Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins

Ian Collins examines whether Britain is sliding back toward pandemic-style measures after Wes Streeting warns the NHS could “collapse” under record flu hospitalisations and looming strikes. Professor Karol Sikora analyses why hospitals are overwhelmed, whether masks or lockdown-style steps could return, and what the government should be doing instead.Richard Kilpatrick from the European Movement and Gawain Towler of Reform UK debate explosive claims from leaked US documents suggesting Donald Trump wants to push four countries out of the EU as part of a “Make Europe Great Again” strategy — and what this could mean for Britain and Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins asks whether ethnicity should play any role in how Britain understands and tackles crime. Former Labour adviser James Matthewson joins us to break down the row after Labour MPs complained about a minister’s comments on race, as the Government prepares a new grooming-gangs inquiry that will explicitly examine the ethnicity and religion of offenders. Social commentator David Shipley assesses whether this marks a necessary moment of reckoning or a dangerous political shift.Later, Amy Gallagher — commentator at the New Culture Forum and former NHS nurse at the Tavistock Clinic — reacts to growing outrage over Labour’s new puberty-blocker trial for 220 children, branded “grotesque” by critics and accused of amounting to “chemical castration”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins examines Sir Keir Starmer’s call to curb the powers of the European Court of Human Rights as Labour scrambles to get a grip on illegal migration. Liam Deacon, former Brexit Party Head of Press, breaks down the scale of the asylum crisis from spiralling absconding rates to a Home Office that can’t even say how many migrants have vanished. Dr Mike Galsworthy of the European Movement UK joins to challenge the premise, arguing that stripping back ECHR protections would create legal and diplomatic chaos rather than solutions.James Melville responds to extraordinary guidance from NHS leaders urging people with a common cold to wear masks in public, raising questions about public health policy, social pressure and whether Britain is drifting back towards a “new normal” without debate.Later, Dorset publican Andy Lennox, spokesman for the “No Labour MPs in Pubs” campaign, explains why hospitality bosses are banning Labour MPs over business-rates changes they say could devastate the sector, and what the industry wants Rachel Reeves to hear before it’s too late. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins asks whether Britain is still a Christian country after a teacher is banned for telling a Muslim pupil that the UK has a Christian heritage. Tim Dieppe, Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern, explains what this case means for free expression, British identity, and whether stating historical fact is now professionally dangerous.David Wooding, Columnist at The Sun, joins Ian in the studio to examine Sir Keir Starmer’s latest attempt to “connect with voters” on TikTok and why Labour insiders say he needed a ‘grown-up’s guide’ to using the app.Later, Susan Hall, Conservative London Assembly member, reacts to shocking claims that full footage of an Afghan asylum seeker’s attack on a schoolgirl “would start a riot” if released. She discusses public confidence, policing, transparency, and what this case reveals about Labour’s broader handling of crime and migration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins asks whether free speech is being criminalised in Britain after shocking revelations that right-wing individuals are being labelled a “danger to children." Jamie Michael, the man at the centre of the story, joins us to explain how he discovered he’d been placed on an extremist safeguarding list, what it means for ordinary people, and why he believes political speech is now being treated as a public-safety threat.Independent MP and Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe reacts to Labour’s new welfare and employment proposals, including plans to push jobless young people into hospitality roles and moves to encourage widespread union membership through the Employment Rights Bill.Former Apprentice star and commentator Lubna Zaidi breaks down the growing backlash against Labour’s proposed Islamophobia definition, why campaigners warn it risks silencing women, and what Kemi Badenoch’s alternative grooming-gangs inquiry could mean for victims who feel ignored. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins delves into the controversy surrounding Nigel Farage’s accusation of BBC hypocrisy, after a presenter questioned Richard Tice MP about claims that Farage made racist and antisemitic remarks during his school days. At a press conference yesterday, Farage condemned the line of questioning as “despicable.” Ian is joined by Robin Aitken, former BBC journalist, to unpack the fallout and discuss whether the broadcaster has crossed a line.Later in the programme, Ian turns to Brexit and David Lammy’s refusal to rule out a future return to a customs union, a move seen by some as a softening of Labour’s stance. Ian speaks to former MEP Annunziata Rees-Mogg, who is outraged by what she and many others call a “backtrack on Brexit,” and then gets an opposing perspective from Peter Wilding, Chairman of British Influence, who argues that many Labour MPs quietly share Lammy’s view. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins asks the big question: should we fear facial recognition technology? He’s joined by former Met Police DCI Mike Neville, who has long called for wider use of the technology, and James Melville, social and political commentator, who shares his perspective on the ethical and societal implications.Later in the show, Ian turns to politics discussing Labour’s decision to postpone four mayoral elections following accusations from Reform UK that the delays are politically motivated to prevent Reform victories. Labour insists the postponements are due to internal reorganisation. Joining Ian to unpack it all is Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Reform UK’s Mayoral candidate for Greater Lincolnshire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we ready for war with Russia? Ian Collins asks the question head-on. Former White House adviser Steve Gill backs Trump’s Ukraine peace deal as the only way to avoid catastrophe, while ex-Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood warns it’s capitulation that invites the next invasion.Then the political earthquake: Nigel Farage has told donors he expects a Reform-Tory deal before the next election. Reform UK’s Alex Wilson joins to reveal what’s really happening. No spin, just the unfiltered truth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins tears into Justice Secretary David Lammy's controversial reforms, slamming plans to restrict jury trials for sentences under three years as "not right" and a betrayal of peer justice and Magna Carta principles that hands unchecked power to judges while victims suffer endless delays.Former prisoner and writer/researcher, David Shipley and former Justice Secretary (2019–2021) under Boris Johnson, Sir Robert Buckland join Ian to dissect the Ministry of Justice's u-turn.Later on, Ian is joined by Jaya Pathak, External Relations lead at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, to assess whether PM Starmer's warning on China's "national security threats" to the UK engagement or endangerment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins asks whether Rachel Reeves should resign as she faces an ethics inquiry into whether she lied over the public state of the country’s finances ahead of the budget last week.London assembly member Susan Hall joins Ian as she urges Reeves to resign as chancellor. Ian is also joined by independent economist Julian Jessop to dig deep into the issues surrounding the recent budget.  Later on, barrister and former Attorney General, Sir Michael Ellis KC provides his thoughts on whether David Lammy considering restricting jury trials is the way forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins breaks down shocking new Home Office figures revealing that more than 53,000 illegal migrants are currently missing from the UK system.Former Border Force chief Tony Smith explains how Britain lost track of tens of thousands of arrivals and whether Shabana Mahmood’s crackdown can restore control.Immigration lawyer Harjap Singh Bhangal joins us to unpack what these numbers really mean, why enforcement keeps failing, and how the system could be fixed.Plus, barrister Chris Daw KC examines Labour’s explosive proposal to remove juries from up to 95% of Crown Court cases, a reform critics say will undermine centuries of British justice. We look at what the plans actually involve, whether they could survive legal challenge, and why the criminal courts are buckling in the first place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins tears into Rachel Reeves’ Budget as she targets workers, savers and pensioners with tax hikes, frozen thresholds and a raid on retirement pots — all while trying to plug a £30bn black hole. Former Special Adviser James Price breaks down the ISA cuts, the new charges on £2m-plus properties, pay-per-mile plans for EV owners and the Government’s decision to scrap green levies while expanding welfare spending. Labour councillor Sebastian Salek gives the party perspective as Reeves raises the National Living Wage but faces anger from families set to pay more by 2030, plus the fallout from the OBR accidentally publishing Budget details before she even spoke. Shadow Exchequer Secretary James Wild MP joins to deliver the Conservative response, warning that Reeves’ Budget risks deepening Britain’s economic crisis rather than fixing it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins asks what Rachel Reeves must deliver in the Budget to restore public trust as speculation intensifies over tax rises, raids on savings and claims that millions are being paid not to work. Kristian Niemietz, Editorial Director and Head of Political Economy at the IEA, and Henri Murison, CEO of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and former Labour adviser, break down the proposed measures, the risks for workers and pensioners, and the political consequences if Labour gets it wrong.Later, Owen Bennett, author of Following Farage: On the Trail of the People’s Army, reacts to Nigel Farage’s defence of his resurfaced teenage comments, which he insists were “banter” rather than racism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins asks whether Rachel Reeves’ mansion tax and proposed wealth-tax measures can really save Britain’s economy. Professor Len Shackleton breaks down Reeves’ £15bn welfare expansion, the plan to hit 100,000 homes with a mansion tax, and growing warnings that the Budget could hammer working-class families. Stephen Kinsella from Patriotic Millionaires argues why taxing wealth is the only way out as union bosses tell Sir Keir Starmer he must go if the Budget backfires.Lucy White joins us to examine the growing fury over migrant accommodation at military camps, from free wellbeing sessions and sports events to anti-migrant protesters urging council-tax boycotts, and the row over migrants who cheated citizenship tests being allowed to retake them.Plus, motoring expert Steve Berry looks at the rise of ultra-cheap Chinese ‘Temu cars’ now undercutting Porsche and Rolls Royce and what it means for Britain’s car industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins asks the question gripping Britain: Did we lock down for nothing? Professor Simon Wood breaks down the Covid Inquiry’s explosive finding that lockdowns could have been avoided entirely, while virologist Dr Chris Smith weighs in on what the science really showed in 2020. Dan Hodges joins us to discuss why the £200m Covid Inquiry is being branded an “I told you so” waste of money — and whether anyone in government will be held accountable for the social, economic and medical fallout. Plus, we cover Shabana Mahmood’s latest migration crackdown, from paying illegal migrants to leave to restricting benefits to British citizens only, and the proposed 25-year wait for settled status. