Podcasts about Liberal Democrats

'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.

Peter Mandelson is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a seismic moment in British politics - but will the pain of Epstein files continue to haunt Keir Starmer's government over the coming days, weeks and months?With an active police investigation and limited scope of what he can reveal, the Prime Minister will face tough questions over his decision to appoint Mr Mandelson as the UK's top man in Washington. Sam and Anne consider: Will the arrest impact the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election? Will the Liberal Democrats use the humble address to force the government to release documents on the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a trade envoy? Away from the Mandelson affair, on the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, allies from the coalition of the willing meet with President Zelenskyy. Plus, has more money been found to help tackle the courts backlog and will it make a difference?

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.

You may already know Carl Cashman as the Liberal Democrat politician who keeps making headlines for being ridiculously in shape and unapologetically shirtless on Instagram. The “world's hottest politician” label follows him everywhere.But what happens when the internet crush turns out to be smart, likeable, politically ambitious — and fully aware that the gays love him?Recorded live in front of an audience at the BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! Gallery in Fitzrovia, London, Graeme sits down with the 34-year-old leader of Liverpool City Council's Liberal Democrats to talk trust after the coalition years, immigration rhetoric, trans rights, a possible hung parliament, and what the UK does in a world shaped by Farage, Le Pen and Trump.In a political era dominated by culture-war strongmen, is a pro-EU, openly progressive politician who actually enjoys queer support… such a bad thing?This is the political half of a longer live conversation. To hear the full interview, head to the BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! Podcast.---THIS IS OUTCAST WORLD ---Like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and please leave a review. This helps us become easier to discover. Please take time to rate the show and if you're enjoying the podcast then take time to comment about it wherever you listen. //////// Check us on Insta, and TikTok @thisisoutcastworld ///// Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

One of the best things about this job is that I get to find out about and share some of the most exciting new developments in education all over the world, sometimes in the most unexpected places. My guest this week, the writer, human rights activist, turned educational entrepreneur Ben Rawlence and his amazing team are building just that in a small market town called Talgarth in mid-Wales. Black Mountains College is an incredible institution working with young people locally in mid-Wales and from across the UK, set up as an alive and direct response to the climate and ecological emergency to help create a future in which nature and human societies thrive. As you'll hear Ben describe, the college is part of a tradition of land-based alternative education organisations such as Dartington College in the UK (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartington_College_of_Arts) and Rabindrath Tagore's Visva-Bharati University in India (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visva-Bharati_University) and is continuing and updating this tradition to become one of the most inspiring examples globally of what is possible and needed in these times. Ben is an award-winning writer, activist, and former speech writer to Sir Menzies Campbell and Charles Kennedy. He was a researcher for Human Rights Watch's Africa division, worked for the Social Science Research Council in the USA, the Liberal Democrats in the UK and the Civic United Front in Tanzania. His books include The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth and his forthcoming book Think Like a Forest: Letters to my Children from a Changing Planet.BMC website: https://blackmountainscollege.uk/Beth Nawr Festival: https://blackmountainscollege.uk/events/beth-nawr-festival-2026/Ben's Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_RawlenceBen's previous books: https://uk.bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Ben+Rawlence

