Is Kemi Badenoch telling the truth? | The News Agents

Why did Kemi Badenoch accuse a whistleblower of lying - in a row over compensation payouts to Post office victims?
And why isn't the Prime Minister prepared to investigate what was actually said?
Today, Keir Starmer put those questions to the government in the tone of a barrister preparing a quiet but devastating court case. Is Kemi sure she's right, even though the sacked chairman of the Post Office is fighting back? And what happens to her - the darling of the Tory right and leadership front runner - if she's proved wrong.
Later, how much power does Sue Gray wield in the Labour party? We talk to Keir Starmer's biographer Tom Baldwin.
#politics #keirstarmer #news #kemibadenoch #uk #2024 #NewsAgents #EmilyMaitlis #JonSopel #LewisGoodall
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Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall - three of the UK’s top journalists - host a brand-new daily news podcast: The News Agents.
They’re not just here to tell you what's happening, but why. Expect astute analysis and explanation of the day's news - and a healthy dose of scepticism and the ability to laugh at it all when needed!
Episodes are available every weekday afternoon.
The News Agents is a Global Player Original podcast and a Persephonica production.

[@robbieshand6139]

You don't accuse someone of lying until you know what they have. The hilarious thing is that the letter she published to supposedly exonerate herself actually showed that the government's main priority was to limit further court costs and paying compensation was a lower priority, which actually backs up the accusation made against her. She has the political instincts of a stroppy teenager.

[@DavidWilmotR]

It said they "should engage positively" with the compensation claims and called for him to "reach settlements with claimants". You know the compensation scheme is paid for directly by the Government? And so compensation has nothing to do with the ongoing legal costs of the Post Office? The Post Office pay their legal costs out of their budget but not the compensation. In fact, if they settled all the claims immediately, then they wouldn't have the legal costs associated with the Horizon scandal since the costs come from them disputing the claims and the admin around allocating the compensation.

[@polyestermammoth740]

And she has the sharpness of a coma patient.

[@jamesprice4647]

Barristers normally know the answer to questions they ask.

[@tt-ew7rx]

Exactly. The questions are not asked to extract answers, but to extract the expected reactions, which they usually do.

[@woofpet]

And sidestepping when asked a direct question 30:42

[@buzzukfiftythree]

Kemi Badenoch demonstrates admirably that she has been promoted well beyond her competence. It's a trait that is seen in so many government appointments in the past few years. By and large, the competent ministers voted to remain in the EU and they were subsequently side-lined by Johnson. He appointed a pretty lacklustre Cabinet, lacking in experience and competence.

[@rubbadubdub6543]

He didn’t want to appoint anyone who would make him look incompetent by comparison, which excludes an awful lot of people.

[@raphaelandrews3617]

not competence but convenience, she will fall flat on her face like Petti Slippy Patel, she will be gone when they throw out the trash.

[@richardjames3022]

I don't even need to watch full to know that of course she lied. She has been called out soooo many times. She should have had the whip removed a long time ago

[@susansantapola]

Badenoughs sneering arrogance, lies, rudeness and unpleasant demeanour does not bode well for her. I know who I believe.

[@DeniseWilliams-jr5xo]

I believe him as this shower couldn't even lie straight in bed. Badenoch has behaved badly before in parliament because she abused the speaker and he said "who do you think you're talking to minister?" She is rude, appallingly bad mannered and very economical with the truth.

[@alfredttarski4521]

Be a bit grateful for the many "trade deals" she has given you! 😆😆😆

[@peteryoungpeteryoung965]

I love this channel, the Beeb has gone downhill since these guys left, Kuensberg is a tory stooge, only Vicky Derbyshire left on telly with any critical political pedigree.

[@patrickfox-roberts7528]

yup

[@beecee2205]

Is Kemi Badenoch lying ? her mouth was flapping, so yes

[@Lynnpjjbdndji]

She's so arrogant she lies with ease .... she's just very bad at it !

[@andym.6141]

K.B. Big head, big mouth, small future.

[@SuezWSuezW]

Yeah. In Canada it was released that trade talks stopped with the UK weeks ago. And it is said in private that the UK minister got stroppy and walked out. The dairy lobby in Canada is a very important voting group and the Canadian Feds will not upset them again, so you're SOL Badenoch.

