Has Reform UK lost its magic? – and why Middlesbrough’s young men don’t care

Has Reform UK lost its magic? – and why Middlesbrough’s young men don’t care

September 3, 2026 · 34 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges facing Reform UK and the indifference of young men in Middlesbrough towards the law.

Lara Prendergast is joined by The Spectator’s political editor Tim Shipman, columnist and journalist Melanie McDonagh, and the Daily Mail’s parliamentary sketchwriter Quentin Letts. This week: has Reform UK lost its magic? Ahead of the party’s conference, Tim reveals its plans for the first 100 days of a Reform government – and asks whether Nigel Farage can persuade voters that his party is ready to govern after a turbulent summer. Also: what is happening in Middlesbrough? The panel discuss rising gang violence, the decline of visible policing and a generation of young men who appear increasingly indifferent to the law. Is social breakdown to blame – or has Britain simply lost its respect for authority? Plus: what can Britain learn from Norway’s royals? Produced by Henry Lloyd and Oscar Edmondson. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts . Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Lara Prendergast

Guests: Tim Shipman, Melanie McDonagh, Quentin Letts

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Reform UK, Daily Mail, The Spectator

Places: Middlesbrough, Norway

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