Farage’s Return And What It Means For The Election

[@restispolitics]

Please consider 'Liking' & 'Subscribing' if you enjoyed this episode. This really helps with exposure and distribution on KZbin!

[@James-el6lj]

@James-el6lj 0 seconds ago Rory Steward supports fox hunting and the medieval monarchy!

[@PatNanson-t5y]

I always enjoy this and even though Alastair Campbell has never held a political post & I see him as a spin doctor , just pointing the finger and should never take what he says literally I do find him thought provoking and he makes me think along a different line which is obviously a good thing. Rory Stuart’s knowledge is outstanding & I always lean something new… thanks guys 👍

[@DylanSargesson]

I'm a Labour supporter - but I think Rory's attack on Ed Davey is unfair. It's not at all comparable to Johnson's antics because whenever he did something stupid it wasn't at all linked to a policy proposal, it was just him being stupid. And I do think the wider message of "taking Politics seriously, but not taking ourselves seriously" is something that would resonate with a of voters if they heard it. And as to the argument about it not fitting his personality - for any politician (especially a less known one) an election campaign is the chance to reintroduce yourself to the electorate. It's like the first day back to school, a perfect opportunity to reimagine yourself.

[@xzenderx]

How much is it going to take before people realize labour and tories are the same and both need to go.

[@MediocreAverage]

Well said! There is a world of difference between Davey's and Johnson's "antics".

[@rmayhem9658]

Ed Davey comes across as a feeble politician. There is great opportunity for the Lib Dems here, but I fear they will not make of it what they should.

[@VesiustheBoneCruncher]

They’re currently projected to somewhere between triple and quadruple their number of MPs. If you’d told them that the day after the 2019 GE, they’d have been thrilled. Is what we are saying that the only way Ed Davey can be viewed as a success is to form the official opposition? Because this is a pretty high bar - is it conceivably possible? Yes, BUT, they started out this parliament with less than 10 MPs. Cut through is not easy. Just him and Daisy Cooper campaigning is over 20% of their original MPs on the road. If he ends up with 40MPs, bluntly, he’s been proven right in his strategy.

[@christalbot7527]

The way Ed Davey has come across is refreshing. Something different for the campaigning. Seems more fun and he has been honest about his family life.

[@bobikdylan]

Rory, old chap, middle England couldn't care less about prison conditions. When it comes to Mail readers, they'd have them flogged and on bread and water. The UK's voters are simply not grown up enough to accept Scandinavian penal models.

[@ThisUnfoldingCrisis]

Keep talking about the voters not being grown up.....its a vote winner.

[@lectorintellegat]

lol, and you are? Oh how bright the countenance of your maturity; surely, it shineth like the noon day.

[@ThisUnfoldingCrisis]

Nice, would you bring that quality of argument in a proper debate? …..I’m game, especially if you’re not going to debate the point, but attack the person…..In the meantime, do you have any comeback on the actual point I made? Looking forward to it.

[@jamescarrigy6225]

@@ThisUnfoldingCrisis Asking in good faith then, what are your genuine thoughts on the issues of prison/prison reform, if you don't mind my asking?

[@ThisUnfoldingCrisis]

@@jamescarrigy6225 Any reason prison reform? Genuine answer is, I’m not in the detail on the operational state of prisons, but as with most Tory legacies….it sounds like a shit show. I’ve got stronger views on drug use, and how “offenders” should be taken out of the criminal justice system, and firmly into the healthcare system. This probably requires major liberalisation of the drug laws, decriminalising possession, and learning lessons - good and bad - from countries like Portugal. In general, I’m more to the left on rehabilitation vs punishment, easy for me to say though, I suspect victims of crime have a different view, and I don’t necessarily blame them. So yeah, I can’t speak too much to the state of the prisons themselves, and what’s need to reduce overcrowding etc, and in general, I think even greater focus rehabilitation, rather than punishment, but I haven’t got the detail to back it up. Look, in general, I’m not a million miles away from the politics of these guys, but the hubris of talking about voters the way they do is infuriating. It’s not just AC & RS, the commentary over the last few days has been on how Farage of the “Far Right” is duping voters into voting for them…..take the focus completely off Farage, and focus on what we’re not giving these voters. Reform shouldn’t exist, and it’s a failure of the left that they do. We all will know someone who voted Reform, and the ones I do are not “bad people”, just frustrated. Just to clarify my own politics to out the above into perspective, here’s my Myers Briggs political personality test! (Left or Right doesn’t work for me, and I suspect many others)… 1) Economically left, it’s easy to say we should implement the Scandinavian model, but I think that should be the aspiration if we can come up with the economic model to deliver. 2) Libertarian on individual freedoms - you need a bloody good reason to take away my right to do something…eg) drug laws, but in particular assisted dying….I stop short of guns though. Lockdowns is the interesting one here….I’m type 1 diabetic, and was locked down a week before everyone else (with 5,000 toilet rolls), and was pro lockdowns pretty much throughout….BUT….we haven’t at all had the conversation about the costs of lockdown….probably because the centre left drove harder than right. But to out into perspective we took on about half a trillion of debt during covid, almost the same as the 2008 financial crisis. Our debt to GDP ratio was c.80% after 2008 FC, but 100% after lockdowns (source ONS). Debt kills, especially lower income families, and lockdowns are the reason we find ourselves looking at another 5-10 years of austerity, unless Starmer can pull an economic rabbit out of a hat…..I hope he does. But, If you can’t talk about lockdowns and their benefits / costs, then I don’t know what the hell kind of society we’ve become….three kids jumped off the Humber bridge during lockdown, they had to close it off, each with another 60-70 years of life ahead of them…..we’re morally bankrupt if we can’t talk about this properly….shame on us. 3) centre right on cultural issues - reform exist because the left can’t have a sensible conversation on immigration….it’s ok to talk about immigration and what the best strategy is, especially taking into account what’s needed for the economy / communities. All the woke nonsense really doesnt help. I don’t believe at all in judging people as part of a group, and instead on their individual merit only. Quotas etc are not for me, for example, who would want to be offered a job if they were the 2nd best candidate, but get it on the basis of a physical characteristic? My response would be, “jog on, and stop patronising me” I’ve worked bloody hard to get where I am based on my own merit, and don’t need your help thank you very much, and don’t need charity from you. 4) Strong on national defence and security. I mean, anyone can say that, but what I really mean is maintaining nuclear deterrent, 2.5% GDP spend, being proactive on the world stage to maintain Britain’s strategic interests. This is all well and good, but clearly idealistic, and coming up with an economic model to deliver that is hard, and might not be possible, especially with the COVID debt. I get so frustrated with these two, as I’m sure they would agree with some, or perhaps a lot of the above, but they’re detached from the very voters that need their help the most.

