Pompey Politics Podcast

Planning is often a contentious part of a local council’s responsibilities. Whether it’s about building an extension to your home, a new supermarket being built in your area or a house converted into an HMO (house of multiple occupancy).

Local Council Planning Committees have to navigate the sometimes competing requirements of passion versus process.

What difference will the recent government changes make...

Notices of Motion:

(links in each item take you to that item in the livestream from Portsmouth Democratic Services)

Parting is such sweet sorrow..

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..

Last PMQs before the summer recess, and Keir Starmer’s last PMQs as Prime Minister.

Will the weather be the only reason exchanges in the chamber are more heated than usual?

Join us as we react to the leaders’ questions. Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Apple Podcast

Youtube Landscape

YouTube portrait

Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to support the podc...

Closing in early July, Havant Borough Council held a public consultation into whether Hayling Island and Emsworth should have their own parish councils.

So, in the face of upcoming local government reorganisation (LGR) seeing Havant Borough Council merged into a unitary authority covering Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham, Gosport & Waterlooville. Ahead of the ratification vote at Havant Borough Council meeting Wednesday July 15th, we ask:-

What is a parish council?

What powers does it have?

How is one formed?

How does it work?

What does it cost?

Join us as we review the deputy leaders’ questions PMQs as David Lammy steps in for Keir Starmer while the PM attends the NATO summit.

Facing him across the dispatch box, from the Conservatives; James Cleverly, from the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper.

After last week’s energised and spirited performance from Keir Starmer, will this week’s PMQs be more of the same?

Which pressing political questions will the leaders of the opposition parties ask the PM?

Will they get straight answers?

Full PMQs on Parliament YouTube channel:

Supp...

Andy Burnham delivered a rousing speech from The Peoples’ History Museum in Manchester on Monday before supporters, MPs and reporters from the media.

For a man that’s all but certain to be the next prime minister, how did this compare in content and delivery to those from Keir Starmer?

❓Which parts gave you hope?

❓Which parts left you with questions?

❓Welcome changes in strategy or short in detail?

❓What do you think about the concept of a ‘number 10 for the north’?

Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Apple Podcast<...

With the labour leadership contest to replace him opens July 9th (running till July 16th) and Parliament due to go into recess for the summer holidays on July 16th Time is running out for Keir Starmer.

How will Starmer do at the dispatch box facing Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch before being dispatched from office in under three weeks.

❓Who will fair better in today’s exchange?

❓Will the questions be worthy and relevant?

❓Will the answers be responses to the questions or something vaguely near the topic of the question...

With Andy Burnham tipped to waltz into Downing Street in a few weeks, the seventh UK prime minister in since 2016 we ask -

❓Is the UK ungovernable ?

❓Are the public too hard to please?

❓Are parliamentary parties addicted to the drama of leadership coups?

❓Is First Past The Post failing to drive consensus and compromise in a divided nation?

❓Is the fickle faith in leaders a new thing?

Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Apple Podcast

Youtube Landscape

YouTube portrait

Subscribe on Youtube...

It’s only Wednesday and it’s already been quite the week for the Prime Minister.

What questions will he face at PMQs ?

Will straight answers be in any greater supply than last week?

Join us as we listen to the questions from party leaders and Sir Keir Starmer’s answers.

Full exchange on the Parliament Youtube channel

Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Apple Podcast

Youtube Landscape

YouTube portrait

Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to sup...

We take a look at what Andy Burnham’s resounding win in the Makerfield by election might mean.

Despite predictions of a photo finish result - Burnham romped home with 55% of the vote.

🔴What could the surprise result mean?

🔴How quickly will a Labour leadership contest ensue?

🔴How many contenders will fight for the crown?

Tell us what you think happens next and who will win out.

Leave us a comment or send a voice note or email studio@pppodcast.uk

Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Apple...

The PM’s away, join us as we look at today’s PMQs with David Lammy.

Asking questions from the opposition parties were:-

Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper

With Kier Starmer away at the G7, was this the time for the Deputy PM to shine, or was he just filling in? Which questions asked deserved a decent answer? Which got one? How much was point scoring, and how much was policy defining?

Full exchange on the Parliament channel

Supp...

Refreshed after an exhausting local election campaign, we catch up with Cllr Steve Pitt - Leader of Portsmouth City Council and ask how the minority Liberal Democrat administration in Portsmouth was able to secure a majority & what this changes for the council and the city. We discuss LGR & devolution, and what the uncertainty over the delivery of both creates in the way of problems for the city.

We also touch on the uncertainty floating about with the Labour leadership challenge that's effectively on hold until after the Makerfield by election.

Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Join us as we review the results from Thursday. Where were the surprises?

-Was it as good or as bad as night as some are saying?

-Is there any difference between how the wards in Portsmouth North voted vs the wards in Portsmouth South?

-With turnout up - was there an increase in votes overall, or were voters for any party more motivated to get out and vote than others?

Our Results charts

PCC's Election results page

Apple Podcast

Youtube Landscape

YouTube portrait<...

