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PODCAST

Planet Normal

The podcast that speaks your language. News and views from beyond the bubble with Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, every Thursday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

society & culture news commentary

All Episodes

59:55

A controversial Cabinet reshuffle

Planet Normal ·

2023/11/16

It’s been a busy week at No10 withSuella being shown the door and the surprise recycling of David Cameron returning as Foreign Secretary. Could this be the most controversial of all recent cabinet reshuffles to date?Both co-pilots question Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision, wondering whether he has abandoned the faithful Red Wall in favour of appealing to the swing voters and picking up some of the Lib Dems fans.Liam thinks the PM has made a grave error in surrounding himself with politicians

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51:28

The Power and Pain of the Protest

Planet Normal ·

2023/11/09

To protest or not to protest? The question on everyone's mind this week as the conflicts between Remembrance weekend commemorations and pro- Palestine marches reach a heated conclusion. Your co-pilotsweigh in on the power and the pain of both arguments.Liam and Allison are both opposed to the protest going ahead on Saturday with Liam questioning whether the law is being ‘circumvented’. Whilst Allison thinks we could be reaching a tipping point between sensitivity towards different groups and a full

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1:00:49

The Inquiry

Planet Normal ·

2023/11/02

With the Covid Inquiry reaching boiling point, your co-pilots dissect the political finger pointing and blame shifting amongst the witnesses.Allison is feeling infuriated and disgusted at the events unfolding, whilst Liam feels it’s simply 'political theatre' and a show trial for people that dislike former PM Boris Johnson.In light of said inquiry, strapping into the rocket this week is Professor of Epidemiology at Oxford University, Carl Heneghan who reveals how he felt ‘ambushed’and subject to a

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1:01:31

365 days on Planet Rishi

Planet Normal ·

2023/10/25

It's a whole year since Rishi Sunak took the reinsat No10 but has it been more annus horribilisor steady as she goes for Planet Sunak's Premiership?In light of the historic by-election in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, Allison thinks the government have abandoned Conservative voters, and that the Reform party could be poised to steal those disillusioned.Whereas Liam questions whether the outcome will be the same at the next General Election and voters will continue to stay at home when the stakes

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56:48

Turmoil continues in Israel

Planet Normal ·

2023/10/18

N.B This episode contains content that some listeners may find distressingAs the shocking events in the Middle East continue, the rocket reflects on the impact of Israel’s declaration of War on Hamas,and how that can affect the UK and the rest of the world.Liam draws shocking parallels to the Yom Kippur War and thinks there could be a danger of the conflict having a significant impact on oil prices, subsequently leading to the cost of living crisis dragging on for longer than expected.Whilst Allison

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59:07

A Glittering Labour Conference

Planet Normal ·

2023/10/11

It’s an 'alright' from Liverpool this week as the rocket orbits the Labour Party Conference. So, as the glitter settles around Keir Starmer’s speech, and jacket, what do your co-pilots make of the opposing Party’s speeches?Liam thinks the Labour Party leader delivered a ‘blinder’ and is impressed by the Party’s focus on issues such as housing and the cost of living crisis.Allison agrees but ponders if Labour are simply appealing to the many disillusioned Conservative voters.And what really went down

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1:00:02

Plans for a Post Rishi World

Planet Normal ·

2023/10/04

The rocket beams in live from the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester this week, at the last conference before the next election. And with strikes, and policy gloom on the horizon the mood is surprisingly upbeat.The unexpected jovial mood at the conference isn't swaying Allison who is adamant that voters will be staying home in the upcoming by-elections, and that its leaders and decision makers deserve a period of petenance that might follow a potential epic defeat next year.Whilst Liam,

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1:00:26

Pre party conference fever

Planet Normal ·

2023/09/27

As the Conservative Party conference fever grows, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appears to be changing his tune with some big amendments in the Party's manifestos. But will it change the state of play in the polls?Staring down the barrel of a potential election whitewash Allison is questioning after thirteen years of rule what the Conservative Party have actually done for the country. Whilst Liam makes a case for the Party’s very representative and multicultural front bench, in light of Home Secretary

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1:00:53

Liz Truss on her ‘pro-growth’ economy and traditional...

Planet Normal ·

2023/09/20

There’s a sweet taste of retribution on the rocket this week as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak rows back on the green policies that have been intensely scrutinised on the rocket. However, with the smell of burning tyres still fresh in the air is it a rocky road ahead for the Tory Party?Both co-pilots welcome the U-turn but Liam is concerned about whowill be paying for net zero, and the economic consequences of easing the targets. Could this shake upahead of the next General Election appeal to more red

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54:13

Should we be picking on pensioners?

