Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins

Is Nigel Farage the only politician capable of defeating the Left in Britain? With the Right facing growing division, questions are mounting over whether Nigel Farage can unite anti-Labour voters or whether infighting will hand power back to the Left. Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins, as Sun columnist David Wooding reacts to Farage’s warning that Elon Musk’s support for the new Restore movement...

Petrie Hosken fills in for Ian Collins this scorching Bank Holiday Monday, asking: Should adult crime equal adult time? Helen Fields, former barrister, gives her thoughts on the lenient sentencing of two teenage boys who were spared jail by Judge Nicholas Rowland for the rape of two teenage girls.  Also on the show, Dr Sanjiv Nachani OBE speaks with Petrie about a potential social media...

Is Labour making the cost of living crisis even worse? As the fallout from the Iran conflict continues to hit household finances, Rachel Reeves has unveiled plans to give families “breathing room” by cutting VAT on days out and attractions, while offering no direct help on soaring energy bills. Former No.10 adviser Oscar Reddrop reacts to accusations Labour is prioritising headline-grabbing gimmic...

Is social media now deciding British politics? With online campaigns dominating the headlines and parties fighting for viral moments, we examine how X, TikTok and digital activism are reshaping elections, political narratives and public opinion. Gawain Towler from Reform UK and Adam Cherry from Guido Fawkes react to the growing influence of online politics, including the latest twists in the Maker...

Is Andy Burnham now the favourite to replace Keir Starmer? New polling suggests Andy Burnham would comfortably beat Keir Starmer in a Labour leadership contest, while support for Wes Streeting among Labour members appears to have collapsed. YouGov’s Patrick English breaks down the numbers behind Burnham’s surge, what Labour voters really think about Starmer’s leadership, and why Streeting’s leader...

Is Labour tearing itself apart over Brexit again? A furious row has erupted after Wes Streeting was accused of using the EU issue to undermine Andy Burnham, triggering fresh civil war inside Labour. Political commentator Alex Deane reacts as Burnham faces backlash over claims he wants Britain closer to Europe, before appearing to retreat under pressure amid accusations of a “Brexit betrayal”. At t...

Is Andy Burnham preparing to replace Keir Starmer and could Reform destroy Labour’s plans? With Wes Streeting now backing Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster, speculation is growing that Labour is preparing for life after Keir Starmer. Former Labour adviser Henri Murison and HuffPost UK Political Editor Kevin Schofield discuss the escalating leadership tensions, the Burnham succession rumours, an...

If you don’t support Labour: who should be the next Prime Minister? With reports of a looming Starmer–Streeting showdown, Labour infighting escalating, and fresh speculation over Keir Starmer’s future, Westminster is gripped by resignation rumours and succession plotting. Author and journalist Alexander Larman and Telegraph commentator Annabel Denham react to claims that Buckingham Palace has ente...

Is Keir Starmer’s premiership entering its final days? With reports of Cabinet unrest, leadership manoeuvring and almost 80 Labour MPs allegedly urging him to quit, the pressure on Keir Starmer has reached boiling point. Former No.10 adviser Oscar Reddrop reacts to the growing Labour civil war, the battle over Starmer’s future, and what’s happening behind closed doors in Downing Street. Meanwhile,...

Is Keir Starmer fighting for Britain’s future, or fighting for his own survival? With reports of leadership plots, Cabinet unrest and growing Labour rebellion, pressure is mounting on Keir Starmer after his dramatic speech declaring he “won’t walk away from the battle for Britain’s soul”. Isabel Oakeshott reacts to the escalating Starmer leadership crisis, as claims emerge of moves inside Labour t...

Are the local elections the beginning of the end for Keir Starmer? With Labour under pressure, Reform surging, and voters turning against the political establishment, tonight we break down what the results mean for the future of Britain. Former Conservative MP Michael Fabricant reacts to the local election fallout, Tory collapse and the battle on the Right, while Dan Hodges assesses whether this i...

Should voting be compulsory in Britain, and would it fix a broken political system? Giles Dilnot makes the case against forcing people to the ballot box, as turnout, trust and engagement in UK politics come under scrutiny. Meanwhile, speculation grows over a potential leadership challenge to Keir Starmer, with claims of a “Trojan Horse” plan to bring Andy Burnham back to Westminster. John Power re...

