Podcasts about Liberal Democrats

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Makerfield residents, wire up your letterboxes – the leaflets are coming… A month until Andy Burnham's by-election, Reform is knocking. Can the King of the North hold them off – whoever their candidate may be? Has he done enough for his message to land? Plus: Is it time up for Ed Davey as leader of the Liberal Democrats? Several Essex councillors seem to think so. Comedian Rosie Holt weighs in on whether political satire has changed for the better or worse. And Matt Brittin officially started as the BBC's Director General this week – is it possible to steady the ship?  • Get your tickets for Churchill's Urinal with Rosie Holt at the King's Head Theatre, Islington. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn watched Ncuti Gatwa throw jabs at Doctor Who in Saturday Night Live UK • Jason has been reading The Design of Childhood, by Pulitzer Prize-winner Alexandra Lange • Rosie is rewatching a duo of British comedy classics: Garth Marenghi's Darkplace and Toast of London • Ros has been seeking escapism in Danish television and has binged Seaside Hotel www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Jonn Elledge and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Caroline speaks to the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who is also Minister for Equalities and Women, about the tumultous week for Sir Keir Starmer as almost 100 Labour MPs called on him to go. Claire Ainsley, who was policy director for Keir Starmer when he was in opposition and is now at the Progressive Policy Institute and Robert Colville, director of the centre right think tank, the Centre for Policy Studies assess whether Labour is doing enough to promote growth, in the week that the UK economy unexpectedly grew by 0.6% during the first three months of the year.Conservative peer Matthew Elliott, who was the Chief Executive of the Vote Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum ten years ago and the Liberal Democrats' Business spokesperson Sarah Olney debate whether Europe is once again becoming a defining issue in British politics after the prime minister vowed to put “Britain at the heart of Europe”.And two long-term Westminster insiders discuss Labour's leadership challenge: the Labour peer, Ayesha Hazarika, who worked as an adviser to several senior Labour party politicians and LBC presenter and writer Iain Dale.