[@jamesprice4647]

We are soooooo unimportant to Canada.

[@SuezWSuezW]

@@jamesprice4647 Not true. The UK is a systemically important part of the world. In finance, in defence, in the cultural world and so on. However, if you get between a struggling government and its re-election (I mean Trudeau's) you're gonna be rolled flat!

[@davidwilliams3397]

The problem is that no one is really paying attention to the detail. Not even journalists or Politicians that are supposed to hold these people to account. When she said that negotiations were ongoing there was no interrogation of that fact. If we have a rubberstamp parliament rather than that which is inquisitive we end up with lots of ministers being able to at least bend the truth or outright lie. I think the better question is not whether Badenoch lied, I would suggest even if she hasn't lied over the post office chairman affair, she has over meeting LGBTQ people & over the issue of Trade with Canada & countless other issues which most people just seem to ignore and park. by the time that she is even close to be held to account the public don't care and the moment to call her to answer is gone. Worse still the UK Tories have a client press that set the agenda

[@SuezWSuezW]

@@davidwilliams3397 I hear you. I hope you all vote more sensibly next time...🙄

[@doncraughwell3816]

Stop the small jets!

[@debb6393]

I was shocked by that, they sacked him for bringing it up!

[@ogribiker8535]

​@@debb6393Very telling!

[@michaelfoy]

Noooooo! Just KEEP focusing on those Boats! We have to Have SOMETHING to point At!! We're DESPERATE not to have Anyone pointing at US!! (For being SO UTTERLY useless!)

[@jameshealey6535]

Regarding if Bad Enoch is lying I usually work on the principle that if her lips are moving then yes, she's lying.

[@samhartford8677]

Seriously, as a foreigner, whilst the incompetence of the Tory government is really hilarious, this starts to be like a bad sequel by now.

[@TankEnMate]

Contemporaneous notes are admissible in a court of law. And he filed them on the Post Office's system so it's hard to find fault in.

[@audreymcgready4329]

I woyuld believe a man like Staunton befor ei would ever believe a Tory liar like her. Her arrogance is very much miss-placed.

[@sharonpmcnamara9350]

I think Badenoch is already proven as a bald liar & double guilty of deceit from evasion / omission.

[@ianmclean284]

She’s one of many embarrassments in the Tory party 😮😮

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks for posting.

[@woofla123]

Tory party are great at choosing their leaders aren’t they? Lettuce Liz, Sunak and now Badenoch a favourite. Unbelievable.

[@Rondoggy67]

If Badenoch is speaking, she isn't telling the truth. It's as simple as that.

[@michaeljenkinson7099]

So true

[@samanthabennington308]

Excellent episode

[@benmorris118]

Maybe she isnt, but by this point i tar all tories with the same brush. They have no credibility left as a party. Get them out, sick of them

[@davesy6969]

About councils issuing section 114 notices- The Guardian has been regularly covering this issue over years on their app, the bill could run into billions and the mainstream media is ignoring it.

[@gazza595]

I was a local councillor for 3 years up until last May, I finished due to ill health. This central government funding issue has been a car crash in the making for the last decade. Funding reduced year on year in the face of ever expanding expectation. It's a shambles and gets no visibility in the main stream.

[@andrewrose7800]

Re Starmer. Does the book mention his understanding of the word "pledge"?

[@3ddieLowFilth5layer]

Let’s look at it logically; She’s a Tory MP… … so yes, she’s lying

[@josephparry2229]

Kemi Badenoch is not the best with word's, unfortunately she needs to go

[@trevm1268]

Canadian trade talks, meetings with LGBT groups, Post Office compensation, Islamophobia..... I'll leave you to decide whether she is a liar ot not!

[@debb6393]

😂 every word 🙄

[@MrsGardiner]

Neither did she as equalities minister ever give a fig about disabled people, as we have heard from the Covid enquiry.

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

We want BRITISH M.P's ... . not these devils . . . .!!!

[@Contraster671]

The conservatives are dead all a waste of breath. Excellent questions about Keir Starmer I’m pleased about this book and it’s on order now. Thank you.

[@tauIrrydah]

The boy who cried wolf has retired. Kemi Badenoch is now the poetic metaphor.

[@sarahradford9822]

Re Councils going bankrupt.. how are they going to meet statutory duties?? Where's the minister for health and social care ffs?

