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Mon, 11 August 2025
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Alain Tolhurst

Alain Tolhurst

@Alain_Tolhurst

Alain Tolhurst is Chief Reporter at PoliticsHome and host of The Rundown podcast each week.

Treasury Doesn’t Understand Social Mobility And Needs Reform, Says Ex-Education Secretary
Economy
Treasury Doesn’t Understand Social Mobility And Needs Reform, Says Ex-Education Secretary
The Treasury is the biggest barrier to improving social mobility and requires “root and branch reform”, according to former education secretary Justine Greening.
The Rundown Podcast: What Can Keir Starmer Learn From Theresa May?
Political parties
The Rundown Podcast: What Can Keir Starmer Learn From Theresa May?
This week marks nine years since Theresa May entered Downing Street, so this episode of The Rundown takes a look at whether her legacy extends beyond failing to get a Brexit deal through Parliament, and what current Prime Minister Keir Starmer might be able to learn from May's tumultuous few years in office.
The Rundown Podcast: Can Starmer And Macron Renew The ‘Entente Cordiale’?
Foreign affairs
The Rundown Podcast: Can Starmer And Macron Renew The ‘Entente Cordiale’?
Bonjour and bienvenue to the latest episode of The Rundown, which takes a look at the state of UK-Franco relations amid this week’s state visit to Britain by Emmanuel Macron.
The Rundown Podcast: Sarah Vine On Political Spouses
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
The Rundown Podcast: Sarah Vine On Political Spouses
What is life like not for politicians themselves, but for their spouses, and what does a life in the Westminster spotlight do to relationships? This week on The Rundown, host Alain Tolhurst goes to visit Sarah Vine - famously married to Michael Gove during his many years as a Conservative Cabinet minister - at her home in West London to discuss what the role of an MP’s wife is, and the often unfair way they are portrayed in the public eye.
The Rundown Podcast: Greens At A Crossroads
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
The Rundown Podcast: Greens At A Crossroads
This week the podcast takes a look at perhaps the forgotten winners of last year’s general election, as despite unprecedented success in winning 1.8m votes and quadrupling their number of MPs to four, the Green Party finds itself at something of a crossroads.
The Rundown Podcast: Can This Government Deliver?
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
The Rundown Podcast: Can This Government Deliver?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves used this week's Spending Review to set out how and where Labour will allocate money for the rest of this Parliament, but on The Rundown we're asking whether they have a plan for how they’re actually going to deliver on their priorities, and succeed in completing Keir Starmer’s missions for government?
The Rundown Podcast: How Do Spending Reviews Work?
Economy
By Alain Tolhurst
The Rundown Podcast: How Do Spending Reviews Work?
With Rachel Reeves finalising her comprehensive spending review next Wednesday, this week The Rundown is looking at what exactly it is and how the process works, going inside the battles between the Treasury and Whitehall departments on spending plans for the coming years, looking back at previous reviews and seeing what can be learnt ahead of the Chancellor’s big speech, and what it will say about this government’s priorities over the course of the Parliament.
The Rundown Podcast: Inside Labour's New Tribes
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
The Rundown Podcast: Inside Labour's New Tribes
As disquiet brews within Labour over cuts to welfare, and a perceived failure to pursue a progressive enough agenda, this week The Rundown looks inside the governing party as a host of new caucuses and organised campaign groups have sprung up, and asks, who are the new tribes within Labour?
The Rundown Podcast: What Can We Learn From The Coalition?
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
The Rundown Podcast: What Can We Learn From The Coalition?
This month marks 15 years since the signing of the historic Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition agreement, and 10 years since its dissolution, so with today’s fractured five-party politics and predictions of another hung Parliament next time round, this week’s episode of The Rundown looks at what can be learnt from five chaotic days in 2010, that led to five years of surprisingly stable government.
The Rundown Podcast: The Social Care Crunch
Health
By Alain Tolhurst
The Rundown Podcast: The Social Care Crunch
This week on The Rundown, the panel discusses how the UK ended up with a crisis in social care, after successive administrations failed to grasp the nettle and deal with the rising costs of a sector that has ballooned in size to deal with our ageing population, while funding cuts have left local councils with their entire budgets swallowed up in providing statutory services.
The Rundown Podcast: Fixing The Broken Rental Market
Communities
By Alain Tolhurst
The Rundown Podcast: Fixing The Broken Rental Market