[@pastyman001]

Ed Davey is linking policy to the stunts, e.g. pollution in Windermere. The BBC have frozen out of most coverage and this ensures they get a mention. I see it as necessary and positive. Rory is being priggish

[@At0micFruit]

Exactly this, Rory and Alastair have the luxury of being from the two largest parties who get virtually all of the media coverage. I would have no idea who either of them were if it were not for their appearances on mainstream media, Lib Dems very rarely if ever get that opportunity.

[@markwelch3564]

I see this as a failure of journalism and of the audience - if this is what it takes to be reported, that's what politicians will have to do Are people really not interested, or is this all on our journalist cohort?

[@At0micFruit]

​@@markwelch3564well I think the media and journalists first and foremost, after all if it's not easily available to the public in the first place how do they even know these parties exist, let alone what they stand for.

[@joecurran2811]

​@@At0micFruitI agree, its not something you have to worry about if you're in the big two. This is a good insight into their entitlement.

[@RabidBogling]

I agree that the silly stunts serve a purpose, but Rory is right that the lack of seriousness is putting voters off. My parents have always voted Lib Dem (and Liberal before that), and yet a few days ago I was sat with them watching the news and they both let out a pained groan when they saw him going down the slide. I'll say this for the Lib Dems on Brexit, though: They made it a central part of their campaign last time, and they were butchered at the ballot box. Their lack of focus on it this time is understandable (though not laudable) in that context.

[@JelMain]

The message still isn't getting through. The entitlement of the Westminster Club has done for this Nation. We're sick and tired of cheesy grins and being told what's what by utter nincompoops in all directions.

[@justhannah3960]

And if you think the answer to that is voting for a far-right shyster like Nigel Farage, then that's your problem. The man is a total fraud. A populist con artist and nothing more.

[@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat]

I dunno about your schools, but people in America are figuring out that all these kids at Harvard and Yale just have rich parents or the correct skin tone. Turns out these "elite" aren't all that elite anymore.

[@TonyHammer61]

They just don't get it do they?

[@chindit6784]

The electorate are idiots and you seem to be the dumbest of the lot if you think farage is somehow an alternative to the west minister club.

[@Delilah-zd3em]

Genuine question, what makes you think Farage isn’t part of that club? For example, who does he bank with?

[@vivienclogger]

As a Lib Dem-er I suspect that every self respecting member of the Lib Dems in Clacton (all 12 of them) will lend Labour their vote. I suspect that the Tory vote will be split and Labour might just squeeze in.

[@amayastrata4629]

I hope so. I really don’t want to hear fargy in hop ranting on and on. I’ve had enough. Those who say they will vote reform obviously don’t realise that fargy will be nothing in parliament. He won’t be listened to. He won’t have any power. He will be treated with the contempt he deserves. I personally believe that voting for fargy will be more damaging to clacton than beneficial as it’s possible that all other party’s will avoid anything to do with him. Also, his track record as an mep is extremely poor so I just assume that he is relying on Trump like sycophants to get him in despite all the facts that all their reasons for voting for him will not, and can not be realised.

[@Reelin_In_The_Years]

Oddly... it's looking the other way (3 weeks later) with Labour pulling their man and sending the canvassers to other areas. Interesting move...

[@revbenf6870]

Wow, all the lucky lucky people of Clacton whose needs will, of course, be uppermost in the mind and heart of their shiny new MP, should he succeed (shudder). Definitely voting Labour now!

[@codebycarlos]

I love the balance you each bring to the conversation.

[@clivet3252]

Oh yes what wonderful reasonable men they are. Give me a break.

[@howestimothy7820]

I am a retired hospital doctor. For 30 years I saw patients in a clinic and I know the people of Clacton reasonably well. I have a huge respect for them. The district of jaywick is desperately poor. I was more than once reduced to tears by the state people were in and the poverty they were in. There is a remarkable sense of community spirit which is quite remarkable. They are utterly utterly fed up with politics in general and are prone to a degree of looking after their own. Giles Watling is pretty much a local lad and what ever you might think of his politics has done a fair bit a constituency MP so I think it is likely that there will be push back again Farage on that basis.

[@anonUK]

You think (as in, one thinks) that sort of poverty is only found north of the Trent, in the Welsh Valleys, or in the roughest parts of London. Not 10 miles out of Colchester, where the local economy is mostly relatively healthy. The nearest equivalents I can see to Jaywick are Blackpool and Rhyl, which took in huge numbers of people who lost their jobs when Liverpool was at its depths in the 70s-80s and then those who were priced out when the city centre revived. Even Hastings is doing much better than Jaywick.

[@paulknight3793]

Yes I’ve been going to Clacton for work for the last few years (240 miles from home) lots of working people. And let down by every government!

[@erinamiss2118]

Farage will do nothing for those people. He is only interested in himself. He copies the orange convict on everything. Let's hope the majority of Clacton can see that.

[@purplemonkeydishwasher5269]

You can only hope he has enough credibility to overcome the bite back against the Tories

[@Lostmissionary]

One can only hope, because Farage has zero interest in the people of Clacton other than to massage his overblown ego. The people of Clacton need a conviction constituency MP fighting tooth and nail on their local issues

[@Wob-rt1sc]

Rory is looking fabulous this week. Loving the jacket!

