Podcasts about reform uk

What does Trump's attack on Venezuela mean for the world – and what happens if he's serious about Greenland? Plus, back home in the UK, politics is incredibly fractured. Reform UK leads many polls, Labour's favourability is drowning, and the Green Party is neck and neck with the Lib Dems. But can the tide be turned in time to prevent Nigel Farage becoming PM? And in the Extra Bit for subscribers, as we start a new year, our panel describes the things they're looking to do to push them out of their comfort zones. ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie: All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West • Seth is reading a series of memoirs by disgraced politicians. • Jonn: King & Conqueror on BBC iPlayer • Raf: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders If you buy through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund Oh God, What Now? by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. https://www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Rafael Behr, Jonn Elledge, and Marie Le Conte.  Audio Production by: Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. https://www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New Year New Keir! Can STARMER survive until 2027? #KeirStarmer #NigelFarage #ReformUK #LabourParty #UKPolitics #GeneralElection2027 #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #Live Westminster insiders are whispering what voters are already shouting: Starmer won't last until 2027. Labour looks nervous, bland, and terrified of saying anything real, while Nigel Farage and Reform UK are charging straight through the middle and hoovering up angry voters Starmer can't reach. This is a man who's scared of Reform, scared of his own party, and scared of the public. And now he wants another relaunch? In this LIVE, no-holds-barred Jon Gaunt TV debate, we tear into: Starmer's desperate New Year reboot — leadership or last rites Why Farage is setting the agenda while Labour hides. How Reform UK is humiliating both main parties And whether Starmer is already a lame-duck leader

James Heale sits down with Sir John Curtice, the doyen of British polling, to take stock of an extraordinary year in UK politics and to look ahead to what 2026 might hold. Curtice explains why the rise of Reform UK during the spring local elections marked a historic turning point – establishing the longest period in polling history where a party outside the traditional Conservative–Labour duopoly has led nationwide and assesses Labour's continued slide, the unprecedented collapse in support for both major parties, and the growing influence of the Greens under new leadership.John also explores why Britain has entered a new era of multiparty politics, how cultural divides now rival economic ones, and why neither Labour nor the Conservatives can rely on their old electoral coalitions. He breaks down the challenges facing each party in Scotland, Wales and England ahead of next year's crucial local and devolved elections, and considers how fragmentation, voter disillusionment and shifting identities could reshape the political landscape. Will 2026 see the definitive end of the two-party consensus?Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Heale sits down with Sir John Curtice, the doyen of British polling, to take stock of an extraordinary year in UK politics and to look ahead to what 2026 might hold. Curtice explains why the rise of Reform UK during the spring local elections marked a historic turning point – establishing the longest period in polling history where a party outside the traditional Conservative–Labour duopoly has led nationwide and assesses Labour's continued slide, the unprecedented collapse in support for both major parties, and the growing influence of the Greens under new leadership.John also explores why Britain has entered a new era of multiparty politics, how cultural divides now rival economic ones, and why neither Labour nor the Conservatives can rely on their old electoral coalitions. He breaks down the challenges facing each party in Scotland, Wales and England ahead of next year's crucial local and devolved elections, and considers how fragmentation, voter disillusionment and shifting identities could reshape the political landscape. Will 2026 see the definitive end of the two-party consensus? Produced by Oscar Edmondson.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.

In this explosive episode of Heretics, Andrew Gold sits down with Reform UK defector Laila Cunningham—a British Muslim woman unafraid to shatter taboos on immigration, grooming gangs, and radical Islam in the UK. As a mother of seven and former Tory councillor, Laila reveals why she ditched the Conservatives for Nigel Farage, calls out anti-white racism, and demands visa bans on Pakistan amid shocking failures to deport criminals. SPONSORS: Earn up to 4 per cent on gold, paid in gold: https://www.monetary-metals.com/heretics/  Use my code Andrew25 on MyHeritage: https://bit.ly/AndrewGoldDNA  Grab your free seat to the 2-Day AI Mastermind: https://link.outskill.com/GOLDNOV4  Start fresh at tryfum.com/products/zero-crisp-mint . Over 500,000 people have already made the switch — no nicotine, no vapor, no batteries. Just flavor, fidget, and a fresh start. Get up to 45% off Ekster with my code ANDREWGOLDHERETICS: https://partner.ekster.com/andrewgoldheretics  Plaud links! Official Website: Uk: https://bit.ly/3K7jDGm US: https://bit.ly/4a0tUie  Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hQVyAm Get an automatic 20% discount at checkout until December 1st. Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at https://mintmobile.com/heretics  Follow Laila here:  X: https://x.com/policylaila Insta: https://www.instagram.com/cllrlailacunningham TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lailacunningham  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/934080069781632/ From her Egyptian roots to battling "suicidal empathy" in politics, this raw conversation exposes the hidden truths about multiculturalism's collapse, Muslim communities' shame, and why Britain must reclaim its identity before it's too late. If you're tired of politically correct spin on UK politics, border security, and cultural clashes, this is the wake-up call you need.Sensational  Don't miss this unfiltered dive into UK immigration crisis, Reform UK strategy, and Muslim reform from an insider's view—subscribe for more heretic revelations!  #reformuk #UKImmigrationCrisis #MuslimHeretic Join the 30k heretics on my mailing list: https://andrewgoldheretics.com  Check out my new documentary channel: https://youtube.com/@andrewgoldinvestigates  Andrew on X: https://twitter.com/andrewgold_ok   Insta: https://www.instagram.com/andrewgold_ok Heretics YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewgoldheretics Chapters: 00:00:00 Muslim Insider Exposes Grooming Gang Horror: "They Targeted White Girls!" 00:01:06 Why I Betrayed the Tories for Farage: Shocking Leadership Secrets Revealed 00:03:38 Deport Them All? Illegal Migrants' Dirty Tricks Exposed 00:07:05 Pakistani Vote Trap: Is Labour's Home Secretary Protecting Criminals? 00:10:08 Death Threats for a Muslim Heretic? My Fight Against Radical Islam 00:16:41 Egypt's Communist Nightmare: How My Family Fled to Save Britain 00:20:02 Farage in Power: Civil War or Mass Deportations? The Brutal Truth 00:25:26 Anti-White Racism Rampant: Why Muslims Hate the Groomers More Than Anyone 00:32:16 Flags, Pride, and Lost Britain: Reclaiming Our Culture from the Woke Elite 00:39:32 "Muslims Will Kill You": My Shocking Encounter with American Fear 00:45:21 Seven Kids in Chaos: How to Fix Britain's Baby Bust and Homeownership Crisis 00:49:03 Heretic Heroes: Who Inspires a Fearless Truth-Teller? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With local elections looming in May, Labour collapsing in the polls, and Westminster rumbling with leadership intrigue, Marc Sidwell asks whether Sir Keir Starmer is heading for a reckoning — and whether figures like Ed Miliband could seize the moment. Meanwhile, Reform UK continues to hover around the 30% mark, the Conservatives search for a bounce under Kemi Badenoch, and Britain's politics looks increasingly like a multi-party fight.In this new year forecast, Marc is joined by Joseph Dinnage, Deputy Editor of CapX, to map the fault-lines of the next 12 months — from the battle for the right, to the economic hard choices that no party can dodge, to America's 250th birthday under Donald Trump and the possibility of a post-Trump succession fight led by JD Vance. If 2025 was the year the centre cracked, 2026 may be the year it fully gives way.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British politics is entering a new and unstable era.In this Whitehall Sources New Year special, we're joined by Luke Tryl of More in Common.Calum Macdonald, political strategist Jo Tanner and former No.10 adviser Kirsty Buchanan, to break down the biggest polling stories of 2025 and what they mean for 2026's critical elections.

