Gaza and Benefits: is Labour changing course?

May 22, 2025

Pod Save the UK

Pod Save the UK

112 Episodes

Listen

In This Episode

Reunited, Coco and Nish are finally back together in the studio to talk U turns, disability benefits, Brexit and… gimp masks? There’s a lot of politics to catch up on including some big shifts from the Labour government.

First on Gaza – Keir Starmer and David Lammy changed tack with fierce criticism of the Israeli government. But critics argue that without an actual arms embargo talking tough with Israel is inadequate. So is it all too little, too late?

And in another change of direction, the Prime Minister has been listening to voters and his own disgruntled MPs on benefits. He signalled a rethink on one of Labour’s most unpopular moves – cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners. But reforms of disability benefits are still on the cards so Nish heads to Westminster where disability activists gathered to lobby their MPs. With a major rebellion on the cards from Labour MPs, can Starmer be steered into a U-turn on this too?

Employment minister Alison McGovern explains how she’s going to get more young people into work and she has a message for Pod Save the UK’s disillusioned Labour voters.

And did you think Brexit bollocks was in the rearview mirror? Well sorry – this week the Brexit undead returned with nonsense we thought was safely consigned to the dustbin of history.

Guests:

Alison McGovern MP

Ellie Chowns MP

Nadia Whittome MP

Meg Thomas, Disability Rights Campaigner

Audio Credits:

Parliament TV

BBC

GB News

Useful Links:

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/mass-lobby-against-benefit-cuts-21st-may-be-there

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.