OppositionCast

Nigel and Sarah begin our Party Conference season with a look at the Reform UK gathering in Birmingham, and discuss the fallout from the resignation of Labour's Deputy Leader Angela Rayner. We also speak to Professor Tim Bale of Queen Mary University of London about who Reform's members are and what the party's prospects might be in the years ahead. Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Theme Music by Tom Hector

In this special bonus episode, Dr Nigel Fletcher takes OppositionCast listeners to the first stop on his party conference tour, spending a day at the Reform UK conference in Birmingham. He speaks to Nigel Farage, interviews a recent defector from the Conservatives and watches as the leader's speech is interrupted by protesters. Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher Theme Music by Tom Hector

With parliament back from the summer recess and the autumn party conference season about to begin, we limber up for our conference road trip by catching up with a busy week in UK opposition politics. There's a new leader of the Green Party and pressure on the government from opposition parties over the Deputy Prime Minister's tax affairs. We also hear from Jeremy Corbyn about his new party, Ed Davey of the Lib Dems on Gaza and the ECHR, and listen in on Nigel Farage appearance at a congressional hearing in the United States. Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher Theme Music by Tom Hector

As parliament breaks up for the summer recess, Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch has taken the opportunity to refresh her frontbench team, with a reshuffle that has seen the return of former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to the Shadow Cabinet. Will the changes be enough to boost Conservative fortunes? Will anybody actually notice? And where are Nigel and Sarah going on the party conference roadtrip? Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Theme Music by Tom Hector

As Labour marks a year in office, there aren't many birthday celebrations in a week that saw a damaging rebellion over welfare cuts and speculation about the future of the Chancellor. Nigel and Sarah look back over the last year and consider the fragmented nature of opposition to the government. Plus we talk to the guru of parliamentary rebellions, Professor Philip Cowley of Queen Mary, University of London about the significance of this rebellion and what it means for the government. Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Theme Music by Tom Hector

We're back! It's a new year (OK, it's five months into a new year), and Nigel and Sarah have a lot to discuss - from the Conservative Party in the UK slipping to 4th place in the polls to the surprise defeat of opposition parties in Australia and Canada. What does the triumph of Reform UK in the English local elections mean for the Conservative and Labour Parties? What is the "Trump effect"? And will Nigel manage to wrap up the podcast on time without having to do endless retakes? Tune in and find out. Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Theme Music by Tom Hector

As 2024 draws to a close, Nigel and Sarah present our festive special, looking back on a major year for opposition parties and elections. Amid the Christmas wrapping and mince pies, they look at the moments, campaigns and leaders of the year. Nigel also heads to the pub to catch up with the editor of the Times Diary for some reflections on the more light-hearted stories 2024 has brought. Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Theme Music by Tom Hector

As a new Leader of the Opposition, it's important to make a good first impression - and commentators have been quick to give their initial verdicts on Kemi Badenoch. But how did previous opposition leaders present themselves in their very first public statements in the job? Nigel gets back in his TARDIS to find out. Meanwhile, Sarah has abandoned impartiality and been out supporting the (rather noisy) farmers protests in Westminster. Will the issue resonate with the public? And what are we to make of a recent poll showing Reform UK ahead of Labour? Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher Theme Music by Tom Hector

As the dust settles after Donald Trump's victory in the US Presidential election, our transatlantic election podcasting reaches its finale. Sarah joins us from New York, having been in California for polling day, and gives us her take on how the result went down in Kamala Harris's home state. Back in London, Nigel runs through the Shadow Cabinet appointments that have now been made by new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and considers the serious challenges they face. Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Theme Music by Tom Hector

We have a result! The long Conservative leadership contest comes to an end with the election of Kemi Badenoch, who takes over as the new Leader of His Majesty's Opposition. Once again, Nigel Fletcher was in the room where it happened. On the other side of the Atlantic, the US Presidential Election reaches its climax, and Sarah has travelled to Los Angeles in California for election day. She gives her latest insight on the election campaign, including encountering a crowd of Trump supporters in New York. Will we have another result this week, or is it going to take a bit longer to know who will win the White House? Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Theme Music by Tom Hector

Plot twist! We're back with an extra episode after the final MPs' ballot in the Conservative leadership election produced a shock result that few commentators or politicians saw coming. Nigel was in Committee Room 14 of the House of Commons as the result was read out and talks to Sarah about what might have happened... Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Theme Music by Tom Hector

With the sudden resignation at the weekend of the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Sue Gray, what does the turmoil in Number 10 says about how well Labour prepared for government? And with the party conference season wrapping up last week with the Conservatives in Birmingham, Nigel and Sarah discuss the leadership speeches from the final four candidates, before MPs whittle them down to the final two this week. Plus all the latest on the US election trail from Sarah in Washington DC. Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Theme Music by Tom Hector

With the Labour Party back in government after 14 years of opposition, Nigel heads up to Liverpool to the party's conference fringe and finds a surprisingly subdued mood, accompanied by dark clouds and driving rain. We hear analysis from polling guru John Curtice on the outcome of this year's General Election, discussion of the culture wars with More in Common's Luke Tryl, and discussion of the state of the Labour Party and its many new MPs with journalist Michael Crick. Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher Theme Music by Tom Hector

It's party conference season, and Sir Ed Davey has kicked things off by arriving at his Lib Dem gathering in Brighton on a jet ski, whilst Nigel Farage has rallied his Reform UK troops in Birmingham. Over in the USA, it's now over a week since the Trump/Harris debate - has it moved the polls, or is the race still too close to call? With Sarah in New York and Nigel minding the shop in London, we discuss these topics, and look ahead to the Labour and Conservative conferences. Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Theme Music by Tom Hector

We're back - and we've gone transatlantic! With the US election looming, Sarah has headed Stateside, and joins us from New York, where she'll be based to provide exclusive coverage and insights into the campaign there. Meanwhile, Nigel remains here in London and has been keeping his eye on Westminster, where Keir Starmer is facing internal opposition from Labour MPs, and the Tory leadership election has kicked off with the first ballot of MPs. Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies Presented by Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern Theme Music by Tom Hector