• Why you should be proud to be English – and Rowling vs Campbell
    Apr 23 2026

    In this week’s Q&A: what should make you proud to be English? With St George’s Day prompting reflection, Michael and Maddie discuss the traditions, institutions and cultural inheritance that define England – from pubs and parishes to Shakespeare and the common law – and ask why celebrating them has become so contested.

    Also this week: was Queen Elizabeth II our greatest ever monarch? As Britain reflects on her legacy, they each make the case for their favourite monarchs.

    And finally: the row between J.K. Rowling and Alastair Campbell. Michael and Maddie assess whether the reaction to Rowling has proved her point – and what the debate reveals about the tone, tactics and tensions at the heart of Britain’s culture wars.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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    28 mins
  • Starmer out? — be careful what you wish for
    Apr 21 2026

    This week: the Mandelson row deepens – and a bigger question about Keir Starmer’s judgment and authority.

    After a bruising appearance from Olly Robbins at the Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael and Madeline ask whether the Prime Minister’s defence still holds and assess the weaknesses this whole debacle has exposed in Keir Starmer. For example, why did he want Mandelson to be US Ambassador in the first place, given the numerous red flags and the fact that – as Michael suggests – he doesn’t particularly like Mandelson or his style of operating?

    They also discuss whether this will end up being a resigning issue – and, if Starmer does go, what comes next? With potential successors circling and the local elections looming, would removing him would solve the problem or make it worse?

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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    40 mins
  • Local elections preview: how bad will it be for Labour?
    Apr 16 2026

    In this week’s Q&A: are the local elections about to deliver a political shock? With Labour facing pressure from Reform, the Greens and resurgent local challengers, Michael and Maddie assess whether the party is heading for heavy losses – and what it would mean if even its traditional heartlands start to slip away.

    Also this week: can journalists trust artificial intelligence? After a high-profile case of AI use in the media, they debate where the line should be drawn – and whether relying on it risks hollowing out real expertise and judgment.

    And finally: has ‘twee’ taken over? From Paddington to ‘be kind’, they ask whether a softer, more infantilised tone is crowding out serious debate – and what that says about modern Britain.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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    26 mins
  • Southport inquiry: they knew he was evil, why wasn’t he stopped?
    Apr 14 2026

    This week: the Southport inquiry and a deeper question about why Britain’s institutions keep failing to act. After a damning report into the killings revealed that Axel Rudakubana was ‘known to authorities’, Michael and Madeline ask how so many warning signs were missed. Did a fear of getting things wrong – or being accused of racism – stop professionals from intervening?

    Also on the podcast: another retreat from Keir Starmer. The government has dropped its Chagos bill – but is this a pragmatic recognition of geopolitical reality, or another sign of strategic confusion at the top of government?

    And finally: Labour’s growing dilemma over sex and gender. One year on from the Supreme Court’s ruling on biological sex, why is the government still dragging its feet on guidance?

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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    50 mins
  • Anas Sarwar: why I said Starmer should go – and what I told Wes Streeting
    Mar 31 2026

    One month on from calling for Keir Starmer's resignation, Anas Sarwar – the leader of Scottish Labour – joins Michael Gove to reflect on British politics ahead of the May elections. Does he stand by his call for the Prime Minister to go? And, having spoken to Wes Streeting the weekend before, what advice did his close ally give?


    The May local and regional elections promise to be the 'fiercest battle' for Scotland's future. Yet after over two decades in power, what does he make of polling that suggests the SNP will win – again? Is Reform posing a threat to Labour? And how can Scottish Labour offer a realistic alternative?


    Plus: which Westminster cabinet minister would he like to see campaign in Scotland – and who are his political heroes?


    Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.

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    50 mins
  • Q&A: Do the Tories need a bigger kicking?
    Mar 27 2026

    To submit your urgent questions to Michael and Maddie, visit spectator.com/quiteright.

    In this week’s Q&A: do the Conservatives need an even bigger kicking? After their worst defeat in generations, they debate whether the party has really changed – or whether voters still see a gap between what it says and what it does.

    Also this week: what does Keir Starmer actually mean by acting in the ‘national interest’? As the conflict with Iran escalates, they unpack whether the Prime Minister’s language reflects a clear strategy – or political positioning.

    And finally: who are the best-read politicians – and which books should anyone in power be reading?

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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    30 mins
  • Coexistence or 'dominance'? The political Islam debate
    Mar 25 2026

    This week: the row over political Islam and a bigger question beneath it. After Nick Timothy’s comments on public prayer in Trafalgar Square caused a political firestorm, Michael and Madeline ask whether Britain can still have an honest debate about faith, free speech and the public square. Where is the line between coexistence and an assertion of dominance – and are politicians too afraid to confront it?

    Also on the podcast: the future of the Church of England. With Sarah Mullally set to become the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, they debate what her leadership might mean for an institution struggling with bureaucracy, declining trust and questions over its moral authority.

    And finally: Angela Rayner and the battle for Labour’s future. As tensions grow within the party over migration and economic policy, they ask whether Rayner is already positioning herself as Starmer’s successor – and why her political instincts may prove sharper than the Prime Minister’s.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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    51 mins
  • Q&A: The Greens' secret weapon – and what happened to liberalism?
    Mar 20 2026

    To submit your urgent questions to Michael and Maddie, visit spectator.com/quiteright.

    In this week’s Q&A: the Green party and the rise of new MP Hannah Spencer. Does a softer, more appealing political style mask something more radical beneath the surface – and is that precisely the secret of the party’s growing success?

    Also this week: whatever happened to levelling up? Once the defining mission of British politics, they debate whether regional inequality has quietly slipped down the agenda – and what that says about how both Labour and the Conservative party now see the country.

    And finally: what on earth has happened to the Liberal Democrats? With Ed Davey doubling down on stunts and spectacle, is there still a serious liberal project at the heart of the party – or has it become all performance and no substance?

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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    31 mins