Debating the debate

With the rocket hurtling towards the election, what do its inhabitants make of the latest manifesto madness?In light of the latest inflation figures Liam thinks the Conservatives need to be more honest about tax hikes, whilst Allison thinks that Reform’s policies are what should have been in the Conservative Party Manifesto, and might help pull back some disillusioned voters.Also joining your co-pilots for a return mission to the rocket is journalist and the Social Democratic Party candidate for Middlesbrough South, Rod Liddle, who gives the co-pilots an update on his campaign and the ‘soft’ deal his party has struck with Reform UK.And is it coming home? Allison gives her take on the Euros…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 ‘Watching England with my menfolk introduced me to some odd rituals – and Gary Lineker’s Next range’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/06/19/england-euro-2024-gary-lineker-next-range-bbc/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: [email protected] |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Planet Normal, your co-pilots strap into the rocket with Leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage. In a true rocket grilling Nigel responds to people saying his party is racist, reveals how many votes he expects to win at the upcoming election, and if he really would stand down candidates in Tory marginal seats.Also on this episode with Labour heading for a big majority, what do your co-pilots make of the party manifestos hitting the headlines this week?Liam thinks the Tory manifesto is more about keeping the Party together than appealing to the electorate. Whilst Allison thinks that the incoming Labour government could soon ‘come a cropper’ even with a storming majority…And did Allison manage to return from her holiday to Turkey without another furry friend, listen to find out…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 ‘Nigel Farage is already the leader of the Conservatives’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/06/11/allison-pearson-nigel-farage-conservatives-leader/ |Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/10/farage-hoping-to-gatecrash-sunak-starmer-debates/Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: [email protected] |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whilst co-pilot Pearson takes a well earned break from the rocket Liam is joined by a temporary co-pilot and fellow right thinker, Baroness Claire Fox.Political fur is flying in wake of the first election television debate,  but who do Claire and Liam think came out on top?Claire thinks that the competing parties are underestimating the needs of the electorate in their mandate material. Whilst Liam thinks the parties aren’t doing enough to convince the public of their long term economic security, post election.Also boarding the rocket to give an insight into election tactics from the Labour camp is Former Head of Broadcasting for the Labour Party Matthew Laza, who dishes out some advice for the party.And what does Baroness Fox make of the politics from across the pond?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 Claire: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/c/ck-co/claire-fox/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: [email protected] |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special anniversary episode was recorded live in front of an audience of Planet Normal citizens, from Cadogan Hall in London.The beloved rocket gains a few extra passengers this week as our third Planet Normal live event takes off!Your co-pilots give their thoughts on the upcoming election alongside some very special guests.The first revered stowaway on the rocket this week is Lord David Frost, who reveals how he tried to save the Conservative Party from themselves.Also strapping in for lift-off is writer Lionel Shriver, who reveals why her latest novel ‘Mania’ could be quite close to home..And the Planet Normal citizens have their say as your co-pilots take questions from the live audience.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: [email protected] |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

**Today's episode was recorded before the General Election announcement**There’s not one but two scandals to comment on this week as both the infected blood and Post office inquiries are front and centre. And both co-pilots share impassioned views about the latest ‘cacophony of woe’ coming from both.Allison thinks that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s response was unacceptable in the face of a ‘state sponsored massacre’.Whilst Liam says more eyes should be on the civil service in these inquiries who he thinks have been very good at ‘wriggling out of blame’.Also strapping into the rocket this week is MP for Canterbury, Rosie Duffield who gives her thoughts on the current Labour Party and why NHS maternity services have been letting down women for decades.And the countdown is on for the upcoming Planet Normal live event to celebrate the 200th orbit of the rocket…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 ‘Horizon, maternity, infected blood – what other scandals await corrupt Britain?’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/05/21/infected-blood-scandal-horizon-maternity-corrupt-britain/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: [email protected] |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an exclusive interview with co-pilot Pearson, Academy Award winning actor Kevin Spacey straps into the rocket to give his response to the recent Channel 4 documentary with allegations about inappropriate sexual conduct.Elsewhere Rishi Sunak’s political plight is as unpredictable as the British weather. But what do your co-pilots make of his latest stream of policies?Allison ponders whether the country has ever gone into a general election with two such unpopular potential leaders which she claims is ‘a standoff of the Woodentops’.And Liam dissects the current Labour frontbench, which he thinks compares woefully to that of Tony Blair.Plus both co-pilots give their take on the latest royal portrait.