An increasing number of MPs have reported an increase in the level of personal abuse, threats and intimidation they have received in recent years. Some of them, including Mike Freer MP, have cited it as a reason for choosing to stand down from Parliament.

Most seriously, we have seen in the last decade the brutal murder of two MPs, Jo Cox in 2016 and Sir David Amess in 2021, as they went about their constituency duties.

Politics inevitably involves strong disagreements and passionately-held views, which are often expressed forcibly.

How can we maintain a robust and lively political debate whilst reducing the amount of unacceptable abuse MPs and their staff receive?

In this episode, Nigel speaks to the Chair of the Jo Cox Foundation, the former Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, about the recent report of their Civility Commission, which examines many of these issues.

Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher

Theme Music by Tom Hector

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

We're back! With 2024 shaping up to be a dramatic year for politics in the UK and around the world, we're kicking off a new series of OppositionCast, beginning with a look at preparations for a potential change of government.

This week Sir Keir Starmer has written to the Cabinet Secretary to formally request the beginning of "Access talks" - the process by which the Official Opposition meets senior civil servants to discuss their plans for government. The Institute for Government has a new report out on the subject, and earlier this month held a panel discussion about preparations for government. IfG Programme Director Dr Catherine Haddon joins Nigel to discuss this and her thoughts on the current process.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies .

Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher

Theme Music by Tom Hector

An unscheduled EMERGENCY episode (!) prompted by the resignation of senior Civil Servant Sue Gray to take up a job as Chief of Staff to the Labour Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer.

Featuring the government's response in the House of Commons to an urgent Question on the subject, Keir Starmer's awkward radio interview about it, and a look at the challenges of running the Leader's office with contributions from our archive interviews with Charles Clarke, Tina Stowell and Kate Fall.

Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher

New Year, new episodes! An update from Nigel Fletcher on our plans for the podcast in 2023, including more topical content and a focus on the UK's opposition parties as they prepare for the next General Election.

In the meantime, check out the Leaders of the Opposition feature from Times Radio in 2022, with Nigel speaking to Matt Chorley about each of the leaders who failed to make it to Number 10. Available now as a series of 11 bonus episodes of The Times's Red Box Politics Podcast.

Finally, tell us what you think of OppositionCast and your ideas for future episodes - email [email protected].

Look forward to hearing from you!

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher

With protests continuing on the streets of Iran against the country's authoritarian regime, and the Ukrainian people continuing their defiance in the face of Russia's invasion, different forms of opposition continue to be manifested around the world. In this episode Nigel talks to foreign policy expert Garvan Walshe about the resistance being shown in these three countries and their prospects for success.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies

Presenter: Dr Nigel Fletcher

Theme Music: Tom Hector

As the Conservative Party suffers a collapse in its opinion poll rating, Nigel speaks to pollster Chris Curtis of Opinium Research about how bad it is for the government, and what it means for the Labour Party. We also hear from Professor Jane Green of Nuffield College Oxford in her keynote address to our Opposition Studies Conference, given in July during a previous political crisis...

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies.

Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher.

OppositionCast Theme Music by Tom Hector.

There is a new mood of confidence around the Labour Party as it takes a substantial lead in the opinion polls and begins thinking seriously about the prospect of power. Nigel Fletcher reports from the Labour Party Conference on Sir Keir Starmer's speech, and talks to guests including Professor Jane Green, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee Meg Hillier MP, and Dr Catherine Haddon of the Institute for Government.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies.

Presenter: Dr Nigel Fletcher

Theme Music: Tom Hector

In this special episode, we pay tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the week of her State Funeral. Nigel reflects on the relationship between the Queen and her Leaders of the Opposition, with archive contributions from the current and former Leaders of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.

The episode also includes clips from the 1992 BBC documentary "Elizabeth R - A year in the life of The Queen".

Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher

Theme Music: Tom Hector.

This episode features extracts from the first Opposition Studies Conference, held in July 2022 at King's College London. Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Chair of the Centre for Opposition Studies, gives the opening address, followed by Professor Lord Norton, who speaks on "Making Sense of Opposition". The two peers then join a panel for a discussion on the role of the House of Lords in Opposition.

Presenter: Dr Nigel Fletcher

Theme Music by Tom Hector

The Labour Party, perhaps more than other parties, has a keen sense of its own history. In this episode we discuss the role of Labour's mythology -its heroes, villains and legends. Joining Nigel for this episode is Anthony Broxton, a political historian who founded and runs the Tides of History blog on Labour Party history (tidesofhistory.com).

Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher

Theme Music: Tom Hector

Research Assistant: Iman Abdel-Haq