Where Politics Meets History

Jacqui Smith and Iain Dale spend much of the podcast discussing Boris Johnson’s deal and the ramifications of the Letwin amendment. Suffice today, there’s not too much agreement this week! They also discuss Dame Louise Ellman’s resignation from the Labour Party and the Rugby World Cup, as well as revealing a bit too much (in Iain’s case) in questions. Smut quota: Low

Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith record an earlier than usual podcast because she’s off to Beirut for the weekend and Iain’s in North Devon. Well that’s their story anyway. In this hour long episode they discuss the prospects of an EU deal and whether the Boris/Leo meeting might be a breakthrough moment. They discuss diplomatic immunity in the light of the Harry Dunn tragedy, the conflict between Turkey...

Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith record this week’s (shortish!) episode live at Podcast Live at The Light in central London. They discuss Boris Johnson’s new Brexit deal proposals, Rory Stewart leaving the Conservative Party, Tom Watson’s culpability in the Henriques report, the future of Thought for the Day and they pay tribute to Peter Sissons.

In the longest episode ever Iain Dale & Jacqui Smith discuss the seismic political events of the week and try to make some sense of what has happened, and in the last half an hour they welcome a much loved surprise guest from the world of political media. They start by discussing the Supreme court decision, the use of language in politics, the Labour and Tory conferences, John Major, David Cameron...

Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith discuss Labour’s shambolic start to its annual conference and speculate as to the real agenda behind the attempt to oust Tom Watson. They review this week’s Supreme Court hearing, discuss Boris Johnson’s visit to Luxembourg and his confrontation at Whipps Cross hospital, which provokes another of Iain’s disgusting anecdotes. They also cover David Cameron’s book and Iain...

Iain Dale & Jacqui Smith turn their attentions to a multitude of subjects including defections to the LibDems, John Bercow’s imminent departure, legal battles over Brexit, David Cameron’s new book. Amber Rudd’s resignation, the fall in rape convictions, Gareth Thomas telling the world he is HIV positive and most important of all that Snickers is reverting to its original name of Marathon. They ans...

Iain Dale & Jacqui Smith cast their beady eyes over the week that Jeremy Corbyn outfoxed Boris Johnson. They speculate about what may happen over the next month as well as analyse the effect of the withdrawal of the whip from 21 Tory rebels, as well as the defections to the Liberal Democrats. Iain tells Jacqui he will not be going back into politics and explains what it was like to be on this week...

Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith spend an hour explaining what proroguing parliament means and why people have become so excited about it, and they do it with barely a raised voice. It can’t last. They also discuss Ruth Davidson’s resignation, sacking SPADs and in questions they reveal what their student accommodation was like and which musical instrument could soothe the nation’s mood. It is at this po...

Iain and Jacqui award exam style grades to Boris Johnson for his first month as prime minister and analyse his track record so far. They do their own review of HS2 and cast a weary eye over Dorothy Byrne’s Mactaggart lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival. And they answer lots of your questions.

Iain is without any female companionship in this episode, what with Jacqui Smith rocking her caravan in Wales and technology defeating Jess Phillips. So he makes as good a fist of it as he can and in the words of The Beautiful South, carries on regardless. He discusses the possibility of a government of national unity, Jo Swinson’s first three weeks and then answers a lot of listener questions. Ba...

Iain and Jacqui cast their beady eyes over Boris Johnson’s first two and a half weeks as prime minister, and discuss the latest state of Brexit. They talk prisons and answer your questions on the Edinburgh Fringe and who might replace the holidaying Jacqui on next week’s podcast. Smut level: Medium

A rather shortened version of the podcast this week, entirely down to Iain’s lack of ability to notice his hard drive was full. Normal service will be resumed next week. At least we think it will!

Iain and Jacqui cast their beady eyes over the first four days of Boris Johnson’s premiership, plus a word or two about the new LibDem leader Jo Swinson and the sentencing of Carl Beech. #MoreDan joins them for the Q&A.

