The State of It: Wes bottles it and Labour's left grabs the steering wheel
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 10 February 2026
⏱️ 31 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After a whirlwind week in Westminster, we've decided to bring you an extra dose of Whitehall gossip. Check out this week's episode from our sister podcast: The State of It.
The prime minister thought it was all over for him this weekend, but a scrambled rearguard action has left him looking stronger than he has for some time. But to survive, Keir Starmer may now have no choice but to move leftwards. And there's much worse to come when the Mandelson files are released. Meanwhile, has Wes Streeting missed his moment to challenge the prime minister?
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Hosts:
- Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times
- Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times
- Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times
Producer: Euan Dawtrey.
Executive Producer: Molly Guiness.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Further listening: The State of It
Clips: Sky News.
Photo: Getty Images.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, it's Manveen. |
| 0:05.3 | With a complete chaos encircling Westminster this week, |
| 0:09.1 | we thought you might be hungry for a bit more detail. |
| 0:12.4 | So we're dropping an extra episode today. |
| 0:14.5 | It's from our sister podcast, The State of It, |
| 0:17.2 | hosted by some of the most plugged-in Westminster Watchers in town. |
| 0:21.3 | If you want to hear about what really happened, behind the scenes, the hastily assembled |
| 0:26.5 | war room, the minister who had to frantically find his ex-password so that he could tweet |
| 0:31.8 | his support, and the one minister who refused to clap when Keir Starman was given a standing |
| 0:37.4 | ovation by his supporters last night, well, have a listen. |
| 0:45.6 | Our country has voted decisively for change. |
| 1:02.0 | This lack of trust can only be healed by actions, not words. |
| 1:08.0 | I am clear that I have to do what's right for my country, Scotland. The distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change. |
| 1:14.6 | I'm happy to be held to account for my messages. I'm also happy to be held to account for judgement, |
| 1:21.6 | but what I won't ever tolerate is that kind of smearing innuendo. |
| 1:26.6 | You have given us a clear mandate and we will use it to deliver change, to restore service |
| 1:34.1 | and respect to politics, tread more likely on your lives and unite our country. |
| 1:43.4 | Welcome to this week's episode of The State of It, the podcast that promises to take you inside the room where it happens. |
| 1:49.5 | I'm Stephen Swinford, the Politbuquer at the Times. |
| 1:52.1 | I'm Patrick McGuire, Chief Policill Cometator for The Times. |
| 1:55.2 | And I'm Gabriel Pogrand, Whitehall Editor at the Sunday Times. |
| 1:59.1 | And look, just to kick off, there has been a lot happening. |
... |
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