Original version

BBC World Service Online

Politics UK Archive

A weekly look inside British politics from the BBC

*** This programme is no longer on-air, but please listen to our archive of available episodes ***

Issues affecting British social and political life.

*** This programme is no longer on-air, but please listen to our archive of available episodes ***

Politics UK is the weekly programme that covers British political and policy issues, economic and cultural change and Britain’s standing in Europe and the rest of the world in a way that is relevant to an international audience.  
It's the flagship programme for UK political analysis and debate on the BBC World Service.  
Leading politicians, commentators and intellectuals take part each week to discuss and reflect on the main events shaping British politics.

Politics UK

Politics UK Archive: 18/12/2009

Factual: Politics

18/12/2009

BBC World Service - Politics UK Archive, 18/12/2009

How far has the inquiry into the Iraq war got in its first few weeks of evidence?

A weekly look inside British politics from the BBC.

Britain's independent inquiry into the war in Iraq has been questioning officials for the past few weeks and early in the new year the former prime minister, Tony Blair, will appear. What has the investigation found so far and what can we expect from future sessions? Do bishops deserve their special place in British public life? And as the Copenhagen climate change meeting ends, why do summits always seem to reach a climax with a sense of crisis? Presented by Edward Stourton.

The Chilcott Inquiry into the Iraq war has been sitting for three weeks now, and has taken evidence from diplomats and other senior officials.  Next year, the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair gives evidence.  Richard Norton-Taylor, a journalist for the Guardian newspaper has been following the inquiry closely.

Perhaps it is natural that the leaders of the Anglican Church should voice their opinions a little more noisily than they usually do at this time of year; Christmas is after all the period when much of Britain celebrates its Christian heritage without embarrassment - with real enthusiasm, in fact.  Evan Harris MP, and Andrew Selous MP, discuss some recent interventions from the Church.

With the climax of the Copenhagen talks on Climate Change, Lord Owen, a former British Foreign Secretary discusses the difference senior politicians can make to such gatherings.

There is no getting around the fact  Parliament has taken a terrible battering in the public's eyes over the past year because of the ways MPs have been working the expenses system.  With an election also looming, 2 MPs , Tony Wright and Douglas Hogg, discuss where British politics stands at the moment.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Politics UK Archive

18/12/2009

Genres

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service