Planet Normal

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VyLxbLsnrqY

The rocket of right thinking is back as the co-pilots tackle a turbulent week in British and American politics, from Donald Trump's midterm election defeat to Andy Burnham's latest interventions and Shabana Mahmood's immigration climbdown.

Liam and Allison discuss the Democrats' sweeping victory in the US midterm elections and what it means for Donald Trump's presidency, while noting Britain's mounting economic pressures and the prospect of an early general election.

Meanwhile, Allison takes aim at Shabana Mahmood's watered-down immigration reforms and discusses the disturbing murder of teenager Henry Novak and his family's treatment by police in the aftermath.

Stowing away this week is Poundland founder Steve Smith, who reflects on building one of Britain's best-known discount retailers and explains why he believes the embattled high street chain can, and must, be saved amid fears of its move towards administration.

Highlights

• Donald Trump and the Democrats' sweeping US midterm election victory
• Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms and indefinite leave to remain
• Poundland founder Steve Smith on the retailer's financial crisis and future

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘Anti-white racism in the police is laid bare by the treatment of Henry Nowak’s family’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/03/allison-pearson-anti-white-racism-police-henry-nowak/ |

Read Allison ‘Labour is forcing me to prepare for a disaster of its own making’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/27/labour-forcing-me-prepare-disaster/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘Nothing-burger Budget will leave a bad taste’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/11/01/nothing-burger-budget-will-leave-a-bad-taste/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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The rocket of right thinking is back for a crucial Budget Special as Chancellor John Healey delivers his low-key first budget amidst mounting economic pressure.

Joining the co-pilots to unpack the reality behind the numbers is the brilliant Telegraph columnist, Roger Bootle, who assesses Britain's fragile fiscal health, rising bond yields, and the hidden costs of net-zero policies.

Liam dives into the underwhelming fiscal statement, the reality of soaring debt interest payments, and the political calculations behind a potential early general election.

Meanwhile Allison and Roger dissect the widening gap between official economic forecasts and the harsh daily struggles of hardworking taxpayers, alongside updates on Allison’s survivalist prepping.

Highlights

• Planet Normal: Budget reaction special
• Allison and Liam are joined by Telegraph columnist, Roger Bootle

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘The horror of Aberfan will never die, but neither will the humanity’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/21/horror-aberfan-never-die-neither-humanity/ |

Read Allison ‘Labour is forcing me to prepare for a disaster of its own making’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/27/labour-forcing-me-prepare-disaster/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘No time for schadenfreude if French bonds blow up first’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/25/no-time-for-schadenfreude-if-french-bonds-blow-up-first/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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] |

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You can watch this episode in full on YouTube:

Recorded live in front of a packed room at the Battle of Ideas Festival in Westminster, your co-pilots are joined by two special guests to help them tackle the week’s biggest cultural and economical flashpoints.

Liam opens by examining widespread European unrest and the mounting fiscal pressures facing the UK as the October budget approaches, drawing parallels to the 1976 IMF bailout. Will it end up being a tale of two Healeys?

Meanwhile, Allison dives into the looming threat of power cuts, the staggering costs of propping up a rickety national energy grid, and her new obsession with survivalist prepping.

Joining Allison and Liam onstage are Lucy Connolly who discusses her new book A Tweet Too Far, alongside Cambridge professor Robert Tombs, who breaks down the ongoing battles over British History and free speech.

Highlights

• Planet Normal: Live at The Battle of Ideas
• Allison and Liam are joined by Cambridge professor Robert Tombs and Lucy Connolly

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘Suspend asylum and save Britain before it’s too late’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/13/allison-pearson-suspend-asylum-claims-nigel-farage/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘Crazy diesel prices are a misfortune of our own making’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/18/crazy-diesel-prices-are-a-misfortune-of-our-own-making/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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] |

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You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qiNe1Vw1fBY

With the October Budget looming larger on the horizon, your co-pilots are cutting through all the noise to deliver the big talking points this week and are joined on the Rocket of right thinking by a very special guest.

Liam dives into Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s recent comments on The Rest is Politics, where he reopened the Brexit debate and claimed Russian interference in the 2016 referendum, drawing public rebuke from MI5 boss Ken McCallum.

Meanwhile, Allison addresses the ongoing warnings of potential power cuts amidst the mounting crisis surrounding the UK’s energy infrastructure, by sharing her new hobby of disaster prepping.

Plus stepping into the Rocket this week is Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, who discusses a range of topics including a policy announcement on asylum claims and personal threats to his security.

• Planet Normal: Bringing back Brexit? You must be Joking
• Guest Nigel Farage: The Reform UK leader assesses Asylum policy, small boats and security threats to politicians on the right

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Buy your ticket for the Battle of Ideas: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/battle-of-ideas-festival-tickets-2026/ |

Read Allison ‘Suspend asylum and save Britain before it’s too late’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/13/allison-pearson-suspend-asylum-claims-nigel-farage/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘The battle of ideas looming over the British economy’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/11/the-battle-of-ideas-looming-over-the-british-economy/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4ZZZoH77k14

Another week, another conference and the October Budget looms but mere weeks away… however your co-pilots wade through the slurry to bring you the tasty news morsels.

