Planet Normal

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RAjUcNkPlok

This week on Planet Normal, co-pilots Halligan and Pearson, strap into the rocket of right thinking to tackle growing unrest over border policies and fragile public finances.

Allison breaks down local outrage in Braintree, Essex, over the housing of asylum seekers in RAF Wethersfield and highlights the broader national backlash against housing illegal migrants on former military bases, pointing to Piddington's 90% vote for independence. 

Meanwhile, Liam takes aim at Labour's attacks on Reform UK's £36 million tech donations, while analysing Angela Rayner’s lukewarm TUC address and sounding the alarm over soaring oil prices and bond market turmoil. 

Stowing away on the rocket this week is Russell Quirk, deputy leader of Essex County Council, who exposes conditions inside RAF Wethersfield and explains why private security guards have been deployed in some areas in Essex.

Highlights

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Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Allison ‘These OAPs want to save their town from a flood of migrants – the Left calls them ‘far-Right’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/15/pensioners-battle-stop-male-migrants-braintree/ |

Read Allison ‘Spare us the righteousness, Ed Miliband. You’re a disgrace‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/13/ed-miliband-israel-sanctions-disgrace/ |

Read Liam ‘Burnham is not the tough-minded leader Britain needs‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/09/13/burnham-is-not-the-tough-minded-leader-britain-needs/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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You can watch this episode in full on Youtube: https://youtu.be/iZkeL-6UtSQ

This week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Halligan and Pearson, strap into the rocket of right thinking to tackle a tumultuous news agenda.

Allison argues following migrant protests in Portsmouth and Dover, that while black masks are wrong, millions of Brits share the anger over cross-channel immigration. She also takes aim at falling school standards in Wales and Scotland, and sounds the alarm over Ed Miliband’s foreign policy moves against Israel. 

Meanwhile, Liam analyses the electoral earthquake in Saxony-Anhalt, where Germany's AfD swept 44% of the vote. And Fresh from the Reform UK conference in Birmingham, the duo dissects the appearance of France's Jordan Bardella alongside the fallout from Channel 4’s undercover sting. 

Stowing away on the rocket this week is author Ross Clark, who joins to discuss his new book, Britain Is Bust: The Coming Sovereign Debt Crisis and What It Means for You. Ross breaks down the nation's ballooning debt and rising bond yields

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Allison ‘The ‘poison’ on Britain’s streets is a failure by the political class’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/08/poison-streets-failure-political-class/ |

Read Allison ‘The Church of England has abandoned its mission in the UK‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/06/the-church-of-england-has-lost-its-way/ |

Read Liam ‘Only spending cuts can rescue Britain’s economy‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/09/06/only-spending-cuts-can-rescue-britains-economy/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Djl86k1PyYw

Co-pilots Halligan and Pearson strap back into the rocket of right thinking after their summer break to tackle Prime Minister Andy Burnham's PMQs debut.

Allison slams Burnham’s ‘vibes-based’ leadership, warning that starry-eyed optimism won't fix record-high energy bills or a million unemployed youth. Meanwhile, Liam sounds the alarm on spiralling bond yields and a debt interest time bomb that’s set to blow up the upcoming October budget.

Also on the radar: the duo rate Kemi Badenoch’s Shadow Cabinet reshuffle, debate the right-wing battle for welfare cuts, plus, nostalgic listener mailbags and a sobering reality check from a 26-year-old geophysics grad facing redundancy thanks to Britain's brutal North Sea tax policy.

Joining your co-pilots is Reform UK’s Richard Tice to talk Net Zero, tax cuts, and why pre-election pacts are completely off the table. 

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Allison ‘Burnham is terrified Badenoch will expose him as a third-rate court jester’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/09/01/allison-pearson-burnham-scared-badenoch-will-expose-him/ |

Read Allison ‘My top 10 tips to avoid paying Burnham’s spiteful mansion tax‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/30/tips-to-avoid-paying-burnhams-spiteful-mansion-tax/ |

Read Liam ‘La belle France could edge the bond market’s ugly contest‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/08/30/la-belle-france-could-edge-the-bond-markets-ugly-contest/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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You can watch this episode on YouTube

Summer is coming to an end on Planet Normal! So, for the final instalment of our “best of the rocket” series, our co-pilots head back into the archives for two more memorable voyages aboard the rocket of right thinking.

In April, stowing away on the rocket was former 22 SAS commander Colonel Richard Williams who discussed how “lawfare” and the prosecution of veterans are undermining British military recruitment and national security.

Then, in May, return stowaway William Clouston joined the co-pilots to dissect the local election results, as well as where the Social Democratic Party stands on welfare and why he believes Labour’s approach is bankrupting the country.

Read Allison 'Britain is no longer safe for women and children'

Read more from Allisonhere

Read Liam 'Labour needs to wake up to Britain’s ballooning welfare bill'

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The summer voyage continues on Planet Normal! This week, our co-pilots fire up the engines and head back into the archives for two more memorable journeys aboard the rocket of right thinking.

In February, Allison spoke to Siobhan Whyte, whose daughter Rhiannon was murdered by an asylum seeker. Siobhan discussed what she believes are the systemic failures of the UK’s immigration system and her campaign to support children left behind by such violence.

Then, in April, former Royal Marine commando and documentary maker James Glancy strapped into the rocket to explain why he believes the UK military can no longer meet the demands of its responsibilities around the world.

'Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison 'Britain must pop the welfare balloon or face ruin' |

Read more from Allisonhere

Read more from Liamhere

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You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hxtGEUicygE

Summer continues on Planet Normal! In this, the second part of our best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their favourite voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.

Back in January, Allison and Liam spoke to General Sir Peter Wall, former Chief of the General Staff, following The Telegraph’s revelations about Sir Keir Starmer’s role in a legal case that paved the way for hundreds of British soldiers to face investigation over alleged historic war crimes. Sir Peter discussed the impact of the cases on the Armed Forces and warned that soldiers need to know the state will support them.

And then, in February, Liam was joined by actress Sophie Winkleman to discuss her campaign to protect children from smartphones, social media and excessive screen use in schools. Sophie also shared her concerns about the growing use of AI in education, arguing that children need to learn to think for themselves rather than rely on technology.

Read more from Liamhere

Read more from Allisonhere

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You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/K-svfqmj8Rg

It's the summer break on Planet Normal and ordinarily your co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far, however with the very sad news of the death of columnist Rod Liddle, we have decided to take a little detour back to his finest appearances on the rocket.

Our first stop is back to 2021, when Rod explained why he believed Labour had lost touch with its traditional working-class base by prioritising identity politics over economic concerns. He also reflected on his decision to join the SDP, arguing it had become the natural home for voters who still valued patriotism, community and traditional social democracy.

Then we fast-forward to 2024, as Rod campaigned as the SDP candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. With a general election under way, he assessed the mood of the country, explained why he believed support for the two main parties was ebbing away, and set out where he thought the SDP could fit into Britain's changing political landscape.

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘The Cambridge fantasist is proof that stupid intellectuals are poisoning Britain‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/04/jason-arday-cambridge-stupid-intellectuals-poison-britain/ |

Read Allison ‘ My friend Rod Liddle was a great British freedom fighter‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/03/allison-pearson-friend-rod-liddle-great-british-freedom/ |

Read Allison ‘The school summer holiday should be capped at a month ‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/02/cap-school-summer-holiday-one-month/ |

Read more from Liam:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/|

Read more from Allison:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/|

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/|

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal|

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You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hjoyImW6a8s

This week’s journey in the rocket of right thinking opens with an exclusive announcement from co-pilot Pearson in her case against the Essex police and Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst.

Back in November 2024 Allison received a visit from Essex police regarding a year old post on the social media platform X. Mr Hirst later appeared on LBC and veered into making personal claims against Allison and the situation, for which he has now apologised.

Liam discusses Andy Burnham’s first 10 days and amongst the ‘maybe this’ or ‘maybe that’ promises of the new Prime Minister, wonders when he will start acting like a statesman and wear a shirt when meeting world leaders; as his meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemed a casual T-Shirt affair.

Joining your co-pilots is science writer and former member of the house of Lords, Matt Ridley, who tells your co-pilots why the claim that climate change is the only reason for wild fires, is only a fraction of the real story….

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘We want a properly dressed statesman in No 10, not a mate‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/28/britain-want-statesman-ino-10-not-mate/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam: ‘Burnham is oblivious to the looming oil shock’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/26/burnham-is-oblivious-to-the-looming-oil-shock/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LYzZRwK5C0g

This week’s journey in the rocket of right thinking opens with co-pilots Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson reflecting on Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister.

Liam warns that uncosted bungs and 10-year gilt yields staying above 5% threaten a fiscal crisis and discusses his upcoming appointment as Director of the Centre for Policy Studies, pitching the concept of conditional tax cuts to restore economic credibility. 

Allison dismantles Burnham's 5% VAT cut on energy bills that saves households a mere 86p a week, and shares her experience reporting on England’s World Cup run, praising players like Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham while condemning the BBC’s self-promotional halftime advert.

Joining your co-pilots after her appearance at last week’s CPAC is Laila Cunningham, who discusses her backstory, Reform UK’s political platform, and the distress felt following the murder of Ann Widdecombe. 

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘Struggling voters deserve better than Burnham’s con tricks‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2026/07/21/struggling-voters-deserve-better-than-burnhams-con-tricks/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Burnham’s ‘unashamedly Labour’ push spells economic ruin’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/19/burnhams-unashamedly-labour-push-spells-economic-ruin/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wQxi0BVywEs

This week’s journey in the rocket of right thinking opens with a tribute to former MP and Reform member, Ann Widdecombe as your co-pilots reminisce their time with Anne over the years.

Liam raises serious concerns about the incoming Prime Minister’s fiscal capabilities in light of a £120 billion budget deficit warning from the OBR, arguing that a reliance on tax-and-spend policies simply will not work.

Allison criticises the lack of scrutiny or public debates surrounding his transition to power and condemns the toxic political climate and the relentless demonisation of right-leaning figures that has preceded tragedy. 

Serving up some home truths about tennis and fresh from his Wimbledon victory is tennis ace Henry Patten, who tells your co-pilots why singles matches receive a lot more coverage and promotion than doubles.

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘Farewell, Ann. Middle England saw you for the sterling human being you were‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/10/ann-widdecombe-ridiculed-voice-middle-england-should-revere/ |

Read Allison ‘The Left’s constant demonisation of Reform was a ticking time bomb‘: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/14/britains-political-class-stop-dangerous-demonisation-reform/ | 

Read Allison ‘England’s clash with Argentina will be nail-biting, but there’s plenty to look forward to‘:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/15/we-need-an-england-triumph-more-than-ever-before/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Labour’s house of cards on tax will come tumbling down’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/12/labour-house-of-cards-tax-tumbling-down/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YItlh0gx6cA

A never ending tsunami of news sees Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stand down, triggering a “People vs the Establishment" election… but was this a political mis-step?

Liam thinks it was a mistake by the Reform leader, but is aghast that the news is giving more coverage to ‘unserious candidates’ such as count Binface, instead of the looming financial issues as the OBR announces the Government has ‘unsustainable UK debt’.

Allison agrees but also thinks this is yet another avenue of stitch up by the political establishment that cannot understand why Reform remains so popular with voters, and why they see through the attempts to delegitimise Nigel Farage.