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.--

On a special edition of the Northern Agenda podcast, Rob Parsons is joined by Beth Abbit of the Manchester Evening News to reflect on a hustings for five of the candidates hoping to be the next MP for Gorton and Denton. The hopefuls were quizzed on issues like British values, child poverty, immigration, Andy Burnham and even their favourite Oasis song during an hour long debate at the office of the Manchester Evening News. What were the big talking points for the candidates: Conservative Charlotte Cadden, Matt Goodwin of Reform UK, Jackie Pearcey of the Liberal Democrats, Green Hannah Spencer and Labour's Angeliki Stogia? Rob and Beth - a constituent in Gorton and Denton - discuss what they learned from the hustings and how the three-horse race is so hard to predict ahead of the vote on February 26. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keir Starmer has seen off the threat to his leadership - for now. What happens inside Downing Street when things get really, really bad for a prime minister?We also discuss whether the Labour Party will swing to the left with Morgan McSweeney's departure, and Zack Polanski's singing at Liberal Democrat conference.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the Conservative Party last entered government, in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, the UK was still finding its feet after the global financial crisis. What followed was a succession of events that quickly came to dominate political life: Brexit, the pandemic, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Each of these moments demanded large, costly interventions from the state. But Britain now faces a new set of challenges: an ageing population, a fresh industrial revolution driven by AI, growing global security risks, and the pressures of a changing climate.John Penrose is the founder of the Centre for Small Conservatives. A former Conservative MP, he joins Marc Sidwell to discuss why he's arguing for moving beyond rhetoric and towards serious, practical policy ideas — ones he believes can deliver tangible results in the real world.Guest: John Penrose, former MP and founder of the Centre for Small State ConservativesStay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lisa Witter is joined by Jo Swinson, former UK Member of Parliament and leader of the Liberal Democrats. They explore Jo's journey into politics, beginning with her early interest in activism inspired by the Body Shop's commitment to social issues. Jo reflects on her experiences as the youngest MP and the challenges she faced in a male-dominated environment, particularly during her leadership amidst the Brexit turmoil. The discussion delves into the complexities of power dynamics in politics, the importance of human connections, and the need for long-term thinking in governance. Jo emphasizes the significance of community engagement and the role of individuals in shaping a better political landscape, advocating for a more inclusive and empathetic approach to leadership.External resources: Article: Hard Hope Is a Practice — Start with 1% Book: Equal Power: And How You Can Make It Happen, by Jo SwinsonFollow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and visit our website to stay up to date with our latest news. Subscribe to the Better (Political) Leadership Substack and sign up to our bi-weekly briefing for insights and inspiration on how to build better politics.

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 Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Gordon McKee from Labour, Sarah Pochin from Reform UK and Josh Babarinde from the Liberal Democrats, plus the Financial Times political journalist Lucy Fisher.

What does the Mandelson and Epstein saga say about Starmer's judgement?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Gordon McKee from Labour, Sarah Pochin from Reform UK and Josh Babarinde from the Liberal Democrats, plus the Financial Times political journalist Lucy Fisher.

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.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Jeevun Sander from Labour and Layla Moran from the Liberal Democrats, Conservative peer Lord Kulveer Ranger, plus the commentator Emily Hewertson.

Is it time to rip up the so-called 'special relationship'?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Jeevun Sander from Labour and Layla Moran from the Liberal Democrats, Conservative peer Lord Kulveer Ranger, plus the commentator Emily Hewertson.

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.

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

In this weeks Fear Of Missing Out report the Federal Supreme Court came down with a really good ruling that affects elections. Iranian women are calling out Liberal Democrats for their hypocrisy. It looks like the Clintons might be in trouble for contempt in the Epstein hearings. The creator of Dilbert dies of cancer, but you will never guess what he did just before. We end with great news having to do with your shower.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are former Conservative Chief Whip Lord Simon Hart, Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson, former Tory Health Minister Steve Brine, plus political commentator Jonathan Lis.

Has Robert Jenrick defected to Reform UK out of principle or only to benefit his own political career?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are former Conservative Chief Whip Lord Simon Hart, Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson, former Tory Health Minister Steve Brine, plus political commentator Jonathan Lis.

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.

The incidents with ICE agents recently are highlighting the dangerous game that Liberal Democrats and the propaganda media is playing. They are stoking the fire and then act all surprised when bad things happen.

As we enter 2026, The Rundown looks ahead at what is likely to be yet another crucial and turbulent year in British politics, giving the listeners the inside track on what to look out for over the next 12 months, and guiding you through the big stories ahead.To help navigate through all of that, host Alain Tolhurst is joined by LBC's political editor and returning guest Natasha Clark, and alongside her is Adam Payne, editor at PoliticsHome.The trio starts the discussion with May's crucial local elections, which, despite plans to further delay voting in some areas due to the conversion of councils into unitary authorities, will still have a massive impact on shaping the political year for all of the main parties.For Labour, will a bad night in Wales and Scotland precipitate a leadership challenge against the Prime Minister? Or can the government manage expectations and calm nervous Labour MPs into giving Keir Starmer more time?They discuss Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's prospects of returning to the House of Commons in 2026, and whether the willingness of Conservative MPs to stick with Kemi Badenoch will be tested by another bruising set of election results.For Reform UK, it is another big chance for Nigel Farage's party to prove that its rise to the top of the polls can be translated into electoral wins, but the bigger story could be about how well the councils and mayoralties it has already picked up are faring under Reform rule, after bumpy starts at its flagship council in Kent and elsewhere.The panel also looks at whether the Green Party's surge under Zack Polanski will be maintained in 2026, whether the Liberal Democrats can make their voices heard, and how much of an impact the war in Ukraine, the peace settlement in Gaza, and Donald Trump's volatility will overshadow any attempts by Starmer to maintain domestic stability.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

