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

We're looking ahead to a big week at Westminster.

With the budget looming, what's on the Chancellor's smorgasbord of expected tax rises.

And what other announcements might Rachel Reeves be planning

to cheer up restive Labour MPs? We'll hear from the former shadow chancellor, John McDonnell,

who says the party wants to see a greater sense of direction and competence from the top. We'll

assess what's going on with the latest peace plan for Ukraine. What influence can the UK and European leaders have over the process? And BBC bosses face a grilling in Parliament following the controversy over edited footage of President Trump and alleged institutional bias. We'll try and anticipate the questions they might face. That's all coming up.

First, let's meet my panel.

Paul Waugh used to lurk in the corridors of power as a member of the lobby,

but he switched sides at the general election.

Paul's now the Labour MP for Rochdale, his hometown.

Hi, Paul.

I was thinking when I saw you were coming in,

all these leaks ahead of the budget are great news for journalists, but it's a pretty tough week for your party. Are you wishing a bit that you are still reporting rather than participating? Not for one second, because there's a big difference between reporting and commentating is that actually, and being an MP, as an MP, you actually have a vote and you can make a difference. And that's what I'm doing for the people of Rochester.

All right.

Andrew Griffith had a successful career in business before he came into Parliament in 2019 as the Conservative MP for Arundel and the South Downs.

Previously, a senior executive at Sky, Andrew.

Also an advisor to and supporter of Boris Johnson and now the shadow business and trade secretary under Kemi Badenock.

Andrew, do you ever miss your career in the business world? Is the hard work of opposition as rewarding as that was?

I mean, look, this is definitely public service.

Of course, of, I missed that.

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