The size of Labour‘s majority matters…

Which party has had the most effective campaign? Is there any way out for Macron in his fight against the far right and far left? Why are the Democrats closing rank over Joe Biden?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all this and more on today's episode of The Rest Is Politics.
🌏 Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✅
00:00 Intro
02:45 Should broadcasters’ vote?
03:52 Voters are still undecided
10:23 The polls before election day & Starmer’s popularity rating
12:13 The Welsh bill to ban politicians lying
17:00 Is Ed Davey making a fool of himself?
19:31 Rating each parties campaign
29:42 Frustration with Macron
37:06 La Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon
44:57 Trump’s Lies & calls for Biden to step down
54:17 Outro
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Just head to www.therestispolitics.com/ to sign up.
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[@restispolitics]

🌏 Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✅

[@user-ue9bi2ui2q]

You can do better than this

[@danyoutube7491]

@@user-ue9bi2ui2q What's wrong with it? If they need the money then a firm that protects people from fraud seems a good choice.

[@FRETW1ZARD]

​​It's not the size of your majority, it's how you use it.

[@FRM101]

😂

[@Nebuchadnezzar-Wildebeest]

Yes, that was what MY mother always used to say as well ...

[@privatechannel8462]

​@@Nebuchadnezzar-Wildebeest yes she did

[@alfie7839]

It’s not the hammer it’s the nail you’re throwing it at

[@Shoomer1988]

That's what she said.

[@jtaylor8606]

Those are terrible photos of both Alastair and Rory - they both look like they've just stumbled out of a pub at 11pm!!

[@zvelleton]

Iconic tbh

[@MayorMcC666]

you sound like you just fell out of a coconut tree

[@BiggusDiggusable]

Rory always looks like he's got TB. Seriously...he needs to eat some food and get about 2 years sleep

[@williamhicken1206]

@@BiggusDiggusable That's uncalled for. I bet he's healthier than most of us.

[@BiggusDiggusable]

@@williamhicken1206 Hmmm debatable. You can't seriously argue that he ever looks well. His lifestyle sounds horrific. Huge amounts of travel. Meetings and dinners all the time and a young family with two children. I've got 3 kids and I find it incredibly difficult and I don't have half the responsibility he does.

[@nicennice]

I personally rejoice in the fact that we don't have another messianic election or potential leader. That's all about them and this election needs to be about us.

[@Squarepeg57]

Great point

[@alawesy]

As a former conservative voter you’d maybe expect me to feel devastated about what’s going to happen tomorrow but I can’t help but have a sense of optimism about the future of the country and I can’t even articulate why but maybe what you’ve said is part of it.

[@nicennice]

​@@alawesy Good for you. I feel optimistic too. I'm sick of the division and rancor that gets nothing done. As Alistair says there's potential for a big Labour majority to usher in a period of stability and consensus. That's at least a good starting point.

[@jake751]

😂😂😂

[@password460]

@@nicennice Stability when they have outlined they wont fund anything and will allow the councils to go bankrupt? 🤣🤣.

[@dixieflatline1189]

Tory's have had a 80 seat super majority in 2019. But now it's a problem?

[@jongalloway726]

1. Covid meant that the majority was meaningless for 3 years and 2. Yes, because as you saw the Tories' internal rebellion was enough to help shape government policies. Starmer would be able to remove the whip without a care in the world. Blair had this level of majority and govern well, would Starmer do the same? Only time will tell, but it is not great for democracy when there is one party with absolute power (in the UK's case both in parliament and its internal party). i suspect people will correct this as they did with Blair at the next election.

[@MrBizteck]

Covid didnt stop government!

[@keithparker1346]

It's a big problem under fptp because no doubt Labours huge majority will be on getting about 40% of the votes

[@Easternlodown]

@@keithparker1346 the Tories in 2019 got 43% of vote and a majority of 80… I personally agree that it’s undemocratic to get a huge majority on less than 50% of vote but no one else was saying this in 2019

[@keithparker1346]

@@Easternlodown I think you will find that people HAVE been saying this for many years

[@TheStobb50]

Even Monty Python, couldn’t make up this election campaign

[@roseanncampbell3168]

Was thinking the same 😅 it's just a flesh wound!

[@redemptivepete]

​@@roseanncampbell3168 it might just be a flesh wound but we haven't had worse!

[@GTA5Player1]

Ed Davey is straight out of Flying Circus

[@Drenicite]

"The conversation will be about our election system instead of the change the country needs" What if the country needs a new election system ;)

[@killerriver]

The one that Labour always wants when it is not in power but doesnt want when it is in power. Flip Flop

[@mup_pet]

I baulked at that as well. PR is probably the most single important issue, along with media reform and the NHS.

[@vinylnerd1544]

Absolutely yes to criminalising politicians who lie!

[@rothwellaudio]

What about the lies Alistair Campbell told about the Iraq war?

[@vinylnerd1544]

@rothwellaudio I am probably too young to remember that but I stand by my comment

[@nelty0987654321]

​@@rothwellaudio was he not cleared?

