Political Frenemies

Political Frenemies dives headfirst into Westminster meltdown mode as former Tory adviser Chris Newton, Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert, and academic and ex–Labour adviser Matt Lloyd unpack the explosive fallout from the Mandelson–Epstein scandal. From Mandelson’s association with Epstein to KeirStarmer’s jaw-dropping admission that he knew about it when appointing Mandelson as ambassador, the tri...

Political Frenemies returns with Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton joined by Tom Willerton-Gartside, Head of Press at Looking for Growth, for a fast-paced scrap over the week’s biggest political stories. The trio dig into Keir Starmer’s contentious China visit, Suella Braverman’s dramatic defection to Reform UK, the opening skirmishes of the Gorton and Denton by-...

In this EMERGENCY episode, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert dive headfirst into the shock decision that’s rocked Labour HQ: Andy Burnham’s bid to return to Parliament—blocked by the Labour NEC. What does this mean for Burnham’s future, and why did the party machine slam the door? From furious fallout to whispered leadership consequences, Chris and Mathew chew ov...

Old rivalries, new rows, and plenty of political mischief: Political Frenemies is back with former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert, joined once again by Yellow Rebel host Andy Chandler, to tear into another week of chaotic politics. From Keir Starmer’s increasingly spiky clashes with Donald Trump over Greenland, Chagos, and Afghanistan, to the fallout from Andrew Gwyn...

Political Frenemies is back with sparks flying as Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton welcome once again Tory councillor and campaigner Matthew Goodwin-Freeman for a fast-paced dive into Westminster chaos and local fallout. The trio react to Robert Jenrick’s jaw-dropping defection to Reform UK, spar over Labour’s abrupt U-turn on digital ID, and unpack reports of d...

Political Frenemies kicks off 2026 with a bang as former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert welcome their first guest of the year, Tory councillor Zak Wagman, for a no-holds-barred take on a week of political shockwaves. From Britain’s jittery response to Donald Trump’s intervention in Venezuela and his threats over Greenland, to Keir Starmer’s decision to commit UK troo...

It’s baubles at dawn on Political Frenemies as Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton host the Christmas Snowflake Party special —a gloriously chaotic festive roundup joined by fan favourites Tory councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, Lib Dem YouTuber Andy Chandler, and Green activist Daniel Laycock. The gang kick off by unwrapping the week’s political news, including t...

In this week’s episode of Political Frenemies, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert are reunited with their occasional Green firebrand Daniel Laycock for a lively end-of-year round-up. The trio catch up with Daniel on the latest twists inside the Greens before diving into Westminster’s big stories: the Commons vote on a UK–EU customs union, a fresh batch of politica...

This week on Political Frenemies, Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert, former Tory adviser Chris Newton, and Yellow Rebel host Andy Chandler unpack Mathew’s latest campaigning adventures — including his chance encounter with Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The trio also explore whether Labour’s proposals to slash jury trials and postpone mayoral elections hint at a drift toward illiberalism, before tu...

In this week’s episode of Political Frenemies, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert are joined by political commentator – and freshly elected Reform UK councillor – Russell Quirk. The trio dig into the Russell’s election as councillor, trade sharp insights on the fallout from this week’s Budget, and unpack what it all means for Rachel Reeves and the Labour governmen...

Political Frenemies is back with Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton—this time joined once again by Conservative councillor and campaigner Matthew Goodwin-Freeman—for a lively, cross-party clash of ideas. In this episode, the trio dive into Shabana Mahmood’s headline-grabbing immigration and asylum reforms, unpack the explosive findings of the new Covid-19 inquiry...

Political Frenemies returns with sparks flying as former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert team up once again—this time joined by political scientist and historian Dr George Aylett—to dissect one of the most chaotic weeks in British politics. From the rumours of a Labour coup plot to two senior BBC resignations amid a brewing row with Donald Trump, the trio pull no punc...

In this episode of Political Frenemies, Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert, former Tory adviser Chris Newton, and researcher-campaigner Tom Willerton-Gartside dive into a whirlwind week in politics — from David Lammy’s embattled response to the prisoner release fiasco to Rachel Reeves’ and Nigel Farage’s speeches on the economy. The trio tackle the charged atmosphere and protests at Villa Park during...

