Planet Normal

Rule by law or rule by lawyers, that's the question your co-pilots are posing from the rocket today as they ponder the week’s events on Planet Earth, and there’s certainly no shortage of madness! Liam thinks the political state of the UK is less about supporting parties and more about being for or against the Whitehall 'blob’. Whilst Allison is frustrated at the attitude of the Tory party based on...

Is the country falling apart? It’s starting to feel like it this week on the rocket as your co-pilots lament the latest shortcomings from the Labour Party, questions over lockdown rule breaks, Trump’s tariff wars and the return of the dreaded ‘Brexit’ talk… What do your co-pilots make of Reform leader Nigel Farage’s rising popularity? Resident rocket economist Liam also gives his take on Pres...

Co-pilot Halligan is joined by the highly qualified temporary co-pilot Tim Stanley whilst co-pilot Pearson is away from the rocket. Tim gives his take on the flurry of activity during Trump's first days in office and why he is frustrated with Keir Starmer's ‘outdated’ ideas. Strapping into the rocket for a return mission this week is Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, who beams in to give his verd...

It’s the second coming of the Donald as President Trump is inaugurated to the Oval Office for his second term, but what do your co-pilots make of the political antics across the pond? Closer to home, co-pilot Pearson delivers her thoughts from this week’s trial of the Southport killings, which she believes demonstrates a ‘mass coverup’ by the government. Joining your co-pilots this week is 'Britai...

Your co-pilots have blasted off a whopper of a rocket this week so strap in. It’s Labour vs lettuce this week as the scrutiny of Chancellor Rachel Reeves continues to the rising drumbeat of calls for her to go. And with a resignation and an upcoming inauguration, there’s no shortage of melodrama in orbit this week. It will come as no surprise that the residents of the rocket are less than impresse...

It’s a new year and the rocket returns with a blast to take on tax rises, economy worries and a grooming scandal, but what do your co-pilots make of 2025’s headlines so far? Liam questions why Labour won’t launch a national inquiry into the grooming gangs, whilst Allison thinks the country’s leading party are too hung up with promoting diversity as a strength to investigate any wrongdoing. Strappi...

In this, the second of a two part series, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan dig into the data files for some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking, from 2024. There’s been no shortage of madness on the rocket over the past few months, the peak of which was definitely when co-pilot Pearson spearheaded a free speech campaign in wake of a shocking visit to her home on the morni...

In this, the first of a two part series, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan dig into the data files for some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking, from 2024. There’s been no shortage of madness on the rocket over the past few months, the peak of which was definitely when co-pilot Pearson spearheaded a free speech campaign in wake of a shocking visit to her home on the mornin...

Christmas is coming but the madness on the rocket of right thinking shows no signs of slowing down. It’s time to strap in for the last voyage of 2024. In light of the latest inflation figures Liam gives his review of Labour's economic strategy which he feels has ‘talked down’ the economy. And co-pilot Pearson delivers some strong opinions on the latest approach to governing non crime hate incident...

A sombre journey to Planet Normal today, as Allison and Liam learn that the father of Sara Sharif has been found guilty of the 10-year-old’s murder just before recording. Co-pilot Pearson decries that a little girl could have been a victim to such violence in modern Britain, and what it says about integration in our country. Plus they discuss the events of Syria, and co-pilot Halligan notes that t...

As Prime Minister Keir Starmer celebrates a turbulent 5 months in office by eventually turning on the Downing Street Christmas lights, co-Pilot Pearson celebrates reaching new records in her weight-loss journey. But elsewhere there is less reason to be joyous with the oncoming news woes. Both your co-pilots question the need for the PM to ‘re-launch’ his government, whilst the rocket’s resident ec...

The campaign for free speech on the rocket has been a runaway success with no signs of slowing down. This week your co-pilots tackle a bulging mail bag with a Planet Normal Email special reading out some of your reactions to Allison’s victory for free speech. They also deliver their verdict on Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s latest economic moves and the Labour party's most recent promises to ‘fix the...

It’s been one helluva week on the rocket for co-pilot Pearson, as she describes the ‘news tsunami’ that has crashed through her life. Your co-pilots talk through the reaction to Allison’s story and discuss the principle of free speech in this country. Also boarding the rocket to discuss his new book, ‘What went Wrong with Capitalism’, is author Dr Ruchir Sharma who lays out his solution to the rel...

