# Keir Starmer's fight with "reckless" striking doctors. And Labour's Zack Polanski problem

An episode of [The State of It](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1603820936), 31 Mar 2026, 28 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/times-daily-world-briefing/e/69cb978de8519e977f3f88c6/media.mp3

• Inside the negotiations between the government and the doctors' union, the BMA. Why is Keir Starmer putting himself front and centre of this rather than leaving it to his health secretary, Wes Streeting? • Even though the Green Party's spring conference this weekend descended into chaotic rows, their leader Zack Polanski has a plan to win over the unions, and it might just work. We have some exclusive words from him. • Scoop: what exactly is going wrong with the small boats talks between Britain and France? Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor, The Sunday Times Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson Executive producer: Molly Guinness Picture credit: Getty Images Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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