[@MiningForPies]

@@rothwellaudio What lies? The judge led enquiry didn't agree with you. Or do you want to jail people who do things you disagree with?

[@rothwellaudio]

@@MiningForPies No, I just want to jail people who tell lies to start unnecessary wars.

[@zjzozn]

Note: don’t wash your white suite and the Labour underwear in one wash ⚠️…. Great discussion as usual 👍

[@damianleah6744]

They can’t make promises because there is no money to make any at the moment.

[@MrJohndory111]

So we have David Cameron mk 2? Great stuff

[@Greaseball01]

Can spend 10s of millions on dead end policies like Rwanda, but now there's no money for anything? Sounds legit...

[@Matt-ou7tu]

Nonsense. The British economy was in a far worse state after WW2 when the country was essentially bankrupt with a debt to Gdp ratio of 250% and yet in the years following that, the NHS came into being and other social initiatives. It's political decisions at the end of the day.

[@bakerbaker4455]

300% deficit when we did mass council house building and created the NHS. dont believe labours lies. of course there is money. What there isnt, however, is political will

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

@@MrJohndory111 No, what it translates as is - they can't commit to increase public spending.

[@kassistwisted]

I'm an American living in the Netherlands and I watch your (UK) politics just because I enjoy politics but UK politics in particular doesn't affect my much in my daily life. Right now, I'm cheering on the UK election because it feels like it's going to be a happy ending (i.e. Tories routed, maybe even LibDems in opposition). After the Supreme Court ruling and Biden's performance in the debate (not to mention the far right being in charge in the Dutch parliament and Le Pen's impending reign of terror), I NEED a happy ending somewhere in the world! Thanks Rory and Alistair.

[@flubalubaful]

Sadly Labour has been infiltrated by conservatives, we will see little change or improvements. But reform has really made a huge impact and will gaing a few seats , but there repeated goal is to set up the party for 2029, when they could really make a huge difference. Note how much the BBC and its attack them and make false allegations. This is a party the political class is very scared off. Hopefully the BBC and others will be ignored by the masses as reform now have a policy to have no interaction with them. If reform get even just 12 seats they will make a huge impact on British policies. They are setting up to take the lead in 2029 when labour does exactly what the cons have been doing for 14 years.

[@Andrew-hv2xx]

Thanks Rory for the lettuce reference when talking about the Liz Truss debacle 😂.

[@scottmcginn2169]

The idea of a "Super Majority" is dumb Tory Fearmongering. While yes, there is truth to the idea that only having two more seats than the opposition can be problematic if you have absenteeism, retirements, or deaths, at the end of the day 1 more vote than your opposition has the same impact on a parliamentary vote as 290 more seats.

[@tomcolley9008]

While I agree that the Tories are trying to pull a fast one, a majority of 1 is nothing like a majority of 200. We have no separation between our executive branch and our legislative branch, since the King rubber stamps every law. So you are much more likely to be bold/extreme (take your pick) if you have a large majority and the "parties are large tents" idea has less impact.

[@dog_chasing_cars7576]

id also argue that if such a thing were to happen, it would be their fault and not labours. They would be forced to do better. i struggle to see a downside if im honest

[@Glasgow_kiss]

Look what happens with a majority of 80. A government unable to be held to account. Be careful what we wish for.

[@carolthomas8528]

Who is Tory Fearmongering ?

[@MichaelBennett1]

Smashing majority.

[@julianroberts698]

The sockets in the background not being level are driving my OCD into over drive 😂. Great podcast as usual. Let's hope for a massive Labour victory and I think it would be a good idea for Starmer to give Rory a job

[@alecseaman5476]

I'm so glad somebody else couldn't ‘unsee’ the wonky sockets. I had to go ‘audio only’ in the end.😂

[@howardroden]

The fact that one of them is level makes it even worse!

[@julianroberts698]

@@howardroden 😂

[@JamesWhite-oi9lx]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@macsmiffy2197]

If people can’t be bothered to click edit when they make a spelling mistake in their comment, they’re certainly not going to go to the bother of finding a screwdriver to fix a wonky socket. 😉

[@GTA5Player1]

Did that old guy speak out AGAINST proportional representation? Oh yeah, actually having a parliament that represents people, crazy

[@soulsphere9242]

Proportional representation is not necessarily a great idea in lower houses. The UK should adopt Alternative Vote / Instant Runoff Voting for the Commons and ditch the Lords and create a proportionally representative Senate. This is what Australia has and it leads to stable governments in the lower house that are forced to negotiate with a senate to get legislation passed.

[@timmelia7551]

Parliament exists for people like him , do keep up .

[@GTA5Player1]

@@soulsphere9242 But third parties still have rather limited influence in that system compared to PR countries, don't they?

[@mattimussmatt388]

@@GTA5Player1 They can have significant influence during minority governments and the senate more broadly. Yes, you are sacrificing influence for stability, but I don't think it's a terrible compromise. You also would lose some level of local representation if you had proportional representation.

