123. Everybody Wants to Rule the Ward

123. Everybody Wants to Rule the Ward

Author: Global May 8, 2026 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!


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
105. Love Me Donut [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:43
Iain and Tessa talk about the UK's naval forces and whether they're good enough, Cyprus and the UK's history with it (and Aggie reports after her recent visit!) - they also talk public distrust in politicians, donuts and…
104. Puff the Magic HMS Dragon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:37
Iain and Tessa joust over the UK's position on what's happening in Iran and historical parallels, failed asylum seekers being offered thousands to leave, where to cut spending and more!
103. I Fought the International Law [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:12
Iain and Tessa digest the events of the last few days -whether Starmer should have supported Trump's actions in Iran from the start, what could happen next and what we can learn from history!
102. In the Blair Tonight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:27
Iain and Tessa talk about the shifts in the political system demonstrated in the run-up to the Gorton and Denton by-election, the latest Tony Blair documentary, the history of youths being out of work and more!
101. You SEND Me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:33
Iain and Tessa talk Boris Johnson's comments on sending troops to Ukraine, the arrest of Peter Mandelson, how to fix the student loan system and what should be done about special educational needs provision!
100. Happy Birthday [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:35
Iain and Tessa discuss Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest and what it could mean for the wider Royal Family - as well as the history of Royals and the law. They also talk about Iain's speeding, what to do with the House…
99. Election Avenue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:10
Iain and Tessa connect remotely, Iain in London and Tessa in Bucharest! They do battle over the government U-turning on local elections, Palestine Action, defence spending and Iain's speeding...
98. Do Not Disturb [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:16
Iain and Tessa discuss whether Lord Doyle is being treated fairly, the history of the age of consent, whether enough attention is being paid to Ukraine, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's remarks about immigration and whether Tessa is…
97. Civil Sar-war [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:10
Iain and Tessa talk Keir Starmer's future (and the history of PMs facing issues mid-term), whether the Royals are getting their response to Andrew right, the new Japanese PM and more!
96. Profumo I'm No Good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:53
Iain and Tessa talk Keir Starmer's apology for ever making Mandelson US ambassador, they delve into the Profumo affair and what it tells us about political scandals, whether the UK punches its weight on the world stage -…