Clambering aboard is return passenger and journalist extraordinaire, Anne-Elisabeth Moutet who tells your co-pilots why Marine Le Pen of France’s National Rally Party may be campaigning with an electronic ankle monitor…

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘It’s time to remove Harry from the line of succession‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/07/remove-harry-line-succession/ |

Read Allison ‘With beer, pyjamas and raucous chants, we rallied round England’s heroes‘: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/07/06/england-mexico-allison-pearson-in-saffron-walden/ | 

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Britain is doomed if Burnham lurches Left’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/05/britain-is-doomed-if-burnham-lurches-left/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bW3b5qKQP6I

Co-pilot Pearson returns from her break in Sicily to find political chaos in full swing following Keir Starmer's resignation announcement last week.

Liam and Allison dissect Andy Burnham's bid for the top job, with Liam labelling him "Boris in a bomber jacket" and questioning whether his tax-heavy vision of "Manchesterism" can survive economic reality.

Allison reflects on The Telegraph's recent Brexit event and attacks Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s new immigration reforms as a "tissue of lies" that fails to address the open-border crisis.

Stowing away this week is Research Director at the Centre for Migration Control, Rob Bates who tells your co-pilots why Labour’s asylum and immigration changes could create another ‘wave’ of migration to the UK

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘Welcome to Burnham’s No 10 North – fuelled by gravy, Surrey cash and delusion‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/01/welcome-burnham-no-10-north/ |

Read Allison ‘Shabana Mahmood’s migration plan will light the spark on civil unrest‘: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/30/dont-be-fooled-by-shabana-mahmoods-smoke-mirrors-migration/ | 

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Britain’s next prime minister shouldn’t bet on peace in the Gulf’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/06/28/britains-next-prime-minister-shouldnt-bet-on-peace-in-gulf/ |

Read Liam ‘Our football team was at the heart of Blair’s Labour. Now, Burnham is leading a comeback’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/25/demon-eyes-new-labour-football-team-shaped-politics/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/D90j1xiHV_c

A news heatwave has caused chaos across the land, Co-pilot Halligan pressed the emergency button and is joined by under-study Baroness Claire Fox while Co-pilot Pearson recovers from the shock of it all.

Liam congratulates Andy Burnham on his victory in Makerfield, and apparently set to have a coronation rather than a contest, for the top job, however doesn’t believe his fiscal policies will stand up to economic reality.

Baroness Fox recalls the Brexit vote 10 years on and why the remain camp will never accept the outcome, as well as outlining where we have not yet embraced many of the freedoms we gained, by changing EU laws.

Stowing away this week is return guest Dr Gerard Lyons who discusses Britain's economic outlook, arguing that weak growth, rising debt and high public spending pose major challenges for the UK, and 10 years on from the Brexit vote he also questioned the case for closer ties with the EU…

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Book your tickets to 'How to make Brexit a success’ on 29th June in London: telegraph.co.uk/brexit-big-debate |

Read Allison ‘I will always be proud I voted to leave the EU and stand up for the Britain I love‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/23/proud-of-vote-to-leave-eu / |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘I’ve known Andy Burnham for 30 years but I still think he’s wrong’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/06/21/ive-known-burnham-for-30-years-but-i-still-think-hes-wrong/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lq-8ZhnYjjk

The rocket of right thinking speeds around planet normal gathering the news tsunami of this week… 

Allison surprises Liam by AGREEING with Sir Keir Starmer’s social media ban for under 16 year olds, as she states in her column this week. The addictive and toxic nature of smartphones has ruined children’s attention spans and their “in real life" connections and this ban could help them reconnect with the elusive parchment joy of books.

Liam strongly echoes Allison’s stance, arguing that tech platforms expose children to "relentless bullying" and corporate exploitation. Shifting to finance, he forecasts an imminent rise in global interest rates, pointing to rising producer price inflation and rate hikes in Australia and Japan as clear indicators that borrowing costs are headed back up.

Stowing away this week is return guest Bernie Spofforth, who tells us about her experience of being questioned by police due to a retweet she posted on X. She has released a book, out on the 25th June, to discuss how Government overreach, police and NGO’s have worn down democracy…

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Book your tickets to 'How to make Brexit a success’ on 29th June in London: telegraph.co.uk/brexit-big-debate |

Read Allison ‘Giving children smartphones is like handing them grenades. I should know‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/16/why-i-support-social-media-ban/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘The UK’s battered public finances are about to get even more stretched’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/06/14/the-uks-battered-public-finances-about-even-more-stretched/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qNYLdKrCI_o

On your rocket of right thinking this week co-pilots Pearson and Halligan discuss the recent riots in Belfast and the two-tier policing worries continuing from the murder of Henry Nowak.

Liam thinks Kemi Badenoch’s call to ‘treat people equally’ under the law is correct and the DEI training given to police has disproportionately affected victims of crime more than the perpetrators and is detrimental to the social cohesion of the UK.

Allison is concerned civil unrest will get worse before it gets better as people feel their fears of rising immigration is labeled as bigotry or racism.

This week’s stowaway is former police officer and counter-terror specialist Paul Birch, who gives his take on the claims of two-tier policing and the recent unrest in Southampton and Belfast

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Book your tickets to 'How to make Brexit a success’ on 29th June in London: telegraph.co.uk/brexit-big-debate |

Read more from Paul Birch’s Substack: https://birchy1.substack.com/ |

Read Allison ‘The football widows’ guide to the World Cup‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/10/world-cup-dos-and-donts-football-widows/ |

Read Allison ‘Kemi underestimates how deeply the woke cult has infected Britain’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/09/kemis-promise-to-overhaul-woke-cult-doesnt-touch-the-sides/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Labour’s statist policies are gumming up the jobs market’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/06/07/labours-statist-policies-are-gumming-up-the-jobs-market/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/82lXs84p8_M

This week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson, confront the tragic murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak and the national outrage surrounding the police's handling of the case. Marking the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum with former Vote Leave chief executive, Lord Matthew Elliott, the duo reflects on the original promise of leaving the EU and how the podcast itself was born out of a shared taxi ride following a celebration of that historic vote.

Allison delivers a searing indictment of the "woke indoctrination" paralysing British policing, highlighting how diversity, equity, and inclusion targets have trained common sense and humanity out of officers, leading to the inhumane treatment of a dying victim while his killer was treated with total decency. 

On Brexit, Liam uses his column to bust the persistent "Project Fear" myths, pointing out that the UK has actually outgrown France and Germany since 2016. However, he laments that successive governments have failed to capitalise on regulatory freedoms and instead allowed immigration to soar to historic highs.

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Book your tickets to 'How to make Brexit a success’ on 29th June in London: telegraph.co.uk/brexit-big-debate |

Read Allison ‘I’m sick of Britain’s rapid decline being sold to me as an ‘improvement’’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/03/why-every-service-is-getting-worse/ |

Read Allison ‘Henry Nowak’s death shows how brainwashed Britain’s police have become’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/02/henry-nowaks-death-british-police-brainwashed-dei/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘The Brexit horror stories aren’t true’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/31/the-brexit-horror-stories-arent-true/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uXkk5GHpPE4

This week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Liam Halligan andAllison Pearson, dive into a political landscape dominated by explosive leadership interventions and growing institutional scandal. Following a dramatic local election period, the duo analyzes a scathing 5,000-word essay by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has openly lacerated his own party for what he calls an “infinite capacity for self-delusion”.

Liam details the escalating fiscal warning signs rattling the British establishment. He warns that despite a temporary dip in the UK inflation rate to 2.8%, it is on track to hit 5% later this year. With long-term government borrowing costs flirting with 30-year highs, Liam argues that cosmetic fixes like supermarket price controls and rollercoaster VAT cuts will do nothing to soothe terrified sovereign bond markets.

Meanwhile Allison shares her assessment of the Scottish National Party following the sensational embezzlement guilty plea of its former chief executive. 

This week’s stowaway on the rocket is serial entrepreneur and hospitality titan Luke Johnson, who shares a powerful breakdown of how Britain is currently navigating life under what he defines as a “highly damaging socialist government”.

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Book your tickets to 'How to make Brexit a success’ on 29th June in London: telegraph.co.uk/brexit-big-debate |

Read Allison ‘Did you really not know about your husband, Nicola?’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/26/allison-pearson-nicola-sturgeon-husband/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘The approaching inflation crisis is a disaster for Labour’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/24/the-approaching-inflation-crisis-is-a-disaster-for-labour/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wQSgb9En2k0

This week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Liam Halligan and Alison Pearson, take us back to the 1970s as they look at the retro economic policies dragging the country in reverse. With financial markets reacting to the Labour infighting with horror, sending the UK government's borrowing costs to a staggering 30-year high, the duo warns that the British economy is on a knife edge. 

Liam focuses on the unfolding fiscal emergency, explaining how sovereign bond markets are reeling from a protracted Labour leadership battle, where all the major contenders are looking to increase borrowing and spending even further. 

Meanwhile Allison shares her deep frustrations with the current state of the nation, highlighting the desperate struggles of local community hubs and family pubs fighting to survive under the weight of punishing economic changes. 

This week’s stowaway on the rocket is royal historian and biographer Andrew Lownie, who discusses the ongoing fallout surrounding the royal family and his investigations into institutional secrecy.

Highlights

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘‘Don’t drink them all at once’: Regulars enjoy free pints on National Pub Day’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/16/allison-pearson-national-pub-day/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘As Labour lurches further Left, the markets are calling time’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/17/as-labour-lurches-further-left-the-markets-are-calling-time/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode on YoutTube: https://youtu.be/5Zb71ekLVBE

This week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson, sift through the debris of a historic set of local elections that have left Sir Keir Starmer clinging to power.

The duo analyse the turquoise tsunami that saw Reform UK gain over 1,400 council seats, whilst the Prime Minister faces a precarious future after Labour’s vote share collapsed in traditional hubs like Birmingham and Cambridge.

Who is your co-pilots preferred replacement? Wes Streeting? Angela Rayner? ‘Mad’ Ed Miliband? Or does Andy Burnham stand the best chance with the softy Labour Left?

Return stowaway William Coulston joins your co-pilots to dissect the local election results, and where the Social Democrat Party stands on Welfare and why Labour's approach is bankrupting the country.

Highlights: 

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Liam Halligan and Serge Kogan - London to Paris in 24 hours - ON A TANDEM: https://www.justgiving.com/page/liam-halligan-serge-kogan |

Read Allison ‘Starmer quitting isn’t enough. Furious voters want an end to politics as we know it’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/12/allison-pearson-starmer-quitting-isnt-enough/ |

Read Allison ‘Sick of being dismissed as a racist, Essex Man has turned to Reform’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/08/essex-voters-embracing-reform-liked-nigel/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Oil prices are detached from reality’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/10/headline-oil-prices-are-detached-from-reality/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/81-0uu_POWE

On the rocket of sweet reason this week we are avoiding talking about the May elections, so hold tight for a bumper episode next week!

Meanwhile, Allison reflects on one hundred years of Sir David Attenborough as he celebrates his birthday this coming Friday and shares her memories of interviewing him in the Venezuelan rainforest nearly 30 years ago.

Liam breaks down the economic fallout of the continuing to impact consumer prices and why the government is paying more in borrowing costs than it did in 1998.

