Political editor

And it is Chris in the Newscast Studio.

And joining us this week, Lara Spirit, who's the Deputy Political Editor of the Sunday Times.

Hello.

Hi.

And Alva Ray, who's the Political Editor of the New Statesman.

Hello, Alva.

Hello.

Morning Report Essentials with Ingrid Hipkiss and John Campbell on RNZ National.

Kia ora and welcome to Morning Report Essentials with Ingrid and John and Joe Moyer and Craig McCulloch, our Deputy Political Editor and Political Editor, although those in reverse.

And this morning we wrapped up the campaign.

I mean, boy, that's a big thing to do.

Remember, the threshold is five.

If you do the MMP Cuisineer odds, it's too close to call.

There throughout the almost endless Russian winter of the campaign itself have been our political editor, Joe Moyer, and our deputy political editor, Craig McCulloch, and they're both here looking remarkably chipper in the studio with us this morning.

I don't know how you're still going, still functioning.

Great to join you.

We're also joined by Natasha Tark, Political Editor at LBC.

Welcome, Natasha.

Thanks very much for having me.

So, what did he do? And what does business and the markets make of his first budget? Here to weigh the Chancellor's choices, two long-standing friends of the podcast, Francis Hark, Chief Economist at Santander UK and ICAW's own expert on all things business and finance, Ian Wright.

Joining us for his first appearance on Beyond Finance, we're delighted to welcome political editor at The Independent, David Maddox.

Hello, everyone.

Hello.

does rule with an iron fist, but also a very friendly iron... a calming iron fist, I think, sometimes.

So there's a lot to get through, and who better to help us understand a big week in Canberra than Network 10 political editor Ashley Raper.

Ash, welcome back to the Party

Room.

Now it's time for our Friday gathering and this week I'm joined by Catherine Callaghan, Fine Gael TD for Carlo Kilkenny, Richard Boyd-Barratt, People Before Profits, Solidarity TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Regan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent and Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter with the Irish Examiner.

Good morning to you all, you're very welcome.

I might start with Catherine, with you and with this ad from the Dublin Rate Crisis Centre.

The General Assembly? The General Assembly This is a discussion which

no doubt will continue.

But for now, Catherine Callaghan, Fine Gael TV for Carlo Kilkenny, Richard Boyd, Barrett People Before Profits, Solidarity TV for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Regan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent and Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter with the Irish Examiner.

Thank you so much for all.