Katy Balls, a keen political journalist for The Spectator, and William Boyd, a celebrated author known for his Bond novel, delve into riveting topics. They unpack the rise of Reform under Nigel Farage, exposing the inner workings of his team. Katy reveals the surprising mix of figures within this political movement. The conversation shifts to the paradox of technology’s role in crises, sharing humorous and intense personal stories of being 'missing.' Finally, Boyd discusses the evolution of the James Bond franchise, exploring what makes 007 timeless yet relevant.
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insights INSIGHT
Reform UK's Rise
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, is gaining traction in British politics.
They're currently leading in opinion polls, capitalizing on Labour's struggles and Tory baggage.
insights INSIGHT
Reform UK's Strategy
Reform UK is professionalizing its operations, focusing on a more agile approach.
They're combining Farage's old guard with Tory defectors and Gen Z members for digital savvy.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Missing Person Mishap
Ross Clark's phone died while hiking, leading his wife to report him missing.
This triggered a full police investigation, highlighting the changed expectations around constant contact.
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This week: Nigel’s gang – Reform’s plan for power.
Look at any opinion survey or poll, and it’s clear that Reform is hard to dismiss, write Katy Balls and James Heale. Yet surprisingly little is known about the main players behind the scenes who make up Nigel Farage’s new gang. There are ‘the lifers’ – Dan Jukes and ‘Posh George’ Cottrell. Then there are the Tory defectors, trained by Richard Murphy, a valued CCHQ veteran, who is described as a ‘secret weapon’. The most curious new additions are the Gen Zers, who include Tucker Carlson’s nephew, Charles Carlson, and Jack Anderton, known as ‘the Matrix’. Katy and James joined the podcast to lift the lid on Nigel Farage’s inner circle. (02:14)
Next: is technology a help or hindrance when it comes to missing people?
While smartphones are no doubt useful in emergency situations, they create the expectation that you will always be in touch – when sometimes, of course, you can’t be. But what happens when technology fails? Ross Clark tells the hilarious story of how he mistakenly became a ‘missing person’ after his phone died while hiking in Scotland. Ross joins the podcast to unpack the lessons from his day getting the full Lord Lucan treatment, alongside journalist and political correspondent for GB News Katherine Forster. Katherine’s sons, who used smartphones to track a hiking route, went missing last year in Bali when their phones died and they were unable to contact anyone. (17:33)
And finally: how do you make Bond great again?
James Bond seems to have lost his way. Gone is the charm, wit and romp of the original Connery and Moore Bonds, replaced by a grittier, more vengeful Bond with bloated plotlines that are far too referential. Amazon – which took full ‘creative control’ of the franchise this week – faces quite the task in rebooting the world’s most famous spy once again. Journalist Madeline Grant gives her prescription in the magazine on how to save Bond, but we are joined on the podcast by William Boyd, who is part of an elite class of authors to have written their own James Bond novels. (28:29)
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