The Daily T

It is surely an image for the history books. Nigel Farage stood next to two billionaires, one of them Elon Musk, at Donald Trump’s Florida estate. The X owner is reported to be considering donating as much as $100 million to Reform UK.Is this foreign interference in our politics? And what would a history-making donation to Farage’s party mean for Labour and the Tories?Plus, political editor Ben Riley-Smith has been speaking to Keir Starmer about Russia and tax - on board a frigate in Estonia, no less.We also hear from veteran broadcaster Alastair Stewart about living with dementia and his work with Alzheimer’s Research UK.You can read more about the work done by Alzheimer’s Research UK on The Telegraph website using the link below. Other charities we are supporting include: Humanity and Inclusion, Teenage Cancer Trust and Army Benevolent Fund. To donate to any of them, please visit telegraph.co.uk/2024appeal or call 0151 317 5247.Producer: Georgia Coan and Lilian FawcettSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Andy MacKenzieSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New figures show that not only has the economy contracted, but job hiring is at a record low.Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves strode into Downing Street on July 5th talking about just one thing - growth. But since then the government has raised employers’ national insurance contributions, slapped taxes on farmers, slashed winter fuel allowance and now worse news still - the economy officially shrunk in October and the number of job vacancies is at a record low. So, is Rachel Reeves the worst chancellor in history?Plus, we’ll hear from a veteran who lost both his legs and his right arm in Afghanistan and how the Army Benevolent Fund - another of the charities the Telegraph is supporting this Christmas - changed his life.You can read more about the work done by the Army Benevolent Fund on The Telegraph website using the link below. Other charities we are supporting include: Alzheimer’s Research UK, Teenage Cancer Trust and Humanity and Inclusion. To donate to any of them, please visit telegraph.co.uk/2024appeal or call 0151 317 5247.Read:The Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal 2024: Who we are supporting and how you can donateProducers: Lilian Fawcett & Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Andy MackenzieSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Chinese businessman and alleged spy has now been identified as Yang Tengbo after a court order protecting his identity was lifted.He was banned from the UK last week amid claims he had formed an "unusual degree of trust" with the Duke of York - Prince Andrew. Judges were told the businessman was attempting to leverage the disgraced Prince's influence. Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith joins us in The Daily T studio to explain why the alleged spy could be one of many such Chinese agents operating "in plain view" . And could fresh evidence from the legal team for former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby prove her innocence?This week we will be highlighting the work done by the four charities The Telegraph is supporting in our Christmas appeal. In today's episode, we'll be looking at Humanity and Inclusion, a global charity working alongside disabled and vulnerable people in 60 countries affected by poverty, conflict and disaster. You can read more about the work done by Humanity and Inclusion, as well as Adelie Pojzman-Pontay and Francis Dearnley's reporting from Kharkiv, on The Telegraph’s website. Other charities we are supporting include: Alzheimer’s Research UK, Teenage Cancer Trust and Army Benevolent Fund. To donate to any of them, please visit telegraph.co.uk/2024appeal or call 0151 317 5247.Producer: Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Aaron WheelerSocial Media Producer: Robbie NicholsStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today The Daily T is a festive food and drink special! We’re diving into some taste tests to figure out which supermarket is winning Christmas this year.Is their smoked salmon worth the hype? Who’s got the best mince pies? And—brace yourselves—do festive bao buns belong on your holiday table? Plus, we’ll dish out the ultimate do’s and don’ts for Christmas Day. Joining us are our resident food writers, William Sitwell and Xanthe Clay who have compiled the best of this year's festive offerings so you can serve the best to your guests.Producers: Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And the latest Saudi sportswashing as they get the 2034 World CupLabour has unveiled the biggest changes to - and liberalisation of - planning laws in a generation to help deliver on its promise of 1.5 million new homes this parliament.With the Tories worrying that concerns of local people will be “completely swept aside”, Camilla and Kamal speak to shadow housing secretary Kevin Hollinrake who also claims the “majority” of the 1.5 million new homes will be for immigrants. Plus, Saudi Arabia has won an uncontested bid to host the 2034 World Cup, so we speak to chief sports writer Oliver Brown about FIFA's "grotesque" decision - the latest in a long line of Saudi attempts at 'sportswashing'.Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Jenrick, shadow justice secretary and former Tory leadership contender, joins Kamal and Camilla in the studio to discuss Labour's multi-billion pound grand plans to build four new super-prisons.The prisons will create 14,000 new places, but Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood says we’re still going to run out of space within three years. They will also be forced through the planning process by Angela Rayner under powers that allow the objections of local towns and villages to be overruled.Kamal and Camilla ask if forcing prisons through the planning system without properly consulting with local residents is ever a good idea.Plus Jenrick on first-cousin marriage and whether Shamima Begum should return to the UK now that the Assad regime has fallen.Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another day, another defection to Reform.Billionaire property tycoon Nick Candy renounced his Conservative Party membership to join Farage, blaming “too many broken promises” from his former party.Camilla was in Westminster to catch up with Farage and Candy, who said he will give a "seven-figure" sum to Reform UK when he becomes the party's treasurer in the new year. Kamal and Camilla consider where this leaves Kemi Badenoch - does she need to be more scrappy to keep Farage at bay?And after actress Keira Knightley declared her big scene in the Christmas film Love Actually “creepy”, we ask if there is, actually, anything to love about the festive favourite.We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastProducers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With journalist Ruth Sherlock quite literally on the road to Damascus and Tom Tugendhat MP in the studioIn a whirlwind 48 hours, more than half a century of brutal Assad family rule in Syria came to an end this weekend. Rebel forces entered Damascus after a lightning offensive that forced the Syrian president to flee on a plane to Moscow.Kamal and Camilla speak to Ruth Sherlock - who after years of reporting on the Syrian civil war is en-route back into the country - about the chaotic scenes on the streets of Damascus, where armed fighters have descended.And Tom Tugendhat MP, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, speaks to the Daily T about his "deep concern" at the power vacuum in Syria, whether the UK should still proscribe the leading rebel group as a terrorist organisation, and what Assad's departure means for Iran and Russia.Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than 9 million people of working age in the UK are not looking for a job or able to start work. Meanwhile sickness and disability benefits cost the taxpayer £48 billion a year.Following his Channel 4 documentary on the issue, former Spectator editor Fraser Nelson visits some of most workless areas of the country to understand why Britain isn’t working - and how a solution is essential to get the economy growing.Plus, Labour MP Rachael Maskell has said “there is nothing safe” about the assisted dying Bill. She tells the Daily T that MPs should “hit the pause button” on the law until palliative care is improved.We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastProducers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Aaron WheelerSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss StudioClips taken from Britain's Benefits Scandal: Dispatches, with Fraser Nelson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer delivered his ‘plan for change’ in a key speech at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, setting out what he called 'milestones' for his government. It comes after a challenging five months in office for Labour, but they denied that it was an emergency relaunch, despite their plummeting approval rates.Camilla and Ben Riley-Smith are at Pinewood to react to the Government's new plans and ask the current Cabinet (including Lisa Nandy, Yvette Cooper, and Ed Miliband) what it all means.And as France falls into political turmoil after their Prime Minister resigns following a vote of no confidence, Kamal speaks to our Europe Editor James Crisp about what this means for the country's future and its role within Europe.ReadCrisis for France and Germany comes at terrible moment for EU, James CrispWe want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastProducers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Aaron WheelerSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshCamera Operator: Lilian FawcettEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ConHome founder Tim Montgomerie has jumped ship.The Conservative Party lost another prominent member this week to Reform - this time an even bigger blow - over broken promises on immigration.Amid reports that Elon Musk is planning to give $100 million to Reform, Tim Montgomerie told Kamal and