Joining us for our 2026 Drayton & Farlington ward hustings are:-

🟦Simon Bosher

🟥Matthew Holland

(Our invitation was extended to the other three candidates).

Hustings rules available on our website https://www.pppodcast.uk/2026-hustings

Questions

Joining us for our 2026 Copnor ward hustings are:-

🟦Ben Swann

🟥Andy Butterworth

(Our invitation was extended to the other three candidates).

Hustings rules available on our website https://www.pppodcast.uk/2026-hustings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aT--wYfSSM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2klCbY4ZH4

Questions

In a first for us, our multi-ward hustings - a political pick’n’mix if you like.

We put questions to:-

🟥Tom Coles (Fratton)

🟦Thomas Hoare (Paulsgrove)

🟩Elliott Lee (Charles Dickens)

Reform and the Liberal Democrats were also invited by did not field a candidate to take part.

Questions

We take a look at the leaders’ questions and the PM’s answers at today’s PMQs.

What questions will the opposition party leaders put?

Will they get answers?

Who comes off the exchanges best?

Will the points land or get lost in the noise?

Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Apple Podcast

Youtube Landscape

YouTube portrait

Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to support the podcast

We take a listen to the leaders' questions asked to Prime Minister, Keir Starmer today in parliament.

Today's questions come from Kemi Badenoch (Leader of the Opposition) - Leader of the Conservative Party, & Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Which questions deserved an answer? Which received one?

Who came out the exchange best?

How many often repeated phrases did you catch?

Our apologies for some audio issues in the last few minutes of the show (note to self - don't have your washing machine running when you're...

Last PMQ’s before Easter, join us for reactions to the Leaders’ questions and answers from PM Sir Keir Starmer. Today's PMQs includes questions from Kemi Badenoch, Sir Ed Davey & Nigel Farage.

Are points being scored, or serious issues landed? Are questions getting answered or are the answers provided responses to a question that wasn’t asked?

Who will come out of the event looking serious, with their finger on the pulse of the nation’s woes? Who comes out it looking like they have a clue what the public are worried about? Support Pompey Politics...

We take a look at the highs and lows, the points of argument, the areas of agreement at Tuesday’s full meeting of Portsmouth City Council.

In the last full council ahead of May’s local elections - which were the agenda items that passed or did not?

11a Cross border taxi licensing & passenger safety (Reform - Strudwick & Madgwick) 🚕

11b (Removing) Council of Sanctuary (Reform - Madgwick & Standen) 🆘

11c Depaving in Portsmouth (Labour - Smyth & Fielding) 🛣

11d Pride in our high sts. (Labour - Fielding & Adeniran) 🛒

11e Supporting our V...

Join us as we react to PMQs from Wednesday March 18th.

Will the point scoring continue?

Will questions get answers?

Will the football inspired shouting again incur the wrath of Speaker Hoyle?

*Unfortunately some technical difficulties affected the livestream. These issues have been removed on the podcast.

Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Apple Podcast

Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to support the podcast

Join us as we react to Prime Minister’s Questions of March 11th 2026.

Which questions are you expecting and from whom?

How heavily will events in the Middle East shape questions & answers?

What will we learn from the PM’s responses?

Which of the party leaders will have the better day?

Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Apple Podcast

Youtube Landscape

YouTube portrait

Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to support the podcast

We’re joined by Cabinet Member for Housing & Preventing Homelessness, Cllr Darren Sanders.

Voting in May's local elections? Make sure you're registered to vote and have photo ID. Deadline to register 20/04/26 Details:- https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk

Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Apple Podcast

Youtube Landscape

YouTube portrait

Subscribe on Yo...

Which questions are you expecting and from whom?

What will we learn from the PM’s responses?

Which of the party leader had the better day?

With events in the Middle East and the US & Israeli attack on Iran being the focus of the questions from Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch, and the impact from it on domestic energy prices by Sir Ed Davey (Leader of the Liberal Democrats) - with the point scoring and shouting pause to reflect the severity of the times?

(we apologise for the audio issue at...

We report on the Full Council budget meeting of Feb 24th and discuss the recent by election results in Gorton & Denton, & in Shirley, as well as the fresh news this weekend of the US attack on Iran.

Among other things, the Council will discuss and hopefully approve a budget for 2025/26 for Portsmouth. A surprise change at the start of the meeting - with the last two members of the Portsmouth Independents Party (PIP) defecting to Reform - bringing the Reform Councillors to 10 and cementing them as the official opposition on Portsmouth City Council.

How much...

We take a look at the leaders’ questions on this week’s PMQs.

As Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces off Kemi Badenoch with a side order of Ed Davey and a dash of Nigel Farage - Who comes off best? What questions actually get answers?

Support Pompey Politics Podcast

Apple Podcast

Youtube Landscape

YouTube portrait

Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to support the podcast

There are few things that get Portsmouth residents excited nearly as much as the apparently endless roadworks, struggles with parking, the prevalence of potholes. Are you Peeved with EV? Are you bonkers about buses?

Great (electoral) Expectations?

We take a look at elections to come.

The Gorton & Denton by election - will Labour receive an electoral bloody nose - and if so, who lands the political punch? What will the result indicate for the local elections to follow?

