Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian today as Ann Widdecombe dies aged 78. Britain is paying tribute to the former Conservative minister, broadcaster and one of the country’s best-known political figures after her sudden death. Police have launched an investigation after her death was initially treated as suspicious, as tributes pour in from across the political spectrum. Brendan O’Neill, Chief Political Wr...

Has your trust in politics completely broken down? With Nigel Farage’s resignation triggering a controversial Clacton by-election, new research suggests most Britons believe the country’s social contract has collapsed. Is confidence in politics at its lowest point in decades? Former government special adviser James Price examines whether Britain’s political system is fundamentally broken, why trus...

Nigel Farage has resigned. What happens now? In a dramatic move, the Reform UK leader has resigned as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election that he says will be a battle between “the people and the establishment” as he seeks a fresh mandate from voters amid ongoing scrutiny over his finances. Isabel Oakeshott, Talk International Editor, reacts to Farage’s bombshell announcement and what it mean...

Can Reform survive the Farage scandal? Nigel Farage is facing mounting scrutiny after fresh allegations over political funding, raising questions about transparency, standards and whether the controversy could damage Reform UK’s momentum. Dan Hodges, commentator at the Mail on Sunday, reacts after Farage issued a furious response to claims surrounding undeclared support from a close ally, while Re...

Are white working-class kids being left behind? New claims that white working-class students are being excluded from some Oxbridge diversity schemes have reignited the debate over equality, opportunity and who is being left behind in modern Britain. Lord Tony Sewell, former Chair of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, discusses reports that white working-class pupils are missing out on...

How would you solve the immigration crisis? With the cost of the asylum system under growing scrutiny and fresh questions over border security, immigration is once again dominating the political agenda. Charlie Rowley reacts to reports that migrants using the ECHR to remain in Britain could cost taxpayers £4.9 billion, as ministers unveil plans to make asylum seekers repay the cost of hotel accomm...

Would you give Andy Burnham 10 years? The Prime Minister says he needs a decade to transform Britain, but critics warn his plans could mean higher taxes, bigger government and little immediate relief for struggling families. Linda Duberley reacts after Burnham unveiled his 10-year vision for Britain, amid claims that middle-class taxpayers could be hit with fresh tax rises to fund Labour’s long-te...

Is Andy Burnham already winning over Britain? New polling suggests Britons would rather see Andy Burnham in No.10 than Nigel Farage, as the new Prime Minister faces his first major tests on the economy, immigration and Net Zero. Mark Littlewood, Director of Popular Conservatism, reacts after Donald Trump branded Burnham “extremely liberal” during a White House appearance. Is Burnham heading for a...

Can Andy Burnham turn our country around? Just days after Keir Starmer’s resignation, attention is turning from Labour’s leadership drama to a bigger question: is Burnham ready to govern? Giles Dilnot, Editor of ConservativeHome, reacts as Burnham and Starmer hold talks on an “orderly transition” amid reports that Burnham’s team is scrambling to prepare for power after being caught off guard by th...

Should Andy Burnham face a leadership challenge? Just hours after Keir Starmer’s resignation, Labour is already facing a fierce battle over who should take control of the party, with some MPs reportedly moving to stop what they fear could become a Burnham coronation. Matthew Syed, columnist for The Times and The Sunday Times, joins us live as Westminster reacts to Burnham’s dramatic arrival in Par...

Will Andy Burnham save Britain? Following the dramatic resignation of Keir Starmer, Labour is entering a new era as attention turns to who will lead the party, and the country, next. Martin Beckford, Policy Editor at the Daily Mail, reacts to Starmer’s emotional departure from Downing Street after months of political turmoil, Cabinet infighting and mounting pressure from Labour MPs. What finally b...

Can any party stop the small boats crisis? With more than 700 migrants crossing the Channel in a single day, the highest daily total of the year so far, pressure is mounting on the Government as critics argue that every major party has failed to get a grip on illegal migration. Isabel Oakeshott, Talk International Editor, reacts to the latest Channel crossing figures and asks whether Labour, the C...