[@joannemead6609]

Well done, chaps. Another great podcast.

[@AA-bd7gg]

Would be really interested in your view on Starmer’s purge of more left leaning candidates. Particularly considering Faiza Shaheen’s expulsion more recently.

[@stephenhill545]

Rory's wing was purged.

[@shaun906]

they want people in the party that actually want the labour party to get into power, as a centre left government, like the country. the left did the same thing under Corbyn?

[@Milominderbender586]

The vast majority of the UK according to polls want rid of the Tories, we all know the ‘Ming Vase’ and dance floor approach Starmer is taking and Starmer and Labour offer the best chance of consigning the Tories to history, yet Labour left are determined to spread the floor with ball bearings.

[@stewie3128]

Alastair is part of the establishment that is purging them

[@georgesdelatour]

The one-dimensional left-right slider view of politics is unhelpful. There was an old "what about the workers" left, represented by Tony Benn, Dennis Skinner and Arthur Scargill. There's a Third Worldist, Frantz Fanon-type left, represented by Jeremy Corbyn, Ken Livingstone and Tariq Ali. And there’s a Rudy Dutschke-inspired, “long march through the institutions” left, represented by Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell, Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves. They all have different ideas of what they want to achieve, but it’s not a matter of being more leftist or centrist. In many ways, Starmer is a far more dogmatic for his version of leftism than Arthur Scargill was/is for his.

[@davidcolwill860]

"Jeremy Corbyn would not have stood with 14 ex soldiers" I doubt you could find 5 ex soldiers willing to stand with him!

[@ajw9533]

In the European Parliament, Farage was great at claiming his expenses and very poor at attending. I'd like the people of Clacton to call his bluff and make him work for his living as an MP.

[@johnlaw4513]

Where can I find these figures for his ?poor attendance

[@JYCrazy1]

What makes you think he'll do anything productive as an MP? He's as lazy as they come, and twice as evil

[@johnlaw4513]

@@JYCrazy1 Are there any productive MPs ? Farage is no more lazy than others and how is he evil?

[@mcarpenter2917]

@@johnlaw4513 VoteWatch Europe apparently, "Farage, who has been an MEP for 18 years, has one of the worst attendance records at the parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg. He is ranked 748 out of 751 MEPs and has taken part in only 37% of votes in the current parliamentary session, according to VoteWatch Europe" As reported by The Guardian in the 2018 story "Nigel Farage has MEP salary docked to recoup misspent EU funds".

[@johnlaw4513]

@@mcarpenter2917 Thanks for that ,like a good fact check but to be honest I’d vote for anyone who is not mainstream ,Buckethead ,Corbin ,Farage Galloway ,not in any particular order either ,no faith in anyone anymore.

[@qeitkas594]

After living 25 years in the UK this is one of the very rare moments I hear someone actually talk about the failed welfare state in the UK compared to The Netherlands and Scandinavia as Rory mentioned. Yes indeed, not news for me and presumably not for any EU citizen visiting the UK outside SW1 but very unknown to the average UK citizen who thinks the country is very well off compared to mainland Europe.

[@kincaidwolf5184]

Well said. When I go abroad, the UK looks more and more poor. 1/3 of all social housing is by housed by non UK citizens... the UK is finished unless it radically reduces its welfare and lowers taxes, and increases other public services.

[@edc1569]

@@kincaidwolf5184exactly slash welfare and overfund public services, fade out all rent relief, make the councils build accommodation for people.

[@DanielBarber-mo2en]

Maybe the people are fed up with the bull , and steady government is needed!?

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

Exactly. Hence the de-Corbanisation of Labour.

[@1daves]

You can’t blame young people for not engaging with policy. Politicians are largely grubby, tiresome and useless. We have better things to do than be bull-shitted to. TRIP is my only source of political news, I I’ll keep it that way.

[@MrMarktheblue]

They are taught and influenced by leftist self entitled, self important teachers and lecturers

[@aclark903]

Dangerous to only have one source. I recommend following #MOATS AND #Reform to get views you won’t see on TV. 📺

[@Muddrelks]

I'm a Hungarian listener who left Hungary because of Orbán and I have to say it seems to me that Liz Truss is trying to copy Orbán. Why is she standing again? Because there is a small but growing wave of politics where objective reality does not matter, it's all about emotions and the current moment. She has given up on proper politics, and is trying her luck at the Orbán way but I don't think i'll work. In Hungary it is often said that Orbán is good at dominating the moment, which basically means that through whatever means he can, he will create a communications landscape (by appealing to base emotions usually) where he defines the framework, and obviously it will always be defined in his favour. Current example: he and his party don't want war, and anyone who doesn't agree with them will send your children to die at the front. If you try to argue against it, that means you have accepted the implicit framework and already lost the argument, if you don't argue against it they will say your silence means agreement. Orbán can do this because he and his party control a large majority of the media that people unintrested in politics consume, which in Hungary is a large chunk of the electorate. Liz Truss saying that Tony Blair was the worst PM the UK has ever had, is a swing at this in my opinion. The antidemocratic, hard-right populist part of the Conservatives is trying to find one attack line that sticks against Labour, and their current line they are developing is "wokism". My hunch is that this kind of politics does not work nearly to the same extent in the UK as it does in Hungary because the British electorate is much more politically engaged, well read and mostly votes based on policies. Plus the media landscape is close to being equal between left-leaning and right-leaning outlets, with lots of gradations of both side, and there are very few if any that actually promote unadulterated government propaganda the way Orbán does.

[@BallyBoy95]

Orban is anti-globalist. Conservatives are pro-class warfare, and pro-globalist. It's a bit of an odd contrast. But I'm not Hungarian, you likely are far more knowledgeable on Orban than I am. But he's been anti-Ukraine war, and there's little to no doubt he has no intention to "sell out" his country. From what I see, Liz Truss and Orban are completely different political animals and serve an odd contrast.

