Government plans for a north-south high-speed rail network have come under further scrutiny this week with fears that vital cross-party support for the scheme is ebbing away. In June the government revised the estimated cost of building the link between London and the north of England from £32.7bn to £42.6bn. This week transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said that the project will be far more difficult if Labour does not "make up its mind" on the issue.
Joining Tom Clark for this week's podcast: columnists Anne Perkins and Michael White; plus reporter Shiv Malik.
Also this week: the government's 'workfare' programmes suffer another setback in the courts.
Plus: does Russell Brand speak for a disillusioned generation of non-voters?
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