Ce se va întâmpla în anul viitor în relația dintre Uniunea Europeană și Statele Unite? Întrebarea este cu atât mai presantă cu cât, în strategia de securitate recent adoptată, America își propune să sprijine partidele naționaliste și de extremă dreapta din Europa. Dar există o problemă... Într-adevăr, Donald Trump a promis sprijin partidelor și mișcărilor naționaliste și de extremă dreapta din Europa, pe care el le consideră ”patriotice”. Problema este că Trump rămâne nepopular nu doar în Europa în general, dar nu se bucură de o mare susținere nici măcar în rândul simpatizanților partidelor populiste de dreapta, arată un sondaj realizat de Politico. Susținătorii partidelor populiste de dreapta, pe care administrația le-a menționat în strategia sa de securitate, îl susțin pe președintele SUA într-o măsură mai mare decât alții, dar nici măcar aceștia nu-i oferă liderului de la Casa Albă un sprijin răsunător. În Franța, printre alegătorii partidului Reuniunea Națională, mai mulți au opinii negative în ce-l privește pe Donald Trump (38%) față de 30% opinii pozitive. Și susținătorii Alternativei pentru Germania sunt divizați în privința lui Trump, 34% având o părere bună despre el și 33% negativă. În Marea Britanie, scorul între votanții formațiunii Reform UK este echilibrat, 39% opinii negative față de 38% pozitive. Noile date se constituie într-un potențial avertisment la adresa partidelor populiste de dreapta care încearcă să atragă un sprijin mai larg, apropiindu-se în același timp de Trump. În strategia sa de securitate, Donald Trump descrie Europa drept un spațiu al crizei, care se confruntă cu amenințarea dispariției. Accentuarea diviziunilor O versiune confidențială a documentului, dezvăluită de presa americană, ar afirma chiar că Donald Trump ar viza patru state pe care le-ar putea desprinde de Uniunea Europeană, dând astfel o lovitură mortală unui bloc pe care îl consideră drept un rival economic și un adversar ideologic. Acestea sunt Italia, Austria, Ungaria și Polonia. Totuși, chiar și în aceste țări, sprijinul pentru Uniunea Europeană rămâne puternic, așa cum arată ultimul sondaj Eurobarometru. Sprijinul pentru o Uniune Europeană mai puternică – deci, în niciun caz, desființată – se cifrează între 82% în Polonia și 86% în Austria. Așadar, o intervenție directă a lui Donald Trump și a brațului său ideologic MAGA în dezbaterile europene ar contribui mai degrabă la accentuarea diviziunilor, inclusiv în ce-i privește pe potențialii alegători ai dreptei populiste. Iar aceasta se vede cel mai clar în Franța, unde liderii extremei drepte s-au grăbit să respingă eforturile Casei Albe. Jordan Bardella, lider al Reuniunii Naționale, a respins, într-un interviu pentru The Telegraph ideea de a fi ”vasal” față de un ”frate mai mare precum Trump”. În timp ce Thierry Mariani, membru al consiliului național al partidului, a declarat pentru Politico că „Trump ne tratează ca pe o colonie - cu retorica sa, dar mai ales din punct de vedere economic și politic”.  Ascultați rubrica ”Eurocronica”, cu Ovidiu Nahoi, în fiecare zi, de luni până vineri, de la 8.45 și în reluare duminica, de la 15.00, numai la RFI România

In case you missed them, over Christmas we're bringing you some of the best editions of the year. Our first selection: It's February and Labour legend and former leader Neil Kinnock joins us for the FIFTEEN HUNDREDTH edition of The Bunker. On the agenda: the story Labour should be telling… what his battles against Thatcherism can teach Starmer about fighting the rising right wing… the dangers of a radicalised Conservative Party… and how to hit Reform UK where it hurts. With Andrew Harrison and Alex von Tunzelmann. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Art by James Parrett. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam, Chris, Laura and Paddy go through the biggest stories of 2025 with the help of economics editor Faisal Islam and international editor Jeremy Bowen.They also reveal what it was like to be on the inside as they happened, and discuss how Keir Starmer will reflect on his first full year as prime minister, how Donald Trump's tariffs reshaped the world's economy, and how a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reached.And we look at where the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Zack Polanski's Green Party have left politics in the UK.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Adam Fleming, Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The Guardian's editor-in-chief Katharine Viner looks back on the biggest news stories of 2025. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The Holyrood Sources Christmas Special is recorded live in Edinburgh with a packed audience as Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver review the biggest moments in Scottish and UK politics in 2025 — and make bold predictions for 2026 and the Holyrood election.In this wide-ranging discussion, the panel debates:Anas Sarwar's U-turn on gender recognition reformJohn Swinney's independence referendum strategyThe legacy of Nicola Sturgeon and Kate Forbes' decision to stand downLabour's UK Budget fallout and Rachel Reeves' credibilityReform UK's electoral breakthrough in ScotlandEnergy policy, the North Sea, offshore wind and deindustrialisationWhy politicians struggle to explain a credible energy transitionWhether Swinney could serve a full five-year term as First MinisterPredictions on Farage, Badenoch, Reform UK and the next political realignmentThis live Christmas episode captures Scottish politics unfiltered — with audience reaction, behind-the-scenes stories, and sharp disagreement between insiders who've shaped modern Holyrood.

