Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for mayors to be given rent control powers and insisted his is the party "of the 99%" while he took the hot seat on this week's edition of Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

In a wide-ranging interview, Polanski - whose party has four MPs in the House of Commons - said he was focused on winning a general election "outright", and said the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election offered an opportunity to claim more seats.

Elsewhere on the show, Housing Secretary Steve Reed was pressed on whether the UK could "trust China", following Keir Starmer's trip to visit the nation. He said the government was aware Beijing poses a security risk, and it would approach the relationship with "eyes wide open".

After Starmer suggested that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before the US Congress over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Kuenssberg asked Reed for his reaction to photos plastered on front pages this morning which appear to show the former prince on all fours over a female.

He said the images were disturbing and that Mountbatten-Windsor, or "anybody that has information or can shine a light" on what has happened in relation to Epstein's abuses, should come forward and speak to the authorities.

We're ending our coverage of today's programme here.

Another week of political discussion on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg has come to an end. The coming by-election in Gorton and Denton and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal were among topics discussed during interviews with Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Housing Secretary Steve Reed.

Here's a quick summary of what we've heard:

• Polanski stressed his was the party "of the 99%" and rejected concerns that he may alienate some voters. He said that he would like to see local mayors given powers to manage "spiralling rents"
• He said the party was focused on winning a general election, and said the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election was an opportunity to gain more MPs
• Earlier, Housing Secretary Steve Reed was questioned on the government's trip to China. He defended the UK's decision to work with Beijing and said they're keeping their "eyes wide open"

• Asked about Jeffrey Epstein, Reed said anyone with information relating to abuse should come forward to "shine a light" on what happened
• The panel held a lively discussion too, with Tory MP Tom Tugendhat saying there was "quite rightly" resentment among voters towards conventional parties, in reference to Reform UK's recent successes

This week's programme has just ended. We've heard a lot, from by-election hopes to the UK's renewed relationship with China.

We'll bring you a quick summary of what we heard shortly.

Polanski is then asked if he'd work with other political parties in the future, after previously stating he wouldn't be willing to work with Starmer.

It would depend on their policies, Polanski says. "I don't particularly trust a lot of politicians, but it would depend on what they're putting out."

He says his biggest focus is to win a general election "outright" and says the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election is an opportunity to start winning more MPs.

The focus turns to the Green Party's drug policy.

Polanski is asked if he ever used drugs whilst at university. He replies: "I've never taken drugs in my life" nor consumed alcohol.

He says he would legalise Class A substances. Kuenssberg asks whether that could send a message to young people that the use of dangerous drugs is acceptable.

The Green Party leader starts off saying it is often young black people who are stopped and searched in the UK for drugs, but Kuenssberg presses on the message his policy would send.

He says the danger is happening right now as drugs are being pushed into the black market.

Kuenssberg tells Polanski one activist has suggested the Green Party is no longer for the "tree-hugging middle class",

Polanski rejects the suggestion, insisting "we're the party of the 99% versus the 1%". But Kuenssberg asks again: "Are you in danger of alienating some of the voters with your policies?"

The Green Party leader says the change of tone within the party is the result of the country "going badly", adding that to address environmental issues, other issues voters are grappling with should be tackled first.

He cites the example of rising bills, noting some people are left "dreading" to open their energy bills.

Kuenssberg puts it to Polanski that the issue of Gaza, which his party has raised, is divisive for voters.

He responds that he doesn't find it to be divisive. What we need is "peace" for Israelis and Palestinians, Polanski says. "That's a human rights message," he adds.

Kuenssberg is now speaking to Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Ahead of the interview a recorded clip is played of Kuenssberg and Polanski while he is out campaigning.

In the clip, Polanski says he is offering positive politics, which he says includes ideas to "lower people's bills".

Back in the studio, Kuenssberg asks the Green leader about his party's policies on rent control. Polanski says people are really struggling, renters more than most.

He says there are 16 European countries that have successfully brought in rent control. He says he wants to look at where it has previously worked and implement a similar system.

