They could well win three by-elections this week, but actually it's been a tough few days for Keir Starmer's Labour Party, who have had to front up to the fact that some of what he'd hoped to offer the electorate next year just won't be possible because to coin a phrase, there's no money left.

It means that in the interests of economic stability a Labour government wouldn't end the cap on benefits for families with more than two children, something a number of prominent Labour politicians have previously expressed their outrage about.

So who better to ask about Labour's much more prudent approach to its spending than Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor who could be in charge of the public purse strings in just a few months time?

She was speaking at a meeting in her home city of Leeds of Northern Gritstone, an organisation which invests in innovative ideas from Northern universities and aims to turn them into big, impactful businesses.

Rob Parsons asks her about innovation in the North, what the new economic reality means for Labour's promises on green jobs and HS2, and what she makes of North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll quitting the party.

We also hear from Leeds academic Professor Piers Forster, an expert in climate physics who's helped write some of the most globally significant reports on climate change.

He's the director of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures and as of last month he's the interim chair of the Climate Change Committee, the independent body that advises the UK government on how to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

With greenhouse gas emissions at record levels, heatwaves sweeping the globe and Rishi Sunak facing criticism for not taking the issue seriously, it feels like a critical time for this most pressing of issues. But what can we do to help in the North?  

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Don't forget you can now watch the best interviews from The Northern Agenda podcast on YouTube - check out our playlist at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzE0rXt9oGq2nfc3VHw-Pzx1tttiLpP6z

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The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.

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