Never Mind The Bar Charts

I've popped up on a movie podcast, War Movie Theatre with Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Here is what they have to say about the show: "A 1964 film about accidental nuclear war from a legendary director and featuring a German scientist with homicidal ideas? That's right, it's Dr Strangelove… hang on, no, it's Fail Safe. Overshadowed on release because of a lawsuit from a rival film (you can guess which), this parable from Sidney Lumet has come to be regarded as a classic, with fans including George Clooney. "The Ocean's 11 star couldn't be with us to make the case for it himself, so we're joined by a man known to many as the Clooney of British politics, Mark Pack: polling expert, Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords and Total Nerd." Show notes AppleSpotifyYouTubeHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes

This episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts features podcast favourite Phil Cowley talking about his new book, The Smallest Room in the House. It is crammed full of fun yet useful insights from political science. Listen to us talk about Simon Cowell, fish and chip shops, riots, the rise of AI, potholes and more. Show notes All the fish and chip shops in the UKDistribution of passport ownershipCauses and Consequences of Electoral Violence 1832-1914Philip Cowley on Blueskyfree chapterWaterstonesAmazonBookshop.orgHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts sees a return to the show for Professor Rob Ford. We dive into my favourite political paradox to discuss with him: the long term liberalising trends in British politics and yet the run of wins for the Conservatives and populist right. Who is going to come out on top? Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it. Show notes Previous podcast with Rob Fordon 'balancers' on immigrationthis personGlaciersAmazonWaterstonesHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts sees me discuss with polling expert Steve Akehurst what has happened to Labour's July 2024 vote. We dive into the characteristics of those who voted for Starmer but are now flirting with Farage, as well as ask whether those folk are really the whole story. Show notes Getting to know ‘Reform curious Labour voters’What would make Labour defectors more positive about LabourThe problems with polling averagesa Michael Barber not a Morgan McSweeneyPollsters split over what's happened to Labour's 2024 voteCounty Durham by-electionSteve Akehurst on BlueskyHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts features an interview with Emeritus Professor Jonathan Parry, whose new book, Liberalism, explores the history of liberalism as a political idea in Britain. Parry emphasises that liberalism is best understood through the actions of politicians rather than the abstract theories of political intellectuals. Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it. Show notes AmazonBookshop.orgWaterstonesProfessor Jonathan ParryJo GrimondHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts saw me team up with John Potter and the Lib Dem Pod team to discuss the local elections. How did they go for the Liberal Democrats and what lessons are there for the party? Show notes Some highlights from the local election resultsLib Dem PodHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

John Potter of the Lib Dem Pod quizzed me about my first experiences of the House of Lords for our latest joint podcast. Show notes Lib Dem PodRing BinderHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts is another in the occasional series looking back at previous party leaders with Duncan Brack. This time we pick over Jeremy Thorpe's career - securing Britain's place in Europe, leading the Liberal Party to national prominence and then mired in scandal. What to make of it all? Show notes www.markpack.org.uk/161656/jo-grimond-podcast/www.markpack.org.uk/1486/jeremy-thorpe-interview/www.mediastorehouse.co.uk/memory-lane-prints/mirror/0100to0199-00163/jeremy-thorpe-jimi-hendrix-concert-jimi-hendrix-21541729.htmlwww.gettyimages.co.uk/search/2/image?family=editorial&phrase=jeremy%20thorpe&sort=oldest&recency=daterange&begindate=1960-01-01&enddate=1980-01-01www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyos-M48B8Ubsky.app/profile/duncanbrack.bsky.socialliberalhistory.org.ukamzn.to/41QQUf5uk.bookshop.org/a/588/9780349142203tidd.ly/3DhN31ohugoleemusic.comwww.markpack.org.uk/161708/how-to-listen-to-a-podcastwww.markpack.org.uk/168491/most-popular-episodes-never-mind-the-bar-charts