Gordon that he “certainly wouldn’t say no” to the cash and that the Tories have become “too broad a church”.Plus, a row over rainbow armbands is engulfing British football. Are they a gesture of support for the LGBT community or just meaningless gesture politics?Read: Football’s feeble gesture politics are curse of the modern game, Oliver BrownHow Musk’s millions could make Farage the most powerful man in Britain, Gordon RaynerWe want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcast Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor/Studio Operator: Aaron WheelerSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a big foreign policy speech on Monday night, the Prime Minister warned Donald Trump that the UK would not side with America against the EU when he re-enters the White House next year. The comments come after speculation that the President-elect may launch a trade war against the EU and reduce support for Ukraine and even NATO. Kamal and Camilla consider whether Britain will have to choose between the “special relationship” and closer ties to the EU under a Trump administration. And PR disaster, or marketing genius? As the boss of Jaguar defends their controversial rebrand, we’re joined by The Telegraph’s motoring editor Paul Hudson to talk about the backlash and why their new Barbie-pink Jag is dividing opinion.Have you got a festive dilemma, family feud or gift dispute? Join agony uncle Richard Madeley for a live Christmas Q&A on The Telegraph website on Wednesday at 12:30pm where he'll be responding to your commentsWe want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastRead: ‘Simply breathtaking’: The pink Jaguar EV is a design triumph, Andrew English Producers: James Shield, Lilian Fawcett, and Georgia CoanPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Masterchef host Gregg Wallace has responded to allegations of inappropriate behaviour via an Instagram message, claiming the accusations have only come from “middle-class women of a certain age”.The presenter has since apologised - but questions remain for the BBC and for Banijay, the production company behind MasterChef, as to why they didn’t act sooner over Wallace’s alleged behaviour.Kamal and Camilla are joined by The Telegraph’s Sophie Barnes who helped to break the story for our investigations team.And as opinion polls show that Keir Starmer’s approval ratings are falling, he has announced his ‘Plan for Change’ for the “next phase” of government. Is this the PM’s relaunch? And is it a little too late?To make a donation to The Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal 2024, please visit http://telegraph.co.uk/2024appeal or call 0151 317 5247.We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastProducers: James Shield and Lilian FawcettPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss StudioHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent years, politicians appearing in reality TV shows has become something of a trend - think Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage on I'm a Celebrity, Ed Balls on Strictly, or Penny Mordaunt on Splash!The latest to join their ranks is former cabinet minister Jacob Rees Mogg, who earlier this year let cameras into his 17th century stately home in Somerset, where he lives with his wife and six children.Jacob joins Camilla and Kamal over breakfast in the Daily Tea studio, to discuss how his children felt about appearing on the series, whether reality TV can really help a politician get out a message, and which TV shows he's inclined to binge (the answers may surprise you). Meet the Rees-Moggs streams from Monday 2nd December exclusively on discovery+Archive from BBC News, ITV's This Morning, and Channel 5 NewsReadMeet the Rees-Moggs, review: Sunak’s early election scuppers the fun, Anita SinghProducer: Georgia Coan Planning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The assisted dying bill may have cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons, but could it still be blocked? In a historic vote in parliament this afternoon, MPs voted for the legislation by 330 to 275, a majority of 55 – but it faces a long road to potentially becoming law.Meanwhile the government has suffered its first cabinet resignation, as Louise Haigh has stepped down as transport secretary following reports that she was once convicted of fraud. Kamal and Gordon ask: why are we only learning about this now? And has this resignation of one of Labour’s more left-wing cabinet ministers come at a convenient time for an embattled prime minister?We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastReadWhat happens next now that assisted dying Bill has passed?, Janet EasthamLouise Haigh’s resignation shows Starmer always seems to be kept in the dark, Gordon RaynerProducers: Georgia Coan and James ShieldPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Media Producer: Robbie NicholsEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We asked the Reform leader about his ambition to be PM.After their rapid rise and shock success in the general