Podcasts about Liberal Democrats

Six party candidates join the Stooshie to go over the priorities for the key by-election, being held on June 18. Join us for a 90-minute special edition with candidates from the Conservatives, SNP, Reform, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Green party.  

Simon Constable discusses the declining popularity of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the potential rise of challengers like Andy Burnham. He highlights a dramatic shift in British public opinion, with polling by Lord Ashcroftshowing that a vast majority of Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green voters—and even a third of Conservatives—now favor rejoining the European Union after a decade of Brexit. (14)1890

SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-10-26.Greg Scarlatoiu analyzes Xi Jinping's visit to Pyongyang, noting that Kim Jong-un now views himself as a strategic equal to Xi and Putin. Despite sanctions, North Korea's economy shows a facade of growth fueled by billions made exporting artillery and special forces to Russia. Kim is also modernizing his security apparatus into a structure similar to Russia's FSB. (1)Professor Jim Holmes discusses the naval balance between the U.S. and China, suggesting the PLA Navy aims for six aircraft carriers to project power in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. While China has made strides in naval aviation without the heavy losses the U.S. historically endured, Holmes believes they still lag behind in technological sophistication and human tactical proficiency. (2)Victoria Coates highlights Taiwan's indispensable role in the global AI revolution through TSMC's high-end chip production, which the U.S. and China currently cannot replicate. She emphasizes that Taiwan's engineering "super workers" are a state secret. Coates also discusses the political friction in Washington regarding arms sales and the need for Taiwan to increase its own defense spending. (3)Victoria Coates addresses the Pentagon's decision to list major Chinese companies like BYD and Alibaba as security risks due to their military ties. She argues for clear country-of-origin labeling on products to inform American consumers. Furthermore, Coates criticizes the Biden administration for prioritizing climate goals over addressing China's use of forced labor in the solar panel supply chain. (4)Natalie Ecanow details Qatar's massive $400 billion investment footprint in the United States, including high-profile real estate like New York's Park Lane Hotel and significant orders for Boeing aircraft. She argues these investments are not merely financial but serve to buy long-term political influence and goodwill with American policymakers, regardless of party affiliation, by embedding Qatari wealth into the U.S. economy. (5)Natalie Ecanow explains that Qatari wealth is controlled by the Al-Thani autocracy, whose values often conflict with U.S. interests, such as their support for Hamas and the Taliban. She highlights the lack of transparency in Qatarifunding, citing a lawsuit that revealed nearly half a billion dollars in undisclosed money sent to Texas A&M University, and calls for stricter U.S. disclosure laws. (6)Joel Kotkin examines the definition of fascism, arguing that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is not a fascist because she respects democratic norms. He identifies China's government-led economy as the closest modern parallel to historical fascism. Kotkin also warns of "techno-fascism," where a small group of global tech companies exert unprecedented control over public opinion and information through surveillance tools. (7)Joel Kotkin disputes the label of "fascist" for the MAGA movement, noting it lacks the youth-driven, paramilitary organization characteristic of movements led by Mussolini or Hitler. He describes MAGA as a chaotic coalition of various interest groups held together by Donald Trump's personality. Kotkin emphasizes that using the term as a political slur ruins the possibility of necessary civil discourse. (8)Michael Bernstam discusses a looming glut of liquefied natural gas driven by record U.S. shale production, which is stabilizing energy prices in Europe. Regarding Russia, he explains that while crude exports continue, Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries have created a domestic manufacturing crisis, leading to fuel shortages for Russian agriculture and industry that are difficult to repair under sanctions. (9)Michael Bernstam reveals that China has significantly reduced its oil imports by nearly half by drawing on massive strategic reserves of 1.4 billion barrels and increasing electric vehicle adoption. Simultaneously, the U.S. has reached record domestic oil production of nearly 14 million barrels per day. These factors combined help lower global oil prices despite declining inventories in other OECD countries. (10)Tal Fortgang explores Justice Scalia's legal philosophy through a biography by James Rosen, focusing on Scalia's dissent in Lee v. Weisman regarding religious benedictions at public graduations. Fortgang explains how Scaliapopularized "originalism" and "textualism," arguing that the Constitution should be interpreted based on the original public meaning of the text rather than through subjective "moral readings" by judges. (11)Tal Fortgang discusses the "Scalian revolution" that shifted the Supreme Court toward judicial restraint. He notes that while Scalia faced a hostile press and "nasty" internal criticism from colleagues like Harry Blackmun, his ideas eventually prevailed. Fortgang also observes that the modern partisan venom in confirmation hearings began during Scalia's era with the contentious treatment of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. (12)Simon Constable reports from France on falling global commodity prices for food and energy due to supply meeting demand. He then shifts to the immigration crisis in Britain, where violent incidents in Belfast and Southampton have fueled public outrage. Constable attributes the unrest to a failure of both major parties to manage unfettered immigration and the lack of cultural integration. (13)Simon Constable discusses the declining popularity of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the potential rise of challengers like Andy Burnham. He highlights a dramatic shift in British public opinion, with polling by Lord Ashcroftshowing that a vast majority of Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green voters—and even a third of Conservatives—now favor rejoining the European Union after a decade of Brexit. (14)Bob Zimmerman tracks the transition to commercial space, noting that private companies like Vast are leading the race to build stations to replace the aging ISS. He discusses Amazon's struggle to launch its satellite constellation due to rocket delays, contrasted with SpaceX's efficiency. Zimmerman also reports on a milestone for SpaceX, as a single Falcon 9 booster successfully completed a record 35th flight. (15)Bob Zimmerman highlights discoveries by the James Webb Space Telescope, including a black hole 6 billion times the mass of the sun located 10 billion light-years away. He also describes a "flickering" quasar from the early universe that challenges current Big Bang theories. Finally, Zimmerman provides an update on the Curiosity rover as it travels through the "Grand" valley on its ascent of Mars. (16)Two name fixes: Joel Cotkin → Joel Kotkin (7, 8) — the urbanist/scholar's correct spelling Natalie Eacano → Natalie Ecanow (5, 6) — the FDD scholar's correct spelling

