Where Politics Meets History

Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith discuss Jeremy Corbyn’s readmission to the Labour Party, COVID vaccines, Brexit, road pricing, electric cars... and Iain’s back problems. And they play agony aunt and uncle to their listeners. Smut quota: Quite unacceptably high.

Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith review another momentous week in politics. They concentrate on the departures of Lee Cain and Dominic Cummings from Number Ten, the presidential transition, the death of Peter Sutcliffe, the Brexit free trade talks and the publication of Iain’s new book, THE PRIME MINISTERS. Smut content: For a Saturday, high. They’ve let themselves down. Again.

Hi For The Many fans LBC have a new podcast we think you’ll enjoy - Hosted by legendary reporter John Sweeney, Hunting Ghislaine is a 6 part series about Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of a disgraced billionaire and the former partner of a super-rich paedophile who killed himself while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. After hiding for almost a year, she now finds herself facing multiple charges for helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually exploit and abuse under-age women which could lead to her spending the rest of her life in jail. In this new podcast series, Hunting Ghislaine, reporter John Sweeney investigates a fairy story which happens the wrong way round, of how a princess ends up accused of being the monster and no-one at all ends up happily ever after. First Episode available 19th November. Listen on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts

Due to no public demand whatsoever, Jacqui Smith and Iain Dale have decided to record a second podcast each week on a Wednesday, ostensibly to help their bereft listeners survive the second lockdown. Frankly it’s because they have got bugger all else to do. They do discuss Biden and Trump, Covid and the resignation of the FA Chairman Greg Clarke (not that one). And then it all gets a bit silly. Smut Quota: Middling to High. It’s Wednesday. Deal with it, Graham. (Not that one).

Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith discuss in detail the ramifications of what is happening in the United States and what Donald Trump will do next, the latest developments in Covid, the new For the Many face coverings (on sale at www.politicos.co.uk), Jacqui’s post Strictly comedown, and while she is recording the podcast Jacqui is papped through her window! And they make an announcement about the future of the podcast. The Wednesday podcast is to return! Smut quota: Low

In a special bonus edition of the podcast Jacqui Smith tells us about the weekend’s events which saw her voted off Strictly Come Dancing. It all gets a little bit “totes emosh” on occasion and Jacqui takes us on her emotional rollercoaster, what the experience has been like, and what it has meant to her. Get your Kleenex ready.

Iain Dale & Jacqui Smith avoid discussing Strictly (mostly) – as there will be a special bonus podcast tomorrow evening. Instead they spend most of this two hour edition talking lockdown and Corbyn, with the odd thought on the US election and the French terror attack thrown in for good measure. And you get to Iain practising his Welsh. What could possibly go wrong? Smut Quota: Low

Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith bask in the glory of their victory on ‘Pointless Celebrities’ and Jacqui updates us all on her debut on Strictly Come Dancing. That takes up the first twenty minutes of the podcast before they move on to discussing lockdown in Wales, Free School meals, Angela Rayner’s ‘scum’ comments, test & trace, Emmanuel Macron’s response to the French terror attack, the Pope’s views on civil unions, the US election and devolution. Smut Quota: A little higher than normal. Sorry.

Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith spend the first twenty minutes of the podcasts discussing Jacqui’s entry into Strictly Come Dancing and then they turn their attention to the three big political issues of the week – the latest developments in the Covid crisis, the diminishing prospects of a free trade agreement with the EU and developments in the US election campaign. They also spend an hour answering listener questions. Smut Quota: Low to middling. Note: For the next few weeks the podcast will be available from Sunday evenings.

Hi For The Many fans LBC have a new podcast we think you’ll enjoy - Hosted by Lionel Barber, the former Editor of the Financial Times, What Next? focuses on life after COVID-19 and sees the multi-award-winning journalist and author discover how the world is adapting to the pandemic, what needs to change and, most importantly, what lessons we have learnt that will shape our lives for the future. Each week, Lionel will be speaking to some of the biggest leading influential figures in the health, politics, business, technology, arts and environment world, such as former Prime Minister Tony Blair; Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO of the United Nations Foundation; ITV’s Chief Executive Dame Carolyn McCall and many more. Follow Lionel on Twitter: @lionelbarber. Listen and subscribe now on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts