The Daily T

The shadow home secretary has said he was confronted by a man with a machete and had glass bottles thrown at him while visiting a migrant camp in Calais. Chris Philp speaks to Tim and Gordon just after the “hair-raising” incident, and what is could tell us about some of the people crossing the Channel illegally. Plus, a new documentary featuring leading medical experts has cast fresh doubt on serial child killer Lucy Letby’s conviction. We hear from the journalist behind Lucy Letby: Beyond Reasonable Doubt? Producer: Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Social Producer: Ji-Min Lee Studio Director: Meghan Searle Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three and a half years in to Moscow’s war in Ukraine, the Russian and American presidents are set to meet in Alaska - possibly to decide its outcome over the heads of European leaders. Having long insisted that Kyiv would not cede any territory to Russia, Ukraine’s President Zelensky could now be softening on that position. Tim and Gordon are joined by Ukraine: The Latest hosts Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley to understand how this historic summit could play out. Plus, we read Nicola Sturgeon’s memoir so you don’t have to. The Telegraph’s best-known Scot Alan Cochrane reviews her political record. Read: Ukraine prepared to cede territory held by Russia Producer: Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Social Producer: Ece Celik Studio Director: Meghan Searle Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour have admitted to failing white, working-class children in Britain. Writing in today’s Daily Telegraph, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says it’s a “national disgrace” that so many pupils are being left behind, pointing to an alarming rise in school absence whilst all-important attainment figures go the other way. Having inherited a strong schools system from the Conservatives, Gordon Rayner is joined by former Tory education minister, Sir Nick Gibb, to try and understand what’s gone wrong. Gibb believes Labour “didn’t do the work in opposition to try and understand how to improve” and that they’ve been “listening to the teacher unions too closely”. Plus, Tim Stanley and Cleo Watson speak to Lawrence Newport - the co-founder of Looking for Growth, a campaign group that wants to kick-start our flailing economy. Newport, who made his start in political campaigning by getting XL bully dogs banned, says our politics is fundamentally broken, too slow and too ineffective - echoing one of his group’s backers, Dominic Cummings. Read: White working-class pupils ‘written off’ by society, admits Phillipson Producer: Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Andrew Mackenzie Social Producer: James Simmons Studio Director: Meghan Searle Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He’s worked for some of the most controversial people to enter the dock: OJ Simpson, Harvey Weinstein, Julian Assange. Leading American defence lawyer Alan Dershowitz also represented Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted paedophile who has been causing trouble for President Donald Trump from beyond the grave. Dershowitz speaks to Tim Stanley about Epstein’s relationship with Trump and Bill Clinton; what’s really in those files; and the kind of deal Ghislaine Maxwell could do with the Justice Department. The Telegraph has also spoken to Epstein’s former butler, who makes a new set of bombshell allegations about the late financier and his ties to Trump. We put those claims to Dershowitz. We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok Read: ‘I was Epstein’s butler for 18 years. There’s no way he killed himself’ Producer: Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: James England Studio Director: Meghan Searle Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Lownie – bestselling royal historian and author of acclaimed biographies on Lord Mountbatten, Edward VIII and Guy Burgess – joins Tim and Cleo in The Daily T studio to discuss his explosive new book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York. In this revealing joint biography of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Lownie explores the Duke and Duchess of York’s controversial lives - from their relationship and divorce, to Prince Andrew’s Falklands service, business ties, and infamous links to Jeffrey Epstein. Based on four years of investigative research, over 100 exclusive interviews, and multiple FOI requests, Entitled uncovers new details from palace insiders, former staff, diplomats, charity workers, and journalists silenced from reporting on the Yorks – offering an unprecedented portrait of a royal couple at the centre of scandal. We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X Producers: Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: James England Studio Director: Meghan Searle Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a year since the shocking Southport attacks and the controversial social media crackdown that followed. Gordon Rayner speaks to Simon Pearson, a teacher who lost his job after criticising ‘two-tier justice’ in the case of Lucy Connolly who was jailed last year after posting about the summer riots on her X account. In a post on social media, Pearson, who taught adults at Preston College, said Connolly’s online comments were “obviously wrong” but she “should not have been jailed”. We hear how Pearson has struggled to find another job after he was sacked and why he is taking legal action. Meanwhile, Tory infighting erupts as Kemi Badenoch and Liz Truss go head-to-head in public. In a Telegraph column, Badenoch blamed Truss’s 2022 mini-budget for wrecking the Conservative economic legacy, while Truss accessed Badenoch of repeating “spurious narratives” to deflect from her own party’s failures. Tim and Cleo discuss what is really behind this clash and what it means for the party. Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Studio Director: Meghan Searle Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since Labour’s controversial 20% VAT on private school fees has taken effect, over 50 private schools have closed, with many more at risk. The policy was meant to raise billions to hire new teachers, but The Telegraph’s exclusive analysis reveals it may have the opposite effect. In today’s episode of The Daily T, Tim Stanley and Cleo Watson speak to Julie Robinson, CEO of the Independent Schools Council, about how schools are shutting their doors, the impact on SEND pupils, and how the wealthiest families are avoiding the tax altogether by paying fees up front. And why is everyone talking about Sydney Sweeney and… her jeans? The White Lotus star is making headlines after a new American Eagle campaign and revelations that she’s a registered Republican - and now even President Donald Trump is getting involved. Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Studio Director: Meghan Searle Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Andy Cooke, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, has told the Sunday Telegraph that there is “every possibility” of rioting this summer, in a repeat of last year's unrest following the Southport murders, as the same ingredients that fuelled that disorder are still very much in place now. With anger at the housing of migrants in hotels spilling over into more violent demonstrations at the weekend, as well as the Telegraph's exclusive story that pro-Palestinian supporters are co-orindating in an attempt to overwhelm the police, are we on the brink of major civil unrest? Gordon Rayner and Cleo Watson are joined by Martin Evans, the Telegraph's Crime Editor, who's been speaking to sources within the police to find out how braced for trouble they are, whilst Cleo reveals how Downing Street may be unprepared with Westminster in summer shutdown. Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Studio Director: Meghan Searle Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether it's the trans issue, net zero, vaccines and masks, Israel and Gaza or DEI, everywhere they hold power liberals are trying to cancel Righties and shut down debate – from university campuses to inside the civil service. Tim and Camilla are joined by American cultural psychologist Luke Conway, whose new book Liberal Bullies goes inside the minds of Leftists to understand why they can be such authoritarian bullies. We want to hear from you! Email us at thedaily@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Studio Director: Meghan Searle Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Editor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform UK is calling for a crackdown on crime this summer, amid a growing public perception that Britain is lawless – and that the police can’t be trusted to handle it. Meanwhile record numbers of foreign sex offenders and violent criminals are being held in British jails. Camilla and Gordon are joined by former detective Peter Bleksley to understand what’s gone wrong with policing in the UK. Plus, this week the child rape scandal took a sickening turn when it emerged that several grooming gang survivors allege they were also abused by South Yorkshire Police officers. We hear from the lawyer representing the women. Read: Revealed: The true scale of foreign sex offenders in Britain, Charles Hymas and Ben Butcher Name 'Keir' dies out after Starmer takes office We want to hear from you! Email us at thedaily@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Studio Director: Meghan Searle Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Editor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said Britain could recognise a Palestinian state as early as September, but only if Israel takes “substantive steps” to end the crisis in Gaza. He has made four specific demands of Israel: end the “appalling” situation in Gaza and allow 500 aid trucks in a day, reach a ceasefire, “make clear” there will be no annexation in the West Bank and commit to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution. But Israel, the US and even hostage families argue that such a move “rewards Hamas” and “validates terrorism.” Camilla and Gordon examine whether Britain’s recognition would carry real weight on the global stage and hear analysis from former Home Secretary Priti Patel who has accused the Labour Government of not playing a leading role in key negotiations to free the hostages, get aid into Gaza or advocate for a proper peace plan or process. Meanwhile, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have urged Hamas to disband to enable the creation of a Palestinian state. We ask The Telegraph’s Jerusalem Correspondent Henry Bodkin how likely it is that Hamas will step aside as the humanitarian crisis worsens. Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Editor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s exactly one year since Axel Rudakubana turned up to a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance event in the seaside town of Southport, killing three girls (Alice Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King) and attempting to murder ten others. In the days that followed, the town was rocked by riots as tensions in the community boiled over, prompting a heavy police response and sparking a national conversation about online misinformation and social division. For the anniversary of the attack, The Daily T travels to the heart of the Merseyside town to hear how the community is remembering those affected by the horrific crime, and what’s changed in the year since the tragic event. Camilla is on the ground in Southport speaking to locals and faith leaders, including a local Imam, about the impact the attack has had on their lives and how they have rebuilt after the events of that day. And Camilla and Gordon Rayner speak to Ben Roberts-Haslam, senior reporter at the Liverpool Echo, who was at the scene in the immediate aftermath and has since worked closely with the victims’ families. Audio credit to BBC News and Sky News. Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Editor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump certainly didn’t hold back in his advice for Keir Starmer in Scotland today: cut taxes, slash illegal migration, and lose the wind turbines. The men were expected to discuss the situation in Gaza and the US-UK trade deal after a lengthy press conference that became something of a one-man show. The Telegraph’s chief US correspondent Rob Crilly was there. Meanwhile there is one story Trump can’t seem to shake, even with a trip across the Atlantic: the so-called Epstein files. Maga watcher Curt Mills tells The Daily T that the controversial decision to not release documents about the convicted paedophile could bring down the president. We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find us on socials: @dailytpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Editor: Camilla Tominey Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the UK is set to introduce age verification checks on porn sites to stop under age people from accessing explicit content. An Ofcom report showed 8 % of children aged 8–14 accessed porn in just one month, showing a desperate need for change. But will these measures actually work or do they risk pushing young people towards darker corners of the internet? For this special episode of The Daily T, Camilla talks through the new rules and the recommendations made by the Independent Pornography Review with Rebecca Goodwin, an adult film star, and Shaun Flores, a mental health advocate and educator who was addicted to porn. We explore how easy it is for teenagers to access adult content, what impact it’s having on mental health and