What's the point of party conferences?

The Victorians called Britain and Germany “awkward cousins.” These days, Keir Starmer is trying to revive that Anglo-German amity as part of a broader reset with the European Union. The prime minister has wooed Chancellor Friedrich Merz since the Christian Democrat leader took po ...  Show more

Despite the war in Iran and its economic consequences preoccupying ministers, much work is going on behind closed doors in Whitehall to strike a closer relationship with Brussels. Nearly a decade after Britain voted to leave the EU, Keir Starmer has tasked his ministers with nego ...  Show more

With a UK general election only eight months away, the main political parties were keen to come up with a winning formula at their party conferences. James Blitz is joined by Michael Stott and Kiran Stacey to discuss how well they did. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m ...  Show more

Helen is joined by Anoosh Chakelian to discuss the shaming of Donald Trump by Stormy Daniels, plus why Labour Party conference gives her serious deja vu. Then Jonn Elledge reports back from Lib Dem conference, and hands out some TV recommendations too.Send us your questions for f ...  Show more

Steven Rogelberg, a professor at UNC Charlotte, has spent decades researching workplace meetings and reports that many of them are a waste of time. Why? Because the vast majority of managers aren't trained in or reviewed on effective meeting management. He explains how leaders ca ...  Show more

Live in Manchester Matt Chorley speaks to a panel of economic experts to analyse the PM's claims that wages are rising for the nation's poorest. 

PLUS: The Daily Mail's John Stevens and The Spectator's Katy Balls discuss the day's news and what to expect from th ...