Podcasts about Liberal Democrats

There's no ifs or buts - Reform had a won big in last week's local elections - but it's not all bad news. Near-total Tory wipeout, positive signs for the Liberal Democrats and Greens and a lesson for Labour: acquiescing to Nigel Farage will only empower him.  A slightly jetlagged Nish and a fresh as a daisy Zoë digest the results before diving into demands to end Israel's occupation of Gaza… Led by, of all people, rebel tories? In the wake of the Netanyahu's latest actions, why isn't the British Government speaking up more?  Later, the pair are joined by climate activist Patience Nabukalu, for an injection of hope following her direct action calling for an end to fossil fuel investment from one of the UK's biggest banks.  **Comment was sought from HSBC regarding claims of dismissing voices at their AGM but was not received in time for publication. We will update this podcast if we receive a reply** CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS  SHOPIFY https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk  SKY SPORTS F1 https://www.sky.com/tv/sports  Useful Links  https://www.instagram.com/patiencenabukalu Guests Patience Nabukalu Audio Credits Number 10 Downing Street Zack Polanski Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts saw me team up with John Potter and the Lib Dem Pod team to discuss the local elections. How did they go for the Liberal Democrats and what lessons are there for the party? Show notes Some highlights from the local election results. Lib Dem Pod. Theme tune by Hugo Lee. New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts. Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes. Enjoy the show? Spread the word Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

What would it look like if Kamala Harris had won the election in November? We both take a funny look at what it would be like and a serious look at why the Liberal Democrats are in real trouble.

UK's Electoral System Challenges Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain, discusses the challenges of the UK's first-past-the-post electoral system and its impact on political strategies. She points out that the system is no longer working effectively for the two main parties, with recent elections showing candidates winning with as little as 22-25% of the vote.This situation has led to discussions about whether major parties should try to appeal to their core supporters or attempt to win over voters from other parties. Naomi emphasises the need for a new approach to address the limitations of the current electoral system.Brexit's Impact on UK Economy and PoliticsNaomi and Nick discussed the impact of Brexit on the UK economy and the political landscape. Naomi highlighted the fragmentation of voter preferences, with people switching from Labour to Reform UK and the Greens. She noted that Labour's inability to deliver progressive economic policies was hurting their appeal. Nick criticised Nigel Farage for the economic consequences of Brexit, but Naomi points out that the media rarely questions Reform UK's policies beyond Brexit. They agreed that politicians need to lead the conversation and not just react to past elections.UK Politics: Fragmentation and ChallengesThe discussion focuses on the current state of UK politics, particularly the Conservative Party's struggles and the rise of Reform UK. Naomi says that the political landscape is fragmented, with different parties leading in various regions. She notes that Labour needs to provide a compelling vision to motivate progressive voters. The conversation also touches on the potential for a "regressive alliance" between Conservatives and Reform UK, and the need for Labour to deliver meaningful change if they win the next election.Labour's Strategy and Progressive Party RelationsThe discussion focuses on the Labour Party's current strategy and its relationship with other progressive parties. Naomi suggests that Labour is losing more votes to the Liberal Democrats, SNP, and Green Party than to Reform UK. She also mentions internal concerns within the Labour Party about the proposed Welfare Bill, which could increase poverty and break manifesto promises. The conversation then shifts to the Green Party's perspective, with Naomi stating that Green Party leaders feel Labour is arrogant and unwilling to engage in discussions about combating the far right. The Greens' decision to run more candidates in the last election is attributed to a lack of reciprocation from Labour for their previous cooperation. Naomi expressed optimism about Britain's future, emphasising the need to address issues such as stagnant wages and declining public services. Read all about it!Naomi Smith is one of the country's most incisive commentators on politics & the UK-Europe relationship. She can also be found on Bluesky . Naomi is also a seasoned podcaster, co-hosting the Quiet Riot Pod, the politics podcast with more passion, less shouting & lots of laughter. Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The two main parties are reeling after local elections in which Reform surged to huge wins. Wes Streeting has admitted that Reform could be Labour's main opposition by the next election. Tory MP Nigel Huddleston says Kemi Badenoch will remain as Tory leader, Reform chairman Zia Yusuf hints they may use legal action to prevent migrants being housed in hotels, and Ed Davey wants the Liberal Democrats to 'call out' Reform. 

