Is the government's small boats plan "in tatters"?

The News Agents

• Podcast Home
• Download Episode

Thursday, 23 October 2025 - 40 minutes

Keir Starmer came to power vowing to smash the gangs and stop the boats. He believes in the power of returns agreements to solve the problem - and established the 'one in - one out' system with France. An irregular migrant is returned for each refugee who has gone through the process properly. But, in a moment of low farce and high tragedy, an Iranian man - one of the very first to be sent back to France - turned back up on these shores on a small boat for a second time. So much for a deterrent, it would seem. So is the system broken? And could Labour now be thinking the unthinkable about the cancelled Rwanda plan?

Later, Wikipedia is reaching its 25th anniversary. The total sum of human knowledge freely available online - and powered by volunteers. How did such a vast, ambitious and optimistic idea ever come off? We speak to founder Jimmy Wales about tech billionaires, trust and human nature.

The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Subscribe to this podcast

• Apple Podcasts
• Apple Podcasts
• RSS Feed