Not Another One

The NAO team is joined by George Eaton to debate whether this week's fiscal event revealed a steady hand on the tiller or a government too cautious to meet the UK's challanges. If there are solutions, on welfare, defence and social care, where are they? Plus: will Andy Burnham's "conversation" about the EU be productive or are negotiations going to run into the same problems Britain encountered during the Brexit crisis?

For a special edition this week, Tim and Miranda are joined by Tom Tugendhat MP, Conservative shadow foreign secretary, to explore the origins of demonstrations that turned violent in Paris and beyond. Why target schools? And is this eruption of anger and violence from the dispossessed a sign of what to expect in the approaching battle for the French presidency? Plus: was conference season just a nostalgia-fest?

With Steve Richards back for this episode, the team discuss the standing of the parties as they go into the autumn and what could be a difficult winter. Is the Prime Minister’s tendency to speak his mind on podcasts and in public appearances evidence of his special skill as a communicator or a problem for Number 10? Will his attempt to start a national conversation on Brexit and the voting system work? Plus, what lies in store for the Lib Dems as they flirt with removing another leader.

The Tory party was in good heart at its conference this week. Is this merely what is left of the faithful whistling to keep their spirits up or can their leader’s relative popularity carry them back to a position where they become the dominant party on the right? Plus, the team discuss the Green Party vote on Zionism and the 7th of October anniversary.

Joined by special guest John McTernan, the NAO team debates the ambitions of the PM's big, bold conference speech. Was the rapturous response from Labour activists a good or bad sign? Will the substance follow? Plus: a new start for unionists taking the fight to the SNP.

The team debates the mutterings of discontent from the Lib Dem Brighton conference and the weirdly static polling for all five plus UK parties. What might shake it up and who might get squeezed? Plus, President Trump unleashes a broadside on regulating AI against a backdrop of tricky midterms.

With this week’s guest Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe, our team assess the impact of the mega donations handed to Nigel Farage. Will Reform use it effectively and how will the other parties respond? Does it kill off the possibility of an early general election? Plus, the team explore Andy Burnham’s attempted reset with the EU.Support NAO on Patreon here. https://www.patreon.com/cw/Notanotheronepolitics

After a torrid few weeks, the team hears Tim Montgomerie explain his decision to resign membership of Nigel Farage's party. We discuss the schism on the right of British politics and ask whether it is a gift to Labour. With a special return appearance from Steve Richards.

With Sir Keir Starmer’s shock resignation triggering a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, North London, the team debate the new electoral threat to Labour from the “eco-populist” left. With special guest Thangam Debbonaire, ousted from her Bristol seat by the Greens at the last general election and now in the House of Lords. Plus: is Badenoch’s new Tory front bench a better line-up?