In this episode of Meet the MP, Nicola Richards sits down with Alex Ballinger, the elected Labour MP for Halesowen, to discuss his remarkable journey from the Royal Marines to the House of Commons.

Alex shares how four generations of military service shaped his early life, his experience serving in Afghanistan, and why he chose to transition from the armed forces into diplomacy and international development. He reflects candidly on his work overseas with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the impact of aid cuts, and his frontline role in evacuating vulnerable Afghans during the fall of Kabul.

The conversation explores the link between defence and development, the global challenges facing the UK, and why Alex believes international leadership still matters. Closer to home, he discusses what drove him to stand for Parliament, the priorities he has set for Halesowen - from town centre regeneration to supporting manufacturing - and the realities of life as a newly elected MP.

From the pressures of parliamentary workload to tackling gambling harms among veterans, this is a thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion about service, responsibility and what it means to represent a community at a pivotal moment in British politics.

Whether you’re interested in defence, foreign policy, regeneration or the personal journeys that lead people into public life, this episode offers an engaging insight into one of Parliament’s newer voices.

Meet the MP is an exciting new podcast from Cratus Group, hosted by Nicola Richards, Director of Cratus Group and former MP for West Bromwich East. This series offers listeners a unique opportunity to meet the fresh faces of British politics - the newly elected MPs from the 2024 General Election.

In this episode of Meet the MP, host Nicola Richards sits down with Naushabah Khan, the Labour MP for Gillingham and Rainham and the first woman ever to represent the constituency.

Born in Chatham and raised in Gillingham, Khan shares her deeply personal journey from a politics-obsessed childhood to a career spanning housing, regeneration, and homelessness before entering Westminster.

Khan reflects on the whirlwind of her first 18 months as an MP, from battling imposter syndrome in her first week to becoming PPS at the Cabinet Office. She discusses the realities behind the scenes in Parliament, the racism she faces online, and how resilience and community support keep her grounded.

The conversation also dives into the issues she’s most passionate about: housing reform, tackling homelessness, improving local town centres, and shaping national policy through lived experience. With humour, honesty, and heart, Khan opens up about election-night nerves, family influence, local pride, and what success would look like by the end of her first term.

Meet the MP is an exciting new podcast from Cratus Group, hosted by Nicola Richards, Director of Cratus Group and former MP for West Bromwich East. This series offers listeners a unique opportunity to meet the fresh faces of British politics - the newly elected MPs from the 2024 General Election.

In this episode of Meet the MP, Nicola Richards sits down with Jack Rankin, the newly elected Conservative MP for Windsor. From his working-class roots in Ashton-under-Lyne to his journey through the City and into Westminster, Jack shares a candid and compelling look at modern politics from the inside.

They unpack the relentless demands of being an MP, the surprising pressures of constituency work, and the reality of rebuilding a political brand in the wake of electoral defeat. Jack reflects on the cultural shifts that are reshaping British politics, the rise of Reform, and why the Conservative Party must rethink its offer to younger generations. They also dive into policy challenges, especially around housing and intergenerational inequality, and why science and finance need a stronger voice in Parliament.

Meet the MP is an exciting new podcast from Cratus Group, hosted by Nicola Richards, Director of Cratus Group and former MP for West Bromwich East. This series offers listeners a unique opportunity to meet the fresh faces of British politics - the newly elected MPs from the 2024 General Election.