[@kevinaslett7174]

Does anyone else think that Tom Baldwin looks & acts like Alistair Campbell ? 😊

[@rafbarkway5280]

The big point here is that when asked difficult questions, the priminister DOES NOT answer them.NO accountability by government.

[@9595RK]

Do any politicians ‘answer’ a question???

[@Jon-xw9om]

I love the way political analysts over analyse Badenoch. I go for the much more rational 'She's a bit of a sociopath' explanation. It fits.

[@abenaid11]

Sunak is too soft, Has been from the start, that's why the party is so disjointed.

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

Sunak is working for a foreign agency ...that is the whole problem ....

[@ericaceous1652]

No. There, answered :)

[@zoranblackie5921]

Denial's not just a river in Egypt...

[@LongbranchOlivetti]

No. Next question.

[@richardtuxford1812]

The starmer conversation is interesting and John has some valid points. Labelling yourself might endear you to some,but equally will be toxic to others. Values based judgement is what the UK is sadly lacking currently and it will be a refreshing change

[@user-jc4lb5mm7x]

Kemi Badenoch telling the truth, that could be a novel experience.

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

Badenoch is the Boebert of the Tory Party😊

[@Nannyirene]

Yes! She does, I wondered where I'd seen this attitude before coming from a person that has done with their life except look after number one.

[@hughallison4639]

Long answer: no.

[@edmurth]

I mean she is a proven liar and I ask myself does his summary of events sound like something this government would do and I only have one answer. Badenoch’s only tactic is attack is the best form of defence, she seems to be a one trick pony and in my opinion her political abilities are very overrated.

[@bobalopadus8901]

Great interview

[@midlandgeordie]

A Conservative MP lying? Who would believe that??😂😂

[@nickryder9669]

The Canadian government a peer to think Bad Enoch is a liar ?

[@juliasaltus7493]

Windrush Emily

[@mrdaveythebaby]

Just to be clear, Bandenoch has been shown to be a liar regarding the canada trade talks and engagement with LGBTQ community, the question is whether she has been proven to have lied about the Post Office issue yet.

[@badnick6659]

She hasn't been truthful yet. Thinks she is clever. 😮

[@gerhardaigner5108]

How much cost the Common Wealth Games in Birmingham?

[@fizzedupslade4082]

Really interested to hear about Starmer. I truly hope we go back to slightly boring politics without all the theatrics. I cannot see how tories can win the next election given how austerity is coming home to roost i.e Birmingham C. Council bankruptcy. It's a travesty they have to sell all their assets. And yes more councils in peril to come.

[@debb6393]

That’s exactly what I was thinking, we want competent boring politicians who work diligently for us, he does sound like that. Fed up with being exhausted from angertainment and politics here and the US.

[@georgecorish4283]

Once she opens her mouth the lies flow out

[@malcolmblack9037]

She is lied

[@MrBizteck]

At this stage being a civil servant that been fired by the Tories is becoming a Badge of honor !

[@jamesprice4647]

People are very nuanced, but Starmer is not an imaginative man and he is too frightened sometimes.

[@anthonydecastro6938]

They keep shooting themselves in the mouth, don't they...

[@JohnEboy73]

Her lips moved...so yes.

[@chaipup7045]

So you're saying she wasn't lying?

[@fracturedlife1393]

Dont understand how she would be seen as a leader. Terrible Human Being.

[@stinkfoot9776]

Lied before, lie again and again. She can't help herself.

[@piaggiok]

The Government needs to move away from the failed Milton Freedman Neoliberal Economic Theory and return to funding the services that matter, stop selling off public assets that keep shifting the country’s wealth to the top 2% , and stop worrying about Government debt that is held in Great Britain’s sovereign currency. That Birmingham’s local Government story displays a huge deterioration in the fabric of Public institutions, social cohesion and the ‘wealth’ of the citizens of GB.

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

being a tory its unlikely

[@GorgeDawes]

Badenoch’s behaviour makes her look psychopathic.