Return stowaway and advocate for financial education, Justin Urquhart-Stewart straps in to give your co-pilots a view of the geopolitical landscape as the to and fro of the Strait of Hormuz continues to impact food, energy and production prices across the world…

Highlights: 

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

LIAM HALLIGAN and SERGE KOGAN - London to Paris in 24 hours - ON A TANDEM: https://www.justgiving.com/page/liam-halligan-serge-kogan |

Read Allison: 'The day an unflappable David Attenborough saved me from a gun-toting militia': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/07/david-attenborough-saved-me-from-a-gun-toting-militia/|

Read Allison ‘We all know who is to blame for the rise in anti-Semitism – and it is not Israel’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/05/we-know-who-to-blame-for-the-rise-in-anti-semitism/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Labour is steering Britain into a bond market meltdown’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/03/labours-political-antics-could-spark-bond-market-meltdown/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/v0ptnvQnGUQ

This week on Planet Normal your co-pilots of sanity, Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson, navigate the wreckage of the UK’s two-party system as seismic local and devolved elections loom on May 7th. With the UK inflation rate remaining a major concern and the Strait of Hormuz effectively blockaded by Iran, the duo examines how geopolitical instability is hitting British pockets.

Liam breaks down the "end of the world as we know it" for the traditional political establishment, as Reform UK and the Greens surge while both major parties face a potential hammering at the polls. 

Meanwhile, Allison reflects on her recent trip to Wales, where a "turquoise tsunami" threatens the Labour heartlands as Reform gain in the polls.

Stowing away on the rocket this week is former 22 SAS commander Colonel Richard Williams, who discusses how "lawfare" and the prosecution of veterans are undermining British military recruitment and national security. 

Highlights: 

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘Nigel Farage is winning the battle for the soul of my beloved Wales’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/24/allison-pearson-on-labour-party-in-wales/ |

‘Prime minister Angela Rayner would be a new low for Britain’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/28/prime-minister-angela-rayner-new-low-for-britain/ | 

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘We’re on the brink of a global recession, but it’s not Iran we need to worry about’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/26/does-geopolitics-pose-greatest-economic-danger-or-is-it-ai/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the rocket, co-pilots Halligan and Pearson dive into the political firestorm engulfing Westminster as Sir Keir Starmer faces intense scrutiny over the botched appointment of Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to the US. Following explosive evidence from former civil servant Sir Olly Robbins, the duo explores the ‘process-driven’ culture of the current government and whether it is shielding a lack of transparency.

Liam explains why even a potential ceasefire or the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz may not be enough to prevent a global energy crisis. With the UK inflation rate unexpectedly rising to 3.3% in March, the hosts warn of a "stagflation" trap that could see food and energy prices soaring for years to come.

And co-pilot Pearson brings a report from her homeland in Wales ahead of the Senedd election in May…

Highlights:

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘Keir Starmer and Olly Robbins deserve each other’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/21/keir-starmer-olly-robbins-deserve-each-other/ |

‘British Jews are in danger. Either we do something about it or they’ll leave’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/22/britains-double-standards-over-anti-semitism/ | 

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Britain is the most inflation-prone nation in the G7. That was true before the Iran war’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/19/britain-most-inflation-prone-in-g7-true-before-iran-war/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-e1x0gsvjfY

This week on the rocket, co-pilots Halligan and Pearson eye a horizon of storm clouds gathering over Britain’s economy and national security.

Liam breaks down the "serious downgrade" from the IMF, which predicts the UK will suffer more economic fallout from the war in Iran than any other major economy. He asks if the government is blaming external conflicts for vulnerabilities that were already "starkly exposed" months ago?.

Meanwhile, Allison reels from Liam’s sudden appearance on the front pages of the tabloids before diving into her powerful column on the Southport inquiry. They discuss the catastrophic failures of agencies that ignored unambiguously signposted warnings, and the ‘woke priorities’ that may have silenced those trying to protect the public.

Strapping in this week is former Royal Marine commando James Glancy who tells your co-pilots why the UK military can no longer meet its responsibilities around the world.

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read ‘Harry and Meghan need to stop pretending they’re Royals. It’s embarrassing’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/15/prince-harry-meghan-stop-pretending-to-be-royals/ |

Read ‘We want people jailed for failing to prevent the mass murder of our children’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/14/we-want-people-jailed-mass-murder-children-southport/ | 

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Reform should not have pledged to keep the pension triple lock’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/12/reform-should-not-have-pledged-keep-pension-triple-lock/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode on Youtube:https://youtu.be/B0VweeU7QlA

This week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots navigate their way from the high-stakes geopolitics of the Strait of Hormuz to the local battlegrounds of the South London Waitrose middle aisle, they examine whether common sense has gone to die - and whether the UK is becoming ‘Blighty no-mates’ on the world stage.

Pondering the paradox of a superpower that can send the Orion spacecraft to the far side of the moon while struggling to control a 20-mile-wide sea passage in the Middle East. Allison shares her fuzzy memories of the 1969 moon landing.

They ask if the sacking of 54 year old Walker Smith for intervening in a shoplifting incident is capitulation to HR and if the policy of non-intervention is undermining the fabric of society. 

A Tug-of-War emerges as your hosts clash over Reform UK’s pledge to guarantee the state triple lock, with Liam arguing we are living beyond our means, whilst Allison defending it for those nearing retirement.

Strapping in this week is former UK ambassador to Iran, Nicholas Hopton who tells your co-pilots how the continuing war is affecting politics within the Iranian regime…

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read ‘Allison Waitrose’s sacking of a hero employee sums up Broken Britain’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/07/waitrose-sacking-hero-employee-broken-britain/ |

Read ‘I was asked out by a Richard Gere look-alike, but you won’t catch me getting a ‘Mounjaro Divorce’’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/08/fat-jabs-fuelling-divorce-boom/ | 

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Britain’s vulnerability to war exposes need for fundamental reforms’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/05/britains-vulnerability-to-war-exposeneed-fundamental-reform/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Read Nicolas Hopton: Iran has offered Trump an olive branch

https://spectator.com/article/iran-has-offered-trump-an-olive-branch/ | 

More from Nicholas: https://www.nicholashopton.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s dispatch from the sanctuary of sweet reason, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan examine a growing sense of national insecurity as Britain faces a big economic hit from the US-Iran war and the systemic economic vandalism of a new tax year. 

The duo discuss the ongoing scandal of NHS waiting lists, with Alison analysing the apparent waiting list cleansing and the statistical chicanery used to massage figures ahead of local elections.

Liam highlights a tax-bonanza of pre-announced tax rises hitting family farms and small businesses, arguing that the government is the true price gouger as it rakes in millions from fuel duties. 

Returning stowaway Professor Matt Goodwin joins your co-pilots to discuss his new book, Suicide of a Nation, and why the government is still ignoring the migrant crisis.

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘The elite can’t stand the truth about mass migration’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/01/elites-attack-matt-goodwin-immigration/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read ‘It’s time to stop pretending we have a First World health service’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/31/socialist-nhs-failed-time-to-change-funding/|

Read Liam ‘Britain’s small firms are needed to rescue us from this slump’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/03/29/britains-small-firms-are-needed-to-rescue-us-from-slump/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |      

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z53vu3azxZs

In this week’s dispatch from the sanctuary of sweet reason, your co-pilots of sanity Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson, address the rise of antisemitic attacks in Britain, including the chilling firebombing of Jewish charity ambulances in North London. 

Alison shares her continuing case against Essex’s police and crime commissioner, as well as the county’s police force over a post on X, which has since been deleted, which led officers to investigate her for a potential offence of ‘inciting racial hatred’.

Liam is dismayed at the cognitive dissonance in government promising an ‘AI revolution’ while the national grid remains unfit for purpose, warning that the government’s green activists are threatening the very data centers needed for the technological future they claim to champion.

Returning stowaway is former adviser to then-Chancellor George Osborne, Helen Thomas, CEO of Blonde Money who tells your co-pilots why Labour is signing its own death warrant…

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘If Nadiya Hussain thinks she’s suffered from BBC discrimination, she should try being a white man’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/18/nadiya-hussain-bbc-discrimination/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read ‘Allison Pearson sues police chief over social media investigation’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/24/allison-pearson-sues-essex-police-chief-social-media/ |

Read Liam ‘Artificial intelligence won’t solve Britain’s looming fiscal crisis’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/03/22/artificial-intelligence-wont-solve-looming-fiscal-crisis/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |      

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QVXFsa07Rpo

In this week’s dispatch from the sanctuary of sweet reason, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan examine a growing sense of national insecurity as Britain faces a perfect storm of energy, military, and financial fragility, and the unfolding meningitis outbreak.

With oil climbing back above $100 a barrel and the Strait of Hormuz remaining shut, Liam argues that it is time for the government to junk the ‘Net Zero virtue signalling’ and urgently greenlight drilling in the North Sea. 

Allison discusses her recent column on a controversial clause in the Crime and Policing Bill that would effectively ‘decriminalise’ abortion up to birth. Labelling the move ‘legalised infantcide’ she and Liam explore the ethical implication of late-term viability, drawing on Allison’s moving personal experiences and her observations from a neonatal ICU. 

The duo are joined in the rocket by Linden Kemkaran, the Reform UK leader of Kent County Council. Representing the ‘border county’ at the forefront of the small boats crisis, she discusses her decision to declare an ‘illegal migration emergency’ and her demand for the government to provide full funding for the local impact of arrivals.  

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Read Allison ‘Britain is about to make a sickening change to the abortion law’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/17/britain-sickening-change-to-abortion-law/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Labour needs to be grown-up about the North Sea’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/03/15/labour-needs-to-be-grown-up-about-the-north-sea/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |      

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You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uRceQCyRYIU

It’s markets this, oil prices that, and what will happen next, so your co-pilots are blasting in to make sense of the tsunami of news flooding across the globe from the Middle East and the war with Iran.

Allison points to the shame of all governments for not protecting British interests and defence strategy has left us woefully unprepared for any disruption to energy supplies. And as the news is pointing away from the UK Allison has spied Labour still pressing ahead with a definition of Islamophobia and potentially curbing Free Speech in the process.

Liam looks at the economic fallout as the Strait of Hormuz continues to be closed and Iran attacks cargo ships, and brings on board journalist and energy market expert Andrew Critchlow to discuss the UK’s energy security and strategy.

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Read Allison ‘The BBC is not living up to the ‘British’ part of its name’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/11/bbc-boat-race-cancellation-crufts/ |

Read Allison ‘Starmer is pandering to Islamist extremists to save his own skin https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/10/keir-starmer-islamism-concerns-hannah-spencer/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Britain needs economic security – and a sovereign wealth fund’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/03/08/britain-needs-economic-security-sovereign-wealth-fund/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |      

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You can watch this episode on youtube: https://youtu.be/KQ1dUe4FxZ0

As conflict with Iran hots up across the Middle East, your co-pilot blast in to make sense of the madness.

Strapping into the rocket is Dr Alan Mendoza, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Henry Jackson Society to give his expertise on the conflict and how the ‘special relationship’ is faring as the PM holds back on British intervention.

Allison thinks delays to assisting US forces has left the UK as ‘billy no mates’ should we need military help in the future.

Liam looks at the economic fallout as the Strait of Hormuz is closed and this could send the cost of living soaring again for the British people.

