Three Old Hacks

• It's all about regime change

  The Three Old Hacks considers Israel's war with Iran, the expectation of what 'two-week Trump' will do and how likely it is that Britain will get dragged in.Former BBC Sports editor Mihir Bose, Economics editor of The Sunday Times David Smith and political analyst Nigel Dudley's collective memories can recall the postwar history of the West's attempts at regime change in the Middle East over several decades.They also discuss tax, football, and the merits and vagaries of newspaper deliveries. Get in contact with the podcast by emailing [email protected], we’d love to hear from you!

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• Memories aren't what they used to be

  The Three Old Hacks talk political memoirs this week. Were they always as salacious, and as quickly turned round post-administration as they are now?Barely has the imprint of the politician's backside faded from the leather of the despatch box before somebody is telling all.Former BBC Sports editor Mihir Bose, Economics editor of The Sunday Times and political analyst Nigel Dudley discuss Sarah Vine's book How Not to be a Political Wife. She and her then husband Michael Gove were close to David and Samantha Cameron before the Brexit referendum ended the friendship, and she says, her marriage.The Three Old Hacks look back fondly to the days when MI5 put it about that Prime Minister Harold Wilson was a communist in thrall to Russia and everyone thought he was sleeping with his secretary, when in fact it was another woman altogether.Get in contact with the podcast by emailing [email protected], we’d love to hear from you!

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• The Three Old Hacks discuss immigration

  The Three Old Hacks discuss immigration this week. Mihir Bose, former Sports editor for the BBC, came here as an immigrant from India in the 1960s, not long after Enoch Powell made his famous 'Rivers of Blood' speech. Keir Starmer has been accused of evoking a fear of 'otherness' by echoing Powell's words, when he said Britain risked becoming an 'island of strangers'. David Smith, Economics editor of the Sunday Times, said Brexit had led to a massive increase in immigration, and we were "starting to shoot ourselves in the foot" because immigrants from the EU tended to be young, making little claim on the state, and usually returning home after they had spent a few years here. They did not displace British workers, the British workforce grew at the same rate, whereas now that was no longer the case. Nigel Dudley, political analyst, said Starmer's use of Powellite phraseology would give comfort and encourage racists. On a lighter note, Nigel also made an appeal for cricket players, as his village cricket ground is working to revive the sport locally. He's looking for players for Lidgate & Ousden Cricket Club and encouraged anyone living within a 20-mile radius of Newmarket or Bury St Edmunds to get in touch via their website: https://lidgateousden.play-cricket.com/homeGet in contact with the podcast by emailing [email protected], we’d love to hear from you!

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• Decision time for Christian leaders

   The Three Old Hacks discuss the challenges facing Christian leadership. As the Papal Conclave works its way through multiple rounds of voting to select a new Pope and the Church of England chooses a new Archbishop of Canterbury, they caution against trying to make a fast buck by betting on either. On the papal contest, political analyst Nigel Dudley offers: "It's invariably an outsider." On the Church of England selection, "I think it could be a woman," says David Smith, Economics editor of the Sunday Times, "because, of the figures in the Church of England, the bishops and the Church of England in the UK, I think some of the most impressive figures are women," although he acknowledges this might not go down to well with the Church worldwide. The circle-squaring task of reconciling the values of the Church in England and the wider Church will be the biggest headache for whoever gets the job.As a historian of the Indian sub-continent, Mihir Bose is particularly concerned with the heightened tensions in Kashmir after the attacks that left 26 civilians dead last week. "India is threatening to cut the water sharing system they have with Pakistan, an agreement that goes back to the 50s, and Pakistan sees it as an act of war," he says, while Nigel suggests: "If Pakistan is finding itself isolated and in a corner, it may be more likely to threaten nuclear war than at any stage in the past."Turning to less depressing and apocalyptic matters, the Three Old Hacks go on to discuss the Observer newspaper's transition and future prospects and the significance for multicultural Britain of chicken tikka masala being served at the Oval.Get in contact with the podcast by emailing [email protected], we’d love to hear from you!

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• Who will win the battle for the hearts and minds of those on the right? Nigel Farage or Kemi Badenoch?

   The Three Old Hacks look at the relationship between Nigel Farage and the Conservative Party. We are seeing a reshaping of the right in British politics, says Mihir. Nigel Farage is out to destroy the Conservative Party in his mission to become prime minister.He is making a tactical shift towards the centre, says David Smith, to take over the Conservatives' ground. While Tory Party members may be drifting towards Reform, that "is not easy for Tory MPs to contemplate", says David Smith. He thinks the Tories have repeated the mistake they made when they elected William Hague in 1997, in electing a leader who is too young to lead the party (he was then 26). Kemi Badenoch is 44, but is "not", says David, "a very good parliamentary performer."Mihir is prepared to put money on Farage becoming prime minister one day, but Nigel Dudley thinks that the Tory party would probably survive, but may be taken over by Reform party leaders and policies.Turning to consider Rachel Reeves' performance as Chancellor and the measures she outlined in the Spring Budget, "it has been many decades since we have had an economist in the job of Chancellor," says David, "and she definitely is an economist," whatever her political enemies may say to the contrary. Whether or not she will survive as Chancellor has more to do with the number of enemies she has made in such a short time than it does with her abilities as an economist - pensioners who have lost their winter fuel payments, parents of children in private education, farmers, and now disabled people."She expected to be swept along on a tide of goodwill," says David, but that has not been the case.Is the Labour government's lack of popularity down to the mismatch in expectations between what they can afford and what people want from an incoming Labour government? Is it down to their lack of preparedness when they took office.The Three Old Hacks compare and contrast with governments past and consider the Trump effect on the UK's relations with Europe.Former Sports editor of BBC News Mihir Bose, political analyst Nigel Dudley and Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith, aka the Three Old Hacks, bring their decades of experience to bear on the most pressing political developments. Get in contact with the podcast by emailing [email protected], we’d love to hear from you!

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