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Quite right!

by The Spectator · English · News

Welcome to Quite right!, the podcast from The Spectator that searches for sanity and common sense in a world which increasingly seems devoid of both. Each week, join Michael Gove, editor of The Spectator, and Madeline Grant, assistant editor of The Spectator, f

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 41 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 50 minNew

Simon Schama: British Jews feel unsafe – and history shows Gaza isn’t a genocide

Michael Gove is joined by historian Simon Schama to discuss the resurgence of antisemitism in Britain, why many British Jews increasingly feel unsafe, and what history can teach us about the war in Gaza. Simon argues that the language of genocide is being misapplied to Gaza and warns that historical ignorance, social media and political polarisation are fuelling a new strain of antisemitism on both left and right. They also discuss Holocaust education, Donald Trump and the politics of truth, the treatment of Jewish students in Britain, and what the rise of antisemitism tells us about the…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

9 Oct 2026 · 38 min
Britain must ‘come down like a ton of bricks’ on Islamist extremism – Nick Timothy | Quite right! LIVE
Michael Gove is joined by shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy, live at Conservative party conference in Birmingham, to discuss prisons, policing and the fight against Islamist extremism. Nick reflects on swapping life as a Downing Street adviser for the Commons and makes the case that prison works, before turning to the Tories’ plan for 50,000 new prison places. Britain, he argues, must ‘come down like a ton of bricks’ on extremists – but why did 14 years of Conservative government fail to draw that line? Plus: West Midlands Police’s ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, the Trafalgar Square…
6 Oct 2026 · 30 min
Are the Tories back? – and how the Greens became ‘Home Counties Hezbollah’ | LIVE
Kemi Badenoch has opened Conservative party conference 2026 with statement on her political philosophy, and Michael and Maddie are in Birmingham to go through it. Michael is struck by how much of it disavows the government that he served in, from net zero to the Liz Truss mini-Budget, while Maddie welcomes a leader prepared to argue for incentives over optics. Will backing higher earners revive the 'nasty party' charge – and can Kemi see off Reform's pitch to highly productive workers? They also put the triple lock to a show of hands, with surprising results, and ask whether Shabana Mahmood…
30 Sep 2026 · 47 min
Jeffrey Archer on his extraordinary life – and his biggest regrets
Michael Gove is joined by novelist and former Conservative Party deputy chairman Jeffrey Archer to discuss his final novel, Adam and Eve , and a life spent close to the centre of British politics. Jeffrey explains how the book was inspired by September 1940, when Hitler changed his mind three times about invading Britain. They also discuss class, snobbery in the House of Lords, Diana, and his advice for Harry and Meghan. Plus: Jeffrey reflects on Margaret Thatcher, reveals the prime minister he believes is the most underrated, and considers whether Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage could ever…
29 Sep 2026 · 42 min
Meet the Labour MP taking on his own party | Jonathan Hinder
Michael Gove is joined by Jonathan Hinder, MP for Pendle and Clitheroe, one of the leading voices of Blue Labour, to discuss class, borders and the common good in a conversation recorded live at Labour conference. Jonathan, a former police officer, sets out his case against the economic and social 'hyper liberalism' of recent decades, before turning to industrial strategy, North Sea oil and gas, and why his constituents in terraced houses pay more property tax than multi-millionaires in London. With over a million voters said to have moved from Labour to Reform since the election, can Andy…
24 Sep 2026 · 32 min
Should we ban the burqa? – and Michael Gove pretends to be the Prime Minister
In this week's Q&A: should Britain follow Giorgia Meloni and ban the burqa in schools? Michael says that head teachers should set uniform policy free of pressure from outside the school gates – but would he go as far as Reform's proposed ban on face coverings in public? Maddie asks why progressive feminists have so little to say on the subject. Also this week: the BBC has pulled 11 Mitchell and Webb sketches from iPlayer, but were they right to? Michael and Maddie discuss chronological snobbery, disclaimers on films – and Michael asks whether the corporation will come for Kenneth Clark's…
22 Sep 2026 · 52 min
Spencer vs Windsor: the battle over Diana’s legacy
Earl Spencer's new memoir, Swan Song , has drawn a rare direct response from Buckingham Palace. Michael and Maddie weigh up the book's most salacious charges against the King, and ask whether the Earl is driven by money, pride, or something closer to revenge. Is this a serious blow to the monarchy – or do the public just not care what Earl Spencer has to say? Also: It is the turn of the Lib Dem conference, where a row over women's spaces has overshadowed Ed Davey's attacks on Reform's donors. Can they ever again be the party of John Stuart Mill? Finally: Lambeth Palace withdraws an award…
