Rephonic
Artwork for OppositionCast
Labour Party
Conservative Party
Green Party
Keir Starmer
Reform UK
Andy Burnham
Nigel Farage
Your Party
Liberal Democrats
Budget
Margaret Thatcher
Kemi Badenoch
Jeremy Corbyn
Makerfield
Leadership Elections
Peter Mandelson
Olly Robbins
Wes Streeting
Manchester Conference Centre
Count Binface

Discussion of political opposition with leading academics, politicians and commentators, presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher of the Centre for Opposition Studies.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes97Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Artwork for OppositionCast

Latest Episodes

The Party Conference season ends with Kemi Badenoch's speech to the Conservative gathering in Birmingham, where she took aim not only at Labour but also at Reform UK, ruling out any move to "unite the right" and condemning Nigel Farage's party. Meanw... more

Conference season continues with the Greens assembling in Brighton - but will anyone be there? With the Holborn and St Pancras by-election looming next week, some activists have been advised by the party to stay away and keep campaigning to get their... more

As the political conference season continues, the Lib Dems have been by the seaside in Brighton, with Ed Davey getting serious to tell them they are in "the fight of their lives." Nigel was in the hall for the speech - but was anyone outside watching... more

When is a protest legitimate, and when does it cross the line into unreasonable or unlawful behaviour? In this week's episode Nigel and Sarah discuss the rough treatment of hecklers at the Reform UK conference, and look back at interruptions to previ... more

Parliament returns from its summer break, and OppositionCast returns to bring you news of a Shadow Cabinet reshuffle, as Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch refreshes her top team, with both her Shadow Chancellor and Shadow Foreign Secretary depar... more

As the UK sees yet another Prime Ministerial handover, Nigel and Sarah discuss the choreography of the departure and arrival rituals, with reflections on previous such occasions. They also consider whether those sacked from the Cabinet by Andy Burnha... more

As all eyes at Westminster turn to the imminent coronation of Andy Burnham as Labour leader, OppositionCast, appropriately, looks across the chamber to the opposition party and looks at the history of Conservative leadership elections. Nigel speaks t... more

Once again Nigel Farage has put himself at the centre of a political drama with his announcement, amid growing questions about his finances, that he is quitting as an MP to fight a by-election to regain his seat. He is pitching it as "establishment v... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Lee David Evans
Historian and commentator; co-host of Since Attlee and Churchill
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Episode: 91 - Coronations and Defenestrations - with Lee David Evans
Zach Polanski
Leader of the Green Party campaign launch, Deptford
Green Party
Episode: 81 - Reform vs the Greens: our new local politics?
Andrew Husband
Leader of Durham County Council (Reform UK)
Reform UK
Episode: 81 - Reform vs the Greens: our new local politics?
Emily Hickey
Political historian who wrote about Thatcher in opposition
Academic (Centre for Opposition Studies/University)
Episode: 71 - Thatcher at 100 - with David Willetts, Dr Emily Hickey and Sir Adam Ridley
Adam Ridley
Former adviser to Margaret Thatcher and policy contributor
Former Thatcher adviser, policy unit experience
Episode: 71 - Thatcher at 100 - with David Willetts, Dr Emily Hickey and Sir Adam Ridley
Kemi Badenoch
Leader of the Conservative Party (at time of conference, guest appearing at fringe/reception events)
Conservative Party
Episode: 70 - Tories, Tax and Coco Pops
Ed Davey
Leader of the Liberal Democrats (interviewed during the conference)
Liberal Democrats
Episode: 70 - Tories, Tax and Coco Pops
John Howard
Former Prime Minister of Australia, guest at conference drinks event
Former Australian Government
Episode: 70 - Tories, Tax and Coco Pops
Tony Abbott
Former Prime Minister of Australia, guest at conference
Former Australian Government
Episode: 70 - Tories, Tax and Coco Pops

Hosts

Nigel Fletcher
Host of Opposition Cast, Centre for Opposition Studies
Sarah Southern
Co-host

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

70 - Tories, Tax and Coco Pops
Q: What did you do in the National Policy Renewal Program and why was it designed that way?
We organized a structured, expert-led discussion to test and refine policies with input from specialists across health, physical activity, primary care, and social care, and we included audience voting to ensure engagement and accountability.
71 - Thatcher at 100 - with David Willetts, Dr Emily Hickey and Sir Adam Ridley
Q: Adam, obviously you have first-hand experience of working with Mrs Thatcher. Did you notice that this sort of lack of experience and fragility was something that was obvious when she took over as leader?
Ridley discusses Thatcher's underlying confidence, her determination to unify the party, and the development of a robust policy-making process that balanced long-term strategy with practical short-term campaigning.
67- Green politics and Trump protests - with Natalie Bennett
Q: What is your view on the current state of the Green Party under its new leadership?
Bennett describes Polanski as a strong communicator who has broadened the Green footprint beyond traditional environmental focus, emphasizing left-liberal policies and a strategy to win more seats while maintaining a distinctive green philosophy.
91 - Coronations and Defenestrations - with Lee David Evans
Q: How does the process shape the outcome of leadership contests?
The rules shape candidates and strategies; members and MPs game the system to favor preferred outcomes, and the electorate or grassroots in both parties can influence who ends up leading, affecting both unity and policy direction.
91 - Coronations and Defenestrations - with Lee David Evans
Q: What role do stalking horses play in Conservative leadership history?
Stalking horses have been rare and mostly symbolic, with Anthony Mayer in 1989 as a clear example; later rules effectively ended the practical use of stalking horses by enabling quick leadership transitions and clear no-confidence mechanisms.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About OppositionCast

What is OppositionCast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Insightful, analysis-driven discussions focused on opposition politics in the UK, often featuring historians, academics, and commentators. Episodes frequently explore leadership contests, party strategy, parliamentary procedures, media dynamics, and electoral mechanics, with a strong emphasis on how opposition parties position themselves in relation to governing majorities. Notable throughlines include historical comparisons of leadership rules, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the strategic considerations behind by-elections and local elections. The show stands out for its rigorous, informed lens on political strategy and party dynamics, along with witty banter and a long-running expertise in opposition commentary that c... more

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Which podcasts are similar to OppositionCast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with OppositionCast:

1. Parliament Matters
2. Westminster Insider
3. Since Attlee & Churchill
4. Political Fix
5. Where Politics Meets History

How many episodes of OppositionCast are there?

OppositionCast launched 6 years ago and published 97 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact OppositionCast?

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What guests have appeared on OppositionCast?

Recent guests on OppositionCast include:

1. Lee David Evans
2. Zach Polanski
3. Andrew Husband
4. Emily Hickey
5. Adam Ridley
6. Kemi Badenoch
7. Ed Davey
8. John Howard

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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