[@soulsphere9242]

@@GTA5Player1 Third parties and independents usually have no say in who forms government (last time they did was 2010-2013 when the Labor government had a minority) but the Government cannot pass any legislation without the support of minor parties or independents in the Senate. Senate majorities are rare, the last being 2004-2007, which ended John Howard's government because he abused it. Things like foreign policy and defence are not compromised under our system as the executive is stable, but no legislation is getting enacted without the government winning over the Senate. The Senate is very powerful. The Senate is great because it both gives an equal representation to each state (12 senators per state with half up for re-election every 3 years) and has a proportional representation within each state. This means small states don't get overridden by large ones and small groups within each state get represented. A Senate would be great for the UK. Give 12 seats to each of south, middle and northern England, 12 each to Scotland and Wales and 6 to Northern Ireland and give them proportional representation. This will shift power away from London whilst also not making those areas outside London feeling like they have no say. Nothing gets through unless the Union as a whole generally agrees.

[@kendalbint]

Alastair's story about the voter who was convinced Corbyn had been PM underlines Sid Vicious' line: "I've met the man in the street, he's a ****".

[@Lucas-np3ru]

You don't think he was playing around?

[@jammiefortier1480]

you can educate the ignorant, but a stubborn idiot........nope!

[@FranzBieberkopf]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jamesanthony9316]

I like Rory but his respect for the Green manifesto is bizarre as im fairly certain he had no time for the very similar Labour manifesto produced under Corbyn..

[@magk5226]

Spot on. Has found himself homeless in terms of a political home now. Was on Andrew Neil a couple days ago and was debating between multiple parties on who to vote for.

[@roydini1]

Exactly. Him and Alastair are always calling Corbyn a populist and lumping him in with Boris and Farage, simply because they don't like him and he's not a centrist dad like they are.

[@lynnehayward7309]

​@@magk5226That's why I now vote Green

[@aureliogj7966]

The slightly wobbly sockets behind Rory gave me anxiety throughout this thing

[@SirWhig-esq.]

Liberals as opposition 🎉

[@barneypaws4883]

That would be incredible

[@privatechannel8462]

​@barneypaws4883 yes that would be great

[@joecliffe5939]

Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

[@helenw87]

An actual grown up in Ed Davey as LOTO, one who would actually try to make things better - heaven!

[@zonianfjb]

Erm...how?

[@BitzboxTV]

I don't agree that the UK has moved past populism. I think if Starmer doesn't deliver in the next 5 years it could really help deliver a rise for populism. I may just be feeling negative as I live in a constituency where it really is 50/50 between Labour and Reform and I'm fearing the worst

[@lucaguarrasi3024]

I hope populism might slow if the economy improves because at the minute reform voters think it’s shit Tory’s or lefty corbynism. If in five years the atmosphere is people feel better off hopefully the appetite for facism will dissipate and farage will fuck off to Germany or the u.s.

[@buzzukfiftythree]

I am puzzled by the Tories campaign to stop a ‘supermajority’. It smacks of desperation. It’s certainly a government in its death throes, but is it, perhaps, a political party on death row?

[@flamboyentpromotions3471]

They're being realistic everyone knows their gonna lose

[@dragonfly6908]

It has been suggested that Labour will introduce voting for 16 year olds which could result in over a million extra votes for them. I predict that once Labour gets "in", we will never be able to get them "out". People at present think that The Conservatives are bad but i have lived under a few Labour Governments and they have all been worse. Also Labour should be eternally grateful that they were not in power during the COVID Pandemic and we're in opposition so they could criticise the way the Conservatives handled it while at the same time being utterly clueless themselves.

[@coolbanana165]

@@dragonfly6908 You sound like a sociopath. Things were much much better under New Labour. The Conservatives caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, suffering, and impoverishment.

[@redrev674]

Never forget that the Conservative Party are the most successful political party in history.

[@Matt.Hurley]

Why cant changing the electoral system be part of the change the country needs? First Past the Post needs doing away with

[@keithparker1346]

Even though I think it's necessary I believe dealing with the issues of lack of affordable housing, poor wages, poor public services, Draconian welfare,wealth inequality and immigration levels are more a priority

[@Matt.Hurley]

@@keithparker1346 if we can deal with all those things simultaneously (which I doubt) then adding on electoral reform seems possible. If it's a case of priorities which one of those do we choose above all else?

[@keithparker1346]

@@Matt.Hurley when did I say those were to be dealt with simultaneously? I would choose public services and raising welfare rather than demonising the disabled sick and unemployed

[@Matt.Hurley]

@@keithparker1346 you didn't that's why I asked. If it's a case of priorities then we can't tackle everything at once my point is that we are past the point of only prioritising a single issue it needs to be a push in all directions equally

[@Onequietvoice]

I disagree with Alastair on using your vote to vote to support minor parties for exactly the same reason he gave for not doing so, ie putting PR on the agenda. This election is a once in a lifetime opportunity to actually vote your conscience and resist being herded into the major party camps. Even if your favoured candidate is unlikely to get in your vote WILL count. Do not be swayed by the "wasted vote" arguement. The bigger the contrast between votes cast and numbers of MP's the greater the pressure for electoral reform becomes. My personal choices would be Green or SNP if they were standing where I am but no matter your choice go for it. Voting your conscience IS democracy although the normal 2 party elction blurs that reality.