Can Sir Ed Davey really take the fight to the right when it comes to the next election? In this special episode of Political Currency, Ed Balls speaks to the Liberal Democrat leader - and his politician of the year from 2024. In this wide-ranging conversation, the two Eds talk about Ed Davey's passion for care provision and his deeply personal connection to the issue. Ed Balls also asks Ed about his time in the Coalition government with George Osborne and they reflect on their shared school days - including time spent out of the classroom. But will Ed Balls finally return the history notes he lost?Plus, with Nigel Farage's Reform rising up the ranks, Ed Balls asks Ed Davey if he would go into a coalition with Nigel Farage at the next general election. Don't forget to vote for us as the Political Podcast Award's People's Choice of the year. Follow the link to vote: https://politicalpodcastawards.co.uk/the-peoples-choice-award/ And we love hearing from you, so please don't forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question.EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/politicalcurrency Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!Thanks for listening. Remember Kitchen Cabinet members get exclusive access to live EMQs recordings, briefings from the team, and an exclusive Political Currency mug: tr.ee/gift-pc

We're joined by former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg for the latest in our series looking at how the most significant elections in our lifetimes were won, and how they were lost.He takes us inside the 2010 Liberal Democrat campaign - from the first TV leaders' debate in British history, to Cleggmania and 'bigotgate' - ending in the first hung parliament since the 1970s and the frenzied days of negotiation that led to the coalition government.Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the former Conservative Education Secretary Justine Greening, Labour MP Dame Chi Onwurah, Anna Sabine from the Liberal Democrats & The Spectator's James Heale.

How can more young people be got into work?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the former Conservative Education Secretary Justine Greening, Labour MP Dame Chi Onwurah, Anna Sabine from the Liberal Democrats & The Spectator's James Heale.

Following the rather grim comedy of Boris Johnson, the Conservatives gave Britain the even more ridiculous spectacle of Liz Truss. She proceeded to push the British economy to the edge of the abyss, aided and abetted by her Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi ‘Kamikwasi' Kwarteng. Fortunately, her colleagues realised what a disastrous mess the Tory membership had made electing Truss leader, and chucked her out again, establishing a new record, previously held by George Canning since 1827, for the shortest tenure of any Prime Minister in office.To the delight of the Daily Star, which livestreamed a lettuce and a photo of Liz Truss, to see whether she could outlast the lettuce, it was the vegetable that won.It was Rishi Sunak who followed her into office, and he worked hard with his Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to get the economy back on its feet. Unfortunately, they went back to the beginning of this long period of Tory rule, to austerity politics. They worked no better second time around than first and only cut the public deficit by a little over half, leaving debt still climbing. Meanwhile, immigration was raising its head again as a key question. Oddly enough, net migration – people in less people out – had risen since Brexit, which many had backed as a way to limit migration in the first place. The new election took place on 4 July 2022. It was an election of fragmentation, with the old dominant parties of Labour and the Tories plumbing new depths of their joint share of the popular vote, while smaller parties – the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and the new kids on the block, Nigel Farage's Reform UK, surging forward.The success of Reform UK was the most striking. And the most ominous for the future of the other parties.Illustration: Liz Truss and the lettuce. Photo from the Daily StarMusic: Bach Partita #2c by J Bu licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are Labour MP Polly Billington, the Liberal Democrats' group leader in Liverpool Carl Cashman, Conservative peer Lord Robert Hayward and ConservativeHome's Henry Hill.

Are you concerned by the claims that Rachel Reeves misled the public about the country's finances?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are Labour MP Polly Billington, the Liberal Democrats' group leader in Liverpool Carl Cashman, Conservative peer Lord Robert Hayward and ConservativeHome's Henry Hill.

