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Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins
Is Britain Heading for an Early Election?
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Duncan Barkes sits in for Ian Collins. Downing Street advisers are reportedly pushing for an early general election, while Kemi Badenoch is putting the Conservatives on notice for a possible election within months. Steve N Allen, Comedian & Broadcaster, joins us to ask whether Britain could be heading back to the polls sooner than expected.
Kevin Schofield, Political Editor at HuffPost UK, joins the debate over the Government’s election strategy, the Conservatives’ preparations and whether Keir Starmer’s position is becoming increasingly difficult.
We also examine Andy Burnham’s response to the continuing small-boat crisis, including his claim that the “only thing to do is to get numbers down”, alongside criticism from Nigel Farage that the Mayor is simply “dithering and waffling”. With more than 83,000 small-boat arrivals since the last general election, the number of arrivals has now surpassed the strength of the regular British Army.
Cllr Linden Kemkaran, Leader of Kent County Council and Reform UK Councillor for Maidstone South East, joins us to discuss the impact of the Channel crossings on Kent, the Government’s immigration policy and whether Britain is facing a national emergency.
Cllr Adrian Pascu-Tulbure, Conservative Councillor for Parsons Green and Sandford and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Hammersmith and Fulham, joins us after fury over reports that Abu Hamza’s former family home in west London received a £70,000 taxpayer-funded refurbishment. We ask how such spending can be justified and who should ultimately foot the bill.
We also look at the political row over Burnham being photographed running past a homeless man, and the wider debate over Labour’s record on homelessness, immigration and public services.
Early election, general election, Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch, Conservatives, Labour, Andy Burnham, Reform UK, Nigel Farage, immigration, small boats, Channel crossings, Kent, Abu Hamza, taxpayers, British politics, homelessness.
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Burnham Betrays Brexit & Vows to Scrap Triple Lock
28:36|Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins as the Labour Party Conference gets into full swing.Following Andy Burnham’s headline-grabbing, lectern-free speech, Benedict Spence, Sebastian Salek, Matt Vickers and Richard Tice share their reactions and analysis.RAF Fairford Under Threat
36:40|Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins. Police are investigating an incident outside RAF Fairford after five men were arrested on suspicion of terror offences on Sunday. Charlie is joined by Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former British Army colonel, who says the unfolding events should be a very uncomfortable wake-up call. Meanwhile, the Labour Party Conference is well under way in Liverpool, and Ryan Shorthouse from Bright Blue joins to comment on Chancellor John Healey's speech.Finally, Fred de Fossard, Director of Strategy at Prosperity Institute, blasts Sadiq Khan's demands that Burnham launch an immediate push for Britain to rejoin the EU.Britain, Europe or America: Where Does Our Future Lie?
30:00|As Andy Burnham opens the door to Britain potentially rejoining the EU, we ask whether the UK’s relationship with Europe is becoming more important than the Special Relationship with America.Matthew Bryza, former White House Official, and Mike Galsworthy, Chair of the European Movement UK, debate Britain’s future between the US and EU, the strength of the Special Relationship and whether Brexit is really being reversed.We also ask a more fundamental question: what makes someone English? Montgomery Toms, Founder of Freedom Watch GB, joins us to discuss English identity, patriotism and what it means to belong to England today.And Ben Habib, Chairman of Great British PAC, joins us after a packed migrant dinghy made the 38-hour journey from Normandy to the UK under French naval escort. We examine the latest Channel crossing, protests following the arrival and the wider debate over illegal migration — as an anti-migrant activist is accused of slashing a dinghy while a rescuer was still on board.Andy Burnham, EU, Brexit, rejoining the EU, Special Relationship, America, European Union, English identity, immigration, Channel crossings, migrant boats, France, British politics.Would You Tactically Vote to Stop the Left?
40:46|With the next election already shaping the political battle lines, could tactical voting be the key to stopping the left? David Wooding, Columnist at The Sun, joins us to discuss a new poll suggesting Restore Britain could damage Reform’s election hopes — and whether voters on the right will put party loyalty aside to defeat Labour.We also examine Britain’s growing welfare bill, with official figures showing one in five working-age adults are now receiving Universal Credit. David Wooding and Charlie Rowley, former Conservative Special Adviser, discuss the rise in benefit claims and what it says about work, welfare and the state of the economy.New analysis has also found ADHD and autism benefit claims rising fastest in some of England’s wealthiest areas. We debate what is driving the increase and whether the benefits system is being stretched beyond its original purpose.Charlie Rowley also joins us to discuss the latest Channel crossings, after an unescorted dinghy reportedly evaded Border Force and landed at Folkestone, with several migrants allegedly fleeing before police arrived. We examine claims that the Government is losing control of the Channel and why £222 million in fines against firms accused of employing illegal migrants remains uncollected.Tactical voting, Reform UK, Restore Britain, Labour, Conservatives, Universal Credit, welfare, ADHD, autism, immigration, Channel crossings, Border Force, illegal immigration, Home Office, British politics.Is Andy Burnham Planning a Tax Raid?
