OppositionCast The Centre for Opposition Studies

An unscheduled EMERGENCY episode (!) prompted by the resignation of senior Civil Servant Sue Gray to take up a job as Chief of Staff to the Labour Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer.

Featuring the government's response in the House of Commons to an urgent Question on the subject, Keir Starmer's awkward radio interview about it, and a look at the challenges of running the Leader's office with contributions from our archive interviews with Charles Clarke, Tina Stowell and Kate Fall.

Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher

New Year, new episodes! An update from Nigel Fletcher on our plans for the podcast in 2023, including more topical content and a focus on the UK's opposition parties as they prepare for the next General Election.

In the meantime, check out the Leaders of the Opposition feature from Times Radio in 2022, with Nigel speaking to Matt Chorley about each of the leaders who failed to make it to Number 10. Available now as a series of 11 bonus episodes of The Times's Red Box Politics Podcast.

Finally, tell us what you think of OppositionCast and your ideas for future episodes - email nigel@oppositionstudies.org.
Look forward to hearing from you!

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies
Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher

With protests continuing on the streets of Iran against the country's authoritarian regime, and the Ukrainian people continuing their defiance in the face of Russia's invasion, different forms of opposition continue to be manifested around the world. In this episode Nigel talks to foreign policy expert Garvan Walshe about the resistance being shown in these three countries and their prospects for success.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies
Presenter: Dr Nigel Fletcher
Theme Music: Tom Hector

As the Conservative Party suffers a collapse in its opinion poll rating, Nigel speaks to pollster Chris Curtis of Opinium Research about how bad it is for the government, and what it means for the Labour Party. We also hear from Professor Jane Green of Nuffield College Oxford in her keynote address to our Opposition Studies Conference, given in July during a previous political crisis...

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies.
Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher.
OppositionCast Theme Music by Tom Hector.

There is a new mood of confidence around the Labour Party as it takes a substantial lead in the opinion polls and begins thinking seriously about the prospect of power. Nigel Fletcher reports from the Labour Party Conference on Sir Keir Starmer's speech, and talks to guests including Professor Jane Green, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee Meg Hillier MP, and Dr Catherine Haddon of the Institute for Government.

Produced by the Centre for Opposition Studies.
Presenter: Dr Nigel Fletcher
Theme Music: Tom Hector

In this special episode, we pay tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the week of her State Funeral. Nigel reflects on the relationship between the Queen and her Leaders of the Opposition, with archive contributions from the current and former Leaders of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.

The episode also includes clips from the 1992 BBC documentary "Elizabeth R - A year in the life of The Queen".

Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher
Theme Music: Tom Hector.