Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins

Ian Collins asks whether Britain should align itself more closely with the EU or the United States as Donald Trump tells Sir Keir Starmer to “fix” the UK and brands London a global problem. Professor Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King’s College London, examines Trump’s White House intervention, the warning over Greenland, and what it means for Britain’s place between Washington and Brussels.Author and former European Commission official Peter Wilding reacts to Trump’s headline-grabbing Davos speech and assesses how shifting US priorities could reshape Britain’s future relationship with Europe.Independent MP and Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe joins us to discuss Labour’s welfare expansion, as new figures suggest 1.5 million more people are being placed on benefits with no requirement to work - and what that means for public trust and economic credibility.And Maurice Cousins, Campaign Director at Net Zero Watch, scrutinises Labour’s £15bn Warm Homes Plan, including the rollout of Chinese-made solar panels, the true cost of decarbonising Britain’s housing stock, and whether the policy will really cut bills or deepen dependence on Beijing.

Ian Collins unpacks another day of hot topics in the news. He is joined by former headteacher Serge Cefai to discuss Labour’s apparent U-turn on banning under-16s from social media, unpacking whether it should or shouldn't go ahead.Foreign Affairs Analyst Daniel Davis joins Ian to react to Donald Trump’s explosive criticism of the UK over the Chagos Islands and rising tensions around Greenland. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat councillor Adrian Betteridge joins to defend controversial 20mph speed limits amid claims voters are being ignored. Plus, journalist and filmmaker Andrew Drury discusses the prospect of Shamima Begum being freed as violence escalates near her Syrian detention camp.

Ian Collins examines the accelerating collapse of the Conservative Party as senior Tory Andrew Rosindell defects to Reform. Andrew Allison, Head of Campaigns at Popular Conservatism, and former Reform UK candidate Mayuran Senthilnathan debate whether the right is undergoing a permanent realignment, as Robert Jenrick warns that too many Conservative MPs would now feel more at home in the Liberal Democrats. The panel also discusses the backlash after Lisa Nandy branded a future Reform government “fascist”, with critics warning such language risks making British politics more volatile and dangerous.Frank Furedi, Director of MCC Brussels, joins us to explore growing public unease with global elites and democratic accountability. We look at what really happens behind closed doors at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and why distrust in political and economic institutions continues to deepen across Europe.Finally, Maria Bowtell, Pink Lady and spokeswoman for Restore Britain, reacts to renewed outrage over the asylum system. We examine cases of convicted foreign sex offenders fighting deportation on human rights grounds, alongside reports of rejected asylum seekers still receiving thousands of pounds in UK benefits - and what this means for public confidence in immigration policy.

Ian Collins is joined by Dan Hodges, Commentator at the Mail on Sunday, and Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, Conservative Councillor for Hatch End, to unpack the political shockwaves after Robert Jenrick defects to Reform, accusing the Conservatives of having “broken Britain” as Kemi Badenoch moves to contain the fallout. They discuss what Jenrick’s jump says about the future of the Tory party, the growing pull of Reform, and whether the Right is heading for a full realignment.The panel then turns to policing and public trust with Nicole Lampert, Journalist, as pressure mounts on West Midlands Police following an antisemitism row, reports of a senior police chief expected to resign, and claims that a police commissioner offered a mosque a “blank cheque” amid an Israeli football fan controversy. What does this tell us about leadership, accountability and confidence in Britain’s police?Finally, Dr Rakib Ehsan, Social Policy Expert, examines Labour’s push to rebrand “Islamophobia” as “anti-Muslim hostility”, with critics warning it could entrench two-tier policing and further chill free speech. Is the redefinition necessary protection, or another flashpoint in Britain’s deepening culture and identity wars?

