When Tory Tribes Go To War

With potential Conservative Party mutiny still bubbling away, there’s a rare moment of disagreement in the Planet Normal cockpit this week over a potential Tory leadership changeLiam is convinced that a leadership will make an inevitable election loss much worse, whilst Allison is adamant that with a new ‘proper’ Tory party leader would persuade Conservative voters not to stay home.And co-pilot Pearson shares her outrage at the latest royal drama surrounding the Princess of Wales. All residents on the rocket are in agreement that the media should respect her privacy as she convalesces. Joining your co-pilots this week is SDP Mayor of London Candidate ‘socially right, economically left, Amy Gallagher who explains why she thinks Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s recent comments on politics make him sound more like an MP than a religious leader.And Bob the Bard makes a joyous return to the rocket’s mailbag…Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Kemi Badenoch: Britain’s diversity drive has backfired: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/03/20/kemi-badenoch-britain-diversity-drive-backfired/ |Watch Amy Gallagher’s documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4v1cb04vB4 |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 Mars 202456min

There is no rest in the political news cycle this week, but are recent events enough to trigger a political earthquake or just another tremor?In light of Lee Anderson jumping ship from the Tory Party to Reform UK, Allison thinks the Conservatives won't hold onto a single Red Wall seat won in the 2019 election, and worries that everything in our country has a 'social justice agenda’.There’s also time to weigh in on the ongoing Covid Inquiry, which Liam thinks has become a ‘farce’ and wonders why it has disappeared from the news.Joining your co-pilots this week is filmmaker Martin Durkin, who straps in to chat to your co-pilots about some of the home truths revealed in his latest film 'CLIMATE THE MOVIE'.And Allison gives her take on Cillian Murphy’s eyes in wake of the latest Academy Awards.'The Climate Movie' (A Cold Truth) is released on 21st March on Youtube and other platformsAllison Pearson is a board member of The Global Warming Policy Foundation, a think-tank that wants open debate on climate policy. Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Allison:’Lee Anderson was right: We want our country back’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/03/12/i-know-why-britain-is-so-miserable-lost-minority-nonsense/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 Mars 202454min

The Chancellor has revealed his Budget but the rocket of right-thinking has spotted a shadowy figure on the horizon heading towards Mr Hunt - the Office for Budget Responsibility.Strapping into the rocket to help navigate the nuances is Helen Thomas from Blonde Money, a former advisor to then-Chancellor George Osborne. Helen thinks that the ghost of ignoring the OBR in the now infamous Autumn Budget of 2021 is haunting the current government, and making them over cautious.Liam thinks the OBR is at loggerheads with the Treasury as the Chancellor wanted to give a big cut to grab headlines but he had to compromise with a cheaper option.And Co-Pilot Pearson, aka Velma, also has some concerns about these spooky shenanigans - namely that the government has missed the mark by not addressing first time buyers and social mobility.Plus, as ever, we delve into the bulging PN mailbag.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Allison: 'Stop being scared of Islamophobia. Start worrying about Anglophobia' https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/03/05/the-government-new-extremism-laws-needs-engage-muslim-women/Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Mars 202453min

As co-pilot Pearson is away this week Liam is joined by special guest Telegraph Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan, to discuss the issue of the military housing plan that has barracks up and down the country up in arms, and how Allison and Danielle's reporting sparked a huge response from the Ministry of Defence. Danielle explains to Liam why military personnel are so fed up with their standard of accommodation and why she thinks this issue might be affecting military retention at a time when presenting a united military front to face ongoing conflict across Europe is so vital.And there’s also time for a quick glimpse into the bulging PN mailbag.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Danielle Sheridan: ‘Army housing plan that caused revolt among military wives paused for fear of losing ‘good people’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/27/military-wives-mod-housing-army-james-cartlidge/ |Read Allison’ Watch out MoD, you take away an Army wife’s home at your peril’ :https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/23/army-wives-lives-military-families-torn-up-new-conditions/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Feb 202438min

