Starmer meets Biden | The News Agents

PM Starmer has just arrived in Washington to meet President Biden for the first time.
Arguably at a time when Biden needs Starmer more than Starmer needs the US president.
He’s there to talk NATO - and our commitment to Ukraine. But questions about our own defence spending will pursue him.
We’ll talk to the shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell about Sir Keir's first week and the Tories last (in government for now). What lessons are his own party gleaning from their election defeat?
And we reflect on billionaire brexiteer household appliance maker James Dyson’s fortunes as he fires a thousand people.
#keirstarmer #nato #ukprimeminister #washington #joebiden #washingtonpost #ukraine #conservatives #brexit #News #Politics #NewsAgents #EmilyMaitlis #JonSopel #LewisGoodall
Download The News Agents with Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall from 5PM every weekday on Global Player: www.globalplayer.com/podcasts...
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.

[@ryanseager123456789]

That interview with Mitchell shows that still do not understand the issue. The public do not trust politicians, and not giving a straight answer and hiding behind platitudes will not change people's minds on that.

[@mogzybuster]

Since when was Rwanda a 'close ally'? 😳

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

Member of the commonwealth.

[@Starstung]

@@stevenwilliamson6236 Means nothing. India is a member of the commonwealth and still buys Russian oil.

[@davesy6969]

The last tory prime minister who put country before party was John Major.

[@jeffreyjoshuarollin9554]

The only one since 1979!

[@lordcharfield4529]

By signing the Maastricht Treaty?

[@jeffreyjoshuarollin9554]

@@lordcharfield4529 the implication that you voted for Brexit hardly qualifies you to judge what’s best for the country.

[@specialized500]

​@@lordcharfield4529have you even read it ? If so what is your objection ?

[@colincampbell4261]

​@@specialized500towards further intergration, economically and politically of the EU.

[@karlmoss2435]

Until the Tories stop wandering media outlets , sounding like a heartbroken ex that can't see the signs that their ex has moved on, utterly divorced from reality. "We believe that the other team deserves a go"? Really?!?!? Mr Mitchell, the Tories got battered because your party were incapable of governing.

[@martinamckeown.4936]

Absolutely loving your podcasts 🎉truly 3 of the best journalists about atm 😊 Thankyou

[@annaclarke7643]

Exactly my thoughts. Such a brilliant and entertaining lineup of journalists. They are my ‘go to’ news source. They know their stuff.

[@bigblue6917]

One thing we all know is that he will not be coming back halfway through to do an interview with Sky.

[@PatOfTheRick]

Funny how I’ve seen Tory after Tory being interviewed, and they seem to come across as serious people. Then the topic of farage comes up they’re like ‘oh love him, great bloke, what a character, never had a bad word to say about him’.

[@emilymaitlislaptop]

Andrew Mitchell? What a pleb!

[@Red1Green2Blue3]

This tory is just as delusional as the rest. Completely detached from reality. Friends with Farage but hasn't seen any dog whistles?! The historians will look fondly on Sunak? 🤣

[@annphillips1086]

I'll look fondly on Sunak. He's got a puppyish air about him that makes him somehow hard to dislike, even when he's saying dreadful things and appointing dreadful people. I felt, when he stood in a line with world leaders, he's a bit under-ripe but not nearly as embarrassing as the last two. At least his suit didn't look as though it had been tied together with string, nor his hair that it had blown off the back of a lorry. However, I doubt that's what Mitchell meant.

[@eddietemple2302]

@@annphillips1086 your bar is pathetically low

[@juliecraig6770]

Parenthesis? Do we use this word now in the UK? Can’t we stick with UK English instead of American English? Please 🙏🏼 Love the Podcast 😊

[@beverleyheinze3840]

I love your podcast and listen everyday. Fun fact, when you say that Keir Starmer and Gareth Southgate are similar, they’re both Virgo sun signs, 2nd and 3rd September respectively…

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks for posting

[@cinziam457]

HOW is it possible that Emily has missed everything Trump has said about NATO (anti), Ukraine (give it to Putin), Putin (huge fan).

[@FredTheLard]

If they are in Calais then I suspect they would still want to come to the UK independent of the party in govt.

[@georgestewart3924]

An increase from 2% of GDP to 2.5% is not a small increase in spending, it's an increase of 25%. But I'm not sure growing the economy helps make it more affordable, the more the economy grows, the bigger GDP becomes and so even more money will need to be found.

[@brianferguson7840]

At last, a comment from someone who understands "numbers"

[@martinamckeown.4936]

💯👏🏻👏🏻

[@farhadchaudhry]

Well, this is why they mean real GDP and not nominal, but this is brushed over by journalists.

[@SgtCustard]

It's currently already a shade over 2.3% so it's not quite that much. Growing the economy helps less than for other aspects of spending but it does mean non-defence spending becomes a smaller share of GDP leaving a bigger chunk of government funds to go into defence.

[@seanoconnor8843]

The commitment to defence is beyond question. The discussion is, where is the spending best going? Nothing to do with the industrial complex. Save us the conspiracy theories

[@GazGaryGazza]

The problem with UK defence spending is it’s a Tory Con because the figure they use also includes things like pensions and that’s not money spent on weapons and defence.

[@colincampbell4261]

Same as the NHS - ex staff pensions are included in its operating costs.

[@stevenesbitt3528]

It’s still expense associated with providing defence, I’m not sure what the issue is?