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Dawn Butler and Caroline Voaden from the Liberal Democrats, the Conservative peer and director of the Institute of Economic Affairs Lord Daniel Hannan, plus the Tory local councillor and former Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye.

What needs to be done to stop the Belfast unrest from spreading around the rest of the UK's major cities?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are MPs Dawn Butler and Caroline Voaden from the Liberal Democrats, the Conservative peer and director of the Institute of Economic Affairs Lord Daniel Hannan, plus the Tory local councillor and former Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye.

We look back a year to the question, what would it look like if Kamala Harris had won the Presidential election? We take a funny look at what it would it would have been like and a serious look at why the Liberal Democrats are in real trouble.

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

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

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

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

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

It's Tuesday, May 12th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson and Timothy Reed Muslims severed hands of Christian convert Muslims are persecuting more Christians in Uganda, Africa even though Islamists make up only 13% of the population.    A Christian convert was subjected to the severing of both hands when his family found out about his attending Christian services.  Morning Star News reports that 40-year-old Kalegeya Faruku is still undergoing medical treatment from the ordeal that occurred at his family home in Jinja three weeks ago. Please, pray for the persecuted. North Korea will use nukes if Kim Jong Un is assassinated South Korea's National Intelligence Service has just disclosed North Korea's change in policy on the use of nuclear weapons.   As of March 22nd, the North Korean government revised its constitution to command a nuclear strike if the nation's leader, Kim Jong Un, is assassinated, reports the New York Post. The policy change came after Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed by a military strike on February 28, 2026. Big shake-up in the United Kingdom parliament The Reform UK Party made major gains in last week's regional elections in the United Kingdom.  Even though it was not a national election, the Reform Party came out with 30% of the seats while the Conservative Party represents 17%.  The remaining 53% are divvied up by the more left-wing parties:  22% for Labour, 18% for Liberal Democrats, and 12% for the Greens. The right turns more nationalist and populist. The left remains, well, I guess we can say -- left. For the record, the Labour Party lost 18%, and the Conservatives lost 7% in the political bloodbath. Reform Party leader Nigel Farage hailed the wins against both the Labour Party and establishment conservatives. Listen. FARAGE:  “This is a celebration! And what a remarkable couple of days this has been. We're seeing some truly historic shifts in voting patterns in parts of this country --  things, frankly, I could never have dreamt that we'd see. … “Getting elected to public office does carry a burden of responsibility, and that burden of responsibility is because people have placed their faith and their trust in you. And they've done it at a time when I don't think faith, belief and trust in our leaders and our politicians has ever been at a lower level in our country.” Let's all remember: “God is the judge: He puts down one, and sets up another.” (Psalm 75:7) Virginia Supreme Court overturns Democrat redistricting In a 4-3 ruling on May 8th, the Virginia Supreme Court rejected the state's new Congressional maps, which could have given Virginia Democrats ten seats, leaving the Republicans with only one in the U.S. Congress. Republican State Senator Ryan McDougle celebrated the decision, while also blasting Democrats for trying to go around the law. MCDOUGLE:  “You cannot violate the Constitution in order to change the constitution. The Supreme Court made that clear. Voters had a choice of what was on the ballot. Voters did not have a choice of whether the constitutional law was followed.” Virginia Democrats are planning to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, but it is unclear if they will even get a hearing.  