You will not be surprised to know that my take has NOTHING in common with tomorrow's front page coverage. "To me, wierdly, this felt like the first moment this gov't has ever been on the front foot. When it finally said: let's use this crisis to take the news agenda by the scruff of the neck."
Another really useful and informative show. Just what was needed as the world of politic shifts was once again and especially so on the day I can apply for a senior railcard!
Glad somebody else had this same thought.
It smacks of panic and something must be done... This is something... Let's do it
Yep. Their comms was front and centre today. They need to do this more often.
Tend to agree.
Well at least it kicked RefUK down the news bulletins if nothing else. To my surprise, the BBC R4 coverage wasn't entirely negative...
None of it was *during* it. It's in the evening they all read each other's hot take or gather in the pub and chat, and the copy becomes remarkably homogenous.
Great listen, thank you.
Which is why I adore you and the team Naomi and Kenny at Quiet Riot 🙌
By the way Alex, had you seen that at the Reform jamboree tonight one of their live acts is "The Jacksons"? It writes itself, doesn't it?
I'm with you, and said the same to my son this evening, though I didn't use "wierd". The shakeup wasn't planned, but it was an opportunity and I am quite encouraged by most of the moves. We have already had too many false dawns. Let's hope this is a real one.
Thank you, Stephen. Sometimes, when every single hack seems to copy'n'paste off each other, it can feel like I am witnessing an entirely different set of facts. This annihilated Farage's big day and got a lot done that needed to be done, quickly and efficiently.
People forget that a few years ago a similar investigation into Priti Patel resulted in much harsher findings, was ignored by Johnson, and resulted in the resignation of the ethics advisor - a position that found no stable replacement for years.
And we might be wrong in our take also. But this feels different. Yes triggered by something beyond their control but the chess moves don't feel panicked. To me they make sense, and in a few key areas allow a serious reset. If they take the opportunity, of course.
No surprise Alex. I don’t think I can remember a time when broadcasters and newspapers seem to be intent on bringing an elected government down and almost exclusively promoting a minority party of liars
What they've actually done is use the "flood the zone with shit" theory in their own way
Strong agree. Best use of a crisis to make deeper much needed changes I've seen. Feels like a major momentum shift.
Alex I re listened to midnight mass whilst walking the dog this morning as i listened for the first time at approx midnight last night! You guys didn’t really speak about Yvette Coopers move to Foreign Secretary why?
I guess it escaped. It's a pretty sideways move. We did say we will mop up on Thursday.
Ok cool look forward to it - I heard it said that she was previously such an advocate for asylum seekers that being tough on immigration didn’t really suit her anymore
She could always have tried, I don’t know, not doing performative evil crap that doesn’t work?
True that
Quiet Riot was the only take on the reshuffle that actually gave me some hope. Most other news bulletins reports were quite negative
What a welcome episode! This thoughtful reflection on yesterday’s turmoil was deep, humane, illuminating and reassuring. This is the podcast that reaches the parts no others touch. Strong recommendation!
Petition for Ange as a guest, ASAP :)
Great sentiments. Also, Rayner temporarily let loose from from the constraints of Ministerial office could become a real force for good in party and country. If she remains fundamentally loyal, and is listened to by government, she could provide a populist engine to drive the whole Labour project.
A task Prescott managed (from within government - because the political environment then was much less perilous), bolstering support even from the less convinced, and especially from the unmistakeably Northern, proud, and for too long denigrated, he so profoundly embodied. And another thing -
unlike Farage, she’s authentic and genuinely funny.
Same. This ‘crisis’ is taking place within the confines of the front pages. Like a Day of The Triffids in a bottle garden. I’m no fan of Starmer’s Labour, but the reshuffle has highlighted the fact that the gov has some reasonably credible ministers to call upon. Unlike any other party currently.
Or you could ask, if Ministers were doing a good job, why were they not left to get on with it? And if they weren’t, why were they not sacked and new blood brought in. The circular musical Chairs between HO, FO and Justice is completely pointless.
I disagree.
I fail to see how the same old faces in new places can possibly deliver the boost this Government needs. But I guess we will see over the coming months. It will be odd having so many Conference speeches being given by people who don’t know their roles.
Point is these may be tweaks that were being considered anyway, but losing a senior team member created an opportunity to try them. Not sure a change-everyone model is better. Look at 2019-2024. Ended up with so many people having failed at so many posts, there were only nobodies left to select.
That was more down to Brexit and Boris driving out of the Tory party almost everyone who was remotely sane and competent. There were exceptions, like Alex Chalk, but it was a talent puddle, not a talent pool.
I had a feeling that if you were determined not to see the point without an explanation, your determination would not be weakened by an explanation.
I see the point. I don’t agree with it. And there was me about to say at least we can disagree respectfully. Oh well.
OH NO!!!
Who is left in the talent pool who is not blue labour? Deckchairs, Titanic, etc.
Tiresome nonsense.
God I hope you are right, Alex. As you often are
(I do wish the labour party had yesterday come out strongly to explain and promote as well as you did. Channel 4 news even noted the lack of a Labour spokesperson)