[@Muddrelks]

@@BallyBoy95 You're right, they are completely different. With Orbán you really have to look at what he does and not what he says (he said this himself ages ago). He says he is for national sovereignty, but then again he is happy to make our economy into a low cost assembly station for german cars at the expense of workers' rights. He is also happy to accept untold sums of Russian money in return for an unnecessary nuclear reactor block (and Russia-friendly foreign policy stance) and railway lines built with chinese money and chinese workers in Hungary in an area that serves next to no people. I would consider these selling out. His stance on Ukraine is rooted in his longstanding russophile foreign policy. He usually stands up for Hungarian minorities in neighbouring countries but he's been especially unfriendly towards Ukraine, because an anti-Ukraine stance ensures cheap Russian gas, which is a cornerstone of his domestic politics. His current stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine is in line with the above. He doesn't want to say anything that jeopardizes cheap russian gas, just as he always lobbied for an exeption from EU sanctions on Russian gas. So obviously national sovereignty is only important when it comes to a Hungary led by him. Also I find it infuriating and extremely short-sighted to lobby for an immediate ceasefire (which would freeze frontlines and reward the agressor) just so the supply of Russian gas is not endangered. Kind of makes you think he sees that as the only way for his political survival. What I meant in terms of Liz Truss is just political communication, not policymaking. Orbán is a political communication genius, and is incredibly effective in power plays and winning elections, and in all of that communication plays a massive role. Too bad he is quite bad at governing and domestic policymaking.

[@fateenshareef8716]

You guys pride yourself on being the centrist sensible non establishment media, why don't you get Ed Davey on and ask him about all this?

[@JackGreen-gh6sw]

They are left wing, just like.the other "media"

[@williamphelps8550]

They did.

[@royed31]

'He can Bullshit for Britain' ............ Classic coming from Campbell .

[@NessieAndrew]

Ironic

[@redemptivepete]

Sadly Farage (an old Lancashire name?) bullsh#ts AGAINST Britain!

[@davidwhiting2443]

Campbel lied about Iraq he should be in jail

[@leewoodward7734]

How that ass hat is not in prison is quite beyond me.

[@jdg9999]

He's a leftist thug, thinks his side are "the good guys" and hence the rules don't apply to them.

[@dulcettonezzz8229]

Two working class heros right there

[@adambrickley1119]

If Farage is about, its going to be hard for Labour not to talk about Brexit. In fact, it gives them a reason to talk about it. Surely thats a good opportunity?

[@highlandlass9652]

Congrats Alistair and Rory on 200K subscribers!!!!

[@michaelbright9162]

Why would he hang around Westminster if he won? According to reports he rarely attended the committee he was on in Brussels

[@markwelch3564]

We won't see him on the benches much, but I suspect he'll be a regular propping up the subsidised bar...

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

Nigel 'Only Here For The Salary and Expenses' Farage

[@georgesdelatour]

What committees was he on and why? If you're opposed to the UK's membership of the EU, you shouldn't partake in any committee which logically implies acceptance of the common governance of the UK with other EU countries through common institutions. You don't have to refuse to take your seat the way Sinn Fein MPs do at Westminster. But you'd have to have some coherent policy of "we don't do this".

[@nathyj7]

On South Africa, I think it's perhaps unfair to characterise the DA as a conservative party. The DA's political roots are in liberal parties and then white opposition to apartheid during the later decades of apartheid. The party is definitely a liberal party! Great podcast though!

[@nomsashezi9775]

No they are socially liberal but Conservative policies- they support business more than social development (so in the Western sense they will align more with the Tories more than Labour(well Corbyns Labour, Kier is Tory light)

[@kayess2634]

Completely agree

[@kayess2634]

⁠@@nomsashezi9775 I think that they do support social development but there can’t be any social development in the absence of a strong business environment - so they emphasise business because somebody’s gotta pay for all that social development.

[@nathyj7]

@@kayess2634 Exactly, can't fund progressive policies to reduce poverty without actually having a functioning economy and thus tax base to fund said policies.

[@phueal]

@@nomsashezi9775 "liberal" in the UK means socially and economically liberal, i.e. aligned with the left on social issues, but aligned with the right on economic issues. So it sounds from your description like they definitely are a liberal party?

[@ricardocima]

Alastair is not a dumb guy. His pitch for this show: "Let's find the most left-wing conservative alive, then we will talk about issues and he will agree with me in almost everything. Whoever is watching will think my ideas are commom sense across the political spectrum".

[@britishnerd3919]

Rory often challenges the left wing guests they bring on the show

[@JackGreen-gh6sw]

Typical left wing bias. Exactly why I'm voting reform

[@ricardocima]

@@britishnerd3919 often? mmmm....let's settle for "seldom". He's too gentle to really squeeze people.

[@philbrainy2399]

Iraq dossier?

[@Reelin_In_The_Years]

Rory isn't remotely left wing. He's a traditional Conservative. Put him alongside the likes of Major, Heseltine, Clarke, Hague, Howe even Cameron etc. The problem is, the country let that creature Johnson in to "Get Brexit Done" (wow, how's that going ???) - and he single handedly destroyed the party beyond recognition; people now think the rabble who are about to be kicked out are "conservatives" - they are merely Reform Lite. Thatcher would be turning in her grave at what has become of the Tories - they are a million years away from what they were and the public have no time for them.

[@mikesheridan5218]

The phrase “populist” sure means “of the people” therefore popular and rightfully so. People in this country are tired of being lectured to by public schoolboys and others who think the majority are peasants, stupid or revolting. It’s coming …

[@everydayjumblist]

Populists tell people exactly what they want to hear, regardless of the reality of the situation. They do this as it's an easy route to power - they know that people want to believe there's a simple solution to all of their problems. When this doesn't immediately play out due to the complexities of reality the populist turns to blaming institutions and 'elites'. This never ends well, as the populist will never turn around and admit what they've promised is unachievable. So they find more scapegoats, trash more institutions, and concoct conspiracies. They are corrosive cynics who are only out for themselves.

[@edgar-valentine]

Why does Campbell bang-on about Brexit but can't utter a word about mass immigration?