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Read Allison ‘Rachel Reeves’s Freudian slip betrayed the truth about this Government’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/04/rachel-reeves-freudian-slip/ |

Read Allison ‘Trump is right. Starmer has humiliated the land of Churchill’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/03/starmers-cowardice-over-iran-shames-britain/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘The tide is turning on ludicrous net zero policies’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/03/01/rumours-of-oils-demise-have-been-greatly-exaggerated/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |      

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You can watch this recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lFRwaTYK-mM

Your co-pilots have braved the atmosphere of planet Earth as the rocket touches down at the Emmanuel Centre in London for a live recording of Planet Normal! 

To mark the occasion, your co-pilots are joined by two of the most fearless voices to navigate a country they fear is currently on an ‘economic cliff edge’. 

The first revered stowaway on the rocket today is Lionel Shriver: The celebrated satirical novelist discusses her provocative new book, A Better Life. She pulls no punches while exploring the naivete of the progressive left and the ruthlessness often overlooked in the immigration debate. 

Also strapping in for lift-off is Suella Braverman KC MP in her first appearance since her high-profile defection to Reform UK. She reveals the ‘list of great betrayals’ she witnessed at the heart of government and explains why she believes the Conservative Party has abandoned the principles of Margaret Thatcher. 

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘No ‘spares’, no climate preaching: My plan to save the monarchy’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/24/my-plan-to-save-the-monarchy/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Reform needs to convince global markets it can govern’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/22/reform-needs-to-convince-global-markets-it-can-govern/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |      

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Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |

You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_jt6Hy7NYvU

On this week’s flight through the sanctuary of sweet reason, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan examine the rapid rise of Reform’s new "Shadow Cabinet," including Robert Jenrick’s debut as Shadow Chancellor and his mission to position the party as the new vanguard of fiscal prudence.

Alison and Liam also debate the "gratitude of immigrants" and push back against "ethno-nationalism" in British politics following the appointments of Zia Yusuf and Suella Braverman.

In a powerful and moving interview, Alison speaks with Siobhan Whyte, whose daughter Rhiannon was murdered by an illegal migrant. They discuss the systemic failures of the UK’s immigration system and Siobhan’s campaign to support the children left behind by such violence.

Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |

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Read Allison ‘Every day, we are reminded that the migration crisis is ruining Britain’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/17/migration-crisis-is-ruining-britain-nhs-jim-ratcliffe/ |

Read Allison ‘This is Reform’s best week yet’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/18/this-is-reforms-best-week-yet/ | 

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Labour’s net zero extremism is ripping the heart out of Britain’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/15/labour-net-zero-strategy-ripping-heart-out-britain/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |      

Support the Rhiannon Whyte Foundation’s gofundme here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-rhiannon-whyte-foundation | 

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Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |

You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LFlJivPsT9A

Following a scorching column by their colleague Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan discuss whether Britain is becoming "ungovernable" as sovereign bond yields spiral and the Prime Minister appears increasingly held hostage by the hard-Left of his own party.

Allison questions the mandate of a leader facing internal coups, and a looming wipeout in the upcoming May elections.

Liam warns of a looming correction from the bond markets if the government doesn't get a grip on public spending.

Making a return trip to the rocket is actress and campaigner Sophie Window (nee Winkleman) to share some of her findings in the campaign to keep children off screens and social media.

Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |

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Read Allison ‘Anyone who thinks Rayner is the answer to Britain’s problems needs their head examined’ 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/10/angela-rayner-answer-britain-problems-head-examined/ |

Read Allison ‘Labour says it is cutting NHS waiting lists. That is just a lie’ 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/labour-cutting-nhs-waiting-list-lies/ | 

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Japan’s spendthrift Iron Lady has dangerous plans’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/08/japans-spendthrift-iron-lady-has-dangerous-plans/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |  

Read Ambrose Evans-Pritchard ‘The Starmer palace coup is a national disgrace’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/10/the-starmer-palace-coup-is-a-national-disgrace/ |         

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Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |

You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wh42OqWtzDA

As the Prime Minister vows to release the ‘Mandelson Files’ pressure on who knew what, and when is mounting on Labour. Repeat stowaway former head of Mi6 Sir Richard Dearlove is on hand to give his expert analysis on the unfolding situation.

Allison is disgusted by the continuing scandal of Peter Mandelson and is in disbelief that Starmer et al. thought he would ever be a suitable candidate as Ambassador to the United States.

Liam thinks this scandal will change the political landscape as deeply as the expenses scandal did; in making the public scrutinise the political class even closer.

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Read Allison ‘When I met Peter Mandelson, I knew straight away he was rotten’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/03/i-knew-peter-mandelson-was-rotten/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘The US dollar is down but not out’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/01/the-us-dollar-is-down-but-not-out/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |           

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You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4f7eZbkA91Q

It's been a week of defections, rejections and tantrums in the world of politics, and your co pilots are here to wade through the madness. 

After the Telegraph published an article outlining the role Starmer took in prosecuting soldiers your co-pilots speak to General Sir Peter Wall to delve deeper into the scandal.

Allison thinks Starmer ‘isn’t for Britain’ and his human right activism undermines the important role the British Army plays in the defence of our Country.

Liam thinks as China starts to overtake the US economically the West will have to deal with them, but at what cost will this be to British business and values?

Planet Normal Live! You can purchase your ticket here:telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘Suella Braverman has been vilified for telling the truth’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/27/suella-braverman-has-been-vilified-for-telling-the-truth/ |

Read Allison ‘Never again’ feels like an increasingly hollow promise’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/28/holocaust-survivors-anti-semitism/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Peace may be coming but Ukraine has changed the world forever’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/01/25/peace-may-be-coming-but-ukraine-changed-the-world-forever/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |           

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You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mwWiWA21r1U

The rocket of right thinking is back with a blast and a very special defector is aboard.

Robert Jenrick is strapped in to tell our intrepid co-pilots why he has joined Reform UK and why he thinks the Conservatives didn’t deserve ‘a second chance’.

Your co-pilots return to the cockpit to navigate a world that has grown increasingly volatile in just the first few weeks of 2026.

They discuss whether this is a ‘survival of the wettest’ moment for Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party and if Robert Jenrick is the ‘first olive out of the jar’ that will lead to a cascade of further defections.

Alison returns from her time in the Australian Outback. She shares her reflections on why Australia feels like a ‘livable, optimistic society’ compared to the UK

As Donald Trump takes the stage at Davos, the world is reeling from his demand that the US should run Greenland. Liam breaks down the ‘method in the madness’, explaining the critical importance of Greenland’s rare earth minerals for the global semiconductor industry and the strategic value of the melting Northwest Passage.

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘Forget just under-16s, we all desperately need a social media ban’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/21/we-desperately-need-social-media-ban/ |

Read Allison ‘If the Tories can’t admit Britain is broken, they really are finished’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/20/britain-is-broken-reform-tories-kemi-badenoch/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘The war on the horizon that global economies haven’t priced in’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/01/18/china-america-taiwan-clash-global-economies-not-priced-in/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |           

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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The winter break continues on Planet Normal! In this, the third and final part of the three 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 2025, before our intrepid co-pilots return next week!

Back in November Liam spoke to Scottish born Rosie Kay who enjoyed a highly successful international career as a performer and choreographer, and in 2004 established the Rosie Kay dance company. Rosie tells the co-pilots how she was ousted from her own company following controversy of her ‘gender critical views’.

We also feature a special report not from Planet Normal, but Planet Earth, when back in October, Co-Pilot Pearson joined the Pink Ladies Protest in Westminster. The Pink Ladies formed a network to take a stand against the impact of illegal migrant hotels on the safety of women and girls and communities up and down the country. 

And finally we hear from Tory heavyweight Suela Braverman who tells out co-pilots what she thinks Conservative party policy should be towards the ECHR.

Read more from Liam:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/|

Read Allison 'Twitter makes Two-Tier Keir look ridiculous, so of course he wants to ban it' : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/14/two-tier-keir-ban-twitter/ |

Read Allison 'The West Midlands police chief represents everything that’s wrong with Britain': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/13/west-midlands-police-chief/|

Read more from Allison:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/|

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/|

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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In our second episode of the Best of the Rocket 2025, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan dive deep into the past year’s archives and bring you some of their most intriguing and provocative voyages on the rocket of right thinking, from this past year.

This week the Rocket has made a stop at Westminster with Conservative MP Helen Whately, coming on board to discuss her having one of the toughest briefs in politics - identifying welfare savings. 

Helen's former party colleague and high-profile defector to Reform UK Danny Kruger, is asked by Allison if he felt a bit guilty jumping ship at a time when his defection would do serious damage to a struggling Tory party.

And Tory Grandee Lord Peter Lilley, gives his thoughts on why Britain should leave the European Convention on Human Rights

Read more from Liam:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/l... |

Read more from Allison:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a... |

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In this, the first of the Best of the Rocket 2025, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan dig into the data files for some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from this year.

There’s been no shortage of madness on the rocket over the past few months, the peak of which was definitely when Chancellor Rachel Reeves cried in the Commons and the leader of the RMT said ‘stuff it’ to the markets.

There’s also been an abundance of politicians and political agitators that have graced the rocket this year, and we begin with discussions surrounding the bias of the BBC with Jake Wallis Simons, and Epping Reform deputy leader, Orla Minihane.

Read more from Liam:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/l... |

Read more from Allison:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a... |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/pod... |

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It’s a Merry Christmas from the Rocket of right thinking at Planet Normal to everyone stuck on Planet Earth

Your intrepid co-pilots reflect on a year of political thrills and economic spills, honouring the "citizens of Planet Normal" while handing out awards to the figures in public life who impressed - and those who most certainly did not. 

Amidst the Christmas cheer, your hosts offer a heartfelt thank you to their "intelligent and inspired" listeners for their tireless contributions throughout a tough year, before signing off with a promise of more wit, reason, and levity when the podcast returns in mid-January.

The festive spirit is bolstered by a special interview with British tennis star and Wimbledon doubles champion Henry Patten who straps in to tell us what a Wimbledon champion has for Christmas Dinner and shares his journey from the grass courts to the top of the sporting world. 

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison 'Non-crime hate incidents may be gone, but don’t expect the police to stop censoring you': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/23/good-riddance-to-non-crime-hate-incidents/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Why I’m not cheering the pre-Christmas rate cut’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/12/21/why-im-not-cheering-the-pre-christmas-rate-cut/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |           

Read Tim Sigsworth ‘Father Christmas is ‘too white’’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/21/santas-naughty-list-too-colonial-museum/ | 

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

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Your Co-pilots reflect on a sombre week as the festive season is overshadowed by the beach massacre in Sydney earlier this week. 

Co-pilot Pearson delivers a blistering critique of Western leaders whom she accuses of failing to confront the root of Islamist extremism.

Liam connects the tragedy to the rising sense of fear among the Jewish community in the UK, arguing that the ‘aggressive’ weekly protests should not be allowed to continue in the Capital.

On the economic front, Liam warns of rising youth unemployment and Ed Miliband’s growing European isolation on Net Zero following the EU's retreat from petrol car bans. 

And the Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Couthino, straps in to tell your co-pilots why Labour’s Net Zero drive won’t encourage economic growth.

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘It’s time to end the cowardly appeasement of radical Islamism’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/16/bondi-beach-jewish-massacre-allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Labour’s nutty EV policies are pushing us towards economic catastrophe’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/12/14/labour-ev-policies-pushing-towards-economic-catastrophe/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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Co-Pilots Pearson and Halligan tackle a week of political and economic madness. Starmer is dismissed as a "caretaker Prime Minister" with a weak mandate, having been supported by only 20% of the electorate.