Meath woman Sorcha NiChongaile fell just short in her bid to take a seat for the Liberal Democrats in the recent council elections in the London Southwark constituency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dundalk born, Miami based Plastic surgeon Sidhbh Gallagher, Frank Shouldice takes us back to the punk era with his new movie, Sorcha NiChongaile runs for the Liberal Democrats in the UK and Dylan Griffin saves the day for abandoned kittens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we talk about Keir Starmer, Labour, and the Reform UK party.We also discuss Tories, the Lib Dems, and two-party systems.Recommended Book: Peak by K. Anders Ericsson and Robert PoolTranscriptFor more than 100 years, the British political system has been dominated by two parties: Labour and the Conservative Party, often called the Tories.In practice, that means these two parties, which are center-left and center-right in their leanings, respectively, have tended to shape the direction of British politics and the Overton Window of thinkable proposals—things that might actually happen because they get the requisite support from politicians and the public.These two parties have usually had to work with other, smaller parties in order to get anything done, because the UK has a parliamentary system that often leaves the party with the most representatives lacking enough support to run a functioning government, solo. As a consequence, the Liberal Democrats, which is a fairly centrist party, the Green Party, which focuses on environmentalism and more left-wing concerns, Plaid Cymru (plied KUM-ree), which is the Welsh nationalist party, and the Scottish National Party, which is exactly what it sounds like, have long influenced Labour and the Tories, aligning their votes with whomever gives them a seat at the table. This has given some influence to smaller groups that might otherwise lack representation, though that influence has typically been moderate to meager, at best—the folks in Labour and the Conservative party have run things in the UK, and that's been the case for generations.Things started to shake up a bit in the 20-teens, however, when anti-immigration and EU-skepticism in Britain led to the creation of the far-right Brexit Party, which was co-founded by politician Nigel Farage, who was the leader of the UK Independence Party in the early 2000s and 20-teens, and who was previously a Tory, and Catherine Blaiklock, a politician and hotelier who stepped down from her position as party leader the year after the Brexit Party was founded after anti-Islamic and racist comments she'd previously made online were rediscovered.The Brexit Party existed, almost exclusively, to push for a no-agreement exit from the European Union by the UK, which was considered to be a fairly fringe ideology back then, but which gained a lot of steam as other populists began to add their support to the general concept.Both the government and the existing political structure of the UK was then caught flat-footed, by all indications very surprised by the eventual success of that push, and the UK left the EU on January 31, 2020, after a whole lot of skepticism that it would ever happen, even after a vote in favor of Brexit took place. This represented a serious come to Jesus moment for British politicians, but also British society, and there's been quite a lot of self-reflection and naval gazing in the years since, as the Brexit pullout from the EU has caused quite a lot of economic and diplomatic damage, while also shining a spotlight on numerous simmering issues that were previously overlooked or unaddressed, including the bubbling resentment and at times outright xenophobia felt by a significant portion of the British electorate, and persistent economic issues faced by folks at the middle and lower rungs of society.What I'd like to talk about today is the recent 2026 UK Local Elections, and what they seem to tell us about how things are going in British politics, and what they portend for the current Labour-run administration.—On May 7, 2026, the UK held local elections for 5,066 councillors, 136 local authorities, and six directly elected mayors. Some of these elections were postponed in 2025 to allow for government restructuring, but most of these positions were last up for election in 2022.This election was generally seen as an unofficial referendum on the governing Labour Party, and in particular the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who has been in office for just under two years, and who stepped into the role of PM after the role was held by the Conservative Tories for 14 years; five different Prime Ministers taking the reins during that period, including David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.All that changing in leadership is indicative of the chaos the UK government was experiencing at the time, the May 2010 general election leading to a period of significant austerity—the government cutting tons of social programs in order to reduce spending—which then fed into more support for Brexit when some members of the party positioned the economic issues people were facing as the consequence of EU-related immigration, and shortly thereafter, the world succumbed to the Covid-19 pandemic.There was a lot of truly significant political change from about 2010 onward, then, and a lot for the general population to be upset about. The Conservatives held onto power despite it all for those 14 years, but the shift back to Labour was the result of Starmer and his party saying, listen, we hear you, a lot has to change, and we can instigate that change. Trust us.This new election suggests that the majority of voters in the UK feel that the Labour Party hasn't lived up to that trust.In Wales, Plaid Cymru has taken the most seats, 43, but failed to achieve the 49 seat majority they would require to govern, solo.In Scotland, the SNP took the most seats, but also fell short of a majority, netting 58 seats, not the 65 required for a majority.Both of those results are not terribly shocking, though in Wales Labour lost a lot of power, down 35 seats and holding onto just 9. The Conservatives also lost in Wales, holding onto seven seats and losing 22.In Scotland, too, Labor lost some of their influence, losing 4 seats and retaining 17, while the Conservatives lost a whopping 19 seats, holding onto just 12.In England, the change in seat allocation was stunning, though.Labour lost 1406 seats, leaving them with 997, while the Conservatives lost 557 seats, holding onto just 773.Even considering those losses, the biggest story in England is the surge in support for previously small parties, in particular a far-right party called Reform UK, previously called the Brexit Party, and run by the aforementioned proponent of the British exit from the EU, Nigel Farage.Reform UK went from 2 seats to 1,444; a shocking outcome, and one that makes them the biggest winner in this election, by far. They also gained 17 seats, up from zero, in Scotland, putting them at an equal level there with Labour, and they went from zero to 34 in Wales, putting them in a competitive second place after Plaid Cymru, which again, claimed 43 seats.Other, non-Labour, non-Conservative parties also gained seats in this election, though not at the level of Reform UK.The Green Party gained two seats in Wales and six in Scotland, bringing them up to 15 there. They also gained 374 sets in England, bringing them up to 515 total seats, which leaves them in fifth place, but just 258 seats shy of the Conservatives.The Lib Dems, which are the local Centrist party, gained 151 seats, putting them in third. And there was a small surge in independent politicians winning elections, as well, that group now controlling 199 seats, up from 27 before this vote.In the wake of this absolute shellacking of Keir Starmer's Labour party—which again, lost 1406 seats in England, and their opposition, and in many ways their polar opposite, the far-right Reform UK party, gained even more than Labour lost, up 1442 seats—in the wake of that, Starmer has been asked to resign, and as of the day I'm recording this, at least, he's saying that he will not resign, and since there's no formal challenge to his leadership, he can stay in power if he chooses.There is a growing movement amongst Labour lawmakers to ask him to set a timetable for stepping down, however, and there's a pretty good chance that will happen, as the British political system allows parties to change their Prime Minister mid-term without requiring a new election, so they could swap him out for someone else, making him the face of this immense electoral failure, then they could try to change course before the next election, which will happen by mid-August of 2029, during which the vote will be for the 650 seats in the House of Commons, which is currently dominated by Starmer's Labour party.The big takeaway here, from political analysts at least, is that what used to be a reliably two-party system, for over a century that's been the case, is now a five-way race within a cultural context in which voters seem to be a lot less loyal to politicians and parties, and in which a whole lot of previously reliable infrastructure, social systems, and cultural expectations have been recently disrupted.People in the UK seem to be generally unhappy about all sorts of things, and that kind of broad unhappiness often results in more populism, which means general anti-establishment stances and us-versus-them ideologies, including racial, religious, and nationalistic versions of such ideologies, and typically a lot more support for charismatic leadership over leaders who are generally qualified and will probably be good at their jobs because they're experienced and knowledgeable.In other words, you're more likely to get loudmouths and celebrities running for office, successfully, in populist electoral contexts, and you're also more likely to see parties leaning into superficial race, class, and elite-vs-everyman issues, as opposed to running on well-defined approaches to dealing with more complex issues.In the meantime, until that 2029 election, it's likely Farage's Reform UK will bang the drum against the governing Labour party to gather more power in the lead up to 2029, and that other non-Labour, non-Conservative parties will attempt to do the same, newly energized by these results.And depending on how that non-voting-year rallying goes, this could represent a foot in the door for these smaller parties. And we could consequently see more former Labour and Conservative politicians and voters leaving for Reform, for the Lib Dems, for the Greens, and for independents. All of which will make UK politics a lot more chaotic, but also probably more diverse, with power less centralized and the government's makeup a bit less predictable.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_Kingdom_local_electionshttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/world/europe/uk-elections-local-takeaways.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/05/08/world/uk-local-elections-resultshttps://apnews.com/article/uk-elections-starmer-labour-what-to-know-eb11ff39b1b74bbaf9f4ef6abfd60f64https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/08/uk/uk-local-election-reform-farage-starmer-intlhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-08/how-bad-for-labour-britain-s-local-elections-in-six-chartshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_the_United_Kingdomhttps://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1428pev1n0t#election-englanhttps://www.politico.eu/article/nigel-farage-reform-uk-win-next-general-election/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_United_Kingdom_general_electionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Blaiklockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_UKhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Faragehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brexit This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

The Labour party has suffered huge losses in English local elections and has lost control of the parliament in Wales, while Reform makes historic gains. The Scottish National Party eye a record fifth term in power, but without an overall majority. There are gains too for the Greens and Liberal Democrats. Sir Keir Starmer has defied calls to step down, saying that would plunge the UK into "chaos".

