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Hello and welcome to this edition of The Westminster Hour with me, Ben Wright, and my guests.

Coming up, as the government publishes its defence review, spelling out plans to build up the armed forces,

is the UK ready to fight a war, as ministers say we must be? And what will higher military spending

mean for other domestic priorities? We'll be talking about that and hearing some advice for

the Prime Minister and Chancellor from the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. He says

they need to make a radical offer to fix people's everyday needs, housing,

transport and schools. We'll discuss how Reform UK is stealing both the main party's clothes

and ask whether they can counter the insurgent force in British politics. First, let's meet my

panel. Polly Billington is the Labour MP for East Thanet in Kent.

She began her career reporting on politics here at the BBC for Radio One, among others,

before becoming a special advisor to Ed Miliband during the last Labour government.

She then worked as an environmental strategist and campaigner

before winning her seat in last year's general election,

a constituency that includes the seaside towns of Margate and broadstairs.

Polly, we know how the Tory MP Robert Jenrick spent some of his half-term break,

trying to catch fair dodging tube travellers.

Did you do anything similar during last week's recess,

maybe manning the barriers at Margate Station?

Well, what I did do is I actually attended a really brilliant exhibition at the Turner Gallery,

which is called Resistance, and it's been curated by the Oscar-winning filmmaker and artist Steve McQueen.

And it is a really brilliant exhibition about the importance of political protest.

...