Your hosts dissect Chancellor Rachel Reeves' job tax hike and her "benefits street Budget" which funds the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap by ‘punishing 340,000 working people’ with frozen tax thresholds. 

They confront the escalating migration crisis, discussing the rise of illegal arrivals and the national emergency posed by migrants linked to attacks on women.

Meanwhile Reform stowaway Zia Yusuf tells the co-pilots why the smear campaign against Party leader, Nigel Farage, is one of the most ‘ coordinated smear campaigns. I can remember in my lifetime’...

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘A comeback? What planet is vile Huw Edwards living on?’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/09/huw-edwards-allison-pearson-comeback/ |

Read Allison ‘Is this the scandal that will finally kill Strictly?’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2025/12/10/scandal-finally-kill-strictly-allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘The ghost of economic meltdown hangs over this festive season’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/12/07/the-ghost-of-economic-meltdown-hangs-over-festive-season/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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With reaction to the autumn Budget still on the lips of news outlets everywhere, your co-pilots are here to make sense of the chaos.

Allison doesn’t hold back and thinks Reeves has ‘lied’ to the electorate and inflated her own words in order to try and sneak her Budget past everyone.

Meanwhile Liam thinks the fighting between Number 10 and 11 is harming the economy on a fundamental scale.

Meanwhile stowaway Lord Nigel Biggar tells the co-pilots why history should recognise the UK fought against slavery across the British Empire.

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Read Allison ‘A jury took 17 minutes to find Jamie ‘not guilty’. I hate to think what a Left-wing judge would’ve done’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/02/jury-trials-lammy-left-wing-judiciary/ |

Read Allison ‘Joyless and fake, what a strange person Meghan is’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/03/id-pay-not-to-spend-a-christmas-with-meghan-and-harry/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘If Labour sticks two fingers up to the bond market, Britain will pay the price’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/11/30/labour-two-fingers-bond-market-britain-pay-price/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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The rocket of right thinking is back for a crucial Budget Special as Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils her second major fiscal statement. Her new £30 billion tax rise means a staggering £70 billion increase in just two years, the most "punitive tax raising budget in more than three decades".

Joining the co-pilots to dissect the numbers is the brilliant Telegraph columnist, Roger Bootle. Roger reveals why he thinks the budget will land "very badly with business" and discusses the "scandalous" leak of the Statement beforehand.

Co-Pilot Pearson calls it a "death knell budget for Labour" and argues that by funnelling huge amounts of money into the welfare bill, Reeves has confirmed it is now the party of the "Shirking class". 

Whilst Co-Pilot Halligan identifies the "ghost" of the Employment Rights Bill looming over the budget, dubbed by some as the "Unemployment Rights Bill," warns that this "back to the seventies" extension of rights will be disastrous for hiring.

You can watch today's episode, which we filmed in the studios at Telegraph towers: https://youtu.be/ZrIXGoJGkBU

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Read Allison ‘Dear Rachel, do you have any clue how much hard-working people are struggling?’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/26/allison-pearson-on-rachel-reeves-budget/ |

Read Allison ‘I asked people if my Reform badge made me look like a Nazi and they howled with laughter’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/25/allison-pearson-reform-badge-nazis/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Reeves’s endless tax scaremongering is killing off animal spirits’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/11/23/rachel-reeves-scaremongering-taxes-killed-off-spirits/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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This week the Rocket welcomes former Prime Minister Liz Truss to discuss next week’s Budget as well as the co-pilots diving into the latest political issues. From the dramatic U-turn on immigration by the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to the creeping tax rises hidden in Rachel Reeves's upcoming budget, there’s more than enough madness to unpack.

They ask if the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's new rhetoric to crack down on immigration is real, and will her plans work? Alison dissects the proposals, arguing that a new 'work and study' route for migrants is a disaster and a perverse incentive to enter the UK illegally. Liam, while acknowledging the political risk for Mahmood, suggests the reforms are more rhetorical than real.

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Read Allison ‘Why Tesco Cancelled Christmas’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/19/why-tesco-cancelled-christmas/ |

Read Allison: ‘Why Shabana Mahmood’s asylum plans won’t make a blind bit of difference’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/18/shabana-mahmood-misguided-asylum-plans/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Milei’s ‘shock therapy’ makes Britain’s current reforms look utterly feeble’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/11/16/mileis-shock-therapy-britains-current-reforms-look-feeble/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

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After a Telegraph bombshell, both the BBC Director-General and Head of BBC News are OUT as the corporation is exposed for its "FAR LEFT ideological capture".

Our co-pilots take a look at the shocking truth behind the billion-dollar lawsuit threat from President Donald Trump after a Panorama team edited his speech on January 6th 2021. Allison details the biased coverage of Israel and Gaza as well as gender issues, where "smug and arrogant" staffers tried to censor news and silence "normal women".

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget looms ever closer, Liam details the incoming fiscal madness as it now seems Labour will break its manifesto pledge and raise income tax.

Joining your co-pilots on the rocket this week is Jake Wallis Simons, award-winning journalist, foreign correspondent, and author of Israel Phobia and his latest, Never again: How the West Betrayed the Jews and itself. Jake joins us to detail the BBC's "damning" coverage of Israel and Gaza and why the Panorama scandal is just a smoke screen for their other mistakes.

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

Read Allison ‘The Epping hotel ruling proves it is now the British people vs the state’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/12/epping-hotel-ruling-british-people-vs-the-state/ | 

Read Allison: ‘I think it is inevitable a man I grant asylum to will rape or murder a young girl’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/05/migrants-asylum-sex-offence-allegations-whistleblower/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘Labour’s housing plans are not enough to rescue Reeves’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/11/09/labours-housing-plans-are-not-enough-to-rescue-reeves/ | 

Read Liam’s Post - https://www.facebook.com/liam.halligan.7/posts/pfbid0kaMDikPeWDVsV6P8pDuf1rAQeGRY5rUetohXkdNZ7cLXSh3sNXJDYB3Mq88xsNJKl |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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Following the speech from Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledging tax rises are coming round the mountain, your co-pilots are here to wade through the incoming madness.

Assisting co-pilot Halligan this week is returning guest Nick Timothy MP to give us some keen insight into the crumbling Home Office.

Liam thinks the Chancellor’s speech was a predictable move and has been warning since the election taxes would have to go up as spending rises and welfare cuts avoided.

Nick reveals the details surrounding a report he wrote about the Home Office and immigration, that was suppressed through legal arguments, in 2023.

Pirouetting on board this week is world renowned choreographer Rosie Kay who tells us how she rose from the cancellation ashes and launched ‘Freedom In The Arts’ to protect freedom of expression within the arts.

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

Read Allison ‘I think it is inevitable a man I grant asylum to will rape or murder a young girl’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/05/migrants-asylum-sex-offence-allegations-whistleblower/ |

Read Allison ’The BBC has just signed its own death warrant‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/04/bbc-signs-its-own-death-warrant/ | 

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Nick’s report: https://nicktimothy.com/report-by-nick-timothy-mp-on-the-home-office-exposes-a-culture-of-defeatism-and-poor-management/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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Our co-pilots, energised from their trip down to earth for the live show at the Battle of Ideas festival last week, are back on the Rocket to try and make sense of a week of madness!

They address the growing discontent following a string of high-profile incidents involving illegal migrants, most recently in Uxbridge.

The discussion turns into a blistering attack on the Home Office and the entire Civil Service, who the co-pilots argue, are actively stifling political reform and preventing any government—regardless of party—from delivering functioning public services or stopping the boats.

Strapping into the rocket this week is Conservative MP Helen Whately, who joins to discuss the urgent need for benefits system reform to encourage young people into work and end their reliance on state support.

Meanwhile Allison addresses the historic collapse of Labour in its heartlands in the Caerphilly by-election last week, signalling what could be a death knell for Labour in Wales.

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

Read Allison ‘The soaring cost of mince signals we’re in for a difficult winter’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/29/rising-food-prices-difficult-winter/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam: ‘Britain’s national accounts now resemble a Ponzi scheme’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/l/lf-lj/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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This episode was recorded live at the Battle of Ideas Festival in London on 19th October 2025

In this very special episode of Planet Normal, the rocket beams in live from the Battle of Ideas Festival featuring not one, but two very special stowaways..

Labour Life Peer, Lord Maurice Glasman, founder of the Blue Labour movement, shares his thoughts on the state of the Labour Party and slams the progressive policies which he argues is destroying its traditional party roots.

Inspirational sailor and author Tracy Edwards CBE, famous for skippering the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989, explains what true leadership and resilience looks like in the face of overwhelming odds and institutional sexism. Plus Tracy gives some shocking revelations about the criticism she faced in standing up for women's rights when the story of her voyage was adapted by the arts industry.

And your co-pilots weigh in on the government’s nonsensical energy policy which is causing so many in the country pain through the soaring cost of living. 

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

Read Allison ‘The Met’s U-turn on ‘hate crimes’ is welcome, but our police are still in thrall to Leftist forces’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/21/noncrime-hate-incidents-metropolitan-police-left-wing/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam ‘China’s influence is vast. It has taken over ‘Russia’s backyard’’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/10/19/chinas-influence-is-vast-it-has-taken-over-russias-backyard/ |

Read Oliver Brown’s interview with Tracy Edwards:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sailing/2025/08/24/tracy-edwards-trans-activists-fights-back/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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With co-pilot Halligan off the train and back in the rocket the team has returned to wade through the madness.

As Donald Trump declares “peace in the Middle East” Liam and Allison take their hats off to him as they credit his deal that led to the release of all the remaining hostages, as co-pilot Pearson reflects on the stark reality of Hamas's true face and Starmer’s attempts to claim credit were slapped down by Trump with disdain.

Back home, the UK political landscape is rocked by astonishing polls, including one showing a massive Reform UK majority! They also dismantle Rachel Reeves' "delusional" economic claims and expose the moral decay at the top of government, from the immigration crisis to the collapsed Chinese spy trial.

Stowing away this week is author and broadcaster Iain Dale to celebrate 100 years since the ‘Iron Lady’ was born. He tells Liam about his latest book in the Prime Minister Series on Margaret Thatcher and why the younger generation barely know of her.

See Planet Normal Live: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/ |

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘Badenoch’s Tories are standing up for fiscal reality – and rightly so’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/10/12/badenochs-tories-standing-fiscal-reality-and-rightly-so/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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In a special episode of Planet Normal co-pilot Pearson brings you a long interview with Eli Sharabi, who after the 7th of October spent 491 days as a captive of Hamas under the tunnels of Gaza.

Eli has recently told his story, in his own words, in his book, Hostage. The book tells the harrowing and deeply moving story of his period of captivity, a scarcely credible tale of man's inhumanity to man.

An awful added chapter of his story is that on his release in February this year he learned that both his daughters and his wife had been murdered on October 7th after he was taken hostage. 

It feels an appropriate interview to share on the week we marked two years on from the appalling terror events, and also in the wake of the tragic events of the Manchester synagogue attack. 

Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/zDZ8PH8UIkE |

See Planet Normal Live: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/ |

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

Read Allison ‘Two years on from Oct 7, Labour would rather appease its Muslim voters than root out anti-Semitism’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/07/two-years-on-labour-would-rather-appease-muslim-voters/ |

Read Allison: ‘‘Break my ribs again, just give me food’: Hamas hostage on his desperate plea to captors’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/03/eli-sharabi-hamas-hostage-interview/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘Rachel Reeves can’t hide behind Trump as she raises taxes again’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/10/05/rachel-reeves-cant-hide-behind-trump-as-she-raises-taxes-ag/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

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As Labour Conference draws to a close and Prime Minister Keir Starmer launches an attack on Nigel Farage, your co-pilots are here to make sense of the madness.

Allison brings you a special report from the “Pink Ladies” demonstration outside Downing Street and speaks to women who have raised concerns about migrant hotels and lack of accountability for women’s safety, and catches Conservative London Assembly member Susan Hall ahead of her speech at the event.

Meanwhile Liam keeps you on track with the economy whilst reporting from a plush train in Uzbekistan!

Both agree the Labour conference has been a confusing affair, claiming Nigel Farage ‘hates Britain’, when he has worked as a politician for the UK for decades…

See Planet Normal Live: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/ |

Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

Watch Allison chat with the Pink Ladies:https://youtu.be/cQRPz1EnhCk

Read Allison ‘Everything you wanted to know about digital ID but were afraid to ask’’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/01/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-digital-id/ |

Read Allison: ‘Toxic Starmer’s dirty tactics won’t fool the people of Britain’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/30/starmers-racism-slurs-are-final-nail-in-labours-coffin/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘To solve the UK’s productivity puzzle we need to start with the state’’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/09/28/solve-uk-productivity-puzzle-need-start-with-state/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

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With Trump giving a dressing down to the UN and Starmer clinging on amid yet more scandals, there is no shortness of madness for your co-pilots to get their teeth into!

Returning crew member Danny Kruger straps in to explain why he defected to Reform after so many years in the Conservative Party and he admits he feels ‘guilty’.

Allison shares her disgust and anger at the government's shameful decision to recognise a state of Palestine, with Hamas calling it a ‘victory and one of the fruits of October seventh’. Having just returned from Israel with a very moving interview, Allison fears for the safety of the remaining hostages. 

Meanwhile Liam sees his worst fears confirmed as the UK becomes an ‘inflation outlier’ as the increasing ramifications of dealing with mass immigration is looking like it is leading to potentially ruinous fiscal costs.

See Planet Normal Live: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/ |

Read Allison ‘Reform’s immigration plan is the most consequential policy of my lifetime’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/23/reform-immigration-plan-consequential-policy/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘The Bank of England’s bond selling row is finally reaching its crescendo’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/09/21/bank-of-england-bond-selling-row-reaching-crescendo/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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With a Trump state visit, an axed Ambassador and Labour polling in third in the upcoming Welsh election there is no shortage of news to wade through, and your co-pilots are here to steer you through it all!

Allison questions the chances of Andy Burnham being able to challenge Starmer for the Premiership, having to rely on a by-election which could be won by Reform, while polling in Wales is showing a battle between Plaid Cymru and Reform who are looking to depose Welsh Labour.

Meanwhile Liam shares his frustration at Labour’s delaying of the Autumn Statement until November, with inflation still higher in the UK than the eurozone the Bank of England could make a major mistake in lowering interest rates.

And Molly Kingsley makes a return visit to the rocket to discuss UsForThem, a group calling for the needs of children to be prioritised in response to decisions on Coronavirus, and her new campaign to save children from the harms of social media and smart phones.

Read Allison ‘Britain’s decent majority are not racist, they’re just terrified of losing the country they love’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/16/unite-the-kingdom-britains-decent-majority-are-not-racist/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘Bank of England’s bond selling spree is making matters worse’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/09/14/bank-of-england-bond-buying-spree-making-matters-worse/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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After a brief trip to Planet Earth at the Reform UK party conference, the rocket is back and making sense of the madness, so you don’t have to!

Allison questions Starmer's decision making in light of yet another scandal, this time concerning Lord Peter Madelson and his 'friendship' with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Meanwhile Liam shares his frustration at Labour’s unrealistic net zero targets, which ignore the realities of our energy infrastructure and the harm it could cause the UK economy.

Strapping in with some stark energy warning is leading expert Kathryn Porter who warns Ed Miliband’s energy policy will make us colder and poorer…

Read Allison ‘At the risk of being arrested, I suggest Met chief Mark Rowley is a total muppet’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/09/allison-pearson-graham-linehan-arrest/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘Reform has won the immigration argument. Now for the economy’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/09/07/reform-uk-won-immigration-argument-now-time-economy/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Kathryn ‘North Sea energy would help Reeves fill her black hole : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/09/06/its-time-labour-made-a-screeching-u-turn-on-the-north-sea/ |

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Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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The co-pilots briefly dock the rocket of right-thinking at the Reform Party Conference this week, for an on-stage episode with special guest Lucy Connolly.

Watch Allison, Liam and Lucy on stage here: https://youtu.be/VMjbGgpiVSU

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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The rocket is back from the summer break and blasting through the nonsense to bring you some common sense! There’s a lot to catch up on so buckle in…

A special stowaway this week is former Home Secretary, Suella Braverman to discuss the rise of Reform in the polls, and renews her call to leave the ECHR

Allison, fresh from her sun lounger, shares her disgust that comedian and Father Ted writer, Graham Linehan, was arrested over 3 tweets and praises Nigel Farage for sharing free speech concerns with Congress in the US.

Meanwhile Liam is looking at the pickle Angela Rayner is putting the Prime Minister in with allegations of underpaying stamp duty on her Brighton flat; will Starmer ‘have the 'guts' and let her go?

Watch Liam's interview with Suella Braverman here: https://youtu.be/bC2F9bNlo0I

Read Allison ‘Labour’s race to show they love flags would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/03/labours-race-to-show-they-love-flags-tragic/

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Suella Braverman’s Paper: https://www.prosperity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/WHY-AND-HOW-TO-LEAVE-THE-EHCR.pdf

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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Summer is coming to an end on Planet Normal! So in our final installment of our "best of the rocket" series, our co-pilots take a look back at another two of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.

In May, after Keir Starmer's EU 'reset', Allison and Liam invited Lord David Frost on to the rocket. The former diplomat and Boris Johnson's chief Brexit negotiator, now a Conservative peer, discussed Starmer's efforts to bring post-Brexit Britain closer to the EU.

Also in May, Liam spoke to Andrew Doyle, playwright, journalist, satirist, and creator of social media star Titania McGrath. Andrew, who recently published The End of Woke, discussed why he'd returned to the "culture wars" after vowing his previous book, The New Puritans, would be his last word on the subject.

Read more from Liam:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/|

Read more from Allison:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/|

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/|

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal|

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Citizens of Planet Normal, you were expecting the co-pilots to be on holiday during August but we now have a surprise bonus episode for you!

Allison was literally at the beach when the exciting news came through confirming Lucy Connolly was about to be released. Lucy is of course the Northampton mum and childminder who ad spent more than a year behind bars for posting a tweet which she quickly deleted in the wake of the Southport murders, and her cause has been very much championed here on Planet Normal.

So with Lucy finally on her way home, the ever intrepid co-pilot Pearson literally rushed back from her break to sit down with Lucy Connolly for her first interview, another planet normal, exclusive, just 24 hours after she left jail.

Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/5sO1oVzFSC0

Read the article here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/22/lucy-connolly-i-was-starmers-political-prisoner/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summer continues on Planet Normal! In this, the second of the three 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, Allison spoke to Ray Connolly - husband of Lucy Connolly, who was sentenced to 31 months for posting a tweet in response to the tragic death of 3 girls in Southport last year. Ray discusses the devastating impact of Lucy’s ongoing incarceration on their family.

And then, in April, Allison and Liam were joined by Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch. We asked her whether Keir Starmer should apologize to former Labour MP Rosie Duffield in light of the Supreme Court verdict on the biological definition of a woman. In regards to the Equality Act 2010.

Read more from Liam:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/|

Read more from Allison:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/|

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/|

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For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal|

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It's the summer break on Planet Normal so in the first of this year's 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.

Following the emergence of more harrowing details of rape gangs operating in the UK, in January Allison spoke to a warrior of free speech, and one of her heroines, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. A former Dutch MP, Ayaan has put herself in danger many times for speaking out against Islamists and supporting the self-determining right of Muslim women.

Then, in March, Liam had a fascinating conversation with American entrepreneur Mike Calvey. Who whilst living and working in Russia, ended up in Moscow's notorious Matrosskaya Tishina prison on trumped-up charges in 2019. Now free and fully exonerated, Mike joined Liam to discuss his book Odyssey Moscow, the war in Ukraine, and his complex relationship with Russia.

Read more from Liam:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/|

Read more from Allison:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/|

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/|

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal|

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Another black hole has appeared in the country’s coffers, but you can bank on your co-pilots to make sense of the pennies and cents.

Allison thinks Starmer’s new migrant swap deal with France is nonsense and nothing more than a secret legal route made by Labour under the pretence of benefiting the British tax payer.

Whilst Liam says the ongoing cost of Labour’s private school VAT increase is crippling families and private schools help the local community as well as the tax payers as they free up spaces in State schools.

Stowing away this week is mum of 2 Emma, who shares the experience of an average family hit by Labour’s VAT on private schools

Read Allison: ‘Our complicit elite is to blame for every sexual assault by an illegal migrant’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/08/05/complicit-elite-blame-for-sex-assault-by-illegal-migrants/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

‘Read Liam: Why the OBR is now warning about the "serious...unsustainable" fiscal cost of high immigration’

https://liamhalligan.substack.com/p/why-the-obr-is-now-warning-about?r=rm4f5&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action |

Read Liam: ‘Trump is wrong to pick a fight with Powell – but is right about interest rates’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/08/03/trump-wrong-pick-fight-powell-right-interest-rates/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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With Donald Trump giving Starmer a piece of his mind, there’s no shortage of madness this week, and your co-pilots are ready to make sense of it all!

Allison thinks The US President took the Prime Minister to task on his immigration and green power policies, completely humiliating him on the world stage.

Whilst Liam says the ‘febrile atmosphere’ in the country isn’t being managed very well by Starmer's immigration policies.

Stowing away this week is Epping resident Orla Minihine who tells the co-pilots why she is protesting against a local hotel being used to house migrants.

Read Allison ‘They tried to break Lucy Connolly, but the decent people of Britain will never desert her’:

‘https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/29/allison-pearson-lucy-connolly-southport-decent-britain/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘I’ve changed my mind about why Britain has a chronic housing shortage’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/27/immigration-fuelling-uk-chronic-housing-shortage/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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Co-Pilot Pearson is taking a break but fear not, Nick Timothy is strapping in to help Co-pilot Halligan make sense of this week’s madness.

Liam is pleased Labour have caught up with the rest of the country in talking about addressing ‘concerns’ over immigration, but is concerned they haven’t given any substance to their position or how they will achieve it.

Nick points out Labour scrapped the Rwanda scheme deterrent and still don’t have a concrete plan other than speeding up decisions, which is leading to yet more increases in channel crossings.

Strapping in, having delved into the history of the ECHR in the UK, is Lord Peter Lilley who has some myths to bust…

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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Secrets, lies and spies are on the agenda for this week and your co-pilots are here to make sense of the madness.

Allison is horrified by the secrecy surrounding the Ministry of Defence data leak, which has been estimated at a potential cost of £7bn to the UK tax payer, without any oversight or accountability of where people will be settled around the Country.