Amol Rajan speaks to Sir Nick Clegg - former deputy Prime Minister of the UK and, more recently, former President of Global Affairs at Meta - about big tech, AI and the future of social media.Sir Nick first appeared on the world stage back in 2010, when he became the UK's deputy prime minister after his Liberal Democrats party went into a coalition government with David Cameron's Conservatives.After leaving Westminster in 2017, he surprised many political observers when he was hired by Facebook, now known as Meta, to head up their global affairs and communications. In 2022, Sir Nick was then promoted to become the company's president of global affairs, where he oversaw policy and government relations.Sir Nick subsequently worked closely with Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg for several years, but decided to step down at the beginning of this year.And now, amid growing concerns over the regulation of big tech, the growth of AI and the future of the internet itself, he's drawing on his vast experience from both Westminster and Silicon Valley to offer insight into what could be ahead.Thank you to the Radical with Amol Rajan team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Amol Rajan Producer: Ben Cooper, Anna Budd and Lewis Vickers Editor: Justine LangGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Sir Nick Clegg. Credit: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Catherine Atkinson from Labour, Dr Luke Evans from the Conservatives and Edward Morello from the Liberal Democrats, plus the journalist and broadcaster Angela Epstein.

Should the Chancellor be bold on Wednesday and slash public spending?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Catherine Atkinson from Labour, Dr Luke Evans from the Conservatives and Edward Morello from the Liberal Democrats, plus the journalist and broadcaster Angela Epstein.

Contributors:James Barrett, consultant psychiatrist and lead clinician at the Charing Cross National Gender Identity ClinicJulie Bindel, feminist and journalistLord Alex Carlile QC, Liberal Democrat member of the House of LordsMelissa Hines, professor of psychology at Cambridge UniversityRichard O'Brien, writer of the Rocky Horror ShowRuth Pearce, postgraduate researcher in sociology at the University of WarwickStephen Whittle OBE, professor of equalities law at Manchester Metropolitan University This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliebindel.substack.com/subscribe

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the Labour MP Alex Sobel, Conservative MP Sir John Hayes, Alys Denby from the business newspaper City AM and the political commentator and Liberal Democrat activist Mathew Hulbert.

Why are so many Brits fleeing this country?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the Labour MP Alex Sobel, Conservative MP Sir John Hayes, Alys Denby from the business newspaper City AM and the political commentator and Liberal Democrat activist Mathew Hulbert.

It's 2007, and Tony Blair is out. In his place is Gordon Brown, who'd proved his capacity as a Chancellor. Sadly, he was now to show that promotion to Prime Minister was one step too many , since he simply didn't have the skills needed for the top job. He might have won an election in the autumn of 2007, when he had a small poll lead. Instead, his nerve failed him and he called off the election the Labour Party had been preparing. That meant that he took the blame for the world crash that hit the following year, and though he and his Chancellor did well to get Britain back to growth, with the deadline for a new election bearing down on them, they had run out of time to build the party a new lead.The result of the 2010 election was to return a hung parliament, one in which no party had a majority in the Commons. Fraught negotiations finally led to the formation of a Conservative coalition government with the Liberal Democrats. Dominated by the Tories, it pursued austerity policies to reduce the government deficit and public debt. It had some success in the first of these aims, but none in the second. Austerity created a fairly dismal atmosphere in the country and, for the LibDems, the policy turned toxic when it forced an increase in university fees which the party, now led by Nick Clegg, had vowed to abolish.When the next election was held, in 2015, the LibDems were severely punished, with their haul of MPs reduced from the respectable 57 won in 2010, to the miserable total of just eight.Labour had elected itself a hopeless, uncharismatic leader, Ed Miliband, an easy figure for Cameron to beat. Labour lost more seats from its low tally of 2010. Cameron, on the other hand, took his Conservatives to a majority in the Commons. The majority was small but enough to form a new government of Tories alone, with the LibDems once more consigned to the backbenches.So Cameron took office for the second time. Things looked good for him. Unfortunately, however, an explosion that would bring him down was building within his own party, as we'll see next week.Illustration: Cameron (left) of the Tories and Clegg of the LibDems, senior and junior leaders of the 2010 coalition government. Photo from the GuardianMusic: Bach Partita #2c by J Bu licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License

No one likes being unpopular, so you could forgive both of the UK's main political parties for wanting to look away when another damning poll dropped this week. Support for both parties has never been so low at the same time, the Green party is seeing record support and Reform UK continues to top the popularity contest. Does recent polling really suggest the end of the two-party hegemony? King of the pollsters John Curtice helps Politics Weekly UK read the runes. And, in the run-up to the budget next month, Keir Starmer has given the strongest indication yet that tax rises may be on the way, while immigration dominates headlines and the escaped sex offender whose case sparked protests at the Bell hotel in Epping is sent back to Ethiopia – with £500 in his back pocket. Pippa Crerar is joined by the Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff to discuss the government's game of immigration whack-a-mole and the consequences Labour could face if it breaks its manifesto pledge not to raise key taxes.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

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 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.