On this week's special Christmas edition of Spectator Out Loud – part two: Dominic Sandbrook reflects on whether Lady Emma Hamilton is the 18th century's answer to Bonnie Blue; Philip Hensher celebrates the joy of a miserable literary Christmas; Steve Morris argues that an angel is for life, not just for Christmas; Christopher Howse ponders the Spectator's enduring place in fiction; Michael Hann explains what links Jeffrey Dahmer to the Spice Girls; and, the Spectator's agony aunt Mary Killen – Dear Mary herself – answers Christmas queries from Emily Maitlis, Elizabeth Day, Rory Stewart and an anonymous Chief Whip of Reform UK.  Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's special Christmas edition of Spectator Out Loud – part two: Dominic Sandbrook reflects on whether Lady Emma Hamilton is the 18th century's answer to Bonnie Blue; Philip Hensher celebrates the joy of a miserable literary Christmas; Steve Morris argues that an angel is for life, not just for Christmas; Christopher Howse ponders the Spectator's enduring place in fiction; Michael Hann explains what links Jeffrey Dahmer to the Spice Girls; and, the Spectator's agony aunt Mary Killen – Dear Mary herself – answers Christmas queries from Emily Maitlis, Elizabeth Day, Rory Stewart and an anonymous Chief Whip of Reform UK.  Produced and presented 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.

In this week's episode of MidAtlantic, host Roifield Brown asks whether Donald Trump's corrosive rhetoric is a momentary blip or a seismic shift in the way American presidents speak and more importantly, lead. Is the bar for political discourse permanently lowered, or are we just watching a uniquely toxic figure dominate a uniquely toxic moment?The transatlantic panel includes Steve Krone in LA, Denise Hamilton in Houston, Mike Donahue in the U.S., and Mike Holden in Preston, UK. Together, they grapple with whether Trump's verbal scorched-earth tactics are just personal style or indicative of something more lasting. Krone argues the bigger threat isn't Trump's words but his authoritarian ambitions. Hamilton disagrees, insisting rhetoric and policy now move hand in hand, eroding trust in institutions and in each other. Donahue adds that Trump's cult-like grip on the Republican base makes critique feel futile. “There is no bottom,” he says.From the UK, Holden observes the creeping Trumpian tone in Reform UK's politics. One Reform candidate telling David Lammy MP to “go back where he came from” may be Britain's own grotesque baby step in that direction. But Boris Johnson, for all his rule-breaking, used elevated language. Trumpism in tweed, you might say.So what's the right response? Fight fire with fire or take the high road? The panel is split. Gavin Newsom's choice to hit back with the same kind of crassness raises the question: is this tactical jiu-jitsu or just more degradation of political standards?The conversation closes with a tribute to Rob Reiner, whose films offered a more decent and coherent version of the American story. The contrast is stark and perhaps intentional.Five Key QuotesSteve Krone: “Trump is vile, yes, but has he changed the baseline of political discourse? I don't think so.”Denise Hamilton: “Rhetoric plus policy equals destruction. That's the true Trump legacy.”Mike Donahue: “There is no bottom. We've just given up caring. If you haven't figured out who Trump is by now, there's no hope.”Mike Holden: “Some UK politicians are trying out Trumpism but in lowercase.”Denise Hamilton: “How do you fight a sociopath? Michelle Obama said go high. My mother said gouge their eyes out.”Further Reading & MentionsRob Reiner's Work and TributesRob Reiner's IMDb FilmographyThis Is Spinal Tap (1984)Politics and RhetoricPeople for the American Way (Founded by Norman Lear)Harry Enten's CNN Polling on TrumpTrump's Approval Ratings – FiveThirtyEightGavin Newsom OnlineGavin Newsom on X (Twitter) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the last episode in this main series of A History of England. I may add others on specific topics – by all means use the comments to suggest any you'd like me to examine – or in response to interesting new developments.This episode looks at what has happened since the 2024 election. There's been a rise in xenophobia that sometimes shades into outright racism. A party of the hard right, Reform UK, is leading in the polls. Labour, in office though perhaps not in power, seems to have lost its sense of direction and has been pandering to Reform UK's views in the hope of winning back voters it has lost to them, with little sign of success so far. Indeed, its own standing just keeps sliding downwards.After that, I recap the series, from the days of Henry VIII, showing how England grew from a minor state on the edge of Europe to a leading power. Then, having pushed through the union with Scotland to form Great Britain, it became the ruling power of a major global empire. However, while the empire enriched a minority of people back home, it left the mass of the people in poverty, often in misery. Imperial wealth made individuals rich but not society as a whole.The twentieth century saw the empire collapse and British society become much more equal. In need of a new role, Britain tried being the partner of the United States and also a major member of the European Union. But the ‘special relationship' with the US seems pretty well dead in the water now and, in a major self-inflicted wound, the Brexit vote of 2016 took Britain out the EU. Now with a growing menace to the whole continent, including Britain, from Russia, the Starmer government is trying to put together new alliances without confronting its right-wing critics by working to rejoin the EU. Together with the anti-immigration stance it's taking to try to woo Reform UK voters back, that policy is making a return to economic growth more difficult than ever. That only stokes the grievances felt by many at home, encouraging the hard right further.Britain seems to caught in a dilemma of its own making. The Starmer government has adopted policies that are making things worse not better. Sadly, the logic of its position means it can't change those policies.Change though, and not the kind of change Reform UK proposes, is desperately needed to get Britain out of the mess that England has led it into.Quite a dilemma, as I said.Illustration: The British bulldog confused about the way forward. Image from ChatGPT.Music: Bach Partita #2c by J Bu licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License