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Collins breaks down Britain’s “500-a-day” migration shock as nearly 500 migrants every single day sign up for UK benefits. Charlie Downes from Restore Britain joins us to unpack the Telegraph’s figures, the strain on Universal Credit, and whether Labour has already lost control of the asylum system. Then Neal Lawson from Compass reacts to the growing Labour civil war as Andy Burnham circles Keir Starmer’s weakened leadership, with reports of up to 80 Labour MPs backing a Burnham comeback. We ask: could Andy Burnham replace Starmer — and would voters actually choose him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Gullis sits in for Ian Collins as we ask if Britain is too weak to defend itself? Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois reacts to the major review warning the UK is not ready for war - from depleted forces and missed spending targets to the risks facing Britain’s military and NATO commitments.We then turn to Labour’s growing civil war as Green councillor Martin Abrams joins us to discuss the left-wing revolt against Keir Starmer, the Tribune Group’s manoeuvres, and fresh infighting across Labour and Your Party ahead of their inaugural conference.Independent councillor John Edwards weighs in on the row over St George’s flags after a police chief branded them “tools of division," amid soaring public anger and renewed debate over national identity, policing and asylum reform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Gullis sits in for Ian Collins as we break down Shabana Mahmood’s explosive asylum reform speech and what it means for Labour’s survival. Liam Deacon, Paul Richards and Kieran Mullan MP join us to unpack the Home Secretary’s “Asylum Reset” — from 20-year settlement waits and 30-month reviews to visa bans on Angola, Namibia and the DRC, voluntary return payments, benefit restrictions and mass case reconsiderations costing £872m. We look at Mahmood’s claims of ‘violence and racism’, the backlash from Labour MPs including Sarah Owen, and whether these Denmark-style reforms can actually work. Plus: new polling shows nearly half of Labour voters want Keir Starmer to quit, trust in Rachel Reeves collapses, and successor names surge as Labour crashes to 19% with Reform UK on 27%. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Ian Collins Show, Ian asks whether Shabana Mahmood’s new immigration crackdown can finally get control of Britain’s asylum system. The Home Secretary is preparing Trump-style UK visa bans for countries refusing to take back failed asylum seekers, alongside Denmark-inspired plans to seize valuables from illegal entrants to cover accommodation costs.Baroness Maclean, Conservative Peer and former Home Office Minister, joins Ian to assess whether Mahmood’s plans are workable under the ECHR and Human Rights Act, and whether Labour’s approach can survive the legal challenges already being prepared. Amos Schonfield, Founder and CEO of Our Second Home, gives his perspective on how asylum seekers can be supported while the system faces major reform.Mahmood’s proposals include visa sanctions on Angola, Namibia and the DRC, temporary refugee status with tougher reviews, and raising the wait for permanent settlement from five to twenty years. With 111,000 asylum claims in the year to June 2025, local protests over new accommodation sites, and Starmer promising to end hotel use by 2029, the question remains: will any of this fix Britain’s asylum crisis? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Ian Collins Show, Ian asks the key question facing the Government: if Rachel Reeves has dropped her income tax rise, where does the money now come from? Reeves has informed the OBR that the manifesto-breaking tax raid is gone, alongside her abandoned £2bn ‘exit tax’ after a fierce backlash from business. With millionaire flight rising, tech leaders like Herman Narula considering moves to Dubai, and Henley & Partners forecasting 16,500 wealthy individuals leaving the UK next year, Labour is scrambling to fill a growing Budget gap. Kemi Badenoch has welcomed the retreat but is demanding guarantees that no new taxes will be introduced.David Buik, Financial Adviser and Markets Commentator at Aquis Exchange, joins Ian to analyse what options are left for Reeves and whether Labour is heading toward further tax rises or forced spending cuts.Ian then turns to Shabana Mahmood’s plan to model Britain’s asylum policy on Denmark’s system, which cut claims by nearly 90 per cent. Colin Freeman, former Chief Foreign Correspondent at The Sunday Telegraph, explains why Denmark’s strict rules on work requirements, taxes, language, good behaviour and delayed residency may not translate to the UK. With 111,000 asylum claims recorded to June 2025 and a backlog of 224,742, Labour faces a major challenge and internal resistance to Danish-style reforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.