[@RobertThomson-y4m]

He doesn't do honesty.

[@britishnerd3919]

Since brexit migration has gone up much much higher

[@georgesdelatour]

@@britishnerd3919 The quangos set up by Blair keep telling the Tories that they need to raise the level of immigration, and the Tories obey.

[@catrionaskivingtonskivingt4819]

Nonsense

[@andrewrobinson2565]

"The fight for apartheid"? No, "the fight AGAINST apartheid", Alastair. DOH!? 😮

[@catgladwell5684]

Reminds me of Priti Patel promising to fight anti terrorism.

[@hugor1338]

Fight FOR apartheid would make more sense, given what we can now see about the effects of black majority rule. in destroying that country.

[@andrewrobinson2565]

@@hugor1338 Wow. How did you pass security on the way in? Fake your IQ/DNA card? 🤔

[@Earthcomputer]

@@hugor1338 South African history didn't start in 2010. Apartheid would make things worse for them.

[@MisterstereoOso]

Yes Alistair “Fireworks” ! Exactly what our establishment political class requires, the system needs REFORMING !!

[@MisterstereoOso]

Farage utterly obsessed about media…says the former Spin Doctor 😂

[@ShaunieDale]

When competing with the corruption and media support of the Tories an obsession with the media is the only defence.

[@maxine2798]

Wow. Garage is a Jedi master? Perhaps he is, quite a lot of people love him despite his hideousness. That’s mind control

[@taylorsouthall739]

You can work in IT without being obsessed with computers. Weak.

[@sisiphas]

Brilliant comment

[@philipmulville8218]

Yes, indeed. Takes one to know one.

[@alanharper6487]

Oh dear! listening to these two of "yesterdays men" makes one realize how much a new broom is badly needed!

[@kimlee4010]

👏👏👏

[@MassiveCatLittleLegs]

They're two people having an informed, intelligent discussion about global politics. What would you like to see?

[@elainemarks167]

Gentlemen. To use language I stole from the NYT, Fromage is a feral Man child. Hugely disappointed he is amongst us. Truly hoped he would be with the Orange Messiah. Furthermore, he has terrible taste in ties! Heaven Help Us!!!!!!

[@Saltytoxico]

Never had any interest in his politics previously but he does come across very well in these debates!

[@Wob-rt1sc]

He does.

[@sookibeulah9331]

Who?

[@MsPernickety]

Yes he's excellent at deceiving the naive. He did it over Brexit and I think the same people of voted for Brexit will vote for him.

[@antoniopalmero4063]

When younger I always purchased food from shoplifters , coffee, tea, bacon, sausages, chocolate, meat, ham, beef etc, batteries, marmite etc etc etc .

[@stephenkeogh3287]

Every single thing Farage said prior to Brexit the country witnessed the opposite happening. No surprise, as with all these public school boys, that he hasn’t lost confidence, but so depressing that he still has a platform.

[@tinynijman9077]

Well said 👍

[@williamdeypres1122]

The term public school boys suggests you are a class war warrior i.e., an old fashioned intolerant, socialist dinosaur. Lovely to see Farage expose your narrative.

[@johnlaw4513]

Just as depressing that AC the spin doctor has one as well.

[@___Rick___]

@@johnlaw4513 No one's forcing you to listen to the podcast.

[@johnlaw4513]

@@___Rick___ So True but sometimes there’s FA else on !

[@SandraT1107]

Thank you for this. All but the most ardent supporters of "Brexit" can see that life is even harder for most ordinary people and yet still, even now we are not supposed to talk about the damage done? The less ardent supporters say "you can't put it all down to Brexit". One thing for sure, there haven't been any clear positives!

[@YippeePlopFork]

For the first time in my entire life, I will be voting Labour this time around. The conservatives have made balls-up after balls-up, chewed through 5 PMs - all of whom have been incompetent - given us a PM so dishonest he was **too dishonest** even by politicians standards, given us a PM who knocked billions off the financial markets in barely over a month of “service”, presided over the destruction of cheaper energy companies (instead of helping to shore them up) thereby putting so many families in a position of utter poverty… the Tories are a walking disaster area. Now they’re talking about targeting the disabled and taking our young people’s liberty away? No. Not having that. Much as I hate the thought of voting Labour, I’m done with the shower of proverbial that the conservatives have become.

[@keithparker1346]

I hope you're aware that Labour are just as bad as the Tories

[@DJWESG1]

its called disaster capitalism for a reason.

[@schofield4836]

Expect your greatgrandkids to be Muslims then …

[@bp-lx7lf]

@steve-kl9ivDid you even watch the video? Starmer’s literally just pledged to build 4 more nuclear submarines.

[@marleneMS]

​@steve-kl9iv what utter tosh! Unfortunately you are not the only one who can't recognise what is true and what isn't, or what is a fact and what is a lie, an opinion, and so on. Education in England seems not quite sufficient for a lot of people

[@gannon5409]

Thank you for covering all of this. Im sure you keep us up to date.

[@bobikdylan]

'Who is Nigel Farage?' A KZbin video by the Led By Donkeys channel. Recommended.

[@kereyhaire6910]

Your future pm sunshine haha

[@bobikdylan]

@@kereyhaire6910 Would you like to bet on that? I'm sure we could arrange something.

[@methanedirigible]

@@kereyhaire6910He’s gotta actually win a UK election first. Which so far he’s failed to do. Clacton is staunchly Tory so no guarantee he’ll even be an MP come 5 July.

[@ThisUnfoldingCrisis]

Check out GB news as well for a rounded view.

[@leonardoferrari4852]

​@@kereyhaire6910Pffffff

[@florashahidi5031]

Great pod cast, highly recommended.

[@colinnewmarch1106]

Ah Campbell,the media rolling out the oldies, the great British public are sick and tired of being walked over,and sticking two fingers up to us,with their constant appeasement and apology , they just don't get the mood of anger there is in the country

[@platexproductions]

this is owned by Gary Lineker and a few old TV producer pals. It's worth checking out their company, and stated mission... "podcasts with a purpose". Makes you wonder what that purpose is?