How has politics become so toxic? Ten years after the murder of MP Jo Cox, concerns are growing that political debate in Britain is becoming increasingly angry, polarised and hostile, both online and offline. Charlie Rowley, political commentator, reacts to warnings that political discourse is more poisonous than ever, with growing concerns about intimidation, abuse and the impact of social media...

Should under-16s be banned from social media? With Keir Starmer unveiling plans for sweeping new restrictions on children’s access to social media, Britain is facing a major debate over online safety, parental responsibility, free speech and the role of Big Tech. Harrison Allman-Varty, Leader of Reform UK on Elmbridge Borough Council, reacts to the proposed ban and asks whether the Government is r...

Is Keir Starmer losing control of Britain? With a Cabinet resignation, growing unrest in Northern Ireland and fresh divisions on the Right, pressure is mounting on the Prime Minister from every direction. Former Conservative MP and military expert Bob Seely reacts after Defence Secretary John Healey resigned in a major blow to the Government, raising serious questions about Labour’s handling of de...

How do Britons make their voices heard, and what happens when people feel nobody is listening? Following a second night of disorder in Belfast, questions are being asked about public anger, political representation and whether Britain’s institutions are responding to the concerns of ordinary people. Political commentator Chloe Dobbs reacts to the fallout from violent unrest after masked rioters se...

Is Britain in complete economic decline? And what does the horrific Belfast attack say about the state of the country? As fresh warnings emerge that unemployment could soar towards two million, Britain is facing growing questions over economic competence, public safety and government accountability. Samara Gill reacts to explosive claims that billions of pounds in taxpayer-backed Covid loans and f...

Should the United States stay out of British politics? After a public row between senior British and American politicians over the Henry Nowak case, questions are growing about whether US figures are increasingly shaping political debates in the UK. Ameer Kotecha and Freddy Gray react after J. D. Vance weighed in on the Henry Nowak case, prompting David Lammy to reveal he personally called the US...

Does British politics need more 'normal people?' As campaigning begins for the Makerfield by-election, Ian Collins examines the state of UK politics, the public mood, and whether Westminster is becoming increasingly disconnected from voters. He's joined by broadcaster and journalist Michael Crick to analyse the situation so far, following some of the candidates appearing on Question Time. Meanwhil...

What does justice for Henry Nowak look like? Ian Collins examines the Southampton protest near the home of the 18-year-old's killer, where eleven police officers were injured, and asks what the unrest reveals about public anger, policing and community safety. Former policing minister Damian Green and former government political violence adviser Lord Walney discuss Keir Starmer’s response to Nigel...

Do you believe Reform will win the next general election? The UK's leading pollster says it is increasingly likely. Ian Collins is joined by Sir John Curtice, Professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde and polling expert, to discuss Reform UK’s rise, the latest general election polling, and the shifting landscape of British politics. Meanwhile, chief political writer at Spiked, Brendan...

What are we about to learn from the Mandelson files and should the Henry Nowak bodycam footage be released? With hundreds of messages, emails and internal communications reportedly due to emerge, Keir Starmer is facing fresh pressure over what ministers knew, what warnings were ignored and whether the full truth about Peter Mandelson’s vetting will finally come out. Political commentator Alex Dean...

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins Has political correctness destroyed British policing? Fresh controversies have reignited questions over whether officers are being distracted by institutional culture, fear of accusations and bureaucracy instead of focusing on public safety. Writer and broadcaster Emma Trimble reacts to outrage after Hampshire Police apologised over claims officers treated a dyin...

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins where we ask the question: Has Britain thrown young people under the bus? With warnings that one in six young people could be out of work, education or training within five years, fears are growing of a lost generation locked out of jobs, housing and opportunity. Tina McKenzie, UK Policy Chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, reacts to alarming new warnings...

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins today as we ask the question- Has Keir Starmer lost control of Britain? With fresh criticism from Tony Blair, rising migrant crossings, Reform infighting and new questions surrounding Nicola Sturgeon, pressure is growing on Keir Starmer from every direction. Former Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans and Isabel Oakeshott react after Blair reportedly warned Starmer has “no...