Asked how it would work, Polanski says mayors need to be given powers to implement rent controls within their own regions, but says he wouldn't oppose it either at a local or national level.

"The problem we need to fix is spiralling rents," he adds.

The conversation moves to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China earlier in the week, with Kuenssberg asking Reed: "Do you trust China?"

The housing secretary says the government is aware Beijing poses a security risk, and its approach in expanding the relationship is going to be "eyes wide open".

He says the UK should embrace the business opportunities stronger ties offer due to China being the second-biggest economy in the world. He also concedes concerns remain on certain aspects of China's record on human rights.

Kuenssberg then asks whether Starmer was right to spend three days in China at a time of heightened tensions in Iran.

Reed says the prime minister wanted to open dialogue with Beijing and now there is, the UK will use it to advocate not only for more business but also for the release of imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai.

Kuenssberg is now speaking to Housing Secretary Steve Reed. She starts by asking for his reaction to the photos of Mountbatten-Windsor from the Epstein files on the front pages of today's newspapers.

He says the images are disturbing and that Mountbatten-Windsor, or "anybody that has information or can shine a light" on what has happened, should come forward and speak to the authorities.

Asked whether Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before US Congress, Reed replied: "He should testify", adding there were different ways to enable people to do so.

Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied all wrongdoing in relation to his dealings with Epstein.

Image source, Daily Star | The Sunday Telegraph

We've just seen today's front pages on the show - here's a closer look at what the papers are saying this morning.

In short, they're dominated by images of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released in the latest batch of Epstein files.

Many are headlining on Prime Minister Keir Starmer's suggestion that the former prince should testify before the US Congress over his dealings with the convicted sex offender.

Elsewhere, The Observer have run the headline "The plot against democracy", as it accuses the House of Lords of filibustering to deliberately delay the vote on the assisted dying bill.

The Sunday Express front page is headlined on research by Conservative think tank, the Centre for Social Justice, that says six millions workers would be better off on benefits.

Image source, The Observer

Image source, The Sun on Sunday

It's just gone 09:00 GMT, which means this week's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg has begun. Stick with us for key updates - or follow along at home by pressing watch live at the top of this page.

From Beijing to Storm Chandra, here's a recap of the top stories from the past week:

• Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suggested that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before the US Congress over his dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
• Starmer also became the first British prime minister to travel to China since 2018, announcing a string of agreements during the trip

• Millions are set to receive £150 off energy bills for further five years after the government announced the extension its Warm Home Discount scheme until the winter for 2030/31
• Storm Chandra brought widespread disruption across the UK, with more than 200 flood warnings issued and hundreds of schools and roads closed across the country
• A key backer of the assisted dying bill warns it has "absolutely no hope" of passing through the House of Lords due to a huge number of amendments

Zack Polanski is having fun. But can the Green leader become a serious player?published at 08:39 GMT

08:39 GMT

Laura Kuenssberg
Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

Image source, PA Media

"I'm having the best time ever," Zack Polanski tells me.

It's not hard to see why the Green Party leader for England and Wales is enjoying himself, a lot.

The size of the party has ballooned to more than 100,000 members. It's within touching distance of Labour in some polls, even ahead in one survey by pollster Find Out Now.

And the Gorton and Denton by-election in Greater Manchester to replace former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne has landed the Greens a prize opportunity to show what they can do.

"This will be the most throwing-the-kitchen-sink-at-it by-election that we have ever done," says one Green MP, boasting of 30,000 leaflets being delivered already, and hundreds of activists descending on the constituency this weekend. Why do the Greens seem to be on a roll?

• Read more of Laura Kuenssberg's analysis here

Image source, PA Media

Welcome to another Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Taking the hot seat this week is Green leader Zack Polanski.

His party is looking ahead to the Gorton and Denton by-election later this month - and local elections around the country in May.

Also appearing on this week's show is Labour's housing secretary, Steve Reed. On the panel, we'll hear from Tory MP Tom Tugendhat,historian John Bew and broadcaster Angela Rippon.

We will be providing some text updates about the show this morning - but you can follow the whole programme by pressing watch live at the top of the page from 09:00 GMT.