In this Conflicted Conversation, Thomas talks to Sir Vince Cable, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the UK, about his new book Eclipsing the West: China, India and the forging of a new world. Sir Vince discusses: Postcolonial state-building, development economics, and his formative experiences in Kenya Globalisation, financialisation, and the legacy of the 2008 financial crisis The rise of China and India as “superstates” in a new tripolar world Geo-economics, US–China rivalry, and the breakdown of the liberal international order Democracy versus authoritarianism and the crisis of liberal governance Ideology, nationalism, and the limits of rationality in geopolitics Multipolarity, global disorder, climate crisis, and the future of world order Join the Conflicted Community here: ⁠⁠https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm⁠⁠ Find Conflicted on X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/MHconflicted⁠⁠ And Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted⁠⁠ And Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod⁠⁠ And YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sdlF1mY5t4⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices⁠⁠ Conflicted is a Message Heard production. Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren. This episode was produced by Thomas Small & Ross Field and edited by Lizzy Andrews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As voters nationwide prepare to go to the polls for a highly anticipated set of local elections, this week we have a special episode giving you a guide to the key results, when to expect them, how to interpret them, and what might happen next.With around 5,000 council seats in England up for grabs on 7 May, along with six mayoralties, every seat at Holyrood and in the newly expanded Senedd, the Labour Party is braced for an extremely painful evening, which will likely put renewed pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership over the weekend.At the same time, the Conservatives' electoral woes are expected to continue, in what would be a reminder of the work leader Kemi Badenoch has to do to repair the party's brand following its heavy general election defeat in 2024.Meanwhile, signs point to the UK's insurgent smaller parties, Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Zack Polanski's Greens, winning many hundreds of seats across the country, while there are also expected to be gains for Liberal Democrats and independent candidates, further demonstrating Britain's shift to multi-party politics.To discuss all of that and more, host Alain Tolhurst, is joined by Luke Tryl, UK Director at think tank More in Common, along with Dr Hannah Bunting, Senior Lecturer at Exeter University and co-director of The Elections Centre, alongside PoliticsHome's editor Adam Payne and The House magazine's deputy editor Sienna Rodgers.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

Thomas Figgins, Lib Dem candidate for the Petersfield Hangers ward, talks to Shine Radio's Marcus Fairweather ahead of the local elections. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Danny Beales from Labour, Munira Wilson from the Liberal Democrats and Siân Berry from the Green Party, plus the former Conservative minister Steve Baker.

Which issues will define how you vote on Thursday? If you're choosing not to bother voting in these elections, why?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Danny Beales from Labour, Munira Wilson from the Liberal Democrats and Siân Berry from the Green Party, plus the former Conservative minister Steve Baker.

In recent days, MPs in the UK Parliament have ramped up pressure on Prince Andrew over his long-standing residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park and the lease arrangements tied to it. The estate, part of the Crown's property holdings, was leased by Andrew in 2003 for 75 years in return for a £1 million payment and he paid for around £7.5 million in refurbishments, but has reportedly paid only a symbolic “peppercorn” annual rent for more than two decades. Critics argue the arrangement lacks transparency and raises questions about taxpayer interests and the Crown estate's oversight. At the same time, Andrew's ties to his disgraced former friend Jeffrey Epstein and fresh allegations by Virginia Giuffre in her posthumous memoir have intensified calls for accountability and for Parliament to weigh in.In response, several parties in Parliament are exploring unprecedented steps: the possibility of a full House of Commons debate on Andrew's conduct, and even legislation to permanently strip his titles. Although he has announced that he will cease using his title of Duke of York following discussions with King Charles III, only an Act of Parliament can formally remove it. The government so far has been reluctant to schedule a debate, arguing the Royal Family wishes Parliament to focus on other “important issues,” but opposition parties like the Liberal Democrats are preparing to use opposition-day debates to force scrutiny. Many MPs say the moment demands full transparency and that Andrew (and the Crown estate) should give evidence under oath.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Prince Andrew may face humiliating public rebuke in Parliament as MPs seek opportunity to question his lifestyle and rent-free occupation of state-owned mansion | Daily Mail Online

In CI News this week: A 56-year-old mother dies by assisted suicide after suffering a bereavement, free speech campaigner Harry Miller is granted permission to challenge hate crime regulations, and a believer who was deselected from the Liberal Democrats over his Christian views is vindicated. You can download the video via this link. Featured stories Healthy British woman dies at Swiss suicide clinic ‘Extreme' abortion proposals introduced into Dáil Legal challenge to hate crime recording rules given go-ahead Lib Dems admit unlawful religious discrimination against Christian candidate