Value of gold and the price of an average home Back in 1971, when gold was $35 an ounce, you could pay for a median-priced home with 714 ounces of gold. Now that gold prices are hovering around $4,700 per ounce, a median-priced home would cost you about 85 ounces of gold. Does the number of mortgage lenders reveal troubled economy? Since 2022, employees working for non-bank mortgage lenders have dropped by 40%. That's the lowest level in recorded history, even lower than the 2009-2010 housing crash.  Wolfstreet.com reports that existing home sales have reached the lowest level since 1995. Democrat-run states are in worst financial condition American state governments are facing serious budget shortfalls. . . driving up their spending power per gross state income ratios. Nine of the 10 states in the worst financial condition are Democrat-run states -- the worst of which are California, Illinois, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and New York.  Scammers swindled $16 billion from Americans in 2025 And finally, here's a helpful update for you on financial scams. The U.S. scamming “industry” hit $16 billion last year, up 22% compared to the previous year.  That's four times the value of property stolen in burglaries. Be informed. Protect your family from this criminal activity. The most common scams include the “advanced fee” scam where you're promised some kind of benefit -- a government grant, an inheritance, or some prize with a catch. They ask for a payment up front before you can receive your benefit.  Or there is the “tech support” scam.  You receive a call or a message online from what appears to be a company like Microsoft or some anti-virus company. They tell you they can fix the problem for a fee lest you lose all your data. Some scams will phish for your data, asking for your Social Security number, credit card number, bank account info, or passwords. Whatever you do, do not give out that data, even if they claim to be from a trusted source, Emergency scams or grandparent scams. The voice pretends to be a grandchild or close relative with a problem.  . . They may use a familiar phone number on the caller ID, and drop some information they found about the person on the internet. Remember, caller IDs can be easily faked. Just ask a few questions. They will ask for money. Don't give it to them, without asking a few questions to confirm the identity first. Then there are the IRS and FBI scammers, the toll road scammers, the foreign money exchange scammers, the counterfeit cashier's check scam, and banking scams.  Customers are told to move their money to a safer account. Scammers are almost always working on emotions, getting you frazzled, so you will make a quick and imprudent decision. Micah 6:10-12 speaks of this: “Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked and the short measure that is an abomination? Shall I count pure those with the wicked scales, and with the bag of deceitful weights?  For her, rich men are full of violence. Her inhabitants have spoken lies and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, May 12th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Liberal Democrat peer Mark Pack and MP for Surrey Heath Al Pinkerton join James Heale to explain that it is a matter of 'when not if' the party become the second biggest in local government. Overtaking the Conservatives would be 'seismic' but they see it as inevitable, following a 'long-run of sustained wins' in the post-coalition Lib Dem era.Faced with criticism that the Lib Dems are too focused on community and that leader Ed Davey is more interested in stunts than policy, they explain that a 'rich and varied' diet of political communication has never been more necessary, and that they will never apologise for taking up the causes that matter to their constituents. They also argue that defending international liberalism has never been more important: does an era of escalating geopolitical crises help or hinder the Liberal Democrat message?Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'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.

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

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

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

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.