[@JackGreen-gh6sw]

Colin. I hope you will be voting reform like myself. These media outfits are left wing trash

[@jandavies4400]

I think labour and the Conservatives are going to be shocked at the results

[@shaun906]

hi, Alastair...lots of love from Burnley! your a hero of mine!

[@andrewschofield5135]

*your’re

[@shaun906]

@@andrewschofield5135 thanks, but there's no need to spell check anybody on chat or the comments section, i'm not writing an official letter, as long as you get the gist. To some it's actually a bit rude? does it matter i've not put a capital 'I' in I'm or I've?

[@Mark.James.]

Now I can see why Rory is upset about his £1000 vases. What is a man to do?!

[@samrc8350]

Love how you guys are talking about these things as if they are going to happen.

[@dollyjeanstevens]

Vote Reform!

[@ukporkpie7829]

Can't believe over 100 people watching this channel would think that was a good idea.

[@johnnyoneill1676]

@@ukporkpie7829 A rebadged Ukip AKA the Brexit party, madness.

[@ElviraCondomine]

⚠Russian Bot Alert⚠

[@kierfm957]

I'd rather vote to have my own eyes poked out

[@kierfm957]

Not for me

[@DylanSargesson]

The thing with TikTok is that you can't pay to put your political advertising on there (like on other platforms) so if they want people to see it, they have to produce videos that people actually want to engage with. But not being able to sponsor them also means that as a campaign tool it's basically free (less any money spent actually producing the videos), so it would be irresponsible for the parties to not at least try.

[@davidk7262]

The problem with getting Farage to 'own' Brexit is that if you look at any of his media output, or a lot of the media featuring him so many of the comments are praising him for getting Brexit done and getting us out of the 'wicked' EU. Likely Reform voters do not see Brexit as the problem, they feel the problem is Brexit was not hard enough. He would wear it like a badge of honour and that is mainly because nobody is talking about what a car crash it really is!

[@stephenhill545]

The saving grace is that people don't want to talk about it anymore, which may rebound on Farage, I hope.

[@10whiten99]

Exactly. This idea that Brexit would have only worked if the most extreme “version” of Brexit was implemented is nuts. If Brexit was a good idea it should have benefitted the UK regardless of how “hard” or “soft” it was.

[@jonathanward7912]

@@10whiten99 that is some terrible logic

[@10whiten99]

@@jonathanward7912 Even Boris Johnson, the poster boy of the leave campaign, could not implement a Brexit that has benefitted the country. Where is this magic recipe for a successful Brexit? If Brexit was only going to work with a very specific set of circumstances based partly on pure luck, then it was not a good idea.

[@platexproductions]

@@10whiten99 COVID happened, and he got kicked out. What happened to "2008 wasn't Labour's fault, it was a global banking crisis" ...?? How quickly the turntables, and how quickly people show themselves for what they really are.

[@Noallegiance]

It's like this man doesn't live in the same country as the rest of us. Take a look out the window at the state of the place brought to us by 27 years of the Uniparty. I was on the fence about voting for Reform. Now, I will be.

[@stantheman9490]

campbell is a professional liar and he has the front to say that about nigel .what a pratt

[@RolledLs]

Nigel … almost like he’s your mate or something. Lord Farage to sycophants like you no ?

[@TonyBullough]

Farage, Sunak, Starmer, Never was a Rory comeback more needed !! At a time when the country is despairing with politics and politicians, the decency and integrity of Rory and indeed Alistair, are massively appealing.

[@zmzmppi]

At what point will we stop referring him to a successful political communicator and a multiple time failed MP?

[@J1M1F]

Failed as an MP, but influenced the greatest political change within the UK in the last 30 years. Rather than being a career politician, he fought to make change that he believed in.

[@vivwindsor4055]

@@J1M1F If he dosn't want to be a 'career politician', why is he trying to be one again for the eigth time, he could carry on being an 'influence' especially now he has the platform of GB News. He believes in nothing but his own self promotion.

[@NigelThompson-hb5jg]

@@vivwindsor4055 A good job none of the other 649 prospective candidates are not.

[@rehabwales]

​@@J1M1Fby influence do you mean he scared the Tory party.

[@adadinthelifeofacyclist]

It would be interesting to do a feature on Aaron Banks, who appears to be the main force behind Farage's push towards the extreme right and deregulated financial markets. I heard that he owns an offshore bank, is that correct?

[@bondy7564]

Campbell bullshitted so much we invaded Iraq.

[@arnoldsaunders6073]

Apparently he has depression. He gives me depression.

[@ba-gg6jo]

He makes Fara look like an amateur. At least his bullshit hasn't led to our servicemen and innocent civilians killed.

[@qeitkas594]

Tell us about it for the 50000000 time in the last 25 years. People who matter now, are not interested anymore in this old crap.

[@ep1929]

​@@arnoldsaunders6073 Yes he certainly does have depression, but he doesn't help himself. He is a heavy drinker (possibly alcoholic) - that's not going to help one bit with a depression condition.

[@davidwhiting2443]

​@@arnoldsaunders6073he got depression over brexit he couldn't cope of losing crying over brexit still

[@michaelgoss9606]

Thank you gents, excellent talk

[@zye647]

Don’t really watch uk politics often but I enjoy the dynamic of the two hosts of this show sub from me.

[@JackGreen-gh6sw]

You're watching self-declared left wing bias. Alaistar supports war criminals

[@robert-gs4ih]

Pot calling kettle black here, no?

[@ChrisGamble]

Logical Fallacy there

[@JazzyKex78]

Rory- your left sleeve button was not buttoned up 😊 Great politics show. Love the debate and great interviews. The Robert Sapolsky interview was excellent! He’s such an interesting person, could listen to him for hours. Farage should not be called a politician - he’s a troublemaker and people should wise up to him.

[@Mark.James.]