In recent days, MPs in the UK Parliament have ramped up pressure on Prince Andrew over his long-standing residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park and the lease arrangements tied to it. The estate, part of the Crown's property holdings, was leased by Andrew in 2003 for 75 years in return for a £1 million payment and he paid for around £7.5 million in refurbishments, but has reportedly paid only a symbolic “peppercorn” annual rent for more than two decades. Critics argue the arrangement lacks transparency and raises questions about taxpayer interests and the Crown estate's oversight. At the same time, Andrew's ties to his disgraced former friend Jeffrey Epstein and fresh allegations by Virginia Giuffre in her posthumous memoir have intensified calls for accountability and for Parliament to weigh in.In response, several parties in Parliament are exploring unprecedented steps: the possibility of a full House of Commons debate on Andrew's conduct, and even legislation to permanently strip his titles. Although he has announced that he will cease using his title of Duke of York following discussions with King Charles III, only an Act of Parliament can formally remove it. The government so far has been reluctant to schedule a debate, arguing the Royal Family wishes Parliament to focus on other “important issues,” but opposition parties like the Liberal Democrats are preparing to use opposition-day debates to force scrutiny. Many MPs say the moment demands full transparency and that Andrew (and the Crown estate) should give evidence under oath.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Prince Andrew may face humiliating public rebuke in Parliament as MPs seek opportunity to question his lifestyle and rent-free occupation of state-owned mansion | Daily Mail OnlineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Rosie Wrighting from Labour, Gareth Bacon from the Conservatives and Monica Harding from the Liberal Democrats, plus the political strategist James Starkie.

Labour Cabinet minister Heidi Alexander takes LBC listeners' calls.Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Rosie Wrighting from Labour, Gareth Bacon from the Conservatives and Monica Harding from the Liberal Democrats, plus the political strategist James Starkie.

In recent days, MPs in the UK Parliament have ramped up pressure on Prince Andrew over his long-standing residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park and the lease arrangements tied to it. The estate, part of the Crown's property holdings, was leased by Andrew in 2003 for 75 years in return for a £1 million payment and he paid for around £7.5 million in refurbishments, but has reportedly paid only a symbolic “peppercorn” annual rent for more than two decades. Critics argue the arrangement lacks transparency and raises questions about taxpayer interests and the Crown estate's oversight. At the same time, Andrew's ties to his disgraced former friend Jeffrey Epstein and fresh allegations by Virginia Giuffre in her posthumous memoir have intensified calls for accountability and for Parliament to weigh in.In response, several parties in Parliament are exploring unprecedented steps: the possibility of a full House of Commons debate on Andrew's conduct, and even legislation to permanently strip his titles. Although he has announced that he will cease using his title of Duke of York following discussions with King Charles III, only an Act of Parliament can formally remove it. The government so far has been reluctant to schedule a debate, arguing the Royal Family wishes Parliament to focus on other “important issues,” but opposition parties like the Liberal Democrats are preparing to use opposition-day debates to force scrutiny. Many MPs say the moment demands full transparency and that Andrew (and the Crown estate) should give evidence under oath.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Prince Andrew may face humiliating public rebuke in Parliament as MPs seek opportunity to question his lifestyle and rent-free occupation of state-owned mansion | Daily Mail OnlineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

In a world of increasing extremes, Liberalism itself has come to be an insult. From 'metropolitan liberal elites' to 'bleeding heart liberals' the liberal establishment seems bewildered and fresh out of devoid of new ideas in the face of populist extremes. Labour, Tories, Liberal Democrats – all now struggling to hold their own against Reform UK and The Green Party, both of which have taken populism from opposite ends of the spectrum to the heart of British politics.This week, Lewis is joined by Adrian Wooldridge to discuss the complexities of the liberal argument in a fractured world, and what a renewed liberalism might look like.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the Mail on Sunday columnist Dan Hodges, plus MPs Naushabah Khan from Labour, Jerome Mayhew from the Conservatives and Dr Danny Chambers from the Liberal Democrats.

Conservative Shadow Cabinet minister Sir James Cleverly takes LBC listeners' calls.Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the Mail on Sunday columnist Dan Hodges, plus MPs Naushabah Khan from Labour, Jerome Mayhew from the Conservatives and Dr Danny Chambers from the Liberal Democrats.

Liberal Democrats keep telling us that President Donald Trump is a threat to our Democracy! I that really true? Let us take a look at what they are now openly saying is the goals of the Democratic Party and see if we can tell who is the bigger threat to our Democracy.

Liberal Democrat peer Mark Pack and MP for Surrey Heath Al Pinkerton join James Heale to explain that it is a matter of 'when not if' the party become the second biggest in local government. Overtaking the Conservatives would be 'seismic' but they see it as inevitable, following a 'long-run of sustained wins' in the post-coalition Lib Dem era.Faced with criticism that the Lib Dems are too focused on community and that leader Ed Davey is more interested in stunts than policy, they explain that a 'rich and varied' diet of political communication has never been more necessary, and that they will never apologise for taking up the causes that matter to their constituents. They also argue that defending international liberalism has never been more important: does an era of escalating geopolitical crises help or hinder the Liberal Democrat message?Produced by Patrick Gibbons.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.

Fliss is joined by our Political Editor Gareth Lewis and David Philips from the Institute for Fiscal Studies to discuss the Welsh Liberal Democrats manifesto launch. We have now discussed all of the six main parties manifestos. You can find the rest on BBC Sounds. They also reflect on the details they've digested over the past few weeks.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey takes LBC listeners' calls.Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are Labour MP Luke Akehurst, the Conservatives' Shadow Housing Minister David Simmonds, TV personality Colin Seymour (a.k.a. 'Crystal'), plus the Daily Telegraph's Poppy Coburn.

