The Two Matts

Matthew d'Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries.  They discuss what the case is for Keir Starmer leading Labour into the next general election, whether we should be preparing for authoritarianism in the UK and if the sight of a Metropolitan police officer makes them feel safe or not. Plus they talk about the dark side of David Bowie, Alastair Campbell’s dismissal of Curtis Yarvi...

The Matts digest the disgusting tale of greed and corruption surrounding the Medpro scandal. Matt K reveals what happened when (soon to be ex) Baroness Mone of Mayfair threatened to sue him and Matt D hopes this is just stage one of a justice process that ends in criminal charges. Also - remember the Climate Crisis? It used to be quite big on the agenda but now populism is the name of the game it...

New World political editor James Ball joins the podcast live from Labour Party conference in the great city of Liverpool with his verdict on Keir Starmer’s make or break speech. He had his moments, but did Starmer do enough to turn around horrific personal and party polling and set up a genuine challenge to rising tide of Reform? Enjoy! OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Hea...

Today on The Two Matts podcast, Matt d'Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether Andy Burnham has unrealistic standards for politics and whether he is the right person to run the country. Plus, is it alarming or alarmist to fear about Tommy Robinson’s potential path to power? The Matts talk about what the real point of the UN is, if there is a case for ID cards and,...

The Matts consider an alternative view on what is going on the President’s head. Based on an anecdote from Michael Wolff, could the answer to the chaos be much simpler than we thought? Also - as Keir Starmer prepares for his big conference week in Liverpool, is his leadership now in its sunset phase? Will Andy Burnham challenge him? And could Burnham see off Farage? It’s complicated. Enjoy. OFFER:...

The Matts are joined by author and expert in extremism Cynthia Miller-Idriss to try and understand how so many young men are turning to hard-core misogyny and violence. Cynthia’s new book - Man Up - is an extraordinary insight into a world that has surged since the advent of social media and shows no signs of receding. If you want to understand how and why this behaviour is materialising - and how...

Matthew d'Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss what it means to be British today, whether it’s time for patriots to be more explicit about their patriotism and why Donald Trump is so fixated on TV.  Plus they talk about what Andy Burnham should do about the Labour leadership, what Nigel Farage actually believes in, if it’s time to retire left/right labels and what...

The Matts take a deep breath and work their way through a tumultuous few days … starting with the visit of Donald Trump - is the UK becoming a vassal state? - through the unfolding aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and finally to reflections on the Tommy Robinson March in London. In the circumstances, is there a path back to a united Britain? Surprisingly - the Matts are optimistic…...

The Matts are joined by author and journalist Jonathan Freedland to discuss his remarkable new book, The Traitor’s Circle. It’s a forensically-researched historical story of resistance against the Nazis from inside Germany. Written in the style of a classic whodunnit, Freedland has created a thriller that not only sheds new light on the actions of at least some Germans during the war - but also so...

The two Matts again respond to your queries. The pair discuss whether they support Palestine Action, declining fertility and if there’s a way back for Keir Starmer. Plus they talk about Nigel Farage’s pension, whether the Greens are a serious political party and if things are better or worse than during the Cold War. OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.the...

Two inevitable topics dominate the Matts discussion today - first up, the murder of US conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. It’s a simply atrocious event but the reaction from many has been shameful. The Matts explain why Kirk was unusual in the MAGA organisation … and why his assassination matters so much. In the second half, the downfall of Peter Mandelson. The Matts ask why Starmer didn’t act...

The Matts get to grips with the turmoil of the last few days and use their meticulous political calculus to work out whether Keir Starmer is weaker or stronger than he was a week ago. Spoiler alert: they haven’t got a clue. But they certainly enjoy themselves finding that out. One thing they know - the absurd Palestine Action ban must be rescinded unless Starmer wants the spectacle of police arres...

Matthew d'Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss why Nigel Farage didn’t go back to school with the rest of the class this week, whether government ministers should be held to a higher standard than ordinary citizens and why the debate in the UK is always hyped up to the max. Plus they talk about the government’s procrastination on the infected blood inquiry, AI, whether...

