June 24, 2024 • 5 mins
Reform may have hit its peak but it’s position in the polls is a cause for concern for the Tories.
The party had a surge over the weekend, leaving it ahead of the Conservative Party in the polls, but their lead is “nowhere near enough” to concern Labour, UK Correspondent Rod Liddle said.
He told Mike Hosking that it’s enough to ensure the Tories are down to between 50 to 70 seats at most.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Rod Linlsbeck. Well, that's ride a very good morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Good morning to you, Mike.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
You took last Thursday off because you have you're busy campaigning,
and we'll come to that in just a couple of moments.
So give us the update polls. What are we reading?
How bad is it for the Tories and is it
getting worse?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It's catastrophic for the Tories, it's not necessarily getting worse catastrophic.
So over the weekend, and indeed, for a couple of
days before the weekend, it really looked as if there
was a Reform party surge, and there has been, I mean,
no question about it. But my guess is it may
(00:38):
have reached its peak with Reform ahead of the Tories,
which is calamitous for the Tories, but nowhere near enough
ahead in order to worry labor, but enough to ensure
that the Conservatives are down to, you know, fifty sixties
seventy seats at the most. And you do wonder is
(01:01):
there a natural kind of ceiling for people who will
be prepared to vote reform. Obviously, if you look at
the continent in Europe, there isn't because the parties who
are similar to Reform or winning hand over fist and
some of that has come over here, but not enough
I think to suggest that there's a huge sea change
(01:25):
in British politics in which the Conservative Party has been
replaced overnight by the Reform Party.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
As regards varajan As comments over the weekend about Ukraine
and poking the bear and all the umbradge that's been
tossed upon him, does that play well with his lot
end or was he misinterpreted to the extent that what
I think he was trying to say was that Putin
has long been reported as saying the expansion of NATO
worries me and have an expense too far, I'll do
something about it. So he stayed in the obvious, isn't he.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Up to a point? I think there is a difference
between what between how what faraj said is received by
members of his own party who have a vague putini
Ish sympathy, and how it plays in the red wall
in the electorate in general, where there is no such thing.
(02:18):
And also you cover a little bit with what he
said about NATO's continual eastern expansion, Well, you know NATO has, indeed,
you know, embraced the Baltic countries and Poland and so on,
But that was because they wished to join NATO to
(02:40):
protect themselves from the from Russia. So I think I
think he got the tone wrong, which is not unusual
for Nigel Farage. But I think he got the tone
wrong and he's been eviscerated for it, and I think
he would rather the whole issue hadn't.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Been raised, right baiting scandal. Is this much going on
that that's not the thing? It might be on another day,
or is it bigger than being here?
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I just think it is so absolutely emblematic of what
everyone in the country thinks of the Conservative Party, but
that the fine detail doesn't really matter. You know, we
have severe Conservative people betting, insider dealing basically on the
date of the election, and it plays into every trope
(03:30):
Sekir Starmer could wish to raise to say, this is
why they shouldn't be the government, you know, a privilege
of moneyed and of greed, and it couldn't be worse
for Richards Sunac, you say, I assume Sunac is sitting
there thinking, my god, what's going to happen next week?
Tell it wouldn't surprise me if something did it's an
(03:53):
administration which has gone before the end of its time.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
How are you going? How's your right are you? Are
you winning the vote, You're winning the hostings, You're heading
to Parliament? Are things turning for you? Rod?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I can feel the will of the people behind me,
I thought being said, I did kind of win the Hustings,
the last testings I was in, which is, you know,
from a standing star the party nobody's really heard of,
did really well. But I'm tied a little bit, you know,
(04:26):
to a party which is what I'm tied a lot
to a party which has no possible public persona. So
we're not going to do very well. But it's all
good fun. Mike, I would advise you to do it.
I think next election, mate, you should be out there
and I will come and campaign for you.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Fantastic, Well you campaigning for me is reason enough by
the idea of time to watch the uisor you're too busy.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Oh, I've been watching it. I've been watching it and
you know, if we should see that expected a kind
of boosting support by a good feel factor. He's losing
out there. England have been abysmal, none more so than
in the drawer with Denmark, and then of course Scotland
went out last night, a cause of much hilarity. South
of the border, it's not looking good at all, and
(05:13):
France and Spain are looking very strong indeed, so I
don't think the Euros are going to come to Rishi's help.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
For more from the mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to
news talks. It'd be from six am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Rod Linlsbeck. Well, that's ride a very good morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Good morning to you, Mike.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
You took last Thursday off because you have you're busy campaigning,
and we'll come to that in just a couple of moments.