16 Sep 2026 · 25 min
I can’t say this on The Rest Is Politics – Rory Stewart | Part two
In the second part of his conversation with Michael Gove, Rory Stewart defends the most taboo position in British politics: that private schools are worth protecting. He further argues that the only excuse for privilege is living up to its obligations, and that a wealth tax would destroy the idea of public service. Rory tells Michael what Nigel Farage and Reform UK get wrong about tax, why he disagrees with Peter Thiel on what the wealthy should do with their money, and why Rishi Sunak staying in parliament matters more than anyone noticed. They also discuss how to get Britain growing, why…
14 Sep 2026 · 29 min
Rory Stewart on immigration, Islam and Britain's biggest problem | Part one
Michael Gove is joined by Rory Stewart, for a conversation he admits would ‘revolt’ his podcasting partner Alastair Campbell. Rory sets out the migration policy he would impose: every boat he would return to France, how he would cut the number of legal arrivals, and completely rework Britain’s broken asylum system. Rory argues that the grooming gangs debate is being conducted in bad faith, that migrant communities in Britain tend to assimilate rather than isolate, and that the culture warriors have picked a fight that distracts from Britain’s bigger problems. Part Two, in which he makes a…
8 Sep 2026 · 39 min
Danny Kruger: Britain is in a ‘revolutionary moment’ – and the Tories can’t save it | LIVE
Michael Gove is joined by Reform UK MP Danny Kruger to discuss the party’s plans for government and why he believes Britain is in a ‘revolutionary moment’. Kruger sets out how Reform would overhaul Whitehall, including replacing the Cabinet Secretary, reforming the civil service and taking a ‘torch’ to parts of the quango state. He also argues for major changes to the way judges are appointed and says Parliament must ultimately remain sovereign over the courts. They also discuss immigration, welfare and the NHS, as Kruger explains why Reform wants to accelerate deportations, cut benefit…
3 Sep 2026 · 53 min
Francis Fukuyama: how the American right ran out of ideas – and why I’m still a conservative
Michael Gove is joined by political scientist Francis Fukuyama to discuss liberalism, populism and the future of democracy in an increasingly unstable world. Francis reflects on The End of History and why its argument was so often misunderstood, before turning to the transformation of the American right under Donald Trump. Why have traditional conservative ideas lost their hold – and what explains the rise of populism across the West? They also discuss Brexit, which Francis argues Britain should reconsider, the importance of patriotism and national identity, and why liberals have too often…
1 Sep 2026 · 47 min
Burnham’s ‘cheesy Blairism’ exposed – as the Tories prepare for an early election
Kemi Badenoch has kicked off the new political term with a major reshuffle of her top team. Michael and Maddie ask what the changes tell us about the direction of the Conservative party, whether Andrew Griffith can sharpen its economic offer – and whether Badenoch is already preparing for an early election. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham returns to the Commons after a relatively comfortable summer. Has the Prime Minister been governing on ‘easy mode’ so far, and is his brand of politics simply the ‘cheesy side of Blairism’ without the substance? Also: ahead of Reform’s party conference, is Nigel…
11 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
How the modern Middle East was made – and why it’s still at war | Simon Sebag Montefiore
This week, Michael Gove is joined by historian Simon Sebag Montefiore to discuss the rulers, revolutionaries and nation builders who shaped one of the world’s most turbulent regions. From Ibn Saud’s dramatic conquest of Riyadh and Atatürk’s creation of modern Turkey to Ben-Gurion, Reza Shah and Nasser, Simon explores the extraordinary personalities who built states from the ruins of empire. What made these leaders so successful – and why did so many of their projects end in dictatorship, war or collapse? They also discuss Nasser’s rise as the champion of Arab nationalism, Gaddafi’s obsession…
4 Aug 2026 · 40 min
Is Michael Gove missing Bridget Phillipson already? – and the Cambridge University saga continues
The tale of the Cambridge professor, Jason Arday continues, as Michael and Maddie weigh in on the fantasy. How much of a role has Cambridge played in enabling such a serially misleading individual, and can the university claw back some respectability after this saga? – do they even feel a responsibility to do so? Maddie asks Michael whether Lucy Powell's broadside at his education reforms has made him nostalgic for the days of Bridget Phillipson. Also: Michael questions Maddie over recent drama in the political sketch writing world, and whether she will defend Quentin Letts amid a backlash…
28 Jul 2026 · 55 min
Katharine Birbalsingh: children are taught to hate Britain – I blame the adults
Katharine Birbalsingh is the founder and headmistress of Michaela Community School in Wembley, and has been dubbed Britain’s strictest headteacher. Under her leadership, Michaela has become one of the country’s most successful state schools, while openly challenging the progressive orthodoxies of the British education system. On Quite right! , Katharine argues that ethnic-minority pupils do not need to see themselves reflected in every aspect of a culture to feel that they belong – and that suggesting otherwise may itself be racist. She and Michael also discuss whether individualistic…
