Not Another One

Steve Richards, Miranda Green, Tim Montgomerie and Iain Martin

Inspired by the UK’s most famous voter, Brenda from Bristol, four close watchers of politics agree - and freely disagree - about the twists and turns of the General Election 2024 - and beyond.

With Steve Richards, broadcaster and author, Tim Montgomerie, founder of Conservative Home and a serial political entrepreneur, Iain Martin, Times columnist and Miranda Green of the Financial Times. We hope you agree with us, rather than with Brenda, that it’s a useful addition to the debate.

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Credits:

Viral Tribe

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180 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes180

Newest first

Jul 18, 2025 · 37 min
Is Donald Trump's policy agenda winning?
The US President has shifted on Ukraine - criticising Putin and facilitating more weapons for Kyiv. Has the Russian leader miscalculated? On Iran, the US has managed to isolate the regime. Domestically, Trump’s opponents are still in disarray. Six months in to his second term, is Donald Trump proving his critics wrong? Or is America heading in a sinister direction? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 16, 2025 · 51 min
Is UK politics moving left?
With a new Corbynite party mooted and Reform adopting policies traditionally seen as being on the other side of the divide, we ask whether the real shift of recent years has been towards a big state. And where does this shape-shifting populist threat leave Starmer and Reeves in their hunt for growth to pay for it all? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 9, 2025 · 58 min
How much trouble is this government really in?
After a bruising succession of setbacks and confrontations, and a dramatic disavowal from the PM, our team debate Starmer's chances of recovering. With lessons from 20th century history. Plus: a new Corbynite party and memories of Norman Tebbitt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 4, 2025 · 50 min
How are Britain’s opposition parties doing?
A year since Sir Keir Starmer and Labour won a landslide election victory, the team assess the performance and prospects of the other parties. In our weekend edition we ask whether Kemi Badenoch is struggling or turning a corner. More broadly, have the Tories failed to have a proper reckoning with their failures in office? Is Reform getting ready for power? What of the Lib Dems and Greens? And we explore the situation in Scotland and Wales ahead of next year’s devolved elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 1, 2025 · 49 min
A year after Labour’s landslide - what have we learnt?
Do we know more about Keir Starmer now he has been prime minister for twelve months or even less? Why has a landslide government struggled to make headway on many key issues? Is a reset the answer and if so what form will it take? So many questions a year on from the election… and our team disagree (calmly) on all of them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 27, 2025 · 43 min
Is Starmer squandering his landslide?
In our weekend edition, the team discuss the advantages and perils of a large Commons majority. The context is the parliamentary crisis facing the Prime Minister. The conflict with a large number of Labour MPs over the welfare bill raises questions. We ponder why a huge majority can prove so hard to manage. With lessons from tight votes that challenged the authority of previous beleaguered leaders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 25, 2025 · 45 min
Is Trump right on Iran?
Trump’s ceasefire between didn’t last very long. He responded with an astonishing public verbal onslaught against Nethanyahu. Who is weakened by the latest developments and what might happen next? We discuss the many layers of this complex story, disagreeing and occasionally agreeing about Trump, Nethanyahu, the situation in Iran and whether Starmer’s ambiguity is sustainable for much longer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 21, 2025 · 42 min
Is Reform UK on course for a breakthrough in all the nations?
For the weekend edition, we share tips for surviving or avoiding SW1's summer party circuit. Then soberly turn to whether Reform's rise might help the SNP hang on to power in Scotland for even longer. And if Labour ever could be vulnerable in Wales, might new changes to voting next year deliver an upheaval? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 18, 2025 · 1 hr
What's at the root of the grooming gangs scandal?
With Louise Casey's report prompting promises of a national inquiry, the team discuss why it took so long - and whether throwing political blame is distasteful or necessary. Plus: is Israel right to attack Iran and has Israel's attack on Iran wrong-footed Donald Trump? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 13, 2025 · 52 min
Question Time special - have we got what we voted for?
The Not Another One team answer questions from listeners in this special edition of the political podcast. Have we got what we voted for? How does Farage get away with presenting himself as a “man of the people”? What would an AI version of Not Another One sound like? Is there too much focus on the theatre of politics? By rearming are we making the same mistakes leaders made in the run-up to war in 1914? Our team tackle these questions and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 11, 2025 · 51 min