With one month to go until the local elections in England, Wales and Scotland - is the electoral map about to be redrawn?In his first major test since the general election, Sir Keir Starmer faces a major health check and verdict on his government and leadership. Could the results reshape his premiership?In this special episode, Sam and Anne are joined by elections analyst Professor Rob Ford to discuss the key battlegrounds across the country.Can the SNP hold on for a fifth term at Holyrood?Could Welsh Labour lose power in the Senedd for the first time in its electoral history?Will Reform UK and the Greens' surge end the conventional two-party political system for good?Can the Conservatives stop the bleeding of votes across the board?Was the Liberal Democrat revival short-lived?Sam and Anne return for daily episodes from Monday 13 April.

Liberal Democrats are stuck between a rock and a hard place. In order to hate Trump and oppose everything he stands for, they are placing themselves on the wrong side of every issue politically. Lets look at what they have become and where it is that they are heading. We looked at this a year ago, lets see if anything has changed.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton joins Holyrood Sources: The Interviews in Edinburgh to tackle the "Ferry Fiasco," the NHS crisis, and the future of the Union. Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver discuss with him: The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry fiasco. Does Scottish politics have a central belt bias? What does it mean to be a Liberal Democrat today? Why he would resign before supporting Swinney or Reform. Sponsored by: The Scotch Whisky Association's "Made to be Measured" campaign.Subscribe for more interviews with Scotland's party leaders!** The Holyrood Sources podcast brings the best analysis of Scottish politics with those who have lived it as Special Advisers, and those who are current and former politicians and political party leaders. Join Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives).Subscribe nowApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holyrood-sources/id1673972192Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Fj3emmRONEr8aSkhcMgoH?si=789c7874034340c6---Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.comEmail us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.comDrop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christina Koch is ready to make history. She is one of the four astronauts of Artemis 2 which is set to head around the Moon in the next few days. During her career as a Nasa astronaut, she has spent more than 300 days aboard the International Space Station, and she was part of the first all-woman spacewalk with Jessica Meir. This mission will take her and her crewmates on a 10-day journey, further into space than any humans have ever gone. Joining Krupa Padhy to talk more about Christina and the importance of having women in space, is planetary and space scientist Professor Caroline Smith, Chair of the European Space Agency Human Spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee and also Head of Collections at the Natural History Museum, and Natasha Carr, PhD researcher at the University of Leicester, who is researching planetary sciences and space instrumentation. Millions of voters will head to the polls on Thursday 7 May for the biggest set of elections since the 2024 general election. Today a group of organisations, including the Electoral Commission, are calling for the elections to be free from abuse. The Commission's most recent research, following the 2025 local elections, found that 61% of respondents experienced harassment or security threats during the campaign and previous research found that respondents who were women were twice as likely to report serious abuse and those from ethnic minorities were three times as likely. To discuss the impact of this, Krupa is joined by Niki Nixon, Director of Communications and External Affairs at the Electoral Commission, and Hannah Perkin, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Faversham Town Council in Kent. According to the NHS, one in eight known pregnancies end in miscarriage. For some women, they will experience more than one miscarriage, and for those who have more than three, then this is known as 'recurrent miscarriage', which affects around one in 100 women. It is a hugely devastating experience for those going through it, and is one that is often underrepresented on screen. A new BBC drama, Babies, aims to bring this issue in to the light, as it follows a young couple on their journey to parenthood. Siobhán Cullen plays Lisa and she tells Krupa about playing the role. They are joined by Zoe Clark-Coates, CEO of the baby loss charity The Mariposa Trust.The countdown to May's Eurovision song contest in Austria is on. As critics and fans analyse all 35 competing entries, it's Romania's song that is attracting a lot of attention. Choke Me is performed by Alexandra Căpitănescu and is facing criticism from sexual violence campaigners. The song repeats the phrase ‘choke me' around 30 times in three minutes, raising concerns that it glamorises strangulation, a practice linked to brain injury and even death. Alexandra Căpitănescu has defended the track, saying the lyrics refer to the feeling of being overwhelmed by emotion and ‘being suffocated by self-doubt'. Krupa hears from Dr. Catherine White, Medical Director for the Institute for Addressing Strangulation, and Lisa-Jayne Lewis, Broadcaster and Commentator specialising in the Eurovision Song Contest.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Andrea Kidd

Former diplomat and National Security Adviser, Lord Ricketts discusses the latest in the Iran war. Equity's Simon Curtis makes suggestions for manifestos that would help the arts. In the wake of the LA ruling on social media addiction and the Lords attempting again to ban social media for under 16s, Newport West and Islwyn MP Ruth Jones joins us. And as the sixth Senedd has now come to an end, we have two political editors in the studio; Wales Online's Ruth Mosalski and ITV Wales' Adrian Masters.In our series of interviews with Welsh party leaders, this week it's the Liberal Democrat's Jane Dodds and the Green's Anthony Slaughter's turn.