Meanwhile Liam focuses on the news inflation has increased and the warning that the Labour tax increases are curtailing growth, which could lead to the dreaded term ‘stagflation’.

Stowing away this week is MD of REIDsteel, Simon Boyd, who lays out his case for Ed Miliband's net zero policies being ‘dangerous’.

Read Allison: ‘Starmer is sacrificing our troops on the altar of human rights law’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/15/starmer-sacrificing-british-troops-on-altar-of-human-rights/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam: ‘Reeves needs to take a leaf out of Gordon Brown’s book‘ ​​https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/13/reeves-needs-take-a-leaf-out-gordon-brown-book/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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Another week in Labour’s u-turn government and the rumblings of a wealth tax are on the horizon, just as your co-pilots predicted!

Allison thinks the PM’s speech on Monday was a ‘soft focus’ reflection of the 7th July London bombing, and once again avoiding the concerns of Islamists and mass immigration.

Meanwhile Liam focuses on the sticky issue of a potentially imminent ‘Wealth Tax’ as Chancellor Rachel Reeves struggles to balance the books with Starmer’s constant spending u-turns.

Stowing away this week is Matt Goodwin, pollster, political commentator and author joins Allison and Liam to discuss the 20th Anniversary of the London Tube attack and how Labour’s experiment of immigration and integration has failed.

Matt’s substack: https://www.mattgoodwin.org/ |

Read Allison ‘Britain’s craven appeasement of Islam is an insult to the victims of 7/7‘ : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/08/britain-appeasement-islam-an-insult-to-the-victims-of-77/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam ‘A wealth tax will only make the Chancellor’s problems worse’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/06/wealth-tax-will-only-make-chancellors-problems-worse/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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As Labour performs another head spinning u turn, your co-pilots are here to cut through the madness, so you don’t have to.

Allison thinks this government has been a series of ‘car crashes’ culminating in another major humiliating U-turn on the flagship Welfare Bill. The rebellion of his own MPs is making him a ‘dead man walking’.

Meanwhile Liam focuses on the impact of the concessions Starmer has had to make, and how this will affect Rachel Reeves’ ability to balance the books.

Strapping in this week is columnist Dan Hodges to give his take on where this Labour Party didn’t learn anything from the Blairite years.

Read Allison: ‘We may have to defund the BBC to get our country back’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/01/glastonbury-horror-show-tim-davie-bbc-bob-vylan-kneecap/ | 

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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With another packed news week at home and abroad, your co-pilots are here to steer you through the carnage with their usual dose of common sense.

Allison thinks the PM’s weak response to the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities is once again humiliating the UK on the world’s stage, and that Keir Starmer is concerned more about the Muslim vote share than National Security.

Meanwhile Liam wonders if Labour’s is now deploying a ‘scorched earth’ policy as they drop in the polls.

Making a special trip in the rocket this week is Conservative Peer and lawyer, Baroness Cash, who shares her thoughts on Labour’s Employment Rights Bill and the mythical non-existent worker it’s claiming to help.

Read Allison: ‘The mistreatment of Lucy Connolly in prison is deeply sinister’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/24/the-mistreatment-of-lucy-connolly-in-prison-is-sinister/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam: ‘Labour’s 1970s employment rights bill could send Britain over the edge’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/06/15/labour-1970s-employment-rights-bill-could-send-uk-over-edge/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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As Labour skids into yet another U-turn, your co-pilots are here to clear the chaff from the wheat.

Allison is hopeful the inquiry could finally shed light on the ‘worst scandal in British history’ as it is led by Louise Casey, but is concerned the scope won’t see enough towns included by Labour who want to avoid their own patches coming under scrutiny. 

Meanwhile Liam thinks accusations of racism aimed at Sajid Javid for insisting ethnicity be recorded on these crimes when he was Home Secretary, now seem ridiculous and he should be commended for trying to get a clear picture of the issue. 

Making a special trip in the rocket this week is campaigner, author and grooming gang survivor Sammy Woodhouse, who shares her thoughts on the national inquiry into grooming gangs and her experiences as an exploited child.

Read Liam: ‘Labour’s 1970s employment rights bill could send Britain over the edge’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/06/15/labour-1970s-employment-rights-bill-could-send-uk-over-edge/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Allison: ‘No jail sentence is long enough for the cowards who covered up for the Pakistani rape gangs‘ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/17/grooming-gangs-truth-revealed/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has outlined her spending review and your co-pilots are here to wade through the madness with Telegraph Columnist Gerard Lyons. 

Allison thinks Rachel Reeves is going on a ‘spending frenzy’ and racking up too much national debt to cover her costs.

Meanwhile Liam thinks the Chancellor is throwing out big numbers to make it appear Labour is increasing spending but is concerned the money will come from pension funds to cover the cost.

Gerard Lyons is concerned about the Chancellor being able to control her spending and thinks her ‘fiscal rules’ are back-to-front policy making.

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: ‘Dear Tim Davie, here are 10 easy ways to get Reform voters to watch the BBC’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/11/attract-more-reform-voters-to-the-bbc/ |

Read Allison: ‘Woke police chiefs whinge about underfunding when the real problem is their warped priorities’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/10/woke-police-chiefs-whinge-underfunding-real-problem-warped/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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The rocket welcomes stowaway Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mel Stride aboard.

As Rachel Reeves announces a clunky U-turn on winter fuel payments, your co-pilots clear a way through the confusion so you can keep up to date with the latest turmoil from the Labour benches.

Allison thinks Rachel Reeves’ time is up and she’s ‘for the chop’ because of her ‘iron-clad’ fiscal rules being undermined by the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile Liam thinks the Tories need to be bolder in their ideas to challenge the harm he says Labour are doing to the economy and stifling growth.

Read Liam ‘This is the opportunity the Tories have been waiting for. Can they take it?’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/06/01/this-is-the-opportunity-tories-have-been-waiting-for/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Allison ‘Don’t believe Starmer when he says he’s angry about the small boats’: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/03/defence-starmer-priority-invasion-illegal-migrants/ |

Read Allison ‘The BBC’s biased Israel reporting is fuelling anti-Semitism’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/04/the-bbcs-biased-israel-reporting-fuelling-anti-semitism/

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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As tensions simmeramong the Labour benches ahead of their spending review, your co-pilots wade through the noise so you don’t have to.

Allison is pleased to see Reform focusing on families again, by pledging to increase the income tax threshold for married couples.

Meanwhile Liam thinks Starmer is sidelining his Chancellor and making spending pledges Rachel Reeves can’t cover.

Plus comedian and writer Andrew Doyle stows away in the rocket, and tells Allison and Liam why he wrote his latest book The End of Woke, and why he thinks society has swiftly moved away from culture war issues.

Read Liam: 'Labour is pioneering the Blackadder approach to public finances': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/05/25/labour-pioneering-blackadder-approach-to-public-finances-uk/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Allison: 'Only a very clever man like Lord Sumption could be so stupid when it comes to Lucy Connolly': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/27/clever-lord-sumption-could-be-so-stupid-lucy-connolly/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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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, not rule makers’ and will have no choice but to adhere to EU rules without a vote.

HELP LUCY CONNOLLY REBUILD HER SHATTERED LIFE AND FIGHT TWO-TIER JUSTICE:https://democracythree.org/helplucyconnolly |

Read: ‘Angela Rayner demands tax raid on savers’ 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/05/20/angela-rayner-demands-tax-raid-savers-rachel-reeves/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Allison: Lucy Connolly: ‘The judges should be ashamed of themselves. It’s cruel and twisted’

 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/20/exclusive-lucy-connolly-interview-judges-cruel/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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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 is Shadow Business and Trade Secretary, Andrew Griffith, who makes the case for banishing red tape for British businesses - do we need a UK DOGE? 

HELP LUCY CONNOLLY REBUILD HER SHATTERED LIFE AND FIGHT TWO-TIER JUSTICE: https://democracythree.org/helplucyconnolly |

Liam Halligan is raising money for Duchenne UK: https://www.justgiving.com/page/liam-halligan-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=TW&utm_campaign=015 |

Read Liam: ‘Britain’s deal with India will have far more impact than Trump’s razzmatazz’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/05/11/britain-deal-india-far-more-impact-trump-razzmatazz/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Allison: ‘Our cretinous police must answer for their tyrannical behaviour in court’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/13/cretinous-police-must-answer-for-their-tyrannical-behaviour/ |

Read Allison: ‘Starmer’s tough policy on migration is the biggest con since Meg Ryan simulated an orgasm in a diner’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/12/starmers-tough-policy-on-immigration-is-the-biggest-con/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/|

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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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 policy bones and tell voters where they stand economically. Plus how will the turquoise tide fare against the civil servants?

Read Liam: ‘Low oil prices could keep a lid on Britain’s inflation’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/05/04/opec-oil-cartel-could-give-uk-rate-setters-a-helping-hand/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Allison: ‘A new dawn has broken – and Nigel Farage might just be our next prime minister’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/02/nigel-farage-next-prime-minister/ | 

Read Allison: ‘Britain is not worthy of the sacrifice our soldiers made 80 years ago’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/06/sacrifice-soldiers-ve-day-allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/|

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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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 hold out and the thorny issue of Crimea. 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam: ‘Reeves needs to ditch her net zero delusions for Britain’s sake’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/04/27/rachel-reeves-needs-ditch-net-zero-delusions/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: ‘To all those about to lose to Reform: it’s immigration, stupid’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/29/reform-is-a-force-to-be-reckoned-with-its-immigration/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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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 there’s no shortage of tax and tariff talk as the economic woes rumble on.

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: ‘If Starmer had any shame he would have resigned after Supreme Court ruling’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/22/starmer-championed-dangerous-fantasy-men-called-women/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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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 motorbike makers, Claudio Domenicali who explains more about the impact of tariffs on his industry.

And Allison’s been on a cruise…

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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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 is Economist Catherine McBride who delivers some truths about what’s really going on with US trade tariffs and what it means for the rest of the world.

And there is a bulging Planet Normal mailbag to contend with…

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: ‘I heard the full story of the woman jailed for two years for a tweet. Her injustice shames Britain’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/04/lucy-connolly-southport-riots-axel-rudakubana-taylor-swift/ |

Read Tim: ‘Labour loves holding consultations and creating action groups but they largely result in cuts’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/08/labour-loves-action-groups-tangibles-government-cuts/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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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 on the day three girls were killed in Stockport.

And your co-pilots weigh in on the political drama from across the Channel. Is there a new French boyfriend on the horizon for Allison?

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison ‘The White House is right: freedom of speech is under threat in Britain like never before’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/01/starmers-britain-trump-free-speech/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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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 Budget co-pilot Halligan is concerned the Labour front bench is lacking in business and economic knowledge. 

Also on the podcast, Mike Calvey straps in for a very special interview to discuss his new book ‘Odyssey Moscow’ which details his harrowing ordeal as a prisoner of the Russian State.

And co-pilot Pearson has won an award…

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Roger: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/r/rk-ro/roger-bootle/ |

Read Allison: ‘If Rachel Reeves were Conservative she’d have been turfed out long ago’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/25/if-reeves-were-conservative-shed-have-been-turfed-out/ |

Buy Mike’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Odyssey-Moscow-Westerners-Encounter-Russian/dp/1803997303 |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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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 influencers’...

