The Reaction

Thousands of farmers descended on London this week threatening to escalate their protests unless the chancellor meets them for talks over inheritance tax amid growing discontent among rural Labour MPs about government plans. One of those protestors was dairy farmer Kelly Seaton who joins Andrew and Sarah to tell them why she was impelled to take to the streets of Whitehall this week.

Official estimates of the decision to strip more than ten million pensioners of the winter fuel payments have concluded it will result in around 50,000 older people in poverty at any time with warnings that the policy could soon lead to more elderly people dying of cold. Prompting Scottish Labour to announce that it would scrap the policy if it won power in Holyrood. So, we ask, why the schism? Why not the whole Labour Party?

Plus, to mark its 90th anniversary the British Council has produced a list of 90 words that have defined the decades. They include the invention of terms such as “nylon” in the Thirties and “disc jockey” a decade later, to the rise of Gen Z slang like “rizz” and “edgelord,” you may be surprised to find which word resonates with Andrew and Sarah most…

To get in touch email [email protected], you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction'

Presenters: Sarah Vine & Andrew Pierce 

Producer: Philip Wilding

Editor: Alex Graham

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular

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After a petition of over 10,000 signatures calling for him to relinquish his role as Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has finally stepped down from his post after the independent Makin review into John Smyth's abuse of young men was published last week. It concluded that Smyth might have been brought to justice earlier had Mr Welby formally reported it to police after he was installed as archbishop 11 years ago. What happened and why?

And as Labour promises to overhaul and rebuild the NHS, health secretary Wes Streeting has announced… football-style league tables of the best and worst performing hospitals in England. Which has as least united health bosses and workers in one way: making them furious at the decision. What can possibly get the NHS back on its feet?

Plus, now that Gary Lineker’s jumped ship from the BBC, could it be time for Sarah and Andrew to take over on the MOTD couch and as I’m a Celebrity starts a new season, maybe it’s time Gary thought about taking a turn at the Bushtucker Trials?

To get in touch email [email protected], you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction'

Presenters: Sarah Vine & Andrew Pierce 

Producer: Philip Wilding

Editor: Alex Graham

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular

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As Trump prevails in the US and the Democrats fail to cut through with the American electorate, we cross to Washington to speak to a White House correspondent who’s seen both Democratic and Republican governments rise and fall. She explains what it’s been like on this particular campaign trail. 

And talking of parties in turmoil, does the rise of Kemi Badenoch signal a rebirth for the Tory Party as she takes her first turn at the dispatch box for PMQs? Initial reports are promising…

Plus, latest figures show that over 20 per cent of children in Year 6 — ages ten and eleven — were obese in 2023-24. But what can be done to stave off a generation of overweight children? 

To get in touch email [email protected], you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction'

Presenters: Sarah Vine & Andrew Pierce 

Producer: Philip Wilding

Editor: Alex Graham

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

VAT on private schools, duty on rolling tobacco, employers clobbered by increased contributions on small businesses, who is this cruel Labour budget for and why does Sarah think it sounds like it was designed by Harry Potter’s Dolores Umbridge?

And we ask why some aspects of the Southport attacker case remained hidden from the public until now and who will be the winners at home and abroad as the Tories pick their new leader and the US goes to the polls?

Plus, as Sober October comes to an end for Sarah, we taste test alcohol free wine, and ask why animals are taking up the bottle with a zeal not seen since the likes of Oliver Reed and Keith Moon.

To get in touch email [email protected], you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction'

Presenters: Sarah Vine & Andrew Pierce 

Producer: Philip Wilding

Editor: Chelsey Moore

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular

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As the government releases another 1,100 more prisoners early, as part of its emergency plan to ease overcrowding in jails in England and Wales, Sarah and Andrew ask what impact this latest action might have on the victims of crime who are now seeing those criminals released?

And as around 100 members of the Labour Party travel to the US to volunteer for Kamala Harris in battleground states in the final stretch of the campaign, we ask why the government aren’t rallying their troops to get things done closer to home.

Plus, who was the real Chris Kaba? Do we need to rethink driving licenses for the older generation? And we’re buying, what are you drinking?

To get in touch email [email protected], you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction'

Presenters: Sarah Vine & Andrew Pierce 

Producer: Philip Wilding

Editor: Alex Graham

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After it emerged that Labour is set to break yet another manifesto pledge, this time on housing migrants in hotels and that the Home Office is looking for even more hotel spaces to house illegal migrants, Sarah and Andrew ask what happened to the government’s pledge to “end asylum hotels, saving the taxpayer billions of pounds”. 