Love, Hypocrisy and a Rob Reiner Tribute It's the Friday episode and Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte are running on festive fumes so prepare for rage, tears, laughs and a post Rob Reiner tribute snotty nose. It's a rollercoaster of an episode.The Trawl ladies start with the small lies we tell children (Father Christmas logistics remain shaky) before moving swiftly to Trump's grotesque response to tragedy which has sparked a proper reckoning and proves that the the late, great Rob Reiner was right about him all along.Jemma and Marina pay proper tribute to the wonderful movies he made and discuss why decency, humour and romance feel increasingly radical amidst the backdrop of modern politics.Then it's onto Trump's apparent desire to lead Europe (spoiler: Europe says absolutely not), before Jemma and Marina head back to Blighty where Reform UK continue their unstoppable streak of rank associations, racist dog whistles and jaw-dropping hypocrisy — from Bonnie Blue to Nigel Farage framing multilingual children as a “cultural threat”.They finish with a few glimmers of hope, and the usual much-needed palette cleansers, dad jokes and utter nonsense.Side effects may include sighing, eye-rolling, despair and the sudden urge to rewatch The Princess Bride and believe in true love all over again.Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf you've even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you'll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on• Early access to The Trawl Meets…• Glorious ad-free episodesPlus, there's a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.And it's your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you're not alone.Come join the fun:https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dixon Cox is back again! This week: -Naveed Akram charged with 15 counts of murder over Bondi Beach shooting -The bizarre response to the attack from some media figures -Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson try to recruit Brits for war -Reform UK welcomes support from Bonnie Blue Full episode here: hhttps://www.nickdixon.net/p/would-you-go-to-war-for-keir-starmer Sign up now to watch the full episode, with extra content not available anywhere else, and get full versions of all our previous Dixon Cox episodes, as well as the bonus podcast I do with Paul on non-political topics. Plus my new bonus monthly podcast Jamie Franklin. You will also get access to the full versions of all my guest interviews with the likes of David Starkey, Carl Benjamin, Ben Habib, Andrew Doyle and loads more in the archive. Plus you can comment on articles and join my private chat group! Sign up for £5 a month, or just over £4 with the yearly option, and allow us to keep producing all this work. Many thanks, Nick Nick's links Substack: www.nickdixon.net   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nick_dixon   X: https://x.com/njdixon   Paul's links X: https://twitter.com/PaulCoxComedy   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@paulcoxcomedy   Comedy clubs: https://www.epiccomedy.co.uk/  

Reform UK is rising in Scotland — but can the political system cope with what comes next?From tribunal chaos to ministerial pressure and a volatile pre-election landscape, this week exposed deep fault lines at Holyrood.In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver to unpack a turbulent week in Scottish politics. They assess Reform UK's momentum, Malcolm Offord's challenges, and why broadcasters and parties alike are struggling to respond.The panel also examines Angela Constance's survival of a no-confidence vote, the growing controversy around the Sandy Peggie tribunal ruling — including questions over errors and credibility — and a blistering debate on resident doctors, strikes, and the NHS. With elections looming, the discussion reveals why trust, competence, and clarity are becoming the real political battlegrounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Britain entering an age of permanent political fragmentation? As Labour falters despite its landslide victory, Reform UK surges, the Greens flirt with wealth taxes, and the Conservatives search for renewed purpose under Kemi Badenoch, the old certainties of British politics are unravelling. Across the Atlantic, Donald Trump's second term has proved no less turbulent — from the collapse of his Department of Government Efficiency to a tariff regime that's shaken the global trading order.In this end-of-year review, Marc Sidwell is joined by Joseph Dinnage, Deputy Editor of CapX, to take stock of a chaotic political year. Together they explore why reform has proved so elusive, how populism is reshaping both left and right, and what Trump's unpredictability means for Britain, Europe and the global economy.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the government has ordered an independent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics. The government say this is in response to what it called the “shocking” case of Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales. Gill was jailed in November, after admitting to taking bribes for pro-Russian interviews and speeches when he was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).Announcing the review, Communities Secretary Steve Reed said the government must "learn the lessons" from the case so "this can never happen again". Responding to Reed's statement in the Commons, Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice said his party welcomed the review but called on the government to also make sure it looked into the influence of China on the Labour Party. Victoria and Chris discuss what the review could meanPlus, President Trump has filed, what is being reported as, a $5 billion dollar lawsuit against the BBC. Caitríona Perry and the FT's global media editor Daniel Thomas explain what's in the lawsuit and why the BBC has said it plans to fight it. 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://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Victoria Derbyshire. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Anna Harris and Jem Westgate. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

When Reform took over 10 local councils in England this summer, it offered the first glimpse of how the party might govern if it were to get into No 10. Helen Pidd reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