Is Rachel Reeves spending too little or too much?
After a bumpy first year can the comprehensive spending review give the government a clearer sense of direction? There’s the winter fuel payment u-turn, more cash for free school meals, defence, NHS and a pledge to increase capital spending. But some departments face real terms cuts and the economy remains fragile. How is Rachel Reeves going to pay for her plans and will she have to find more money by the autumn? Plus, what’s been happening behind the scenes in Reform and do Sarah Vine’s reflections on the Cameron era have wider lessons? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 6, 2025 · 51 min
What should be on Downing Street's disaster list one year on?
Bracing for an election victory last summer, Keir Starmer and his team were given a memo by Sue Gray, then chief of staff. Dubbed "Sue's s*** list" it warned of six domestic policy disasters waiting to happen. We review and add to it as Labour's challenges grow in office. Plus: our team can’t stop wrangling about the Strategic Defence Review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 4, 2025 · 52 min
Will Labour prioritise defence at the expense of public services and welfare?
The Strategic Defence Review implies significant increases in spending and Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the money will be found but without explaining how. Will any new money for defence be well spent and how will Starmer and Rachel Reeves fund the increases? Is defence a more urgent priority than other needs such as social care and the NHS? What will be the political consequences? And is the UK heading for war or investing to avoid one? We attempt to answer these epic questions and disagree in a constructive spirit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 30, 2025 · 51 min
What if Remain had won the Brexit referendum?
To celebrate the first birthday of the Not Another One podcast, the team discuss whether divisions over the vote would have split the Tory party, whether Labour would have stuck with Corbyn and how policy might be different. With added froth this week as we toast a year of these debates. Thanks to all our listeners. Cheers! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 28, 2025 · 54 min
Is Rachel Reeves losing her control over the government?
After the election the chancellor was the dominant figure in the government. Whatever she wished to announce or implement was announced and implemented. Keir Starmer raised no objections. Now, her winter fuel payment cut is being reversed and Starmer has indicated he supports scrapping the two child benefit cap. Ministers are stirring over cuts being imposed in the public spending round. Is her authority being challenged and what will be the consequences? Plus the team assess Reform’s economic policies and the Tory leadership’s strategic dilemma. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 23, 2025 · 46 min
Is Labour and Tory rebellion stirring?
Keir Starmer announced a u-turn on winter fuel payments in the face of growing backbench discontent this week. There’s also speculation more than 100 Labour MPs will rebel against benefit cuts. Meanwhile, there’s already speculation that Tory MPs might move against Kemi Badenoch. Are MPs more disloyal than they used to be or do they have more cause for insurrection against incompetent party leaderships? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 21, 2025 · 46 min
Is Boris Johnson planning a comeback?
As Keir Starmer and the government seek to improve Britain’s Brexit deal our team ask whether its original architect will soon be returning to lead the Tories? The team explore Starmer’s reset with the EU along with the potentially significant practical and political consequences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 16, 2025 · 46 min
Why Do Leaders’ Soundbites Come To Define Them?
Keir Starmer warns of an “island of strangers” in an attempt to counter the rise of Nigel Farage. What do the PM’s words tell us about him and the policies he was announcing? In this weekend edition our team explore the language of politics. Leaders tend to be identified by a few words- “the lady’s not for turning”, “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime” etc. Yet the words are often far removed from the policies they describe and in some cases the character of the leader. Why are soundbites and key phrases so central to politics and leadership? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 14, 2025 · 58 min
Has Starmer got it right on immigration?
The Prime Minister caused controversy this week when he spoke of the dangers of a lack of integration, saying Britain risked becoming an island of strangers. Has Starmer miscalculated by using the language of Farage? Or is he right? Does he need to be on this terrain using this kind of rhetoric? Our team also ask whether there is any way to fix the UK’s immigration policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 11, 2025 · 38 min
Will Reform destroy the Conservative party?
Often dubbed political history's masters of adapting to survive, the Tories currently face a threat that could be existential. Examining the fallout of the local and mayoral elections we look at what could save them from Farage and offer a bit of advice to Kemi Badenoch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.