That’s an upper class affectation. It’s supposed to denote your suit has real buttons, as well as creating an air of aloof insouciance. Rory is an absolute killer 😂

[@barrypain4188]

Campbell suggesting someone could "Bullshit for Britain" has to be peak irony......

[@ep1929]

He's oblivious to it all, don't forget he is on the spectrum with mental illness.

[@Lydstaa]

Takes one to know one?

[@robsmart1246]

His reception today was the biggest and most ethusiastic ever seen in Clacton ? He is going to win I think !

[@rsfaeges5298]

Disappointed you failed to say WHY more aid not getting into Gaza. You said that crossing into Gaza is FUBAR. You said that IDF controls border crossings. BUT you did NOT CONNECT those points. Is IDF failing to facilitate aid shipments entering Gaza either deliberately OR through incompetence OR not caring? OR is IDF deliberately strangling aid flow?

[@garyb455]

I have lived through two Labour Governments the first was characterised by economic turmoil, rampant inflation, strikes so savage that we still to this day recall the sheer squalor of the Winter of Discontent and a country in such decline that the rest of the continent labelled us Europe’s “sick man”. The second saw irresponsible government spending, the start of mass immigration, a ruinous war in Iraq and finally the deepest economic recession that any of us had ever had the misfortune to experience. You got it, Labour ends in disaster. Without fail. And this time will be even worse. I am retired do enjoy !

[@stevehall2137]

Love this podcast, but sometimes feel that Alastair is campaigning where Rory comes across as more authentic and balanced in his views.

[@JackGreen-gh6sw]

You feel Alistair is campaigning, because that's exactly what he is doing. Vote reform

[@methanedirigible]

@@JackGreen-gh6sw Yes vote reform and help Labour win 👍

[@kevatnorthfield]

He wants to be an MP. Unfortunately he's always been rejected. Well hold on a sec, MPs everywhere want more and more. Are we saying it ok for the MPs and not alright for Nigel farage. I vote for Tories but I'm fed up with them so was going to vote labour. But I don't like labour. Now I intend to vote for reform, because they offer a change. Of course they won't win and labour will. But it's a start.

[@lfc-europe]

He's waged war on....local barbers.

[@lordofbats3601]

well not local ones that his issue ;)

[@matthewv4170]

Local to where

[@lfc-europe]

@@matthewv4170 everywhere

[@jimcy1319]

​@@matthewv4170Istanbul.

[@harrietkinloch7451]

Only the money laundering ones who demand cash, lawful ones are fine, you don't need every empty shop to become a Muslim barber, Campbell is the man behind the masterminding of Blair's Britain vision for the British people, this is his legacy, the mess we're in now!

[@tobyjaffe270]

On Rory’s point about the challenge of balancing humor with delivering a serious message: in my country, the United States, a certain political figure for nearly a decade now has scrapped that idea entirely and turned the entire messaging of his political party into eternal hyper-irony where everything is both a massive joke and deathly serious, life and death, at the same time. It is terrifying

[@sookibeulah9331]

It’s one of the many reasons why I support RFK Jr. He’ll respond to certain things with humour (like joking that even with seven brain worms he’ll bet Trump & Biden in a debate) and will not personally attack his opponents. RFK Jr will criticise their policies and their record in office but even when encouraged to do so by interviewers he will not descend to the nasty mudslinging that’s typical of the duopoly politics. NB if you reflexively think RFK Jr can’t win don’t forget everyone said Trump couldn’t even win the Primaries in 2016

[@johnbakewell-es8id]

Thank goodness Nigel is now getting formally involved for Reform, any other vote will be a complete waste of time.

[@nlewin5072]

The joker that Sunak could still play is to announce electoral change. No referendum, just change the system to PR within the next five years. Sunak and the Tories are toast anyway, so what have they got to lose?

[@IainFrame]

That's a bit rich coming from someone who was Blair's accomplice taking the country into an illegal war and getting many of my fellow servicemen killed. Blood on your hands, Campbell.

[@drgonzo1971]

The Peace Corps has moved on from just young people - my mother did it when she was fresh out of college and ran into the issues Rory was talking about having to deal with old Asian men who did not want to listen her (and that made a lot of sense to her), but she almost did it late in her career - but didn't want her life uprooted that much.

[@derekrobinson5554]

You and blair did it for years

[@UKtoUSABrit]

Rory: "..worried Farage will drag Tories to Right & into political wilderness". WRONG. Majority of Brits resonate w Farage message esp. immigration

[@RobertThomson-y4m]

Farage says what millions of Brits think but cant say. These two are clueless.

[@thepurpleprince9691]

I am an American with interest in British politics. I was reading the BBC this morning where they were speaking about labor running 11 or 14 candidates who are veterans and that it was some historic number. This was a huge culture shock for me, here in America you are almost guaranteed to win your election as a veteran as long as you aren't running in a safe seat of the opposite party and are not some crazy partisan figure. Our voters truly value military service I think because it shows commitment to public service even without the fancy benefits of being a politician.

[@RobertThomson-y4m]

Here we've had decades of left wing attacks on our institutions. You need to understand that many labour supporters hate the UK. They're working against the country that's given them their life chances. Mind you, many so called Tories are as bad.

[@stephenford8649]

Ah, the Westminster Bubble sniffing each other's farts again. Never gets old.

[@NigelThompson-hb5jg]

'America meant more to him than the UK' - yes Alistair, we know of two others woh were desperate to keep the USA happy, so lied to the British people to stand beside them in an illegal war. Mr Galloway also said once that Mr Blair should be in front of a war crimes tribunal, then turned to you in person and said 'and this man should be alongside him'. Always be careful who you use to quote Mr Campbell. I would have thought you would have remembered that. As for Mr Davey, it doesn't matter how many issues you link to a stunt; if you look a prat, you look a prat.

[@hogganknowsbest]

Woo woo! Farage for the win! Reform gonna get some decent seats

[@davidwales2082]

Rory: VSO is not about just sending young people abroad now. It has changed from those times. Please check it out.