This episode was recorded before the evening's events in the House of Commons. You can read more here on the Telegraph's live blog: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/02/21/rishi-sunak-latest-news-atkins-labour-snp-gaza/#commentIt was a double by-election blow for the Conservative Party as Labour claimed victory in Wellingborough and Kingswood. In what is now a common occurence the third by election next week in Rochdale sees your co-pilots welcome standing candidate George Galloway onto the rocket to hear his fighting talk.He argues the Labour Party have brought ‘disgrace’ to the constituency and that his party is ‘ready to punish them’. He also puts forward his case for bringing Boris Johnson back as leader of the Conservatives…Liam thinks that despite the polls predictions, we might see a closer General Election result than people expect.And Allison, who has taken umbrage with Party Leader Penny Mordaunt’s politics in the past, still champions her as a better leader than the current PM.And your co-pilots salute the genius that was Dad’s Army and take a march down memory lane...Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 Feb 202458min

Give children brick phones, not smartphones, says this week's guest on the rocket of right thinking, Sophie Winkleman. The Peep Show star gives an insight into her plea to promote screen free learning for children and finds time to share a sprinkling of showbiz gossip on the rocket… Plus your co-pilots experience some déja-vu, as the Tories demonstrate another set of 'barely managed meltdowns.'But is the Prime Minister really ‘sticking to the plan?’Liam gives his take on the latest stagnant inflation figures, but warns that if the PM doesn’t change his plan we could be headed for economic woe and a recession.And weighing into the latest drama from the Labour Party, Allison thinks the party might be being eaten by its own ‘diversity dragon', and has also found time to invent a new game: introducing ‘Rishi Bingo’.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Liam: "The issue that could decide the election - and it's not the economy"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/02/11/immigration-not-economy-key-election-success/ |Read Allison: ‘Greedy universities don’t seem to care about white middle-class British kids’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/02/14/britain-white-middle-class-teenagers-greedy-universities/\Sophie Winkleman: "Screens in schools are harming our children"https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/screens-schools-harming-children |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 Feb 20241h 2min

As inflation drops, anger on the rocket rises, at the issue of illegal immigration and asylum seekers in light of the shocking chemical attack in London. Plus, where do your co-pilots stand on Liz Truss' ‘Pop Con’? Liam thinks that immigration could well overtake the economy as the number one issue for voters in the upcoming election and closely impending by-elections. Allison feels the rise in smaller groups such as Reform and the new ‘Pop Con’ is merely a reflection of mass frustration at the failing of the Conservative Party.Strapping into the cockpit this week is former Secretary of State for Scotland Lord Michael Forsyth, who presents his defence for the recent criticism of the House of Lords, as well as his grave take on the state of the current Conservative Party.And Allison is outraged that the home nation of her beloved cat, Didi, Turkey, has been deemed 'unsafe' by Home Office officials. Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Allison: ‘When will we stop men from barbaric cultures acting out their evil ideologies on British soil?’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/02/06/chemical-attacks-barbaric-cultures-evil-acts-british-soil/ Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 Feb 20241h 3min

This week your co-pilots are busy celebrating the anniversary of Brexit and the subsequent birth of Planet Normal. But aside from a hit podcast, what does the country really have to show from the referendum?Liam thinks that the people talking down the economy since the referendum often underestimate UK, and that our GDP growth is actually on par with other countries in the EU. Allison meanwhile is seething at another scandal afoot with British universities, which she believes is causing an ‘apartheid’ between UK and International students, by favouring the former.This week the rocket welcomes 'Amy' and 'James' onto the rocket to share their daughter's story. A classmate of their child joined the Church of England school as a girl, while being born a boy. 'Amy' and 'James' say the child’s sex was hidden from classmates, like their daughter, who were traumatised to learn the truth. Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Allison: ‘Universities should want brilliant British minds, not dumbed-down foreign cash cows’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/01/30/top-british-universities-international-students-oxbridge/Read Allison: 'Four-year-old boy allowed to join school as a girl is no Grimm fairytale but a real-life nightmare': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/26/boy-four-join-school-a-girl-grimm-nightmare-mental-health/Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Feb 202455min