Today, we look at the local election results in full.Reform now have well over 600 councillors. Party leader Nigel Farage said the victory over Labour and the Conservatives was “unprecedented”.The Liberal Democrats are also celebrating after successful election results. The party increased their number of councillors, with its leader Ed Davey saying they are now “the part of Middle England”.Pollster Luke Tryl joins Paddy and Laura.And we'll have all the latest reaction from Prince Harry's bombshell BBC exclusive interview on Friday. You 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://discord.gg/m3YPUGv9New 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Paddy O'Connell and Laura Kuenssberg. It was made by Chris Flynn and Josh Jenkins. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith opolling guru Peter Kellner, dissect opinions polls on Trump's second, first, 100 Days in the White House, the result of the Canadian election, and preview the local and mayoral elections in England. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. “What Mark Carney did was to come close to monopolising the centre/centre-left vote. Which, of course, might have echoes for what Starmer needs to do here. Labour is losing many more votes to the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and the SNP. Labour is suffering, in large measure, because the progressive vote is fragmenting.” “Businesses live in an uncertain world, but it's what I would call ‘ordered uncertainty'. We don't know whether interest rates will be half a point up or down in a year, but we know how the decision will be taken, the forces at work. There is a rational basis for the array of possibilities. With Trump, there is irrational uncertainty.” “We may, in some local and mayoral contests, which are four- or five-way splits, see very strange results; people elected on a quarter of the vote. In 48 hours, when we know all the figures, they may be the greatest argument that electoral reformers have ever had.” “Brexit trade barriers were going to defy the laws of economics. And didn't. And in a surprise to precisely no one, except maybe Navarro, the same is happening in the US.” “If I were to try and find a silver lining to Trump's first 100 days, it is this: Our time on this Earth is limited, so we should all be thankful to someone that makes it feel SO. MUCH. LONGER.”  ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠*** CALLS TO ACTION VOTE! Also, subscribe to Peter Kellner's substack here. Also, sign up for the Europe Day lunchtime zoom here - 9 May at 12:30. GRIN AND SHARE IT An new home for an old olive tree - read about it here. Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠ ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠. Or visit our website ⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lia is weer terug! En maar net op tijd, want morgen zijn er verkiezingen. Er staan honderden gemeenteraadszetels, een paar burgemeesterschappen en een enkele Lagerhuiszetel op het spel. In de peilingen doet de Reform partij van Nigel Farage het uitstekend, en een klinkende zegen zou een opmaat kunnen zijn naar een doorbraak in Westminster. Ook de Liberal Democrats en de Greens doen het in de peilingen erg goed. Als die trend doorzet, zou dat nog weleens het einde van het tweepartijenstelsel in het Verenigd Koninkrijk kunnen betekenen. Al zal dat niet zo'n vaart lopen. Ook in deze aflevering Twee vrouwen waren goochelaarsgenootschap The Magic Circle in 1991 te slim af, en omzeilde het vrouwenverbod door één van hen te verkleden als man. De vrouw werd toegelaten, maar later geroyeerd. 33 jaar later komen er excuses. Over Van Bekhovens Britten In van Bekhovens Britten praten Lia van Bekhoven en Connor Clerx elke week over de grootste nieuwsonderwerpen en de belangrijkste ontwikkelingen in het Verenigd Koninkrijk. Van Brexit naar binnenlandse politiek, van de Royals tot de tabloids. Waarom fascineert het VK Nederlanders meer dan zo veel andere Europese landen? Welke rol speelt het vooralsnog Verenigd Koninkrijk in Europa, nu het woord Brexit uit het Britse leven lijkt verbannen, maar de gevolgen van de beslissing om uit de EU te stappen iedere dag duidelijker worden? De Britse monarchie, en daarmee de staat, staat voor grote veranderingen na de dood van Queen Elisabeth en de kroning van haar zoon Charles. De populariteit van het Koningshuis staat op een dieptepunt. Hoe verandert de Britse monarchie onder koning Charles, en welke gevolgen heeft dat voor de Gemenebest? In Van Bekhovens Britten analyseren Lia en Connor een Koninkrijk met tanende welvaart, invloed en macht. De Conservatieve Partij leverde veertien jaar op rij de premier, maar nu heeft Labour onder Keir Starmer de teugels in handen. Hoe ziet het VK er onder Keir Starmer uit? En hoe gaan de ‘gewone’ Britten, voor zover die bestaan, daar mee om? Al deze vragen en meer komen aan bod in Van Bekhovens Britten. Een kritische blik op het Verenigd Koninkrijk, waar het een race tussen Noord-Ierland en Schotland lijkt te worden wie zich het eerst af kan scheiden van het VK. Hoe lang blijft het Koninkrijk verenigd? Na ruim 45 jaar onder de Britten heeft Lia van Bekhoven een unieke kijk op het Verenigd Koninkrijk. Als inwoner, maar zeker geen anglofiel, heeft ze een scherpe blik op het nieuws, de politiek, de monarchie en het dagelijkse leven aan de overkant van de Noordzee. Elke woensdag krijg je een nieuwe podcast over het leven van Van Bekhovens Britten in je podcastapp. Scherpe analyses, diepgang waar op de radio geen tijd voor is en een flinke portie humor. Abonneer en mis geen aflevering. Over Lia Lia van Bekhoven is correspondent Verenigd Koninkrijk voor onder andere BNR Nieuwsradio, VRT, Knack en Elsevier en is regelmatig in talkshows te zien als duider van het nieuws uit het VK. Ze woont sinds 1976 in Londen, en is naast correspondent voor radio, televisie en geschreven media ook auteur van de boeken Mama gaat uit dansen, het erfgoed van Diana, prinses van Wales (1997), Land van de gespleten God, Noord-Ierland en de troubles (2000), In Londen, 9 wandelingen door de Britse hoofdstad (2009) en Klein-Brittannië (2022). Over Connor Connor Clerx is presentator en podcastmaker bij BNR Nieuwsradio. Hij werkt sinds 2017 voor BNR en was voorheen regelmatig te horen in De Ochtendspits, Boekestijn en de Wijk en BNR Breekt. Als podcastmaker werkte hij de afgelopen tijd aan onder andere De Taxi-oorlog, Kuipers en de Kosmos, Splijtstof, Baan door het Brein en Welkom in de AI-Fabriek.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lia is weer terug! En maar net op tijd, want morgen zijn er verkiezingen. Er staan honderden gemeenteraadszetels, een paar burgemeesterschappen en een enkele Lagerhuiszetel op het spel. In de peilingen doet de Reform partij van Nigel Farage het uitstekend, en een klinkende zegen zou een opmaat kunnen zijn naar een doorbraak in Westminster. Ook de Liberal Democrats en de Greens doen het in de peilingen erg goed. Als die trend doorzet, zou dat nog weleens het einde van het tweepartijenstelsel in het Verenigd Koninkrijk kunnen betekenen. Al zal dat niet zo'n vaart lopen.

