The Daily T

It’s been a tumultuous twenty four hours on the Right, both in the UK and in the US. Firstly, Reform chairman Zia Yusuf resigned from the party yesterday evening, claiming that “working to get a Reform government elected” was not “a good use of my time”. Then, Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s row deepened further, with the Musk calling for the president to be impeached and claiming that Trump was was “named in the Epstein files”. Trump for his part said Musk was “wearing thin” and had “lost his mind”. Former Conservative blogger turned Reform activist Tim Montgomerie joins Camilla and Gordon to reflect on Zia Yusuf’s departure, and speak to one of Reform’s most recent defectors from Labour, Scottish councillor Jamie McGuire, about the party’s results in the Hamilton by-election where it came third behind Labour and the SNP. They also speak to Daily Telegraph Senior US Correspondent Rob Crilly about the escalating war of words between two of the world’s most powerful men. Producer: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: James Simmons Video Editor: Will Walters Studio Operator: Meghan Searle With assistance from Andy Mackenzie Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just ten minutes after we'd published today's podcast on whether Reform and Nigel Farage could achieve a stunning victory in Scotland in a by-election in Hamilton - a bombshell. The party chairman Zia Yusuf, the businessman who Nigel Farage long-maintained had professionalised the party since his arrival last year, and attributed many of their recent successes to, had resigned. The news came after a row during Prime Minister's Questions yesterday when Reform's newest MP, Sarah Pochin, asked Keir Starmer whether it was time to ban the burqa. Yusuf publicly criticised the intervention as "dumb" and "nothing to do with me", and announced his shock departure just over twenty four hours later with the polls still open in Hamilton. Gordon Rayner and Tony Diver react to the news in a bonus extra Daily T, with Tony having just spoken to a Conservative MP delighted that Reform had "imploded, at last". Producer: Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Jessica Phillips Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Farage’s big test in Scotland. For years it was a political dead-end for Reform party leader - heckled in Edinburgh, chased from restaurants in Aberdeen, and repeatedly rejected at the ballot box. But in today’s Holyrood by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse, Reform UK is mounting a serious challenge. With Farage back in charge and his candidate Ross Lambie gaining ground in an SNP stronghold, could this be the moment his party makes a breakthrough north of the border? And while the Tories remain locked in internal warfare, we speak to Reform’s most senior council leader, Linden Kemkaran, on how the party plans to cut spending with their own version of Elon Musk’s DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) department, and why she wants to end taxpayer-funded English lessons for migrants. Producer: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: James Simmons Video Editor: Will Walters Studio Operator: Meghan Searle With assistance from Andy Mackenzie and Ryan Gudge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump's administration has renewed their attacks on the BBC over its coverage of Gaza, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt accusing the corporation taking “the word of Hamas with total truth”, an allegation the broadcaster denies. Camilla and Gordon speak to former BBC director of television Danny Cohen, who agrees with the US President, saying that the broadcaster's coverage is "driving hate" towards Israel and Jews, and that there are "two tiers of racism at the BBC". Elsewhere, a stark new report suggests the white British population could become a minority in the UK within the next 40 years. 73 per cent of the British population is white, but is predicted to drop to 57 per cent by 2050. Camilla and Gordon are joined by Professor Matt Goodwin, who led the research, to unpack what the data tells us about the UK’s changing demographics, why these shifts are happening, and what they could mean for the country’s future. Producer: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: James Simmons Video Editor: Will Walters Studio Operator: Meghan Searle With assistance from Andy Mackenzie and Ryan Gudge Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The case captured the world’s attention back in 2007 and has continued to pop up in headlines ever since. But the disappearance of Madeleine McCann remains a mystery. Now German authorities have launched a fresh search in southern Portugal for evidence of what happened to the British toddler. Police are in a race against time to charge the prime suspect, convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner, who is currently in prison in Germany on a separate conviction – but plans to disappear when he is released in September. Camilla and Gordon look back on one of the most widely reported missing-persons cases in British history, and get an update on the new search from crime editor Martin Evans. We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok. Producer: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Robbie Nichols Video Editor: Will Walters Studio Operator: Meghan Searle With assistance from Andy Mackenzie and Ryan Gudge Original music by Goss Studio News clips from ITN, BBC and Sky News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Strategic Defence Review is out. Designed to be a root and branch look at all aspects of Britain’s armed forces, and billed as a “message to Moscow”, the message no doubt reaching the Kremlin is – Keir Starmer doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing. Just as the Prime Minister appeared to be pulling back from his commitment to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP, a record 1200 small boats crossed the Channel on Saturday. Can this Labour Government be trusted to defend Britain? Elsewhere, Chief Reporter Robert Mendick fills us in on the story of Hamit Coskun, the 50 year old Turkish asylum seeker who’s been convicted of a public order offence after setting fire to a copy of the Koran. We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok. Producer: Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Ruby Borg Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since Hamas's brutal terror attack on Israel in October 2023, the military campaign in Gaza has drawn both support and, lately, mounting international criticism – as civilian casualties rise, aid deliveries stall, and warnings of famine grow louder. Israel says the war is not one of conquest, but of the survival of the Jewish state. In this special episode, Tim Stanley sits down with Israel’s ambassador to the UK. Tzipi Hotovely says her country is still suffering the trauma of October 7th; argues the West is wrong about aid blockades in Gaza; and says that Jews no longer feel safe in the West. We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok. Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Ruby Borg Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's never a dull moment in the White House when Donald Trump is the president. Elon Musk yesterday began "offloading" from his role overseeing the 'DOGE' programme, after coming to the end of his 130 day limit as a special government employee. But rumours abound of a falling out between Musk and Trump, with the South African-born businessman criticising the president's "One Big Beautiful Bill" in an interview yesterday, claiming that the programme of massive tax cuts would actually raise the federal deficit, undermining his work cutting government spending. In this episode of The Daily T, Kamal Ahmed speaks to Michael Wolff - Trump biographer and author of four behind-the-scenes books about the president - to find out what really happened between Trump and Musk. They also talk about how the president will react to the shock news that his global tariffs have been blocked by a US federal court. We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find @DailyTpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok. Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Ruby Borg Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With just two weeks until Rachel Reeves’ spending review, there are calls from across the Labour frontbench for more cash — just as the Chancellor needs to tighten the purse strings. But perhaps the most striking intervention comes from the UK's top police chiefs — including Sir Mark Rowley — who today warned that the Government's crime targets will suffer if funding is slashed. This comes despite a £3bn increase in funding and 20,000 new officers since 2016. Can Rachel Reeves balance economic control with growing spending demands from her own party? And does she risk being outflanked by Nigel Farage's Reform UK? Elsewhere, away from Westminster, King Charles is in Canada at the state opening of parliament — and did he make a not-so-subtle dig at Donald Trump’s ambitions to annex his northerly neighbours? We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find @DailyTpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok. Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Ruby Borg Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage says he’s coming for Labour voters, and he’s bringing a bold new benefits policy with him. The Reform UK leader is promising to lift the two-child benefit cap and offer bigger tax breaks for married couples, in a direct pitch to working-class families. Speaking in central London, Farage claimed support for Labour is “collapsing” and challenged Sir Keir Starmer to a head-to-head debate in a northern working men’s club. Kamal and Cleo were at the event to bring us the mood in the room and dissect what Farage’s game play means for both Labour and the Tories. Plus, we’re joined in the studio by shadow chancellor Mel Stride who says Farage’s plans are “fantasy economics” that could put our economy at risk. We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find @DailyTpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok. Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Editor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump’s niece has famously called him a “narcissist” and “the world’s most dangerous man”. In part 2 of a Daily T deep-dive into the US president, Kamal speaks to psychologist, author and vocal Trump critic Mary Trump, whose father Freddie was Donald’s older brother. She shares revealing insights into the Trump family dynamic, describing a toxic, misogynistic environment where “cruelty was currency” - context she says is key to understanding the 47th president. Later, Mary Trump addresses Kamala Harris’s catastrophic loss in the 2024 US presidential election: Joe Biden’s health, the fallout from that chaotic debate, and how the Democratic Party can win again. Producers: Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Editor: Camilla Tominey Production assistance from Fran DiFazio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Miller has been by Donald Trump’s side since 2016. One of his longest-serving strategists, Miller has had a front row seat during the remarkable last decade of American politics, as he helped Trump beat Hillary Clinton, watched on as he lost to Joe Biden in 2020, and then became a crucial part of his 2024 re-election campaign. Camilla talks to Miller about how he’s survived so long in the volatile Trump-orbit, the strategy behind the president's Oval Office confrontations with world leaders, and why his boss is “absolutely a genius”. Having just got off the phone to the president as he arrived at the studio, there are very few people who know Trump better. Producers: Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Editor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inflation has risen to 3.5%, putting fresh pressure on the Bank of England and on households already feeling the squeeze. But that’s not the only storm brewing for the Labour Party. A leaked memo from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to Chancellor Rachel Reeves has exposed a growing rift at the top of the Labour Party. In an exclusive report, our political editor Ben Riley-Smith reveals how the two are at odds over tax hikes on savers and investors and what the row means for Labour’s economic credibility ahead of the next election. And we speak to Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, about the state of policing and our justice system right now - from Lucy Connolly’s prison sentence to Southport victim Leanne Lucas calling for sharp bladed kitchen knives to be banned. Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Ji-Min Lee Video Editor: Valerie Browne Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Editor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twenty-four hours after Keir Starmer announced a shift on fishing rights and closer alignment with the EU, the backlash has been fierce. Reform are already expecting to take seats from Labour in the next General Election thanks to the Brexit “reset” deal, with deputy leader Richard Tice accusing Starmer of having “surrendered the fishing industry” to the EU. On today’s episode, Camilla and Kamal unpack the fallout from the Prime Minister’s big “reset” and discuss the key moments from both his statement in Parliament and leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch’s fiery response as the Tories slip to fourth place behind Labour, Reform and the Lib Dems in a major poll. And it was one of Britain’s biggest medical scandals. Thousands were infected with HIV and hepatitis through contaminated blood products in the 70s and 80s, including children at a specialist school called Treloar’s. Camilla speaks to Richard Warwick, a survivor, and journalist and author Cara McGoogan ahead of a new ITV documentary on the scandal and why survivors still haven’t had their compensation. Producers: Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Ji-Min Lee Video Editor: Valerie Browne Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Editor: Camilla Tominey Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Prime Minister has, in his words, struck a "win-win" deal with the European Union which will begin a "new era" in UK-EU relations, arguing that he's "delivering what the British public voted for last year". The big problem is that, by allowing EU boats access to UK fishing waters until 2038 and agreeing to align with EU food standards, Starmer seems to be ignoring what the British public actually voted for back in 2016. There's no doubt that this is another step moving the UK closer to the bloc - but are we now on a path back into the EU as many suspect Starmer would like? Kamal and Tim are joined by the Telegraph's Europe editor James Crisp, fresh from the summit at Lancaster House, and by Boris Johnson’s EU negotiator Lord David Frost. Producers: Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Robbie Nichols Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Editor: Camilla Tominey Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Daily T exclusive, actress Sophie Winkleman, also known as Lady Frederick Windsor, speaks out about the growing influence of education technology and mobile phones in schools. Winkleman shares her concerns about the long-term impact of screen-based learning on under-16s and makes the case for a return to traditional teaching method in the classroom: real books and pen and paper. She also reflects on the damaging effects mobile phones are having on young people’s mental health, attention spans and social development, calling for urgent action for our children’s futures. Producer: Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Rachel Duffy Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Editor: Camilla Tominey Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the row inside Reform rumbles on, Camilla speaks to the man behind the headlines: Rupert Lowe. In the wake of his blistering attack on his former ally Nigel Farage, Lowe tells The Daily T the Reform leader is “running a cult” and a “narcissist”. He also says he might start a new party to the right of Reform, calling for “a satisfactory alternative” that is “more than just a mobile PR machine”. Later, we bring you part two of The Daily T’s interview with veteran Tory MP and father of the house Sir Edward Leigh, who’s leading the charge against the legalisation of assisted dying. Ahead of another debate by MPs on Friday, Sir Edward explains why he has joined forces with Labour grandee Diane Abbott in an attempt to halt the Bill’s progress. Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Rachel Duffy Video Editor/Camera Operator: Aaron Wheeler Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Editor: Camilla Tominey Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a day of contrasting fortunes for Nigel Farage and Reform. First, the good: The Telegraph has revealed analysis that demonstrated how, if the recent local election results were repeated at the next national vote, Reform could wipe out Labour. Then, the bad: Farage barely had time to pop the champagne after that polling news when ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe released a blistering attack, calling the Reform leader "a coward and a viper" who "must never be Prime Minister". With Lowe hinting at a potential new political party, will this latest row hurt Reform's chances just as the party builds momentum? Camilla and Kamal are joined by Sir Edward Leigh, veteran Tory MP and father of the house, who says that Farage "does have a history of falling out with everybody who comes too close to him or threatens him" but is doubtful that it will dent his popularity. Read: Reform could oust Miliband in Labour election wipeout, by Tony Diver Listen: Ben Habib on The Daily T Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Rachel Duffy Video Editor: Valerie Browne Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Editor: Camilla Tominey Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer has promised to take a tougher stance on immigration — but there are fears the government’s new ban on the recruitment of foreign care workers could deepen Britain’s care crisis, with providers warning it could lead to care home closures due to significant staffing issues. Since 1997, there have been 25 official reviews into the UK’s broken care system, yet little meaningful change. We’re joined by someone who has brought the issue to the political forefront: Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey. His moving personal story of caring for his disabled son, John, struck a chord across party lines — and in his new book - Why I Care: And why care matters - he’s calling for urgent reform. He also explains why he disagrees with the Prime Minister's use of language announcing those immigration reforms, why he's confident that he can match Nigel Farage's appeal to former Tory voters, and why Donald Trump's position on the Ukraine/Russia conflict amounts to little more than appeasement of Vladimir Putin. Plus, it's our first podcast birthday! Stick around for cake, highlights, and a few behind-the-scenes bloopers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer has finally unveiled his long-awaited immigration white paper, vowing to bring down the numbers “significantly”. But despite the tough talk, there’s still no cap on net migration. At a press conference, the Prime Minister set out plans to tighten the path to citizenship — including a ten-year wait and tougher English tests, insisting he was pursuing the crackdown because he believed it was the right thing to do rather than as a result of political pressure with the continued rise of Reform. But previous comments he has made on immigration say otherwise. So it this all just a political performance from Starmer? Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp joins Camilla and Kamal in the studio to explain why Labour are just tinkering around the edges of the issue and how the Tories would go further to fix Britain’s “broken” immigration system. He also fronts up to the “serious mistakes” on immigration policy made by previous Conservative governments, but argues that Reform’s proposals for net-zero immigration are “easy promises to make” that “aren’t credible” Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Social Media Producer: Rachel Duffy Video Editor: Andy Mackenzie Studio Operator: Andy Watson Editor: Camilla Tominey Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.