116. Vetting Away With It

116. Vetting Away With It

Author: Global April 17, 2026 Duration: 49:25

Iain and Tessa discuss the PM's new crisis over Mandelson - and whether it's a Westminster village story (Tessa thinks so!) - they also talk about the decline in reading, welfare vs warfare and more!


Each week on Where Politics Meets History, broadcaster Iain Dale and historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop sit down to dissect current events with a much deeper perspective. They operate on a simple but powerful premise: to truly understand the news, you often have to look backwards. This podcast is built on the conversation between a seasoned political commentator and a dedicated historian, resulting in a dialogue that is both immediately relevant and richly contextual. You’ll hear them tackle the week’s biggest headlines, not in isolation, but by tracing their roots and finding those startling patterns where past and present collide. It’s this specific combination of skills that makes the analysis here so engaging; Iain brings the sharp political instinct while Tessa provides the archival depth, together unearthing stories and parallels that are frequently overlooked in the daily churn. Their chemistry is a key part of the appeal-discussions are insightful and witty, but they’re not afraid of a spirited, good-natured debate when their viewpoints diverge. Listening to this podcast feels like being a fly on the wall for a fascinating conversation between two experts who respect each other but are passionate about their fields. It moves beyond simple explanation to explore the rhythms and echoes of history within modern crises, scandals, and social shifts. For anyone tired of surface-level news takes, this show offers a substantive, long-view alternative that is as entertaining as it is informative, proving that contemporary politics and historical understanding are inseparable.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Where Politics Meets History
Podcast Episodes
131. It Musk Be Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:48
Iain and Tessa discuss if Nigel Farage is fuelling social division (and whether Elon Musk is pouring petrol on the fire), why Canada may have more in common with Britain than America, and France's latest swipe at the UK…
130. Tranche Like Nobody's Watching [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:53
Iain and Tessa discuss what drones have done to warfare (and how the Ukraine war compares to wars through history) the latest tranche of Mandelson files and what their impact might be, why trade unionists are shifting to…
129. NEET and Tidy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:36
Iain and Tessa discuss the crisis of youth joblessness, Tony Blair's return to the political conversation, the price of food in Europe - and more!
128. Murrell of the Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:38
Iain and Tessa talk the SNP Peter Murrell embezzlement scandal and similar scandals throughout history - as well as whether Wes Streeting would make a better PM than Andy Burnham, Iain's viral cake moment... and someone…
127. Movin' On Out [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:48
Iain and Tessa discuss net migration (and the history of people arriving in, and leaving, the UK) - and more!
126. Can't Get EU Out of My Head [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:07
Iain and Tessa talk about Wes Streeting reviving the Brexit debate, whether Andy Burnham stands a chance, whether Keir Starmer shares anything with Ted Heath - and more!
125. Burnham Baby Burnham [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:21
Iain is joined by LBC political editor Natasha Clark for this one while Tessa is ill! They talk Streeting, Burnham, Starmer, Farage and more!
124. Hey Brother [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:15
Iain and Tessa speak about Keir Starmer on the ropes, fallout from the local elections, a hundred years since the 1926 general strike - and Tessa's brother Duncan Dunlop speaks to our pair about his election win in Scotl…
123. Everybody Wants to Rule the Ward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:32
Iain and Tessa digest the election results so far! Does it mean Nigel Farage will be the next PM? Does it mean people hate Keir Starmer? Does it mean Britain is ungovernable? Answers to those questions and more!
122. Harborne Free [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:28
Iain and Tessa discuss Nigel Farage's £5m gift from Thai-based businessman Christopher Harborne, how Plaid Cymru grew into the force it is now, whether this podcast plays to their egos and more!