After a large starting line-up, nine eliminations, several reallocations of support and, undoubtedly, some backroom deals – the Conservative leadership race is down to two. Former finance minister Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss will battle it out this summer, while Parliament is in recess, and the Conservative Party membership will elect one of them as their leader - and thus, the next UK Prime Minister. H+K London's Sophia Franklin is joined by Tanya Joseph (MD, Corporate Affairs + Advisory) and James Drewer (MD, Corporate Affairs + Advisory) to discuss the long, hot summer ahead for the UK and its political landscape.

Ben Glaze, The Mirror’s Deputy Political Editor, talks to H+K London’s Lee Whitehill about why the Queen’s Speech is such an important political moment. We discuss what bills to look out for and how Westminster lobby journalists cover the speech. This episode was recorded before the recent UK local election results.

Since the breakdown of power-sharing and devolution in early 2017, Northern Ireland has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Whether it’s the breakdown of governance brought about by the renewable energy scheme scandal, Brexit and the implications of the NI Protocol, issues concerning legacy since ‘The Troubles’ or the changing of the guard in both Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin leadership, Northern Irish politics has been through a tumultuous period in just five years never mind its long and complex history. The growing success of nationalist party politics over subsequent years in both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland now looks to be heading toward Northern Ireland’s seat of power. The forthcoming Assembly Elections, set to take place in early May 2022, is being presented as the first time in Northern Ireland’s 101-year history that the electorate will return a nationalist party as the country’s largest political party with a Sinn Féin First Minister potentially nominated.  To ask how we got here, what this means for the future prospect of Irish reunification, and the implications for the sacred bond of union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, H+K London's Austyn Close is joined by David Blevins (Senior Ireland Correspondent for Sky)  and Adam Payne (Political Editor for PoliticsHome).

The tragic situation in Ukraine has prompted a unified response from the EU and a renewed commitment to NATO. As nations continue to offer aid, the UK has moved quickly to act as a prominent ally. But what are the implications for Britain's strategic relationship with Europe? Lee Whitehill, Senior Associate Director in H+K London's Corporate Affairs + Advisory practice, is joined by Stephen Hammond MP to look at the international situation and British Parliament's response. Stephen has been the Conservative MP for Wimbledon since 2005 and has held a number of Ministerial positions under Cameron and May. He is the Deputy Chair of the Conservative European Forum.

With new disruptive updates emerging from 10 Downing Street by the day, we ask: what is happening right now with British politics? With #PartyGate being the latest threat to the Prime Minister’s leadership, critics now think it’s a matter of when, not if, Boris Johnson will be ousted. To get to the heart of how we got here, Casey Calista, H+K Associate Director and Public Affairs Strategist, is joined by two political experts: John Ashmore, Editor of CapX (the media arm of the Centre for Policy Studies) and Sienna Rodgers, Editor of LabourList. Listen in to hear their view on what is happening on both sides of the aisle, as well as their predictions for the next election and possible leadership challenges.

The G7 was one of the most significant events to use diplomatic efforts to align national efforts around a massive scaling up of climate action this year - and the first big test of the UK’s post-Brexit diplomatic clout. While several nations are making statements of intent with their climate action commitments - including the UK's enshrinement of a new target in law to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 - what is actually agreed will be key in influencing the COP26 agenda. Solutions to vaccine roll-out, economic recovery and climate change must all be brought together if there is to be a successful COP26 in November - but was there enough progress made? To assess the G7 Summit's effectiveness, H+K London's MD of Better Impact, Chris Pratt, is joined by two COP veterans from the global climate change thinktank E3G: Tom Burke (Chairman & Co-Founder) and Nick Mabey (Chief Executive & Founder Director).

As city-goers shift off public transport and onto new means of mobility, how are we going to keep our streets moving? Big data will play a huge role in helping city officials better understand what is happening in real-time. But what part do those users need to play to ensure we have harmonious streets? In a recent virtual roundtable, we welcomed leading figures in the mobility space to discuss what brands can do to capitalise on the changes happening on our pavement and how cities can best work with innovators to thrive. Moderated by tech journalist and broadcaster, David McClelland, and featuring senior leaders from TfL, Tortoise, EAV, What3Words, Vivacity Labs, Street Light Data and AppyParking.

Home deliveries grew exponentially through the pandemic with consumer demand at an all-time high. While consumers and businesses alike have all become used to the click and deliver world, there will be a knock-on effect to our cities now and in the future. Solutions are being put in place to help mitigate some of the problems that arise from such growth and brands are innovating to lead the way forward - but what will a post-lockdown era look like? Director of Mobility in H+K London, Chris Seymour, has assembled a panel of industry experts to get a glimpse into the future: Sarah Taylor-Jones – Head of Marketing for Hermes Tom Thompson –  Ford of Europe Last-Mile Delivery lead David McClelland – Tech writer and broadcast journalist

Shortly before the Christmas break, the European Union launched its most all-encompassing set of new draft laws governing the Internet. In this Spotlight episode direct from Brussels, Emma Pike talks to EU competition lawyer, Damien Geradin, and H+K Strategies Brussels Chairman, Thomas Tindemans, about the potential impact of the EU’s Digital Markets Act for online businesses - and the next steps for this important draft legislation as it begins its journey through the EU institutions. Tune in to find out more.

In the memorable words of businessman Stephen Covey, “You can’t talk your way out of things you have behaved your way into.” As consumer expectations shift and sustainability become a greater priority for consumers and investors, it is increasingly important for organisations to be transparent about their operations and to show leadership in transforming their business' impact - or risk mounting communications issues. This is particularly true for those navigating complex supply chains in a time of increased environmental scrutiny. The circular economy is an important but often misunderstood concept for improving resource efficiency while also challenging the creation of new business models and responses to customer needs. To explore the model and its implications for brands, Chris Pratt, our Managing Director of Better Impact, is joined by Francesca Brkic, circular economy and sustainability expert with previous roles at The Body Shop and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Drawing on her experience of the beauty, food and fashion categories, she will provide examples to inspire others looking to tackle complex business models and incorporate the principles of the circular economy in their organisation.