So give us the update polls. What are we reading?
How bad is it for the Tories and is it
getting worse?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It's catastrophic for the Tories, it's not necessarily getting worse catastrophic.
So over the weekend, and indeed, for a couple of
days before the weekend, it really looked as if there
was a Reform party surge, and there has been, I mean,
no question about it. But my guess is it may
(00:38):
have reached its peak with Reform ahead of the Tories,
which is calamitous for the Tories, but nowhere near enough
ahead in order to worry labor, but enough to ensure
that the Conservatives are down to, you know, fifty sixties
seventy seats at the most. And you do wonder is
(01:01):
there a natural kind of ceiling for people who will
be prepared to vote reform. Obviously, if you look at
the continent in Europe, there isn't because the parties who
are similar to Reform or winning hand over fist and
some of that has come over here, but not enough
I think to suggest that there's a huge sea change
(01:25):
in British politics in which the Conservative Party has been
replaced overnight by the Reform Party.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
As regards varajan As comments over the weekend about Ukraine
and poking the bear and all the umbradge that's been
tossed upon him, does that play well with his lot
end or was he misinterpreted to the extent that what
I think he was trying to say was that Putin
has long been reported as saying the expansion of NATO
worries me and have an expense too far, I'll do
something about it. So he stayed in the obvious, isn't he.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Up to a point? I think there is a difference
between what between how what faraj said is received by
members of his own party who have a vague putini
Ish sympathy, and how it plays in the red wall
in the electorate in general, where there is no such thing.
(02:18):
And also you cover a little bit with what he
said about NATO's continual eastern expansion, Well, you know NATO has, indeed,
you know, embraced the Baltic countries and Poland and so on,
But that was because they wished to join NATO to
(02:40):
protect themselves from the from Russia. So I think I
think he got the tone wrong, which is not unusual
for Nigel Farage. But I think he got the tone
wrong and he's been eviscerated for it, and I think
he would rather the whole issue hadn't.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Been raised, right baiting scandal. Is this much going on
that that's not the thing? It might be on another day,
or is it bigger than being here?
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I just think it is so absolutely emblematic of what
everyone in the country thinks of the Conservative Party, but
that the fine detail doesn't really matter. You know, we
have severe Conservative people betting, insider dealing basically on the
date of the election, and it plays into every trope
(03:30):
Sekir Starmer could wish to raise to say, this is
why they shouldn't be the government, you know, a privilege
of moneyed and of greed, and it couldn't be worse
for Richards Sunac, you say, I assume Sunac is sitting
there thinking, my god, what's going to happen next week?
Tell it wouldn't surprise me if something did it's an
(03:53):
administration which has gone before the end of its time.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
How are you going? How's your right are you? Are
you winning the vote, You're winning the hostings, You're heading
to Parliament? Are things turning for you? Rod?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I can feel the will of the people behind me,
I thought being said, I did kind of win the Hustings,
the last testings I was in, which is, you know,
from a standing star the party nobody's really heard of,
did really well. But I'm tied a little bit, you know,
(04:26):
to a party which is what I'm tied a lot
to a party which has no possible public persona. So
we're not going to do very well. But it's all
good fun. Mike, I would advise you to do it.
I think next election, mate, you should be out there
and I will come and campaign for you.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Fantastic, Well you campaigning for me is reason enough by
the idea of time to watch the uisor you're too busy.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Oh, I've been watching it. I've been watching it and
you know, if we should see that expected a kind
of boosting support by a good feel factor. He's losing
out there. England have been abysmal, none more so than
in the drawer with Denmark, and then of course Scotland
went out last night, a cause of much hilarity. South
of the border, it's not looking good at all, and
(05:13):
France and Spain are looking very strong indeed, so I
don't think the Euros are going to come to Rishi's help.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
For more from the mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to
news talks. It'd be from six am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!