Planet Normal

The Iran war lays bare the betrayal of Britain’s energy security

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uRceQCyRYIUIt’s markets this, oil prices that, and what will happen next, so your co-pilots are blasting in to make sense of the tsunami of news flooding across the globe from the Middle East and the war with Iran.Allison points to the shame of all governments for not protecting British interests and defence strategy has left us woefully unprepared for any disruption to energy supplies. And as the news is pointing away from the UK Allison has spied Labour still pressing ahead with a definition of Islamophobia and potentially curbing Free Speech in the process.Liam looks at the economic fallout as the Strait of Hormuz continues to be closed and Iran attacks cargo ships, and brings on board journalist and energy market expert Andrew Critchlow to discuss the UK’s energy security and strategy.Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |Read Allison ‘The BBC is not living up to the ‘British’ part of its name’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/11/bbc-boat-race-cancellation-crufts/ |Read Allison ‘Starmer is pandering to Islamist extremists to save his own skin https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/10/keir-starmer-islamism-concerns-hannah-spencer/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Britain needs economic security – and a sovereign wealth fund’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/03/08/britain-needs-economic-security-sovereign-wealth-fund/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran, Trump and running scared Starmer

You can watch this episode on youtube: https://youtu.be/KQ1dUe4FxZ0As conflict with Iran hots up across the Middle East, your co-pilot blast in to make sense of the madness.Strapping into the rocket is Dr Alan Mendoza, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Henry Jackson Society to give his expertise on the conflict and how the ‘special relationship’ is faring as the PM holds back on British intervention.Allison thinks delays to assisting US forces has left the UK as ‘billy no mates’ should we need military help in the future.Liam looks at the economic fallout as the Strait of Hormuz is closed and this could send the cost of living soaring again for the British people.Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |Read Allison ‘Rachel Reeves’s Freudian slip betrayed the truth about this Government’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/04/rachel-reeves-freudian-slip/ |Read Allison ‘Trump is right. Starmer has humiliated the land of Churchill’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/03/starmers-cowardice-over-iran-shames-britain/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘The tide is turning on ludicrous net zero policies’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/03/01/rumours-of-oils-demise-have-been-greatly-exaggerated/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Planet Normal: Live, with Lionel Shriver and Suella Braverman

You can watch this recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lFRwaTYK-mMYour co-pilots have braved the atmosphere of planet Earth as the rocket touches down at the Emmanuel Centre in London for a live recording of Planet Normal! To mark the occasion, your co-pilots are joined by two of the most fearless voices to navigate a country they fear is currently on an ‘economic cliff edge’. The first revered stowaway on the rocket today is Lionel Shriver: The celebrated satirical novelist discusses her provocative new book, A Better Life. She pulls no punches while exploring the naivete of the progressive left and the ruthlessness often overlooked in the immigration debate. Also strapping in for lift-off is Suella Braverman KC MP in her first appearance since her high-profile defection to Reform UK. She reveals the ‘list of great betrayals’ she witnessed at the heart of government and explains why she believes the Conservative Party has abandoned the principles of Margaret Thatcher. Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |Read Allison ‘No ‘spares’, no climate preaching: My plan to save the monarchy’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/24/my-plan-to-save-the-monarchy/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Reform needs to convince global markets it can govern’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/22/reform-needs-to-convince-global-markets-it-can-govern/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform launch their top team, as Starmer U-turns - again!

Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_jt6Hy7NYvUOn this week’s flight through the sanctuary of sweet reason, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan examine the rapid rise of Reform’s new "Shadow Cabinet," including Robert Jenrick’s debut as Shadow Chancellor and his mission to position the party as the new vanguard of fiscal prudence.Alison and Liam also debate the "gratitude of immigrants" and push back against "ethno-nationalism" in British politics following the appointments of Zia Yusuf and Suella Braverman.In a powerful and moving interview, Alison speaks with Siobhan Whyte, whose daughter Rhiannon was murdered by an illegal migrant. They discuss the systemic failures of the UK’s immigration system and Siobhan’s campaign to support the children left behind by such violence.Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |Read Allison ‘Every day, we are reminded that the migration crisis is ruining Britain’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/17/migration-crisis-is-ruining-britain-nhs-jim-ratcliffe/ |Read Allison ‘This is Reform’s best week yet’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/18/this-is-reforms-best-week-yet/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Labour’s net zero extremism is ripping the heart out of Britain’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/15/labour-net-zero-strategy-ripping-heart-out-britain/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Support the Rhiannon Whyte Foundation’s gofundme here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-rhiannon-whyte-foundation | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tick tock, Sir Keir’s against the clock

Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LFlJivPsT9AFollowing a scorching column by their colleague Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan discuss whether Britain is becoming "ungovernable" as sovereign bond yields spiral and the Prime Minister appears increasingly held hostage by the hard-Left of his own party.Allison questions the mandate of a leader facing internal coups, and a looming wipeout in the upcoming May elections.Liam warns of a looming correction from the bond markets if the government doesn't get a grip on public spending.Making a return trip to the rocket is actress and campaigner Sophie Window (nee Winkleman) to share some of her findings in the campaign to keep children off screens and social media.Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |Read Allison ‘Anyone who thinks Rayner is the answer to Britain’s problems needs their head examined’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/10/angela-rayner-answer-britain-problems-head-examined/ |Read Allison ‘Labour says it is cutting NHS waiting lists. That is just a lie’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/labour-cutting-nhs-waiting-list-lies/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Japan’s spendthrift Iron Lady has dangerous plans’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/08/japans-spendthrift-iron-lady-has-dangerous-plans/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Read Ambrose Evans-Pritchard ‘The Starmer palace coup is a national disgrace’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/10/the-starmer-palace-coup-is-a-national-disgrace/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.