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

May 7, 2025 · 47 min
Can Labour Recover?
Labour suffered a by-election defeat and serious losses in the local elections with previous supporters backing parties on the left and Reform. Do Starmer, McSweeneh and Reeves carry on as before or change tack? Are they capable of recognising the scale of the challenge and navigating a way through to a second term? Later in the week we’ll discuss whether the Tories are doomed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 2, 2025 · 50 min
Listener question time special edition
Our team take questions from regular listeners in this weekend special edition. Tim, how can you defend Trump? Steve, was there anything Liz Truss got right? Miranda, why are you hanging around with these people? Iain, do you regret Brexit? When was the last time any of you changed your mind? These questions and many more are answered by the team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 30, 2025 · 54 min
Is Nigel Farage on the edge of a historic breakthrough?
Reform is expected to make sweeping gains in the local elections and to win the Runcorn by-election in a previously safe Labour seat. Will this signal a seismic and permanent change in the political landscape or are these elections a fleeting protest against the government and the Conservatives? Why is this happening and what will be the consequences? Plus, what Canada’s election results and the victory of Mark Carney mean. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 25, 2025 · 39 min
Do religion and politics mix?
The death of Pope Francis prompts a host of questions for our team about what separates faith leaders from political leaders. Should politicians "do God" and where does morality come in to the equation? In our weekend magazine edition, the team wrestle with the relationship between religion and temporal affairs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 23, 2025 · 54 min
What is the biggest challenge facing Starmer's government?
With MPs back at Westminster this week, we ask which bit of the government in tray looks more scary: the domestic fiscal squeeze and search for growth or the epoch making shifts in geopolitics? And our team ask whether voters will make any allowances for the international backdrop if things don't get better on the home front. Plus, a regular listener has sent us a cake and a note which sparks an important, serious discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 19, 2025 · 1 hr
How is the political year going so far?
In an Easter special, our team assess the fortunes of the government and opposition parties since the start of 2025. How is Keir Starmer adapting to power and dealing with Donald Trump? Can Reform build on its strong showing in the polls? What are the pitfalls for Nigel Farage? How bad is the situation for the Tories? And what of Ed Davey and the Lib Dems and the SNP in Scotland? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 16, 2025 · 48 min
Is the UK government right to take control of British Steel?
All the main parties backed some form of state intervention to save the Scunthorpe steel plant. Does this rare consensus mark a new era of the active state? Plus, the wider implications of the refuse strike in Birmingham. And which of us refers most to Mrs Thatcher in the podcast? A listener has monitored every podcast to provide the answer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 11, 2025 · 47 min
What’s at stake in the May local elections?
Opinion polls often determine the political mood but now party leaders face the first set of elections since the general election, and a by-election. If the polls are right, Reform is set to make a significant breakthrough in local government and the Conservatives face another electoral hammering. How significant is this campaign at a local and national level? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 7, 2025 · 53 min
How will Trump tariffs and market chaos change the US and the world?
The market impact of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff war has been dramatic and disastrous already. The team asks whether Trump's political and corporate backers, and American voters, will stick with him or peel off as the ride becomes scary. Will he back down? Plus, how can and should the UK respond to Trump "unleashed"? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 4, 2025 · 56 min
Does any party care for the poor?
With Labour targeting “working people” and implementing benefit cuts, and their opponents seeking to woo the better off who vote reliably, are the poor being left behind? Plus, a related issue, as supermarkets close their cafes and fracturing social media flourishes where are the institutions that bind communities together? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 2, 2025 · 47 min
Has Starmer mishandled Trump?
With Trump on the verge of announcing tarrifs and negotiating sympathetically with Putin where does this leaves Starmer’s polite diplomacy? Are other leaders more effective in taking an aggressive stance? Plus our take on Ed Davey riding a toy horse to launch his party’s local election campaign and Le Pen’s route to the presidency being blocked dramatically. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 28, 2025 · 43 min
Trump’s never ending running commentary- genius communication or dangerously reckless?
Trump is unique for many reasons. One of them is his public projection, his near permanent presence on the TV screen commentating on his own presidency, updating on sensitive negotiations and announcing new ideas that are far from concrete policies. Compare him with other presidents who restrict their appearances to the point they can be close to silent or invisible for relatively long periods of time. What will be the consequences of Trump’s freakish ubiquity and are there lessons for more reticent leaders sticking to the old ways when they convey their messages? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 26, 2025 · 53 min
What would we do if we were Rachel Reeves?
In another pivotal week for the Labour Chancellor our team discuss the degree to which Reeves is trapped and explore the options available. Our suggestions range widely and there is no consensus in the podcast around any of them, other than agreement that the Chancellor is in trouble. Our team ask: how long will Reeves be Chancellor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 21, 2025 · 45 min
How should leaders manage divided parties?
In our weekend magazine edition the team delve deep on the question of divided parties. The British system, with first past the post and traditionally dominant large parties, rests on leaders being effective party managers. Does Keir Starmer have a strategy for managing tensions and splits in Labour? Can Kemi Badenoch hold the Tories together? And can Nigel Farage manage the growing pains of Reform? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 19, 2025 · 45 min
Starmer’s Welfare reform - bold radicalism or chaotic and shallow?
Liz Kendall has announced £5 billion of benefit cut but are her proposals an historic reform of welfare or driven speedily by Rachel Reeves’ need to meet her fiscal rules and Number Ten’s desire to please voters who support cuts in benefits ? What are the wider political implications? Starmer has a landslide Commons majority and largely pliant ministers but on this parts of his party are stirring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 14, 2025 · 47 min
Will Trump make the UK fall out of love with America?
Are the policies of the new administration causing an anti-American backlash? And how will European governments respond? The Brits may need to recalibrate in spite of decades spend standing "shoulder to shoulder" with the US. Post-Brexit, is this geography re-asserting itself or a blip? Includes our top American cultural influences from movies to music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 12, 2025 · 47 min
Is it all over for Reform?
Nigel’s Farage’s insurgent party is mired in infighting with Rupert Lowe MP having had the whip withdrawn. Is this row a minor spat or does it point to a bigger battle over the future direction of the party? Is Reform going to struggle to broaden its support heading towards the next election? Or are the old parties so disliked by the electorate that British politics is in for even more upheaval from Reform and other insurgent forces? Our team discuss all this and more in the latest episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 6, 2025 · 48 min
Can political journalism keep up with events?
In the middle of a blizzard of news, the team debate the best sources of analysis, perspective and context to help make sense of the current acceleration of history. With listening and reading recommendations (and a glass of wine for Steve). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 5, 2025 · 49 min
Trump crisis: Is Keir Starmer playing a blinder?
With events moving fast and the US President suspending military aid to Ukraine, Britain’s Prime Minister has been widely praised. Our team discuss his handling of the crisis and the British diplomatic effort to keep the US in Europe. What are the risks for Starmer? And why have the opposition parties taken such contrasting approaches to JD Vance’s controversial comments? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 28, 2025 · 57 min
Is Trumpism contagious?
With Germany's election results highlighting the rise of populist parties across western democracies, the team take a broad look at the roots of the malaise feeding outsider parties of both left and right, including Reform UK. Is there common ground on how to address it? Or do new divides on issues such as net zero mean we are headed for even more polarisation? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.