Legendary pollster Prof Sir John Curtice joins the Spectator's deputy political editor James Heale to look ahead to next week's local elections. The actual number of seats may be small, as John points out, but the political significance could be much greater. If polling is correct, Reform could win a ‘fresh' by-election for the first time, the mayoralties could be shared between three or more parties, and we could see a fairly even split in terms of vote share across five parties (Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives, the Green party, and Reform UK).  The 2024 general election saw five GB-wide parties contest most seats for the first time. These set of local elections could solidify this ‘five-party political system'. In fact, says John, ‘Reform have already won these local elections' by virtue of being able to contest all the seats available. Are we headed for a different kind of politics in Britain? Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Legendary pollster Prof Sir John Curtice joins the Spectator's deputy political editor James Heale to look ahead to next week's local elections. The actual number of seats may be small, as John points out, but the political significance could be much greater. If polling is correct, Reform could win a ‘fresh' by-election for the first time, the mayoralties could be shared between three or more parties, and we could see a fairly even split in terms of vote share across five parties (Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives, the Green party, and Reform UK).  The 2024 general election saw five GB-wide parties contest most seats for the first time. These set of local elections could solidify this ‘five-party political system'. In fact, says John, ‘Reform have already won these local elections' by virtue of being able to contest all the seats available. Are we headed for a different kind of politics in Britain? Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Everybody knows a fire engine will turn up in their hour of need, but just what does it take to keep the service on the road? Devoncast welcomes Devon and Somerset's chief fire officer Gavin Ellis to talk about some of the challenges the fire service faces in making ends meet and adapting to new kinds of emergency. Plus, two party leaders have been in the county in recent days, rallying their troops ahead of the county council elections. Devoncast talks to Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage about the prospects for the polls on May Day. It's all in the latest edition of Devoncast, from Radio Exe and the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

On Nick Ferrari at Breakfast,Households in the south could be paying more for electricity under new 'zoning pricing' being considered by the government. Nick talks to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. The Liberal Democrats have backed calls to fine 'headphone dodgers' for playing music out loud on trains and buses.Mourners visiting Pope Francis lying-in-state have been horrified by crowds taking selfies next to his casket. All of this and more on Nick Ferrari - The Whole Show podcast.

