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The 'wickedness' of Labour's gender war
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This week: After leaked EHRC guidance threw Labour’s position on biological sex into disarray, Michael and Maddie ask whether Bridget Phillipson is deliberately delaying clarity on the law – and why Wes Streeting appears to be retreating from his once ‘gender-critical’ stance. Is Labour quietly preparing to water down long-awaited guidance? And has the return of puberty-blocker trials pushed the culture war back to square one?
Then: Shabana Mahmood unveils her first major moves as Home Secretary. But as the Labour left cries foul and legal challenges loom, Michael and Maddie assess whether her plans will really bring order to the asylum system – or whether Labour’s attachment to ‘process over principle’ will scupper the reforms before they bite. Is Mahmood the Iron Lady Labour never expected? Or is this simply Starmerism in its purest form: government by quango, review and delay?
And finally: Christmas arrives early… far too early. Michael sets out the case for a ‘dry Advent and festive January’, while Maddie laments Black Friday brawls and the loss of an older, saner rhythm to the year.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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If Burnham loses Makerfield, Labour is finished – Maurice Glasman | Part two
28:18|Maurice Glasman returns for the second part of his conversation with Michael and Maddie – this time to ask whether the Makerfield by-election could write Labour’s obituary notice.As Andy Burnham prepares to take on Reform in one of Labour’s old heartlands, Maurice explains why this contest will reveal whether working-class affection for the party still survives. He discusses Nigel Farage’s rise, why Reform has been able to make such deep inroads into Labour territory and whether Burnham can really persuade voters that he speaks for them.They also discuss the future of the Labour leadership, why Maurice thinks Shabana Mahmood is ‘head and shoulders’ above the other contenders and whether the party can escape what he calls its ‘progressive palsy’. Plus: the Greens, the failures of universities and Maurice’s advice to Kemi Badenoch on how the Conservatives can recover.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
Maurice Glasman: how the progressives killed Labour | Part one
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Forget Wes, this is who we really need as PM
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Keir Starmer’s last stand – will Labour force him out?
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Britain’s antisemitism 'emergency' – and have Reform gone too far?
43:32|This week: antisemitism in Britain, the government’s response – and where Reform may have gone too far.After the attack in Golders Green, Michael and Madeline ask whether antisemitism has become a daily reality for Britain’s Jewish community – and whether ministers are willing to confront the Islamist extremism, hard-left apologism and far-right hatred that are feeding it.They also look ahead to the local elections and ask what a bad night for Labour would mean for Starmer’s leadership. Could losses to the Greens in Labour’s urban heartlands push the party further left? And if MPs do move against Starmer, would any of the likely alternatives be an improvement?Plus: Reform’s controversial proposal to put migrant detention centres in Green-voting areas. Is this clever political trolling – or have Reform crossed a line?Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
Katie Lam on the grooming gangs, Jenrick & why Farage is not fit to be PM
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