Liam shares his direct observations from the Troy conference floor, assessing the party’s mood, policy direction, and leadership.

Meanwhile, Allison addresses the rising tide of antisemitism and highlights her latest Telegraph column marking the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Strapping in this week is financial expert John Banerjee who tells your co-pilot why the UK is lagging behind in energy policy and how it could affect our opportunity to become a leader in AI…

Highlights

• Planet Normal: Labour’s energy insecurity intensifies
• October 7 Anniversary: Allison reflects on her column marking three years since the Hamas attacks.
• Guest John Banerjee: The former macro trader assesses Britain's fiscal health and energy infrastructure.
• Energy Security: The co-pilots discuss Britain's fragile energy grid

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Buy your ticket for the Battle of Ideas: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/battle-of-ideas-festival-tickets-2026/ |

Read Allison ‘The horrors of Oct 7 are still seared into my mind. Why won’t the West wake up?’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/06/october-7-horrors/ |

Read Allison ‘Suella Braverman: My immigrant family was too proud for benefits’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/04/suella-braverman-my-father-was-too-proud-to-go-on-the-dole/ |

Read Allison ‘Is Richard E Grant a Machiavellian schemer or a giddy fool?’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/02/richard-e-grant-celebrity-traitors-schemer-or-fool/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘Burnham’s conference speech was detached from fiscal reality’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/04/burnhams-conference-speech-was-detached-from-fiscal-reality/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZeBZTYZaSTE

Your Planet Normal co-pilots return to a tsunami of news, promises from Labour conference and Andy Burnham to ease the nations finances and is the Home Secretary watering down her own migration policies?

Allison takes aim at the PM’s pledges, calling them nothing but empty words and laying blame so far in the past you’d be forgiven for not realising we have had successive failures from Government since the 70s.

Liam delves into the costing of the social care promises and how scrapping the triple lock, in favour of a double lock, will work in reality.

Stowing away is former Home Secretary Suella Braverman who tells your co pilots about her life, politics and career in her new book, ‘Patriot: Empire, betrayal, and hope’.

Highlights

• Planet Normal: Burnham’s false hope economics
• Social care plans fall flat
• Shabana Mahmood waters down immigration plans
• Triple lock scrapped, but will it balance any books

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Buy Suella’s book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/patriot/suella-braverman/9781918944044 |

Buy your ticket for the Battle of Ideas: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/battle-of-ideas-festival-tickets-2026/ |

Watch ‘Stirling Series | The SAS: The Past, Present and Future of UK Special Forces’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELisq0gwlqY |

Read Allison ‘Suella Braverman: My immigrant family was too proud for benefits’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/04/suella-braverman-my-father-was-too-proud-to-go-on-the-dole/ |

Read Allison ‘Is Richard E Grant a Machiavellian schemer or a giddy fool?’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/02/richard-e-grant-celebrity-traitors-schemer-or-fool/ |

Read Allison ‘Now more than ever, we must stand up for the SAS’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/29/stand-up-for-sas/ |

Read Allison ‘Strictly won’t survive if it carries on selling out for the youth audience’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/26/allison-pearson-strictly-youth-pandering/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘Trump’s diesel ban would be a disaster – for Britain and the White House’’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/09/27/trumps-diesel-ban-disaster-britain-white-house/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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] |

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You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3pSGqJiJryw

This week on Planet Normal, co-pilots Halligan and Pearson, shed some light on the risk of a blackout Britain this winter…

Liam targets Labour’s attacks on industrialists like Sir Jim Ratcliffe, arguing that dismissing wealth creators as ‘tax exiles’ ignores their massive tax and employment contributions.

Meanwhile, Allison takes aim at Andy Burnham’s new National Centre for Information Defence, dubbed the ‘Ministry of Truth’, arguing Labour is labelling public outrage over energy bills and illegal immigration as ‘misinformation’ rather than addressing core failures.

Strapping into the rocket this week is former RAF pilot and engineer Richard Lyons who talks your co-pilots through his new book, The Energy Trap: Why the renewable energy transition can’t work - and what can….

Highlights

• Planet Normal: The green blob is choking the life out of the UK
• Allison dismantles the government's "misinformation" centre
• Labour's failings will cause blackouts this winter
• Alarm over the government's borrowing costs

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read more from Richard: https://richardlyon.substack.com/ |

Read Allison ‘Make no mistake earl Spencer is on a mission to destroy the King’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/22/earl-spencer-destroy-king-destabilise-monarchy/ |

Read Allison ‘Net zero is a national suicide pact’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/20/net-zero-is-a-national-suicide-pact/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘The Bank of England is being far too timid’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/09/20/the-bank-of-england-is-being-far-too-timid/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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] |

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RAjUcNkPlok

This week on Planet Normal, co-pilots Halligan and Pearson, strap into the rocket of right thinking to tackle growing unrest over border policies and fragile public finances.