21 Jul 2026 · 51 min
‘He’s made enemies’ – inside Burnham’s brutal Labour takeover
Andy Burnham has begun his premiership with a sweeping reshuffle, purging many of Keir Starmer’s closest allies and installing a cabinet in his own image. Has he ended Labour factionalism – or simply created a new faction of enemies? And does the appointment of John Healey as Chancellor suggest that Burnham wants a safe pair of hands rather than a rival power base? Michael and Maddie also ask whether Burnham’s early promises can survive contact with economic reality. With billions already pledged on defence, energy bills, transport and public ownership, where will the money come from – and…
14 Jul 2026 · 48 min
Louis Mosley: Burnham is wrong to ditch Palantir – and how AI threatens the 'lanyard class'
Louis Mosley is the UK head of Palantir, one of the world’s most powerful – and controversial – technology companies. Its work with the NHS, the US government and western militaries has made it a lightning rod for criticism, with opponents accusing it of threatening privacy, enabling mass deportations and supporting military operations in Gaza. Louis therefore occupies an unusual position at the intersection of technology, politics and the British state. On the podcast, he explains what Palantir actually does, why fears over NHS data are misplaced and why scrapping its contract would be a…
9 Jul 2026 · 33 min
Parliament’s greatest speeches – and does Labour have a women problem?
In this week’s Q&A: does Labour have a women problem? Michael and Maddie discuss why the party has never had a female leader, whether its embrace of identity politics has created a rod for its own back, and why gender-critical feminists on the left have found themselves in exile. Also this week: why won’t any party touch the triple lock? Michael argues that the state pension has become an unsustainable transfer to the section of the electorate most likely to vote – but can any politician make the case for reform without being accused of ‘mugging granny’? Plus: Parliament at its best and…
7 Jul 2026 · 48 min
Farage's gamble: is 'the establishment' out to destroy him?
Nigel Farage has resigned as MP for Clacton and will fight a by-election in an attempt to turn questions over his finances into a referendum on ‘the people vs the establishment’. Is this a political masterstroke or a mistake? Has Farage taken back control of the narrative, or will the row over undeclared money continue to plague Reform? Michael and Maddie also discuss whether Dominic Cummings’s prophecy – that the establishment would try to destroy Farage by fair means or foul – has come true. Plus: Prince Harry has suffered a bruising defeat in court against the Mail. What does the ruling…
2 Jul 2026 · 33 min
Am I a 'spiteful class warrior' too!? – Kemi vs Bridget
In this week’s Q&A: as Bridget Phillipson and Kemi Badenoch clash over Labour’s education policy, Michael asks whether he is a ‘spiteful class warrior’ too. He has written before about his scepticism over the charitable status of some of the country’s elite academic institutions, arguing that they should do more to earn it – but does he regret his comments? Also this week: as Britain edges closer to life under Burnham, Michael and Maddie discuss who is really pulling the strings behind the famous black door. What is a chief of staff: a vital part of the machinery of government, or a civil…
30 Jun 2026 · 41 min
'All vibes, zero detail' – Burnham's plan to fix broken Britain
This week: Burnham’s strategy – or lack of one – a ‘number ten of the North’ and why immigration is the real test. What is so wrong with the South: Andy Burnham thinks devolution is the answer to Broken Britain, but does his diagnosis amount to an actionable plan for government? And does his focus on the North come at the expense of some of Britain’s most deprived areas? Michael knows the machinery of levelling up better than anyone and Madeline was in the room as Burnham made his big pitch – they give their verdict. Plus: Shabana Mahmood’s immigration muddle. After a row with junior…
25 Jun 2026 · 29 min
Burnham's dream cabinet – and why Prince George should go to Eton
This week: Burnham’s cabinet, Prince George’s schooling – and the buildings that make Britain beautiful. As Andy Burnham prepares to enter Downing Street, Michael and Madeline ask who should make up his dream Labour cabinet. Might he draw from the impressive pool of Blue Labour talent: Jonathan Hinder at business, Maurice Glasman at education – and, of course, Shabana Mahmood as prime minister. Do Labour need to be a little more patriotic? Also on the podcast: should Prince George go to Eton? Michael and Madeline discuss whether a future king needs a ‘normal’ education, why the choice should…
23 Jun 2026 · 43 min
Starmer’s fall – and the rise of King Burnham
This week: Starmer’s exit, Burnham’s rise – and the court of King Andy. As Keir Starmer resigns after less than two years in office, Michael and Madeline ask what really brought his premiership to an end. Was Starmer simply overtaken by events, or did his downfall reveal something deeper: a disdain for politics, a mishandling of Southport and the grooming gangs scandal, and a growing gulf between Labour’s governing class and the country? They also discuss Andy Burnham’s march on Westminster. Is he the charismatic, communitarian figure Labour needs to take on Reform – or a political…
