Planet Normal

Joining Liam for a very special Planet Normal exclusive interview is the front-runner in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch.

Fresh from announcing her bid, the MP for North West Essex joins Liam to discuss immigration, trade deals and how she thinks she can take the party forwards as leader of the opposition.

Also joining them is former Tory MP for Bournemouth Conor Burns who discusses his experience in light of the recent bullying allegations against Kemi.

Watch full length video with Kemi: https://youtu.be/kTmXlNHheXo

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

Read: Kemi Badenoch Interview https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/08/02/kemi-badenoch-interview-integration-tory-leadership/ |

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

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 |

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It’s summer on Planet Normal so in this the first of the three part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.

Back in January, just after the realities of the Post Office Scandal had come to the fore courtesy of a hard-hitting ITV drama, Allison spoke to an anonymous insider from Fujitsu, the Japanese company that designed and managed the Horizon online accounting system that had caused so many problems for Post Office Sub-Postmaster trying to balance their books.

“Robin” - not their real name - worked at Fujitsu in the mid 2000s and filled Allison in on what they experienced.

And then, in April, Planet Normal listeners were joined by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman who told us about the barriers she faced when trying to tackle the surge in UK immigration - and her frustration with then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Two very revealing interviews!

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

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

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 |

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The rocket blasts off for a final voyage before its summer break but there’s no shortage of madness to navigate before then.

What did your co-pilots make of Keir Starmer’s first outing at Prime Minister’s Questions? Not to mention the political developments from across the pond..

Allison isn’t impressed with the front runners in the Conservative party leadership contest. Nor the Labour party’s two child benefit cap which Liam believes the implications of which could potentially hamper growth.

Strapping into the cockpit again as the rocket streams towards the Olympics is former professional swimmer and Olympian Sharron Davies who drops by to discuss her book in the build up to the celebration of sporting excellence.

And Allison shares some worrying observations from her recent trip to A and E.

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

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

Read Allison: ‘My Soviet A&E ordeal shows there’s no compassion left in the dead-eyed NHS’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/07/23/no-compassion-left-in-the-nhs/ |

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 |

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Joining Liam in the cockpit this week for a very special extended interview is Professor Matthew Goodwin. 

As the rocket blasts into a new political era with a Labour government at the helm, Matthew explains why he thinks Keir Starmer’s party could be unpopular very quickly, and debates with Liam how the Conservative Party could pull back a vital share of voters that they lost to Reform UK.

Our popular analyst also gives his take on the political antics happening across the pond, and why he thinks Donald Trump is in an especially strong position, more so after the assassination attempt on him.

There’s also time for co-pilot Halligan to have a brief burrow in the Planet Normal mailbag.

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

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

Subscribe to Matthew’s substack here: https://substack.com/@mattgoodwin |

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 |

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After a Labour landslide win (as predicted by your co-pilots) the rocket orbits into a new political galaxy, but is it the same old madness?

Allison delivers some hard truths to the Conservative party whom she thinks deserve ‘oblivion’ should they fail to come to the ‘correct conclusion’ on their new leader.

Whereas Liam thinks the Tories need to take their time when deciding their next leader and think carefully about the rules of the contest.

Joining your co-pilots on the rocket this week is former advisor to the Labour Party, John McTernan, who gives his take on the incoming Labour government and why he thinks their new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, might need to think about bending some fiscal rules…

And there’s a very inspired email from one listener…

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

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

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.

This episode of Planet Normal was recorded on Wednesday the 3rd July before the polls opened for the general election.

Six weeks of election campaigning have come to an end and what a campaign it has been, with no shortage of political gaffes on either side of the Channel as the first round of voting in France has National Rally, formerly headed by Marine LePen, on the cusp of power and Macron’s gamble backfiring.

Meanwhile across the pond the co-pilots give their thoughts on the debate between President Biden and Donald Trump. Allison thinks Donald Trump looks a more plausible choice, but only compared to a more frail appearing Joe Biden. Whilst Liam points out a possible advantage for Donald Trump is that he won’t go to the polls as a convicted felon after the Supreme Court Ruling earlier this week. 