[@tonyaustin4472]

I so agree with you….they are still harping on about National Service as if it’s a sensible idea! It’s been demolished by all the professionals that would have to deal with it. The only people who think it’s a good idea don’t appear to live in the actual world the rest of us occupy :-)

[@JackGreen-gh6sw]

The dual party needs reforming. That's exactly why il be voting REFORM

[@catrionaskivingtonskivingt4819]

🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️

[@DianeBonner-g3d]

Me to

[@vthompson947]

AC first admits he didn't understand what Kemi Badenoch was saying about preserving women's safety, privacy, and dignity, and then unsurprisingly he goes on grossly to misrepresent what she said. I do wish you two would do some actual thinking on this issue.

[@hilaryc8648]

The way you did the opening montage/ teaser was really annoying.

[@phueal]

I hate these teasers that have started becoming commonplace, where they show a clip from the middle of the episode with no context or warning at all, and often no division between it and the episode proper. It doesn't draw me in at all, just annoying. But this episode's one was particularly egregious...

[@hilaryc8648]

@@phueal Agreed, it’s all annoying. I noticed on this one they’ve started doing whooshing noises.

[@margaretmagnuson6730]

Well done….audio books please, if possible. I get to vote in both the UK and US elections this year…so am a regular listener❤.

[@rjdavies1982]

My feeling is that mood in America is changing and the popularism we've seen in recent years is burning out a little. As Trump continues to discredit himself and show himself for the utter nutcase he is over in the states, our Boris and Farage days are coming to an end here.

[@ricardocima]

But Trump still has a chance. Some people think he benefits from the conviction. Let's see.

[@petedennis5694]

Love from Scandinavia ! 🐾🇩🇰❤

[@PeterDavids-ip6wo]

Farage lives in Campbells head rent free.

[@Dimera09]

Campbell claims that Farage "thinks the whole world should be cut up into little 10-15-20 second videos." You know he has an hour long daily show at GBNews? He used to host a daily hour-long phone-in show at LBC? You delude yourself mate.

[@richardberkeley4511]

National Service. A general told me that higher flying conscripts tended to be brighter than professional soldiers and could be more productive and pushed further.

[@dicem8977]

This episode started with bollox nonsense that was jumping around and then I realised they were doing a nauseating "coming up later" without clearly telegraphing it. I hate "coming up" sequences in any care, but by attempting to con me means at 1:26 I'm done listening to this.

[@jamesneeson9825]

Clacton-on-Sea full of jingoistic Tories. Nigel Farage will have chosen this seat due to the Brexit Vote.

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

It's hard to take Starmer seriously as a democrat when he has ruled out a border poll in Northern Ireland.

[@Cravendale98]

Alistair rattled by Farage is quality 😂

[@Coolagreen16]

What quality is that, being an compulsive liar?

[@Rakkeyal]

I think the reason Keir Starmer doesn't talk about all those things (prisons, homelessness, etc) is because if he does, he may be held responsible for fixing it and these are decades long problems that at the end of 5 years people will say "this is still bad, you said you'd fix it" and he doesn't want to get held responsible for that kind of media beat up. Doubly so if the global economy doesn't recover in the next 5 years.

[@jackpayne4658]

My worry is that Farage will win Clacton and go on to lead a merged Reform/Tory party. Then, when Labour fails to fully reverse the catastrophe of Brexit (etc) within five years, Farage will present himself as a viable alternative - with the adoring support of the right-wing press. The parallels with Weimar Germany are unsettling.

[@asher8464]

Lay in a darkened room and breathe slowly and deeply. Weimar ... hilarious.

[@paulhodgers]

​@asher8464 you may be right or he could be right, do you disagree with jack because you admire farage?

[@redemptivepete]

​@@asher8464 However remote the possibility it simply isn't a prospect that lends itself to 'humour!'

[@davegold]

Wiemar Republic? Trump and Farage disparage institutions but Farage talks up UK institutions and attacks international institutions. It is Trump who is more likely to attack and corrupt US government, corrupt US law, corrupt US media, etc.

[@nigelhardy7218]

That is a scenario to be feared. Labour's ability on anything will depend on its seat take. With a big majority, it could be bolder in undoing the Brexit mess, and other reforms. However, I doubt Starmer will serve a second term, more that he will be asked to stand aside at some point for someone younger and exciting. The question on Farage is could he successfully reform the Tory party in his image in as little as five years. It could be more of what if Labour implodes under Starmer and in 4-5 years we have no one party strong enough to get sufficient seats to form a minority government because of our FPTP system. The unchartered territory there would be horrendously unstable.

[@sisiphas]

Alistair saying any other person can bullshit for Britain is obviously irony!!!

[@carlchadwick9858]

How do we get a link to get involved in these polls?

[@RaRa-eu9mw]

That's not how polling works.

[@spacechannelfiver]

The results would be useless if people self selected to be in a poll.

[@JackGreen-gh6sw]

Ignore carlchadwick9858, he's a typical labour voter.

[@jthomas2728]

Just like when he said that the Brexit vote was lost in the morning of the vote when everyone knew it was going to be really close after the initial results from Sunderland.

[@JackGreen-gh6sw]

Vote Reform, to laugh in Alistairs face on July 5th

[@theroomfloor]

Thank you both for some great insights again

[@offaofmercia3329]

Slightly more worried by the cut of the characters around Farage at that press conference. Charlie whatshisface, the plumber? We do need a more robust strategy on immigration. I just fear this will be a case of all sound and fury amounting to very little again and Nigel will step upstairs, backstage, stage left when all the fuss is over in August.

[@JackGreen-gh6sw]

The only party wiling to tackle immigration head on is reform All the other parties are afraid.

[@GKupdate14]

Nigel for landslide victory

[@stephenhill545]

He can negotiate with the EU on the Irish border then.

[@ReadMoreHistory-v9u]

Why anyone would believe Nigel Farage for anything at this point is breathtaking. Like Trump, he is an avatar of people’s discontent and worse impulses but would nothing to help him. He’s such a pathetic character.