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Political Frenemies

Political Frenemies
Conservative Party
Labour Party
British Steel
Keir Starmer
Reform UK
NHS
Donald Trump
Syria
Net Zero
China
Energy Costs
Local Elections
Kemi Badenoch
UK Politics
United States
Liberal Democrats
European Union
Assisted Dying Bill
Labour's Housing Plans
Port Talbot

Rebels with opposite causes. Former Tory defence adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert don’t see eye to eye — and that’s exactly why it works. Each week they take on the biggest stories in British politics with wit, insight, and the occasional exasperated sigh. With guests from across the spectrum, Political Frenemies is the antidote to establishment podcasts: unfiltered, unpred... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes55Foundeda year ago
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Latest Episodes

As Westminster slips into Easter recess, Political Frenemies brings the heat: Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton lock horns over a week of intrigue, scandal, and shifting power. From the bizarre fallout of Morgan McS... more

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Political Frenemies is back with sparks flying as former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert reunite with Yellow Rebel’s Andy Chandler for a no-holds-barred breakdown of a bruising week in British politics. From Keir Starmer... more

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For the landmark 50th episode, Political Frenemies goes bigger than ever as Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert reports live from the Lib Dem Spring Conference in York while regular sparring partner and former Tory adviser Chris Newton holds the fort. Th... more

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On this episode of Political Frenemies former Tory defence policy adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert are joined once again by Conservative commentator and councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman for a lively and occasionally combusti... more

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Recent Guests

James Nation
Managing director of Forefront and former deputy head of the Number 10 Policy Unit and former Treasury Special Advisor to Rishi Sunak
Forefront
Episode: Inside No 10, Andrew Arrested, and Another Labour U-Turn w/ James Nation | Political Frenemies #47
Oliver Dean
Political Commentator with Young Voices UK
Young Voices UK
Episode: Starmer Fights Back w/ Oliver Dean | Political Frenemies #46
Matt Lloyd
Academic and former Labour adviser specializing in Labour Party economic policy
Queen Mary, University of London, and University of Birmingham
Episode: Will the Mandelson Scandal Bring Down Keir Starmer? | Political Frenemies #45
Tom Willerton-Gartside
Head of Press at Looking for Growth
Looking for Growth
Episode: Starmer Visits China and Braverman Defects w/ Tom Willerton-Gartside | Political Frenemies #44
Zak Wagman
Conservative Party councillor and political commentator
Conservative Party
Episode: Should Starmer Stand Up to Trump? w/ Cllr Zak Wagman | Political Frenemies #41
Russell Quirk
Property expert, political commentator, and recently elected Reform UK councillor
Reform UK
Episode: Budget 2025 Fallout w/ Russell Quirk | Political Frenemies #37
Dr. George Aylett
Political scientist and historian
University of Leeds
Episode: Labour, BBC, and NHS Chaos w/ Dr George Aylett | Political Frenemies #35
Andy Chandler
Political commentator and YouTuber
The Yellow Rebel
Episode: Prince Andrew Controversy and the Caerphilly By-Election w/ Andy Chandler | Political Frenemies #32
Caron Lindsay
Editor of Lib Dem Voice and Scottish Liberal Democrats Social Security spokesperson
Lib Dem Voice
Episode: Tory Conference, Lib Dem Strategy, and the Green Surge w/ Caron Lindsay | Political Frenemies #30

Hosts

Chris Newton
PhD military historian and defence analyst; former Tory defence policy advisor; co-host of Political Frenemies.
Mathew Hulbert
Lib Dem activist, former councillor, and broadcaster; co-host of Political Frenemies.

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Talking Points

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Inside No 10, Andrew Arrested, and Another Labour U-Turn w/ James Nation | Political Frenemies #47
Q: What was it like working in Downing Street and how does a senior adviser balance competing priorities during a crisis?
Nation explains the role as highly reactive, with daily briefings, prioritization, and the challenge of aligning with the Prime Minister's views while driving policy; the best moments come when advised policies gain Prime Ministerial buy-in and can be moved through the system.
Inside No 10, Andrew Arrested, and Another Labour U-Turn w/ James Nation | Political Frenemies #47
Q: Is the monarchy in a precarious state off the back of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest, or is this a targeted issue rather than a systemic crisis?
James Nation suggests the monarchy is not in a precarious state overall, but acknowledges the revelations are disgraceful and damaging, and that transparency and coordination across state institutions are needed moving forward.
Starmer Fights Back w/ Oliver Dean | Political Frenemies #46
Q: Oliver, what's your history in politics, and how did you become a Political Commentator with Young Voices?
Oliver describes studying history and politics at the LSE, leading the LSE Hayek Society, and building a portfolio as a Political Commentator with Young Voices UK, which trains young people to break into journalism and policy media.
Is Starmer's Iran War Response Wrong? w/ Matthew Goodwin-Freeman | Political Frenemies #49
Q: OK. Matthew, what do you make of the government's handling this week and its decision-making, especially around US bases and involvement?
Matthew argues that while there were some moves to relocate assets, the overall response has been slow and incomplete, and the government should have moved more decisively and clearly to support an allied operations framework.
Will the Mandelson Scandal Bring Down Keir Starmer? | Political Frenemies #45
Q: How do you think you would have coped with this week?
Matt reflects on Morgan McSweeney's character and abilities in navigating the current political context, noting the complexity of governing during this tumultuous time.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Political Frenemies

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

A sharp, opinionated take on UK politics with two long-running hosts who openly disagree yet maintain a humorous, unreconstructed dialogue. Episodes consistently cover high-stakes political events, party dynamics, leadership challenges, and policy debates, often featuring guests who offer cross-partisan or policy-focused perspectives. The show stands out for its brisk banter, willingness to challenge mainstream narratives, and a penchant for real-time reaction to unfolding political drama. Listeners likely include political professionals, strategists, journalists, and engaged citizens who want aggressive, independent analysis without conventional boilerplate. The format is conducive to staying current on elections, party strategies, and pol... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Political Frenemies?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Political Frenemies:

1. Where Politics Meets History
2. Coffee House Shots
3. Politics At Sam and Anne's
4. Reality Check
5. Electoral Dysfunction

How many episodes of Political Frenemies are there?

Political Frenemies launched a year ago and published 55 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Political Frenemies?

Recent guests on Political Frenemies include:

1. James Nation
2. Oliver Dean
3. Matt Lloyd
4. Tom Willerton-Gartside
5. Zak Wagman
6. Russell Quirk
7. Dr. George Aylett
8. Andy Chandler

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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