It's been a busy Summer of politics and the pace is not letting up as the Senedd returns from recess. So there's plenty for Felicity Evans to pour over with BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis, his Wales Online counterpart Ruth Mosalski, Cardiff University's polls expert Dr Jac Larner and BBC Wales Parliamentary reporter Emilia Belli. Among the topics under discussion are the latest Welsh opinion poll and the up-and-coming Caerphilly Senedd by-election plus the prospects for the Chancellor's budget in November and the Welsh General Election next May.
Over the summer, James and Fliss sit down with politicians across Wales. On this episode of Walescast they are joined by Darren Millar, the Welsh Conservative Leader in the Senedd. They met in the BBC's Cardiff studio and discussed everything from how he became interested in politics to his interest in Astronomy and Sumo Wrestling. He also talked about the Welsh Conservatives hopes with less than a year to go until the Senedd election.
Over the summer, James and Fliss sit down with politicians across Wales. On this episode of Walescast they are joined by Liz Saville-Roberts, Plaid Cymru's leader in Westminster. They met at the Welsh language community centre and pub Saith Seren in Wrexham. They talk about her childhood, political career and hopes for Plaid Cymru with less than a year to go until the Senedd election.
Eluned Morgan joins Felicity Evans and James Williams at the National Eisteddfod to reflect on a year since becoming the First Minister. They discuss what leadership is like, some of the challenges she's faced and the upcoming Senedd election.
A few weeks ago Walescast discussed where Labour was a year on from winning the general election. But, where do the opposition parties stand? And what 's in store as they prepare for the Senedd election. Fliss is joined by the Wales Governance Centre's Jac Larner and WalesOnline's Political Editor Ruth Mosalski.
Walescast comes from the Royal Welsh Show - the biggest agricultural festival in Europe. James kicked things off with Nigel Farage MP, Reform UK's leader, following the news that Laura Anne Jones MS has defected to his party after more than 30 years with the Welsh Conservatives. They also discuss farming and what's he has in store for the Senedd elections. James then caught up with Plaid Cymru's Llyr Gruffydd MS and Welsh Conservative Samuel Kurtz MS on all things farming and the latest news. He rounded of the busy day in an interview with Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies who is also the Minister for Rural Affairs.
It's the last week of the Senedd term and Fliss and Political Correspondent Dan Davies dive into the debate about devolution of justice and whether Westminster will pass over more powers. They are then joined by BBC Wales' Environment Correspondent to discuss the new Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals and whether the Welsh Government has done enough to get farmers and environmentalists both on board.
James is joined by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance Mark Drakeford to discuss taxes on tourism, budgets, taxing the wealthiest and the most recent Senedd polling. BBC Wales' Political Editor, Gareth Lewis, then joins the pod to dig into the detail of their discussion and also mops up another busy week in Welsh politics.
It's been a year since the UK General Election and James and Fliss look back at what's been a busy year in politics. They also talk about the challenges faced by UK Labour over the past week and the impact on the Welsh Government and Senedd election hopes with the latest U-turn on welfare reform. BBC Wales' Political Editor and Westminster Correspondent join the pod to report back on their very busy week.
Felicity is joined by PA's Political Editor David Hughes and BBC Political Correspondent Teleri Glyn Jones to discuss UK Labour's welfare cuts and whether the rebellion from MP's will result in a climbdown from the Prime Minister. Fliss then speaks to a GP from Powys and a palliative care consultant about why they are for and against the assisted dying bill. Professor Emyr Lewis talks through the constitutional challenges and what happens if the Senedd doesn't support the bill.
Fliss is joined by Australia's former Prime Minister, and the only woman who's held that position, Julia Gillard. Born in Barry, they discuss her sense of Welshness, the sexism and misogyny she experienced in politics and the work she does now for gender equality.
James and Fliss went live from Westminster on Wednesday (11/06/25) to discuss the UK Government's Spending Review, what's in it for Wales and what it means for the relationship between the two Welsh Labour Governments. They discussed the details with the Welsh Secretary of State, Jo Stevens MP and the First Minister, Eluned Morgan MS. They also spoke to a panel of opposition politicians - Plaid Cymru's Ben Lake MP, Welsh Conservative Lord Davies of Gower and Welsh Liberal Democrat David Chadwick MP. BBC Wales' Political Editor Gareth Lewis also joined the pod to discuss his main takeaways.
Money, Money, Money... James and Fliss speak to three Senedd politicians and two political editors about the UK government's upcoming Spending Review. And... following an inquiry by the Welsh Affairs Committee - what are the challenges facing Welsh farmers in 2025?
Where will benefits cuts hit hardest? What’s the impact of public sector pay rises in Wales? James and Fliss are joined by Policy in Practice’s Sam Fathers, Welsh Labour’s Mick Antoniw MS, and Nicky Hughes from the Royal College of Nursing to discuss. And, with the Eisteddfod yr Urdd well underway, James and Fliss also catch up with Welsh Language Commissioner, Efa Gruffudd Jones to talk targets.
James and Fliss discuss Britain's Brexit reset following the UK Government's latest deal with the EU. They are joined by Welsh Conservative James Evans MS and Welsh Labour MS Alun Davies to discuss details of the deal and what it all means for Wales. James then catches up with Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, about the Welsh Government's new bill to tackle homelessness. And... James and Fliss talk to BBC Wales' Education and Health Correspondents about tackling bad behaviour in schools and the latest NHS waiting time figures.
James and Fliss are joined by Plaid Cymru's Llyr Gruffydd MS and Reform UK's Llyr Powell to discuss immigration and the plans set out by the UK Government. James also speaks to the Climate Change Committee CEO Emma Pinchbeck about Wales' Net Zero targets and what more needs to be done. The podcast then welcomes artist Shani Rhys James, musician and researcher Dr Ani Saunders and author James Hawes who discuss the challenges the arts and culture sector has been facing.
It's one year to go until the 2026 Senedd elections, and Fliss and James are joined by a panel of politicians to discuss the long road ahead. The Welsh Government's Minister for Delivery, Julie James MS; the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, Darren Millar MS; and Plaid Cymru's Leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, talk about what's to come. The podcast is then joined by Dr Jac Larner, from Cardiff University's Welsh Governance Centre, to discuss recent polling.
Fliss and James discuss a report from the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) about the issues facing the Welsh NHS and the ''urgent need for a turnaround''. They are joined by one of the report's authors and former GP Professor Sally Lewis and Professor Jon Barry, the Director in Wales for the Royal College of Surgeons. BBC Wales Political Editor Gareth Lewis then joins the pod to reveal comments from the First Minister about Labour party's MPs not standing up for Wales.
Getting more people into work is a key target of the Labour Government in Westminster. Wales has the highest rate of economic inactivity in the UK. The UK Government have recently launched a trailblazer programme with the aim of boosting employment support. Denbighshire, Blaenau Gwent, and Neath Port Talbot have all been chosen as pilot areas. To discuss the causes of economic activity, and how to tackle it, James and Fliss are joined by Public Health Wales' National Director of Health and Wellbeing Professor Jim McManus and Dr Edward Thomas Jones, a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Bangor University. They also speak to Wales' Westminster Correspondent Ewan Murrie about his interview with Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch.
The ONS, whose data is used by the government to help make decisions affecting millions of people in the UK, is under review following criticisms about its data. Fliss and James are joined by Professor of Economics at King's College London, Jonathan Portes who is also chair of the ONS Labour Market Stakeholder Advisory Panel. They also speak to Aled Maclean-Jones a former special advisor to the UK Treasury about the implications faulty data has on policy making decisions.