relationships, and whether new laws banning acts like strangulation in porn will make a difference. We also discuss porn performer and content creator Bonnie Blue, who has spoken about creating more extreme content to survive in a competitive market - and the uncomfortable questions this raises about what our young people are seeing about sex online. Producer: Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Editor: Camilla Tominey Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The British Medical Association has confirmed that a five-day resident doctors' strike will go ahead. Medics will be striking due to a pay dispute with the government, with the organisation demanding a 29% pay rise - despite a 22% increase over the previous two years. We speak to Lord Professor Robert Winston, who resigned from the BMA - an organisation he’s been a member of since 1964 - earlier this month, arguing that the strike action will damage the reputation of his profession. Keeping up the medical theme, Camilla also speaks to the chief nurse of Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, with measles cases on the rise across the country amid an alarming decline in vaccination rates. Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Editor: Camilla Tominey Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He is just the latest in a growing number of disaffected Tories turning to Nigel Farage’s party. Former Conservative chairman Sir Jake Berry tells The Daily T why, after 25 years of Conservative Party membership and 14 years as the Tory MP for Rossendale and Darwen, he has decided to join Reform. As well as acknowledging his role as a senior Tory in the failure of “broken Britain”, Berry attacks the Labour Government, accusing Starmer of gross incompetence: “the Conservative Party failed to sort it out over 14 years. I think the Labour party’s done a worse job in 14 months.” Berry also explains why it took him losing his seat to realise that Nigel Farage is the only man who can fix Britain and why Kemi Badenoch is “toast”. The former MP also tells all on migration, taxation, spending and why he has changed his tune on net zero. Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Editor: Camilla Tominey Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Production assistance from James Keegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The former home secretary, Suella Braverman, is the special guest on today’s edition of The Daily T. The Conservative MP and ex-attorney general explains why she thinks it’s time for the UK to leave the ECHR, how it’s thwarted our ability to control our borders and undermines the sovereignty of Parliament. Braverman also talks through the frustration she experienced at being “powerless” whilst running the Home Office amid a “lack of political will” to get a grip on illegal migration. She also takes aim at former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s “broken promises” on stopping the boats, and outlines why there could be “some truth” in Nigel Farage’s belief that Britain is on the verge of societal collapse. The former home secretary also explains why she remains committed to the Conservatives despite there still being “arrogance and complacency” within the party, as well as why she feels no sympathy for Rachel Reeves and her belief that Keir Starmer is “incompetent” and “a fool”. Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Editor: Camilla Tominey Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Production assistance from James Keegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage is pledging to halve crime in Britain if Reform UK gets into the government. In a speech in central London this morning, the Reform leader unveiled plans for a sweeping overhaul of Britain’s justice system, including 30,000 new prison places and 30,000 new police officers on the streets. It comes as a new J L Partners survey puts Reform six points ahead of Labour and a staggering 12 points ahead of the Tories. He’s promising that no violent criminal or sex offender will be released early under his watch, and that foreign offenders will be sent back to their countries - or even jailed overseas in countries like El Salvador. Camilla and Tim were there to witness the announcement as Farage says it’s time to end “two-tier justice” in Britain. But will it actually work and how much will it all cost? And as Labour announces a massive overhaul of the water industry, including scrapping Ofwat the regulator, Camilla grills the environment secretary Steve Reed on our rising water bills. Producers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia Coan Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Editor: Camilla Tominey Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Donald Trump threatens to increase his tariffs on China to 100%, how should the UK approach the second biggest economy in the world? Jeremy Hunt is joined by John Bolton, former US national security adviser and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and Sir Simon McDonald, former Head of the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Has Trump got the right idea? Will the UK’s actions make any real difference? And ultimately, can China be trusted? In this special Daily T series inspired by his new book, Jeremy Hunt pitches his optimism and ideas to leading experts on how the UK can change the world for the better. From mass migration to leading the AI revolution, we ask, can we be great again? Producer: Rosie Stopher Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Video Editors: Andy Mackenzie and Will Walters Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Original music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour is sticking to its manifesto pledge, confirming that it will give 16 and 17-year-olds the vote at the next general election. Announcing the decision, Keir Starmer said that they were old enough to pay taxes and should therefore get a say in the running of the country. But have Labour just inadvertently opened the door for two politicians incredibly popular with the young – Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn? Camilla and Tim speak to Scarlett Maguire, founder of polling firm Merlin Strategy, who believes that Corbyn is the politician “potentially capable of mobilising and motivating this group”. Elsewhere, they also speak to Rachel Maskell, one of the four Labour MPs who had the whip removed yesterday for her part in the disastrous welfare rebellion, about what life is like under Starmer’s leadership and the “insulting and unprofessional” comments made about her and her colleagues by party sources in the aftermath. Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Planning Editor: Venetia Rainey Video Editor: Will Walters Additional Production: Amelia Clarke Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.