Peter Kellner join sme to discuss a new report on what is going wrong with our politics, and the solutions. No surprise then that our conversation focused on populism, its causes and how liberals can defeat it. Show notes Disruptive Delivery: Meeting the Unmet Demand in PoliticsThe Challenge of Affluence: Self-Control and Well-Being in the United States and Britain since 1950An example from the 1990s of failing to predict the political futureincumbent governments did badly in elections in 2024The three humped graphLiberal Democrat achievements in governmentpolicymaking on AIPeter Kellner's polling newsletterThe Week in PollsHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts saw Paula Surridge return to the show, talking about the impact of political values and of perceived competence on recent general elections. We got into some surprising similarities between Tony Blair and Nigel Farage, as well as ways in which Boris Johnson and Gordon Brown were the same. Take a listen to find out how on earth we ended up there. Show notes Values in the Valence Election: Fragmentation and the 2024 General ElectionAlso in blog form herecease and desist lettersThe graph which we mentionedBlueskySubstackHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts takes a look at a book that has made me rethink several things I thought I knew about the history of the Liberal Democrats and Liberals before them. It also contains some wonderfully acerbic photo captions and some not terribly kind words about David Lloyd George. It is a book from another David - David Laws - and is a history of Labour - Liberal (Democrat) relations over the last century. Show notes AmazonWaterstonesBookshop.orgAmazonWaterstonesBookshop.orgHow Lib Dems love the 1920s despite the electoral disasters for the Liberal PartyHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes * Affiliate links that generate a commission for purchases made. Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts takes a look at recent research into the impact of electoral reform on the stability of governments. Does PR mean less stable government? Listen to my discussion with the research's author Dylan Difford to find out. Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it. Show notes Strong and Stable: the most politically stable democracies use PRelections in the 1920sDylan Difford on BlueskyHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

Election campaigns often put significant effort into persuading voters that their candidate(s) could win. But does such campaigning really change people's expectations of who might win? And even if it people's views do change, does being seen as a more likely winner really help you win the election? Or in other words, are all those "winning here" posters and bar charts worth it? The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts welcomes back to the show Justin Fisher to discuss just that, courtesy of new research from himself and two colleagues. Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it. Show notes "Innocent Bystanders or the Forgotten Actors? The Role of Parties and Candidates in Building Electoral Campaign Momentum"A Logic of Expressive Choice101 Ways To Win An ElectionThe accuracy of MRPsJustin Fisher on Twitter/XHugo LeeCC BY-ND 2.0tips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts sees a return to the show for Sam Freedman. This time he’s got a new book out, about how our government is broken – and what to do to fix it. Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it. Show notes AmazonWaterstonesUK BookshopProspect articlesThe MillSam Freedman’s newsletterThe myth of Budget poll bouncesHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show’s most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts discusses a great new book about the geography of British elections with its two authors, Jamie Furlong and Will Jennings. Why do the Conservatives underperform on Merseyside yet overperform in Lincolnshire, and how much of electoral geography is really about individual campaigners? Take a listen to find out... Show notes AmazonBookshopWaterstonesAmazonBookshopWaterstonesRob FordMaria SobolewskaJamie FurlongWill JenningsHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts takes a look back to the five criteria for success that Professor Tim Bale set out for opposition leaders and considers how they played out by the end of the 2024 general election. Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it. Show notes Our original discussion of five tests for opposition partiesDecember 2020March 2022December 2022Some of those Ed Davey stuntslosing support in Surrey and Londonsize of Lib Dem majoritiescampaign ratingsSurvey of Conservative membershipTim Bale on X/TwitterHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts is another special with John Potter and the Lib Dem Pod, looking at all the latest from the election campaign. Show notes The More in Common polling I mentionLib Dem PodHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts is another special with John Potter and the Lib Dem Pod, looking at all the latest from the election campaign with Lib Dem peer Liz Barker and Lib Dem candidate David Chadwick. Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it. Show notes The Lib Dem manifestoThe election timetableDavid Chadwick's campaignHow we decide where to ask people to campaignLib Dem PodHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts is another team-up with the Lib Dem podcast, taking a look at the general election, mulling over Nigel Farage's entrance and hearing about how a Dalek got canvassed. Appearing on the show is Victoria Collins. The constituency she is standing in includes the village of Aldbury, often used in TV and films, including for Doctor Who and The Avengers. Show notes Victoria CollinsAldburyDaleks nearly advertised Hamlet CigarsLib Dem PodHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts saw a return for the Professor of Political Leafleting, the Lady of the Leaflets, Professor Caitlin Milazzo. She's one of the top experts on what election candidates put in their leaflets and why. So just the person to talk with as even more leaflets are headed to people's letterboxes for the general election. Show notes Open Elections websiteHow are political leaflets changing (and do they work)?Negative campaigning in political leaflets: what the evidence saysPerceived Negativity in British General Election CommunicationsPersonal, policy and partisanship: Understanding voter reactions to campaign negativityHugo Leetips on how to listen to podcastsCheck out some of this show's most popular previous episodes Enjoy the show? Spread the word www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com