[@GazGaryGazza]

The issue is the comparison made with other countries is NOT on a level playing field because they do not include pensions, we’re telling other countries to spend more per GDP when we’re spending less using the same metric. It was the typical Tory fudge, change how things are defined to twist the truth. We saw it with Rwanda and what safe means, we’ve seen it when they reclassified how they measure unemployments, the same for poverty. The only thing they accomplished was twisting the truth

[@TheDavidfallon]

The repartee between you three is so delightful.

[@joe2mercs]

Although it can be said that ‘it is the interests of Raytheon that this money is spent’ it should also be said that with a highly militarised Russia on Europe’s border, engaged in a murderous war with the democratic country of Ukraine and being led by Putin who has expressed ambitions of re-establishing the Soviet empire it should be in everyone’s interests to appear strong and resolute rather than weak and irresolute. It must be remembered that in the run up to WW2 Britain spent about 3% of GDP on defence and by 1941 it was 49%. It is not about increasing army numbers, it is about increasing the lethality of the army. A penny spent early may negate the spending of a pound later.

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

Talking about Napoleon: when are they getting rid of income tax?

[@martycrow]

I'm distracted by the sheen on Jon's jacket. What is it? Silk? Linen? I think we should be told.

[@methanedirigible]

It’s just worn out isn’t it?

[@martinamckeown.4936]

❤

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

Save £10bn a year by releasing NI.

[@bryanhanley673]

You can get to 2.5% of GDP on defence by alowing GDP to fall.

[@phillheth]

News to me. Last I heard, arch angel Gabriel had joined reform.

[@lourinabotha4898]

I love your show - but it is tricky to follow when you all speak over each other...

[@JasonDrWho]

Dear Lewis, I’ve noticed that you often avoid looking directly at Emily Maitlis during the ‘in vision’ episodes of The News Agents. Is there a romantic reason behind it? Are you perhaps harboring a secret that one glance from Emily would make you spill faster than Prince Andrew? Or is it simply because there’s no room left in the studio once you’ve squeezed in your three seats? I’m Jason from East Cowes, a massive fan, and I listen to you all every day.

[@stevejones3868]

Starmer rubber stamps water bill price rises UP TO 44%!!!

[@deryk1987]

Ok so they are in Labours pocket and will not criticise them for whatever reason.. at least now I can block their videos 💁🏻‍♂️

[@spitfire1962]

They could make Farage US ambassador. That would make Trump happy and get rid of Farage.

[@pfunnell]

He's a complete grifter not interested in doing anything that involves any real work

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

Apart from Brexit Cameron was okay. Sure, compared to the people who came after.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

The man who aspires to do nothing meets the "old, mad, blind, despised and dying King".

[@GaryGillKeeper]

Andrew Mitchell should run for Leader of the Opposition

[@mansnotbot4160]

Mitchell is precisely why people hate politicians. He never, ever, answers a question directly. But he's civil and polite, so people look the other way. Ugh.

[@colincampbell4261]

You learn that in the private schools.

[@MalkyWilson]

The Lutyens mansion, gives the White House a run for its money!

[@paulbelcher7059]

She leaked it

[@seanmclean3028]

This fixation with GDP percentages is so misleading. The US has always spent more on defence due to their military strength around the world. European countries don’t have that problem! If you break that down to US expenditure in the European theatre, just like every NATO country, the US ran down its military just as much if not more than everyone else. There was no perception of threat from Russia after the years the Soviet Union collapsed. The BAOR was costing UK massively based throughout Germany and in conjunction with the US they closed many garrisons. As Putin is now threatening NATO this argument about military spending starts all over again. Putin is a danger but to the extent of Cold War threat level I highly doubt. The fact they can’t break Ukraine tells you all you need to know.

[@dianeshelton9592]

Yes but he still has nuclear weapons (we think)and is very unpredictable. He is a huge threat not because of his military which has been so degraded in Ukraine , he is a threat because he thinks he is important and meddles in others politics to try to achieve what he wants. He is also a threat because he bears a grudge. For example Finland joins NATO has incensed him and he will be spiteful if he can against them. They are in imminent danger. Don’t underestimate him, he is dangerous because he will do what others will not. By the way I absolutely deplore everything about him , just don’t think he is not important or that the threat level has somehow gone down because we now know his military is trash.

[@colincampbell4261]

The UK should concentrate on defending it own shores and not on overseas operations. Our air defence needs updating. We also need a steel industry if you want a defence industry.

[@brownboytravels]

Lewis has a tannnnnnn

[@MrNiuj]

Andrew Mitchell the one man alive that likes his own voice more then Emily Maitliss and John Sopall.

[@taekwanlew]

They are broadcasters! Whats your excuse?

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

And Lewis.

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

Comparing a kia ceed to a Dacia sandero is ridiculous

[@alexharrison2743]

You can drop the pseudonym, James May, we know that's you

[@seanoconnor8843]

I much prefer none journalists speaking and interviewing. These two play the traditional Robin Day sketch. Sopal is the same on the radio. Nightmare. Emily approached Paxman levels on election night trying to get the better of Nadine.

[@annphillips1086]

"Trying"? Nadine is off her rocker.

[@EthanZoid]

Most successful party about to go extinct 😂

[@mikedalessandro5382]

Why does Lewis focus on John and ignore Emily?😊

[@gerarddearie-zd2gb]

Sons and Daughters, Emily? Russia does not allow women to fight on the front line.

[@thedealermusic]

There’s literally been a whole brigade of Russian women taken from prisons into the Russian frontline. Keep up

[@xavierhucklenbruch1798]

A shame this guy won... he is a total lair

[@rustynail1194]

It was him or an absolute shower of sh*te. People hardly have a choice.

[@JmoulFrancis]

Mitchell is as delusional as they come.