This week on The Rundown, the panel takes a look at the government’s plan to try and fix the UK’s rental market, as soaring rents, terrifying competition, no fault evictions, poorly maintained properties and huge supply pressures trap an increasingly large cohort of tenants in a system that means they may never own their own homes.
The Rundown Podcast: Can The Government Avoid A Pensions Crisis?
Economy
By Alain Tolhurst
The Rundown Podcast: Can The Government Avoid A Pensions Crisis?
This week on The Rundown we’re asking – can the government avoid a pensions crisis? Most analysts think the UK’s retirement industry is at a tipping point, and without bold and meaningful reforms, even if they seem politically unpopular, then the time bomb ticking underneath the pensions system will go off, and sooner than you think.
The Rundown Podcast: What Can We Learn From These Local Elections?
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
The Rundown Podcast: What Can We Learn From These Local Elections?
With much of England set to go to the polls next week, in this episode we’re previewing a highly anticipated set of local elections, with more than 1,600 council seats up for grabs, as well as six mayoral contests and a high-profile by-election in Runcorn and Helsby.
The Rundown Podcast: Last Orders For Britain's Pubs?
Economy
The Rundown Podcast: Last Orders For Britain's Pubs?
With the Commons in recess, the podcast has headed down to the pub again to discuss the UK’s hospitality industry and the struggles it continues to face. A host of global headwinds and domestic policy contribute to a bleak outlook for the sector in 2025.
The Rundown Podcast: Can Starmer Navigate Trump's Tariff Turmoil?
Foreign affairs
The Rundown Podcast: Can Starmer Navigate Trump's Tariff Turmoil?
On this week's episode of The Rundown — we're taking on the small matter of what is happening to the global economy — and what that will mean for the UK — after Donald Trump’s sudden volte face on Wednesday, abandoning almost all of the tariffs he had meted out on so-called ‘Liberation Day’ a week before, that had sent markets tumbling.
Senior Labour MP Urges Government To Take Advantage of Trump's Tariff Chaos: “Don’t Let A Crisis Go To Waste”
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Senior Labour MP Urges Government To Take Advantage of Trump's Tariff Chaos: “Don’t Let A Crisis Go To Waste”
The government is being urged to use the turmoil created by Donald Trump’s tariff regime to create a new industrial policy and forge deeper trade links with the partners including the European Union.
The Rundown Podcast: Mark Field On The End Of The Tory Era
Political parties
The Rundown Podcast: Mark Field On The End Of The Tory Era
On this week's episode of The Rundown – A conversation with Mark Field, the former Conservative MP, minister, and author, after the release last week of his memoir from his time in Parliament: The End Of An Era.
Labour MP “Couldn't Give A Monkey’s” About Left's Concerns On Digital IDs
Home affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Labour MP “Couldn't Give A Monkey’s” About Left's Concerns On Digital IDs
A Labour MP urging the government to introduce digital ID cards said he “couldn't give a monkey’s” about concerns from progressives in his party if the move can deliver policy results.
Parties' Failure To Discuss Brexit 'Terrible Abdication Of Responsibility', Says Michael Heseltine
Brexit
Parties' Failure To Discuss Brexit 'Terrible Abdication Of Responsibility', Says Michael Heseltine
A failure to discuss Brexit during the election campaign last year was a “terrible abdication of responsibility” by Labour and the Conservatives, according to former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine.
MPs Must Focus On What Drives Homelessness, Not Just 'The Emergency', Says Big Issue Founder
Social affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
MPs Must Focus On What Drives Homelessness, Not Just "The Emergency", Says Big Issue Founder
The co-founder of the Big Issue magazine has accused politicians of being “obsessed” with tackling the homelessness "emergency" and not the poverty that drives it.
Keir Starmer Will Face “Immense Pressure” To Allow More Time For Assisted Dying Debate If Bill Passes
Social affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Keir Starmer Will Face “Immense Pressure” To Allow More Time For Assisted Dying Debate If Bill Passes
Parliamentary experts have predicted that Keir Starmer will be forced to give MPs more time to debate the issue of assisted dying if the bill looking legalise it passes next week.
Tory Spending Plans Were 'Like Five-Year-Old' Writing Their 'Favourite Numbers', Says Labour MP Defending Tax Rises
Economy
Tory Spending Plans Were "Like Five-Year-Old" Writing Their "Favourite Numbers", Says Labour MP Defending Tax Rises
A Labour MP has called spending plans set out by the previous Tory government before the General Election as “complete rubbish” after criticism of Rachel Reeves for raising £40bn in tax rises.
Redundancy Payouts For Losing MPs 'Not Enough', Says Ousted Tory
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Redundancy Payouts For Losing MPs "Not Enough", Says Ousted Tory
