Podcasts presented by Ed Bowsher related to Politics

Helal Miah from The Share Centre explained the background to this week’s biggest story: Comcast’s takeover bid for Sky. He also looked at updates from Associated British Foods, which owns Primark and Twinings Tea, as well as ITV and advertising giant, WPP. Looking ahead, Helal focused on expected updates from online takeaway firm, Just Eat, and Rolls Royce.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University explains why the left/right divide is becoming less and less important. Voters’ primary concern is no longer tax, spending and the size of the public sector. Instead votes are now split around ‘internationalism’ which means attitudes to immigration, trade and the like. Tim also looks at whether the UK needs to spend more money on ‘digital defence’ as well as the decline of the traditional British establishment.

Charlie Mullins, founder and chairman of Pimlico Plumbers, talks to Ed Bowsher about his plans to run for Mayor of London in 2020.

The Conservative party has swept across Britain making big gains in the local elections. The results confirm analysts expectations that a comfortable Tory win is likely in next month's general election. For more on this and the latest political news, Ed Bowsher spoke to Asa Bennett, Assistant Comment Editor at the Telegraph.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is going to stop making public appearances. The Duke, who is turning 96 next month, will attend previously scheduled engagements between now and August, but will not accept new invitations upon his full retirement in the Autumn. According to a palace spokesperson, the Queen "will continue to carry out a full programme of official engagements". For more on this and other political news, Ed Bowsher was joined by Robert Colvile, Editor of CapX.

Now the EU has reportedly raised its opening demand for Britain's Brexit bill from the previous estimate of €60bn to €100bn - apparently due to pressure from France and Germany - could a transitional trade deal be off the cards? To discuss this further, Ed Bowsher spoke to European affairs analyst Yannis Koutsomitis.

The EU says Britain's Brexit bill could be as much as €100bn - but Brexit Secretary David Davis says we won't pay. To find out more about this latest clash, and for all the latest election news, Ed Bowsher was joined by John Ashmore, Chief reporter at Politics Home.

Brussels is set to try and grab the London-based euro-clearing market according to reports today. This follows the news that last week's Downing Street dinner for Theresa May and EU Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker didn't go well. Could the market be a source of tension in Brexit negotiations, or will it be a useful bargaining chip for the UK? Ed Bowsher spoke to John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator for The Independent.

Today saw the last Prime Ministers' Questions before the end of the current Parliament. Earlier, Labour announced big plans for changes to the NHS, and opposition leader Corbyn and PM May took the battle to this final debate before the General Election. For more, Robyn Dwyer discussed the big political news of the day with John Ashmore, Chief Reporter at Politics Home.

Emmanuel Macron will run against Marine Le Pen to become France's next president. Macron, running as an independent centrist, came ahead of the far-right Le Pen with 23.9% of the vote versus 21.4% for Le Pen. Is this evidence Macron will win, or will the election end with a tight finish? Michael Considine spoke to James Shields, Professor of French Politics at Aston University.