Are fears of fuel shortages in Australia overblown—or are we underestimating the risks? Gene Tunny is joined by Dr John Humphreys and farmer Peter Rothwell to explore how rising diesel prices, fertiliser shortages, and supply chain stress could ripple through the economy. From supermarket prices to farm viability, this episode breaks down how a global energy shock could hit households and businesses—and whether markets can cope. Gene would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. You can email him via contact@economicsexplored.com.  About the Guests Dr John Humphreys is Chief Economist at the Australian Taxpayers' Alliance and an experienced economist with a background spanning academia, government, consulting and think tanks, including roles at the Australian Treasury, the Centre for International Economics and the Centre for Independent Studies. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Queensland, where he has lectured in advanced microeconomics, and has also taught in Cambodia, where he founded an education charity and research institute. John is the founder of the Australian Libertarian Society and the Liberal Democrats (Libertarian Party), and has published widely on tax, welfare, public finance and international trade. He was awarded a knighthood in the Cambodian Royal Order of Moniseraphon for his contributions to education. Peter Rothwell is a farmer and former Liberal Democrats candidate based in regional New South Wales. He has contested the federal seat of Parkes, covering much of western NSW including Dubbo and surrounding areas. Peter describes himself as having grown up on the land and as an “old school Liberal,” entering politics out of concern about national economic challenges including high government debt, inflation and rising interest rates. Takeaways Markets help—but aren't perfect: Prices usually allocate scarce fuel efficiently, but panic buying and logistics can still create short-term shortages. Diesel is critical infrastructure: It powers transport, farming, mining, and supply chains—making it far more economically important than petrol. Energy shocks are stagflationary: Higher fuel prices raise costs and reduce economic activity at the same time. Agriculture is highly exposed: Fertiliser shortages and higher diesel costs could reduce yields and farm profitability. Policy trade-offs are tough: Governments face difficult choices on fuel taxes, spending, and how to respond to a supply-side shock. Timestamps 0:00 – Intro: fuel shock fears and “Mad Max” scenarios 2:40 – Oil prices surge and diesel costs spike 9:00 – Are we underestimating the risks? 12:50 – Fertiliser shortages and farming realities 25:00 – Food supply vs distribution challenges 29:00 – Why diesel is the critical constraint 41:50 – Fuel excise debate and policy responses 52:50 – Final reflections and listener call-out   Links relevant to the conversation ATA livestream “Real situation in rural Australia”: https://www.youtube.com/live/MczcHEBXXIY?si=cLVJ3EWjserUeXNU Charts that Gene talks about: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1siZwkNV7QLF1PXdeg6mZJt_uomZuRpZN/view?usp=sharing Lumo Coffee promotion 10% of Lumo Coffee's Seriously Healthy Organic Coffee. Website: https://www.lumocoffee.com/10EXPLORED Promo code: 10EXPLORED 

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, Labour MP Dr Jeevun Sandher, Conservative peer Kate Fall, plus the Liberal Democrats' leader in Liverpool Carl Cashman.

Is Iran now calling the shots in this war, rather than Trump?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, Labour MP Dr Jeevun Sandher, Conservative peer Kate Fall, plus the Liberal Democrats' leader in Liverpool Carl Cashman.

British banknotes could soon feature wildlife instead of famous people, according to discussions about redesigning UK currency and in this Mark and Pete episode we explore the strange logic behind putting animals on banknotes instead of historical figures. The Bank of England redesign debate has sparked arguments about representation, national identity, and whether putting animals like badgers, beavers, or birds on money is really an improvement.In this episode of Mark and Pete, Pete the preacher and Mark the businessman look at the curious suggestion that British banknotes should move away from historic figures and towards wildlife. The intention, apparently, is to avoid controversy and keep everyone happy. But does replacing Churchill with a hedgehog actually solve anything?We also dive into the political comedy surrounding the story. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey once famously joked about badgers, while Nigel Farage suggested a beaver for a banknote design — and suddenly British politics starts sounding like a particularly odd nature documentary.Through humour, poetry, and a slightly raised eyebrow, Mark and Pete explore what money actually represents. Is currency meant to celebrate history? National culture? Or is this simply another attempt to remove the human story from public life altogether?Along the way, Pete reflects briefly on the biblical idea of bearing the image of Caesar on a coin, asking whether modern society is slowly trying to erase the idea of legacy, leadership, and human achievement.Expect the usual Mark and Pete format:• A sharp look at the week's news• Mark's original poem on the subject• Pete's biblical reflection• Plenty of dry British humourIf you enjoy thoughtful commentary on UK politics, culture, society, and Christianity, this episode takes a deceptively silly news story and uncovers the bigger cultural question hiding underneath.Subscribe for more episodes of Mark and Pete – witty observations on politics, culture, and faith.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the Conservatives' Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois, Independent MP Diane Abbott, Mike Martin from the Liberal Democrats, plus LBC's own Political Editor Natasha Clark.

Is Starmer right to resist Trump's demands for Britain to help police the Strait of Hormuz?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the Conservatives' Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois, Independent MP Diane Abbott, Mike Martin from the Liberal Democrats, plus LBC's own Political Editor Natasha Clark.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the former Conservative Education Secretary Justine Greening, MPs Darren Paffey from Labour and Pippa Heylings from the Liberal Democrats, plus the PR agency partner Tom Skinner.

What kinds of action would you like the government to take to help with the imminent cost-of-living crisis?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the former Conservative Education Secretary Justine Greening, MPs Darren Paffey from Labour and Pippa Heylings from the Liberal Democrats, plus the PR agency partner Tom Skinner.

Following questions over the UK's military capability and the Iran conflict we discuss defence with Francis Tusa, editor of Defence Analysis. With conference season well under way, this week it's the turn of Reform and the Liberal Democrats. Reform's James Evans MS and the Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds MS join us. On International Women's Day we discuss gender parity in the Senedd with Cardiff University's Dr Leah Hibbs. Journalist Will Hayward talks about his new book 'Who Cares About Wales?'Reviewing the papers: Plaid Cymru's Kiera Marshall and Bethan Cousins from the Development Bank Wales.

'Something massive is happening.' The words of the Green Party's new MP Hannah Spencer after her decisive win in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Is she right? Labour came a distant third and neither the Conservatives nor the Liberal Democrats managed to get even two percent of the vote. Arguably none of that was unexpected. But Reform UK, up until now seen as the populist insurgents ready to replace the mainstream parties, fell short by over 4000 votes. Not nearly the knife-edge result predicted. So is Nigel Farage in danger of running out of steam after diluting his party with Tory defectors? Could the Greens offer white working class voters a left alternative to kick the establishment? And is Labour going to have to move left, whether to take on the Green threat or their unhappy backbenchers?On this episode of the Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy speaks to Zack Polanski after his win, and is joined by the ex-Tory now Reform commentator Tim Montgomerie, Sam White, who is a former Chief of Staff to Keir Starmer, and Natalie Bennett, one of two Greens peers in the House of Lords.

Joining Iain on Cross Question are the business lobbyist Ros Morgan, MPs Callum Anderson from Labour and Tom Morrison from the Liberal Democrats, plus the non-affiliated peer Baroness Kate Hoey.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch joins Iain Dale for Call Kemi, taking questions from LBC listeners.Joining Iain on Cross Question are the business lobbyist Ros Morgan, MPs Callum Anderson from Labour and Tom Morrison from the Liberal Democrats, plus the non-affiliated peer Baroness Kate Hoey.

Kemi Badenoch is the Conservative MP for North West Essex and the Leader of the Opposition. Since winning her seat in 2017, she has held cabinet positions as Minister of State for Equalities under Boris Johnson and Secretary of State for International Trade under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. She became leader of the Conservative Party in 2024 after Rishi Sunak's resignation and is the first black person to lead a political party in Britain. Her Nigerian parents came to Britain for medical treatment and Kemi was born in a private hospital in Wimbledon in January 1980. Her parents returned with their newborn daughter, and she was brought up in Nigeria in an affluent suburb of Lagos. After a series of military coups and economic downturns, her family, along with many other middle-class families in Nigeria saw their wealth decline and Kemi was sent to London to study for her A levels.Instead of following her parents into medicine, she chose to pursue Computer Systems Engineering and went to Sussex University. A well-paid career in IT followed and she joined the Conservative Party aged twenty-five where she also met her husband, Hamish. Her first attempt at becoming an MP was in 2010 in Dame Tessa Jowell's former constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood constituency in London. She finished third behind the Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates.In 2017, she was selected for the Saffron Walden seat and became an MP.She lives in London with her husband and three children and divides her time between Westminster and her constituency of North West Essex.DISC ONE: The Story of Tonight - Lin-Manuel Miranda, Okieriete Onaodowan, Daveed Diggs, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton DISC TWO: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson DISC THREE: Wonderful World - Sam Cooke DISC FOUR: Be Still - Aled Jones and English Session Orchestra DISC FIVE: Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) - Baz Luhrmann DISC SIX: Love is All Around - Wet Wet Wet DISC SEVEN: Carry You Home – Alex Warren DISC EIGHT: Dear Theodosia - Leslie Odom Jr., Lin-Manuel Miranda BOOK CHOICE: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray LUXURY ITEM: The Marvel Movie Collection with a solar-powered DVD player CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast many politicians away to the island over the years including Sir Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon, Sir Vince Cable, Theresa May, Ed Miliband, Boris Johnson and Margaret Thatcher.

The former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Vince Cable, has described the alleged actions of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor while he was a trade envoy as being "totally unacceptable". Sir Vince -- who was business secretary for some of that time -- has called on the police and the government to look into claims the former prince shared confidential information with the sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing. Iran's deputy foreign minister has told the BBC that Tehran is ready to consider compromises to reach a nuclear deal with the US -- if the Americans are willing to discuss lifting sanctions. Team GB have won their first ever gold medal on snow at the Winter Olympics.

Something extraordinary just happened in Japan... but of course no one is paying attention!A ruling party written off as tired and scandal-plagued didn't just win - they delivered a generational landslide. Taaka Ichi, Japan's first female Prime Minister, led her Liberal Democrats into a victory so complete that the opposition straight up imploded (see: winning 2/3 of Parliament). At the center of the dust cloud stands a leader arguing Japan must harden itself for a dangerous world: rebuild industry, rearm, and rely on no one but itself. This isn't incremental politics. It's a bet on national revival. If it works, Japan will change the global balance. If it fails, the country may well collapse. --Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction (01:03) - The Significance of the Recent Japanese Election(03:11) - Analyzing the LDP's Historic Victory(07:37) - The Collapse of the Opposition(13:39) - Public Opinion and Political Dynamics(27:52) - Constraints and Challenges for Taaka Ichi(35:13) - Taaka Ichi's Vision for Japan(36:39) - Japan's National Crisis and Self-Reliance(38:38) - Economic and Defense Strategies(40:46) - Comparing Policies: Omics vs. Maji 2.0(45:51) - Challenges and Constraints(57:49) - Energy and Industrial Policies(01:04:53) - Geopolitical Dynamics and China's Influence(01:11:16) - Conclusion and Future Outlook--Referenced in the Show:Tobias substack - https://observingjapan.substack.com/Tobias book - https://www.amazon.com/Iconoclast-Shinzo-Abe-New-Japan/dp/1787383105--Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.comJacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapJacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe --The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com--Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today's volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.--

