The Crisis Room

• Will Britain break its promises on defence spending?

  After a week where Trump has left Europe wondering if it faces a future where it can't rely on America to protect it - The Crisis Room debates whether Britain will come good on Keir Starmer's promise to massively increase defence spending, and what it will mean if he fails to hit his own targets. Philip Hammond, the former Foreign Secretary and Chancellor, joins the podcast for an exclusive interview - and questions whether the government is really prepared to cut spending on other departments to fund national security. The team also debate why the US is appearing to take such a reconciliatory tone with Russia, while taking a hostile approach to its European allies. Plus they ask: is the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker the start of a full-blown attempt at regime change in Latin America?Later, Mark reports on the latest failures of the UK's controversial Ajax armoured vehicles - and why the MoD should be so concerned by leaked videos of the faulty kit appearing all over social media.Follow us: @crisisroompod

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• Q&A: Interviewing Sergei Skripal, potential SAS prosecutions & protecting overseas citizens from terror

  In this Q&A episode, Mark opens up about his personal dealings and interviews with former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, before the 2018 Salisbury poisonings. Meanwhile Amber explains why Theresa May was confident in blaming Russia for the attacks so soon afterwards.Marc P speaks about the role that US and UK governments play in protecting and rescuing citizens when at risk from terrorism overseas.Plus - Amber and Mark have their say on the potential prosecutions of SAS soldiers for their role in the war in Afghanistan.Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to [email protected] us on social media: @crisisroompod

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• British blood on Putin’s hands: Salisbury inquiry unpacked

  Vladimir Putin is 'morally responsible' for the death of Dawn Sturgess - the British woman killed by Novichok poisoning back in 2018. That was the key finding of a public inquiry which was published today - and in this episode, Mark and Amber give their reactions to the report. Could and should the government have done anything differently in response to the initial poisonings back in 2018? Should Wiltshire Police really have been told a former Russian agent was living on their patch? Are there still unanswered questions, more than 7 years on from the Salisbury Poisonings?Plus, the team explains why the EU is unable to agree on whether to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine from defending itself against Putin's invasion. Amber recalls her personal experiences of dealing with the EU, and Marc P reveals why some people believe Trump and the US are backing the Belgians not to release the funds, in a bid to help Russia reintegrate into the international community.Later: why is US Defece Secretary Pete Hegseth being accused of war crimes? Is he too gaffe-prone even for President Trump and are his days in office numbered? Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod

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• Q&A: Mahmood's immigration reforms & why is Iraq such a mess?

  In this Q&A episode, Amber gives her reaction for the first time to the new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's controversial immigration reforms - and the possibility of the UK leaving the ECHR. Are these reforms too harsh? Or is it exactly what the UK needs to stop the far-right from gaining traction? Marc P has his say on issues over in the US in light of a major row over military personnel ignoring potential unlawful orders. Plus, he explains why Iraq is still such a mess and what, if anything, the Trump administration is doing about it.Mark also gives his latest thoughts on the crisis at the BBC - and explains why he was mentioned multiple times by former BBC adviser Michael Prescott when he gave evidence to MPs last week. Later, he responds to a question about whether the MoD needed more funding in last week's Budget, and whether we should all be concerned by the state of Britain's drone and air defence systems. Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to [email protected] us on social media: @crisisroompod

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• The Salisbury Poisonings: a crisis like no other

  In this special episode, The Crisis Room takes you back to March 2018 and Russia's extraordinary attempt to assassinate a former spy on British soil. Not only did the Novichok attack in Salisbury kill Dawn Sturgess, but the incident left dozens of other innocent civilians injured and prompted an international backlash against Putin and his regime.Amber was Home Secretary at the time and led the UK's response to this crisis - and in this week's episode she reveals what it was like to chair COBRA meetings, visit Salisbury and victims of the attack in the days afterwards, and to deal with government colleagues - such as Boris Johnson - who were trying to use the story for personal political gain. Mark remains the only journalist to have ever interviewed Sergei Skripal - the Russian agent who was the intended victim of the attack - and he explains why the former spy was targeted, and what this brazen assassination attempt told the West about Putin. Meanwhile Marc P looks at the role Donald Trump and other world leaders played in responding to this crisis - and whether Russia ultimately emerged from this episode as the winner.Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod

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