Planet Normal

It’s business as usual this week as the rocket launches back into action after its Christmas hiatus. And your co-pilots are not short of opinions on the latest scandal.

The political and media class are finally waking up to the Post Office Scandal, drawn attention to by the airing of a recent ITV drama and your co-pilots are naturally incensed at the rife injustice of the situation.

Allison questions if this could be the UK’s Watergate moment whilst Liam thinks that it's worse because this scandal involves punishing innocent people who don't have the means to defend themselves.

Also joining your co-pilots on their first voyage of the year is Deputy leader of political party Reform UK, Ben Habib, who shares his concerns for a Labour victory at the next general election and where he thinks it all went wrong for the current Conservative Party.

And co-pilot Pearson shares her New Year’s resolutions, but has she been keeping to them?

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: ‘The Post Office scandal has exposed Britain as a hotbed of cronyism and corruption: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/01/09/post-office-scandal-mr-bates-horizon-paula-vennell/ |

Read Liam: ‘The Tories have failed to address one of the biggest scandals in the City’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/12/17/tories-failed-address-biggest-city-london-scandals/ |

Listen to Battle Lines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/battle-lines/ |

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 In this the second of a two part series, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan dig into the data files for some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking, from 2023.

The rocket featured many unique interviews from stowaways from many different worldly professions. In September the rocket also had a visit from former PM Liz Truss who stopped by to tell our co-pilots  why current PM Rishi Sunak needs to ditch the 2030 Net Zero target in favour of more traditional conservative policies, also taking a candid look back at her own brief premiership.

Back in October, in light of the shocking events happening in the Middle East, the rocket welcomed IDF soldier Ben who gave his personal account of the harrowing events happening on the ground in Israel. 

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/ |

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

In this the first of a two part series, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan dig into the data files for some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking, from 2023.

The rocket featured many guest appearances from big names in politics including previous Home Secretary, Priti Patel, live from the Conservative party Conference in October. She shared her thoughts on the ‘woke blob’ running Whitehall, and her hopes for a Tory victory in 2024.

Throughout 2023 your co-pilots have prided themselves in championing unheard voices and in October the rocket welcomed former head teacher Mike Fairclough who shared his heartbreaking and shocking story of how he has been ostracised and disgraced as a teacher for giving his opinion on school closures and vaccinations at his former place of work.

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/ |

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

The bells are ringing, the Christmas spirit has well and truly hit the rocket. Joining your co-pilots in looking back at the highs and lows of 2023 as well as giving their predictions for 2024 is Telegraph columnists Con Coughlin and Tim Stanley. Was 2023 the year of immigration? Is the Tory party as we know it finished? And what’s on the cards for European politics and elsewhere across the world next year? Only this rocket has the answers.

Co-pilot Pearson has her gongs at the ready but who will be the worthy winner of the Allison Pearson ‘Hell Bent on Extinction’ award, the abuse of the English language award and finally the ‘For God’s Sake Make it Stop’ Award? 

And your co-pilots open the rocket’s mailbag for the final time this year.

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 awards for 2023: from Michelle Mone to Harry and Meghan, it was a year of utter shamelessness’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2023/12/20/michellle-mone-harry-and-meghan-awards-for-2023/ |

Listen to Battle Lines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/battle-lines/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

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The Tory tribes are at war over the Rwanda Bill, but who will emerge victorious? One thing is for sure, these party politics aren’t very festive at all…

Co-pilot Pearson has polished her crystal ball and is ready to predict which way the party is going to swing in the immigration debate. She thinks there is a huge gulf between the ruling class and the rest of the Country which could allow opportunity for the smaller new parties to thrive.

Whilst Liam questions the Country’s movement to the Centre Left in comparison to other European countries recently electing more Centre Right leaders, and if this in turn could cause our potential exit from the ECHR.

Strapping into the rocket this week for a chat is Historian Matthew Parker who drops by reveal the stories behind his latest novel ‘One Fine Day, Britain's Empire on the Brink'.

And Velma is back with a storming stat of the week…

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 the Telegraph’s Review of Matthew Parker’s book:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/one-fine-day-matthew-parker-review-empire-history/ |

Listen to Battle Lines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/battle-lines/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

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For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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This episode was recorded before the resignation of Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick.

The lettuce has returned, could PM Rishi Sunak be heading for a similar demise as his predecessor Liz Truss? And would the Conservative party be mad enough to change leader AGAIN before the next general election? Both your co-pilots place their bets.

Meanwhile the Tory Cabinet has snapped into action to reduce the immigration figures following last week’s shock figures. Allison thinks it could be a little too late and that it is simply ineptitude masquerading as progress.

Liam fears that a leadership change might make the Tories look like they’ve ‘lost the plot’ before the next general election.