Japan's first female governing-party leader is an ultra-conservative star in a male-dominated groupSanae Takaichi.In a country that ranks poorly internationally for gender equality, the new president of Japan's long-governing Liberal Democrats, and likely next prime minister, is an ultra-conservative star of a male-dominated party that critics call an obstacle to women's advancement.In a country known for the concept of karoshi, or death from overwork, Japan's likely next prime minister said that people should work like a WHAT?A WORKHORSEBefore entering politics, Japan's likely next prime minister had WHAT artistic hobby?Drummer in a heavy metal bandIntroducing Fortune's first-ever Most Influential Women Asia rankingJust to give you some context:How many athletes? 4How many K-pop stars? 4How many actors? 2How many politicians? 2HOW MANY business leaders, civic leaders, scientists, educators, journalists, healthcare workers, spiritual leaders, or legal scholars?ZERODemocrats demand ‘action' as AI reportedly threatens to replace 100M US jobsA new Senate report warns that artificial intelligence could displace nearly 100 million U.S. jobs within the next decade, spurring Democrats to push for a levy for each human position replaced by machines, tech or algorithms. What is the current nickname for this bill: Terminator tithea "robot tax"Roomba reparationsbot tollRoboCop rebateSilicon sin taxAccording to Bloomberg, This is the leading pick to succeed Tim Cook as CEOCOO Sabih KhanFormer COO Jeff Williams, SVP Design, Watch, and HealthJohn Ternus, SVP of Hardware EngineeringCFO Kevan ParekhCHRO Deirdre O'BrienBoard member Susan Wagner, founding partner and director of BlackRockDeloitte will refund Australian government for WHAT?climate risk model using emissions data from New Zealand and not AustraliaA report that was filled with AI hallucinationsa partial refundConsulting firm quietly admitted to GPT-4o use after fake citations were found in AugustShortly after the report was published, though, Sydney University Deputy Director of Health Law Chris Rudge noticed citations to multiple papers and publications that did not exist. That included multiple references to nonexistent reports by Lisa Burton Crawford, a real professor at the University of Sydney law school.the updated report removed several fake citations and a fabricated quote attributed to an actual ruling from federal justice Jennifer Davies (spelled as "Davis" in the original report).cybersecurity review that relied on completely fabricated case studiesOver 80% of the report found to have copied sections from Wikipediapolicy review found to have been nearly a complete duplicated a previous PwC reportAppLovin stock tanks on report SEC is investigating company over data-collection practicesPOP QUIZ!Adam Foroughi is the CEO of AppLovin:Who is the Founder of AppLovin? Adam ForoughiWho is the Chair of AppLovin? Adam ForoughiWho is the longest-tenured director of AppLovin? Adam ForoughiWho is the largest shareholder at AppLovin? Adam ForoughiWhat percentage of outstanding AppLovin shares does Adam own? 9%What percentage of AppLovin voting power does Adam control? 61%How many votes per share do Adam's Cass B shares give him? 20Did Adam graduate from college? YES! Economics degree from BerkeleyBut what exactly does AppLovin do? The company helps developers market, monetize, analyze and publish their apps through its mobile advertising, marketing, and analytics platformsOn the company's “Director Nominees' Skills and Expertise” matrix in its 2025 proxy statement, which two categories are the least-represented?: Cyber Security (3 of 9) and Data Privacy (4 of 9)What was the value Adam realized on the vesting of stock awards last year? $578MDespite holding $19B in AppLovin stock, how much did Adam get in a work-from-home cash stipend last year? $1,800 Which BlackRock director that Matt spent a lot of time ridiculing in May for being the board's worst performer just lost his job? Hans Vestberg, VerizonWhich Verizon board member that is connected to 64% of the Verizon board–almost entirely through non profit and trade group connections–that Matt recommended a vote against at Verizon's last annual meeting is Verizon's new CEO? Lead Director and former PayPal CEO Dan ShulmanPOP QUIZ! What kind of shoes does Dan wear? Cowboy bootsAnd finally, nepobaby David Ellison's choice to take over CBS News, Bari Weiss, has made a career railing against what?CorruptionMisinformationCorporate malpracticeCensorshipWokenessPOP QUIZ! How many years of experience does Bari have in broadcast television? Zero

