From the show on Wednesday, Julia Hartley-Brewer spoke to Brendan O’Neill, chief political writer at Spiked Online, and Baroness Kate Hoey, independent peer. 

Brendan O’Neill reacts to Donald Trump saying Britain needs “straightening out” and that “London is having a lot of problems”. Brendan also says that Trump’s threats to take Greenland have prompted hypocritical criticism from the EU. 

Donald Trump joined other world leaders at Davos, Switzerland later in the day. Keir Starmer didn’t attend. 

Also: Baroness Kate Hoey says she is not the figure currently rumoured to defect to Reform UK - and she discusses local elections being cancelled, the Chinese super-embassy, and the rising numbers of people who are on benefits without the requirement to look for work. 

Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts from Monday to Thursday on Talk, 10AM until 1PM.

Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker.

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China has been given permission to build a vast new embassy in the heart of London despite criticism from MPs and campaigners that it will be used as a base for spying and security crackdowns.

Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has approved the plans for the building at Royal Mint Court, a site near the Tower of London.

The decision removes a diplomatic hurdle in the relationship with Xi Jinping’s government, clearing the way for Sir Keir Starmer to make a widely-expected visit to China, possibly within weeks.

Speaking with Former Conservative Government Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, Talk's Julia Hartley-Brewer says: "This is an absolutely dire decision!"

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Robert Jenrick comes on The Julia Hartley-Brewer show to talk about his defection to Reform UK.

He explains why he defected, uniting the right, why he backs Nigel Farage, and why Tory voters should switch to Reform. Included are Nigel Farage’s plans for deportations, immigration, net zero, deregulation and welfare.

Also: he explains why it is important to say ‘Britain is broken’, Julia asks for his reaction to Donald Trump’s upcoming tariffs on several European countries for their opposition to American acquisition of Greenland, and he tells the show whether he is prepared to work with Nigel Farage.

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Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, comes on the Julia Hartley-Brewer show to react to breaking news that Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had sacked Robert Jenrick.

Robert Jenrick was part of the shadow cabinet. He lost a leadership challenge to Kemi Badenoch in 2024 and was subsequently installed as shadow justice secretary.

A potential defection to Reform UK had been rumoured - reportedly, his sacking followed the discovery of a printed resignation speech at a photocopier that was promptly brought to Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch’s attention. 

In her statement, Kemi Badenoch said she had seen “irrefutable evidence” that Jenrick was about to defect in a manner "designed to be as damaging way possible” for his former colleagues at the Conservative Party. 

Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader, denied there was any deal to take Robert Jenrick to Reform UK at the time of his sacking. 

Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM, on Talk. 

Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker.

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

Brendan O’Neill, chief political writer at Spiked Online, discusses another government U-turn with Julia - this time on the introduction of mandatory digital ID. 

Rights campaigners have long criticised digital ID as a dangerous infringement on British people’s right to privacy. 

Previously, Keir Starmer’s government argued it would help reduce migration. 

It was intended to prevent illegal migrants from working on the black market, but politicians and campaigners questioned whether the ID would act as a successful deterrent. And it was estimated to cost £1.8 billion over three years.

Also: Julia and Brendan discuss why Labour have U-turned on so many policies, the Jewish MP stopped from visiting a primary school visit by pro-Palestinian activists, the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban for a Europa League game against Aston Villa, and why pro-Palestinian activists have been silent on anti-regime protests in Iran.

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On her Talk radio show Julia Hartley-Brewer talks to Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative Party leader.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith discusses calls for Keir Starmer's government to proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps - the group that maintains the theocratic regime - as a terrorist organisation.

He explains why he thinks it would support Iranian protestors. Protests against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's rule erupted after economic turmoil in the country, as Iran's currency plummeted to record lows.

Also: he discusses the Chinese super-embassy opposite the Tower of London that could be approved soon, and why he thinks it's a threat to British security. Earlier, reports emerged of plans for a 'secret room' at the mega embassy just metres from key communication cables carrying sensitive information.