President Donald Trump insisted his administration is “putting a lot of pressure” on Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine, after an overnight rocket attack on Kyiv killed 12 people. In a post on Truth Social earlier, the US President wrote “Vladimir, STOP!” and called the attack “bad timing”. But differences between the US and Ukrainian positions continue, particularly over the future of the Crimean peninsula.The National Autistic Society rounded on Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage after he said doctors were “massively over-diagnosing those with mental illness problems”. We ask what's behind the spike in diagnosis of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).And as the Liberal Democrats propose fining people for playing music out loud on their phone aboard public transport, we ask how the issue should be dealt with.

The Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller, elected as the new MP for Bicester and Woodstock last year, joins James Heale to talk about the ambitions of the party that became the largest third party in Parliament in 100 years at the 2024 general election. They want to overtake the Conservatives to be the second party in local government – could they one day overtake the Tories to become the official opposition?  A former civil servant, Oxford University policy manager and councillor, Calum joins Coffee House Shots to talk about why he got into politics, how Brexit radicalised his desire for good governance and why, for all the fun, there is a serious point behind Ed Davey's stunts.  Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

The Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller, elected as the new MP for Bicester and Woodstock last year, joins James Heale to talk about the ambitions of the party that became the largest third party in Parliament in 100 years at the 2024 general election. They want to overtake the Conservatives to be the second party in local government – could they one day overtake the Tories to become the official opposition?  A former civil servant, Oxford University policy manager and councillor, Calum joins Coffee House Shots to talk about why he got into politics, how Brexit radicalised his desire for good governance and why, for all the fun, there is a serious point behind Ed Davey's stunts.  Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

On Nick Ferrari at Breakfast,More than 1,000 miles of roadworks will be lifted to allow easy travel over the Easter Weekend. Nick talks to Minister for the Future of Roads Lilian Greenwood. The Liberal Democrats are calling for a 'countryside copper guarantee,' after their report found only 0.4% of police are dedicated to rural crime teams. Nick talks to Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey. Nigel Farage says that young people are simply 'choosing' not to work. All of this and more on Nick Ferrari - The Whole Show podcast.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has made a name for himself performing crazy stunts to win the hearts of voters. But maybe, just maybe, it's working? Could the Lib Dems become the second biggest political party in the UK and what kind of people are they attracting to their cause? Enjoy Part Two of this week's specially-split epic-length edition…  We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Hannah Fearn, Matt Green, and Marie Le Conte. Producer: Chris Jones Audio. Production by: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As fears of a global recession continue in the wake of Donald Trump's tariffs, Keir Starmer insists the UK should keep a cool head. But with markets in turmoil and a looming economic crisis, does the prime minister need to be bolder? John Harris asks the Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff. Plus, he speaks to Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, about whether people should ‘buy British' to combat the tariffs. -- Listen to John discuss how music helped him connect with his autistic son on the Today in Focus podcast here: https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/apr/04/how-the-beatles-helped-my-autistic-son-find-his-voice-podcast --. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

