Never Mind The Bar Charts

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.
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: 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.

Announcement: three special episodes coming up

Exclusive interviews with Edward Davey and Jo Swinson coming up. Subscribe the podcast to make sure you don't miss them.
Show notes
The mystery coin was a special 2001 Canadian 10 cents (held upside down and with light glinting off it... at least that's my defence).
Make sure you don't miss those exclusive interviews by subscribing in your favourite podcast app or sign up for email alerts.

Will the Liberal Democrat boom go bust?

In episode #9, Stephen Tall and Mark Pick pick over the European election results and what comes next for the Lib Dems. Can the party sustain its May run of successes?
Show notes
Kieran Pedley co-hosts the Polling Matters podcast, which you can find here.
Examples 1, 2 and 3 of how the media missed the story of the Lib Dem surge.
Details of Lord Ashcroft's polling.
Tim Bale points out that the referendum theory Stephen mentioned doesn't really hold water.
Phil Cowley writes and edits great books, and here is his tweet we mentioned.
And... ignore my garbled reference to the 1992 general election. The comparison that can be done in different ways is between 1987 and 1992, not 1992 and 1997.

Just how happy should the Lib Dems be?

Welcome to the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, in which Stephen Tall and I pick over the 2019 local election results to see how happy the Liberal Democrats should be. We also take a bit of a look forward to the European elections, discuss the use of 'bollocks' (complete with Ofcom guidance) and consider the overall pace of the Liberal Democrat recovery.
Show notes
704!
The coalition didn't irredeemably damage the Lib Dem brand: the evidence.
Not Enough Champagne: the centre-left podcast we praise during the show.
John Curtice's analysis of the Lib Dem local election performance versus the Remain/Leave balance of an area.
How rude is 'bollocks'? The official Ofcom guidance.
How effective is 'bollocks'? It fits with this wise advice.

Friend or foe? Change UK and the Lib Dems

Stephen Tall and Mark Pack discuss the leaked Change UK memo about the Lib Dems, where Change UK is headed, a bold claim about Tony Blair from Stephen and how the local elections may change the political trajectory of the Remain parties.
Show notes
Our previous podcast episode about Change UK / The Independent Group.
That Change UK memo.
Local election predictions look promising for the Lib Dems.
The Liberal Democrat Euro campaign launch.

Are the Lib Dems about to lose an MP?

Welcome to the latest edition of Never Mind The Bar Charts, in which Stephen finally gets me to talk about Brexit. But only after discussing the Newport West by-election, the reliability of the national opinion polls, the likely Liberal Democrat leadership contest and whether the party might be about to lose Norman Lamb from its ranks.
Listen and enjoy...
Show notes
Norman Lamb's comments about his future can be read about here.
The Lord Ashcroft polling discuss was covered in more detail by me here.
One small fact correction on myself: the second Brexit Party person to have to stand down was the party's treasurer.
The podcast now has its own social media channels.