Former Downing Street Policy Chief on the UK-EU Relationship and Labour's Path Forward

Newscast hosts Adam and Chris speak with Stuart Ingramham, former director of the policy unit in Number 10 under Keir Starmer, about life at the heart of government and how the UK should navigate its relationship with the European Union ahead of the Brussels summit.

■ Inside Downing Street
- The day-to-day reality of running the policy unit and steering government departments
- Managing limited face time with the Prime Minister

■ The UK-EU Summit Deal
- SPS on plant and animal exports, emissions trading schemes, and the youth mobility scheme
- The political memorandum and what it sets up for the next round of negotiations
- The made in Europe agenda, steel quotas, and the Ukraine loan scheme

■ Weighing the Trade-offs
- Why alignment means following EU rules without a vote
- Calibrating the debate between the near-term deal and longer-term questions about rejoin
- Labour's internal dynamics and the party's position on Europe

■ Reflections on the Starmer Government
- The reset in EU relations, the manifesto commitment, and the government's record
- Lessons carried over from the Brexit era

This episode is suited to listeners interested in UK politics and EU relations, offering a detailed view of how policy decisions are shaped at the top of government and what the forthcoming deal may entail.