[@boba2783]

She has been caught lying on 4 subjects in a week

[@Frank-bn9eg]

A perennial question 😂

[@JaneA544]

Kemi badenoch does not lie, he is a disgrace that he called her out, but thrn he is a misogynist

[@musiqtee]

The thought of “government saving money” is a charade. A government can (and did during the pandemic, the 2009 bailout…) procure through quantitative easing. Type amount, push ’enter’ - balance against bond or currency buybacks… That they are unwilling to, has other reasons. MMT shows that any government with a national currency (here, £) stand free to use monetary tools as means to fiscal stimulus. The amount in question is minuscule compared to the PPE scandal, vaccines or everyday military spending - all within public ownership, and so not inflationary. Other political tactics (or City financial values) are motivating this - not “lack of money”… 🙄

[@richardhorton25]

The crisis in local council funding caused by 40% cuts in central government funding over the last 14 years would seem to present an ideal opportunity to overhaul the Council tax system. Council tax is regressive and was designed that way by the Major government to replace the ill fated poll tax to favour wealthier home owners (Conservative voters). The valuations on property and the banded payment schemes are still based on 1992 levels which have little relevance today. Labour could a) require a revaluation of all UK property at 2024 levels, b) set a standard tax based on a percentage of current market values (say 0.5%) collect the tax centrally and distribute to local authorities based on the census population with some sort of algorithm for age of the population and some other algorithm for the level of deprivation in the council concerned (both entirely data driven and not politically motivated). This could be and would be seen as eminently fair and stop the ridiculous situation where a resident in Bolton in a £250k house is paying the same council tax as a resident in Westminster with an £8m property.

[@9595RK]

Maitlis is one to talk about showing herself up in a bad light. Those in glass houses etc;

[@pennyyoung2291]

What do you mean?

[@markendicott6874]

No. Obviously.

[@AdeboFunkyVoodoo]

Were her lips moving: If yes, then no. If no, then no.

[@EmaryTegan]

No

[@user-sd3ik9rt6d]

She is telling her truth, not the truth. 2 different things.

[@rustynail1194]

She's a tory. Of course she's lying.

[@user-dm5jy8io6g]

RIVITING..

[@ChrisArmstrong-qn1ob]

These reporters should have a tv slot maybe there left leaning and truth would scare the tv hierarchy ??!

[@chrissmith6022]

…. never knowingly😊

[@markbolsover3145]

*on (RE:) Starmer-, ... -is it not problematic for a biographer to become/(apparently) take on the role of a (political/popular) apologist/unofficial press agent for their subject? ... I would have liked you to take that to task a lot more fervently here. ...

[@lobintool]

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much!"

[@SuezWSuezW]

"Who're you calling a lady!!!"

[@parametr]

I have no clue about mics, but that setup looks really cool and sounds great. Congrats (from an undocumented dude) to the engineers. Does anybody know what the setup is?

[@tompearce3610]

John's take: Zionist or pro Palestinian... Why Zionist not Israeli? A lot of Israelis and Jews throughout the world aren't Zionist in fact quite the opposite. Might explain John's shutting down the West Bank as being relevant when talking about Hamas, Gaza, etc.

[@bobbyg8250]

Post office officials have been evidenced recently, lying about serious financial accounting systems. The question I ask is why have you totally overlooked this in your discussions.

[@obtuse1291]

Of course she isn't telling the truth. Next question. 😂😂

[@yeahsureimdownforthat1698]

Yet to watch the video yet; but no she isn't telling the truth. Thus, of course she likely next leader of the Torries.

[@robduncan599]

All this jockeying for position is pointless? Badenoch , Braverman, Mordaunt, Johnson, Baker or any other Conservative hopeful is wasting their time , because there is only one man with big enough shoes. Only one man can unite the Tories, only one man has the gravitas, a leader , with the midas touch, with everything he touches turning to gold. Only one man with a wealth of experience that can get the Brexit ship off the rocks and sailing in clear blue water . Only one man has his finger on the pulse, together with his friends over at Seaborne Freight only Crisis Grayling can save the Brexit Empire. Chris Grayling for the win !

[@michaelfoy]

😅😅Excellent!! Funnily enough, was only reading today How this Dreadful Government is looking into Re-introducing charges (scrapped under protest) for People to take Employers who ride roughshod over Employment rights etc, to a Tribunal, last time they charged, claims fell by up to 75%...and the Origional introducer of the Charges in 1st place?? Step forward The Right Honourable CHRIS Grayling 👏 😂😂😂

[@t.p.mckenna]

Failing Grayling??!!! By golly, you may just be right! Splendid idea.