In this anniversary episode of Political Frenemies, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert mark one year of spirited debate, unexpected agreement, and plenty of laughs. The pair dive into a packed political week — from the stripping of former Prince Andrew’s titles and Rachel Reeves’ rent row to the Greens’ surprise surge and the Lib Dems’ latest trans quota controver...

In this episode of Political Frenemies, Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and ex-Tory adviser Chris Newton are joined by the host of the Yellow Rebel YouTube channel - Andy Chandler. They dive into a whirlwind week in UK politics. From the political reaction to the Prince Andrew allegations and the government’s troubled grooming gang inquiry, to Plaid Cymru’s breakthrough in Caerphilly and a string...

In this week’s Political Frenemies, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert are joined by returning guest Tory commentator Matthew Goodwin-Freeman for a lively and unfiltered roundtable on the week’s political fireworks. The trio unpack the government’s troubles after the China spy case collapse, ask whether Nigel Farage’s influence has left lasting scars on Britain’s...

In this week’s Political Frenemies, Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton are joined by Scottish Lib Dem Social Security Spokesperson and Lib Dem Voice editor Caron Lindsay for a sharp, witty, and surprisingly good-natured clash of perspectives. The trio unpack the drama of the Tory Party Conference — including Kemi Badenoch’s headline-grabbing speech — debate where...

In this episode of Political Frenemies, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert are joined by returning occasional Green contributor Daniel Laycock for a packed and thought-provoking discussion. The trio reflect on the tragic terror attack at a Manchester synagogue, dissect Labour’s rhetoric at its conference, and weigh up the messages coming out of the Green Party gat...

On this episode of  Political Frenemies , Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton are joined by special guest Kevin Foster, former Conservative MP and minister, for a lively and candid conversation. From inside stories of ministerial life to frank reflections on the state of today’s Tory Party, the trio pull no punches. They take stock of the Lib Dem conference, pick a...

In this episode of Political Frenemies, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert are joined by returning guest Peter Cardwell, former Tory Special Adviser and Talk presenter, to delve into the turbulent world of British politics. Cardwell discusses his new book Political Animals, before the trio turn to Donald Trump’s state visit, Keir Starmer’s mounting troubles, the l...

Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert, former Tory adviser Chris Newton, and returning guest Tory campaigner Matthew Goodwin-Freeman trade perspectives on the week’s biggest stories. In this episode, they dissect the shock resignation of Peter Mandelson, weigh up the contenders in Labour’s deputy leadership race, and unpack the British reaction to the assassination of US conservative figure Charlie Kirk...

In this week’s episode of Political Frenemies, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert, are joined by Green Party campaigner Daniel Laycock. The trio dive into a whirlwind of political drama, unpacking Angela Rayner’s shock resignation and the ripple effects of Labour’s reshuffle, the election of Zack Polanski as the new Green Party leader, and the noise emerging from...

In the fiery season finale of  Political Frenemies , Lib Dem campaigner Mathew Hulbert and ex-Tory adviser Chris Newton lock horns over a turbulent week in British politics. From junior doctors on the picket lines to anti-migrant hotel protests in Epping, from Reform UK's hardline crime pitch to Kemi Badenoch’s reshuffle—no topic is off-limits. Is the UK heading for a summer of discontent? Tun...

In this feisty episode of Political Frenemies, Ex-Tory defence adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem councillor Mathew Hulbert dive into the week’s most pressing political stories — from the fallout of the Afghan data breach to the ongoing turmoil within the Labour Party, and the contentious debate over lowering the voting age to 16. With their trademark mix of sharp insight and respectful disagreement...

In this explosive episode of  Political Frenemies , Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and ex-Tory adviser ChrisNewton are joined by special guest Matthew Goodwin-Freeman — a Conservative councillor, campaigner, and author of the new book  A Blueprint . He shares insider insights into how he’s steered winning Tory campaigns despite a turbulent political climate. The trio also dig into Macron’s state...