Iain and Jacqui review the latest developments in the Tory leadership, they bid a fond farewell to Andrew Neil and discuss the worrying developments in the Strait of Hormuz. They discuss Iain’s various bits of media tartery and Jacqui reveals perhaps more than she had intended in answering a question on… well, you’ll just have to listen to find out.

Iain and Jacqui review the latest developments in the Tory leadership race, the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch and Labour’s continuing woes over anti-semitism. They have some great anecdotes about Mo Mowlam and answer lots of your questions.

Iain and Jacqui are joined once again by Daniel Bryce, who describes himself as the voice of “the many, not the few”. How true this is. Which is worrying in itself. Jacqui is recording the podcast from the Holiday Inn in Swindon, while Iain has been spending the day chairing another hustings in Nottingham. They discuss the latest developments in the Tory leadership contest, the letter from Police...

Iain and Jacqui delve into the Tory leadership contest, and Iain reveals the secrets of the Tory hustings. Jacqui reveals what she used to do with candles on a reshuffle day (stop it at the back!), they both discuss the G20 and Donald Trump’s handshake with Kim Jong Un, and who’s likely to win the LibDem leadership contest.

Iain and Jacqui demonstrate their powers of multi-tasking in this podcast. They talk about politics but keep an eye on the Lionesses who were playing Cameroon while they were recording. Iain explains what it was like to chair the first Tory hustings and how he reacted to being booed by the audience, while Jacqui tells how she outran Tom Watson at the Great Get-Together in memory of Jo Cox. They ta...

Jacqui and Iain review the latest shenanigans in the Tory leadership contest were Boris Johnson (Mr Johnson, to Jacqui) seems to be storming through. They discuss Hong Kong, Iran, state banquets, the third anniversary of the murder of Jo Cox and Iain reviews the lineup for his 24 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. Smut quota: Low to medium

Iain and Jacqui discuss the result of the Peterborough by-election and Jacqui calls for the winning Labour candidate to be suspended from the party over anti-semitism allegations. They discuss whether Michael Gove’s cocaine revelations will have any impact on his chances in the Tory leadership contest, as well as ask whether Donald Trump’s visit was a success. They speculate on whether Rebecca Lon...

Jacqui and Iain cast their eyes over the runners and riders in the Tory leadership contest and wonder if Boris Johnson and Michael Gove will be the two to contest it among the party membership. They discuss Donald Trump’s state visit, the LibDem leadership race, Alastair Campbell, Julia Hartley-Brewer and Iain reveals something new about his Edinburgh fringe show.

Iain and Jacqui discuss the resignation of the Prime Minister, analyse the runners and riders in the Tory leadership contest and wonder how the European elections will turn out when the results are announced on Sunday evening. They answer a lot of your questions and, I’m afraid to say, sing rather a lot. They promise it won’t happen again.

On Eurovision weekend Jacqui and Iain reflect on the likelihood of Boris Johnson gaining ‘douze points’ in the Tory leadership race, they analyse why the cross party Brexit talks have broken down and Iain tries (and fails) to enthuse Jacqui about Eurovision. They even sing some Eurovision songs, but please don’t switch off. And they play snog, marry or avoid with Andrew Neil, Piers Morgan and Jame...

Jacqui and Iain delve into the latest developments in the European Election campaign, analyse why Change UK seem to be getting it all wrong and talk about the difficulties broadcasters have in achieving balance in elections. They discuss whether the BBC was right to sack Danny Baker, Jacqui coos over the Royal Baby and Iain introduces Jacqui to the Channel 4 ‘Sex Tape’ programme. And they answer a...

Iain and Jacqui delve into the local election results and ponder the sacking of Gavin Williamson. They discuss Jeremy Corbyn’s most recent brush with anti-semitism and Jacqui’s new job, chairing the Jo Cox Foundation. Iain reveals he likes vibrations up his back. Really. No smutvthis week. Well, very little.