Inspired by the UK’s most famous voter, Brenda from Bristol, four close watchers of politics agree - and freely disagree - about the twists and turns of the General Election 2024 - and beyond.
With Steve Richards, broadcaster and author, Tim Montgomerie, founder of Conservative Home and a serial political entrepreneur, Iain Martin, Times columnist and Miranda Green of the Financial Times. We hope you agree with us, rather than with Brenda, that it’s a useful addition to the debate.
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Credits:
Viral Tribe
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Are the policies of the new administration causing an anti-American backlash? And how will European governments respond? The Brits may need to recalibrate in spite of decades spend standing "shoulder to shoulder" with the US. Post-Brexit, is this geography re-asserting itself or a blip? Includes our top American cultural influences from movies to music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nigel’s Farage’s insurgent party is mired in infighting with Rupert Lowe MP having had the whip withdrawn. Is this row a minor spat or does it point to a bigger battle over the future direction of the party? Is Reform going to struggle to broaden its support heading towards the next election? Or are the old parties so disliked by the electorate that British politics is in for even more upheaval from Reform and other insurgent forces? Our team discuss all this and more in the latest episode. Host...
In the middle of a blizzard of news, the team debate the best sources of analysis, perspective and context to help make sense of the current acceleration of history. With listening and reading recommendations (and a glass of wine for Steve). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With events moving fast and the US President suspending military aid to Ukraine, Britain’s Prime Minister has been widely praised. Our team discuss his handling of the crisis and the British diplomatic effort to keep the US in Europe. What are the risks for Starmer? And why have the opposition parties taken such contrasting approaches to JD Vance’s controversial comments? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
With Germany's election results highlighting the rise of populist parties across western democracies, the team take a broad look at the roots of the malaise feeding outsider parties of both left and right, including Reform UK. Is there common ground on how to address it? Or do new divides on issues such as net zero mean we are headed for even more polarisation? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer has announced an increase in defence spending ahead of his trip to Washington this week. The announcement would not have been made now if he was not meeting President Trump. Many questions arise from this. Is Starmer right to make the move before the publication of the strategic defence review in an attempt to please Trump? Is he right to cut spending on aid to pay for it? Is the increase enough? Where does the international crisis leave the “special relationship”? Hosted on Acast. ...
With the world changing fast and America’s security guarantee of Europe’s security in doubt, or over, our team ask what will it mean for Keir Starmer and Britain’s political parties. If defence spending has to rise where will the money come from? Will it mean more borrowing or cuts to welfare? Or a combination of both? How will voters respond? And will the insurgent Reform become the anti-war and anti-rearmament party? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Trump has made his opening moves to end the war in Ukraine by starting a dialogue with Putin. Zelensky and European leaders look on fearfully. The team discuss whether Starmer has responded smartly or recklessly by saying UK forces could form part of a peacekeeping force? Will defence spending soar in the UK and beyond ? Above all will Trump secure peace or trigger a wider war? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A new book has caused waves by suggesting Morgan McSweeney wields more power than Keir Starmer. Is he freakishly influential as a behind the scenes figure? If so what does this tell us about Starmer? Or do all prime ministers depend on their chosen allies, advisers and gurus from Marcia Williams to Dominic Cummings? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With President Trump casting aside political norms and Labour promising "disruption" this week's episode considers the roots of disaffection and whether a radical upheaval is on the way. The team start out assessing recent resignations but it quickly becomes a discussion about political revolutions. They get so carried away that they never get to the promised section on Kemi Badenoch’s troubled first 100 days as Tory leader. It will have to wait for another time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...
We begin episode three with the fall of Margaret Thatcher approaching. What triggered her removal in November 1990? Had she lost the plot? Or was it really about Tory tensions over European policy? After explaining the fall, our team discuss Thatcher’s extraordinary and enduring impact on politics ever since. Why do leaders of left and right still invoke her memory and image? Was she one of the great national leaders as her supporters claim, or a malign influence as her detractors would have it?...
