Meet Ade and Andy, two haemophiliacs infected with HIV and hepatitis via contaminated blood products as small boys. As their peers have died around them, they have never given up their fight for justice. Today's podcast is incredibly moving - and enraging theguardian.com/news/audio/202…

Another day, another defection - Kiran Stacey and I chew over what Natalie Elphicke's defection means for Sunak and Starmer. Did Starmer miscalculate the level of anger about him welcoming Elphicke, or is it doing exactly the job he hoped? theguardian.com/news/audio/202…

I love this piece about Lancaster's finest The Lovely Eggs 🥚 📺 - proving that with a DIY mentality and can-do spirit it is just about possible to make money from music, even once you've had a kid. theguardian.com/music/article/…

Another way is possible... such an interesting letter from a Guardian reader who works processing asylum seekers in Germany theguardian.com/uk-news/articl…

Helen Pidd He is on the side of the Engels

I want to know more about the Karl Marx of Stockport, who just won a seat for Labour in Stockport’s most deprived ward, Brinnington.

In other news, Mancs go out more than anyone else in Britain 🍻

Correction: Labour’s Jim Fitzpatrick lost his seat to the Tories in Tameside. But his brother Phil (ex Labour) standing against him as an Indy can’t have helped.

Bit of fratricide in Tameside in Greater Manchester, where a Labour councillor Jim Fitzpatrick lost his seat to his brother, Phil, who stood as an independent. What’s the story there?! manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-m…

Stockport town hall remains a Tory-free zone for the second year running. It cannot bode well for their chances of keeping their two Stockport seats in a general election (Cheadle and Hazel Grove, which is currently Indy cos… William Wragg).

Oh dear oh dear. Yet another show @thecooplive cancelled at the 11th hour. What on earth is going on in that big black box?

The first few mins of this is a masterclass in how not to do media relations, courtesy of Labour

Open marriages seem to be a topic du jour. But how simple is it to open your marriage? I interview Molly Roden Winter about having other partners when the kids are still at home, while @andrewGmarshall says you need to do AT LEAST six months talking first theguardian.com/news/audio/202…

In today's episode I try - and fail - to get Labour to talk to me about their local election prospects in east Lancashire. Labour really ought to win back Hyndburn, but Starmer's stance on Gaza is giving the party a headache & the Greens sense blood theguardian.com/news/audio/202…

Anyone else noticed that Northern 🚆 seem to have stopped selling off peak tickets at weekend? Their explanation makes no sense at all, see below. Why would there be “no demand” for cheaper, off peak tickets?

🎧Must-listen of the week. The Nordics are progressive in so many ways, but there are also some shocking stories from recent history.

Great interview with climate protestor Trudi Warner on a year being pursued by government lawyers determined to prosecute her over a jurors’ rights protest - by Sandra Laville theguardian.com/environment/20…

Just how much trouble is Angela Rayner really in? And why are the Tories so obsessed with her? Today's podcast episode explores these questions and more, the help of gabyhinsliff, Charlotte Edwardes and the good people of Stockport. theguardian.com/news/audio/202…

If you are feeling guilty for not really engaging with the war in Sudan and the massive humanitarian crisis there (25 million people suffering), listen to Nesrine Malik explain what is going on & why it matters theguardian.com/news/audio/202…

Very thoughtful edition of Today in Focus about the Cass review, asking what now for trans young people - feat. amelia gentleman, Dr Aidan Kelly & a trans teen & their mum, presented by Hannah Moore theguardian.com/news/audio/202…