[@PaulIsaacT.PowerPoet-so1gh]

😂

[@TheDavidfallon]

The UK election can't come soon enough. It's all so sordid. Sunak runs an out of control soap opera more scenery-chewingly absurd than anything in Coronation Street or Eastenders.

[@EmmaVB82]

It’s very strange to be watching this on KZbin five full days after this was recorded and broadcast in the audio form via RSS, after so much has happened (referring back to what Lewis said early on about “political water under the bridge”)! I’m sure this is intentional (for promotion of the actual podcast with dynamic ad insertions etc), but for whatever little it’s worth to leave a KZbin comment about it, I’m finding it peculiar and jarring, and it took a lot of conscious effort to override the urge to switch away and watch/listen to something more immediately current and relevant. I’m short on time so I can’t leave as in-depth a comment right now as I had planned about the rest of the content, alas! But with 10 mins still to watch (I said I was short on time 😬 and will come back to watch that!), it was at least worth me resisting that urge and watching the rest :)

[@camoTiaras]

She never tells the truth.

[@davidgardiner4720]

Can elephants play the piano?

[@FrenchTheLlamas]

Fangirling over Starmer a bit much here. Touch embarassing.

[@user-eg4vf2cc7i]

They both seem to be at the feet of Trump

[@simonmurray6833]

KIME BADENOUGH😅 4 LIES IN A WEEK DEFO NEXT TORY LEADER 😅😅

[@jrobs1133]

Donald Trump in ear rings.

[@robduncan599]

With or without the Diaper?

[@jrobs1133]

@@robduncan599 Ask her. She's on X

[@bobhawxwell1606]

The media yet again indulging in " westminster soap opera " politics rather than advocating for the actual people who have really suffered in this story .

[@peterankin985]

Bad enoch lying😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@craig3420]

Badenoch is a liar..shes an appalling politician...arrogant. out of her depth..and she missed pmqs this time and the next one...that tells u everything about her

[@nuttall47]

Keir Starmer calling someone else a liar. You've got to laugh.

[@gregwatson7133]

Why?

[@venenareligioest410]

Is she telling the truth, mmmmm is the Pope Irish?

[@worship568]

In the second part of this podcast, the journalist Baldwin engages in an exercise in PR for Keir Starmer. He uncritically accepts Starmer at face value. One doesn't have to be against Starmer to find that kind of "client-journalism" nauseating.

[@Nannyirene]

Nor a Boris fan and they are still kissing his bottom.

[@elkpaz560]

KB stitched up by civil servants? They have form.

[@yancowles]

Er, surely, whether badenoch is lying or not, we can't seriously pretend that someone with a memo that they themselves wrote, is actually evidence. I know we'd probably like this story to be true but maybe let's not lose our grip on reality trying to make it so.

[@yancowles]

'He knows his way round taking notes'! Really, did you really just say that Jon Sopel?!?!

[@czgibson3086]

What motivation would he have had to lie in his notes and email written at the time?

[@BarryDiegoLondon-cy9ij]

She's been caught lying before

[@timothyphillips7576]

The problem is Badenochs letter implies that she is lying despite her thinking it proves she's not. She is even thicker than previously advertised.

[@BrianV-ie4mw]

@@czgibson3086 Exactly so. It would take some crystal ball to foresee the use of a false note all that time ago.

[@t.p.mckenna]

Bad-Enoch has an appalling temperament and highhandedness. Her output, I'd go so far as to say, is feral. More suited to a rabid backbencher. After Staunton had made his allegations in a Mail interview, there should have been nothing more than a bland, departmental rebuttal, but no, Badenoch was personally piqued. So, there she was, flying off the handle, and on two separate occasions, claiming to have documentary proof of her assertions that never actually materialised. It could well be that that slightly rabies induced manner is what the Conservative Party members are slavering for in their dying throes, but in any event, with the fragmentation of the Tories at Westminster, we're about to see a repeat of the post-Major era when the party went through Hague, IDS & Howard without any impact.

[@HarryFlashmanVC]

Published 4 hours ago and 15k views..😂😂😂😂😂 How the 'mighty' have fallen!

[@Nala1950]

London city airport. Russians coming in