Cashing in on a return fare to the rocket is economist Julian Jessop, who gives his predictions ahead of the upcoming Spring Statement, and just how ‘nasty’ things could be…

And co-pilot Pearson isn’t short of words for the Shakespeare birthplace trust after their recent decision to ‘decolonise’ the playwright's birthplace.

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: ‘Radical welfare reform is the bitter medicine Britain needs’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/18/radical-welfare-reform-bitter-medicine-britain-needs/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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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 is investigative journalist Charlotte Gill who explains all about her campaign to clean up ‘‘woke waste’ and why the taxpayers in this country are ‘funding their own demise’…

And Liam shares more from his recent journey… up a chimney!

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: ‘Reform’s alpha males need to shut up and get on with the job’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/11/reforms-alpha-males-need-to-shut-up-and-get-on-with-the-job/|

Read Liam: ‘Trump’s economically illiterate bravado could do very serious damage’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/09/trumps-economically-illiterate-bravado-could-do-damage/ |

Read Allison and Molly Kingsley: ‘Five years on, British officialdom remains blind to the Covid catastrophe’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/08/british-officialdom-remains-blind-to-the-covid-catastrophe/ |

Read more from Charlotte: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/c/cf-cj/charlotte-gill/ |

Read Charlotte’s substack: https://www.charlottecgill.co.uk/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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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 this week for a return voyage on the rocket is leading epidemiologist, Professor Carl Heneghan who expresses his concerns of the economic and social implications of the ongoing covid19 inquiry.

And Allison gives her take on Meghan Markle’s latest television project…

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: ‘Starmer’s sabre rattling over Ukraine is dangerous nonsense. We’re in no state to fight a war’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/04/starmers-sabre-ukraine/ |

Read Allison: ‘I hate to think what the late Queen would have made of ‘With Love, Meghan’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2025/03/05/meghans-netflix-show-late-queen/ |

Read Carl’s substack: https://trusttheevidence.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 boarding the rocket this week is author of ‘Far from Eutopia: How Europe is failing – and Britain could do’, political commentator Ross Clark who reflects on the recent elections in Germany and why the events illustrate a seismic change for Europe.

There’s certainly no shortage of madness stirring your co-pilots juices this week…

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: ‘Why I’ve decided to take legal action against the police’:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/25/why-ive-decided-to-take-legal-action-against-police/ |

Read Ross’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Far-Eutopia-Europe-failing-Britain/dp/0349146969 |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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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 documentary, ‘Heresies: Britain’s Silent Rape Explosion’, is broadcaster Alex Philips.

And your co-pilots have had a very exciting photoshoot….

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Alex: https://www.thatalexwoman.com/ |

Watch Alex’s documentary:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ58WG3hd2g |

Watch clip of Alex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3XaIYx2hII |

Read Allison: ‘JD Vance’s courageous lecture on migration has shamed our gutless elites’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/18/jd-vances-hard-truths-migration-shamed-europe/|

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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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 from the Welsh Hills from Gareth Wyn Jones who attended the recent farming marches and gives the rocket an exclusive glimpse from the outside. But do your co-pilots think Keir Starmer broke his promise to farmers?

Elsewhere there is a bulging mail bag to contend with and one lucky reader has won Allison as a prize…

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: ‘Lefty lawyers like Starmer and Hermer have poisoned our children against Britain’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/11/hermer-starmer-lawyers-poisoning-children-against-britain/ |

Read Allison: ‘Pregnant people’? Even rail chiefs have bowed to the woke god of inclusivity’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/05/the-death-of-the-formal-train-announcement-is-a-tragedy/ |

Read post referenced by Allison: https://x.com/chishol92148373/status/1889322433875787943?s=48&t=OPk5GiE2zJCmmPkPDAnuTg |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

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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 more about the sale of the Telegraph and where there are opportunities, and dangers, in the revolution of artificial intelligence.

And Allison has some questions for network rail, who have sent her on a one way ticket to the latest woke war of woe this week…

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: On Islamophobia and migration, Labour are asking us to believe the impossible’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/04/islamaphobia-migration-labour-impossible/|

Read Allison: ‘The death of the formal train announcement is a tragedy’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/05/the-death-of-the-formal-train-announcement-is-a-tragedy/ |

Read: ‘Abu Dhabi fund ‘must be forced to sell The Telegraph by Easter’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/30/abu-dhabi-fund-must-be-forced-sell-the-telegraph-by-easter/ |

Read Tina’s report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ldselect/ldcomm/71/71.pdf|

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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 delivers some harsh economic truths and Tim reveals a surprising talent with his impression of President Donald Trump.

You can watch Liam's interview with Ben Houchen here:https://youtu.be/dQTS2z7tf-8

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Tim: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/t/tf-tj/tim-stanley/ |

Read Ben’s letter to the Trade Unions concerning the UK Steel industry: https://x.com/BenHouchen/status/1842589896160202996/photo/1 |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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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, Katharine Birbalsingh who explains the reasons behind her recent letter to the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson.

And co-pilot Halligan gives a glimpse behind the curtain from his recent appearance on Question Time.

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: Why we Brits envy the US having Donald Trump’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/22/britain-jealous-of-us-donald-trump/|

Read Allison: ‘Starmer’s mealy-mouthed statement shows he’s no leader’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/21/starmer-southport-axel-rudakubana-jo-cox-thomas-mair/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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? Resident rocket economist co-pilot Halligan brings his expert opinion and context to the discussion.

Joining your co-pilots this week to discuss the recent grooming gang scandal is the inspirational author of Infidel: My Life, and Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's Rights, is activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali. 

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison” : ‘Rachel Reeves should quit now, not later this year’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/14/rachel-reeves-should-quit-now-not-later-this-year/ |

Read ‘Infidel: My Life’: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Infidel-Ayaan-Hirsi-Ali/dp/1416526242 | 

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 thinks Former PM Liz Truss didn’t crash the economy with her mini budget.

And there are results from the great ‘Planet Normal Christmas Weigh in’....

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison Elon Musk has ripped the cloak of deceit off one of Britain’s most disgusting scandals: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/07/elon-musk-has-ripped-cloak-of-deceit-off-britain-scandal/ |

Read Andrew Did Liz Truss Crash The Economy?: https://europe-economics.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Did-Liz-Truss-Crash-the-Economy-Final.pdf |

Read Sentencing Remarks: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/JCO/Documents/Judgments/sentencing-remarks-r-v-dogar-others.pdf |

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In this, the second of a two 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 2024.

There’s been no shortage of madness on the rocket over the past few months, the peak of which was definitely when co-pilot Pearson spearheaded a free speech campaign in wake of a shocking visit to her home on the morning of Remembrance Sunday by Essex police.

There’s also been an abundance of politicians that have graced the rocket this year, and back in August Liam interviewed future Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch. 

Read more from Liam:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/l... |

Read more from Allison:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a... |

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In this, the first of a two 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 2024.

There’s been no shortage of madness on the rocket over the past few months, the peak of which was definitely when co-pilot Pearson spearheaded a free speech campaign in wake of a shocking visit to her home on the morning of Remembrance Sunday by Essex police.

There’s also been an abundance of politicians that have graced the rocket this year, and back in October your co-pilots were lucky enough to interview former Conservative Prime Minister, Liz Truss, to get her take on Labour's Budget.

Read more from Liam:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/l... |

Read more from Allison:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a... |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/pod... |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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Christmas is coming but the madness on the rocket of right thinking shows no signs of slowing down. It’s time to strap in for the last voyage of 2024.

In light of the latest inflation figures Liam gives his review of Labour's economic strategy which he feels has ‘talked down’ the economy.

And co-pilot Pearson delivers some strong opinions on the latest approach to governing non crime hate incidents in this country.

On this very special festive addition of Planet Normal the rocket is joined by none other than ‘Angela Rayner’....it’s a no brainer!

And your co-pilots reveal their news predictions for the upcoming New Year.

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

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A sombre journey to Planet Normal today, as Allison and Liam learn that the father of Sara Sharif has been found guilty of the 10-year-old’s murder just before recording. Co-pilot Pearson decries that a little girl could have been a victim to such violence in modern Britain, and what it says about integration in our country.

Plus they discuss the events of Syria, and co-pilot Halligan notes that the 'tectonic plates of Western politics is shifting' as mainstream European politicians use events as a chance to call for Syrians in their nations to return home.

Boarding the rocket of right-thinking this week are co-founders ofsavetheparish.com, the impressively named Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent, and journalist Emma Thompson. Sir James and Emma give a passionate pitch for the humble parish church, and why bureaucracy is at fault for the many closures.

Plus your co-pilots dip into the mail bag for more tales of free speech fighters at work.

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Visit Save The Parish: https://www.savetheparish.com/ |

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As Prime Minister Keir Starmer celebrates a turbulent 5 months in office by eventually turning on the Downing Street Christmas lights, co-Pilot Pearson celebrates reaching new records in her weight-loss journey. But elsewhere there is less reason to be joyous with the oncoming news woes.

Both your co-pilots question the need for the PM to ‘re-launch’ his government, whilst the rocket’s resident economist Halligan delivers some stark truths about the growth of the UK economy.

Strapping into the rocket this week for a return mission is Sir David Davis who explains why he decided to return to parliament as well as his take on the UK’s current political antics.

And your co-pilots have a new game of ‘Starmer Bingo’…

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ 

Read Allison: ‘Gregg Wallace’s revolting behaviour is far from banter’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/03/gregg-wallace-revolting/ |

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The campaign for free speech on the rocket has been a runaway success with no signs of slowing down.

This week your co-pilots tackle a bulging mail bag with a Planet Normal Email special reading out some of your reactions to Allison’s victory for free speech.

They also deliver their verdict on Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s latest economic moves and the Labour party's most recent promises to ‘fix the foundations’.

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Liam : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/26/lord-bamford-boris-must-return-if-next-tory-leader-fails/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ 

Read Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/26/allison-pearson-vindicated-non-crime-hate-incident-essex/ |

Read Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal 2024: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/christmas/2024/11/02/telegraph-christmas-charity-appeal-2024/ |

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It’s been one helluva week on the rocket for co-pilot Pearson, as she describes the ‘news tsunami’ that has crashed through her life.

Your co-pilots talk through the reaction to Allison’s story and discuss the principle of free speech in this country.

Also boarding the rocket to discuss his new book, ‘What went Wrong with Capitalism’, is author Dr Ruchir Sharma who lays out his solution to the relationship between state support and free markets.

And there is no shortage of post this week as your co-pilots dive into the rocket’s bulging mailbag as readers react to recent events.

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ 

Read Allison: ‘My week from hell shows that the Britain we love and trust is gone’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/19/my-week-in-the-eye-of-the-storm/ |

Read Susanne Moore: Read Suzanne Moore:’ I don’t always agree with Allison Pearson but I will defend her right to free speech’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/20/defending-free-speech-left-right/ |

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In wake of co-pilot Pearson’s shock visit from the police on Remembrance Sunday, the rocket reflects on the principle of free speech in our country. Allison explains what happens when the journalist becomes the story…

Elsewhere Liam gives his take on why the Harris campaign failed to reach many voters in the US election after his trip across the pond last week.

Also Joining your co-pilots on the rocket this week to discuss her arrest following a tweet about the Southport killings, is Bernadette Spofforth.

And your co-pilots weigh in on the latest news from the COP29 conference.

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ 

Read Allison: ‘My visit from police on Remembrance Sunday is living proof of our two-tier justice system’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/12/my-visit-from-police-is-proof-of-two-tier-justice-system/ |

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