On Tuesday the Matts were staunch in their defence of Angela Rayner. Then she came out and admitted she had paid too little tax on her new flat. The Matts work through the various scenarios available to her and conclude she should resign - but not for the obvious reason. Also - Nigel Farage was in Washington DC this week blowing hard about freedom of speech in the UK… at the same time as his Refor...

Labour’s Deputy PM Angela Rayner has been the brunt of a propaganda campaign waged relentlessly by the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph. What is it about her authentic working class credentials that these two newspapers find so threatening? The Matts have some thoughts. But first, will Keir Starmer’s government reshuffle change the trajectory his premiership seems stuck on - one of economic failure...

Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss why Tony Blair is getting involved in Donald Trump’s meetings on Gaza, whether it was a mistake for the US president to give Vladimir Putin the impression that the West is ready to welcome him back, and the case of Labour councillor Ricky Jones. Plus they talk about why Britain loves nostalgia so much, what single law or a...

The Matts are shaken by the story of a 16-year-old who took his own life after pouring his heart out to ChatGPT which, his parents claim, encouraged him to act. It’s a desperate case and raises profound questions about the technology and how it will change society. The conversation focuses on the need for governments to regulate AI (despite their debilitating sloth in dealing with new tech) and th...

The pod is back after its summer break! The Matts analyse Reform’s anti-immigrant policies and ask themselves how might Labour counter them? Which leads them into a discussion about what is, and what isn’t racist, and how helpful is it for centrists to sneer at every St George’s flag they come across. But first, Matt K returns from the States where a few days in Seattle gave him fresh perspective...

The Matts are taking a well-deserved break, so while they recharge their batteries here’s an interview from the archive to enjoy. The Matts are joined by acclaimed author and FT journalist Edward Luce to talk about his new book Zbig— the definitive biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski , Cold War strategist and key architect of U.S. foreign policy. More than just a biography, Zbig offers sharp insights...

The Matts are taking a well-deserved break, so while they recharge their batteries here’s an interview from the archive to enjoy. The Matts are joined by Dutch popular historian and author Rutger Bregman to discuss his new book, Moral Ambition . How does the world change for the better? Why do so many talented people do bullsh*t jobs? And what’s wrong with a life spent worrying about reducing your...

The Matts are taking a well-deserved break, so while they recharge their batteries here’s an interview from the archive to enjoy. The Matts are joined by Bloomberg’s Parmy Olson - author of Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the race that will change the world . Parmy leads us through the development of Artificial Intelligence, the extraordinary story of the two men leading the race towards AGI (don’t wor...

Today on The Two Matts podcast, Matthew d'Ancona and I again respond to your queries. After this week’s exclusive interview with Gary Lineker on Gaza, the BBC and podcasting we discuss whether sport - and sports personalities - can ever be truly apolitical. Also, has political podcasting now become more influential than newspapers? Plus, we talk about whether cancel culture has peaked and what adv...

The Matts are joined by New World contributing editor Sonia Sodha to understand the bitter and consequential tribunal taking place in Fife - as nurse Sandie Peggie takes on the NHS over her treatment in the aftermath of a dispute over women’s rights in the workplace. Before that, the Matts discuss Starmer’s handling of the UK’s sort-of recognition of a Palestinian state. Has it helped or hindered...

Gary Lineker has given his first interview since leaving the BBC to The New World. The Two Matts reflect on the wide range of issues he touches on - not least his sacking from the BBC and accusations of antisemitism he faced. “I’m not antisemitic,” he says. “I’m anti the killing of children.” Also this week - how good were Oasis at Wembley (superb) and how mad was the visit of Trump to Scotland (s...

Today on The Two Matts podcast Matthew d'Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether the government and BBC are getting bolder over Israeli actions in Gaza, why Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to establish an enquiry to look into the mistakes he made over October 7 and if the 50-year privatisation experiment has failed. Plus they talk the hidden student loan crisis, th...