[@Bward888]

What Rory considers the "centre" is absolutely baffling.

[@Bluejayhunt]

It's hilarious hearing them talk about Corbyn or anybody who isn't Blair on the left. 'He sympathises with Palestine so he's completely unelectable'.

[@redrev674]

The problem I feel is the question - what is the centre ground? Is it a static thing I think not! My feeling is by traditional standards the centre ground in British politics has moved to the right.

[@IvanDeMarino]

The “Corbyn was your bad prime minister” is way more important than it seems Alistair. It’s about the level of knowledge that voters on average have, and how the information machine in UK feeds those voters, making them believe that people with no power, actually have it. Specifically with Corbyn: it feeds into the “government acting as opposition” strategy we have seen in the last 12 months.

[@archvaldor]

"It’s about the level of knowledge that voters on average have, and how the information machine in UK feeds those voters" Listen to that patronizing tone. From a guy who calls Alistair Campbell "Alistair" as if he was his friend or something. You centrists are so pompous sometimes.

[@MrBizteck]

Wow Archy .. what a way to COMPLETELY miss the point. Weaponised Stupidy?

[@molsy1768]

​@archvaldor what are you on about? Of course he just refers to him as Alistair, that's his bloody name. Talk about pomposity... And pointing out the general ignorance of the uk public on political matters isn't patronising, its a fact. It isn't patronising to point out that there are melons in this country referring to Corbyn as PM. Ironically, you are the one being patronising and pompous.

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

@@archvaldor But you see, you can't call it patronising or pompous when you have evidence in your face that a person was strongly arguing that Corbyn was PM. The man has no political knowledge - it doesn't matter how you cut it. And a great proportion of the UK is in the same boat and is basing their vote on massively incorrect info. This podcast is discussing the political serious realities - below and above the line. Mis-information is a huge factor in elections, social media and civics. When we try and talk about real factors people start shouting "patronising". Talk about the Leave vote delusion and people start to froth. People believe nonsense and we need to address it.

[@BitzboxTV]

A family member asked me if Starmer would go into coalition with Farage and seemed really surprised when I said Starmer is going to win by a large majority. It's quite scary because these are the types of people who Reform are targeting

[@ukgnome100]

Both looking very sharp today! thumbs up for the jacket!

[@JC-KeepSmiling]

Alastair looks like a character out of the Fast Show in that pic ! 🤣

[@patrickavis5475]

Hahaha! "Me...the 13th Duke of Wimb..."

[@ytsm]

Ooh! 😂

[@keithparker1346]

Dodgy Depressive Warmonger

[@jimmyers8795]

Sorry to be picky, but if you use that studio again, can you get someone to sort that switch out behind Rory, it looks like it was fitted by a 4 year old and it's really annoying, my OCD just can't deal with it. I can't hear anything they say, all i can concentrate on is that damn switch!!!

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Yes, the jacket is not for TV. The colour doesn't work.

[@philipellis7039]

59 and aged…FFS…😢

[@sackville_bagginsess]

Go on Rory endorse Labour. You know you want to.

[@callewag]

If after the election, Rory says ‘it’s a private ballot’, I think we can assume he went for Labour 😂

[@samuelhodgkinson8209]

I think he still has political ambitions. Explains why he is keeping quiet.

[@pipercharms7374]

The new law in Wales sounds great! Can we have it all over the UK please?

[@annishilcock4587]

Stop talking the Labour vote down Rory.The majority of voters aren't interested in statistics, vote share, or hisorical proportion of the vote, they just want the TORIES OUT:And do leave Ed Davey alone.Until he started his antics he was getting zero coverage!

[@mup_pet]

Exactly. It really boils my blood that Reform have had so much coverage, while the Libs - who could form the official opposition - have received negligible coverage. Just look at the volume of publicity given to Reform on Times Radio on youtube, you'd think Reform were poised to form the next government.

[@petercassidy0628]

If you have a majority it does not matter the size of it it's a majority the Tories had a ,80 seat majority 2019 and still had 60 plus when wee sunak called the GE.

[@aisey100]

Frankly ANY Labour majority would be absolutely SUPER.

[@flubalubaful]

It's about what they do with it and if they do nothing positive they will lose whatever power they gained in this election. Cons and labour are one party really and when voters realise this the political landscape will change completely.

[@WestLondonWarrior]

If I could vote in the US, I would vote for Biden purely because I do not want Trump in charge. But my biggest concern is, if he is showing signs of struggle now, what is he going to be like in 2027/28 if he is even still alive at that point? It is a legitimate point as he is five years older than the average life expectancy for Americans (admittedly he will have access to the best doctors available).

[@leftgrrl]

Is it not the US' most likely route to a female President? Biden does a year, steps down on medical advice, the VP steps up.

[@robertsandison2298]

Why don't you like trump? What did he actually do to harm America? Things were much better when he was in charge.