Planet Normal ·

2023/09/13

It’s official the interparty name calling has began, a sure sign that a general election is in the offing. And what’s all this about the triple lock and picking on pensioners? Only your co-pilots have the answers.Allison thinks we should be focusing less on the triple lock and more on the ‘hair-raising’ pay to pensions in the public sector while ignoring those in the private sector without a pension. While Liam thinks the Government should be spending more on those that rely entirely on their state

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56:17

Back to school, back to politics

Planet Normal ·

2023/09/06

The heatwave is on, thesun is hot but Westminster is hotter as the politicians return, and there’s no shortage of issues on the new term agenda.Allison thinks the Conservatives are making their own concrete boots, and Liam is on hand to break down what exactly RAAC concrete is and why it could be the final nail in the coffin for the Tories. Allison is struggling to find a single politician who is concerned about anything beyond the next electoral cycle and Liam doesn't think anyone wanting to be the

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57:19

And they're back...

Planet Normal ·

2023/08/31

There’s a chill in the air and the schools are back, which means Planet Normal is ready to blast off again, and there’s been no shortage of madness to contend with.Both our co-pilots are digesting the conviction of neonatal nurse, Lucy Letby, for the shocking murder of seven babies and question the bureaucratic issues that might have led to such an unthinkable crime.As we steam towards the party conferences, aka the ‘starting gun’ for the General Election next year, our co-pilots examine the

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35:36

Best bits from the rocket: Part 4

Planet Normal ·

2023/08/23

In this the final of the four part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.In May, we heard from Planet Normal listener, and professional rowing coach Jane, who shared her despair at thelack of regulations withtrans athletes competing against women, specifically in rowing events but also the concerns across all sports.Joining co-pilots Halligan and Pearson for a return voyage in April was

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1:01:08

Best bits from the rocket: Part 3

Planet Normal ·

2023/08/16

In this the third of the four part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.Back in March, co-pilot Pearson travelled to Sweden for a Planet Normal exclusive interview with ‘pandemic hero’ and state epidemiologist for Sweden during the pandemic, Anders Tegnell.The co-pilots also welcomed back onto the rocket some of their heroes from the pandemic, those they felt had spoken out and dared to

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38:54

Best bits from the rocket: Part 2

Planet Normal ·

2023/08/09

In this the second of the four part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.Back in February, co-pilots Halligan and Pearson welcomed Telegraph Science Editor, Sarah Knapton who explained why she felt 'bruised' by her experiences reporting on Covid and why she pushed back against the mainstream narrative. Sarah also weighed in on the concerns of the vaccine and whether young people should

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43:29

Best bits from the rocket: Part 1

Planet Normal ·

2023/08/02

In this the first of a four 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 the year so far.The rocket blasted into the year with a special guest appearance from podcaster and comedian Konstantin Kisin. He shared his thoughts on how the UK could tackle the ever growing problem of illegal immigration as well as his take on the latest developments on the war in Ukraine, as a Russian immigrant.Back in

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59:34

A tale of two Allisons

Planet Normal ·

2023/07/26

In the latest episode, before the rocket blasts off for a brief summer break, it’s Allison vs Alison as co-pilot Pearson takes on Dame Alison Rose in the still brewing Coutts Bank versus Nigel Farage war. But who will emerge victorious?Allison thinks things have taken a sinister turn and demonstrates the dark side of the diversity , and equality industry invading big corporations and businesses.Liam thinks this story could be less about wokery and more about the potential dangers of banks moving

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55:20

A heat storm in a teacup

Planet Normal ·

2023/07/19

There’s something in the air this week, but what is causing the temperature to rise in the rocket of right thinking this week? Is it the woke banks telling you how to think before depositing your money or is it the 'Nudge Unit' colouring in all the maps in a sea of climate change red?Only your co-pilots have the answers.Both co-pilots are worried that climate alarmism has gone completely berserk. Allison is concerned that familiar scaremongering tactics are being used to crank up the fear. Could we

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58:32

The BBC, the Bank of England and "bonus holes"

Planet Normal ·

2023/07/12

Note: this episode was recorded before Huw Edwards was named by his wife as the presenter at the centre of the BBC scandal.There are no shortage of crises on the rocket this week, in-between the economic and immigration rows and a sex scandal threatening to rock the BBC, our co-pilots have got their hands full.Allison’s disgust with the government’s immigration policies are growing by the day. She thinks the ‘liberal elite’ in Westminster would rather stick up for foreigners than their people and

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57:50

National Health Service or National disaster?

Planet Normal ·

2023/07/06

It’s the 75th birthday of our National Health Service but your co-pilots are feeling far from ready to celebrate…Allison thinks it’s less of a national health service and more of a national disaster,and Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak is too busy with a 15 year workforce plan to fix anything quickly.Liam thinks the PM will struggle to meet his targets across the board including the NHS, whilst Allison was surprised to agree with former PM Tony Blair, when he said more private elements need to be brought

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