Joining your co-pilots in the cockpit to discuss the first round of voting in France is journalist Anne-Elisabeth Moutet who gives your co-pilots a lesson in French politics and how Jordan Bardella has captured the minds of younger voters.

And the notorious ‘Bob the bard’ returns to the rocket…

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

Read Liam: This is the one glaring omission from this election’s endless debates: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/06/30/when-it-comes-discussing-lockdown-politicians-are-on-mute/ |

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

Read: Allison Pearson meets Nigel Farage: ‘Kemi Badenoch was very unpleasant’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/02/allison-pearson-meets-nigel-farage-general-election-2024/ |

Read more from Anne-Elisabeth: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/26/emmanuel-macron-may-soon-resign/ |

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 |

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The temperature is heating up on the rocket this week, as the whole country basks in a heatwave but is the election shade being thrown threatening to spoil your co-pilots fun in the sun?

Allison spills the beans on her trip to the campaign trail with Reform UK Leader, Nigel Farage and claims that, in her view, a vote for the party isn’t a wasted one.

Whilst Liam is worried about the potential judiciary changes an incoming Labour government might make and the effect they could have on our democracy.

Joining your co-pilots for a return mission on the rocket is journalist Peter Hitchens who gives his take on the political landscape in the week before the big election.

And co-pilot Pearson weighs in with her weekly update from the Euros football tournament…

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

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

Read Allison: ‘Reform puts British people first – how is that a wasted vote?’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/06/25/reform-britain-wasted-vote/ |

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 |

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With the rocket hurtling towards the election, what do its inhabitants make of the latest manifesto madness?

In light of the latest inflation figures Liam thinks the Conservatives need to be more honest about tax hikes, whilst Allison thinks that Reform’s policies are what should have been in the Conservative Party Manifesto, and might help pull back some disillusioned voters.

Also joining your co-pilots for a return mission to the rocket is journalist and the Social Democratic Party candidate for Middlesbrough South, Rod Liddle, who gives the co-pilots an update on his campaign and the ‘soft’ deal his party has struck with Reform UK.

And is it coming home? Allison gives her take on the Euros…

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

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

Read Allison ‘Watching England with my menfolk introduced me to some odd rituals – and Gary Lineker’s Next range’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/06/19/england-euro-2024-gary-lineker-next-range-bbc/ |

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 |

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In this episode of Planet Normal, your co-pilots strap into the rocket with Leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage. In a true rocket grilling Nigel responds to people saying his party is racist, reveals how many votes he expects to win at the upcoming election, and if he really would stand down candidates in Tory marginal seats.

Also on this episode with Labour heading for a big majority, what do your co-pilots make of the party manifestos hitting the headlines this week?

Liam thinks the Tory manifesto is more about keeping the Party together than appealing to the electorate. Whilst Allison thinks that the incoming Labour government could soon ‘come a cropper’ even with a storming majority…

And did Allison manage to return from her holiday to Turkey without another furry friend, listen to find out…

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

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

Read Allison ‘Nigel Farage is already the leader of the Conservatives’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/06/11/allison-pearson-nigel-farage-conservatives-leader/ |

Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/10/farage-hoping-to-gatecrash-sunak-starmer-debates/

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 |

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Whilst co-pilot Pearson takes a well earned break from the rocket Liam is joined by a temporary co-pilot and fellow right thinker, Baroness Claire Fox.

Political fur is flying in wake of the first election television debate,  but who do Claire and Liam think came out on top?

Claire thinks that the competing parties are underestimating the needs of the electorate in their mandate material. Whilst Liam thinks the parties aren’t doing enough to convince the public of their long term economic security, post election.

Also boarding the rocket to give an insight into election tactics from the Labour camp is Former Head of Broadcasting for the Labour Party Matthew Laza, who dishes out some advice for the party.

And what does Baroness Fox make of the politics from across the pond?

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

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

Read more from Claire: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/c/ck-co/claire-fox/ |

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.