[@molsy1768]

​@@robertsandison2298oh I don't know, deciding that elections don't count unless he wins them, and trying to end free and fair elections seems like a pretty big problem lad...

[@hjf3022]

​@@robertsandison2298When Trump was president, American cities literally burned.

[@WestLondonWarrior]

​@@molsy1768makes a strong start. Project 2025 is another reason.

[@dddddbbb]

In case anyone is interested - here in Jeremy Hunt's constiuency I've received 10 different leaflets/letters from the Lib Dems over the last few weeks. I have received a total of 2 for conservatives.

[@HJJSL-bl8kk]

I live in an inner-city safe Labour constituency. In the last 50 years I have had ONE election leaflet from the Tories. I think they find Council estates too scary or something.It came through the door yesterday. Hilariously, he targeted the wrong house. Not because I'd never vote Tory, but I live in a different constituency to the one he's standing in!

[@dddddbbb]

@@HJJSL-bl8kk lol - so where do they spend all the money they take from racist donors anyway?!

[@alastairlamb8142]

Hi Rory, i've been historically a tory voter but switching to Labour is the easiest thing. Conservatives under the last PM leadership have lost their moral compass.

[@jonnyb2774]

The Welsh bill should go up to jail time for repeat offenders.

[@AmySoyka]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="895">14:55</a> "I sometimes worry about dodgy memories..." <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1514">25:14</a> "Now Finally..." Poor Rory... I guess the lesson is, keep notes!

[@Bard_Land]

I doubt the sub-postmasters are finding Ed Davey's antics particularly amusing, his appearance before the post office inquiry cannot come soon enough.

[@jonathancarless8496]

Rory moaning about Ed Davey is proving that his strategy is working because you are talking about him and the Lib Dems and people are taking notice whether they wouldn’t be otherwise.

[@thecollaborativenegotiator3420]

On Biden are you good folks not missing an angle? Could Biden not recover the situation if he did something like choose a new and really strong VP to replace Harris? The calculation has to be that the voters will look at that VP and say "I am happy for him to take over if Biden has to step down" Surely this has to be considered as an option to recover things?

[@Habdabi]

I think the argument against is pretty obvious, who decides what is true and false, and are there checks and balances? That office would have insane amounts of power if someone can rule something false and ban the opposition? I dont know how that was missed by these guys!

[@tomnorton7817]

ban the opposition? By what mechanism?

[@redemptivepete]

Given the media bias I can't see how Tories can worry about checks and balances? The system is rigged in their favour ...... otherwise based on last five years (never mind the last 14) there's no way they'd be getting 20% of the vote!

[@molsy1768]

OK, so let's just keep allowing politicians to blatantly lie, and then claim 5 months down the line after an inquiry (costing public money) that they "misremembered the truth". What a great idea. Clearly working so far...

[@Matt-ou7tu]

Truth and lies aren't normally subjective matters.

[@keithparker1346]

​@@Matt-ou7tuthey usually are

[@user-ep4tk4bv7b]

If Tony hadn't become so toxic he could have been the 'Second Coming' and shown Starmer how to govern. Remember, that change of church put him nearer to God; so I'm told.

[@MrBodies07]

Big fan of the jacket

[@archvaldor]

It is interesting that at this stage a vote against Labour is technically the left-wing option since it will limit Starmer's right-wing tendencies in parliament. Technically even a reform or conservative vote would very likely result in a more left-wing government. That's how messed up our politics is.

[@ratava6325]

Nigel Farage has a more fetching pink jacket, he was wearing it today.

[@user-us5wk6eh9k]

Are you seriously having a conversation about ‘ honesty in politics ‘ , I mean the absolute brass next of AC is , well actually completely unsurprising .

[@sbwords]

He’s willfully blind to his crimes - no wonder he keeps banging on about mental health.

[@openmindedbloke]

Thank you both so much for making politics interesting and accessible.

[@michaelgoss9606]

Thanks guys, another good discussion in interesting doggy times!

[@Joseph-uo3mx]

"loads of great guests... and gogglebox" is my new favourite accidental insult

[@ArcTV.]

Disproportionality in the uk elections is bigger than ever. Survation recently released a damning report on high how the gallagher index is now showing in the UK. 0.28 on the Gallagher index is frankly extremely disproportinate and not only that, actually anti-democratic. Our democracy is very poor especially going into this election. We need proportional representation now, we needed it already ages ago. STV would be nice. I wish you would talk about this more.

[@lynnehayward7309]

How can Labour be too left wing with fewer votes, when we're voting Green! Labour is becoming more right wing, hence why Labour has chosen support of Conservatives instead of those who represent Labour's roots.

[@missydublin7227]

Sorry but if a benefit claimant ‘forgets’ or ‘misleads’ they’re penalised and prosecuted. Why should politicians be privileged and held above the law.

[@jungleboy1]

first election of my time that we're just handing over the keys to a party because the other one has been squatting for 14 years. This electoral system needs to change to 21st century.

