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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

1:00:53

Starmer sells off our sovereignty

Planet Normal ·

2025/05/21

Following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement of an EU ‘reset’ your co-pilots invited regular flier Lord David Frost to the rocket, former chief negotiator for exiting the EU, to give his assessment of the proposed deal.Allison is shocked the deal includes 12 years more fishing rights for the EU in our waters and thinks the deal will once again prevent investment in our fishing industry.Meanwhile Liam thinks Starmer has made too many concessions to the EU and we are once again ’rule takers,

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1:05:35

Starmer’s reverse ferret to the Right

Planet Normal ·

2025/05/14

Following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s ‘strangers in our own land’ speech this week, your co-pilots give their take on his apparent change of heart on migration.Allison isn't convinced by the PM’s reverse ferret and thinks it’s less convincing than ‘Meg Ryan’s simulated orgasm’ - is Starmer gaslighting voters?Meanwhile Liam thinks Starmer’s team knew exactly how the speech would be received by the Left of Labour and was sending a message.Plus hopping on board the rocket of right thinking this week

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1:05:52

Are you ready for Reform?

Planet Normal ·

2025/05/07

The votes were counted, and then re-counted in last week’s by-election, netting Reform their fifth MP. Similar shockwaves were felt through the local elections and your co-pilots are here to dissect the results with Deputy Leader of Reform, Richard Tice.Allison’s recent prediction of a Reform win in Runcorn & Helsby was fulfilled - and next she turns her crystal ball towards next year’s May Senedd elections in Wales…Meanwhile Liam is looking forward to Reform being able to put more meat on their

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1:10:10

Net zero nets ‘nul point’ after power outages in Europe

Planet Normal ·

2025/05/01

Following nationwide power outages in Spain and Portugal on Monday this week, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan don their spacesuits to take a deeper dive into net zero pledges and realities.And as migrant numbers on channel crossings hit 10,000, Allison celebrates a push back on ‘liberal pieties’ and sees migration as the number one concern in the UK.Taking a return trip on the rocket, historian and author Owen Matthews joins Liam to discuss the war in Ukraine, how much longer he thinks Putin will

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59:24

Weak Starmer’s week of silence on women ruling

Planet Normal ·

2025/04/23

This week your co-pilots bring you a podcast exclusive with the Leader of The Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, who gives her take on Prime Minister, Keir Starmer’s, vote of support for last week’s Supreme Court verdict.Both co-pilots are troubled by the PM’s statement, with co-pilot Pearson adamant he should apologise to the women of Britain.Co-pilot Halligan also turns his eyes to the upcoming Local Elections on May 1st. Could Reform UK sneak past Labour and the Conservatives for surprise gains?And

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56:48

Tears of joy as Supreme Court rules on ‘women’...

Planet Normal ·

2025/04/16

Co-pilot Pearson is back in her rightful place at the helm of the rocket, hurrah! She’s just in time to deliver her verdict on the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling that the terms ‘sex’ and ‘woman’ in the 2010 Equality Act referenced biological sex rather than acquired gender.And co-pilot Halligan gives his observations as a male observer of such a female focused campaign.Also strapping into the rocket as a passenger on this pre-Easter voyage is Chief Executive Officer of Ducati, the Italian

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1:04:17

Talking tough on tariffs

Planet Normal ·

2025/04/09

This episode was recorded before president Trump announced a pause on some tariffs.With co-pilot Pearson taking a well earned break, Tim Stanley steps into the cockpit as a trusted controller of the rocket and there’s certainly no shortage of tariff talk to get through…Liam thinks President Trump is acting like a ‘unipolar president’ whereas Tim Stanley thinks there is a method to Trump’s madness, but how long can the World’s economy hold on for?Hopping onto the rocket for a return mission this week

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1:16:41

Rachel’s bottomless bucket of woe

Planet Normal ·

2025/04/02

It’s a new month with the same old madness on Planet earth, with rises in capital gains tax, council tax, energy fees and transport costs, April Fool’s is feeling all too close to home…Is there another ‘bucket of woe’ for Chancellor Rachel Reeves and will there be more tax rises on the horizon to plug the public finances?This week’s Planet Normal stowaway is Conservative councillor, Ray Connolly, who discusses his family’s experience after his wife, Lucy, was jailed over a tweet she briefly posted

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1:02:12

Spring Statement Special

Planet Normal ·

2025/03/27

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils her first ‘Spring Statement’ your co-pilots are joined on the rocket by not one but TWO very special incumbents. Calculators and spreadsheets at the ready…Co-pilot Pearson is less than impressed with what she calls the ‘nothing to do with me guv', Budget.Stowaway economist Roger Bootle was both ‘depressed’ and 'amazed’ by the Statement but reveals an overwhelming feeling that the Labour Party aren’t actually doing anything all that bad…And after watching the

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1:13:40

The Burgeoning Benefits Bill

Planet Normal ·

2025/03/20

As Prime Minister Keir Starmer strays further Right in his policy decisions on defence spending and benefit cuts, your co-pilots strap into the rocket once more to journey into the madness orbiting Planet Earth. Are Labour finally talking sense when it comes to reforming the welfare system?After breaking down the figures Liam thinks the cuts from Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall won’t even touch the sides, whilst Allison reveals some shocking truths about so-called ‘benefit

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1:13:33

Ructions in Reform

Planet Normal ·

2025/03/13

As the internal ‘punch up’ in Reform UK rumbles on, your co-pilots give their take on the latest fumblings. But whose corner are they fighting for?Allison is unimpressed and thinks the last thing the country needs is to see one of its newest parties in a ‘willy wanging contest’.Whilst Liam thinks the fractions could be due to possible ego inflation happening in line with the party’s expansion.And both co-pilots ponder if Reform can really reform itself?Strapping in for a return voyage on the rocket

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1:15:38

The Lockdown Legacy of Covid

Planet Normal ·

2025/03/06

It’s geopolitics stupid.The issue at the forefront of the rocket’s orbit today as there’s certainly no shortage of global madness to contend with.Both your co-pilots reflect on the explosive meeting between President’s, Trump and Zelenskyy. Co-pilot Pearson thinks the latter may have ran out of cards to play when embarking on potential negotiations. Whilst co-pilot Halligan is concerned Donald Trump is underestimating the economic power of the Chinese when raising tariffs.Strapping into the cockpit

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1:14:32

Allison Pearson defends free speech against police

Planet Normal ·

2025/02/27

Co-pilot Pearson has a huge announcement this week as she launches legal action against Essex police after her traumatising experience last year. In this episode she explains what has led her to take a stand against such ‘Orwellian’ behaviour…As Prime Minister Keir Starmer jets to Washington for a meeting with President Trump, your co-pilots ponder whether the Labour Party has changed its tune on defence spending to meet the President’s demands or if it is all statistical smoke and mirrors…Also

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1:23:26

Reeves’ nation inflation

Planet Normal ·

2025/02/20

There’s more woe on the horizon this week with the delivery of less than positive inflation figures.. But no fear, your co-pilots are at the helm to guide you through this economic morass.Co-pilot Pearson has strong feelings about her new ‘boyfriend’ Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the security summit this week, whilst Liam takes a closer look at the latest economic figures. Spoiler alert; there is an ‘I told you so’ on the horizon.Also stepping into the cockpit this week to discuss her recent

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1:10:51

The final nail in the agricultural coffin

Planet Normal ·

2025/02/13

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 her interactions with members of the electorate.The co-pilots bring you a very special interview deep

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1:10:36

The Rise and Rise of the Reform Polls

Planet Normal ·

2025/02/06

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 President Trump’s recent tariff turbulence.Beaming into the rocket this week is Baroness Tina Stowell who explains

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1:01:17

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen on Reform and the...

Planet Normal ·

2025/01/30

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 verdict on the Labour Party and Reform, and why the Conservatives are the future of the Country.Also Liam

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1:06:52

Labour’s Marxist attack on education

Planet Normal ·

2025/01/23

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 'Britain's strictest' Headteacher, of Michaela Community School, Katherine Birbalsingh who explains the reasons

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1:47:10

Is the UK's grooming gang shame just the tip of...

Planet Normal ·

2025/01/16

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 impressed with ‘Rachel from accounts’; is she on borrowed time and will there be an emergency budget in March

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1:25:04

Liz Truss Threatens Starmer with Legal Action

Planet Normal ·

2025/01/09

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.Strapping into the rocket for the first voyage of the year is Economist Andrew Lilico who explains exactly why he

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