This week's speakers:Sharon Byrne, WoLF, USA, Report from the Commission on the Status of Women Beijing + 30Alison Jenner, UK, Liberal Democrat conference 2025 - reportSally Wainwright, Scotland, Lesbian PersistenceCountry update: USA and Canada♀♀♀♀♀♀♀♀♀Feminist Question TimeEnjoying our webinars? If you are a position to make a one-off or recurring donation to support our work, you can find out how to do so (and see our financial reports) at https://www.womensdeclaration.com/en/... - thank-you! ♀♀♀♀♀♀♀♀♀Women's Declaration International (#WDI) Feminist Question Time is a weekly online webinar (Saturdays 3-4.30pm UK time). It is attended by a global feminist and activist audience of between 200-300. The main focus is how gender ideology is harming the rights of women and girls. See upcoming speakers and register to attend at https://bit.ly/registerFQT.There is also a monthly AUS/NZ FQT, on the last Saturday of the month at 7pm (Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney)/9pm (NZ). Register to attend at https://bit.ly/registerFQTAUSNZ. On Sundays (10am UK time), our webinar series, Radical Feminist Perspectives, offers a chance to hear leading feminists discuss radical feminist theory and politics. Register at https://bit.ly/registerRFP. WDI is the leading global organisation defending women's sex-based rights against the threats posed by gender identity ideology. Find out more at https://womensdeclaration.com, where you can join more than 30,000 people and 418 organisations from 157 countries in signing our Declaration on Women's Sex-based Rights. The Declaration reaffirms the sex-based rights of women which are set out in the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1979 (#CEDAW).Disclaimer: Women's Declaration International hosts a range of women from all over the world on Feminist Question Time (FQT), on Radical Feminist Perspectives (RFP) and on webinars hosted by country chapters – all have signed our Declaration or have known histories of feminist activism - but beyond that, we do not know their exact views or activism. WDI does not know in detail what they will say on webinars. The views expressed by speakers in these videos are not necessarily those of WDI and we do not necessarily support views or actions that speakers have expressed or engaged in at other times. As well as the position stated in our Declaration on Women's Sex-based Rights, WDI opposes sexism, racism and anti-semitism. For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions (https://womensdeclaration.com/en/abou...) or email info@womensdeclaration.com. #feminism #radicalfeminism #womensrights

In this episode of the Holyrood Sources podcast, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver discuss the significance of Tartan Week, the recent defection of Jamie Greene from the Scottish Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats, and the challenges faced by political parties in Scotland. The conversation highlights the tribal nature of the Scottish Parliament, the shifting political landscape, and the implications of these changes for the future of the Scottish Conservatives and the broader political environment. We also hear from newly elected Alba Party leader, Kenny MacAskill on his strategy for independence. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We speak to Lib Dem leader Ed Davey in Inverness as his party looks to the Highlands ahead of next year's Holyrood election. He discusses the party's hopes of making gains across the region – including in the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency currently held by Kate Forbes. The Lib Dem leader also talks international affairs including the UK's approach to handling Donald Trump and his party's priorities over the next 12 months.  Finally, Ed explains the lasting impact of the late Charles Kennedy, former leader of the party, who was a Highland MP for 30 years.

It's World Tariff Day – or Liberation Day, depending on what you prefer to call it – but we won't know for certain what levies Donald Trump will impose on the world until around 9 p.m. this evening. Sources are speculating that Trump still isn't 100 per cent sure himself. But as the UK awaits its fate, what is the polling saying: should Starmer stand up to Trump? Also on the podcast, it's just under a month until the local elections, and we have seen big launch events from Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats. These are the parties expecting to do well – potentially winning upwards of 400 council seats each. Labour and the Tories, meanwhile, are managing expectations. After some internal turbulence over the last month or so, could the local elections put Reform back on track? Who will be the biggest loser? Katy Balls speaks to James Heale and Luke Tryl, executive director of the polling company More in Common. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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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.