In wake of co-pilot Pearson’s shock visit from the police on Remembrance Sunday, the rocket reflects on the principle of free speech in our country. Allison explains what happens when the journalist becomes the story… Elsewhere Liam gives his take on why the Harris campaign failed to reach many voters in the US election after his trip across the pond last week. Also Joining your co-pilots on the r...

Co-pilot Pearson is off on a special mission this week so Liam is joined in the cockpit by resident part time co-pilot, Tim Stanley. As the news breaks of Donald Trump’s victory in the US Liam and Tim dissect the news tsunami from across the pond. As the rest of the world comes to terms with what just happened, Tim describes why we shouldn’t be that surprised at the result, and Liam gives his econ...

As Labour unveils their first budget in 14 years, the rocket beams in for a bumper Budget special with not one but two stowaways! But what do the rocket’s incumbents make of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s first big fiscal challenge. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss explains why she thinks Chancellor Rachel Reeves might have ‘turbo charged taxes’ and could be about to ‘crash the car into the wall’. Chie...

This episode was recorded live at the Battle of Ideas Festival in London on 20th October 2024 In this very special episode of Planet Normal, the rocket beams in live from the Battle of Ideas Festival featuring not one, but two very special stowaways.. Sociologist and social commentator, Professor Frank Furedi shares his thoughts on how we can tackle what he calls the ‘madness’ of political correct...

The countdown to Labour's first Budget is on, but what do your co-pilots make of the new Chancellor's plans? Brace yourselves it's another news Tsunami… Liam isn’t convinced Labour’s plan for growth will strengthen up the public finances and believes a more prudent approach to spending is needed. Allison agrees and is concerned if they increase National Insurance on employers it will lead to less...

Fresh from a shock elimination in the Tory leadership race, your co-pilots deliver their verdict on the latest results from the now two horse race. And did co-pilot Pearson really influence the result? One year on from the shocking 7th October attack in Israel, the rocket reflects on Allison’s recent dispatch to Israel and welcomes Brendan O’Neill into the cockpit. Brendan’s new book ‘A fter the P...

The rocket beams in live from the Tory Party Conference in Birmingham this week and there’s no shortage of melodrama to dissect as the Party gears up to elect its new leader. Fastening their seat belt alongside your co-pilots this week is leadership contender and previous stowaway, Robert Jenrick MP for Newark, who shares his hopes for the party should he win the contest. Liam gives the rocke...

**Some of Alison's reporting contains descriptions you may find distressing With Conference season in full swing, what do your co-pilots make of the PM’s latest speech slip up at the Party’s Conference? Liam thinks Starmer’s speech failed to set the room alight as much as previous Labour PM Tony Blair would have done. And Allison shares some moving observations from her recent trip to Israel. Also...

Strapping into the rocket of right thinking this week for a Planet Normal exclusive is Tory leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat who shares the reasons why he thinks he can carry the party back to power in five years, and why he wants to get the selection process completed as soon as possible to lead an effective opposition. Whilst co-pilot Pearson is doing some on the ground reporting in Israel, temp...

Autumn is slowly coming into view on the rocket of right thinking and the words on everyone’s lips are ‘winter fuel payments’. Labour won their round in the Commons but your co-pilots aren’t impressed with the party’s latest policy decisions. The Chancellor claims this decision is for the good of the economy, however Liam thinks that it doesn’t match up with the economy’s recent growth rate. Whils...

It’s back to school and back to parliament so the co pilots have their news notes at the ready! Your co-pilots discuss the Tory leadership vote and analysis from the Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry report.  Liam places previous rocket stowaway Kemi Badenoch as a favourite to take over the Conservative party whereas Allison thinks the party needs to capitalise on Labour’s current position and el...

As co-pilot Pearson makes a triumphant return to the rocket, sunkissed and well rested, there is no short of madness orbiting the rocket. But has the UK really gone back to the 70s? Allison thinks the PM’s Rose Garden speech was ‘tone deaf’ and with things only set to get worse, in the words of the PM, co pilot Halligan delivers some sobering economic predictions for the upcoming budget. Strapping...