A version of this essay was published by news18.com at https://www.news18.com/opinion/opinion-what-the-bjp-win-in-thiruvananthapuram-may-mean-or-may-not-9774658.htmlAs a native son, I believe the BJP's 50/101 seats in the Trivandrum Corporation in the recently concluded local body elections is an interesting outcome. But it must not be taken in isolation, and one must accept that this is neither a breakthrough for the BJP in the deep south, nor a mere footnote in the CPI(M)-Congress duopoly that has been the hallmark of Kerala politics. There are a lot of local factors, but yes, perhaps there is an underlying, nascent realignment.There is anti-incumbency: there used to be, like clockwork, one term for the UDF, one term for the LDF. But now, the CPI-M has been ruling for ten years in a row, and the voters may be fed up with them. In Trivandrum, for instance, the outgoing mayor, Arya Rajendran, who is in her 20s, has a well-deserved reputation for arrogance. Tellingly, she did not campaign in 2025.But there is more.There are at least four extraordinary factors at play here: One is the vanity that Kerala politics is somehow superior to politics elsewhere in (southern) India, because, you know, it is the 100% literate state. This is far from the truth. Mere literacy, that is, knowing the syntax of written language, does not guarantee you understand the semantics, that is, the ability to think critically rather than be gaslighted. The average Kerala voter is as easily manipulated as any other.Second, regional tensions. Kerala consists of three distinct regions: northern Malabar, which was under British rule, which meant it was plundered and underdeveloped. It also is Muslim-dominated. Central Kochi, which was a moderately dynamic dynasty, and is Christian-dominated. Southern Travancore, which was under a strong dynasty (but came under the sway of the British), and is Hindu majority.Third, the erstwhile consensus around ‘secularism' is fraying: it is now increasingly seen as merely a shibboleth meant to hypnotize the Hindu community into caste-based internecine conflict and keep it a permanent underclass, with fewer rights than those of other religions. Hindus are still fighting 19th century battles in the 21st century. The shocking neglect, occasional desecration of, and outright large-scale theft from, major temples such as Sabarimala may now be turning into a bit of an issue for the lay Hindu.Fourth, after half a century of left-wing politics, it is becoming increasingly clear to the average Keralite that it is being left behind in development and prosperity. At independence, Travancore in particular was far ahead of the rest of India in key metrics like infant mortality, female literacy, and infrastructure. But anti-business socialism has led to de-industrialization, forced migration of Keralites in search of jobs, and high inflation, while other states are passing Kerala by.On top of all this, there is the rampant politicization of everything (for example, government jobs do not go to those who have high ranks in the State Public Service Commission selection exams, but to party cadres). There is a truly bizarre situation where two parties, both in the INDI Alliance all over the country (CPI-M and Congress), pretend to be rivals in Kerala, and do charades and shadow-boxing, although they do tactical voting to prevent the BJP from winning.It startles me to hear that there is a Left (CPI-M) and a Right (Congress) in Kerala, according to pundits. In reality, they are an Extreme-Left party and a Far-Left party, respectively. Indeed, even the BJP, which is spoken of as Far-Right is a Center-Left party, so severely distorted is the discourse – the median is Far-Left.To an impartial observer, the only way the Congress in Kerala can be termed a Right-wing party is that it appeases its vote-bank, the Christians, although the FC Nairs also traditionally vote for them. The Communists, whose rank and file are mostly made up of the OBC Ezhavas, increasingly are dominated by the needs of their Malabar Muslim vote-bank. So in a twisted sort of way, both these Left parties pander to the Conservative sentiments of these religious groups.This has real-life consequences, which Travancore voters are seeing increasingly clearly. The last major investment in Trivandrum was the ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, which was required to be on the magnetic equator. After that, the National Institute of Technology went to Kozhikode (in Malabar). The Indian Institute of Management went to Kozhikode (in Malabar). The Indian Institute of Technology went to Palakkad (in Malabar). The AIIMS is also likely to go to Malabar or Kochi.A metro system was given to Kochi, even though Trivandrum has an equal or better claim in terms of population size and other metrics. Successive UDF and LDF governments have sat on the proposal for Trivandrum's metro (incidentally Kozhikode is also in the same boat). Trivandrum airport saw zero development for 40 years from 1960.Staggeringly, the Trivandrum port (Vizhinjam) was also delayed for 40 years, even though the deepwater container transhipment port there is now on track to handle a lot of India's container cargo, which now goes to Colombo. Instead, 4400 crores were spent on a container port at Kochi, which has only 8 meters draft and cannot compete with Colombo.Trivandrum/Vizhinjam has 24 meters in depth, which means literally the largest container ship in the world, MSC Irina, with 24,000 containers on board, can and in fact has called at this port.The LDF government twisted Adani Ports' arm and moved their logistics park for Vizhinjam, which Adani runs on contract, 200 km away to Kochi! In addition, the road and rail approaches to the port, which are necessary for ‘gateway' or upcountry containers from/to say Bangalore or Hyderabad, have been delayed for a long time over trivial land acquisition issues.These lapses are glaring, and add up to step-motherly treatment for Trivandrum. There must be a lot of resentment among the voters here about this, because their real estate values would go up quite a lot if Vizhinjam's business improves, and there will be jobs related to logistics, bunkering, cruise lines, and so on. Under the Sagarmala initiative, this is something that Trivandrum voters hope the Union Government will push forward, along with a proposed Tri-Services Maritime Command: thus both military and civil infrastructure may bring benefits.Finally, the excesses against Hindu temples, which are ruled by the Devaswom Board, packed with party cadres who may well be hostile atheists, are getting exposed broadly. There is a tradition prohibiting the entry of women between 10 and 60 years of age (ie. of childbearing age) into the shrine, which the women devotees in Kerala are broadly okay with, and don't feel particularly discriminated against. The Kerala government made a huge fuss over it, and attempted to smuggle in both non-believing women and non-Hindu women into the temple.This has troubled some of the CPI-M's traditional voters, for example the hitherto blase Ezhavas. As the attacks on Hindus continue, there is a bit of a counter-consolidation as well.There is no end: there is the huge current scandal of the theft of gold from the temple doors and dwarapalaka statues in Sabarimala (along with similar desecration in Guruvayur). There is an ongoing investigation, which ought to, if pursued properly, implicate highly connected political players. But recently, there have been instances of prosecutorial misconduct that mean likely criminals get away with, er, murder.Sowmya's alleged murderer Charlie Thomas aka Govindachamy was let off death row, because the prosecutor did not make a good enough case. An actor, Dileep, who allegedly took out a contract for a thug to rape an actress in a moving car, was let off. You guessed it, the prosecution did not make a good enough case.Incidentally, Christian churches with vast landholdings (a good bit of which was 99-year leases given during British days which has now, magically, turned into freehold), or Muslim mosques and other Waqf claimants rarely face the wrath of the State. Yes, there is a case wending its way through the courts about the peninsula of Munambam which is home to 600 families, mostly Christian fisherman, but is claimed in its entirety as a Waqf property.A net reflection of all this is that urban Hindus have begun to rethink their political views. There is a strong urban-rural divide as seen in the just-conducted local body polls. The urban, so to speak, constituencies have seen the vice-like grip of the LDF diminish a bit, but they remain strong in the rural areas. This is borne out by conversations with the rural poor, who talk about kshema pensions, NREGA, and so on as benefits they get from the State government.What this suggests is that anti-incumbency is playing its part; but the likely outcome is a return to the Tweedledum-Tweedledee “throw the rascals out every five years” syndrome of years past. The BJP is unlikely to make any quick inroads into this; they may not get many Assembly seats in 2026, and they are unlikely to get more than a couple of Lok Sabha seats in 2029.Yet, as for obvious reasons there is a Right-ward lurch in Europe, with the rise of AfD in Germany, Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France, and Nigel Farrage's Reform UK, and these parties are no longer easily put behind a cordon sanitaire, the BJP in Kerala is not any longer completely unelectable. The voters are beginning to see that it is not completely er… untouchable.It will be a long, painful journey, but maybe in a decade or two, the BJP can become a realistic opposition party in Kerala. To do this in the extreme South, in the very bastion of the Communists, as well as in a State with very large non-Hindu populations, would be quite an achievement for them. We shall have to wait and see if they have the stamina and the staying power for this grueling odyssey.Malayalam podcast of this essay by notebookLM: 1650 words, 15 Dec 2025 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

Does Andy Burnham want to be PM? Reform UK has become Britain's largest party by membership, and Jeremy Clarkson is the latest pub owner to bar Labour MPs from his pub.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Emma Duncan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Ava and Laura on Facetime as they react to Bonnie Blue's endorsement of Reform UK. Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are US-style Christian politics finally taking root in the UK? With Lamorna Ash. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Reform UK is now the country's largest party, following the collapse of Labour's membership. Plus: The Guardian has revealed that last year Britain threatened to defund the International Court of Justice if it prosecuted Benjamin Netanyahu. With Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani & Juan David Rojas.