Howie Kurtz on Sen. Schumer getting backlash from Democrats for supporting GOP spending bill, another judge blocking firing of probationary federal workers and Russia saying they are in no rush to reach a ceasefire. Follow Howie on Twitter: @HowardKurtz For more #MediaBuzz click here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick talks to Mike Martin MP- soldier, author and Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge WellsNick Cohen and Mike Martin MP discuss the dramatic & disturbing shifts in international relations and diplomacy, thanks to Donald Trump's apparent volte-face on Ukraine and the United States' traditional allies, particularly in the context of the US and UK.Mike also talks domestic politics - are we witnessing the death of the Tory party as a major political force?The UK needs a political consensus on boosts to defence spendingAs Poland announces plans to make all men undergo military training, Mike Martin MP stresses the need for increased defence expenditure and improved military capabilities in the UK. Nick & Mike also explore the emergence of so-called "progressive patriotism" in Britain, the changing political landscape in traditionally Conservative areas, and the potential consequences of a war on national survival.War involving the UK now more than 50 per cent possible Mike said defence spending should be at least 3.5 per cent of government spending. He estimates that a war involving the UK was now more than 50 per cent possible. The UK & Europe must prepare for the worst.Are we witnessing the strange death of Tory England?Lastly, Mike and Nick discuss the UK's current politics - particularly the appalling state of the Conservative Party - woefully stuck in the No Man's Land between the Reformist Radical Right and the One Nation Tories who've abandoned them largely for the Liberal Democrats as well as Labour and the Greens. Mike says, "The Tories are being crushed between the pincer movement, between the Lib Dems and reform. And they don't know which way to face."Watch out for the County Council elections on May 1st 2025! This could be the key indicator of whether the Tories can recover to become a real party of opposition or could it continue its speedy descent into political oblivion.Mike says "It would be very interesting to see the results ... you might even see the Tory vote collapsing into to, into, into our pile and into the Reform pile."Read all about itMike Martin is the Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells and a member of the Commons Defence Committee. A former British Army Office, Mike is a Senior Fellow at King's College London – an expert in geopolitics and conflict – and the author of several books on psychology, conflict and travel, including Why We Fight.Nick Cohen's @NickCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rafael Behr talks to Paula Surridge Professor of Political Sociology about the fragmentation of support for the two big parties since Brexit, what's causing it and what it means for parties trying to maintain their voter coalitions.Questions also covered:What drives support for Reform UK, and how vulnerable is their voter base?Are the Liberal Democrats benefiting from tactical voting, and can they sustain their recent gains?Why the Conservative Party faces so many difficulties in defining its identity?How are changing media consumption habits and voter expectations reshaping political engagement?The discussion also touches on the impact of non-voters and the potential for electoral reform to become a more prominent issue.This is a Rafael Behr and Philip Berman production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Prime Minister in Washington this week the Labour MPs Steve Yemm and Chris Evans, as well as Professor Sam Edwards from Loughborough University, and Lord John Alderdice, Liberal Democrat peer, join host Alain Tolhurst to look at the so-called ‘special relationship'. From its history, to why the close bilateral partnership between the UK and America is so enduring, but why it might now be under threat as Keir Starmer tries to deal with the Donald Trump White House. Elsewhere in the episode Katie Perrior, Downing Street director of communications under Theresa May, also talks about what is was like to deal with the first Trump administration. To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

War - what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. But this week we found out that defending the UK from it is going to cost us a lot of money. And the losers will be the world's poorest people - the money for Britain's boosted defence budget will come from foreign aid. Sir Ed Davey - leader of the Lib Dems - tells Coco he has an alternative: bigger taxes on big tech (and some other ideas). And Coco goes a bit Yoko Ono, wondering how we give peace a chance. Zoe Grunewald steps in for Nish as the pod asks what Macron can teach Starmer about Trump wrangling. And we send out a search for Kemi Badenoch… Has anyone seen her? As Ed Davey presents a credible opposition voice to the Government - the Tory leader is missing in action: last seen in a right wing podcast vortex.While Kemi Badenoch struggles to cut through, the Climate Change Commission has thought of an ingenious way to get us to act on net zero. The humble kebab.CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORSVOY:  https://www.joinvoy.com/psukAURA FRAMES: https://www.auraframes.com Code: PSTUKGuestsEd Davey Zoë GrünewaldAudio CreditsUK GovPBS News ABC NewsPod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uKInsta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK

A Welsh Labour budget deal has been struck. James sits down with BBC Wales' Political Editor and our Education, Health and Business Correspondents to digest the details on today's bonus episode. With a little help from the Liberal Democrats the Budget is set to pass when its voted on by the Senedd in March. The deal, which was worth more than £100m, makes the Welsh Government's Budget possible as they are unable to get anything over the line without at least one opposition politician on side.

Peter Kellner join sme to discuss a new report on what is going wrong with our politics, and the solutions. No surprise then that our conversation focused on populism, its causes and how liberals can defeat it. Show notes Disruptive Delivery: Meeting the Unmet Demand in Politics, with polling from Deltapoll. The Challenge of Affluence: Self-Control and Well-Being in the United States and Britain since 1950 by Avner Offer (affiliate link). An example from the 1990s of failing to predict the political future. How incumbent governments did badly in elections in 2024. The three humped graph from the report. Liberal Democrat achievements in government. Lib Dem policymaking on AI. Peter Kellner's polling newsletter. The Week in Polls. Theme tune by Hugo Lee. New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts. Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes. Enjoy the show? Spread the word Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

020625 Scott Adams Show, USAID deeply rooted in waste, fraud, and abuse for liberal Democrats, DEI, and ESG

It's happened. Reform are now ahead of Labour, according to a voting intention poll by YouGov. Reform leads the landmark poll with 25 points, with Labour languishing all the way down in second place on 24 points. Meanwhile, the Conservatives place third on 21 per cent, the Liberal Democrats are on 14 per cent and the Greens on 9 per cent. While there have been a handful of polls to date putting Reform in the lead, they have so far been regarded as outliers. It's a slim lead, but does it point to a long term shift in UK politics – or can it be dismissed as a blip? Does this make a Tory-Reform pact more likely?  Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and James Heale.  Produced by Oscar Edmondson. 