With one Councillor up for re-election in each of the city’s 14 wards in May we take look at who is reaching the end of their term, likelihood they’ll stand again and whether previous results and current public feeling give any indication of what parties will hold which seat...

Trying something new, we take a quick listen to today’s PMQs as PM Keir Starmer faces off with Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch.

What did you think of today’s exchange? Substance or angry theatre?

Let us know what you think.

Youtube Landscape

YouTube portrait

Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to support the podcast

You can also send us a voicemail.

We take a look at events local, national and international in 2026.

What could the political New Years resolutions have possibly been, and are they just as forgotten by the 2nd week of February as our personal ones are?

Portrait livestream

Landscape Livestream

Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to support the podcast

You can also send us a voicemail.

In our last show of 2025, we take a look at the last Full Council meeting for 2025 of Portsmouth City Council. 

Was the chamber filled with festive cheer and agreement or were 42 Grinches trying to ruin Christmas? What hint do proceedings give of the 2026 local elections campaigns?

Before the council are:-

11. A briefing on devolution

Notices of motion

12a Aquind - The Council reaffirms its opposition to the Aquind interconnector project.

12b Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Issues in Portsmouth

12c Cross Border Taxi Licensing and Passenger S...

After this week’s shock two year delay to the Mayoral elections for Hampshire & The Solent we invite candidates Cllr Martin Tod 🟧 & Anna Collar 🟩to help make sense of the mess.

 -What does this mean for devolution?

-Are voters right to be confused and frustrated? 

-Will Hampshire (& the Isle of Wight) miss out?

-Why the headlong rush, just to put the breaks on?

-What does this mean for candidates? 

 Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to support the podcast

You can also...

We take a look at Wednesday’s budget. Rachel Reeves’ 2nd as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Will there be a 3rd? | Who are the winners? | Who the losers? Was it bold or timid? | Does the leaking or ‘testing’ of policy ahead of the budget create more uncertainty? | Will the measures announced help with cost of living, reduce burden for small businesses and pay for services? | Will the Chancellor fill the gaps in local government funding?

Which policy changes are you celebrating? | What are the changes the Chancellor could have made, but didn't?

You can watch t...

On behalf of Let's Stop Aquind, we hosted a public meeting with key speakers from across politics and two sides of the channel.

What is the Aquind interconnector? It’s the controversially funded and designed plan to connect the UK and French electricity grids with a cable across countryside, farmland, parkland and through residential areas from Normandy to Lovedean, digging a trench along congested roads in Portsmouth on the way.

Speakers:-

Cllr Steve Pitt - Leader Portsmouth City Council

Suella Braverman MP - Fareham & Waterlooville

Cllr Antonia Harrison...

This week we take a look at Tuesday's Full Council - was it a council or consensus or clash of the councillors? 

Notices of Motion

Can the controversial Aquind electricity interconnector project between Normandy, France and Portsmouth, England - cutting a swathe through countryside, farmland and disrupting residents digging up residential and vital arterial roads finally get stopped for good?

 Five years on, we invite Let’s Stop Aquind and their French counterpart, Non à Aquind back onto the show to share the latest.

https://stopaquind.com

https://www.non-a-aquind.org

Stop Aquind on Facebook 

Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to support the podcast

You can a...

 3 1/2 million British citizens living overseas are entitled to vote in UK elections, but only 200,000 are registered to do so. 

 We hear from Mike Tuffrey & John Shardlow of the British Overseas Voters Forum to help us separate fact from fiction and understand the struggles Brits abroad face having a say in the future decisions in the UK. 

More details of British...

Paulsgrove (a council ward in Portsmouth UK) goes the polls in a by election October 23rd 2025 after the resignation in mid September of the Portsmouth Independent Party Councillor Brian Madgwick for health reasons.

We invited all five candidates to take part in our online hustings. The candidates in this election are:-

Georgina Ayling - Green Party

Thomas Hoare - Conservative Party

Sydna Phillips - Labour Party

Michelle Simmons - Liberal Democrats

Joe Standen - Reform UK

Unfortunately the Lib Dem and Green Party candidates...

It’s been a packed political conference season across the UK — from the bold promises of Reform in Birmingham, Labour’s big pledges in Liverpool to the Lib Dems’ revival talk in Bournemouth, followed by the Greens’ record-breaking Bournemouth weekend before the Conservatives’ closed the season with their reset in Manchester,

 What really stood out? Who connected with the public — and who missed the mark? 

🎙️We hear first hand comment from party members.

 We’ll look at:

💬 The biggest announcements from each

📈 What resonated with voters

🗳️ How the parties are positioning for the ne...

National digital ID cards? Paulsgrove by-election candidates announcedPortsmouth City Council full council meeting 23rd September

We take a look at political news local and national, discuss and through some ideas back and forth.

Are these changes really needed? Are they well thought out?

Subscribe on Youtube, Follow on Facebook or signup for our email newsletter. Donate to support the podcast

You can also send us a voicemail.

Take part in our Paulsgrove by-election poll or our 2026 local and mayoral elections poll.