Planet Normal

As co-pilot Pearson circles Heathrow waiting for clearance to land, Liam is joined by Planet Normal Cosmonaut Supreme, Baroness Claire Fox.There's been much madness to dissect since the rocket's last orbit. How is the new Labour government handling the Summer chaos?Claire is frustrated that the Tory leadership contest seems to be leaving the country without a strong opposition and that it might leave the Conservatives unable to challenge the Labour party.Whilst Liam is optimistic that new Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has the potential to pull off the reform the National Health Service needs to get back on track.Stowing away on the rocket this week is author and Conservative Peer, Jon Moynihan who expresses his concern at Labour’s economic policies, saying they won’t create growth by ‘just cutting wages’.And there is a delve into the fumbling Planet Normal mailbag which is overflowing from the recent Summer break…Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read more from Jon: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/08/18/uk-economy-growth-social-democracy-bankrupt-conservative/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | 

As summer comes to a close on Planet Normal, in this the third and final of the three part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.In March, the co-pilots interviewed author and filmmaker Martin Durkin about his latest film Climate The Movie - The Cold Truth. The film takes issue with what he calls ‘climate alarmism’ - a trend which, Durkin says, does not reflect scientific reality.And finally, in April, Liam interviewed Tory Peer Dr Tony Sewell. Dr Sewell Chaired the committee which produced the highly-influential 2021 report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities. He joined the rocket of right thinking for a return mission again to discuss his new book Black Success.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Summer continues on Planet Normal! In this, the second of the three part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.In January Liam interviewed legendary former frontman of The Undertones, turned water campaigner, Feargal Sharkey.As well as discussing the state of the UK’s waterways Liam and Feargal also discussed relations between Ireland and the UK post Brexit, as well as his colourful musical career.Then, in May, just as the general election campaign was getting started Liam also spoke to Labour MP, and women’s rights advocate, Rosie Duffield.As an MP who has received abuse from some of  her own colleagues for questioning trans self-identification, Rosie explains how she felt about being a member of the Labour Party after such a backlash.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Joining Liam for a very special Planet Normal exclusive interview is the front-runner in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch.Fresh from announcing her bid, the MP for North West Essex joins Liam to discuss immigration, trade deals and how she thinks she can take the party forwards as leader of the opposition.Also joining them is former Tory MP for Bournemouth Conor Burns who discusses his experience in light of the recent bullying allegations against Kemi.Watch full length video with Kemi: https://youtu.be/kTmXlNHheXoRead more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read: Kemi Badenoch Interview https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/08/02/kemi-badenoch-interview-integration-tory-leadership/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | 

It’s summer on Planet Normal so in this the first of the three part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.Back in January, just after the realities of the Post Office Scandal had come to the fore courtesy of a hard-hitting ITV drama, Allison spoke to an anonymous insider from Fujitsu, the Japanese company that designed and managed the Horizon online accounting system that had caused so many problems for Post Office Sub-Postmaster trying to balance their books.“Robin” - not their real name - worked at Fujitsu in the mid 2000s and filled Allison in on what they experienced.And then, in April, Planet Normal listeners were joined by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman who told us about the barriers she faced when trying to tackle the surge in UK immigration - and her frustration with then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.Two very revealing interviews!Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

The rocket blasts off for a final voyage before its summer break but there’s no shortage of madness to navigate before then.What did your co-pilots make of Keir Starmer’s first outing at Prime Minister’s Questions? Not to mention the political developments from across the pond..Allison isn’t impressed with the front runners in the Conservative party leadership contest. Nor the Labour party’s two child benefit cap which Liam believes the implications of which could potentially hamper growth.Strapping into the cockpit again as the rocket streams towards the Olympics is former professional swimmer and Olympian Sharron Davies who drops by to discuss her book in the build up to the celebration of sporting excellence.And Allison shares some worrying observations from her recent trip to A and E.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Allison: ‘My Soviet A&E ordeal shows there’s no compassion left in the dead-eyed NHS’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/07/23/no-compassion-left-in-the-nhs/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | 

Joining Liam in the cockpit this week for a very special extended interview is Professor Matthew Goodwin. As the rocket blasts into a new political era with a Labour government at the helm, Matthew explains why he thinks Keir Starmer’s party could be unpopular very quickly, and debates with Liam how the Conservative Party could pull back a vital share of voters that they lost to Reform UK.Our popular analyst also gives his take on the political antics happening across the pond, and why he thinks Donald Trump is in an especially strong position, more so after the assassination attempt on him.There’s also time for co-pilot Halligan to have a brief burrow in the Planet Normal mailbag.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Subscribe to Matthew’s substack here: https://substack.com/@mattgoodwin |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | 

After a Labour landslide win (as predicted by your co-pilots) the rocket orbits into a new political galaxy, but is it the same old madness?Allison delivers some hard truths to the Conservative party whom she thinks deserve ‘oblivion’ should they fail to come to the ‘correct conclusion’ on their new leader.Whereas Liam thinks the Tories need to take their time when deciding their next leader and think carefully about the rules of the contest.Joining your co-pilots on the rocket this week is former advisor to the Labour Party, John McTernan, who gives his take on the incoming Labour government and why he thinks their new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, might need to think about bending some fiscal rules…And there’s a very inspired email from one listener…Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | 

This episode of Planet Normal was recorded on Wednesday the 3rd July before the polls opened for the general election.Six weeks of election campaigning have come to an end and what a campaign it has been, with no shortage of political gaffes on either side of the Channel as the first round of voting in France has National Rally, formerly headed by Marine LePen, on the cusp of power and Macron’s gamble backfiring.Meanwhile across the pond the co-pilots give their thoughts on the debate between President Biden and Donald Trump. Allison thinks Donald Trump looks a more plausible choice, but only compared to a more frail appearing Joe Biden. Whilst Liam points out a possible advantage for Donald Trump is that he won’t go to the polls as a convicted felon after the Supreme Court Ruling earlier this week. Joining your co-pilots in the cockpit to discuss the first round of voting in France is journalist Anne-Elisabeth Moutet who gives your co-pilots a lesson in French politics and how Jordan Bardella has captured the minds of younger voters.And the notorious ‘Bob the bard’ returns to the rocket…Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam: This is the one glaring omission from this election’s endless debates: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/06/30/when-it-comes-discussing-lockdown-politicians-are-on-mute/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read: Allison Pearson meets Nigel Farage: ‘Kemi Badenoch was very unpleasant’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/02/allison-pearson-meets-nigel-farage-general-election-2024/ |Read more from Anne-Elisabeth: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/26/emmanuel-macron-may-soon-resign/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |