James O'Brien Daily

Despite Keir Starmer’s insistence that he has full confidence in his “top team”, his leadership faces fresh scrutiny after losing two key allies: his Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, and, more recently, US Ambassador Peter Mandelson, who resigned following revelations of his links to Jeffrey Epstein. But while Downing Street backs Keir, does the country still back him?James also turned to international news, reflecting on the death of Charlie Kirk and the fallout surrounding MSNBC’s firing of political commentator Matthew Dowd over on-air remarks just minutes after the event. Beyond the headlines, James asked: will America truly change in response?This episode was recorded on the 12th of September. Catch James O’Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC. 

In this insightful discussion, Simon Marks, LBC's Washington Correspondent, sheds light on the shocking murder of Trump ally Charlie Kirk. Marks explores the political landscape surrounding Kirk's death and the narrative it has sparked about radical left violence. The conversation also critiques the dismissal of UK Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson following ties to Epstein, and its implications for UK-US relations. The episode highlights the societal and media implications of political violence, emphasizing the importance of empathy in today’s polarized climate.

Israel has launched a strike on Hamas officials in Qatar’s capital, Doha, reportedly including the group’s chief ceasefire negotiator, who was meeting there to discuss the potential for a ceasefire in Gaza. Is there any point in negotiating with Israel?And, Sir Keir Starmer has rejected growing calls to sack the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over his dealings with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. These indlude claims that Epstein brokered a deal involving Mandelson after Epstein had been convicted of child sex offences, and a 50th birthday from the ambassador calling Epstein his “best pal”. Should Peter Mandleson stay, or go?This episode was recorded on the 10th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

The NHS has for the first time published league tables ranking every trust in England. Is this really a good idea?And, the London tube strike concludes its second full day, with a union leader warning that industrial relations have "totally collapsed". How do you decide whether or not to support a strike?This episode was recorded on the 9th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

It’s Online Safety Day at LBC - James discusses what unfettered access to pornography has done to children and how we can know if the Online Safety Act is actually working to protect kids from harmful content.Also, the Met Police arrested almost 900 people at a protest against the proscribing of Palestine Action as a terror group on Saturday. Has the government made a mistake in banning the group and should they reverse it?And, James speaks with Meetali Jain, Director of the Tech Justice Law Project, which is supporting a family who are suing OpenAI over the death of their teenage son. They allege that Chat GPT encouraged their son, Adam Raine, to take his own life.This episode was recorded on the 8th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

James navigated an extraordinary moment in British politics with the breaking news of Angela Rayner’s resignation from Government.Before the announcement, James invited listeners to share their perspectives on the independent investigation led by Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s adviser on ministerial standards. Although the story has dominated headlines since Wednesday, James sought insights directly from professionals within the field.Midway through the programme, the news broke: Angela Rayner had resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, following revelations she had breached the ministerial code over her underpayment of stamp duty on her £800,000 seaside flat. To help unpack the implications of this dramatic development, James was joined by LBC’s Political Correspondent Aggie Chambre. Together, they explored what the resignation means for Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour Party, and the wider political landscape.This episode was recorded on Friday, the 5th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10 am on LBC.

Pressure is mounting on the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner, after she admitted to underpaying stamp duty on her £800,000 flat. Should she stay, or should she go?And, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has testified before the US House Judiciary Committee to discuss freedom of speech. Democrat congressman, Jamie Raskin, referred to Farage as a "Putin-loving, free-speech imposter and Trump sycophant" - James analyses the extensive evidence backing this up.This episode was recorded on the 4th of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

Jessica Elgot, Deputy Political Editor of The Guardian, joins the discussion, shedding light on the scrutiny faced by politicians. The conversation delves into Angela Rayner's tax oversight and its fallout within the political landscape. They tackle the controversial proposal of digital ID cards and their implications on privacy and security. The episode also touches on the alarming decline in birth rates in the UK and Greece, exploring how financial considerations impact family planning decisions. Together, they navigate the intricate world of politics with wit and insight.

The government is temporarily suspending new applications for a scheme allowing refugees to bring their family members to the UK. The move has been called out as another attempt to appeal to those swept up by growing anti-immigrant sentiment. How can this country operate when such views dominate so much of the discourse and who is Keir Starmer trying to appeal to exactly?And, Zack Polanski has been elected leader of the Green Party by a landslide. He campaigned with an agenda of radical eco-populism - this signals a clear shift to the left for the party. James speaks with LBC’s Political Correspondent, Aggie Chambre, to discuss the appointment.This episode was recorded on the 2nd of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.

This summer, thousands of St George's flags have been seen painted on roundabouts and hung from lamp-posts across the country. Supporters say the flags are an expression of English pride, whilst critics say they're a nationalist expression of racism. What do you think, and how do the flags make you feel? And, the most comprehensive poll of British 16 and 17-year-olds has revealed that nearly 70 per cent of girls have skipped school because of anxiety. James is interested in the difference between children that can’t go to school because of poor mental health and those that just don’t want to - and how to help the kids that can’t.This episode was recorded on the 1st of September. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.