The Opinion Brief

By More in Common

The essential weekly update on what the British public thinks and why. Brought to you by More in Common UK and Luke Tryl.

Episodes published every Thursday in time for the morning commute

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FAQs about The Opinion Brief:

How many episodes does The Opinion Brief have?

The podcast currently has 6 episodes available.

The Opinion Brief episodes:

May 10, 2026Special Episode: The Election Debrief
Recorded as the final results trickled in, this extra episode of The Opinion Brief gives you fresh analysis of the historic 2026 local elections.

In this episode:
What do the results of local elections across England tell us about the trends shaping British politics?
How are Green and Reform voter bases changing, and what's surprising about their gains in these elections?
How should the SNP be feeling after their result in Scotland?
How has Reform UK managed to break through in Wales and Scotland?
What happened to Welsh Labour, and is this the beginning of a new era in Welsh politics?
How might all of these dynamics play out in the next general election?

If you'd like to skip ahead to Scotland or Wales:
Scotland - 44 minutes
Wales - 1 hour 2 minutes
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Access todays graphs, charts and images: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/newsletter/the-opinion-brief-podcast/
For more from the podcast: https://linktr.ee/OpinionBriefPod
Contact us: [email protected]
Read more: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 15min
May 06, 2026Final pre-election rundown with Sam Freedman
An early release before voters across Britain head to the polls tomorrow for the 2026 local elections and parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales.

As the political landscape shifts beneath the feet of the major parties, Luke Tryl is joined by Sam Freedman, elections expert and co-author of the “Comment is Freed” substack, for a rundown of the final predictions and the key stories to watch on the night.

In this episode, we cover:

2026 election insights: including our most recent polls in Scotland, Wales and England
The London boroughs to watch, and which early results will best tell us how bad Labour’s woes are.
Which areas could signify a major Reform breakthrough beyond their heartlands?
How much are the Greens winning over Labour’s progressive flank?
Scotland’s “meh” election - can the SNP secure a Holyrood majority?
Is Plaid or Reform set to top the “change election” in Wales?
Green Party momentum: why has Zack Polanski’s approval rating taken a dive and how might it affect tomorrow’s votes?
National Treasures: a birthday tribute to Sir David Attenborough and what the public really thinks of British icons.

Subscribe to The Opinion Brief for our special election results edition dropping this Saturday!
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Access todays graphs, charts and images: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/newsletter/the-opinion-brief-podcast/
For more from the podcast: https://linktr.ee/OpinionBriefPod
Contact us: [email protected]
Read more: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
50min
April 30, 2026Britain's New Populist Right
This week we welcome The Opinion Brief’s first guest, discuss the rise of Britain's populist right, and ask why the “Badenoch Bounce” isn't lifting the Tories’ vote share.

In this episode:
The Badenoch Bounce: How has Kemi Badenoch achieved her steady approval rating rise, and why has the Conservative party’s support stayed flat?

How to Build a Voter: From promiscuous voters to the Conservatives’ and Reform’s new electoral battlefront over elderly voters, Owen Winter talks us through The Economist’s new tool to model voter behaviour as British politics becomes increasingly unpredictable. You can check out their build-a-voter tool here.

Dissenting Disruptors: Just who are Britain’s new populist right?

The Crisp Index: Which voters prefer what crisp?
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Access todays graphs, charts and images: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/newsletter/the-opinion-brief-podcast/
For more from the podcast: https://linktr.ee/OpinionBriefPod
Contact us: [email protected]
Read more: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
52min
April 23, 2026Elections 2026 and The Defence vs. Welfare Debate
In this episode of The Opinion Brief, we dive into the data behind the shifting tectonic plates of British politics. From a Reform UK lead in the polls to the "third rail" debate over cutting welfare to fund defence, we break down what the public actually thinks.

In this episode:
The Mandelson Scandal: Why the public sees it as a "rigged system" and what it means for Keir Starmer’s perceived strength.
National Voting Intention: Reform UK hits 27%, moving 5 points ahead of the Conservatives.
Defence vs. Welfare: Would the public sacrifice the triple lock pension to fund the military?
Elections Deep Dive: MRP model projections for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd.
The "Milk" Index: How your choice of milk (Oat vs. Cow) predicts your vote.
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Access todays graphs, charts and images: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/newsletter/the-opinion-brief-podcast/
For more from the podcast: https://linktr.ee/OpinionBriefPod
Contact us: [email protected]
Read more: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
43min
April 16, 2026Is the "Broken Social Contract" Fuelling Reform UK and Greens Support?
In the first-ever episode of The Opinion Brief, Luke Tryl (UK Director of More In Common), plus Rhiannon McQuone and Louis O'Geran dive into the data behind Britain’s changing political landscape.
We explore the latest MRP polling results which suggest a seismic shift in UK politics, with Reform UK and the Green Party challenging the traditional status quo. Why is the "social contract" feeling broken for both graduates and the working class? Plus, we discuss the surprising public consensus on banning social media for under-16s and smartphones in schools.

In this episode:
The "Reform UK Plateau": Is Nigel Farage’s support peaking?
The Green Wave: Why students and women are flocking to Zack Polanski’s party.
The MRP Deep Dive: 16 Cabinet ministers (including David Lammy and Wes Streeting) on the brink.
The Marmite Test: What your toast spread says about your voting intention.

Subscribe for weekly public opinion insights

*****
For more from the podcast: https://linktr.ee/OpinionBriefPod
Contact us: [email protected]
Read more: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk
*****
Access todays graphs, charts and images: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/newsletter/the-opinion-brief-podcast/
For more from the podcast: https://linktr.ee/OpinionBriefPod
Contact us: [email protected]
Read more: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
48min
April 10, 2026 Welcome to The Opinion Brief
Welcome to The Opinion Brief, from More in Common.

Get ready for a deep dive into the heart of public opinion with "The Opinion Brief," the brand-new podcast from More in Common. Hosted by Luke Tryl, this isn't just another show about politics, it's about the people: what they think, why they think it, and the trends shaping our world. Every Thursday morning, "The Opinion Brief" will unpack the biggest shifts in public sentiment, featuring exclusive new polling, candid focus group conversations, and insightful guest speakers to break down what the data mean.

Subscribe to "The Opinion Brief" on your favourite podcast platform.
*****
Access todays graphs, charts and images: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/newsletter/the-opinion-brief-podcast/
For more from the podcast: https://linktr.ee/OpinionBriefPod
Contact us: [email protected]
Read more: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
3min

FAQs about The Opinion Brief:

How many episodes does The Opinion Brief have?

The podcast currently has 6 episodes available.