[@billder2655]

I always burst with laughter whenever Rory brings up Ed Davey's campaign methods 😂 he's really not happy about these tactics - that said, I do agree with him that the Lib Dems have failed to seriously present their policies.

[@alayneperrott9693]

Rory, get off the fence. You're setting a bad example!

[@rjScubaSki]

Rory manages to say the most unreasonable things in a way that sounds vaguely respectable

[@mick947]

Yes, he has a way of sounding reasonable. Where as Alistair always sounds irritating even when he has something perfectly acceptable to say.

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

like what?

[@coolbanana165]

@@FireflyOnTheMoon They both seemed to think it was reasonable for French centrists to vote for fascism. No?

[@lucaguarrasi3024]

@@coolbanana165I think it’s because they’re political class, they’re not in this boat they’re in another one. That why they gave reform 7/10. They see it all as a complex game almost.

[@garyarnold3141]

If you've got a majority of 5 or 205 it's the same in our system. Supermajority has no meaning.

[@keithparker1346]

It does mean a difference as with a few seats majority minor parties can scupper laws being introduced...that's almost impossible with a 100 plus seat majority

[@richardanderson8704]

Great podcast as always. Well done

[@jonathancarless8496]

I think if Labour gets a lower share of the vote than Jeremy Corbyn got in 2017 there will be a huge electoral deficit and the calls for proportional representation will be become deafening.

[@KevTheImpaler]

Michael Portillo says he wants his blazer back.

[@Rich-ng3yy]

I was really shocked by Rory Stewarts ageism. I've never heard a 59 yr old described as aged. I thought he was more intelligent than to be led by the nose by the media's moronic age demographic divides and the fallacy that they determined personality, whether at 59, 18, 80 or 100. It is very small minded to view people as conforming to stereotype. As for the house of commons and crutches, the reason why he sees people those ages doing those sports is because there are not many mps in their 20's and 30's or they too would be equally likely to be injured if they went skiing. The NHS website only has one set of guidelines for exercise between childhood and infirmity. In essence there are only 3 ages - infancy, geriatric and everything between the 2. Not everyone above 75 becomes geriatric, millions stay fit and therefore only have 2 ages. Decline is dependent on repetitive strain and genetics and many other factors but it cannot be measured by the amount of times the rock you're on circulates the nearest star since you were born. That's superstition not disimilar to astrology. Rory Stewart has clearly never read books by octogenarian writers or seen marathons with octogenarians running in or seen recordings of Segovia recording at the Alhambra hailed as one of the greatest feats of guitar playing while in his 80's or seen a recent rolling stones concert. All these people more than 20 years older than ed davey - why shouldn't a 59 year old do a bungee jump? Fitness is not age dependent and it's no different from a 49 or 39 etc etc year old doing one. How can you go into politics if you allow your mind to be enslaved by perceptions you've had spoon fed to you of age or anything else without thinking for yourself?

[@denisebrown4735]

I like what has been proposed about lying .... having 14 days to retract or amend. This would go a long way in restoring trust and faith in politics. There will be a healthy balance as there is in the Scottish law about hate crime. This has proved that fears about false reporting are scaremongering. It is a good practical antidote to scandals and nefarious claims & misinformation

[@mckernan603]

I’m a US Dem and you were absolutely right to call on Biden to step down, this is just reckless in the face of literal dementia

[@John-dp8oh]

I'm a working class lad who can't get away from the thought that all of the progress that I have made for me and my family is going to be taxed out of existence by labour: my investments and my house and what I want to leave to my children. All incentives to do better will disappear.

[@SahrAhmed-oc6ni]

What makes you feel this way through this election?

[@redrev674]

I know others just like you. They would be right. Labour have never been the party of aspiration. If you work hard you will be milked by Labour. To be honest leaving stuff to your children is a pipe dream. Only possible if you die without going into social care. My mother is paying £6k per month in a care home and now her home will go to pay her fees. That’s standard care costs now. We - her children will get nothing.

[@John-dp8oh]

@@SahrAhmed-oc6ni Tribal labour lacking the imagination to see beyond the tribe.

[@sheilamargaretwardstoriesa494]

I live in Portugal and I've just received my ballot papers. How can I get them back to the UK in a day other than getting on a plane and delivering them to the door?

[@fionaspencer857]

Next time choose a proxy vote instead of a postal one.

[@surreyboy84]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1130">18:50</a> Rory’s reaction to Alistair’s impression of Ed Davey cracked me up! 😂

[@emilymaitlislaptop]

There IS recourse for candidates/MPs who tell porkies: Section 106 of the RPA 1983, invoking the Election Court (yes, it exists within the High Court). In my case, it nullified the original result and forced a Westminster by-election.

[@hjf3022]

Yep. People should be encouraged to support a "supermajority". You have the opportunity to express to the Tories just how bad they have been to you over the last decade and a half. Imagine if after all this, they only ended up in a regular minority position? What kind of message does that send? What will the party who steered Britain towards ruin be like next election if they don't get a serious flogging, and aren't forced to think things over from a position of feebility?

