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
55. I Wanna Defect With Somebody [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:49
Iain and Tessa come together once again to talk the Tory MP Danny Kruger defecting to Reform UK, the march we saw over the weekend and what it means for Britain, whether the term 'far right' is overused or not used enoug…
54. Mandy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:49
Iain and Tessa get into the PM sacking Lord Mandelson, the killing of Charlie Kirk and whether politics is more febrile now than it was in history - and whether Brits work too hard.Send your questions and voice notes to…
53. Copashabana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:57
Iain and Tessa are back with analysis of the government reshuffle, the Reform UK conference, Prince Harry back in the UK, great French figures from history and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or…
52. Far Farage Away [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:32
Iain and Tessa are back in the studio to digest the week in politics through the lens of history. On the menu today: Nigel Farage in Washington, whether Angela Rayner is safe (and the history of stamp duty), the wonderfu…
51. Take It ECHR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:19
Iain and Tessa discuss Yvette Cooper making it harder for refugees to bring their families to Britain, Starmer's mini-reshuffle, the history and future of the ECHR and Tessa being invited on Romanian Hell's Kitchen!
50. Blairway to Heaven [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:17
In this episode of Where Politics Meets History, Tessa Dunlop and Iain Dale discuss fertility rates, Tony Blair and ex-Prime Ministers.
49. You've Got A Friend In Iain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:37
Iain and Tessa return for more - this time it's mainly questions! Questions on Iain being 'soft' on Sturgeon, dating people with different politics, whether Iain and Tessa are friends and more!Send your questions and voi…
48. Mounjaro Rhapsody [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:49
Iain and Tessa discuss Iain's Nicola Sturgeon interview preparation, the continued protests outside asylums in Epping, what happened with Brexit and Iain's experience with Mounjaro on the NHS.
47. Dock Around The Clock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:33
Iain is back and joins Tessa to talk Trump's meeting with European leaders in Washington - the historical parallels thereof - what the Green Party is up to and Nicola Sturgeon's book!Send your questions and voice notes t…
46. Porn Free [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:55
Tessa is joined by the wonderful Albie Amankona for this one! They talk about upcoming Trump-Putin summit, the history of Alaska (which President Trump said is in Russia!), declining numbers on porn websites and more!Sen…