OppositionCast

As 2024 draws to a close, Nigel and Sarah present our festive special, looking back on a major year for opposition parties and elections. Amid the Christmas wrapping and mince pies, they look at the moments, campaigns and leaders of the year.

Nigel also heads to the pub to catch up with the editor of the Times Diary for some reflections on the more light-hearted stories 2024 has brought.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern

Theme Music by Tom Hector

As a new Leader of the Opposition, it's important to make a good first impression - and commentators have been quick to give their initial verdicts on Kemi Badenoch. But how did previous opposition leaders present themselves in their very first public statements in the job? Nigel gets back in his TARDIS to find out.

Meanwhile, Sarah has abandoned impartiality and been out supporting the (rather noisy) farmers protests in Westminster. Will the issue resonate with the public? And what are we to make of a recent poll showing Reform UK ahead of Labour?

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Nigel Fletcher

Theme Music by Tom Hector

As the dust settles after Donald Trump's victory in the US Presidential election, our transatlantic election podcasting reaches its finale. Sarah joins us from New York, having been in California for polling day, and gives us her take on how the result went down in Kamala Harris's home state.

Back in London, Nigel runs through the Shadow Cabinet appointments that have now been made by new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and considers the serious challenges they face.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern

Theme Music by Tom Hector

We have a result! The long Conservative leadership contest comes to an end with the election of Kemi Badenoch, who takes over as the new Leader of His Majesty's Opposition. Once again, Nigel Fletcher was in the room where it happened.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the US Presidential Election reaches its climax, and Sarah has travelled to Los Angeles in California for election day. She gives her latest insight on the election campaign, including encountering a crowd of Trump supporters in New York.

Will we have another result this week, or is it going to take a bit longer to know who will win the White House?

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern

Theme Music by Tom Hector

Plot twist! We're back with an extra episode after the final MPs' ballot in the Conservative leadership election produced a shock result that few commentators or politicians saw coming. Nigel was in Committee Room 14 of the House of Commons as the result was read out and talks to Sarah about what might have happened...

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern

Theme Music by Tom Hector

With the sudden resignation at the weekend of the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Sue Gray, what does the turmoil in Number 10 says about how well Labour prepared for government?

And with the party conference season wrapping up last week with the Conservatives in Birmingham, Nigel and Sarah discuss the leadership speeches from the final four candidates, before MPs whittle them down to the final two this week. Plus all the latest on the US election trail from Sarah in Washington DC.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern

Theme Music by Tom Hector

With the Labour Party back in government after 14 years of opposition, Nigel heads up to Liverpool to the party's conference fringe and finds a surprisingly subdued mood, accompanied by dark clouds and driving rain.

We hear analysis from polling guru John Curtice on the outcome of this year's General Election, discussion of the culture wars with More in Common's Luke Tryl, and discussion of the state of the Labour Party and its many new MPs with journalist Michael Crick.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Nigel Fletcher

Theme Music by Tom Hector

It's party conference season, and Sir Ed Davey has kicked things off by arriving at his Lib Dem gathering in Brighton on a jet ski, whilst Nigel Farage has rallied his Reform UK troops in Birmingham.

Over in the USA, it's now over a week since the Trump/Harris debate - has it moved the polls, or is the race still too close to call?

With Sarah in New York and Nigel minding the shop in London, we discuss these topics, and look ahead to the Labour and Conservative conferences.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern

Theme Music by Tom Hector

We're back - and we've gone transatlantic! With the US election looming, Sarah has headed Stateside, and joins us from New York, where she'll be based to provide exclusive coverage and insights into the campaign there. Meanwhile, Nigel remains here in London and has been keeping his eye on Westminster, where Keir Starmer is facing internal opposition from Labour MPs, and the Tory leadership election has kicked off with the first ballot of MPs.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern

Theme Music by Tom Hector

As parliament rises for its summer recess, MPs and politicos will be getting a bit of a break after a tumultuous few months. Though not if they're one of the six Conservative leadership contenders who made it onto the ballot when nominations closed this week. They now have just a month to win over supporters before the first knock-out stages begin on the 4th September when parliament returns.

In this episode, Nigel and Sarah discuss the challenge facing the candidates vying to be Leader of the Opposition, and how difficult a position the Conservative Party is in. They also run through the long list of 40 bills announced by the new government in The King's Speech.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern

Theme Music by Tom Hector