The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts sees a return to the show for Professor Rob Ford. We dive into my favourite political paradox to discuss with him: the long term liberalising trends in British politics and yet the run of wins for the Conservatives and populist right. Who is going to come out on top?

Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.

• What caused Brexit? Previous podcast with Rob Ford.
• Sunder Katwala / British Future on 'balancers' on immigration.
• Depending on your definitions, this person was a century and more ahead of those we mentioned in the podcast in being someone from an ethnic minority who became both Chancellor and then Prime Minister.
• Glaciers.
• The British General Election of 2024 by Rob Ford, Tim Bale, Will Jennings and Paula Surridge is now available to pre-order: Amazon, Waterstones.
• Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
• New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
• Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes.

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts sees me discuss with polling expert Steve Akehurst what has happened to Labour's July 2024 vote.

We dive into the characteristics of those who voted for Starmer but are now flirting with Farage, as well as ask whether those folk are really the whole story.

• Getting to know ‘Reform curious Labour voters’ by Steve Akehurst.
• What would make Labour defectors more positive about Labour?
• The problems with polling averages.
• Labour's problem is a Michael Barber not a Morgan McSweeney one.
• Pollsters split over what's happened to Labour's 2024 vote: I have now done the crosstabs analysis we talk about on the show.
• The County Durham by-election mentioned on the show.
• Steve Akehurst on Bluesky.
• Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
• Downing Street street name sign: photo by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay and used under the Pixabay license.
• New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
• Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes.

• Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts features an interview with Emeritus Professor Jonathan Parry, whose new book, Liberalism, explores the history of liberalism as a political idea in Britain.

Parry emphasises that liberalism is best understood through the actions of politicians rather than the abstract theories of political intellectuals.

Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.

• Liberalism by Jonathan Parry: Amazon, Bookshop.org or Waterstones.
• Professor Jonathan Parry.
• Previous podcast with Duncan Brack about Jo Grimond.
• Photo of Big Ben CC0 Public Domain.
• Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
• New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
• Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes.

• Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.