Tim Bale

After the resignation of Liz Truss the UK will soon have its third prime minister this year. Britain has long been considered a politically stable nation. So has something changed? The governing Conservative Party is divided on many issues, including the country’s future direction post-Brexit. The opposition Labour Party has also struggled to accommodate different views on economic and social policy. Meanwhile the two-party system is being challenged by shifting demographics, a rural-urban divide and strengthening support for Scottish nationalists. So what lies at the heart of the turmoil in the British political system and where does it go from here?Ritula Shah is joined by a panel of expert guests.Professor Tim Bale - Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London and author of the upcoming book The Conservative Party After Brexit: Turmoil and Transformation.Polly Toynbee - Guardian columnist and co-author of The Lost Decade: 2010–2020, and What Lies Ahead for Britain.Sir John Curtice - Professor of Politics at the University of Strathclyde and a leading expert on public opinion.Also featuring:David Blunkett (Lord Blunkett) - Former UK Home Secretary in Tony Blair's Labour government.Producers: Paul Schuster and Ellen Otzen.

Wes Streeting, a Senior UK government minister and former Health Secretary, discusses the whirlwind of speculation surrounding potential leadership challenges to Keir Starmer. He denies rumors about his own ambitions and critiques Downing Street's behavior. Alongside Tim Bale, a Politics Professor at Queen Mary University, they dissect Labour's strategies on immigration and reform, analyzing their implications for core voters. Bale also delves into broader political dynamics, including Trump’s ongoing legal battles with broadcasters and issues surrounding UK-US intelligence sharing.

Professor Tim Bale discusses the historical journey of Brexit from Britain's initial integration with the EU to the divisive referendum. Topics include Labour's stance on European integration, Theresa May's struggles with Brexit execution, potential post-Brexit scenarios, and the effects of Brexit on the UK economy and society.