Where Politics Meets History

Iain and Tessa review the party leaders' new year messages, the government vs the ECHR on Shamima Begum, the fireworks and more!

Transcribed - Published: 2 January 2026

In this interesting limbo period between Christmas and the New Year, Iain and Tessa discuss their predictions for 2026, Trump's hopes for peace in Ukraine, Iain's views on newsreaders with regional accents and Tessa's Christmas reading (Central Europe: The Death of a Civilization and the Life of an Idea, by Luka Ivan Jukic).

Transcribed - Published: 30 December 2025

In this special festive episode we recorded earlier, Iain and Tessa give out some fabulous festive awards! There's also discussion about the history of the humble Christmas cracker... and the A11 (stick with it)!

Transcribed - Published: 26 December 2025

We're giving you a Christmas treat! If you love Where Politics Meets History, we think you'll love What's Your Problem with Nick Abbot and Carol McGiffin.In this podcast, Nick and Carol try to solve your issues. If they fail, it's Nick and Carol's fault - it's probably down to the EU or something. (Happiness not guaranteed, terms and conditions apply, always read the label). In this episode, Nick and Carol help a listener called Rose who's about to marry a Mr West.Enjoy!

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2025

Iain and Tessa are back together the day after Tessa's Christmas party at her (very tall) house! They discuss the big political and news events from history which have fallen around Christmas, comparisons between Trump and Nixon - and what happened to the bottle of champagne Iain bought Tessa for Christmas...Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2025

Iain and Tessa chat about the new chief of MI6 Blaise Metreweli, whether Keir Starmer will face a leadership challenge in the new year, Bonnie Blue and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2025

Iain and Tessa discuss the antisemitic terror attack in Sydney and the heroism of fruit shop owner Ahmed al-Ahmed, whether Keir Starmer should have given Reform UK at least one peer - and Tessa's school reunion.

Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2025

Iain and Tessa chat about David Lammy's idea to wipe childhood criminal record, Trump's seizing and Venezuelan oil tanker and Mary Queen of Scots Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025

In this special Q&A edition of the podcast, Iain and Tessa discuss who will be the PM in a year's time, whether there's public support for the Monarchy, stocking filler books from the worlds of politics and history - and more!

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2025

Iain and Tessa jostle and joust over political donations, the importance of state visits, why US peace envoy Steve Witkoff isn't winning Putin over - and dodgy pronunciations!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

Iain and Tessa chat about whether the government lied before the Budget, whether the BBC is censoring Rutger Bregman, what constitutes life's moral purpose... and Iain's trip to see Cliff Richard.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2025

Iain and Tessa talk the Budget (SPOILER: neither is impressed!), French military service, how our reading habits have changed and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2025

Iain and Tessa talk the upcoming Budget (and Budgets throughout history!), whether Trump's peace plan for Ukraine will be a success... and an odd gift Iain received in Frinton-on-Sea.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2025

Iain and Tessa reconvene to talk about the UK's changing immigration policy (and Tessa's idea involving military service), potential challengers to Keir Starmer's leadership, how much of a threat we face from Russia - and the politics and history of chocolate!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2025

Iain and Tessa talk Shabana Mahmood's asylum shakeup, Trump suing the BBC and a very ill-conceived moustache.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2025

Iain and Tessa return as more revelations come out regarding the BBC and Trump. Meanwhile, further information is released about the US Presidents relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2025

Davie is gone and Trump is gunning for Auntie Beeb! Iain and Tessa discuss if the BBC can survive this latest controversy... or if it even should? Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2025

Iain and Tessa link up to talk COP30, mistaken prisoner releases, potential taxes on electric cars (which gets Iain's dander up immensely) - and poppy pressure.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2025

Iain and Tessa connect remotely to talk Farage's plans for the economy, Zohran Mamdani's success in New York, the Huntingdon stabbing and the heroism of the passengers and guard, and more.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2025

Iain and Tessa are back to discuss the relationship between China and the US after Trump meets Xi, whether Rachel Reeves is in serious trouble or not, what it means to receive the 'Freedom of the City of London'... and Rachel Johnson makes a surprise appearance!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2025

Iain and Tessa lock horns on representation in media after Reform MP Sarah Pochin's comments on race, they discuss the new Japanese PM, the minimum wage, the use of exclamation marks and more!!!!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2025

Iain and Tessa debate whether Piers Morgan is right that 'woke is dead', whether Jess Phillips will resign, Trump demolishing part of the White House and Tessa going on a Romanian cooking show!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2025

Iain and Tessa connect remotely to talk about whether Prince Andrew deserves to keep his titles, the heist at the Louvre, Trump vs Venezuela and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2025

Iain and Tessa joust over the collapse of the China spy case, the history of the Official Secrets Act, the Greens rising in the polls and more! Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2025

Iain and Tessa are together again - this time to talk peace in the Middle East, the history of Benjamin Netanyahu, Venezuela, Prince Andrew, and who could be the next prime minister!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 14 October 2025

Iain and Tessa talk the beginnings of peace in Gaza, Kemi Badenoch's speech, the new Archbishop of Canterbury and whether Nick Clegg's book is selling well.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2025

Iain and Tessa talk Tory conference, whether the Conservatives are copying Reform UK and memorable conference moments throughout history. They also talk about political chaos in France and the aftermath of the election in Czechia.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 7 October 2025

Iain and Tessa reunite in the studio to speak about the terror attack in Manchester and how to prevent this happening again. They also discuss Pete Hegseth's remarks on women in the military - and Iain makes an apology!This was recorded on Thursday afternoon.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 3 October 2025

Iain Dale and Tessa Dunlop discuss memorable moments from Labour conferences past and how the subject of patriotism is being used by Labour to take on Reform UK. Will it work though? They also discuss the implications of the results of the Moldovan election and take some questions, before Iain's Wifi rudely cuts them off!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 30 September 2025

Iain and Tessa joust and jostle over whether 'King of the North' Andy Burnham poses a threat to Keir Starmer, whether the world can trust the new Syrian leader, Nigel Farage's comments on LBC this week... and if Bristol used to have its own time zone!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2025

Iain and Tessa reconvene in the studio to talk Palestine recognition, Farage wanting to revoke indefinite leave to remain, UN history, Gatwick expansion and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 23 September 2025

Iain and Tessa grace the studio with their presences to discuss Trump's second state visit to the UK, his press conference with Starmer and a very special doll's house.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2025

Iain and Tessa come together once again to talk the Tory MP Danny Kruger defecting to Reform UK, the march we saw over the weekend and what it means for Britain, whether the term 'far right' is overused or not used enough - and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 16 September 2025

Iain and Tessa get into the PM sacking Lord Mandelson, the killing of Charlie Kirk and whether politics is more febrile now than it was in history - and whether Brits work too hard.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 12 September 2025

Iain and Tessa are back with analysis of the government reshuffle, the Reform UK conference, Prince Harry back in the UK, great French figures from history and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 9 September 2025

Iain and Tessa are back in the studio to digest the week in politics through the lens of history. On the menu today: Nigel Farage in Washington, whether Angela Rayner is safe (and the history of stamp duty), the wonderful Melvyn Bragg and more!

Transcribed - Published: 5 September 2025

Iain and Tessa discuss Yvette Cooper making it harder for refugees to bring their families to Britain, Starmer's mini-reshuffle, the history and future of the ECHR and Tessa being invited on Romanian Hell's Kitchen!

Transcribed - Published: 2 September 2025

In this episode of Where Politics Meets History, Tessa Dunlop and Iain Dale discuss fertility rates, Tony Blair and ex-Prime Ministers.

Transcribed - Published: 29 August 2025

Iain and Tessa return for more - this time it's mainly questions! Questions on Iain being 'soft' on Sturgeon, dating people with different politics, whether Iain and Tessa are friends and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected] connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

Transcribed - Published: 26 August 2025

Iain and Tessa discuss Iain's Nicola Sturgeon interview preparation, the continued protests outside asylums in Epping, what happened with Brexit and Iain's experience with Mounjaro on the NHS.

Transcribed - Published: 22 August 2025

Iain is back and joins Tessa to talk Trump's meeting with European leaders in Washington - the historical parallels thereof - what the Green Party is up to and Nicola Sturgeon's book!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected] connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

Transcribed - Published: 19 August 2025

Tessa is joined by the wonderful Albie Amankona for this one! They talk about upcoming Trump-Putin summit, the history of Alaska (which President Trump said is in Russia!), declining numbers on porn websites and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected] connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @AlbieAmankona and @DrTessaDunlop.

Transcribed - Published: 15 August 2025

With Iain on holiday, Tessa is joined by the tremendous Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones (a.k.a. The Black Farmer) - they talk the upcoming Trump meeting with Putin and peace summits throughout history, Wilfred's interest in Reform UK, eye tests for older drivers and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected].

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2025

Iain Dale and Tessa Dunlop catch up in two Scottish cities, Dunbar and Glasgow. They discuss their favourite interviews from the Edinburgh Fringe, Corey's engagement, the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb and answer some questions from listeners.

Transcribed - Published: 8 August 2025

Iain is reunited with Jacqui Smith, and Tessa is back from sunny Spain, for a special episode of Where Politics Meets History live from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! They talk about Japanese toilets, Bonnie Blue, and who is the better Prime Minister - Starmer or Blair?

Transcribed - Published: 5 August 2025

Iain is joined by historian Miranda Malins - they discuss who could be the Cromwell out of our contemporary politicians, reform of the Lords and the UK gets its first female Astronomer Royal in 350 years.

Transcribed - Published: 1 August 2025

Iain is joined by historian Charlotte White, while Tessa is away sunning herself - they talk all things online safety as Iain discovers porn sites failing to verify age, Charles II and the history of the state education system.

Transcribed - Published: 29 July 2025

Iain and Tessa talk Trump and the Epstein files (after reports Trump was told he was named in them), Modi's visit to the UK, where moderate Tories should go, the history of Chequers and more!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected] connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2025

Iain and Tessa go hell for leather on the state of our water industry, the pension age, Betty Boothroyd and whether people talk about WW2 too much.Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected] connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

Transcribed - Published: 22 July 2025

Iain and Tessa spar over the Labour Party kicking out some left wing MPs, votes at 16 and the history of swearing - and Iain receives a special invitation!Send your questions and voice notes to 07557 187929 or [email protected] connected with us on Instagram @WherePoliticsMeetsHistory and on X @WherePolitics. You can also follow @IainDale and @DrTessaDunlop.

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2025