It's happened. Reform are now ahead of Labour, according to a voting intention poll by YouGov. Reform leads the landmark poll with 25 points, with Labour languishing all the way down in second place on 24 points. Meanwhile, the Conservatives place third on 21 per cent, the Liberal Democrats are on 14 per cent and the Greens on 9 per cent. While there have been a handful of polls to date putting Reform in the lead, they have so far been regarded as outliers. It's a slim lead, but does it point to a long term shift in UK politics – or can it be dismissed as a blip? Does this make a Tory-Reform pact more likely?  Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and James Heale.  Produced by Oscar Edmondson. 

Rachel Reeves' latest growth speech has failed to convince one curious listener.George Eaton and Rachel Cunliffe join Hannah Barnes for a special listener questions episode. They tackle your questions on Labour's latest intervention on growth, which George describes as an "attempt" at a vibe shift. They also discuss whether Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have a charisma problem, as well as one listener who asks if the media should be giving the Liberal Democrats more attention.Ask a question for us to answer in a future episode: www.newstatesman.com/youaskusGet more politics coverage every day direct to your email inbox by signing up for our daily politics newsletter: morningcall.substack.comSave money on a New Statesman subscription to get full access to all our reporting and analysis from just £5 for your first 5 weeks: www.newstatesman.com/jan25 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton. In this episode of the Holyrood Sources podcast, hosts Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver discuss the current state of Scottish politics, focusing on the recent budget negotiations involving the Scottish government and the Liberal Democrats. They explore the dynamics of political collaboration, the implications of the rise of the Reform Party, and reflections on political messaging in both Scottish and US contexts. The conversation highlights the importance of engagement and the challenges faced by various political parties in a changing landscape. The conversation delves into the current political landscape in Scotland, focusing on coalition dynamics, budget analysis, NHS challenges, the National Care Service controversy, and Labour's strategy against the rise of Reform UK. Key themes include the implications of coalition decisions, the effectiveness of the current budget, and the accountability of political leaders in addressing public service issues. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No other party leader enjoyed themselves as much as Ed Davey did during the 2024 general election campaign. Rollercoasters, paddleboards, slides – the list goes on.  And then general election night was full of cheer for the Lib Dems too – with the party winning a record number of seats and reclaiming its status as Westminster's third biggest party.  But how can those 72 MPs actually have an impact on a government with a huge majority? And how can the Lib Dems use parliament to scrutinise legislation and shape policy?   Deputy Lib Dem leader Daisy Cooper's speech was followed by a Q&A with IfG deputy director Emma Norris Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following her speech, Daisy Cooper MP was in conversation with Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government

Turmoil in the bond markets has caused turbulence for Rachel Reeves this month, with grumbles about her performance – and that of the UK economy – growing louder. This week, Political Fix asks who's in charge: the chancellor or the financial markets? Host Lucy Fisher is joined by regular panellists Robert Shrimsley and Stephen Bush, plus the FT's markets columnist Katie Martin, to consider the difficult choices facing Reeves and any positive options available to her in the short term. Plus, the gang discuss the keynote speeches of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey to kick off the new year this week.Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher, Stephen @stephenkb, @stephenkb.bsky.social, Robert @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, Katie @katie0martin.bsky.socialWant more? Free links: UK government seeks to soothe bond market nerves after borrowing costs soar UK needs more than AI to escape its economic holeLib Dems chart a distinctive pro-European courseKemi Badenoch's ‘small state' vision does not stack upSign up here for 30 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter' award. Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music by Breen Turner and mixed by Simon Panayi. The FT's head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump floats getting rid of the Internal Revenue Service and putting America back on equal footing in the world. Pete Hegseth shows the world how ridiculous Liberal Democrats are and Special Counsel says it's inappropriate to look into anymore crimes that Hunter Biden may have committed. 

