Penny Mordaunt: I want to run for the Tories, Reform will be a disaster

In an exclusive interview with The Daily T podcast, Dame Penny Mordaunt opens up about losing her Portsmouth North seat at the 2024 General Election - and why she blames Rishi Sunak’s D-Day blunder for the defeat.The former Conservative leadership contender reflects on the Torie's time in power, her viral moment after carrying a sword during the Coronation and why she worked as a magician's assistant at uni. She also discusses the rise of Reform UK, why she’s backing Kemi Badenoch as a “prime minister-in-waiting”, and her own hopes to stand for Parliament again.Producer: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyVideo Editor: Will WaltersStudio Director: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Ece CelikExecutive Producer: Charlotte Seligman  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier today, President Donald Trump joined Sir Keir Starmer for a press conference at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country house.Camilla Tominey and Rob Crilly give their thoughts on the press conference in which Trump urged Starmer to ‘drill, baby, drill’ in the North Sea to cut energy bills and use the military to stop the boats. The leaders also spoke about the current conflicts, with Trump saying Putin had let him down and calling for the release of captives in Gaza. Tim Stanley also gives his thoughts on US television host Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation, and the double standards of free speech in America.And Camilla speaks the son of two British nationals who are currently detained in Iran on suspicion of espionage which the family denies.Producer: Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyVideo Editor: Will WaltersStudio Director: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Laila HusseyExecutive Producer: Charlotte Seligman  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has spent the day at Windsor Castle as he undertakes the first day of his unprecedented second state visit to Britain.Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley were on the ground watching events unfold as the President touched down in his helicopter - ‘Marine One’ - at lunchtime, before taking a tour of the grounds at Windsor alongside the King and Queen.The Daily Telegraph’s Royal Editor Hannah Furness had unprecedented close-up access to Trump’s afternoon with the Royal Family and reveals what interested him most at an exhibition of artefacts marking America’s independence from the United Kingdom.Camilla and Tim also speak to two ardent MAGA supporters outside the castle, who explain why they think Trump has “done more for black people than any other President”.Producer: Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyVideo Editor: Will WaltersSocial Producer: Ece CelikExecutive Producer: Charlotte Seligman  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure in Parliament over his handling of Lord Mandelson’s resignation as US ambassador. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Starmer and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney of having “forced through” Mandelson’s appointment, despite warnings, with the party demanding the release of the so-called “Mandelson-Epstein files”.Camilla and Tim ask if the controversy is at risk of overshadowing President Donald Trump’s state visit this week. And Tim speaks to Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan about the gender-critical social media posts that saw him arrested by armed police at Heathrow Airport and what it means for the future of free speech online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny Kruger, the Conservative MP for East Wiltshire and shadow work and pensions minister, has defected to Reform - becoming the first sitting Tory MP to do so and the most high-profile to date.Declaring that the Conservatives are “over’, Danny Kruger was unveiled by Nigel Farage at a press conference this lunchtime, dealing a huge blow to Kemi Badenoch’s efforts to rebuild the party. Camilla and Tim ask how significant Kruger’s defection is and whether it will open the floodgates for other high-profile Tories to follow.They also assess whether Andy Burnham is really the man to challenge Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour Party, as the Prime Minister came out defending his handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal.Producer: Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyVideo Editor: Will WaltersStudio Director: Andy Watson Social Producer: James SimmonsExecutive Producer: Charlotte Seligman  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He held almost every Cabinet position during his two decades as an MP, perhaps most notably as a reformist education secretary. He also had a very public falling out with his old pals David Cameron and Boris Johnson.Now Michael Gove has returned to his roots as a journalist, taking on the editorship of The Spectator and launching a new podcast, Quite Right.Lord Gove talks to Camilla and Tim about why he broke up with Boris, where Reform are going wrong, how politics impacted his family life, and his adoptive parents.Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyVideo Editor: Will WaltersStudio Director: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Charlotte HocquetExecutive Producer: Charlotte Seligman  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an entirely predictable turn of events, just twenty four hours after publicly backing the US Ambassador, Keir Starmer has now sacked Peter Mandelson after "additional information" came to light about the nature of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.Whilst it could, and perhaps should, mean that Mandelson's long political career has been brought to an end, it also reflects just as badly on the Prime Minister's judgement in appointing him in the first place, and then deciding to support him in the face of the Daily Telegraph's investigations. Camilla and Tim ask whether the Prime Minister, who so readily promoted his integrity whilst in opposition, still has any left.They also speak to the Chair of Republicans Overseas, Greg Swenson, about the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, and ask whether conservative values are under attack.Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyVideo Editor: Will WaltersStudio Director: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Charlotte HocquetExecutive Producer: Charlotte Seligman  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's shaping up to be Keir Starmer's worst week since...last week. The PM is facing calls to sack US Ambassador Lord Mandelson after new revelations about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.Camilla and Tim speak to Robert Mendick, the Telegraph journalist behind some of the most damning reports, including that Mandelson worked with Epstein on a £1bn business deal even after his conviction for child sex offences.They also review Kemi Badenoch’s best PMQs yet, which saw her rake the PM over the coals on whether Mandelson was properly vetted.Read: Epstein brokered billion-pound deal with MandelsonProducer: Lilian FawcettSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyVideo Editor: Will WaltersStudio Director: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Charlotte HocquetExecutive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Production assistance from Anna Boyne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tories are the only party that can be trusted on the economy, not Labour or Reform, Kemi Badenoch said today. But is anyone listening?After a speech in which she offered to work with Keir Starmer on welfare reform, Camilla and Tim ask the Conservative leader if there is really any substance to her plans.Plus, the deputy Labour leadership election has rapidly descended into a battle of identity politics. But which of the race leaders Emily Thornberry and Bridget Philipson would be more of a headache for the PM?We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or follow @dailytpodcast on Instagram, TikTok and X.Producer: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyVideo Editor: Will WaltersStudio Director: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Charlotte HocquetExecutive Producer: Charlotte Seligman  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour is in disarray since Angela Rayner’s resignation, even as the Prime Minister tries to seize back the narrative by reshuffling his Cabinet. Tim and Camilla are joined by Jacob Rees-Mogg to assess the refreshed front bench.Meanwhile Keir Starmer is being held to ransom by the unions, with striking Tube drivers demanding fewer hours for the same pay. Rees-Mogg says: “fire the lot of them”.Plus, the BBC’s director general and chair are set to be grilled by MPs on Tuesday over Gaza, Glastonbury and MasterChef. Tim and Camilla speak to culture committee chair Caroline Dinenage.Producer: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyVideo Editor: Will WaltersStudio Director: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Charlotte HocquetExecutive Producer: Charlotte Seligman  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.