Walescast

<p>Felicity Evans and James Williams present a one-stop shop of what's happening in the world of Welsh politics.</p>

Taxing Talk and DJ sets

Felicity Evans and Elliw Gwawr are joined by Helen Miller of the Institute of Fiscal Studies to dig deep into the changes to inheritance tax for farmers announced in the Budget and attempt to get a number for how many Welsh farms could be affected. And BBC Wales political correspondent Rhodri Lewis looks back at the Welsh Labour party conference in Llandudno - which saw farmers protesting outside and the FM Eluned Morgan DJing inside

11-21
40:23

Getting Down to Business

In a bonus episode, James Williams and Felicity Evans conduct an exit interview with Ian Price, the recently retired director of the business organisation CBI Wales, to get his views on the state of the Welsh economy and the Welsh Government's policies to drive growth and job creation

11-15
23:35

Inside Number 10

Former special adviser Jack Sellers has had a front row seat for the dramas that have engulfed the Conservative Party at Westminster in recent years. In conversation with James Williams and Felicity Evans he relives his time working for Boris Johnson's Welsh Secretary, Simon Hart and also looks back at his time in Number 10 Downing Street working for Rishi Sunak - including the General Election campaign that saw the party swept from power after 14 years

11-14
41:01

Trump That!

James Williams explores the potential impact on Wales of a second Trump presidency with economic advisor Eurfyl ap Gwilym and the Electoral Reform Society's campaign to convince local authorities to adopt proportional representation ahead of the next council elections with Jess Blair of ERS Cymru

11-07
30:59

Crunching the Numbers

Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis and Dr Ed Poole of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre to unpick what Rachel Reeves' first Budget - with its tax rises and extra spending on public services and capital projects - means for Wales and the Welsh Government budget in December

10-31
40:00

Debating assisted dying, devolution doubts and how a Budget is put together

Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by BBC colleague David Deans to look back at the Senedd debate on assisted dying that ultimately saw MSs vote against the idea. Grassroots Welsh Conservative Huw Davies explains why some in the party - himself included - would like to see the party commit to ending devolution. And the former Treasury special advisor Aled Maclean-Jones lifts the lid on what goes on behind the scenes at the Treasury in the run-up to a Budget

10-24
43:45

Cross-border NHS co-operation. Plaid's annual conference. 60 years of Welsh Secretaries

James Williams is joined by BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis to discuss the continuing confusion over the increased cross-border NHS co-operation announced by the Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens at the Labour Party conference. Newly-elected Plaid Cymru MP Llinos Medi looks back at her party's annual get together. And on the 60th anniversary of the creation of the role of Welsh Secretary, the former Labour post-holder Ron Davies and Anthony Pickles - advisor to four Conservative Secretaries of State - debate the future of the post.

10-17
38:06

Taking Council

James Williams convenes Walescast's very own Council of the Nations and Regions to preview the inaugural meeting of the UK government's new vehicle for strengthening its work with the governments of the devolved nations. BBC Scotland's Phil Sim, Jayne McCormack from BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Wales' very own Daniel Davies all squeeze around the table to try and work out what that might mean in practice. Plus Ed Poole of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre looks ahead to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves' much-anticipated first Budget at the end of the month

10-10
40:01

Steeled for the Future

Felicity Evans and James Williams look back at the Conservative Party conference with the former Welsh Secretary Sir Robert Buckland - one of 175 Tory MPs to lose their seat at the General Election. What does he make of the four candidates still in the running to lead his party? And following the end of traditional steel making in Port Talbot, BBC Wales business correspondent Huw Thomas looks ahead to the future of Tata's massive plant in the town

10-03
37:24

It's Party (Conference) Time II...

James Williams hears from Claire Hughes - the newly-elected Labour MP for Bangor Aberconwy - about the mood and messages emanating from her party's get-together in Liverpool. Also in conference last weekend was Reform UK. The party's Welsh spokesperson Oliver Lewis gives his take on proceedings at Birmingham's NEC.

