and I and the rest of the team will be taking some time off as well. Plenty, though, going on before that happens.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Guardian, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Guardian and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.