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The conversation covers various aspects of the ongoing election campaign, including the performance of the Conservative and Labour parties, the impact of policy announcements, the handling of key issues such as Brexit and the economy, and the upcoming manifesto launches and leadership debates. The discussion also delves into the strategies and challenges faced by the party leaders, as well as the role of media and public perception in shaping the election narrative.

We're joined by Patrick Diamond, former policy adviser to Tony Blair.

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Jo Tanner joins Kirsty and Calum. The conversation discusses the announcement of the general election and the strategy behind it. It explores the mishaps and challenges faced by the Conservative Party, including the timing of the announcement and the optics of the Prime Minister speaking in the rain. The conversation also delves into the potential impact of the election on issues such as the compensation scheme for victims of the contaminated blood scandal and the postmasters' scandal. The conversation touches on the swing in voter support and the challenges faced by both the Conservative and Labour parties in winning over voters. It concludes with a discussion on the negative campaigning strategies employed by the parties. The conversation discusses the challenges and pitfalls of election campaigning, including the timing of the election, campaign strategies, and the importance of optics. It also touches on the rules and guidelines for campaign communications, the role of technology and social media, and the potential for embarrassing moments on the campaign trail.

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Kirsty Buchanan, former special advisor to Theresa May, and Calum Macdonald discuss the prison system in the UK, and Sir Keir Starmer's six pledges for the next general election. The conversation touches on the challenges of the prison system, the need for a fresh look at remand and recall, and the importance of rehabilitation and reform. It also explores the effectiveness of political pledges and the need for realistic and achievable goals. The conversation covers various topics, including the Labour Party's five missions and the addition of a sixth mission related to border security. The discussion also touches on the timeline for achieving these missions and the importance of managing expectations. The hosts then shift to a clip of an interview with Rishi Sunak on the Loose Women program, where he is questioned about his policies towards pensioners. The hosts analyse the interview style and the effectiveness of different interview techniques.

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

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

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

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

We're joined by James Price.

The conversation covers various topics including the investigation into Conservative MP Mark Menzies, standards in public life, and the ongoing debate over the Rwanda deportation bill. The hosts and guests discuss the lack of action by the Conservative Party in response to the allegations against Menzies and the need for better crisis management. They also explore the challenges of maintaining standards in public life and the difficulties in rehabilitating politicians who have made mistakes. The conversation concludes with a brief discussion on the ping pong between the government and the House of Lords over the Rwanda deportation bill. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the potential outcome of the ping pong between the House of Commons and the House of Lords regarding the controversial Nationality and Borders Bill. They also talk about Liz Truss's new book and whether she is being unfairly mocked for her reflections as a former prime minister. The hosts then shift the discussion to Kemi Badenoch and her recent interventions on various issues, highlighting her ideological consistency and leadership potential.

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

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