This Trawl kicks off with a little bit of Cilla Black, just like the old days. Then Jemma and Marina take a festive detour to check in on how Rossid Woods is coping with the season (spoiler: not brilliantly), and enjoy a very relatable warning about over-committing to plans.Then… unable to put it off any longer, they dive into the political storm of the week.Reform UK has received a record-breaking £9 million donation, the biggest political donation in British history. Marina and Jemma wade through what's been reported and the questions now being raised by Labour and the Lib Dems about transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and whether the Electoral Commission should investigate.Also on Farage's plate are the ongoing alleged racism controversies, and fresh allegations about campaign spending.Meanwhile, Charlie Mullins is explaining patriotism from the runway to Dubai and encouraging Brits to become economic migrants. Marina and Jemma unpack the week's biggest political messes so you don't have to. Bring snacks. And a stiff drink.Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf you've even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you'll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on• Early access to The Trawl Meets…• Glorious ad-free episodesPlus, there's a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.And it's your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you're not alone.Come join the fun:https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has taken another swipe at Europe's “weak” leaders over Ukraine and immigration including a special mention for - surprise surprise - Sadiq Khan, who got a shout out for being a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”. Honestly, why is he SO obsessed?!  But a Labour government trying to convince European allies to water down human rights law to deport people faster seems perfectly in line with Trump's vision. Nish and Coco are joined by Sky's Deputy Political Editor Sam Coates. They also take a dive into the latest allegation swirling around Reform UK - this time the party's election spending in Nigel Farage's Clacton constituency is under the spotlight. And the scale of the homelessness crisis always seems more acute at this time of year - so the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern, joins PSUK to explain how their new plan will be the one to finally make a difference. Finally - PSUK has watched the first episode of the Liz Truss Show, so you don't have to. Nish and Coco give it a rating out of one to limp lettuce. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS  BABBEL https://www.babbel.com/PSUK  AURA FRAMES https://www.auraframes.com Code: PSUK SHOPIFY Shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk GUESTS  Sam Coates, Deputy Political Editor at Sky News Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness USEFUL LINKS:  Nish's Carol Performance  CREDITS Politico  The Liz Truss Show / YouTube Keir Starmer MP / TikTok Rishi Sunak MP / TikTok 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/podsavetheukYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why has a crypto billionaire living in Thailand donated £9 million to Nigel Farage's party, Reform UK? With a graduate jobs crisis in full swing and rising debt, what are the prospects for young Brits? Can the fragile Gaza ceasefire realistically hold? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. Gift The Rest Is Politics Plus this Christmas - give someone a whole year of Rory and Alastair's miniseries, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members' newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. Just go to https://therestispolitics.supportingcast.fm/gifts And of course, you can still join for yourself any time at therestispolitics.com or on apple podcasts. Shop Tesco food this Christmas, either in-store or online. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Fuse are giving away free TRIP Plus membership for all of 2025 to new sign ups

John Harris speaks to Yinka Bankole about his treatment as a nine-year-old at Dulwich college when Nigel Farage was a prefect. Plus, Kiran Stacey and John discuss whether Reform UK supporters will start to feel uneasy about the allegations of racism against Farage. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Despite Labour's landslide victory in last year's general election, support for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now sharply eroding.Thomas de Waal, Peter Kellner, and Anne McElvoy unpack the rise of Reform UK and whether a pragmatic reengagement with the EU could revive growth in Britain.Peter Kellner, October 18, 2025, “Reform's Poll Lead Will Shrink,” The New World.Peter Kellner, October 10, 2025, “Voters Are Not Listening to Labour,” Prospect Magazine.Peter Kellner, September 22, 2025, “A History Lesson for Starmer and Badenoch,” Prospect Magazine.Peter Kellner, May 14, 2025, “The Moment of Truth for a UK-EU Reset,” Carnegie Europe.Anne McElvoy, December 5, 2025, “Despite Trump-pleasing Defense Boost, Britain's Military Is Braced for Cuts,” Politico.Anne McElvoy, November 20, 2025, “MAGA's British invasion,” Politico.Anne McElvoy, December 8, 2025, “Labour Together? Who Is Hastening the PM's Downfall,” Politics at Sam and Anne's.Anne McElvoy, December 3, 2025, “Who Is Behind Farage-Tory Pact Plot?,” Politics at Sam and Anne's.Anne McElvoy, November 27, 2025, “The Budget's Hidden Problems Revealed,” Politics at Sam and Anne's.

From former officials jailed after taking bribes to push pro-Putin propaganda, through to local councillors being expelled for offensive tweets, and leader Nigel Farage being accused of high school racism, Reform UK is struggling to stay scandal free. Will the party be able to weather the storm? Or will the waves of allegations start to shift the polls? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Shabnam Grewal, Harry Stott.Read more: Nigel Farage referred to police over Clacton campaign expensesFurther listening: Is Reform ready for power?Clips: BBC, Sky, GB News, LBC, ITV.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.comThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This morning Kemi Badenoch has staged a presser setting out the terms for a new (alternative) national grooming gangs inquiry – a move that has reopened wounds for many survivors and intensified criticism of Labour's handling of the existing process. What will this mean for the government, for survivors, and for the political fight ahead?Meanwhile in Scotland, the defection of former Scotland Office minister Lord Offord to Reform UK has sent shockwaves through the Scottish Conservatives – and raised fresh questions about the balance of power ahead of the Holyrood elections. Could Reform genuinely challenge Labour for second place? And how worried should Scottish Labour be as scandals continue to mount?Plus, Labour Together – the McSweeney-linked think tank which basically put Keir in power – has turned on the PM and is reportedly canvassing members on who they'd prefer as an alternative to Keir Starmer. Is he now in more danger than Kemi?James Heale is joined by Lucy Dunn and Tim Shipman to discuss a tumultuous week in Westminster and beyond.Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Megan McElory. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Keir Starmer hosts Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss what the ‘coalition of the willing' can achieve. Also in the spotlight is Labour's shifting position on the EU. Plus, with pressure mounting on Nigel Farage, can the Reform UK leader handle so much scrutiny?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

At an anti-immigration rally in Sydney late last month, pamphlets for a new populist political venture were being handed out to the crowd bearing the name and the colours of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. So who is behind the group calling themselves Reform Australia, and what does its digital footprint reveal? Nour Haydar speaks with investigations reporter Ariel Bogle and political reporter Sarah Basford Canales on the rightwing group seeking to recruit at rallies

Some of the country's biggest investment managers have sent a stark signal to Labour MPs. They worry that any attempt to oust Keir Starmer as PM could rattle the markets, weaken the pound and risk a Truss-style shock. As Labour Together, the group that campaigned for Starmer's leadership, tests the waters for potential successors, Sam and Anne unpack what's happening inside the party.In Downing Street Starmer hosts a high stake gathering with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, as Donald Trump publicly pressures Ukraine to accept his peace terms. Sam and Anne look at what could be unfolding behind closed doors.Plus, in Clacton, Nigel Farage has been reported to police over his electoral expenditure. Reform UK denies the claims.