The money given to former MPs who lose their seats should be bigger to help them adjust to life post-Parliament, according to a Conservative defeated in July’s General Election.
Don’t Rush To Pass Bills And Make More Shoddy Laws, Labour Warned
Parliament
By Alain Tolhurst
Don’t Rush To Pass Bills And Make More Shoddy Laws, Labour Warned
As the new Labour Government prepares to launch its legislative agenda, a leading left-leaning think tank is warning ministers to slow down passing new bills or risk putting more bad laws on the statute book.
Arts Minister Says ‘Watch This Space’ On Dynamic Ticket Pricing After Oasis Uproar
Culture
Arts Minister Says ‘Watch This Space’ On Dynamic Ticket Pricing After Oasis Uproar
The new arts minister has said the secondary ticket market “drives me mad” and that people should “watch this space” over the Government’s review into so-called dynamic pricing.
More Government Support Needed For Bereaved Families, Says Widowed MP
Social affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
More Government Support Needed For Bereaved Families, Says Widowed MP
A new MP who was widowed aged just 34 said the Government must do more to help bereaved families through the long-term impact of dealing with the death of a loved one.
Historic Defeat Must Be ‘Watershed Moment’ For Reforming Tory Party, Says New MP
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Historic Defeat Must Be ‘Watershed Moment’ For Reforming Tory Party, Says New MP
The catastrophic defeat suffered by the Conservative Party last month must be a “watershed moment” for how it organises and campaigns, according to one of its newly-elected MPs.
“It’s Terry Or Truss” — Labour MP Who Unseated Liz Truss Reveals How He Beat Ex-PM
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
“It’s Terry Or Truss” — Labour MP Who Unseated Liz Truss Reveals How He Beat Ex-PM
The Labour MP who overturned Liz Truss’ huge majority to oust the former prime minister on 4 July said he ran on the slogan; look, it's Liz Truss.
Online Safety Laws Need To Be Implemented Quicker, Says MP In Riot-Hit Town
Social affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Online Safety Laws Need To Be Implemented Quicker, Says MP In Riot-Hit Town
An MP in a town marred by racist violence spurred on by social media has called for new laws tackling online incitement to be brought in sooner.
Senior Tories Admit Things ‘Could Get Worse’ For Party Before They Get Better
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Senior Tories Admit Things ‘Could Get Worse’ For Party Before They Get Better
The Conservatives must “not accept that this is as low as it gets” despite slumping to its worst election result ever last month, according to two senior party figures.
Labour Showing ‘Seriousness’ By Moving EU 'Reset' Job To Cabinet Office
Brexit
Labour Showing ‘Seriousness’ By Moving EU 'Reset' Job To Cabinet Office
Moving responsibility for dealing with the European Union closer to Number 10 shows “a level of seriousness” from Labour in resetting relations with Brussels, according to a former government special adviser on Europe who was involved in the Brexit negotiations.
Tory Focus On Immigration Has Little Appeal For Voters Moving To Labour
Economy
Tory Focus On Immigration Has Little Appeal For Voters Moving To Labour
New polling shows how little voters currently undecided or leaning towards Labour care less about immigration compared with the cost of living and the National Health Service.
Nigel Farage's Election Bid Means There “Are No Safe Tory Seats Anymore”
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Nigel Farage's Election Bid Means There “Are No Safe Tory Seats Anymore”
The potential negative impact of Nigel Farage entering the campaign on the Conservatives’ electoral chances is “almost infinitely large”, according to leading election experts, declaring there “is no such thing as a safe seat now” for the Tories.
Tory MP Says BNP Is A Better Fit For Natalie Elphicke Than Labour
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Tory MP Says BNP Is A Better Fit For Natalie Elphicke Than Labour
Conservative MP Mark Garnier has said he would have better understood Natalie Elphicke's decision to defect from his party if she had chosen “Reform or the BNP” rather than Labour.
Liz Truss Doubts Slowing Down Would Have Saved Her From 'Establishment Forces'
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Liz Truss Doubts Slowing Down Would Have Saved Her From "Establishment Forces"
Former prime minister Liz Truss has been left wondering whether she should have bothered enacting her radical economic reforms, because she believes that even if she had taken more time over it, the "fundamental forces" of the establishment would have found a way of derailing her.

Tory MP Says Government Has ‘Broken Its Promises’ On Banning Conversion Therapy
Social affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Tory MP Says Government Has ‘Broken Its Promises’ On Banning Conversion Therapy
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns has accused the government of breaking promises on conversion therapy after proposed legislation to outlaw it appears to have dropped off ministers’ agendas.