09-26
39:22

It's Party (Conference) Time...

Felicity Evans and James Williams look back at the Green Party's recent get together in Manchester with its Welsh leader Anthony Slaughter - and the Liberal Democrats' gathering in Brighton with the party's newly-elected MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, David Chadwick. With both parties returning record numbers of MPs to Westminster in the General Election the mood at their conferences was celebratory. But already their attention is turning to the Senedd elections in 20 months time.

09-20
20:59

Getting the Priorities Right

Felicity Evans, James Williams and guests discuss the new First Minister Eluned Morgan's top priorities - as set out in a speech to the Senedd earlier in the week. Former health board chair professor Marcus Longley explains the challenges in delivering improvements to the NHS in Wales; BBC Wales business correspondent Huw Thomas looks at possible approaches to creating jobs within a greener economy; and BBC Wales education correspondent Bethan Lewis explores what the commitment to driving up standards in schools may involve

09-19
36:56

"It's a Deal..."

Felicity Evans and Elliw Gwawr discuss the small print of the deal between Tata Steel and the UK Government that paves the way for the building of a greener electric arc furnace at the company's Port Talbot plant with the Guardian's Kiran Stacey. Plus who's got what job in the reshuffled cabinet of the new First Minister, Eluned Morgan.

09-12
34:53

Pushing New Boundaries

James Williams pores over the proposed new electoral map of Wales for the 2026 Senedd elections with Shereen Williams of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru and discusses the issues preoccupying MPs as they return to Parliament with BBC Wales Westminster reporter Shelley Phelps

09-05
30:10

Are the Grey Suits Out?

It's confirmed. Wales has it's first female First Minister. A whirlwind three weeks for Eluned Morgan which culminated in a seat at the top of Welsh Labour and the Senedd. But, it's not been plain sailing. The third First Minister this year will have a stacked in-tray and a party to pull together. She's already making changes with the return of familiar faces to her Cabinet. Joining James Williams to discuss all of that are Jo Kiernan, a former Senior Special Adviser to the First Minster, and Chris Carter is a Columnist for the Labour List.

08-07
31:00

End of Term Report

Felicity Evans and James Williams review the first month of the new UK Labour government and also assess the state of play of Welsh politics ahead of next week's Senedd vote that is expected to confirm Eluned Morgan as the new First Minister with the help of BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis, Westminster reporter Shelley Phelps and Dr Jac Larner of Cardiff University's Welsh Governance Centre

08-01
43:21

First Minister-in-Waiting

Felicity Evans, James Williams and guests reflect on Eluned Morgan’s appointment as leader of Welsh Labour and First Minister-in-waiting and explore what it means for Welsh politics ahead of Senedd elections in 2026

07-25
29:18

Anatomy of a Fall

Felicity Evans and James Williams digest the fallout from Vaughan Gething’s resignation as First Minister in the company of his predecessor as Welsh Labour leader Mark Drakeford, the leader of Plaid Cymru Rhun ap Iorwerth and the Conservative MS for Brecon and Radnorshire James Evans. Former Welsh Government special adviser turned political consultant Jo Kiernan is also on hand to offer her insights into what’s next for Welsh Labour as it starts a fresh search for a new leader

07-19
31:44

118 Days Later...

In this additional episode Felicity Evans and James Williams chew over the details of the First Minister's resignation. They are joined by BBC Wales' Welsh Affairs Editor Vaughan Roderick to dissect the decision and discuss what's next for Welsh Labour as the search for a new leader starts again.

07-16
16:38

Winners and Losers

Felicity Evans and James Williams analyse the General Election results in Wales with newly-elected Labour MP Kanishka Narayan, returning Plaid Cymru MP Ben Lake and defeated Conservative MP Fay Jones. Ruth Mosalski, WalesOnline's political editor, is also on hand to discuss the fall-out from former minister Hannah Blythyn's personal statement to the Senedd - her first comments since she was sacked by the First Minister Vaughan Gething

07-11
34:01

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