STARMER and BBC trying to destroy REFORM UK  #ReformUK #NigelFarage #KeirStarmer #LabourParty #BBC #BBCBias #QuestionTime #ZiaYusuf #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV  Is Keir Starmer now treating Nigel Farage and Reform UK as the real opposition — and is the BBC playing along? In this live show we look at the intensifying political and media attacks on Nigel Farage, as Labour figures repeatedly label Reform UK as "racist" and "extreme", while Farage's popularity and Reform's polling continue to rise. We examine the recent revival of long-standing allegations relating to Farage's school years — claims he strongly denies — and ask why decades-old accusations, dating back to when he was 13, are being pushed so aggressively now.  Is this legitimate scrutiny — or a political smear designed to delegitimise a movement before voters properly hear its case?  We also break down the controversial BBC Question Time episode featuring Zia Yusuf, where editorial decisions — including inviting a small-boat migrant into the studio audience to directly challenge Reform UK — have raised serious questions about impartiality.  Finally, we ask the question many viewers are asking: Are the BBC and Labour acting independently — or are they aligned when it comes to stopping Reform UK? Watch and decide for yourself, and make up your own mind. #ReformUK #NigelFarage #KeirStarmer #LabourParty #BBC #BBCBias #QuestionTime #ZiaYusuf #SmallBoats #IllegalMigration #MediaBias #FreeSpeech #UKPolitics #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #CancelCulture #Establishment #PoliticalSmears  Reform UK, Nigel Farage, Keir Starmer, Labour Party, BBC, BBC bias, Question Time, Zia Yusuf, small boats, illegal migration, media bias, free speech, UK politics, Jon Gaunt, JonGauntTV, political smears, establishment politics, cancel culture  This is political blogging and hard-hitting social commentary from Triple Sony Gold Award-winning talk radio legend, Jon Gaunt — former host on BBC, Talk Radio, and Sky News. On Jon Gaunt TV, we cut through the noise and say what others won't. No political correctness. No censorship. Just real conversations that matter.

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

Tate and Connor break down the Trump administration's new National Security Strategy, which puts a major focus on Europe's demographic pressures, migration crises, and the need for European nations to become more self-sufficient. They dig into what this shift means for U.S. and European relations, how Washington is reframing stability on the continent, and why the White House is urging Europe to "stand on its own two feet" in the years ahead. The duo also discuss Rupert Lowe's rapid rise in British politics, how he's reshaping Reform UK's messaging, and why his upcoming interview with Tucker Carlson could dramatically elevate his profile with American audiences. BUY CAST BREW COFFEE TO SUPPORT THE SHOW - https://castbrew.com/ Become A Member And Protect Our Work at http://www.timcast.com Host(s): Tate Brown @realTateBrown (everywhere) Connor Tomlinson @Con_Tomlinson (everywhere) My Second Channel -    / timcastnews   Podcast Channel -    / timcastirl  

Nuacht Mhall. Príomhscéalta na seachtaine, léite go mall.*Inniu an séú lá de mhí na Nollag. Is mise Oisín Mac Conamhna.I Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá Déardaoin, thug an tAimiréal Frank Bradley fianaise don Chomhdháil faoi dhá ionsaí a rinne Cabhlach Mheiriceá ar bhád a bhí ag iompar drugaí, de réir Washington, ar an dara lá de mhí Mheán Fómhair. Scaoil siad dhá dhiúracán ar an mbád ar dtús, a bhris as a chéile ina dhá chuid é,agus a mharaigh gach duine ar bord seachas beirt, a bhí fágtha, de réir cosúlachta, agus iad longbhriste sa raic. Ansin scaoil an Cabhlach dhá dhiúracán eile chun an bheirt údaí a mharú, agus d'éirigh leo. Is coir chogaidh é, agus sárú ar Choinbhinsiún na Ginéive, mairnéalaigh longbhriste a mharú. Ta sé ráite ag an rialtas le Uachtarán Trump go bhfuil cogadh ar siúl idir Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá agus na cairtéil atá ag iomportáil drugaí ann, acht is conspóideach an cogadh é, ó thaobh an dlí de, mar sin féin.I Sasana, tá fiche a hocht duine a bhí ar scoil le Nigel Farage i gColáiste Dulwich, Londain, tar éis a rá don nuachtán The Guardian go bhfaca siad bulaíocht chiníoch nó fhrith-sheimíteach uaidh ag an am sin. Dúirt Peter Ettedgui, stiúrthóir scannán mór le rá atá ina Ghiúdach, go raibh sé mar nós agFarage a rá leis go raibh an ceart ag Hitler, nó a bheith ag siosarnach leis amhail is dá mbeadh gás nimhiúil ann. Dúirt Yinke Bankole gur thosaigh sé ar scoil ann nuair a raibh sé naoi mbliana d'aois, agus bhí Farage thart ar seacht déag, agus gur cuimhin leis Farage ag díriú a láimhe agus ag rá leis gur sin an bealach ar ais go dtí an Afraic. Dúirt comhscoláirí éagsúla gur chonaic siad Farage ag canadh “Gásaigh iad uilig”, nó agmí-úsáid a chumhachta mar chinnire go ciníoch; agus dúirt roinnt comhscoláirí go bhfaca siad Farage ag caitheamh maslaí ciníocha go minic. Ghlac Farage páirt ollmhór i bhfeachtas an Bhreatimeachta, agus anois tá sé i gceannas ar an bpáirtí Reform UK, atá chun tosaigh ar leibhéil náisiúnta ar thart ar 30% snaphobalbreitheanna sa Ríocht Aontaithe. Dúirt Farage nár thug sé íde béil chiníoch d'aon ghnó riamh, agus nach ndearna sé iarracht dhíreach, dháiríre daoine a ghortú.Bhí tráthnóna mór ann in Áras Inis Gluaire i mBéal an Mhuirthead Dé hAoine, le tacaiocht mhór ón eagraíocht Gaeilge Iorrais, nuair a sheol Aire na Gaeltachta Dara Calleary an leabhar “Scéal Muirí Mhuigh Eo” le Breandán Mac Conamhna, foilsithe ag Mayo Books Press. Insíonn an leabhar scéal oidhreacht mhuirí an chontae ón gClochaois go dtí an lá áta inniu ann. Tá sé scríofa go hiomlán i gcanúint Iorrais, tuaisceart Mhuigh Eo, agus dár leis an údar, a rugadh i mBéal Deirg ar chósta thuaidh an chontae sa bhliain 1936, is é an chéad leabhar dá leithéid ar feadh seachtó bliain, ó tháinig an Caighdeán Oifigiúil an an bhfód. Do mhol an tAire an saothar, tábhacht na canúna, agus an leabharmar bhrontannas Nollag; agus tar éis an seolta bhí béile agus ól, ceol, damhsa, amhránaíocht, caint agus craic.*Léirithe ag Conradh na Gaeilge i Londain. Tá an script ar fáil i d'aip phodchraolta.*GLUAIScoir chogaidh - war crimemairnéalaigh longbhriste - shipwrecked sailorsbulaíocht chiníoch nó fhrith-sheimíteach - racist or anti-semitic bullyingd'aon ghnó - on purposeoidhreacht mhuirí - maritime heritagean Chlochaois - the Stone Age

