The Spectator

Podcast: Tory-Ukip relations, terrorist negotiations and Brighton’s Green problems

In this week’s issue, Lord Pearson, the former leader of Ukip, describes how he tried to offer the Tories a pact before the last general election, but Cameron refused to  meet with him to discuss it.  Now it’s too late, says Lord Pearson, and Cameron has forced Ukip to fight him to the end. Lord Pearson and Damian Green, the Conservative MP for Ashford, join Lara Prendergast on the podcast to discuss relations between the Tories and Ukip.

Should we ever negotiate with the Islamic State? Jonathan Powell has recently suggested we should consider it. Jenny McCartney takes issue with his stance though. She suggests Powell’s experience of negotiating with the IRA does not mean he is an expert on negotiating with extremist Islamist groups. Sean O’Callaghan, a former IRA activist and Dr Govinda Clayton, a lecturer on conflict analysis at the University of Kent, discuss whether we should ever consider talking to terrorists.

And finally, have the Green party wrecked Brighton? Tim Stanley suggests

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