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Commons PeopleWelcome to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Author: HuffPost UK
Welcome to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, our resident politics writers and Westminster regulars Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week's biggest story in a way that even the most politically dense can understand. Join us for straightforward, up-to-date and in-depth commentary on British politics from people in the know! From HuffPost UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Language: en Genres: Government, News, Politics Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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What Happens Behind Closed Doors: Interview With A Top Government Special Adviser
Thursday, 13 August, 2026
Welcome back to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. In this week's episode, Kevin sits down with Liz Bates, a former political journalist turned special adviser for Keir Starmer's Government. Liz lifts the lid on what a SPAD does, the "funereal" reality of Keir Starmer's resignation to those on the inside and the difference between reporting the news and influencing the story.Timecodes00:00 – Introduction.05:07 – What is a special adviser and what do they do?07:59 – What was it like working for Steve Reed, the former Housing Secretary and Environment Secretary?13:10 – Behind the scenes of Keir Starmer's resignation in July.18:30 – Why does a SPAD also lose their job when the minister they're serving does?20:32 – What's next for Liz and what does she think about the future of Andy Burnham's Government.23:35 – Bluffers Guide and end.You can follow us at @commons.people on Instagram and TikTok. This is a HuffPost UK podcast. Music provided by Epidemic Sounds. Producer: Sam Cleal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
