Kemi Badenoch has made an unashamed pitch for voters in Middle Britain with her conference promise on inheritance tax, trying to frame the next election as a battle between traditional Conservative and traditional Labour ideas.But does a focus on the 'blue wall' mean abandoning any hopes of building a broader coalition, and giving up hopes of winning voters back from Reform UK? Have comparisons with Margaret Thatcher misrepresented both leaders? And should speechwriters be banned from referring to a 'battle for the soul of the nation'?We also hear about Polly's new project with consumer advice guru Martin Lewis, and try out some small but significant policy ideas.Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukVideo Editor: Kim McCarthyExecutive Producer: Andrew AlexanderPicture: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andy Burnham has outlined his vision for the country, and in the process written a good chunk of Labour's next manifesto.But could his ambitious promises cost more than the UK economy can bear? Danny argues the country can't afford his old Labour instincts, and Hugo says the party is like an ostrich putting its head in the sand. Sally thinks he's being mean.Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukVideo Editor: Kim McCarthyExecutive Producer: Andrew AlexanderPicture: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We're at Labour conference, where Andy Burnham is enjoying North Korean-style levels of support from party members. But how long will it last? John Healey has warned there isn't any money left, and is softening the party up for welfare cuts.The political masterminds also discuss Burnham's conference speech - should he be writing it himself, does he still need to introduce himself, and how can you tell if AI has crept into political oratory?Send your questions, comments and emails to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukVideo Producers: Harry Kitson & Kim McCarthyExecutive Producer: Andrew Alexander Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The polling company YouGov has released its latest MRP survey, and in a dramatic reversal of last year's findings it now projects a hung parliament, with Labour on top and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK squeezed by the rise of Restore Britain.But is it too soon for Labour and the Tories to break out the champagne, especially given the difficulty of putting together a coalition that could command a majority in the Commons?With Danny away, Sally, Polly and Hugo are joined by Guto Harri, who worked for Boris Johnson when he was Mayor of London and was his Director of Communications in Downing Street.We also talk about attempts to freeze out the mainstream media, from Boris Johnson through to Donald Trump launching Trump TV, and enjoy this remarkable early YouTube appearance by Tony Blair.Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukVideo Editor: Kim McCarthyExecutive Producer: Andrew AlexanderPicture: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Does big money win elections?As Reform UK receives record sums from billionaire donors, we look at what it will take to translate the cash into votes.The team recalls the fall-out from the Bernie Ecclestone affair and the cash-for-honours scandal during the Blair years, and both Danny and Sally say they've been approached by people asking for a peerage.Plus: After the 'Gail's' strategy, what do the Liberal Democrats need to do to get out of the electoral doldrums?Send your questions, comments and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.ukVideo editor: Kim McCarthyExecutive Producer: Andrew AlexanderPicture: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.