16 Jun 2026 · 50 min
SPECIAL: was Enoch Powell right about Britain?
Enoch Powell is one of the most polarising figures in modern British politics. His infamous ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech – in which he warned that immigration would spark ethnic conflict – continues to shape some of today’s most important debates on race, identity and immigration. Michael Gove and assistant editor Madeline Grant sit down with Simon Heffer , author of Like the Roman: The Life of Enoch Powell , to explore Powell’s legacy. They examine how he became a model for populist rhetoric and discuss why understanding Enoch Powell is central to understanding the right today. This podcast was…
11 Jun 2026 · 19 min
Brexit 10 years on – have we changed our minds?
In this special edition of Quite right! , Michael Gove and Rachel Johnson revisit the argument that divided British politics – and their own families – as the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum approaches. Rachel, who campaigned for Remain, gives her verdict on what Brexit has really delivered: not the buccaneering liberation Leavers promised, nor the apocalypse warned of by Project Fear, but something she calls ‘a bit meh’. Michael, makes the case that the benefits of sovereignty are still accumulating – from AI and gene editing to financial services and regulation. Have either of…
9 Jun 2026 · 30 min
‘It will be a bloodbath’ – why Starmer won’t go quietly
This week: Keir Starmer’s legacy, Andy Burnham’s next move – and should there be a general election? With the Makerfield by-election just days away, Michael Gove is joined by Rachel Johnson to ask whether an Andy Burnham victory would spell the end of Keir Starmer’s premiership. Could Starmer really fight on – or is the Labour party heading for a regicidal ‘bloodbath’? They discuss Starmer’s record in government, whether Labour has become the ‘welfare party’, and if Burnham could offer the party anything more than a political glow-up. Also on the podcast: Kemi Badenoch’s revival, the threat…
2 Jun 2026 · 38 min
‘DEI mindset is killing people’ – Henry Nowak & Britain’s two-tier policing crisis
This week: the Henry Nowak case, two-tier policing – and what the latest Mandelson files reveal about Labour. After the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, Michael and Madeline ask whether the police response exposed something deeply wrong in British policing. Has the fear of being accused of racism distorted the way institutions respond to victims? And does this case reveal a wider crisis of confidence in whether the police can act without fear or favour? They also discuss the latest revelations from the Mandelson files. What do the messages tell us about Labour’s welfare problem, Pat…
28 May 2026 · 33 min
When was Britain’s finest hour? – and how to beat Burnham
This week: what makes a great battle? From Waterloo, Trafalgar, the Battle of Britain to Stalingrad, Michael and Maddie discuss what separates a decisive victory from a merely dramatic one, and why great military leaders still matter. Also on the podcast: after Dominic Cummings claimed the Manchester mayor was not a formidable opponent, Michael reflects on facing Burnham across the despatch box. Can Burnham survive the leap from local hero to national leader? And finally: do celebrity endorsements actually move the dial? Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without…
26 May 2026 · 50 min
Peter Murrell's mafia-style SNP – and inside the Reform-Restore feud
This week: the Peter Murrell scandal and the collapse of the SNP’s moral authority. After Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband and the party’s former chief executive pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from SNP funds, Michael and Madeline ask what this reveals about the party that dominated Scottish politics for more than a decade. Was this simply one man’s disgrace – or a symptom of a political machine that had grown too powerful, too closed and too complacent? Also on the podcast: the growing split on the right. As Rupert Lowe’s Restore threatens to divide the Reform vote in the…
21 May 2026 · 28 min
If Burnham loses Makerfield, Labour is finished – Maurice Glasman | Part two
Maurice Glasman returns for the second part of his conversation with Michael and Maddie – this time to ask whether the Makerfield by-election could write Labour’s obituary notice. As Andy Burnham prepares to take on Reform in one of Labour’s old heartlands, Maurice explains why this contest will reveal whether working-class affection for the party still survives. He discusses Nigel Farage’s rise, why Reform has been able to make such deep inroads into Labour territory and whether Burnham can really persuade voters that he speaks for them. They also discuss the future of the Labour…

About Quite right!

Quite right! is a English news podcast from The Spectator. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: The Spectator
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 41 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1822769271
Rights: The Spectator

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