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Quite right!

The Spectator
Quite right!
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52 episodes

  • Quite right!

    Local elections preview: how bad will it be for Labour?

    16/04/2026 | 25 mins.
    In this week’s Q&A: are the local elections about to deliver a political shock? With Labour facing pressure from Reform, the Greens and resurgent local challengers, Michael and Maddie assess whether the party is heading for heavy losses – and what it would mean if even its traditional heartlands start to slip away.
    Also this week: can journalists trust artificial intelligence? After a high-profile case of AI use in the media, they debate where the line should be drawn – and whether relying on it risks hollowing out real expertise and judgment.
    And finally: has ‘twee’ taken over? From Paddington to ‘be kind’, they ask whether a softer, more infantilised tone is crowding out serious debate – and what that says about modern Britain.
    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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  • Quite right!

    Southport inquiry: they knew he was evil, why wasn’t he stopped?

    14/04/2026 | 49 mins.
    This week: the Southport inquiry and a deeper question about why Britain’s institutions keep failing to act. After a damning report into the killings revealed that Axel Rudakubana was ‘known to authorities’, Michael and Madeline ask how so many warning signs were missed. Did a fear of getting things wrong – or being accused of racism – stop professionals from intervening?
    Also on the podcast: another retreat from Keir Starmer. The government has dropped its Chagos bill – but is this a pragmatic recognition of geopolitical reality, or another sign of strategic confusion at the top of government?
    And finally: Labour’s growing dilemma over sex and gender. One year on from the Supreme Court’s ruling on biological sex, why is the government still dragging its feet on guidance?
    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
    Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.

    For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.

    Contact us: [email protected]

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  • Quite right!

    Anas Sarwar: why I said Starmer should go – and what I told Wes Streeting

    31/03/2026 | 49 mins.
    One month on from calling for Keir Starmer's resignation, Anas Sarwar – the leader of Scottish Labour – joins Michael Gove to reflect on British politics ahead of the May elections. Does he stand by his call for the Prime Minister to go? And, having spoken to Wes Streeting the weekend before, what advice did his close ally give?

    The May local and regional elections promise to be the 'fiercest battle' for Scotland's future. Yet after over two decades in power, what does he make of polling that suggests the SNP will win – again? Is Reform posing a threat to Labour? And how can Scottish Labour offer a realistic alternative?

    Plus: which Westminster cabinet minister would he like to see campaign in Scotland – and who are his political heroes?

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.
    Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.

    For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.

    Contact us: [email protected]

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  • Quite right!

    Q&A: Do the Tories need a bigger kicking?

    27/03/2026 | 29 mins.
    To submit your urgent questions to Michael and Maddie, visit spectator.com/quiteright.
    In this week’s Q&A: do the Conservatives need an even bigger kicking? After their worst defeat in generations, they debate whether the party has really changed – or whether voters still see a gap between what it says and what it does.
    Also this week: what does Keir Starmer actually mean by acting in the ‘national interest’? As the conflict with Iran escalates, they unpack whether the Prime Minister’s language reflects a clear strategy – or political positioning.
    And finally: who are the best-read politicians – and which books should anyone in power be reading?
    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
    Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.

    For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.

    Contact us: [email protected]

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  • Quite right!

    Coexistence or 'dominance'? The political Islam debate

    25/03/2026 | 50 mins.
    This week: the row over political Islam and a bigger question beneath it. After Nick Timothy’s comments on public prayer in Trafalgar Square caused a political firestorm, Michael and Madeline ask whether Britain can still have an honest debate about faith, free speech and the public square. Where is the line between coexistence and an assertion of dominance – and are politicians too afraid to confront it?
    Also on the podcast: the future of the Church of England. With Sarah Mullally set to become the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, they debate what her leadership might mean for an institution struggling with bureaucracy, declining trust and questions over its moral authority.
    And finally: Angela Rayner and the battle for Labour’s future. As tensions grow within the party over migration and economic policy, they ask whether Rayner is already positioning herself as Starmer’s successor – and why her political instincts may prove sharper than the Prime Minister’s.
    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
    Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.

    For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.

    Contact us: [email protected]

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About Quite right!

Welcome to Quite right!, the podcast from The Spectator that searches for sanity and common sense in a world which increasingly seems devoid of both. Each week, join Michael Gove, editor of The Spectator, and Madeline Grant, assistant editor of The Spectator, for a mixture of politics, culture and mischief as they unpack the stories that most piqued their interest, amusement or exasperation.For more podcasts from The Spectator: spectator.co.uk/podcastsSubscribe to The Spectator: spectator.co.uk/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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