Also joining your co-pilots in the cockpit this week is Professor Michael Kelly from the University of Cambridge who tells our co-pilots exactly why renewable green energy cannot solve the energy crisis and how we must look at taking a different approach.

And what do the co-pilots make of ex PM Boris Johnson’s take to the stand at the ongoing Covid Inquiry?

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 Professor Michael Kelly's report: https://www.thegwpf.org/content/uploads/2022/03/Kelly-Net-Zero-Progress-Report.pdf

Listen to Battle Lines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/battle-lines/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

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It's been a calamitous week for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, at least that’s what our co-pilots think with the latest immigration figures hitting a record high. So is he really ‘busy delivering’ as he claims?

In light of the shocking riots happening in Ireland, Liam weighs in on the rising concerns about immigration now coming to the forefront in his homeland. He feels the views of the people are not being reflected fairly in the UK media.

Whilst Allison’s frustration at the ongoing covid enquiry grows as she feels balanced views are not being represented and that our enquiry is an ‘embarrassment’ compared to those happening elsewhere around the world.

Hopping aboard the rocket this week is  former Labour MP Stephen Pound, who drops by to deliver his verdict on how Leader Keir Starmer is faring in the run up to a general election, as well as his take on the ongoing conflict in Israel.

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: ‘Politicians have created a multicultural monster beyond control. Who gets the blame? We do’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk |

Read Sarah Knapton: 'The possibility Covid is man-made is not a 'divisive' issue - the world needs to know': https://www.telegraph.co.uk |

Find out more about Telegraph Money here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/ |

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It’s budget week on the rocket and the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has some sizeable tax cuts to pull out of his fiscal stocking. But what do your co-pilots make of the Country’s pre-christmas giveaway?

Joining us to navigate this autumn budget is associate editor for the Telegraph Ben Wright, who gives his take on the Chancellor’s statement.

Liam thinks the Conservatives have buckled under pressure from the right of the party with sizable tax cuts, and questions where the funding for these cuts is coming from.

Ben breaks down the figures behind the headlines, to conclude that there aren't actually sizable changes in this statement, and that it could all be smoke and mirrors. Is there a whiff of desperation in the air?

Whilst Allison examines the other side of the bench and is full of praise for Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ response to the statement. Could there be letters of no confidence once again making their way across the halls of Westminster?

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/ |

Find out more about Telegraph Money here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/

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It’s been a busy week at No10 with Suella being shown the door and the surprise recycling of David Cameron returning as Foreign Secretary. Could this be the most controversial of all recent cabinet reshuffles to date?

Both co-pilots question Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision, wondering whether he has abandoned the faithful Red Wall in favour of appealing to the swing voters and picking up some of the Lib Dems fans.

Liam thinks the PM has made a grave error in surrounding himself with politicians that are out of touch with the people of this Country. 

Whilst Allison thinks post reshuffle that the demise of the Conservative party could be sooner than we think and that Sunak will be the one carrying the coffin.

Boarding the rocket this week is Director of National Institute of Economics, Professor Jagjit Chadha. who shares the bleak reality of the UK economy ahead of the Autumn budget next week and reveals what he thinks the country could do to boost growth levels.

And finally hell hath no fury like a Suellla scorned, as co-pilot Pearson gives her hot take on THAT letter.

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 ‘Braverman’s letter was written in fire – none of us can doubt what a snake Sunak is: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/11/14/rishi-sunak-suella-braverman-sacked-home-secretary-snake/\

Listen to The Lockdown Files : https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files |

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To protest or not to protest? The question on everyone's mind this week as the conflicts between Remembrance weekend commemorations and pro- Palestine marches reach a heated conclusion. Your co-pilots  weigh in on the power and the pain of both arguments.

Liam and Allison are both opposed to the protest going ahead on Saturday with Liam questioning whether the law is being ‘circumvented’. Whilst Allison thinks we could be reaching a tipping point between sensitivity towards different groups and a full public uprising as the pre protest fever grows.

And what did they make of the first King’s Speech in 70 years? Was it the forethought of a Conservative government ready to begin a fifth term?

Strapping into the rocket this week are not one but three stowaways Molly and Ben Kingsley and Arabella Skinner from the children’s campaign group  ‘Us for Them’. They deliver what they think are the shortcomings of the ongoing Covid Inquiry and why they think a separate enquiry should be launched in order to better consider the wider implications and damages to children.

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 'When poppy sellers cannot honour the dead, we must take a stand': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2023/11/07/poppy-sellers-armistice-day-protest-palestine-million-march/ |

Read Us for Them 'The Accountability Deficit': https://usforthem.co.uk/the-accountability-deficit/ 

Listen to The Lockdown Files : https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files |

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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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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