Nigel Farage commands the airwaves with only four MPs – and the two bigger parties obsess about the threat posed by Reform. Yet it's the Lib Dems that made sweeping gains in Tory areas and have 72 MPs. As Keir Starmer's cautious government gives them space on issues such as social care and Europe, and the media focuses on Reform, could they become a force again? Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on the 3rd of February for the first live show in what will be a wild political year. Tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts, and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Musk used X, his social media platform, to call for Robinson to be freed from prison, where he's serving 18 months for contempt of court. The tech giant is reportedly considering a large donation to Mr Farage's party, Reform UK.Also on the programme: long-term funding proposals for adult social care reform in England are unlikely to be delivered before 2028 - we hear from the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey; and Luke Littler has become the youngest darts world champion in history, aged 17.(Photo: Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during the Reform UK East Midlands Conference in Leicester. Credit: Jacob King/PA Wire)

The latest Today Christmas guest editor is the TV presenter, author and Liberal Democrat peer Floella Benjamin.Baroness Benjamin is most famous for her work on children's TV shows Playschool and Playaway. She spoke to Amol about why she thinks there's a "crisis" in children's TV today, but they began by talking about her moving to the UK from Trinidad as a child.GET IN TOUCH: * Send us a message or a voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 * Email today@bbc.co.ukBetween now and the end of the year we're bringing you extended interviews with the Today programme's Christmas guest editors, so hit subscribe on BBC Sounds to make sure you get an alert every time we release a new episode.The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson who are both presenters of BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Amol was the BBC's media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he's also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC's political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV's political editor.

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts takes a look at a book that has made me rethink several things I thought I knew about the history of the Liberal Democrats and Liberals before them. It also contains some wonderfully acerbic photo captions and some not terribly kind words about David Lloyd George. It is a book from another David - David Laws - and is a history of Labour - Liberal (Democrat) relations over the last century. Show notes Serpents, Goats and Turkeys - a century of Liberal-Labour relations: Amazon, Waterstones, Bookshop.org* Who Killed Kitchener? The Life and Death of Britain's Most Famous War Minister: Amazon, Waterstones, Bookshop.org* How Lib Dems love the 1920s despite the electoral disasters for the Liberal Party. Theme tune by Hugo Lee. New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts. Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes. * Affiliate links that generate a commission for purchases made. Enjoy the show? Spread the word Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats reflects on her journey from campaigning as a child against nuclear weapons and scratchy jumpers, to being at the heart of the third-largest party in parliament.Producer: Daniel Kraemer

Russia has conducted a “massive” attack on Ukraine's power infrastructure, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, with 120 missiles and 90 drones reportedly causing multiple explosions across the country. Laura and Paddy have been speaking to politicians about what's going on there.And Laura's also been talking to Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, who admits her public language over a row within government was “an unhelpful distraction”. Plus, Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey suggests the party's Welsh leader could be on her way out.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereYou 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.Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was hosted by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn with Adam Chowdhury. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

As Trump announces the appointment of Elon Musk to tackle US government efficiency, James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and editor Michael Gove about the dynamics of Labour's relationship with the tech billionaire. Musk had a public spat with Labour figures over the UK summer riots, the Center for Countering Digital Hate - co-founded by Starmer's Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney - is facing a congressional investigation, and some Labour figures are even calling on the party to quit X/Twitter. Should Musk's closeness to president-elect Trump worry the Labour government? But first, the team discuss Health Secretary Wes Streeting's proposed NHS changes, and Liberal Democrat attacks on Labour's National Insurance employer increase. Produced by Patrick Gibbons. 

With just two weeks to go until the Autumn budget, the Labour government is preparing to make some huge reforms. But just how ruthless is Keir Starmer willing to be in reshaping the UK? Coco and Nish dig into it with Anushka Asthana, ITV's political editor and author of “Taken as Red: How Labour won big and the Tories crashed the party”.Later, in the wake of the Tories latest round of madness, Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde calls in from parliament to discuss how the Government can be held to account in the absence of a sane opposition.And speaking of political ruthlessness, we find out why Labour are demanding a police investigation into the Monster Raving Loony Party's role in unseating Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth in Leicester South. Useful links:Taken as Red: How Labour won big and the Tories crashed the party. Guests: Anushka Asthana Josh Babarinde MP  Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Today, we look at new measures that aim to protect teens on Instagram. Social media company, Meta, have announced "built-in protections" to teen accounts as well as greater controls for parents. But will it work? James is joined by the BBC's technology editor Zoe Kleinman plus disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring.And Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham, joins James from the final day of the Liberal Democrats party conference, where Election Success, the NHS, and… Brexit have all been on the agenda. You 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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Reeta Jobanputra and Anna Harris. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.