Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins

On Armistice Day, we ask what has happened to British patriotism. As the nation pauses to remember those who fought and died for this country, are we still proud of our history, identity and traditions? Or has Britain become a country increasingly uncomfortable with its own past? Broadcaster and journalist Linda Duberley joins us to discuss the changing meaning of patriotism, while Kemi Badenoch a...

Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins as Russell Brand is sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assault. After being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault last week, Brand has now been handed a lengthy custodial sentence at Southwark Crown Court. Times Radio’s Ollie Cole joins us with an overview of the sentencing hearing and the judge’s...

Illegal Channel crossings are becoming a defining issue in France’s next election, with growing pressure on politicians to confront the role France plays in the migrant crisis. Alex Deane, Political Commentator, and Gavin Mortimer, author and Spectator writer, join us to discuss whether immigration could reshape the French political landscape, what France should be doing to stop the boats and whet...

Ian Collins broke the news live on Talk as Russell Brand was found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. Brand was acquitted of two further rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. He is due to be sentenced on Monday. As the verdicts came in, Ian was joined by Alex Dibble, Deputy Head of News at Talk, and former Dai...

Donald Trump has suffered a major midterm election defeat, with Democrats taking control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in a sweeping setback for the Republicans. Andrew Gilligan, Senior Fellow at Policy Exchange and former special adviser to Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, joins us to examine what went wrong for Trump, whether the result marks a turning point in American polit...

Shabana Mahmood has watered down key parts of her immigration overhaul following a backlash from Labour MPs and Cabinet colleagues. The Home Secretary’s original plans were expected to save taxpayers £10 billion, but exemptions for foreign care workers mean the projected savings will now be lower. Ben Brindle of Oxford University’s Migration Observatory joins us to explain what has changed, who wi...

Shabana Mahmood is preparing to unveil major changes to Britain’s immigration system, but reports suggest the original crackdown could be watered down following pressure from Labour MPs and unions. Guy Dampier, Senior Researcher on Nationhood at the Prosperity Institute, and immigration lawyer Harjap Singh Bhangal join us to examine whether Labour is weakening its promises to bring immigration dow...

Britain is being warned to prepare for a decade of economic pain. The Institute for Fiscal Studies says the 2020s are on course to be the worst decade for household income growth on record, while the Resolution Foundation forecasts typical non-pensioner households will be £1,050 worse off by 2029. Lindsay Judge, Research Director at the Resolution Foundation, joins us to break down the figures, th...

Chancellor John Healey has delivered his first Autumn Budget under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, promising to ease the cost of living, support British businesses and strengthen national security. But with rising energy costs, pressure on public finances and difficult choices over taxation and spending, does this Budget offer real solutions or simply temporary relief? Talk presenter Peter Cardwell j...

Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins. Is Britain ready for a crisis? Ted Jeffery, co-founder of Defence On The Brink, discusses emergency survival kits and threats to undersea cables. Then Baroness Claire Fox examines white working-class children’s prospects and the Commonwealth chief's call for a royal apology over slavery. Plus, Charlie Rae, former royal editor of The Sun, discusses report...

Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins. The Green Party has urged people “inspired by the protests in France” to join a march against austerity in London next Tuesday. This comes as police warn that the UK’s response to French-style riots would be too slow. Journalist Linda Duberley joins Charlie to explore whether we at risk of descending into the same violence and looting that has wreaked havoc...

Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins, joined by Leave. EU co-founder Arron Banks to discuss Nigel Farage’s bid to reunite Brexit backers against Andy Burnham’s push for closer European ties. Former Labour official Richard Power Sayeed and Conservative MP Douglas Lumsden then debate Labour’s approval of new North Sea drilling amid soaring gas prices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

Ian Collins is joined by Fred de Fossard, Director of Strategy at the Prosperity Institute, and barrister Dr S Chelvan to discuss the Energy Secretary's warning that Mahmood's immigration crackdown would threaten community cohesion. Then, the Daily Mail’s Defence and Diplomacy Editor Mark Nicol examines the row over the Troubles legacy bill, as well as warnings that relentless investigatio...