Ian Collins dissects a turbulent day in British politics as claims of democratic backsliding, Tory infighting and culture-war legislation collide. Kevin Schofield, Political Editor at HuffPost UK, breaks down the backlash after four million voters are denied a say with the cancellation of May’s local elections, and what it means for accountability and trust in politics. Maxwell Harrison, Reform UK councillor for Sheppey, reacts from the insurgent Right, arguing the move hands power to Westminster while shutting voters out.Isabel Oakeshott, Talk’s International Editor, joins to analyse the shock sacking of Robert Jenrick and what Kemi Badenoch’s decision to suspend the shadow justice secretary tells us about discipline, direction and divisions inside the Conservative Party. And Dr Daniel Allington, Reader in Social Analytics at King’s College London and Senior Associate Fellow at the Counter Extremism Group, warns Labour’s plan to rebrand “Islamophobia” as “anti-Muslim hostility” could have serious consequences for free speech, policing and the law, following a new report branding the proposals more dangerous than ministers admit.

Ian Collins examines another turbulent day in British politics as Sir Keir Starmer performs his 13th U-turn, rowing back on plans for compulsory digital ID cards after a public backlash over civil liberties and immigration control. Social and political commentator James Melville is joined by Alexander Iosad, Director of Government Innovation Policy at the Tony Blair Institute, to debate what the reversal tells us about Labour’s grip on power, digital governance, and public trust.The focus then shifts to the Chagos Islands as the government faces mounting criticism over its deal with Mauritius. Tessa Clarke, editor of Chagos Files, and Lord Daniel Hannan, Conservative peer and former adviser to the UK Board of Trade, respond to a rare House of Lords rebuke and growing demands from Chagossians for reparations - raising fresh questions about sovereignty, accountability and Britain’s global standing.Finally, Ian looks to Iran as pressure intensifies on the UK to ban the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. Iranian activist Armin Navabi reacts to Donald Trump’s message to Iranian protesters and reports of US frustration with Starmer’s reluctance to act, as protests spread and the West weighs how far it is willing to go.

Ian Collins is joined by Jonathan Gullis, former Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party turned Reform defector, alongside Conservative councillor Zak Wagman, to ask whether Reform should actively welcome disillusioned Tories - as fresh rows erupt over defections, peerages and the future shape of the Right following claims Nadhim Zahawi “begged” for a Tory peerage before jumping ship.Former head of the UK government’s Office for AI Sana Khareghani examines mounting pressure on Elon Musk’s X, as Ofcom investigates the platform over its Grok AI being used to generate child abuse images, with ministers openly considering an outright ban and new laws set to criminalise the creation of sexualised AI imagery.Iranian-British human rights activist Lily Moo discusses growing protests against the Iranian regime in London, Nigel Farage’s controversial appearance outside the Iranian embassy, and escalating international pressure on Tehran - including Donald Trump’s announcement of new 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Iran.

Ian Collins asks whether the West should intervene in Iran as pressure grows on Keir Starmer to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. Matthew Syed, columnist for The Times and The Sunday Times, examines the case for branding Iran’s Revolutionary Guards terrorists amid mass protests on the streets of London and across the world against the Iranian regime - and what intervention, sanctions or restraint would really achieve.Human rights activist Gio Esfan joins us with first-hand insight into Tehran’s crackdown, the global protest movement, and fresh concerns after the UAE restricted funding for students studying in Britain over radicalisation fears. We also turn to the culture and free-speech front. Philip Kiszely of the New Culture Forum analyses the escalating row over Elon Musk’s X facing potential UK action, alongside Conservative plans to ban social media for under-16s and what this means for speech, security and state power.

Join Ian Collins today for a gripping episode covering two major stories.Ian speaks with James Melville about Labour’s controversial digital ID scheme. With ministers ordered to find departmental budget cuts to fund the £1.8 billion rollout, the discussion explores privacy concerns, public backlash, and political tensions in Westminster.Later, Ian talks to Goldie Ghamari about the largest anti-government protests in Iran in years. With nationwide internet blackouts, violent crackdowns, and economic hardship sparking unrest across 111 cities, they examine the human impact and wider implications of the demonstrations.From UK politics to global human rights, Ian Collins delivers expert insight on today’s most pressing stories.