Political Frenemies

About Political Frenemies

Rebels with opposite causes. Former Tory defence adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem activist Mathew Hulbert don’t see eye to eye — and that’s exactly why it works. Each week they take on the biggest stories in British politics with wit, insight, and the occasional exasperated sigh. With guests from across the spectrum, Political Frenemies is the antidote to establishment podcasts: unfiltered, unpredictable, and proudly independent. Chris Newton is a PhD military historian and defence analyst. Mathew Hulbert is a former journalist, councillor, and charity chair. Both appear on TV and radio.

Publisher

Political Frenemies

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Nov 2024

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

83 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Reform UK in Crisis? ITV Exposé Puts Farage Under Pressure | Political Frenemies #76

   Is Reform UK heading for a major crisis? An explosive ITV undercover expose has revealed offensive comments by Reform candidates and councillors, putting Nigel Farage and his party under intense pressure. Lib Dem commentator Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton ask just how much damage the scandal could do to Reform’s electoral ambitions. Plus, Andy Burnham reignites the Brexit debate with a push for closer ties with the EU and controversial comments about Russian interference in the referendum, before offering Scotland a new deal on devolution in a bid to move beyond the independence question. And with questions hanging over the Lib Dems’ national performance, is Ed Davey’s leadership safe for now?

2. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Kemi Badenoch Says No To Reform Coalition: Is She Right? w/ Zak Wagman | Political Frenemies #75

   Is Kemi Badenoch finally turning the Conservatives around, or is the party still heading for trouble? On the latest Political Frenemies, former Tory adviser Chris Newton and Lib Dem commentator Mathew Hulbert are joined by Tory councillor and commentator Zak Wagman to dissect Conservative Party conference, Badenoch’s rejection of any coalition with Reform UK, and whether the Tories are genuinely on the road to recovery. They also examine Labour’s victory in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election and what it means for Zack Polanski and the Greens, before turning to turmoil in the Lib Dems following Charlie Maynard’s resignation from the frontbench. Is this the beginning of a coup against Ed Davey?

3. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Can Andy Burnham Deliver His Radical Agenda? w/ Sean Purcell | Political Frenemies #74

   Labour conference has delivered a major political shake-up — and on Political Frenemies, Lib Dem commentator Mathew Hulbert and former Tory adviser Chris Newton are joined by trade unionist Sean Purcell to dissect Andy Burnham’s big speech and his plans for pensions, social care and electoral reform. Why does Burnham want to change the pensions triple lock, and what does his promise of a new voting system mean for British politics? We also get into the row within the Liberal Democrats over the triple lock, look at the Green and Plaid Cymru conferences, and cast an eye over the Conservatives as their own conference season gets underway.

Who has been a guest on Political Frenemies

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Chris Carter
• Peter Cardwell
• Iain Dale

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

41,204

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 27 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

24

Social presence

0

YouTube

72

Engagement

0

Contact Political Frenemies

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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