We begin episode two after the 1979 election when Margaret Thatcher became prime minister. Was she a radical with a pragmatic streak? What was the nature of the sweeping changes that she brought about? We focus on early monetarism and its consequences, the lifting of exchange controls, the sale of council homes, privatisation, the miners’ strike, the poll tax, and much more. Episode one began with her election as leader 50 years ago this month. The final episode will analyse her fall, the legacy...
Are Starmer’s attempts to ‘reset’ the UK’s Brexit deal compatible with his desire to form close relations with Trump? If not which of the two will he choose? And what is Trump up to in imposing or threatening tarrifs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On 11 February 1975 Margaret Thatcher became Conservative leader. No one knew then how dominant she would become, to the point that even Keir Starmer was citing her this week as a model change maker. In the first of a three part special we examine - from our different perspectives - the impact of Thatcher on the country and her party. We explore Thatcher as leader of the opposition. Was she a radical on the right from the beginning? How did she manage her party and develop policies? How did she ...
The Chancellor is giving the go ahead to airport expansion, promising lighter regulation and making other announcements in an attempt to revive the economy. Will her proposals make a significant difference and how long before they take effect, if she can navigate the political and legal hurdles? And is her message credible after all the doom and gloom since the general election? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The new leader of the Conservative party has faced considerable criticism at Westminster and beyond. Is she going to be able to weather the storm? Will Nigel Farage’s Reform destroy her leadership on the launch pad or should the Tories be patient and give her time? Our team discuss Badenoch’s prospects and the implications for British politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The new US President will set the tone well beyond America and there are early clues on what it means for British politics. Plus: how well is Starmer handling this new challenge as the aftermath of the Southport tragedy plays out? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ahead of the inauguration, our team discusses the challenges facing Keir Starmer and Britain in dealing with the incoming President of the United States. Is it possible for the UK to have its cake and eat it, getting closer to the EU while also keeping in with Trump somehow? How will ministers navigate the difficult four years ahead? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A new poll places Reform one point behind Labour, and with the Tories in third place. The Greens and Independent MPs stir to the left of Labour, while the Lib Dems command 72 seats in the Commons. Is this fragmentation here to stay and with what consequences for Labour and the Tories? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In part two this week from the team, we look at Elon Musk’s recent intervention in Britain on the grooming scandal. What is the impact on media and government and what does it mean for the fortunes of Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage? And as this all plays out, will the fragmentation of our system continue? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the first of a two part special we start 2025 by discussing from different perspectives the state of Britain. Can the country be fixed? We discuss the economy and the fate of Rachel Reeves, public services and Musk’s wild tweets that have set the agenda dangerously. At the start of a pivotal year is Britain close to being beyond repair? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
To start the new year we host our first question time for listeners, from u-turns to Scotland to the ideal political lunch. Brilliant questions from listeners and answers from very different perspectives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We look ahead to what will be another epic year with help of Ed Davey and Nigel Farage. Trump will be back in the White House and there will be big tests for Keir Starmer and his opponents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The team take differing views on the epic politics of 2024, with the help of Jess Phillips and Mel Stride. Plus festive wine tips from Iain and leading critic Will Lyons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer has spent much time meeting EU leaders …but will better relations lead to a better Brexit deal? Should Starmer be more ambitious and rejoin the customs union and the single market? What would happen if he tried? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In her budget Rachel Reeves argued that investment leads to growth… but this week she demanded big savings from each department..is she a big public spender or a miserly chancellor? Does she know who she is as a chancellor seeking economic growth? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer attempted to reset the government this week after a bumpy start to his spell in power. But do these exercises - a relaunch speech with a list of goals - make any difference? Our team discuss the history of the reset and look back at what happened when parties went further and changed leader. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tim Montgomerie explains why he has defected from the Conservative party to Reform. Will the Farage surge continue and sweep him into power or will it fade away? Our team discuss the Reform leader and how the other parties will respond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For more than a decade politics has been defined by the rise of the outsider, in the US with Trump and his supporters and in the UK with Brexit and much more. Our team ask whether this trend has peaked. Or is there more to come? What is behind voter alienation? Is it all about migration or is there more going on? What’s the role of technology? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Labour and Reform have attacked the previous government for introducing an “open borders” immigration policy. Net migration in the year up to the summer of 2023 was more than 900k. What is the likely political impact? And who is right? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
