Becoming Burnham: Thatcher, Hillsborough, and the Anger that Shaped Him | Part 1
20 August 2026
437. Question Time: Farage vs Corbyn: The UK’s Next Prime Minister?
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Podcast
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14 August 2025
Is Starmer too afraid to take on Farage? What does Germany’s turn away from Israel signal? And, how much should kids know about geopolitics?
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Dear Alastair,
Enjoying the pod. I have to admit that I listen for balance, being more of a centre-right leaning type and therefore possibly more likely to be drawn further right as the algorithms do their worst. I try to resist but it does take effort!
I was moved by your contributor, Jacob, who is despairing and distraught at the state of politics at the moment and yearning for a centre-ground party he can get behind … he is not alone.
Is it not the case that the British people became hopelessly polarised at the time of the Brexit referendum?
In Farage/Reform they (the general right leaning public) see a man who has achieved at least ‘something’; even if it was a single issue and regardless of whether it was to the good or detriment of the country. It is of course ridiculous … until you examine the outputs and behaviours of the established parties in recent years.
The people of the UK will never, en masse, appreciate incremental steps towards a brighter future – the voting public just aren’t that engaged to do the work necessary to inform themselves. They want and need a vision of a better future. This, I feel, is why Jacob might be so distraught and many others either turn off completely or polarise left and right.
It is a mistake, I believe, for the current government (and the conservatives) to try and play Farage at his own game. To attack him appears weak, and those doing the attacking hardly have a firm foundation upon which to fight. To take the stance of, ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ is even worse.
Votes are up for grabs in all of this turmoil, especially with a younger group of voters coming online.
Farage is winning share of voice by playing on the genuine or perceived fears of mums, dads, and grandparents. Starmer is doing nothing to communicate that the future for the younger generation will be either safe or prosperous.
Unfortunately, the die was cast within weeks of this government coming into power by removing the winter fuel allowance (and then with the own-goal of the U-turn that set the bar at an overly generous £35k).
The reason I mention this first and defining(?) ‘hiccup’ is because it demonstrated that the government doesn’t appreciate the family relationships within the electorate and how people will vote to protect/enhance lives up and down the familial line.
We all know that hard times are ahead economically and culturally. Could the government build a narrative around securing the future of our youth? It is something most people would support and would go some way to justifying some very difficult decisions they must make on areas such as welfare, taxation, law and order, conduct in public office, and immigration … the hot topics.
The ascendance of far-left and far-right is a direct result of the failure of the centre to govern effectively and with purpose. The push factor, if you like. Reasonable people are not ‘pulled’ to a polarised position … they are pushed.
Best wishes,
Chris.