Chopper's Politics: Boris' by-election blues

Christopher Hope
·1 min read
Boris Johnson was in Rwanda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting as the bruising by-election results came in. - DAN KITWOOD/AFP
Boris Johnson was in Rwanda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting as the bruising by-election results came in. - DAN KITWOOD/AFP

The biggest rail strike in a generation might mean the trains moving, but politics certainly is.

Gordon Rayner joins Christopher Hope to chew the fat after the Conservatives faced bruising losses in both Tiverton and Honiton, and Wakefield, wonders whether there was a coded message in Oliver Dowden's resignation letter, after the Party Chairman fell on his sword in the early hours of Friday morning, and muses over if Johnson allies can still brush off criticism with claims he's a vote-winner.

Also on the podcast, former adviser to Boris Johnson and partner at Portland Communications Gabriel Milland shares his 'purple patches' theory about why Red Wall vs Blue Wall oversimplifies the Tory vote, and why he believes the heart of the Tory party is shifting from Surrey to Stafford.

Plus 6 years on from the Brexit vote, Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan joins Chris to discuss making the most of Brexit, the lingering Northern Ireland conundrums, and, crucially, where the best lamb comes from in the UK.

Listen to Chopper's Politics, The Telegraph's weekly political podcast, using the audio player at the top of this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast app.