Nigel Farage is facing fresh questions over Reform UK’s candidate vetting after reports emerged of candidates making racist and sexist jokes and calling for the execution of the King. Political commentators Ellie Hodges and Benedict Spence join us to examine the allegations, how Reform selects its candidates and what the controversy means for Farage’s efforts to present the party as a credible alt...

Four out of five new jobs created over the past decade reportedly went to foreign nationals, according to a new report. Ben Habib, Chairman of Great British PAC, joins us to examine why British workers account for such a small share of new payroll jobs, whether employers have become too reliant on overseas recruitment and what needs to change to put British workers first. MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallu...

Andy Burnham says Britain is ready for closer ties with the European Union, reigniting the debate over Brexit and the UK’s future relationship with Europe. Charlie Rowley, former Conservative Special Adviser, and Fred de Fossard, Director of Strategy at the Prosperity Institute, join us to discuss whether Labour is paving the way for closer EU integration and what it could mean for Britain. We als...

Alex Phillips joins us live from Israel’s Gaza envelope as the country marks the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, reporting from the area around the Gaza border and reflecting on the ongoing conflict and its impact two years on. Back at Conservative Party Conference, Charlie Rowley, Former Tory Special Adviser and Talk Presenter, joins us after Kemi Badenoch’s conference speech. We discuss he...

Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins, who returns on Monday. Kemi Badenoch has predicted Andy Burnham could call a general election as early as May of next year. Jonathan Haslam, former director of communications at No.10, joins to give his thoughts on who might win, and whether the prime minister has blown his chances of being elected with his stance on the EU. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins. As Labour’s early release scheme begins, campaigners warn that victims will be left living in fear if adequate protections are not put in place. Former prison governor Vanessa Frake and rape survivor Jade Belgrove join Charlie to criticise the scheme. In other news, Andy Burnham has said a second Brexit referendum is an option for the UK. David Campbell Bann...

Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins. In his speech to Labour Party Conference yesterday, Andy Burnham announced a major review of the UK’s long term relationship with the EU. Today he said all options were on the table, including re-joining the bloc. Fraser Myers, deputy editor of Spiked Online, and Lance Forman, former Brexit MEP, join the show for analysis. In other news, watchdogs have warne...

Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins as the Labour Party Conference gets into full swing. Following Andy Burnham’s headline-grabbing, lectern-free speech, Benedict Spence, Sebastian Salek, Matt Vickers and Richard Tice share their reactions and analysis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie Rowley sits in for Ian Collins. Police are investigating an incident outside RAF Fairford after five men were arrested on suspicion of terror offences on Sunday. Charlie is joined by Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former British Army colonel, who says the unfolding events should be a very uncomfortable wake-up call. Meanwhile, the Labour Party Conference is well under way in Liverpool, and Ryan...

Duncan Barkes sits in for Ian Collins. Downing Street advisers are reportedly pushing for an early general election, while Kemi Badenoch is putting the Conservatives on notice for a possible election within months. Steve N Allen, Comedian & Broadcaster, joins us to ask whether Britain could be heading back to the polls sooner than expected. Kevin Schofield, Political Editor at HuffPost UK, joi...

As Andy Burnham opens the door to Britain potentially rejoining the EU, we ask whether the UK’s relationship with Europe is becoming more important than the Special Relationship with America. Matthew Bryza, former White House Official, and Mike Galsworthy, Chair of the European Movement UK, debate Britain’s future between the US and EU, the strength of the Special Relationship and whether Brexit i...

With the next election already shaping the political battle lines, could tactical voting be the key to stopping the left? David Wooding, Columnist at The Sun, joins us to discuss a new poll suggesting Restore Britain could damage Reform’s election hopes — and whether voters on the right will put party loyalty aside to defeat Labour. We also examine Britain’s growing welfare bill, with official fig...