[@charles1117]

I beg to differ. Everything has trade-offs, and trade-offs in your approach is people might suffer these few years due to the lack of check and balance in the government. For a party that has not governed in the past 14 years, they may screw up in a lot of aspects. That plus a lack of check and balance sounds like a potential disaster for me. Not saying worst case must happen, just saying it's a possibility.

[@connor3158]

Labour shouldn't be chasing privileged voters at all. It's one of the reasons the party is losing my vote and many others from its core base. That's the trade-off I guess. But I really hope there is a proper left-wing coalition of MPs in the next parliament who can apply that pressure.

[@rosmear7871]

After the 1965 general election, when Harold Wilson became Prime Minister as a result of the final 4 results to be declared (I was at school hoping that these 4 would be Liberal in order to have a hung parliament), I made the conscious decision to never vote Tory or Labour as both parties put dogma ahead of the country (particularly with respect to Nationalisation/de-nationalisation). This year I would have been prepared to put aside this life-long view. however, as my postal vote arrived through the letter box at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="700">11:40</a> this morning I have been denied this opoertunity. In order to vote I would have to drive 200km, take a flight to Edinburgh or Inverness, hire a car and hand deliver my "postal" vote. I have been effectively dis-enfranchised.

[@FranzBieberkopf]

Where do you live-Mars?

[@rosmear7871]

@@FranzBieberkopf South-West France

[@leeedsonetwo]

I am 70 and have moved around the country and voted for all of the main parties but have never voted for some one that has been elected. I now no longer believe that we have a democracy.

[@Episode_13]

It's a good jacket to be fair!

[@davidcarr2216]

So now we know. Rory is a shy Tory voter.

[@neilbradley100]

For somebody who tried to become Tory leader he should not even need a o be shy about it.

[@molsy1768]

You do realise he was a tory mp right?

[@davidcarr2216]

@@molsy1768 So why is he shy about it ?

[@molsy1768]

@davidcarr2216 because in many parts of Britain, saying who you are going to vote for is considered improper. It's particuarly prevalent in Glasgow due to the independence debate etc. Shyness and politeness aren't the same thing

[@davidcarr2216]

@@molsy1768 Rory Stewart is prominant political commentator and opinion maker - he's not Joe Schmo.

[@philipsmith1990]

It seems obvious to me that leaving the election until later could only have made things worse for the Tories. NHS waiting lists? With the prospect of record temperatures driving people to A&E? And when have waiting lists ever improved in the UK winter? Are public services likely to improve? What else that people care about will get better? Yes something good might have turned up, Starmer might have made some dreadful error, but just as, if not more, likely is that something bad would turn up or a senior Tory would do or say something terrible. Calling the election was a gamble but leaving it would have been a bigger one.

[@steveellis7748]

"I personally rejoice in the fact that we don't have another messianic election or potential leader." You are absolutely correct. We have two uncharismatic leaders who have no idea where they want to lead the country. They are totally gormless. Take us out of this misery and vote for Reform

[@t.p.mckenna]

The big thing they have going for them, where they can start accruing free brownie points from the start is by the restoration of decency. I would seriously urge any Labour MP with questionable donations and directorships to return the cash and resign such positions. Any consultancies or associations, also. If they really want to be the party of change, that's where it should start.

[@TimThat]

When they both say they’re live on election night through til the morning, does that mean here on this KZbin channel?

[@jackhunter4556]

Rory even entertaining the greens policy to scrap the nuclear deterrent is totally irresponsible and he really should know better

[@davidroberts8657]

Pity there was no comparison between Meloni of Italy, and Le Pen. Meloni has achieved a cache of respectability in Europe and beyond, making disciplined decisions in a European context, so there is a lot to compare and contrast with Le Pen there, who has never been in power but is looking less extreme.

[@alantheinquirer7658]

No such thing as a 'supermajority' in UK politics. You get a majority with just one vote ... and all the benefits of a majority government along with it.

[@WestLondonWarrior]

Constitutionally, that is correct but in our two party parliamentary system, you have the extremists on both sides like Mogg and, previously, Corbyn during the Blair/Brown years. With a small majority, you need to keep them on side. With a large majority, you can leave them to cheer their echo chambers and they become irrelevant. Sadly, both the Tories and Labour gave in to the lunatic fringes, cult of personality etc. meaning that moderates had to decide between two extremes in 2019. Labour, having got rid of the extremists or them losing their seats, have moved back towards the centre. If they secure a strong majority, they are free to work on fixing the country rather than appeasing to the extremes of their party.

[@alantheinquirer7658]

@@WestLondonWarrior Very true. However, there's a difference between 'having to listen to' an extremist or pressure group within your party and being able to operate as a government party. You can listen to a lobby group make a very good pitch but you don't have to give them what they want. This is why PR might give more presence to extremist parties but, ultimately, it's more democratic than the FPTP. The two-party version gives extremists within those parties more influence over the incumbent. PR allows those extremists a voice - in *public* - but an equal vote on governance, with little influence over the outcome apart from their vote.