Is Britain’s welfare system spiralling while borders remain out of control? New figures suggest one million children could soon be claiming disability benefits, raising urgent questions about welfare dependency, public spending and long-term sustainability. Andrew Allison and Callum McGoldrick debate the benefits surge, economic impact and whether the system is being stretched too far. At the same...

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins this bank holiday Monday. He is joined by Liam Deacon and Dr Mike Galsworthy to discuss Keir Starmer telling European leaders that the UK’s “national interest” lies in deeper EU ties - even as the bloc demands £1 billion a year for greater access to the single market. Then political power couple Neil and Christine Hamilton break down the shocking new figures show...

Britain on high alert: the terror threat level has been raised to “severe” following the Golders Green attack, with warnings the risk of further attacks is high and the public urged to stay vigilant. Former Head of Counter-Terrorism at the MoD Chip Chapman joins alongside social cohesion expert Fiyaz Mughal and extremism specialist Paul Stott to assess the security response, terror threat, and ris...

Is Keir Starmer’s leadership collapsing as Britain faces a growing terror threat? Allies of Angela Rayner are reportedly turning on Keir Starmer, with the Mandelson–Epstein scandal fuelling a full-blown crisis inside Labour. In the studio, Alex Dyke is joined by Hull East MP Karl Turner to ask whether Starmer can survive and what comes next for the party. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage opens the door to...

Is Britain facing a demographic tipping point and a growing security crisis? New projections warn of millions more migrants, a falling birth rate, and deaths set to outnumber births, putting pressure on the UK economy, housing and public services. Laurie Wastell and economist Paul Johnson break down the migration surge, population growth and economic impact. Meanwhile, the political pressure ramps...

Is Britain heading for a united Right or a left-wing “coalition of chaos”? A major new poll suggests Reform UK could need the Conservatives to govern, raising the stakes for the future of the Right and the direction of UK politics. Former newspaper editor Neil Wallis and political strategist Peter Barnes break down the numbers, the electoral maths, and what it means for Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch...

Harry Cole from The Sun sits in for Ian Collins, asking: is Keir Starmer redefining English identity, or weaponising it? A row over “plastic patriotism” has ignited a fierce debate about national identity, patriotism and what it means to be English. Keir Starmer’s St George’s Day comments are under fire, with Suella Braverman arguing Labour is out of touch with traditional values as Reform pushes...

Is Keir Starmer’s leadership unravelling? Labour infighting is exploding, with MPs warning of a “toxic culture”, Cabinet dissent growing, and the Mandelson vetting scandal refusing to go away. David Maddox breaks down the political chaos as pressure mounts on Keir Starmer, with senior figures like Ed Miliband and Yvette Cooper reportedly showing signs of dissent. Former diplomat Ameer Kotecha asse...

Is the Mandelson scandal spiralling out of control for Keir Starmer? Explosive claims suggest Downing Street put pressure on officials to approve the appointment, raising serious questions about vetting, accountability and national security. Former Conservative MP Michael Fabricant, Labour peer George Foulkes, and journalist Isabel Oakeshott debate the fallout for Keir Starmer, as a row with senio...

Is Keir Starmer facing a growing crisis of trust? With mounting pressure over the Mandelson vetting row, calls are intensifying for Keir Starmer to come clean about what he knew — and when. Former No.10 adviser Oscar Reddrop and Jill Rutter from the Institute for Government assess the political fallout, including demands from Kemi Badenoch for transparency and accountability over alleged red flags...

Has the establishment broken Britain and is the justice system still serving the public? With growing anger over policing, transparency and immigration enforcement, we ask whether trust in institutions is collapsing. Former Conservative MP Michael Fabricant reacts to calls for tougher action on asylum fraud, including proposals that lawyers who assist false claims could face jail, as well as mount...

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins as we ask: Is moving migrants out of hotels and into local communities really the solution, or just shifting the problem? With Keir Starmer’s government reportedly relocating thousands of asylum seekers, concerns are growing over cost, integration and pressure on public services. Former Home Office minister Norman Baker reacts to the policy, alongside revelations...

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins asking a deeply controversial question: does fear of racism allow dangerous individuals to slip through the cracks? In the wake of the Southport murders, serious concerns are being raised about whether institutions failed to act and why. Political strategist Peter Barnes and Rakib Ehsan examine claims that warnings were missed, including reports that concerns abo...