Sir Iain responded to news that a Jewish MP was banned from visiting a primary school after pro-Palestine teachers and parents threatened to publicly protest his visit.

And he talks about the news that Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform UK - and whether he would ever to move across to Nigel Farage's party.

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Following the surprise defection of former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi to Reform UK, Julia Hartley-Brewer speaks to Reform UK’s London Mayoral candidate, Laila Cunningham. 

In this interview, Julia asks about the most senior defection to Reform and whether her party is becoming the home of “washed-up” Tory politicians. 

Laila Cunningham describes Nigel Farage as a “true leader”, the likes of which we haven’t seen in years, and sets out a vision of her party and city:

Lawless London: As Met Chief Sir Mark Rowley claims that critics of the police in London were willing to “promote narratives that suit them”, Laila condemns the "gaslighting" of Londoners who don’t feel safe.

Faith & British Values: Laila explains why she doesn’t want to be known as a “Muslim mayor”, the difference between her and Sadiq Khan’s Islamic faith, and why British values should come first no matter who you are. 

Civil Service Mutiny: Laila warns that her party is ready to overcome “obstacles” - including civil servants that refuse to work with Reform.

X Ban: Laila explains why she views calls to ban Elon Musk’s X (and Grok AI) as an attempt to “control the narrative”, as Ofcom says they will investigate X over sexualised AI deepfakes being shared on the site. 

Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from 10AM-1PM, Monday to Thursday. 

Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker.

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

A mother of three was shot dead during an ICE operation in Minneapolis, triggering furious backlash from Democrats who are now demanding the federal immigration agency leave the state. The woman has been named as Renee Nicole Good who had only recently moved to the Twin Cities with her partner.

Footage of the incident shows Good sitting inside her Honda Pilot as ICE agents attempt to detain her with officers surrounding the vehicle and orders her to get out. Moments later, as the car begins to move, one of the agents opens fire.

Speaking with Former Senior Military Intelligence Officer Philip Ingram, Talk's Julia Hartley-Brewer says: "This is not an act of self-defence!"

Meanwhile, people on fat loss jabs need ongoing support, researchers have said, after a major study found they put all the weight back on much faster than traditional dieters. Researchers from the University of Oxford discovered that people on drugs including semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) lose weight during treatment but, on average, regain it within 20 months of stopping the jabs.

Improvements to blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure are also lost when people stop the drugs, with patients ending up back where they were at the start of their diet journey.

Carl Heneghan highlighted that obesity in the UK has doubled since the 1990s, with one in three children now obese.

Julia Hartley-Brewer expresses fears that Keir Starmer's government will bring back rationing along with Digital IDs.

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British armed forces will be deployed on the ground in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, Number 10 has said.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris alongside French president Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said “military hubs” will be set up across Ukraine once a peace deal has been reached.

The joint press conference was followed by a statement from Number 10, which said: “The signing of the declaration paves the way for the legal framework to be established for French and UK forces to operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine’s skies and seas and building an armed forces fit for the future.

Speaking with Spiked Online's Brendan O'Neill and Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Talk's Julia Hartley-Brewer says: "Putin won't attack French and British troops!"

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The Government will look at reforming the licence fee and consider more commercial revenue options for the BBC in plans outlined in its royal charter review. It comes amid disruption at the BBC following resignations from top executives and a lawsuit from US president Donald Trump, who is seeking up to 10 billion US dollars (£7.5 billion) in damages in response to the editing of a speech he made before the 2021 attack on the Capitol that was featured in a Panorama episode. The charter sets out the BBC’s public purpose and is the constitutional basis for the corporation, which is predominately funded through the licence fee, paid by UK TV-watching households.

Meanwhile, the Health Secretary has apologised to patients as doctors began a five-day walkout in England in an ongoing row over jobs and pay. It comes as healthcare leaders warned the impact of the strike will be “felt all the way into January and beyond”. Wes Streeting said the Government did “everything we could” to avoid the strike, including holding 11th-hour talks with British Medical Association (BMA) officials on Tuesday.

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