The Opinion Brief

Thursday’s by-election results are in, and the UK political landscape has just been thrown into a spin. In this special bonus episode of The Opinion Brief, Luke Tryl, Sophie Stowers, and Louis O'Geran break down Burnham's support, historic turnouts, surprise results in Scotland, and what this means for the future of Sir Keir Starmer, Reform UK, and the Conservative Party.

Makerfield turns out: What’s behind that remarkable turnout, and why what drove Andy Burnham’s support?

What do the results mean for Reform UK? (and for Restore Britain).

The...

In this jam-packed episode, we look at today’s by-elections in England and Scotland, the government’s social media ban, the security and defence spending crisis, plus how does polling actually work?

This week’s stories:

As Kemi Badenoch hits an approval rating high, why has the Conservative Party's support remained stagnant?

Defence spending fallout: In the wake of John Healey's resignation, the British public want increased defence spending but where do they think extra funds should come from?

Is the public in support of the govern...

In this episode of The Opinion Brief, we're joined by Sunday Times deputy political editor Lara Spirit to discuss the dramatic Makerfield by-election one week out, Andy Burnham’s political future, Reform UK’s strategy, Nigel Farage, Robert Kenyon, Restore, and whether Labour could face a leadership crisis sooner than expected.

The episode also examines public reaction to the murder of Henry Novak, including new polling on policing, social cohesion, protests, and public trust in institutions.

Topics covered include:

Reform UK's polling bump.The Makerfield by-election: Burnham's leadership ambitions and Refo...

From immigration to welfare and Tony Blair, this week’s episode dives into some of the biggest issues of the moment. 

In this episode: 

The public’s reaction to Tony Blair’s essay and how they might vote if he returned as Labour leader.Common ground on welfare: Ian Porter from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation joins to discuss our latest research on public attitudes around the social security system. Immigration: do Britons believe net migration has fallen, what immigration policies do they want to see, and could Burnham’s migration stance give him an edge...

For this week’s episode, Tim Shipman, author and Political Editor of The Spectator, joins us to discuss British politics and public opinion. We also reveal what the country made of Rachel Reeves’ petrol station heckle. 

In this episode:

The latest voting intention and party leader approval rating headlines.Why can’t those in power deliver what the public wants? An in depth discussion with Tim Shipman.“Not very British!”: did the Chancellor’s response to a heckler land well with the public?

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Access todays graphs, charts and images: https://www.m...

With Burnham now confirmed as the Labour candidate for the Makerfield by-election, this week’s episode takes a look at the constituency and Burnham’s chances. For our deep dive segment, we go into what recent elections tell us about exactly who votes for each party.

In this episode:

The latest voting intention and party leader approval ratings.In a hypothetical election with Burnham as leader, could Labour beat Reform?A rundown of the Makerfield constituency: what chance does Burnham have?In an era of voter realignment, what does the average voter now...

As Keir Starmer reels from Labour’s election losses, where do the public stand on the Prime Minister and a potential leadership challenge? We also have a post-election Q&A, answering the questions emailed in by our listeners.

In this episode:

How have the major parties and their leaders emerged from last week’s elections?The latest public opinion on Labour Party chaos: does the public think Starmer should resign and who do they want to replace him?Restore versus Reform: is Great Yarmouth a portent for Farage?Divided councils: what does No Overall Control mean...

Recorded as the final results trickled in, this extra episode of The Opinion Brief gives you fresh analysis of the historic 2026 local elections.

In this episode:

What do the results of local elections across England tell us about the trends shaping British politics?How are Green and Reform voter bases changing, and what's surprising about their gains in these elections?How should the SNP be feeling after their result in Scotland?How has Reform UK managed to break through in Wales and Scotland?What happened to Welsh Labour, and is this the beginning of a...

An early release before voters across Britain head to the polls tomorrow for the 2026 local elections and parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales. 

As the political landscape shifts beneath the feet of the major parties, Luke Tryl is joined by Sam Freedman, elections expert and co-author of the “Comment is Freed” substack, for a rundown of the final predictions and the key stories to watch on the night. 

In this episode, we cover:

2026 election insights: including our most recent polls in Scotland, Wales and EnglandThe London boroughs to watch, and wh...

This week we welcome The Opinion Brief’s first guest, discuss the rise of Britain's populist right, and ask why the “Badenoch Bounce” isn't lifting the Tories’ vote share.

In this episode: 

The Badenoch Bounce: How has Kemi Badenoch achieved her steady approval rating rise, and why has the Conservative party’s support stayed flat?

How to Build a Voter: From promiscuous voters to the Conservatives’ and Reform’s new electoral battlefront over elderly voters, Owen Winter talks us through The Economist’s new tool to model voter behaviour as British politics becomes increasin...

In this episode of The Opinion Brief, we dive into the data behind the shifting tectonic plates of British politics. From a Reform UK lead in the polls to the "third rail" debate over cutting welfare to fund defence, we break down what the public actually thinks.

In this episode:

The Mandelson Scandal: Why the public sees it as a "rigged system" and what it means for Keir Starmer’s perceived strength.National Voting Intention: Reform UK hits 27%, moving 5 points ahead of the Conservatives.Defence vs. Welfare: Would the public sacrifice the triple lock pension to...

In the first-ever episode of The Opinion Brief, Luke Tryl (UK Director of More In Common), plus Rhiannon McQuone and Louis O'Geran dive into the data behind Britain’s changing political landscape.

We explore the latest MRP polling results which suggest a seismic shift in UK politics, with Reform UK and the Green Party challenging the traditional status quo. Why is the "social contract" feeling broken for both graduates and the working class? Plus, we discuss the surprising public consensus on banning social media for under-16s and smartphones in schools.

In this episode:

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Welcome to The Opinion Brief, from More in Common.

Get ready for a deep dive into the heart of public opinion with "The Opinion Brief," the brand-new podcast from More in Common. Hosted by Luke Tryl, this isn't just another show about politics, it's about the people: what they think, why they think it, and the trends shaping our world. Every Thursday morning, "The Opinion Brief" will unpack the biggest shifts in public sentiment, featuring exclusive new polling, candid focus group conversations, and insightful guest speakers to break down what the data mean.

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