The Business

Sir Keir Starmer has resigned, and all eyes are on Andy Burnham as likely new Prime Minister. On The Times Business podcast, Richard Fletcher, business editor of The Times, and Mehreen Khan, economics editor at the paper, join the show to examine what a new Prime Minister might do for the UK economy, the business community and the world of entrepreneurship.

Andy Burnham was educated at Cambridge and previously worked as a journalist at two trade publications - Tank World and Passenger World Management - before going into politics. He became an MP in 2001, and had ministerial jobs under Gordon Brown. He tried twice for the Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015, and went on to become Mayor of Greater Manchester. Now, after winning the Makerfield by-election, he is all but the anointed successor to Starmer.

In this episode, we examine what business should expect from our likely new leader and, crucially, who will be his chancellor?

"Keir Starmer was not interested in economics - he had no political economy; Andy Burnham does. We're not really sure what it is, but he does care," journalist Mehreen Khan says on the show. "But the relationship between Number 10 and Number 11 has always been the crux of how this country governs itself … I would probably argue it probably doesn't matter so much if it's Miliband or Wes Streeting [for chancellor]."

"I think the idea that there is this huge ideological gap between them is not gonna be true because actually it's gonna be Burnham that is driving much more policy from Number 10, and his chancellor will just have to bend to his will because he's the most popular politician in the country."

Presenters:

Hannah Prevett, associate business editor of The Sunday Times
Dominc O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business reporter

Guests:

Richard Fletcher, Business Editor, The Times
Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times

Producer: Hope Federico
Executive Producer: Miriam Hall
Photo credit: Getty
Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com

Clips: Sky News, PoliticsJOE, The Independent, TimesRadio, BBC News, BBC News (Newscast)
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What will it take to see growth in the British economy again? In this bonus episode of The Business, Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, sets out her answer.

Recorded live at The Times CEO Summit, which brings together business leaders and policy makers to discuss current economic challenges and opportunities, Badenoch joined Fraser Nelson to talk growth, regulation and the future of Britain's economy.

Badenoch reflects on the Conservative Party's path back to power, and Labour's record  of treating business "as if it's a problem to be managed rather than an asset to be championed."

In this live interview with Times columnist, Fraser Nelson, Badenoch says the UK needs an "economic revolution" to reverse years of stagnation, outlining plans to cut red tape, lower energy costs and encourage greater risk-taking across business and government.

Presenter:
Fraser Nelson, Times Columnist

Guest:
Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Opposition

Producer: Hope Federico
Executive Producer: Miriam Hall
Photo credit: Getty
Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Business, our sister series, The Times Tech Podcast is taking over the feed. Find full episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a ban on social media for under-16s, due to come into effect next year. But questions remain over how it will be enforced, and whether it will actually work. Mark Sellman joins Katie Prescott to answer the key questions.

In the US, the Trump administration has banned two of Anthropic’s most powerful AI models which include the controversial 'Mythos', intensifying calls for Europe to build sovereign AI systems of its own. If America can restrict access to critical AI technology at short notice, what does that mean for the rest of the world? Plus, Katie has been at Founders Forum, where she interviewed Katie King, the founder and CEO of BioOrbit, a company building a pharmaceutical lab in space to transform the way we treat cancer.

Do you agree with the social media ban? Get in touch: techpod@thetimes.co.uk

Producers: Marnie Duke & Ethan Sills

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Image: Getty
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What does it take for a British business to make it in the United States? In this episode, we hear from the people who’ve managed to pull it off.

UK chief executive of the PR firm Grayling, Heather Blundell, is alongside the Berry co-founder Ryan Burnham and designer Freya Rose Archer for this special episode recorded in Los Angeles at the 2026 Greater Together LA summit. They discuss the opportunities and challenges facing UK companies in the world's largest consumer market.

As Britain continues to redefine its place in the global economy post Brexit, host Hannah Prevett explores the importance of UK trade with the United States and the role British businesses can play in strengthening economic ties between the two countries. In this conversation, the group examines why the US remains such an important market for ambitious British businesses looking to expand internationally, and what growth could mean for the wider UK economy.

Archer encourages company founders to lean into their individuality, as an important way of reaching consumers across the Atlantic. “The heritage that we have in Britain with creativity and the passion for craftsmanship really resonates with the US customer," she says on the show.

From creative industries and communications to luxury retail and consumer products, they discuss the opportunities available to UK companies seeking growth in the American market. They also explore the power of Britain's global reputation and ask whether the UK's much-discussed soft power can translate into commercial success.

Guests share lessons on entrepreneurship, international expansion and what UK companies can learn from the confidence and ambition often associated with the US market.

“It's like nothing I've ever experienced from a client before," Blundell says on the program in regards to her partnerships with US businesses. "They run towards things that others would run away from. They buy distressed assets, rebuild and invest."

Presenter:
- Hannah Prevett, associate business editor of The Sunday Times

Guests:
- Heather Blundell, UK CEO Grayling
- Ryan Burnham, Co-Founder of The Berry
- Freya Rose Archer, Founder and Designer of Freya Rose London

Producer: Hope Federico
Executive Producer: Miriam Hall
Photo credit: Getty
Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is sponsored by PwC.

Is the so-called 'special relationship’ between the United Kingdom and United States alive and well? Amid political tensions, have these ties frayed - and what does this mean for the business community?

In an episode recorded at the UK Government’s Greater Together LA programme, we take a practical look at what growth and opportunities are available to UK businesses looking to leverage in the US.

Presenter:
- Hannah Prevett, Associate business editor, The Sunday Times

Guests:

- Marco Amitrano, Senior Partner PwC UK and Middle East
- Michael Frohlich, Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer, WPP
Producer: Hope Federico
Executive Producer: Miriam Hall

Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.