Esther Krakue, Tom Slater and Fraser Myers on the UK chancellor's ‘creative accounting', David Lammy's tyrannical war on juries and the celebrities on the march against Reform UK. Watch the second half of the discussion on spiked podcast: unlocked – our weekly bonus podcast, exclusively for spiked supporters – here: https://www.spiked-online.com/podcast-episode/your-partys-delicious-meltdown/ Become a spiked supporter to access all of spiked's exclusive content, and get unlimited, ad-free reading and other perks: https://www.spiked-online.com/support/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sir Keir Starmer started the week with not one but two speeches defending his party's Budget decisions in the wake of claims that chancellor Rachel Reeves had misled the public and fellow MPs about the state of the nation's finances. Was his sell convincing? The prime minister also brought up Brexit, but as panellist Robert Shrimsley points out, Starmer was characteristically unclear as to whether the Labour party was ultimately leaning into or out of the EU.Plus, host George Parker and the rest of the panel, Miranda Green and Jim Pickard, discuss the FT report that Nigel Farage told Reform UK donors he expects his party to do some sort of deal with the Tories in the run-up to the next general election — potentially helped by the single biggest donation any UK political party has had from a living donor. Follow George on Bluesky @georgewparker.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; Jim @pickardje.bsky.social; Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social Want more? Free links: Nigel Farage tells donors he expects Reform UK will do an election deal with the ToriesHead of UK fiscal watchdog quits after Budget leak UK government orders review into rising diagnoses of mental health conditionsJanan Ganesh: The rise of unpopular populism UK envoy to Moscow enters race to be the next ambassador Political Fix will go live next week on Wednesday 10 December at 1.15pm. If you don't want to wait for it to drop in this feed on Friday, register here. Sign up to Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter. Get 30 days free at https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOffer. For details about FLIC, the FT's Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign, read more about it here or click here and to donate, click here. Presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT's acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice says allegations of racism from Nigel Farage's school days are ‘made-up twaddle'. Lucy Hough speaks to investigations correspondent Henry Dyer -- Watch Today in Focus: The Latest on YouTube --. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Nigel Farage was handed a £9m donation this week, amid reports he said elsewhere that a deal with the Conservatives before the general election was ‘inevitable'. John Harris speaks to Kiran Stacey about what this means for Reform UK. They also discuss David Lammy's plan to scrap some jury trials, and answer questions from Politics Weekly UK listeners. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

The prime minister has been increasingly critical of Brexit this week, and says he wants a closer relationship with the EU - without rejoining key parts of the club.But will Labour inevitably have to go further, and if they do will they be falling into a Reform UK trap?We also discuss the role of the Downing Street 'maverick genius' - and what that's got to do with My Little Pony.Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a week of karaoke meltdowns, pleather-skirt floor-crawling and a rusty saw nightmare… and yet Marina and Jemma are more determined than ever to get behind the mic to discuss the latest batshittery from the world of news and politics.They dive into the spectacular chaos of Your Party, and ponder the finally-we're-saying-it-out-loud national acceptance that Brexit is absolute dogshit, before analysing an absurd week of headlines that prove the tabloids are still going for Rachel Reeves with pretty vicious vengeance.There's also some tree-surgeon flag-shaggery, Reform UK chaos and the delicious irony of David Coburn shouting about sovereignty from his French château. Plus: Jonathan Gullis has swapped sinking ships. It's a packed, punchy, unhinged week - so pretty standard - enjoy!Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf you've even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you'll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on• Early access to The Trawl Meets…• Glorious ad-free episodesPlus, there's a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.And it's your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you're not alone.Come join the fun:https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of The Current Thing I am joined by Andrew Doyle to talk about his recent book, The End of Woke. We discuss: -His recent experience with Antifa at a Turning Point USA event -How the murder of Charlie Kirk has affected him -Whether ‘Woke Right' is a valid term -His understanding of liberalism, and why the term is so misused -Why we should scrap multiculturalism -His thoughts on Reform UK and the future of Britain And lots more! Watch the full episode here: https://www.nickdixon.net  By subscribing you will also gain access to the full versions of all our back episodes with the likes of David Starkey, Carl Benjamin, Ben Habib, Connor Tomlinson, Harrison Pitt and many more. AND you will get access to full versions of my weekly topical podcast, plus extra bonus content only available here. You can also comment on all posts and join the private chat group. And of course you will be supporting us and allowing me to continue doing this work, all for just a fiver, or around £4 a month with the yearly option. Thanks! Nick Subscribe here: https://www.nickdixon.net Make a one-off donation here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nickdixon  Nick's links Substack: www.nickdixon.net  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nick_dixon   X: https://x.com/njdixon  Andrew's links X: x.com/andrewdoyle_com Website: https://www.andrewdoyle.org 

Starmer Too Weak to Copy Trump on Immigration? LIVE SHOW #JonGaunt #KeirStarmer #DonaldTrump #ImmigrationBan #SmallBoatsCrisis #BorderControl #ReformUK #UKPolitics #USPolitics Tonight we tackle one of the most explosive questions in British politics: Should Keir Starmer follow Donald Trump's lead and suspend immigration?  After the shocking murder of a female National Guardsman in the US — allegedly by an Afghan migrant — Trump has announced a drastic halt on immigration from certain countries. It's a move that has ignited fierce debate across America.  But with the UK facing its own tragedies linked to illegal migrants arriving on small boats, the question is unavoidable: Could Starmer ever take similar action? Does he have the political courage — or the public support — to do it? In this live show we'll dig into:

Nathan Gill was an MEP for the Brexit party and Ukip, and later became Reform UK's leader in Wales. Now he has been jailed for 10 years for taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements. Luke Harding reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus