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PODCAST

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins

Join Ian Collins on Talk for a lively, no-nonsense look at the day’s biggest stories, from politics and current affairs to culture and entertainment. Ian dives deep with expert guests, outspoken commentators, and compelling callers, bringing fresh angles and sharp analysis to everything making headlines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

news & politics

All Episodes

36:29

Can Farage Save the Right? Makerfield, Musk & the...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/26

Is Nigel Farage the only politician capable of defeating the Left in Britain? With the Right facing growing division, questions are mounting over whether Nigel Farage can unite anti-Labour voters or whether infighting will hand power back to the Left.Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins, as Sun columnist David Wooding reacts to Farage’s warning that Elon Musk’s support for the new Restore movement risks splitting the Right in the crucial Makerfield by-election, potentially boosting Labour’s

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36:06

Adult Crime, Adult Time?

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/25

Petrie Hosken fills in for Ian Collins this scorching Bank Holiday Monday, asking:Should adult crime equal adult time? Helen Fields, former barrister, gives her thoughts on the lenient sentencing of two teenage boys who were spared jail by Judge Nicholas Rowland for the rape of two teenage girls.Also on the show, Dr Sanjiv Nachani OBE speaks with Petrie about a potential social media ban for under-16s, and Geoff Wightman gives his analysis of the Enhanced Games. Hosted on Acast. See

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26:04

Cost of Living Crunch: Reeves Under Fire Over Energy...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/22

Is Labour making the cost of living crisis even worse? As the fallout from the Iran conflict continues to hit household finances, Rachel Reeves has unveiled plans to give families “breathing room” by cutting VAT on days out and attractions, while offering no direct help on soaring energy bills.Former No.10 adviser Oscar Reddrop reacts to accusations Labour is prioritising headline-grabbing gimmicks over real economic relief, amid warnings of a new £1bn stealth tax on family holidays.Financial

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27:26

Burnham Surges as Starmer Sinks: Labour Leadership...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/19

Is Andy Burnham now the favourite to replace Keir Starmer? New polling suggests Andy Burnham would comfortably beat Keir Starmer in a Labour leadership contest, while support for Wes Streeting among Labour members appears to have collapsed.YouGov’s Patrick English breaks down the numbers behind Burnham’s surge, what Labour voters really think about Starmer’s leadership, and why Streeting’s leadership ambitions may already be fading.Meanwhile, Times political correspondent Max Kendix reacts to claims

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25:17

Labour Brexit Civil War: Streeting, Burnham & the...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/18

Is Labour tearing itself apart over Brexit again? A furious row has erupted after Wes Streeting was accused of using the EU issue to undermine Andy Burnham, triggering fresh civil war inside Labour.Political commentator Alex Deane reacts as Burnham faces backlash over claims he wants Britain closer to Europe, before appearing to retreat under pressure amid accusations of a “Brexit betrayal”.At the same time, senior Labour figures including Lisa Nandy are attacking Streeting for reopening the “Brexit

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28:16

Starmer on the Brink: Labour Civil War Erupts

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/12

Is Keir Starmer’s premiership entering its final days? With reports of Cabinet unrest, leadership manoeuvring and almost 80 Labour MPs allegedly urging him to quit, the pressure on Keir Starmer has reached boiling point.Former No.10 adviser Oscar Reddrop reacts to the growing Labour civil war, the battle over Starmer’s future, and what’s happening behind closed doors in Downing Street.Meanwhile, Angela Rayner is reportedly pushing for Andy Burnham to return to Westminster fuelling speculation over

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33:28

Starmer Fighting for Survival: Labour Coup Plots &...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/11

Is Keir Starmer fighting for Britain’s future, or fighting for his own survival? With reports of leadership plots, Cabinet unrest and growing Labour rebellion, pressure is mounting on Keir Starmer after his dramatic speech declaring he “won’t walk away from the battle for Britain’s soul”.Isabel Oakeshott reacts to the escalating Starmer leadership crisis, as claims emerge of moves inside Labour to force him out.Former Cabinet minister John Redwood discusses the growing split inside Labour, reports

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32:38

Compulsory Voting, Starmer Plot & Gen Z’s VE Day...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/06

Should voting be compulsory in Britain, and would it fix a broken political system? Giles Dilnot makes the case against forcing people to the ballot box, as turnout, trust and engagement in UK politics come under scrutiny.Meanwhile, speculation grows over a potential leadership challenge to Keir Starmer, with claims of a “Trojan Horse” plan to bring Andy Burnham back to Westminster. John Power reacts and argues that Starmer’s replacement could be even worse.Plus, ahead of VE Day, historian James

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33:17

Welfare Crisis, Small Boats Surge & Starmer’s EU...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/05

Is Britain’s welfare system spiralling while borders remain out of control? New figures suggest one million children could soon be claiming disability benefits, raising urgent questions about welfare dependency, public spending and long-term sustainability.Andrew Allison and Callum McGoldrick debate the benefits surge, economic impact and whether the system is being stretched too far.At the same time, the small boats crisis continues to escalate with arrivals projected to hit 200,000, while

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26:50

Starmer Veers Closer to Brexit Betrayal & Welfare...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/04

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins this bank holiday Monday. He is joined by Liam Deacon and Dr Mike Galsworthy to discuss Keir Starmer telling European leaders that the UK’s “national interest” lies in deeper EU ties - even as the bloc demands £1 billion a year for greater access to the single market.Then political power couple Neil and Christine Hamilton break down the shocking new figures showing welfare now pays more than work for 600,000 UK households. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

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31:19

UK on High Alert: Golders Green Terror Attack &...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/05/01

Britain on high alert: the terror threat level has been raised to “severe” following the Golders Green attack, with warnings the risk of further attacks is high and the public urged to stay vigilant.Former Head of Counter-Terrorism at the MoD Chip Chapman joins alongside social cohesion expert Fiyaz Mughal and extremism specialist Paul Stott to assess the security response, terror threat, and risks facing the UK.With police now considering a ban on pro-Palestine marches, Claire Fox reacts to the

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32:59

Golders Green Terror Attack & Starmer–Rayner Labour...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/04/30

Is Keir Starmer’s leadership collapsing as Britain faces a growing terror threat? Allies of Angela Rayner are reportedly turning on Keir Starmer, with the Mandelson–Epstein scandal fuelling a full-blown crisis inside Labour.In the studio, Alex Dyke is joined by Hull East MP Karl Turner to ask whether Starmer can survive and what comes next for the party.Meanwhile, Nigel Farage opens the door to a Reform–Tory coalition, signalling a potential realignment on the Right.And breaking news: police have

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30:09

Population Crisis, Starmer Scandal & Golders Green...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/04/29

Is Britain facing a demographic tipping point and a growing security crisis? New projections warn of millions more migrants, a falling birth rate, and deaths set to outnumber births, putting pressure on the UK economy, housing and public services.Laurie Wastell and economist Paul Johnson break down the migration surge, population growth and economic impact.Meanwhile, the political pressure ramps up on Keir Starmer, with a deepening Mandelson scandal, Labour MPs in revolt, and fresh accusations of a

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28:47

Migrant Housing Crisis, Asylum System Row & UK Under...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/04/15

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins as we ask: Is moving migrants out of hotels and into local communities really the solution, or just shifting the problem? With Keir Starmer’s government reportedly relocating thousands of asylum seekers, concerns are growing over cost, integration and pressure on public services.Former Home Office minister Norman Baker reacts to the policy, alongside revelations from a BBC investigation suggesting some migrants may be exploiting the asylum system- raising fresh

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24:30

Southport Failures, Policing Fears & Immigration...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/04/14

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins asking a deeply controversial question: does fear of racism allow dangerous individuals to slip through the cracks? In the wake of the Southport murders, serious concerns are being raised about whether institutions failed to act and why.Political strategist Peter Barnes and Rakib Ehsan examine claims that warnings were missed, including reports that concerns about the attacker were dismissed over fears of racial stereotyping. We also explore whether issues like

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24:25

Starmer Under Fire, EU Rules Row & Reform Surge

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/04/13

Is Keir Starmer governing in the British national interest? With fresh polling suggesting more than half of Keir Starmer’s Cabinet could lose their seats at a general election, pressure is mounting on Labour’s direction, priorities and political strategy.David Wooding joins Mark Dolan, as he sits in for Ian Collins, to assess the political fallout, including the rise of Reform UK and warnings of a looming electoral shake-up. We also discuss claims of a so-called “Boriswave”, as Nigel Farage and

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28:36

Trump’s Iran Threat, Middle East Peace Gamble & UK...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/04/07

Can Donald Trump bring peace to the Middle East or risk a wider war? As tensions with Iran escalate, Donald Trump has issued stark warnings, claiming he could “wipe out” Iran if it refuses a deal. We ask whether Trump’s approach is deterrence or dangerous escalation, and what it means for global stability, Israel, and the wider region.Former US Navy intelligence officer Malcolm Nance and Greg Swenson debate Trump’s strategy, US foreign policy, and whether a deal with Iran is realistically

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33:24

Bank Holiday Bonanza: Is Crime Out of Control?

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/04/06

Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins on the Afternoon Empire. He's joined by Mike Neville, former Met Police DCI, to discuss crime in Britain - as Waitrose has sacked an employee who stopped a shoplifter from stealing Easter eggs. Hilary Fordwich, US political commentator, shares her analysis of the rescue mission of a crew member after a US F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran, and reacts to Donald Trump’s profanity-laced demand that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Hosted on Acast. See

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25:12

Make Britain Great Again: Economy, Energy & Starmer...

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/04/01

How do we make Britain great again? With the economy under pressure, energy costs rising and questions over leadership growing, we ask what it will take to restore growth, confidence and national strength.Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith joins alongside The Spectator’s Michael Simmons and businessman Lance Forman to debate how Britain can boost productivity, cut costs and regain economic momentum, from tax and regulation to energy independence and industrial strategy.We also hear from

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35:01

Who Are the Far Right? Protest, Labels & Free Speech Row

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins ·

2026/03/30

Who are the “far right” and who gets to define it? After thousands gathered in London for an anti-far-right march, we examine how the term is being used in modern Britain, and whether it’s becoming a political label rather than a clear definition.Former Number 10 adviser Oscar Reddrop joins to break down how governments and the media classify extremism, while Montgomery Toms from Freedom Watch GB gives a first-hand account from the March Against the Far Right, and challenges the narrative around who

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133 results

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