Never Mind The Bar Charts

LIVE SHOW: Is Dominic Cummings a genius?

In the first live audience recording of Never Mind The Bar Charts, host Stephen Tall talks to two people who have worked with Dominic Cumnings: Polly Mackenzie and Sean Kemp.

Rebels with a cause

Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, in which Stephen Tall and I discuss the growing number of recruits to the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party, the unusual set of seats the party is targeting for the general election, why Will Hutton is wrong about Jeremy Corbyn and why everyone should go read Gaby Hinsliff.
Plus an extended digression about cake, apples and grandmothers.
Show notes
Mark is running to be Liberal Democrat Party President.
The must-listen interview with Paula Surridge about British politics and the place for the Liberal Democrats.
Local Lib Dem PPC Ian Sollom graciously welcomes Heidi Allen to the Lib Dems.
Rob Castell, formerly Lib Dem PPC for Beaconsfield, previously did a brilliant campaign video.
Cake, having and eating thereof.
Grandmothers and machine guns.
Gaby Hinsliff's excellent piece on the end of the liberal Tory.

Is politics still about left versus right?

Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, a variation of the usual format in which I interview Paula Surridge about her research into the British electorate. She's been one of the pioneers in understanding how there is more than left versus right to modern British politics. Listen to hear what she has to say about what this means for the Liberal Democrats...
Show notes
A good introduction to some of Paula Surridge's work.
Paula Surridge on Twitter.
Paula Surridge on Medium.

Lib Dems do the Revokey-Cokey

Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, which takes a look at the news that the Liberal Democrats may run in the general election on a simple 'revoke Article 50' platform. Stephen Tall attempts to fisk my Remainer optimism. He possibly fails. Or does he?
Show notes
Keep count of how many Liberal Democrat MPs there are.
Monica Harding is the Lib Dem PPC for Dominic Raab's constituency.
Demand Better sets out the wider Lib Dem policy plans beyond Brexit.
Boris Johnson on Damian McBride.

The Brexit Episode: Remain is winning! (Or is it?)

Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, in which I go full-on cheerleading for Remain. Stephen Tall responds with half a bucket of cold water.
Show notes:
Beatrice Wishart wins in Shetland.
Reasons to doubt the Boris Johnson / Dominic Cummings strategy.
The public doesn't like prorogation.
Tom Chivers on Dominic Cummings and a game of chicken.
Charles Moore's biography of Margaret Thatcher.
The Led By Donkeys anti-Breixt campaigners.
Come and watch us record a special episode: "Is Dominic Cummings a genius?".

And then there were two... (more MPs on the Lib Dem Parliamentary benches)

Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, in which Stephen Tall and I discuss the two latest recruits to the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party, as well as lessons from Winston Churchill on when to hold a politician's past against them.
Show notes
Get tickets for our first live show recording.
Jane Dodds wins in Brecon and Radnorshire.
Sarah Wollaston joins the Liberal Democrats.
The mixed party politics of Winston Churchill.
Deltapoll, or what Joe Twyman did next.
The newsletter that I don't mention much.

Why did Jo Swinson win and what happens now?

Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, in which Stephen Tall and I pick over the results of the Liberal Democrat leadership election. Why did it turn out that way and what next for the party?
Show notes
Results of the Liberal Democrat leadership election.
The Lib Dem Newswire survey on the 2019 contest.
The Lib Dem Newswire survey on the 2017 contest, showing what a strong position Jo Swinson started the 2019 one in.
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What have we learnt so far about Jo Swinson and Ed Davey?

Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, in which Stephen Tall and I reflect on the Lib Dem leadership contest so far and quite spectacularly fail to end the show promptly after we say we should.
Show notes
Jo Swinson interview for Never Mind The Bar Charts.
Ed Davey interview for Never Mind The Bar Charts.
Launch of cross-party electoral reform campaign, including The Brexit Party.
Leadership survey from Liberal Democrat Newswire.
Leadership survey from Harry Samuels.
The similarity of Ed Davey and Jo Swinson.
Hustings: it's been a long time gripe of mine.
Tim Farron's pledges on diversity in 2015.
The Morrissey Report, not yet all implemented.
Examples of the evidence on the benefits of diversity.
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Like the show? Do follow on Twitter or Facebook. It's a great way to hear more about the podcast - and to let your friends and colleagues know about it too.

Exclusive: Edward Davey interview

Following the special Never Mind The Bar Charts interview with Jo Swinson, now out is the matching interview with her rival for leadership of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey:
Mark Pack interviews would-be Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey about why he's decided now is the time to run for leader. They also discuss the Coalition Government, environmental policy and how to defeat Boris Johnson.
Stephen Tall and I are recording our reflections on both interviews early next week. Do let us know either on this post or the social media channels below what you made of the interviews before we record that show; listener feedback is always gratefully received.
Find Never Mind The Bar Charts on social media
Like the show? Do follow on Twitter or Facebook. It's a great way to hear more about the podcast - and to let your friends and colleagues know about it too.

Exclusive: Jo Swinson interview

Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts which, as trailed at the weekend, is the first of two interviews with the candidates to be the leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Following the toss of a coin, Jo Swinson's interview comes first:
Mark Pack interviews would-be Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson about why she wants the job. The topics they discuss include what she thinks of the SNP, what she'd do in a hung Parliament and how the party can be more successful.
The Ed Davey interview will come out in a couple of days and then Stephen and I are recording our reflections on the interviews early next week.
Do let us know either on this post or the social media channels below what you made of the interviews before we record that show; listener feedback is always gratefully received.
Find Never Mind The Bar Charts on social media
Like the show? Do follow on Twitter or Facebook. It's a great way to hear more about the podcast - and to let your friends and colleagues know about it too.