Episodes

  • Has Starmer mishandled Trump?

    Has Starmer mishandled Trump?
    Apr 2 2025
    With Trump on the verge of announcing tarrifs and negotiating sympathetically with Putin where does this leaves Starmer’s polite diplomacy? Are other leaders more effective in taking an aggressive stance? Plus our take on Ed Davey riding a toy horse to launch his party’s local election campaign and Le Pen’s route to the presidency being blocked dramatically.

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    48 mins
  • Trump’s never ending running commentary- genius communication or dangerously reckless?

    Trump’s never ending running commentary- genius communication or dangerously reckless?
    Mar 28 2025
    Trump is unique for many reasons. One of them is his public projection, his near permanent presence on the TV screen commentating on his own presidency, updating on sensitive negotiations and announcing new ideas that are far from concrete policies. Compare him with other presidents who restrict their appearances to the point they can be close to silent or invisible for relatively long periods of time. What will be the consequences of Trump’s freakish ubiquity and are there lessons for more reticent leaders sticking to the old ways when they convey their messages?

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    43 mins
  • What would we do if we were Rachel Reeves?

    What would we do if we were Rachel Reeves?
    Mar 26 2025
    In another pivotal week for the Labour Chancellor our team discuss the degree to which Reeves is trapped and explore the options available. Our suggestions range widely and there is no consensus in the podcast around any of them, other than agreement that the Chancellor is in trouble. Our team ask: how long will Reeves be Chancellor?

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    53 mins
  • How should leaders manage divided parties?

    How should leaders manage divided parties?
    Mar 21 2025
    In our weekend magazine edition the team delve deep on the question of divided parties. The British system, with first past the post and traditionally dominant large parties, rests on leaders being effective party managers. Does Keir Starmer have a strategy for managing tensions and splits in Labour? Can Kemi Badenoch hold the Tories together? And can Nigel Farage manage the growing pains of Reform?

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    46 mins
  • Starmer’s Welfare reform - bold radicalism or chaotic and shallow?

    Starmer’s Welfare reform - bold radicalism or chaotic and shallow?
    Mar 19 2025
    Liz Kendall has announced £5 billion of benefit cut but are her proposals an historic reform of welfare or driven speedily by Rachel Reeves’ need to meet her fiscal rules and Number Ten’s desire to please voters who support cuts in benefits ? What are the wider political implications? Starmer has a landslide Commons majority and largely pliant ministers but on this parts of his party are stirring.

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    45 mins
  • Will Trump make the UK fall out of love with America?

    Will Trump make the UK fall out of love with America?
    Mar 14 2025
    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.

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    47 mins
  • Is it all over for Reform?

    Is it all over for Reform?
    Mar 12 2025
    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.

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    47 mins
  • Can political journalism keep up with events?

    Can political journalism keep up with events?
    Mar 6 2025
    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.
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    49 mins