Reform and Farage smears only make the Party stronger

Reform and Farage smears only make the Party stronger

Author: The Telegraph December 11, 2025 Duration: 1:13:11

Co-Pilots Pearson and Halligan tackle a week of political and economic madness. Starmer is dismissed as a "caretaker Prime Minister" with a weak mandate, having been supported by only 20% of the electorate.


Your hosts dissect Chancellor Rachel Reeves' job tax hike and her "benefits street Budget" which funds the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap by ‘punishing 340,000 working people’ with frozen tax thresholds. 


They confront the escalating migration crisis, discussing the rise of illegal arrivals and the national emergency posed by migrants linked to attacks on women.


Meanwhile Reform stowaway Zia Yusuf tells the co-pilots why the smear campaign against Party leader, Nigel Farage, is one of the most ‘ coordinated smear campaigns. I can remember in my lifetime’...


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Every Thursday, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan step outside the daily noise to offer a different perspective on the week’s events. Planet Normal, from The Telegraph, is a conversation that often challenges the prevailing narratives found in mainstream media and political circles. This podcast digs into the stories shaping society, culture, and the news, focusing on the viewpoints and concerns that feel increasingly sidelined. Pearson and Halligan, both seasoned columnists, bring a blend of sharp analysis and relatable frustration to topics ranging from family life and economic pressures to broader cultural shifts. Their discussions feel like a break from a scripted debate, offering listeners a space where common sense and direct commentary take precedence. Tuning in provides a weekly reset-a chance to hear arguments grounded in everyday experience rather than abstract theory. It’s for anyone who feels the conventional discourse doesn’t quite reflect the reality they see. You’ll find the tone is more like a candid chat between two well-informed friends than a formal news broadcast, making complex issues accessible and engaging. This is the appeal of the Planet Normal podcast: a consistent, thoughtful alternative that speaks plainly about the forces shaping our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Planet Normal
Podcast Episodes
Farage furor and the media blindspot to the OBR warnings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:05
You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YItlh0gx6cAA never ending tsunami of news sees Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stand down, triggering a “People vs the Establishment" election… but was this a…
Labour’s new migration policies will create a 'Burnham bump’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:51
You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bW3b5qKQP6ICo-pilot Pearson returns from her break in Sicily to find political chaos in full swing following Keir Starmer's resignation announcement last we…
Burnham is the wrong answer to the UK’s economic problem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:19
You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/D90j1xiHV_cA news heatwave has caused chaos across the land, Co-pilot Halligan pressed the emergency button and is joined by under-study Baroness Claire Fox…
Social Media Ban: Starmer finally gets something right [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:06
You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lq-8ZhnYjjkThe rocket of right thinking speeds around planet normal gathering the news tsunami of this week… Allison surprises Liam by AGREEING with Sir Keir Starme…
10 years on from the Referendum, have we even had Brexit yet? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:47
You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/82lXs84p8_MThis week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson, confront the tragic murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak and the na…
Is Starmer’s Labour drama as fleeting as Streeting’s bid for PM? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:38
You can watch this episode on YoutTube: https://youtu.be/5Zb71ekLVBEThis week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson, sift through the debris of a historic set of local elections th…