As a Private Member’s Bill to legalise assisted dying is introduced in the House of Commons, and the Archbishop of Canterbury voices his concerns that half of the people in the US state of Oregon – where the practice is legal - who opt for assisted suicide say the fear of becoming a burden is a factor in their decision. We ask could the same thing happen here.

Plus, Sarah’s still going sober for October, Andrew, not so much. And Sarah explains why she’s all for the weight loss jab and how it worked (and still works) for her. 

To get in touch email [email protected], you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction'

Presenters: Sarah Vine & Andrew Pierce 

Producer: Philip Wilding

Editor: Alex Graham

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Florida braces itself for the arrival of what is predicted to be one of the worst hurricanes of the century, President Biden has urged residents of the State to evacuate. As of yesterday morning, nearly six million Floridians were advised to leave their homes before Hurricane Milton landed. This only weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded parts of Tampa Bay. What does it mean, are these weather fronts the new normal?

Immigration has fuelled a record rise in the population, even as deaths outstripped births in Britain for the first time in 50 years. A surge in net migration means that there are now over 68 million people living in the UK. The figures put increasing pressure on the government as the numbers are expected to impact on housing, the health and care sector and schools. But what can be done, not least when a huge percentage of 37,000 irregular arrivals came in on small boats?

Plus, Sarah’s going sober for October, though, to her surprise, it’s something that might yet last even after October ends. Better sleep, weight loss, less anxiety, but will she put down the drink for good pat Halloween?

To get in touch email [email protected], you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction'

Presenters: Sarah Vine & Andrew Pierce 

Producer: Philip Wilding

Editor: Alex Graham

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular

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As the Middle East edges towards a full-blown war, and Binyamin Netanyahu vows that Iran “will pay” for launching a missile strike on Israel, Sarah and Peter look at the troubled history of the area and ask what next for this corner of the world and could the violence spread further still?

The battle to lead dominates on both sounds of the Atlantic as vice presidents in waiting JD Vance and Tim Walz square off in the US. And closer to home, the final four Tory candidates address the faithful at party conference with at least one of the candidates asking if the Tory could just be ‘normal’, please.

Plus, Strictly Come Dancing has gone from the darling of Saturday night TV to the subject of an internal BBC inquiry among accusations of harassment and bullying. How did we go from a gentle foxtrot to this farrago?

To get in touch email [email protected], you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction'

Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter Hitchens 

Producer: Philip Wilding

Editor: Chelsey Moore

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular

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Israel Strikes, Frockgate - now it's Sausagegate and Sheer Art Attack

As defence chiefs ramp up plans for a huge evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon amid fears of an all-out war with Israel, Sarah and Peter look at what’s at stake now for the future of the territory and ask has Benjamin Netanyahu overplayed his hand?

He’s gone from Frockgate to Sausageate, but what now for Sir Keir Starmer after a lacklustre Labour Party conference, having his own delegates turn against him over his plans on Winter Fuel, and still being dogged by accusations of cronyism. 

Plus, we don’t know art, but we know what we like, or don’t like. And we don’t like the latest Turner Prize collection, though we don’t despise it as much as some art experts who have lambasted the Turner prize as a “rotting corpse” that has lost its power to provoke. Fair point? Let’s find out.

To get in touch email [email protected], you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction'

Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter Hitchens

Producer: Philip Wilding

Editor: Chelsey Moore

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah and Andrew look back at this week’s remarkable attack on Hezbollah that resulted in the death of nine people after the simultaneous explosion of thousands of pagers used by the proscribed terror group.

And as it’s revealed that PM Keir Starmer has declared more free tickets and gifts than other major party leaders in recent times, with his total now topping £100,000, we ask how much can you possibly spend on a new jacket when some people can’t even afford to put their heating on.

Plus, how do we protect our children online, Prince Andrew is back, this time portrayed by Michael Sheen, but can anything match the real drama of that actual Emily Maitlis interview?

And Angelina Jolie sold her Churchill original oil for millions, he might have been a great leader, but did he cut it as an artist?

To get in touch email [email protected], you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'reaction'

Presenters: Sarah Vine & Andrew Pierce

Producer: Philip Wilding

Editor: Chelsey Moore

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Executive Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices