“No Winston Churchill”: is the special relationship over?

“No Winston Churchill”: is the special relationship over?

From Pod Save the UK by Pod Save the UK

March 5, 2026 · 53 min · Episode 144

About this episode

The episode discusses the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the UK’s political response, and features peace strategist Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE.

A world leader has been assassinated, schools and hospitals have been hit, and Donald Trump thinks that Keir Starmer is no Winston Churchill. It’s all kicking off as the US and Israel’s illegal war escalates across the Middle East. All of this with the open admission of no real plan for what comes next. Struggling to absorb it all? Wondering if there’s another way? British-Iranian peace strategist Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE is here to fill us in. She joins Coco and comedian Sophie Duker, who is in the hotseat for Nish this week. Soaring oil prices was not the backdrop Chancellor Rachel Reeves was hoping for ahead of her second Spring Statement. Finalised before the conflict broke out, her economic plan was “Trumped” before it was even delivered - so where does this leave the UK? Plus - just as the UK gets dragged into this latest destabilising conflict, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood rips up the rules on UK asylum. Got a burning question for Nish or Coco? Big or small - they will be answered in a special episode! Email: psuk@reducedlistening.co.uk CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS WISE https://www.wise.com SHOPIFY https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk SURFSHARK…

People in this episode

Host: Coco

Guests: Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE, Sophie Duker

Topics covered

  • US-Israel relations
  • Middle East conflict
  • UK politics
  • asylum policy
  • economic impact
  • peace strategy

Keywords

  • Trump
  • Keir Starmer
  • Rachel Reeves
  • oil prices
  • asylum rules
  • economic plan
  • peace strategy

Sponsors

WISE, SHOPIFY, SURFSHARK

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)

Places: UK, Middle East

More episodes of Pod Save the UK

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Pod Save the UK podcast page.