[@WestLondonWarrior]

@alantheinquirer7658 I think, in a PR system, the Tories and Labour would completely split. We'd have the Tories and Reform, while Labour (had they been under Corbyn) would have seen those closer to the centre probably aligning themselves with the Lib Dems. In terms of the SNP/PC, they'd be further reduced to the fringes of the national debate - just on the basis of population of 67 million and going with 670 seats (one per 100,000), England would have 565, Scotland 54, Wales 32 and Northern Ireland 19. It'd be interesting to see the breakdown in such an election. With the system we have, I'd prefer the party in power to have a working majority of around 30 as it allows them to get stuff done but avoids them going too far. It's interesting to see France essentially have a choice between the two extremes as that's how I felt in 2019.

[@WestLondonWarrior]

@alantheinquirer7658 I will add, I am glad we are able to have a civil political debate or, as Alastair and Rory would say, disagree agreeably.

[@alantheinquirer7658]

@@WestLondonWarrior I've always preferred to discuss rather than preach. :-)

[@crispybits3765]

Can't wait to vote these Tories out of government for a generation. Please god let the polls be accurate.

[@dragonfly6908]

Have you ever lived under a Labour Government?

[@crispybits3765]

@@dragonfly6908 Yes

[@dragonfly6908]

@@crispybits3765 At least then you will know what you will be in for. 😮

[@crispybits3765]

@@dragonfly6908 well everything was better at the end of their last term, before dodgy Dave and Android Osborn got to work. So bring it on.

[@dragonfly6908]

@@crispybits3765 Let's see what happens. I wouldn't be surprised if "The Unions" start planning to oust Kier and i think he will be lucky to last 18 months. The problem always with Labour is the "Left" in the party they are disruptive.

[@kizfrancis1838]

What do Alastair and Rory make of the proverbial (Boris)floating back up to help Rishi out in the last week of campaigning?.

[@Cherrytune386]

The nail in their coffin! 😂😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

We've all encountered a turd resistant to flushing.

[@damianward1541]

Interesting use of the word 'help'

[@user-eh3qm4vh7m]

A President who supports a genocide in Gaza can't be described as having the right values or right policies.

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

The Tories have been playing the same joke for 40 years.

[@itsatallworld]

Drop Katy and Mooch, you guys are more captivating talking about the US election. Someone had to say it.

[@TheSnelly101]

Agreed, I listened to their last podcast episode. They spend a decent portion of it flirting with each other and the rest of it interrupting each other.

[@itsatallworld]

@@TheSnelly101 Katy just isn't very interesting to listen to. A lot of humble bragging and nothing insightful. I stopped listening to that podcast last week.

[@mauvegreenwisteria3645]

@@itsatallworld. I agree about Katty.

[@AaronMcDaid]

Maybe the Obamas and Clintons have already had that conversation with the Bidens, and the Bidens said no

[@U5mR]

If you're a Tory voter and you are not voting Labour you are voting to end the tories. This is the most important Tory election ever, a note vote or reform vote mean they will go further to the Right and they won't be coming back Voting Labour will make them chase the centre again.

[@Stephanie-wf6xr]

It was ok for the Cons to have 80 seat majority 😂😂

[@Westlake72]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1249">20:49</a> The one thing, THE ONE THING, I praise Rishi Sunak for is calling the election ealy, another 6 months of these disgusting, privately educated, incompetent, lying, crooks, is something we have all been spared.

[@Socabebe]

I love these two. The banter between them just makes me chuckle every single episode. Keep it going lads! Sending best wishes from the big dirty apple 🍎

[@geraldhewing2076]

Free education for Rory; an unaccountable, an argument and number of seats.

[@sluglife9785]

Don't criminalise a lie, tax it! This country is so full of shit, imagine the mountains of loot. 😆

[@tommonk7651]

If people are not concerned about the US Supreme Court decision, you don’t understand it….

[@jonathonjubb6626]

The plug sockets behind Rory would not last five minutes in my house....

[@Jablicek]

Channel 4's lighting is very flattering! Well done them :)

[@FourTetTrack]

I laughed a bit at the VPN ad 😅. They are everywhere! I'm looking forward to the coverage of the election, it will be a good time to pull at all-nighter.

[@Britishshadow]

Looking forward to channel 4 super programming on Thursday night, I’m going to pull an all nighter 😅

[@christopherrandles6345]

I think the bill going through the Welsh assembly is extremely important, and it goes some of the way to rebuilding trust between the public and politics. It infuriates me that Johnson could knowingly lie and parade his pantomime in the house regarding the parties at number 10 during lockdown, and when members of parliament call out these lies they are punished by the speaker (because them's the rules). Hopefully, it will work with how it is intended. The other area I want addressing is the continuous non-answering of questions during question time and debates. In the same way Twitter used to have labels stating that some posts were misleading, it would be nice to see a similar label in the official records of parliament to the effect of, "the response to this question has been evaluated as not answering the question as it was asked," or something similar. How that evaluation would take place is varied, but something really has to be done to address these nonsense responses to genuine questions from our MPs.