{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/65804e0f1585de00125ded2d/6a0de20da9d3d2ec1450b315?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Labour drags us further to the '70s and Burnham stokes the psychodrama","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/65804e0f1585de00125ded2d/1779302202611-f78da4a5-7227-4b91-8e82-9db3c24cc4f7.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>You can watch this episode on YouTube: <a href=\"https://youtu.be/wQSgb9En2k0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://youtu.be/wQSgb9En2k0</a></p><p><br></p><p>This week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Liam Halligan and Alison Pearson, take us back to the 1970s as they look at the retro economic policies dragging the country in reverse. With financial markets reacting to the Labour infighting with horror, sending the UK government's borrowing costs to a staggering 30-year high, the duo warns that the British economy is on a knife edge.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Liam focuses on the unfolding fiscal emergency, explaining how sovereign bond markets are reeling from a protracted Labour leadership battle, where all the major contenders are looking to increase borrowing and spending even further.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Meanwhile Allison shares her deep frustrations with the current state of the nation, highlighting the desperate struggles of local community hubs and family pubs fighting to survive under the weight of punishing economic changes.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>This week’s stowaway on the rocket is royal historian and biographer Andrew Lownie, who discusses the ongoing fallout surrounding the royal family and his investigations into institutional secrecy.</p><p>Highlights</p><ul><li>Labour drags us further to the '70s and Burnham stokes the psychodrama</li><li>Sir Keir Starmer's leadership is under intense pressure amidst a protracted Labour leadership battle.</li><li>Sovereign bond markets react to high spending as government borrowing costs spike to a 30-year high.</li><li>Royal biographer Andrew Lownie exposes new allegations and the culture of institutional secrecy.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. <a href=\"http://telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor</a> |</p><p>Read Allison ‘‘Don’t drink them all at once’: Regulars enjoy free pints on National Pub Day’:</p><p>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/16/allison-pearson-national-pub-day/ |</p><p>Read more from Allison: <a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/</a> |&nbsp;</p><p>Read Liam ‘As Labour lurches further Left, the markets are calling time’:&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/17/as-labour-lurches-further-left-the-markets-are-calling-time/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/17/as-labour-lurches-further-left-the-markets-are-calling-time/</a> |</p><p>Read more from Liam: <a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/</a> |</p><p>Read Liam’s Substack: <a href=\"https://liamhalligan.substack.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://liamhalligan.substack.com/</a> |</p><p>Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:</p><p><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/</a> |</p><p>Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |</p><p>For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: <a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal</a> |</p>","author_name":"The Telegraph"}