Today, Ed Davey has vowed to lead the fight against Nigel Farage in his speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference. Davey argued that the Lib Dems had a "moral responsibility" to challenge Reform and urged his party to embrace patriotism to speak for "Britain's decent silent majority".Adam speaks to Chris from the conference in Bournemouth, and also interviews the Liberal Democrats' deputy leader Daisy Cooper. Plus, Adam is joined by Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's international editor, to discuss his new Panorama - Gaza: Dying for Food. In it, Jeremy looks at the food shortages in Gaza and allegations of war crimes which the IDF denies. You can watch Gaza: Dying for Food here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002jxm2You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Elizabeth Chalmers. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The Liberal Democrat party conference in Bournemouth has concluded with a speech from leader Sir Ed Davey. While the current crop of Liberal Democrats are the most successful third-party in 100 years, they have faced questions about why they aren't cutting through more while Nigel Farage is. It's something Davey is aware of and – hoping to exploit how divisive the leader of Reform is – he sought to pitch himself as the anti-Farage. Will it work?Plus, more bad news for the Chancellor. Labour had pledged to aim for the highest growth in the G7. New figures from the OECD did upgrade their global growth forecast, including for Britain, but projected that the UK would see the highest inflation across the G7. How bad is this for Rachel Reeves?James Heale and Michael Simmons join Patrick Gibbons to discuss.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.

Today, we look at what Sir Keir Starmer's promise to recognise a Palestinian state means. Laura and Paddy are joined by political correspondent Joe Pike to discuss the arguments for and against the move.And we discuss the Liberal Democrat's party conference, and whether Ed Davey's stunts are playing well with voters and members.You can take part in the Newscast census here - https://bbc.in/newscastcensusYou can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn and Grace Reeve. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

SEASON 4 EPISODE 10: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:45) SPECIAL COMMENT: Trump ain't dead, and neither is his cover-up of the Epstein Files. The TRUMPStein Files. And if you gave him a script and told him what to do to RE-IGNITE the Trumpstein Tire Fire every time it begins to go out, it would start with: A) leak an anonymous statement to Republicans considering signing the Massie Discharge Petition to force release of the real files B) make sure that statement read as much likely a slightly sanded down threat from a mafia boss as possible, like, oooh, quote: "Helping Thomas Massie and Liberal Democrats with their attention-seeking, while the DOJ is fully supporting a more comprehensive file release effort from the Oversight Committee, would be viewed as a very hostile act to the administration. C) actually release only the same documents Pam Bondi released to the Libs of TikTok worm Chayik and the DC Draino dipshit in those $2.69 thin three-ring binders they bought at Staples in February D) send a military flyover to try to drown out the Epstein survivors’ news conference on the steps of the capitol E) choose THIS moment to ask the Supreme Court to overturn where the court found him GUILTY of being LIABLE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE of E. Jean Carroll and of DEFAMING a sexual abuse victim and of course F) sit there as THIS actual bona fide excellent comprehensive question is rolled out in front of world media when you can only come back with an answer that makes everybody think “wait, he said THAT? Maybe he IS dead and he just forgot to lie down.” WHERE WAS TRUMP LAST WEEK? We know the media won't probe. We can assume the following: he wasn't dead. He also wasn't at a psychiatrist to help him get past these hallucinations that he 'turned the water on' in California or solved seven wars (including, no doubt, The War Of The Planet Of The Apes). He also wasn't at a political retreat figuring out what to do about New York other than pull Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa out of it to make sure it's a Trump Referendum in a city that's 75% registered Democrats. Plus, the unusual but all-too-plausible explanation for what is really behind the RFK Jr/MAGA hatred of the Covid vaccine that saved their lives but won't, next time. B-Block (33:05) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: It's bad enough that Stephen A. Smith doesn't see he's risking his career by diving into politics. But in a time of rampant gun violence against children and politicians, he's chosen to name his new political show "STRAIGHT SHOOTER." A great line from a conservative about how Trump was just caught literally about losing his marbles. And Laura Loomer blasts the foreign-born judge who thwarted Trump's child-trafficking and demanding we have no more foreign-born judges. You mean like Aileen Cannon, moron? C-Block (45:00) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: The relentlessly principle-free Joe Scarborough has done it again: whored himself out to Trump, demanding JB Pritzer "partner up" with the dictator on militarizing the streets of Chicago. Scarborough has been getting away with this at MSNBC for 23 years. It's his life (if you call getting up at 4 AM every day to find some new part of democracy you can sell out for cash, a "life").See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.