Allison breaks down local outrage in Braintree, Essex, over the housing of asylum seekers in RAF Wethersfield and highlights the broader national backlash against housing illegal migrants on former military bases, pointing to Piddington's 90% vote for independence. 

Meanwhile, Liam takes aim at Labour's attacks on Reform UK's £36 million tech donations, while analysing Angela Rayner’s lukewarm TUC address and sounding the alarm over soaring oil prices and bond market turmoil. 

Stowing away on the rocket this week is Russell Quirk, deputy leader of Essex County Council, who exposes conditions inside RAF Wethersfield and explains why private security guards have been deployed in some areas in Essex.

Highlights

• Planet Normal: Piddington protest and the party donations dispute
• Backlash grows against housing illegal migrants on military bases. 
• Labour's hypocritical attack on Reform UK's private funding.
• Soaring oil prices and Britain's worsening sovereign debt crisis

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Allison ‘These OAPs want to save their town from a flood of migrants – the Left calls them ‘far-Right’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/15/pensioners-battle-stop-male-migrants-braintree/ |

Read Allison ‘Spare us the righteousness, Ed Miliband. You’re a disgrace‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/13/ed-miliband-israel-sanctions-disgrace/ |

Read Liam ‘Burnham is not the tough-minded leader Britain needs‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/09/13/burnham-is-not-the-tough-minded-leader-britain-needs/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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.

You can watch this episode in full on Youtube: https://youtu.be/iZkeL-6UtSQ

This week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Halligan and Pearson, strap into the rocket of right thinking to tackle a tumultuous news agenda.

Allison argues following migrant protests in Portsmouth and Dover, that while black masks are wrong, millions of Brits share the anger over cross-channel immigration. She also takes aim at falling school standards in Wales and Scotland, and sounds the alarm over Ed Miliband’s foreign policy moves against Israel. 

Meanwhile, Liam analyses the electoral earthquake in Saxony-Anhalt, where Germany's AfD swept 44% of the vote. And Fresh from the Reform UK conference in Birmingham, the duo dissects the appearance of France's Jordan Bardella alongside the fallout from Channel 4’s undercover sting. 

Stowing away on the rocket this week is author Ross Clark, who joins to discuss his new book, Britain Is Bust: The Coming Sovereign Debt Crisis and What It Means for You. Ross breaks down the nation's ballooning debt and rising bond yields

Highlights

• Planet Normal: Boat-load of trouble: Channel fury, Israel sanctions & broke Britain
• Unpacking the migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth. 
• Warning over Ed Miliband’s stance on Israel.
• Ross Clark joins to discuss why Britain is bust and a sovereign debt crisis looms. 

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Allison ‘The ‘poison’ on Britain’s streets is a failure by the political class’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/08/poison-streets-failure-political-class/ |

Read Allison ‘The Church of England has abandoned its mission in the UK‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/06/the-church-of-england-has-lost-its-way/ |

Read Liam ‘Only spending cuts can rescue Britain’s economy‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/09/06/only-spending-cuts-can-rescue-britains-economy/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Djl86k1PyYw

Co-pilots Halligan and Pearson strap back into the rocket of right thinking after their summer break to tackle Prime Minister Andy Burnham's PMQs debut.

Allison slams Burnham’s ‘vibes-based’ leadership, warning that starry-eyed optimism won't fix record-high energy bills or a million unemployed youth. Meanwhile, Liam sounds the alarm on spiralling bond yields and a debt interest time bomb that’s set to blow up the upcoming October budget.

Also on the radar: the duo rate Kemi Badenoch’s Shadow Cabinet reshuffle, debate the right-wing battle for welfare cuts, plus, nostalgic listener mailbags and a sobering reality check from a 26-year-old geophysics grad facing redundancy thanks to Britain's brutal North Sea tax policy.

Joining your co-pilots is Reform UK’s Richard Tice to talk Net Zero, tax cuts, and why pre-election pacts are completely off the table. 

Highlights

• Planet Normal: ‘Fair-weather’ Burnham faces a growing economic storm
• Allison dismantles Andy Burnham's leadership 
• Liam issues a dire warning about the bond markets
• Richard Tice joins to discuss Reform UK's economic strategy, energy policy, and election approach

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Allison ‘Burnham is terrified Badenoch will expose him as a third-rate court jester’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/09/01/allison-pearson-burnham-scared-badenoch-will-expose-him/ |

Read Allison ‘My top 10 tips to avoid paying Burnham’s spiteful mansion tax‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/30/tips-to-avoid-paying-burnhams-spiteful-mansion-tax/ |

Read Liam ‘La belle France could edge the bond market’s ugly contest‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/08/30/la-belle-france-could-edge-the-bond-markets-ugly-contest/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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.