Quite right!

Welcome to Quite right!, the podcast from The Spectator that searches for sanity and common sense in a world which increasingly seems devoid of both. Each week, join Michael Gove, editor of The Spectator, and Madeline Grant, assistant editor of The Spectator, for a mixture of politics, culture and mischief as they unpack the stories that most piqued their interest, amusement or exasperation.

For more podcasts from The Spectator: spectator.co.uk/podcasts

Subscribe to The Spectator: spectator.co.uk/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last refreshed: June 25th, 2026 at 11:17 PM

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Lab leaks & spy scandals: was Cameron wrong about China?

This week on Quite right! Michael and Maddie turn their sights to Westminster’s latest espionage scandal – and the collapse of the case to prosecute two men accused of spying for China. Was the case dropped out of incompetence, or out of fear of offending Beijing? As Michael puts it, ‘Either we’re not being told the truth, or this is a government of staggering incompetence.’ They also unpick the growing row over Jonathan Powell, Keir Starmer’s National Security Adviser, and his alleged role in s...

Oct 14, 2025•48 min

Was that Kemi Badenoch's last conference? Quite right! live from Manchester

This week, Michael and Maddie record Quite right! in front of a live audience at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester – with attendance down, the big question is whether Kemi Badenoch can survive as leader of the opposition. There is the unmistakable air of fatalism among MPs staring down electoral annihilation – but would another change in leadership cement the Tories as pathologically regicidal? They also debate Badenoch’s bold pledge to bar candidates who won’t back leaving the Eur...

Oct 07, 2025•42 min

Is Labour ‘racist’ too? Plus Trump’s Gaza gamble & Rowling vs Watson

The hosts delve into the Labour Party conference, dissecting Keir Starmer's attempts to reclaim patriotism and his party's aggressive rhetoric against Nigel Farage, questioning its effectiveness and potential backfire. They then pivot to Donald Trump's surprising Middle East peace initiative, assessing its audacity and the controversial involvement of Tony Blair, considering the challenges of dealing with ideological actors like Hamas. Finally, the discussion covers the public dispute between Emma Watson and J.K. Rowling, analyzing Watson's reconciliation attempt against Rowling's steadfast gender-critical views and the broader implications of celebrity political advocacy.

Oct 01, 2025•48 min

Blair's ID card dystopia & the 'hell' of conference season

This week, Michael and Maddie lift the lid on the strange rituals of party conference season and why the ‘goldfish bowl’ reality of a week in Birmingham (or Manchester, or Liverpool) often leaves politicians with ‘PTSD’. They then turn to the government’s revived enthusiasm for digital ID cards. Is this a sensible fix for illegal immigration – or, as Michael puts it, ‘snake oil rubbed onto an already weak idea’? And why does Tony Blair always seem to be the ghost whispering ‘ID cards’ into Westm...

Sep 23, 2025•48 min

Why Danny Kruger's defection changes everything & could Boris Johnson be next?

This week Michael and Madeline unpick the shock defection of Danny Kruger to Reform UK’s ‘pirate ship’ – as described by Michael – and ask whether this coup could mark the beginning of the end for the Conservative party. They also dive into Westminster’s most charged moral debates: the assisted dying bill in the Lords and the quiet decriminalisation of abortion up to birth. What do these changes say about parliament’s ‘intoxicated liberal hubris’ – and the protections given to the vulnerable? Al...

Sep 16, 2025•54 min

Why Mandelson had to go & the legacy of Charlie Kirk

In this bonus episode Michael and Madeline tackle two extraordinary political stories. First, the dramatic resignation of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s US ambassador, following renewed scrutiny of his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Why did Keir Starmer take so long to act – and what does the debacle reveal about his leadership style? Then, across the Atlantic, America is reeling from the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Michael and Madeline reflect on the tragedy, what it means for...

Sep 11, 2025•41 min

Labour’s deputy drama, Macron’s mess & was Thatcher autistic?

Michael Gove and Madeline Grant return with another episode of Quite right!, The Spectator ’s new podcast promising sanity and common sense in an increasingly unhinged world. This week, they dissect Keir Starmer’s brutal reshuffle – from the ‘volcanic ejection’ of Angela Rayner to the rise of Shabana Mahmood, the ‘uncompromising toughie’ now in charge of the Home Office. What do these moves reveal about the Labour party’s deepest fears on crime and migration? Across the Channel, Emmanuel Macron ...

Sep 09, 2025•47 min

Farage steals summer, Starmer’s reset flop & should we 'raise the colours'?

Michael Gove and Madeline Grant launch ‘Quite right!’, the new podcast from The Spectator that promises sanity and common sense in a world that too often lacks both. In their first episode, they take stock of a political summer dominated by Nigel Farage, a Labour government already facing mutiny, and the curious spectacle of Tory MPs moonlighting as gonzo reporters. From J.D. Vance’s Cotswold sojourn and Tom Skinner’s bish bash bosh patriotism, to Sydney Sweeney’s jeans advert causing a culture ...

Sep 02, 2025•49 min

Quite right! - out now

Welcome to Quite right! – the new podcast from The Spectator launching on Wednesday 3rd September and hosted by Michael Gove & Madeline Grant. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts . Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 25, 2025•1 min

← Prev

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android