election, Reform UK is getting serious. Nigel Farage’s party has surged to 100,000 members and is focusing on grassroots campaigning, setting up branches across the country. Can they force out the Tories to become Labour’s main political challenger by 2029?At a Reform event in central London as revised figures show net migration hit nearly 1 million last year, Kamal and Camilla catch up with Farage, plus party chairman Zia Yusuf and Tory defector Andrea Jenkyns.We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastProducers: Georgia Coan and Lilian FawcettPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineySenior Producer: John CadiganExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And Boris Johnson gives us his views on the assisted dying bill with 48 hours to go...After nearly 120 years of service, the car company Vauxhall is planning to shut its Luton van-making factory in a move that puts 1,100 jobs at risk. Owner Stellantis has blamed the government’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate for the cuts. Kamal and Camilla discuss the impact net zero is having on the car industry and if it's actually worth it.And what can we learn from Canada's assisted dying laws? As England and Wales look to pass a similar bill, we speak to a Canadian doctor about her concerns that vulnerable people are at risk and a retired senator who wants the laws to extend even further to those with mental health issues.We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastProducers: Georgia Coan and Lilian FawcettPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineySenior Producer: John CadiganExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kamal and Camilla speak to the man behind the controversial document: Kevin Roberts.President-elect Donald Trump spent much of his campaign distancing himself from "Project 2025", but he’s now brought several key conservatives tied to the initiative into his administration. So what exactly is it?The 900-page policy wish list was drawn up by the Heritage Foundation, one of Washington's most prominent right-wing think tanks. Kamal and Camilla chat to its president, Kevin Roberts, about the thinking behind Project 2025 and how influential it will be over the next four years of Trump's presidency.Plus, we're joined by Telegraph writer Gareth Davies who spent a week living off the president-elect’s strictly fast food diet. Could you survive on 12 cans of Diet Coke a day?ReadI ate like Trump for a week. I don’t understand how the man is still aliveWe want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastProducers: Georgia Coan and Lilian FawcettPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineySenior Producer: John CadiganExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshEditor: Camilla TomineyOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Days before Parliament votes on the controversial assisted dying bill, the Government itself is divided. That’s despite being told to remain neutral on the issue.It’s another example of Keir Starmer and Labour doing politics poorly. Kamal and Camilla ask: Why let such a contested subject be rushed through via a private members’ bill? And can we really have an informed discussion about assisted dying when palliative care in the UK is so bad?Plus, 2 million people have signed a petition calling for another general election. Kamal and Camilla take a look at the reaction and why voters feel betrayed.We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastReadBritain does not need assisted suicide, it needs properly funded hospice care, Camilla TomineyStarmer has blundered on assisted dying – it must not pass, Kamal AhmedProducers: Georgia Coan and Lilian FawcettPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallStudio Operator: James EnglandSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special episode after 1000 days of war.It’s been a turbulent week for Ukraine, which was finally given approval to use US and UK-supplied long range missiles but also faced intensified Russian attacks.As the third anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion approaches, Tim and Kamal ask what the coming months could hold for the conflict. Will Trump’s White House force Kyiv to cede territory? Will Zelensky stand down? And what’s the role of China in all this?They’re joined by Ukraine: The Latest host Francis Dearnley and the Telegraph’s executive foreign and defence editor Con Couglin.We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find us on X, Instagram and TikTok @dailytpodcastListen:Ukraine: The Latest: Ukraine fires UK Storm Shadow missiles into Russia & Moscow retaliates with first use of intercontinental missileProducers: Georgia Coan and Lilian FawcettSenior Producer: John CadiganPlanning Editor: Venetia RaineyExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsProduction Co-ordinator: Ryan GudgeVideo Editor: Luke GoodsallStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Media Producer: Niamh WalshOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.