Craft Politics9 Syys 2025

The Great Shuffle: When Resets Don’t Reset

Plus: Canada’s economic blues, France’s fourth PM in four years, and Farage dodges a lipstick.

Joseph, Andrew, and Holly return with another Issue Scan—three stories, three jurisdictions, and one increasingly depressing outlook on the Western political economy. But don’t worry, we offset the doom with solid banter, questionable French pronunciation, and beer reviews.

🧭 Here’s what’s inside this week’s scan:

🇬🇧 UK: The Reshuffle That Changes Nothing

Angela Rayner is out as Deputy PM. David Lammy is in. Yvette Cooper moves to Foreign Secretary. And still, Starmer’s government looks… wobbly.

🤔 Does reshuffling help when the fundamentals remain unchanged?
🎯 Are Labour’s backbenchers already preparing for war?
🧨 Holly and Andrew reflect on just how hard it is to govern—even when the adults are in charge.

🇨🇦 Canada: The Economic Squeeze Tightens

The latest numbers are grim:

GDP down 1.6%
Unemployment at 7.1% (highest since 2016)
Youth unemployment? A staggering 14.5%
Export plunge led by a 25% drop in passenger vehicle sales

💸 Prime Minister Carney tries to counter with $5B in tariff relief and a freeze on EV mandates—but will any of it matter if affordability keeps getting worse?

🇫🇷 France: Chaos, Again

The curse of Craft Politics strikes again. Since last week’s episode:

The French government collapsed.
Macron appointed Sébastien Lecornu as the new Prime Minister.
That makes four PMs in four years.

🔁 But with populists on both flanks and public debt ballooning, we ask:

Can France actually govern itself out of this mess?
What happens when the #2 economy in the Eurozone teeters on instability?

“You can change the nurse, but the medicine stays the same.”

🐹 Lipstick on a Gerbil

This week’s contender: Nigel Farage, dodging questions about a town mayor’s 600% pay raise.

Does he spin? Deflect? Or just do Farage things?

🍺 Beer Notes

Joseph: Burdock Helles Lager (Crisp. Clear. Happy-making.)
Holly: M&S-bought Vocation IPA (She brought a glass!)
Percy: Buxton Axe Edge IPA (Fine. Not his favourite. Would still take sponsorship.)

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UK By-Elections Quick Take: What Just Happened?

We're trying a new episode format, so let us know what you think of it. We didn't have time to record a full show, we have as a short and snappy take on this week's by-election results in the UK and w...

19 Kesä 9min

One Country, Two Fires

A week ago, the Henry Nowak case was the story dominating the news agenda. Then Belfast caught fire — literally — and two separate stories became one. Percy and Joseph work through how a murder in Sou...

11 Kesä 38min

The Purity Test

Over the weekend the BC Conservatives picked the candidate the smart money had written off — and half the commentariat instantly called it a gift to the NDP. We're not convinced. A party that went fro...

2 Kesä 34min

37 Words: How Alberta's Ballot Question Tilts the Field

Last week, we recorded with Evan Menzies about the brewing Alberta referendum — and within hours of us hitting publish, Premier Smith unveiled the actual ballot question. So we're back at it.It's also...

27 Touko 42min

Alberta Separatism with Evan Menzies

In February, Dave Cournoyer told us Alberta was sliding toward a separation referendum the pro-Canada side wasn't ready to fight. Three months later, the referendum is both stalled and very much alive...

21 Touko 51min

James Wharton on Reform's Surge and Starmer's Survival

Sixty episodes ago, James Wharton came on the show with a Labour government struggling to find its sea legs. 15 months later, Keir Starmer is fighting for his job.So we brought James back. Lord Wharto...

12 Touko 42min

Kyla Ronellenfitsch on the Conservatives' brand problem

For forty years, the Conservative Party owned cost of living. Not anymore — and Kyla Ronellenfitsch has the polling to prove it.This week on Craft Politics: pollster and data scientist Kyla Ronellenfi...

30 Huhti 39min

Rudy Husny Breaks Down Quebec's Political Landscape

We brought in Rudy Husny — former senior advisor to Ed Fast at International Trade, two-time federal Conservative candidate in Outremont, 2020 Conservative leadership contender, and one of the most th...

22 Huhti 40min