Jonathan Freedland

Jonathan Freedland argues that Donald Trump and Nigel Farage excel at political spectacle, grievance and attention-seeking but fail when faced with the sustained work of governing. Farage’s return to parliament after the Clacton byelection is framed as another political stunt amid renewed scrutiny of his finances and security claims. Trump is criticized for worsening economic conditions, losing public approval and pursuing an unsuccessful war against Iran that has failed to achieve its stated aims while increasing regional and global risks. The column concludes that nationalist populists can channel resentment and win elections, but are unable to resolve the problems that drive public discontent.

Jonathan Freedland argues that claims of a Conservative revival under Kemi Badenoch are premature and unlikely to materialize. He points to the party’s disastrous fifth-place result in the Greater Manchester mayoral election, Badenoch’s proposal to remove non-EU foreign nationals from council housing during unrest targeting asylum seekers, and her handling of former neo-Nazi Joshua Bonehill-Paine. Freedland contends that Badenoch’s strategy of imitating Reform UK cannot succeed because Nigel Farage’s party will always take harder-line positions, while the Conservatives alienate moderate voters, including former “blue wall” supporters who moved to the Liberal Democrats. He concludes that the party remains trapped in decline rather than on the verge of a renaissance.

Jonathan Freedland speaks with New York Times journalist Jonathan Swan about how Donald Trump’s second term differs from his first. They discuss the departure of political and legal figures who once constrained Trump, the consolidation of executive authority, and the potential consequences for the US economy, immigration policy, the presidency and the wider world.

Andy Burnham’s early political success could be threatened by Donald Trump’s unpredictable decisions, but the UK cannot meaningfully influence the US president through either flattery or confrontation. The stronger strategy, according to Jonathan Freedland, is to reduce Britain’s dependence on Washington by joining Europe’s emerging security and economic community. Collective European defence spending, energy cooperation, support for Ukraine and economic resilience would also benefit domestic reindustrialisation. Public opinion has moved substantially toward closer EU ties, suggesting that a Europe-focused foreign policy could be both strategically necessary and politically viable, even if it requires overturning the post-Brexit status quo.

The podcast examines the growing prominence of left-wing Democrats, citing Zohran Mamdani in New York and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan alongside calls for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to seek the presidency in 2028. Jonathan Freedland discusses with Bhaskar Sunkara whether Democratic socialism has moved from the political fringe toward the mainstream and whether its supporters can win back crucial swing voters.

Andy Burnham’s £2 cap on single bus fares and the creation of a No 10 North base in Manchester are presented as deliberate examples of practical “retail politics” and a broader effort to decentralize British power. The column argues that Kemi Badenoch’s dismissal of these measures misunderstands the political value of policies with an immediate impact on people’s lives. Burnham’s central project is portrayed as empowering cities and regions to address Britain’s persistent regional productivity gap, with support from Ed Balls, John Healey and Angela Rayner. Although the government faces major spending pressures and limited tax-raising options, a successful devolution strategy could become its most consequential reform and help unlock wider economic growth.

Andy Burnham’s early months as prime minister will be crucial in shaping public perceptions, and he should cultivate hope rather than begin with warnings about economic hardship. Jonathan Freedland urges him to avoid speculation about an early election, choose a stable and capable team, make carefully judged policy announcements and establish a clear governing plan. The column draws lessons from Gordon Brown, Keir Starmer, Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher, arguing that clear direction can protect a government from crises and guide the civil service. Politically, Burnham should focus less on winning back the small number of Reform UK voters open to Labour and more on reuniting voters who moved to the Greens and Liberal Democrats, through broadly appealing priorities such as public services and the cost of living.

Concerns over the resilience of the United States’ constitutional system intensify as Donald Trump’s consolidation of presidential power exposes a core vulnerability: the constitution’s reliance on individuals to uphold democratic norms. Examples include Congress and Republican senators failing to act as constitutional constraints and the US Supreme Court granting expanded presidential authority. The analysis argues that Trump’s behavior mirrors the founders’ fears of a leader seeking monarchical power, revealing structural weaknesses that have long existed but are now unmistakable. Despite the country’s history of recovery, the current moment highlights unprecedented strains on the republic’s foundational safeguards.

A record-breaking UK and European heatwave exposes the contradictions of climate skepticism, as delegates at a rightwing London conference criticize Ed Miliband’s net-zero policies while sweltering in extreme temperatures. The column argues that political distraction, economic concerns and opposition to green levies are diverting attention from the climate emergency, with criticism extending to trade unions, Tony Blair, Mark Carney and the European Commission for weakening climate measures. It also links fossil-fuel dependence to Donald Trump’s reported concessions to Iran, concluding that climate breakdown is both intensifying extreme weather and distorting global politics.

Keir Starmer’s rapid fall after Labour’s 2024 landslide resulted from a combination of personal and structural failures. He struggled to communicate a compelling governing narrative, lacked a clear early plan, misread public sentiment, relied heavily on factional advisers, repeatedly reversed policy, and failed to build strong relationships with Labour MPs. These weaknesses were compounded by an exhausted public, constrained finances, deteriorating services, social-media-driven hostility and an electorate demanding immediate results. Supporters argue that Starmer transformed Labour, reduced NHS waiting lists, reduced child poverty, expanded workers’ and renters’ rights and strengthened Britain’s international position. His successor, likely Andy Burnham, will inherit the same economic and political instability, suggesting that Starmer may be only the latest victim of Britain’s growing impatience with government.