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/ |Watch Allison's full interview with Kevin Spacey: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/15/watch-kevin-spacey-interview-metoo-career-comeback/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: [email protected] |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the local elections across England and Wales all over, who were the real winners and losers? And did the Tories really get hammered? Only your co-pilots have the answers.Liam ponders whether the Tory Party can hold it together long enough to get some sort of bounce back from potential impending economic uplifts.Whilst Allison thinks Tory mutiny is no longer a threat and that the plotters have given up all chance of a potential new leader.And what about Reform’s Nigel Farage? Will he? Won't he?Also hopping aboard to chat about the local election results, and what it means for his Party, is Conservative MP for Romford, Andrew Rosindell.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 ‘I’m not a Covid conspiracy theorist. I was right’:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/02/im-not-a-covid-conspiracy-theorist-i-was-right/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: [email protected] |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Election fever has reached the rocket this week as the co-pilots await the results from local polling stations up and down the country. And there’s nothing short of a tsunami of politics in Scotland. Allison thinks the progressive Left are finally being confronted by the consequences of their policies in light of First Minister, Humza Yousaf’s resignation.Whilst Liam thinks Scotland’s leadership decision will play a crucial part determining Labour’s future in the country.Strapping into the rocket this week to pay tribute to her friend the late Frank Field is Baroness Kate Hoey who also gives her take on the latest relations between Ireland and the UKAnd there’s an exciting announcement about the upcoming Planet Normal Event…Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam: ‘Frank Field’s warnings on benefits Britain went unheeded’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/04/28/frank-field-britain-sicknote-culture-welfare-state/ Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Allison ‘The SNP hasn’t realised that ‘socially conservative’ is actually normal’:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/05/01/humza-yousaf-kate-forbes-snp-social-conservatism-normal/ |Read Robert Mendick: The images that show the two sides of AstraZeneca’s vaccine ‘miracle’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/30/astrazeneca-vaccine-jamie-scott-class-action-side-effects/ Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: [email protected] |Get tickets for Planet Normal event: telegraph.co.uk/eventsFor 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strapping into the rocket this week and calling for the resignation of Met Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, is former Home Secretary and Conservative MP Suella Braverman. She also explains why she thinks it’s time we left the European Convention of Human Rights and her exasperation at her party's 'scramble for the centre-ground'.Elsewhere on the podcast, Allison is convinced the passing of the Rwanda Bill is Rishi Sunak’s desperate last trump card, while Liam asks the question: have recent protests gone too far? And both co-pilots indulge in some reminiscing of the Spice Girls, and pay tribute to the passing of former Labour MP Frank Field.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 ‘Britain’s Jews fear for their lives because Sir Mark Rowley is a weak coward’ : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/04/23/jews-dont-believe-have-future-in-uk-met-police-mark-rowley/ |Read Allison ‘The Rwanda Bill won’t stop people backing Reform – Tory voters have had enough’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/04/24/rwanda-bill-will-not-stop-people-voting-for-reform/Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: [email protected] |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Battle of BrusselsWith co-pilot Pearson making a triumphant return to the rocket this week there’s much madness to discuss including the Cass report, what the Office of Budget Responsibility is really about and some drama from Brussels…Joining your co-pilots to share what really happened at the explosive National Conservative Conference in Brussels is MP Miriam Cates, who explains why the events that unfolded were so chilling for our freedom of speech.Allison also reveals some exclusive extracts from her recent interview with former Liz Truss and Liam explains why the claims that the former PM ‘crashed the economy’ are simply a myth.Also hopping aboard to discuss the worrying state of Iranian relations to the West is British historian of Iranian history Daniel Rad.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’s interview with Liz Truss: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/04/15/liz-truss-interview-ten-years-to-save-the-west/ \Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: [email protected] |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.