Matthew Bannister onSir Nicholas White, whose research on tropical diseases saved millions of lives.Lord Wallace, the Liberal Democrat who served in the Scottish and Westminster parliaments and was Deputy to three First Ministers.Professor Deborah Cameron who studied the use of language from a feminist perspective.Sly Dunbar, the Jamaican drummer who played on hundreds of hit records and teamed up with bass player Robbie Shakespeare to form “The Riddim Twins”.Interviewee: Professor Nicholas Day Interviewee: Lord McConnell Interviewee: Professor Miriam Meyerhoff Interviewee: Jazzie B Interviewee: Kevin Le GendreProducer: Gareth Nelson-Davies Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn TansleyArchive used:Nick White: Improving the treatment of infectious diseases, Mahidol Oxford Research Unit (MORU) in Bangkok, Thailand, Tropical Medicine Oxford YouTube Channel, uploaded 08/03/2024; Professor Nick White: malaria, Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) interview, University of Oxford YouTube channel, uploaded 26 Jan 2012; Nicholas White, “Malaria Defeating The Curse”, Horizon, BBC Two, 05/06/2005; Nick White, Fatal Latitudes, BBC Two, 23/02/1993; Jim Wallace, Scottish Devolution Referendum, Reporting Scotland, BBC Scotland 1997; Coalition, Reporting Scotland, BBC Scotland 14/05/1999; Jim Wallace, Acting first minister clip, FMQs, Scottish Parliament, 15/11/2001; Jim Wallace interview, Stark Talk, BBC Radio Scotland, 09/06/2000; Deborah Cameron interview, Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, 31/10/2025; Deborah Cameron interview, Speak Up, BBC Radio 4, 02/08/2024;

Joining Gyles on this episode of Rosebud is the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey. But this isn't a conversation about politics, it's about Ed's life, his family, his experience of profound loss, and his involvement with caring for his closest relatives - his mother, who died of cancer when he was 15, and his son, John, who was born with neurological difficulties. This is a very moving episode, with some discussion of illness, death and bereavement.Sir Ed talks to Gyles about his father and mother, both of whom died too young - his father when Ed was only 4 years old, and his mother 11 years later. He paints a vivid picture of them, and particularly of his mum - her beauty, her courage and her love. He also talks about the years after his mum's death, when he and his brother lived alone in the family bungalow and had some wild parties with their school friends. He then talks about the birth of his son John, and the amazing work done by the Peto Institute in Hungary to improve his mobility and strength, and the dedication and commitment of his wife, Emily. All of this has led Ed to write a book Why I Care, about his experience of caring and about the importance of supporting carers.This is a very moving, inspiring conversation, full of hope and of love.Ed's book is available here. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Ed Davey condemned Donald Trump's military manoeuvres abroad, Annabel Denham looked on and asked 'what's the point of the Liberal Democrats?'. Thinking about the Lib Dem's longstanding europhile stance, the senior political correspondent at the Telegraph wrote: 'the party that once stood on a tradition of civil liberties now wants us to rejoin a bloc which regulates everything'. Calum Miller MP – foreign affairs spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats – joins Annabel and deputy political editor James Heale to address Annabel's challenge that the party is defined more by opposition the other parties than by their own policies. So, from localism and the UK's place in the world to free markets and social care, what do the Lib Dems stand for? And what constitutes 'liberalism' today? Produced by Patrick Gibbons, Megan McElroy and Natasha Feroze.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.

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Russell Findlay MSP, sits down with James Heale to look ahead to May's pivotal Holyrood elections. He pushes back against the threat from Reform, arguing that Nigel Farage is trying to be 'all things to all people', and he is scathing about the lack of loyalty shown by those who have defected from the party – not just to Reform, but to the Liberal Democrats too.But with the collapse of the support Labour received in the 2024 general election – which Findlay calls their 'loveless landslide' – why aren't the Tories benefitting more?Plus, how did being the victim of a vicious acid attack in 2015 shape his politics?Produced by Patrick Gibbons.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.

The Liberal Democrats have unveiled a new strategy on the NHS. Sir Ed set out his big, bold plan this morning: scrapping the UK–US pharmaceutical deal to redirect £1.5 billion into social care. It sounds like a substantial sum – until you remember it amounts to less than 1 per cent of the NHS's annual budget. In today's podcast, the team discuss why Ed Davey is leaning into being deliberately boring, in an effort to appeal to the perceived sensibilities of Middle England.Meanwhile, with the dust settling after Nadhim Zahawi's defection, is Reform at risk of losing its outsider appeal, given that his resignation from government caused such a public outcry? Megan McElroy is joined by Luke Tryl, UK Director of More in Common, and James Heale. They also examine the polling results everyone really wants to see – including voting intention by “national treasure” status, with a few surprises along the way.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.