Starmer out, Burnham in and we pay tribute to trailblazer Ann Widdecombe

Starmer out, Burnham in and we pay tribute to trailblazer Ann Widdecombe

Author: The Telegraph July 16, 2026 Duration: 57:28

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wQxi0BVywEs


This week’s journey in the rocket of right thinking opens with a tribute to former MP and Reform member, Ann Widdecombe as your co-pilots reminisce their time with Anne over the years.

Liam raises serious concerns about the incoming Prime Minister’s fiscal capabilities in light of a £120 billion budget deficit warning from the OBR, arguing that a reliance on tax-and-spend policies simply will not work.


Allison criticises the lack of scrutiny or public debates surrounding his transition to power and condemns the toxic political climate and the relentless demonisation of right-leaning figures that has preceded tragedy. 


Serving up some home truths about tennis and fresh from his Wimbledon victory is tennis ace Henry Patten, who tells your co-pilots why singles matches receive a lot more coverage and promotion than doubles.


Highlights



  • Planet Normal: Starmer out, Burnham in and we pay tribute to trailblazer Anne Widdecombe
  • Burnham's OBR warning: Andy Burnham enters Number 10 facing a £120bn deficit warning.
  • Anne Widdecombe Tribute: The co-pilots honour the late politician after her shocking death.
  • Wimbledon Champion: Henry Patten joins to discuss doubles drama and prize money cuts.


Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘Farewell, Ann. Middle England saw you for the sterling human being you were‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/10/ann-widdecombe-ridiculed-voice-middle-england-should-revere/ |

Read Allison ‘The Left’s constant demonisation of Reform was a ticking time bomb‘: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/14/britains-political-class-stop-dangerous-demonisation-reform/ | 

Read Allison ‘England’s clash with Argentina will be nail-biting, but there’s plenty to look forward to‘:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/15/we-need-an-england-triumph-more-than-ever-before/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Labour’s house of cards on tax will come tumbling down’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/12/labour-house-of-cards-tax-tumbling-down/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


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
Tick tock, Sir Keir’s against the clock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:46
Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LFlJivPsT9AFollowing a scorching column by their…
The Mandelson quagmire and murky dealing of Chagos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:00
Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wh42OqWtzDAAs the Prime Minister vows to release…
Starmer’s Shameful Soldier Witch Hunt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:08
You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4f7eZbkA91QIt's been a week of defections, rejections and tantrums in the world of politics, and your co pilots are here to wade through the madnes…
Robert Jenrick's Reform defection and the Greenland rift [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:57
You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mwWiWA21r1UThe rocket of right thinking is back with a blast and a very special defector is aboard.Robert Jenrick is strapped in to tell our intrep…
Best Voyages from the Rocket 2025 Episode 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
The winter break continues on Planet Normal! In this, the third and final part of the three part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right th…
Best Voyages from the Rocket 2025 Episode 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:58
In our second episode of the Best of the Rocket 2025, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan dive deep into the past year’s archives and bring you some of their most intriguing and provocative voyages on the rocket of right thin…
Best Voyages from the Rocket 2025 Episode 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:42
In this, the first of the Best of the Rocket 2025, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan dig into the data files for some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from this year.There’s been no shortage o…
Rocket around the Christmas Tree! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:49
It’s a Merry Christmas from the Rocket of right thinking at Planet Normal to everyone stuck on Planet EarthYour intrepid co-pilots reflect on a year of political thrills and economic spills, honouring the "citizens of Pl…
Reform and Farage smears only make the Party stronger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 dis…