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Not Another One
Fifty Years of Thatcher: What is her legacy?
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We begin episode three with the fall of Margaret Thatcher approaching. What triggered her removal in November 1990? Had she lost the plot? Or was it really about Tory tensions over European policy? After explaining the fall, our team discuss Thatcher’s extraordinary and enduring impact on politics ever since. Why do leaders of left and right still invoke her memory and image? Was she one of the great national leaders as her supporters claim, or a malign influence as her detractors would have it? Or is the truth more complicated and the picture nuanced? In episode one in this three part series we charted the rise of Thatcher and in episode two the Not Another One team assessed her record in power.
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Why Do Leaders’ Soundbites Come To Define Them?
46:06|Keir Starmer warns of an “island of strangers” in an attempt to counter the rise of Nigel Farage. What do the PM’s words tell us about him and the policies he was announcing? In this weekend edition our team explore the language of politics. Leaders tend to be identified by a few words- “the lady’s not for turning”, “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime” etc. Yet the words are often far removed from the policies they describe and in some cases the character of the leader. Why are soundbites and key phrases so central to politics and leadership?Has Starmer got it right on immigration?
58:49|The Prime Minister caused controversy this week when he spoke of the dangers of a lack of integration, saying Britain risked becoming an island of strangers. Has Starmer miscalculated by using the language of Farage? Or is he right? Does he need to be on this terrain using this kind of rhetoric? Our team also ask whether there is any way to fix the UK’s immigration policy.Will Reform destroy the Conservative party?
38:48|Often dubbed political history's masters of adapting to survive, the Tories currently face a threat that could be existential. Examining the fallout of the local and mayoral elections we look at what could save them from Farage and offer a bit of advice to Kemi Badenoch.Can Labour Recover?
47:45|Labour suffered a by-election defeat and serious losses in the local elections with previous supporters backing parties on the left and Reform. Do Starmer, McSweeneh and Reeves carry on as before or change tack? Are they capable of recognising the scale of the challenge and navigating a way through to a second term? Later in the week we’ll discuss whether the Tories are doomed.Listener question time special edition
50:50|Our team take questions from regular listeners in this weekend special edition. Tim, how can you defend Trump? Steve, was there anything Liz Truss got right? Miranda, why are you hanging around with these people? Iain, do you regret Brexit? When was the last time any of you changed your mind? These questions and many more are answered by the team.Is Nigel Farage on the edge of a historic breakthrough?
54:46|Reform is expected to make sweeping gains in the local elections and to win the Runcorn by-election in a previously safe Labour seat. Will this signal a seismic and permanent change in the political landscape or are these elections a fleeting protest against the government and the Conservatives? Why is this happening and what will be the consequences? Plus, what Canada’s election results and the victory of Mark Carney mean.Do religion and politics mix?
39:45|The death of Pope Francis prompts a host of questions for our team about what separates faith leaders from political leaders. Should politicians "do God" and where does morality come in to the equation? In our weekend magazine edition, the team wrestle with the relationship between religion and temporal affairs.What is the biggest challenge facing Starmer's government?
54:00|With MPs back at Westminster this week, we ask which bit of the government in tray looks more scary: the domestic fiscal squeeze and search for growth or the epoch making shifts in geopolitics? And our team ask whether voters will make any allowances for the international backdrop if things don't get better on the home front. Plus, a regular listener has sent us a cake and a note which sparks an important, serious discussion.How is the political year going so far?
01:00:56|In an Easter special, our team assess the fortunes of the government and opposition parties since the start of 2025. How is Keir Starmer adapting to power and dealing with Donald Trump? Can Reform build on its strong showing in the polls? What are the pitfalls for Nigel Farage? How bad is the situation for the Tories? And what of Ed Davey and the Lib Dems and the SNP in Scotland?