Planet Normal

Planet Normal: ‘Fair-weather’ Burnham faces a growing economic storm

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Djl86k1PyYwCo-pilots Halligan and Pearson strap back into the rocket of right thinking after their summer break to tackle Prime Minister Andy Burnham's PMQs debut.Allison slams Burnham’s ‘vibes-based’ leadership, warning that starry-eyed optimism won't fix record-high energy bills or a million unemployed youth. Meanwhile, Liam sounds the alarm on spiralling bond yields and a debt interest time bomb that’s set to blow up the upcoming October budget.Also on the radar: the duo rate Kemi Badenoch’s Shadow Cabinet reshuffle, debate the right-wing battle for welfare cuts, plus, nostalgic listener mailbags and a sobering reality check from a 26-year-old geophysics grad facing redundancy thanks to Britain's brutal North Sea tax policy.Joining your co-pilots is Reform UK’s Richard Tice to talk Net Zero, tax cuts, and why pre-election pacts are completely off the table. HighlightsPlanet Normal: ‘Fair-weather’ Burnham faces a growing economic stormAllison dismantles Andy Burnham's leadership Liam issues a dire warning about the bond marketsRichard Tice joins to discuss Reform UK's economic strategy, energy policy, and election approachSign 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 more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Allison ‘Burnham is terrified Badenoch will expose him as a third-rate court jester’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/09/01/allison-pearson-burnham-scared-badenoch-will-expose-him/ |Read Allison ‘My top 10 tips to avoid paying Burnham’s spiteful mansion tax‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/30/tips-to-avoid-paying-burnhams-spiteful-mansion-tax/ |Read Liam ‘La belle France could edge the bond market’s ugly contest‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/08/30/la-belle-france-could-edge-the-bond-markets-ugly-contest/ |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: Best Voyages from the Rocket 2026 P4

You can watch this episode on YouTubeSummer is coming to an end on Planet Normal! So, for the final instalment of our “best of the rocket” series, our co-pilots head back into the archives for two more memorable voyages aboard the rocket of right thinking.In April, stowing away on the rocket was former 22 SAS commander Colonel Richard Williams who discussed how “lawfare” and the prosecution of veterans are undermining British military recruitment and national security.Then, in May, return stowaway William Clouston joined the co-pilots to dissect the local election results, as well as where the Social Democratic Party stands on welfare and why he believes Labour’s approach is bankrupting the country.Read Allison 'Britain is no longer safe for women and children'Read more from Allison hereRead Liam 'Labour needs to wake up to Britain’s ballooning welfare bill'Read more from Liam hereNeed help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts hereEmail: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Planet Normal: Best Voyages from the Rocket 2026 P3

You can watch this episode on YouTubeThe summer voyage continues on Planet Normal! This week, our co-pilots fire up the engines and head back into the archives for two more memorable journeys aboard the rocket of right thinking.In February, Allison spoke to Siobhan Whyte, whose daughter Rhiannon was murdered by an asylum seeker. Siobhan discussed what she believes are the systemic failures of the UK’s immigration system and her campaign to support children left behind by such violence.Then, in April, former Royal Marine commando and documentary maker James Glancy strapped into the rocket to explain why he believes the UK military can no longer meet the demands of its responsibilities around the world.'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 'Britain must pop the welfare balloon or face ruin' |Read more from Allison hereRead more from Liam hereNeed 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: Best Voyages from the Rocket 2025 P2

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hxtGEUicygESummer continues on Planet Normal! In this, the second part of our best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their favourite voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.Back in January, Allison and Liam spoke to General Sir Peter Wall, former Chief of the General Staff, following The Telegraph’s revelations about Sir Keir Starmer’s role in a legal case that paved the way for hundreds of British soldiers to face investigation over alleged historic war crimes. Sir Peter discussed the impact of the cases on the Armed Forces and warned that soldiers need to know the state will support them.And then, in February, Liam was joined by actress Sophie Winkleman to discuss her campaign to protect children from smartphones, social media and excessive screen use in schools. Sophie also shared her concerns about the growing use of AI in education, arguing that children need to learn to think for themselves rather than rely on technology.Read more from Liam hereRead more from Allison hereNeed help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts hereEmail: planetnormal@telegraph.co.ukClick for 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The wit, wisdom and words of Rod Liddle

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/K-svfqmj8RgIt's the summer break on Planet Normal and ordinarily your co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far, however with the very sad news of the death of columnist Rod Liddle, we have decided to take a little detour back to his finest appearances on the rocket.Our first stop is back to 2021, when Rod explained why he believed Labour had lost touch with its traditional working-class base by prioritising identity politics over economic concerns. He also reflected on his decision to join the SDP, arguing it had become the natural home for voters who still valued patriotism, community and traditional social democracy.Then we fast-forward to 2024, as Rod campaigned as the SDP candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. With a general election under way, he assessed the mood of the country, explained why he believed support for the two main parties was ebbing away, and set out where he thought the SDP could fit into Britain's changing political landscape.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 Cambridge fantasist is proof that stupid intellectuals are poisoning Britain‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/04/jason-arday-cambridge-stupid-intellectuals-poison-britain/ |Read Allison ‘ My friend Rod Liddle was a great British freedom fighter‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/03/allison-pearson-friend-rod-liddle-great-british-freedom/ |Read Allison ‘The school summer holiday should be capped at a month ‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/02/cap-school-summer-holiday-one-month/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |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.