28:45|Andy Burnham is reportedly considering an early election as he looks for a mandate for higher taxes, with claims of growing concern over the state of the public finances. We examine proposals for a potential £14 billion capital gains tax increase and what higher taxes could mean for businesses, investors and households.Andrew Allison, Head of Campaigns at Popular Conservatism, Dale Vince, Founder of Ecotricity and a Labour donor, and Kevin Byrne OBE, Founder of Checkatrade, join the debate over Burnham’s tax plans, the economy and the future direction of British politics.We also examine the latest figures showing migrant households receiving a record £12 billion in Universal Credit. Guy Dampier, Senior Researcher on Nationhood at the Prosperity Institute, discusses immigration, benefits and the impact of migrant households on Britain’s welfare system.Andy Burnham, capital gains tax, Labour, early election, public finances, UK economy, taxation, Universal Credit, migrant households, benefits, immigration, British politics.Would you ever vote Tory again?
30:29|With the Conservatives struggling to rebuild after years of electoral turmoil, Oscar Reddrop, former No.10 Adviser, joins us to ask whether the party can claw its way back — and whether there is still a future for the Tories as the right of British politics fragments.We look at Andy Burnham’s continued popularity, whether other parties can seriously challenge Labour, and whether the Conservatives and Reform could ever unite the right. We also examine claims that Burnham has borrowed policies from Keir Starmer’s previous survival plan, despite promising a “new path for Britain”.Giles Dilnot, Editor of ConservativeHome, joins the debate on the future of the Conservative Party, Burnham’s political appeal and what the Tories need to do to win back voters.And with Burnham reaffirming his commitment to reaching net zero by 2050, Ben Pile, Co-Founder of Climate Debate UK, examines the future of Britain’s net zero strategy and whether the economic and environmental case for the policy stands up.Conservatives, Tory Party, Reform UK, Andy Burnham, Keir Starmer, Labour, British politics, unite the right, net zero, climate policy, Conservative Party, UK politics.Piddington: Is This the Turning Point on Migration?
23:29|Piddington: Is this the turning point on migration? Villagers in Piddington are mounting a growing revolt over plans to house migrants in their community, with campaigners warning that the fightback could spread across the country. Reform and the Conservatives have backed calls for a local referendum, while residents are demanding answers over the impact of migrant accommodation on their communities.Charlie Rowley, former Conservative Special Adviser, joins us to discuss the growing anger in Piddington and whether this could mark a wider turning point in Britain’s immigration debate.Joy Morrissey MP, Shadow Minister for Women & Equalities, examines concerns raised by local women about the proposed migrant camp, including claims that female Labour MPs have failed to respond to residents asking for help. Should women living near migrant accommodation have greater protection and a stronger voice in decisions affecting their communities?We also discuss whether the Piddington campaign could become a national movement, and what it means for Reform, the Conservatives, Labour and the future of Britain’s asylum policy.Finally, Alan Miller, co-founder of the Together Declaration, joins us to discuss proposals for digital ID checks for pubgoers buying alcohol. Would digital ID make the system safer, or is Britain heading towards unnecessary surveillance and restrictions on everyday life?Piddington, migrant camps, immigration, asylum seekers, migrant accommodation, Reform UK, Conservatives, Labour, women’s safety, ECHR, digital ID, pubs, alcohol and British politics.Reform Party Conference Special Part 1: Is Farage Ready to Govern?
23:41|Reform Conference Special: Can Farage really deliver? Peter Cardwell hosts. Reform UK is gathering for its conference amid fresh controversy over claims the party breached foreign donor rules, with aides standing down as questions mount over its finances and internal discipline.Alex Deane, political commentator, examines the latest Reform scandal and the growing questions around the party’s funding, as Nigel Farage prepares to make the case that Reform is ready for government.Farage is expected to promise to declare a national emergency on his first day as Prime Minister, sack ministers who fail to deliver and stop the boats within 100 days. We examine whether Reform’s plans to tackle illegal immigration, slash benefits and cut taxes are actually achievable.Duncan Barkes, Talk presenter and host of Prick With a Fork, joins us from the Reform conference to bring us the atmosphere, arguments and personalities on the ground.Alex Phillips, Talk presenter, also joins us for our Reform Conference Special Part 1, ahead of the second part of the conference coverage on the show that follows.Is Reform genuinely ready to govern, or are the latest funding allegations exposing a party that still has serious growing pains?Reform UK, Reform conference, Nigel Farage, Reform scandal, foreign donations, foreign funding, political donations, funding rules, national emergency, stop the boats, immigration, benefits, tax cuts, Reform government and British politics.