Budget Season, Housing Scandals & Populist SnapbacksJoseph’s in a bad mood. Andrew’s six minutes late. Holly’s podcasting from a cow-filled Cumbrian farm. And somehow, this chaotic start perfectly mirrors the week in politics we’re about to unpack.In this week’s Issue Scan, we tackle three big stories⸻💸 1. Carney’s Budget of Austerity (Without Saying “Austerity”)We preview Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first federal budget, which the Liberals are billing as transformational — but may look a lot like a cutback budget with better PR. • Spending cuts to government operations• Big promises on defense, trade and climate • An electorate with zero patience and plummeting expectations“It’s starting to feel like Canadians don’t want change — they want certainty.”We debate: • Is this a red-tinted version of David Cameron’s ‘Age of Austerity’? • Will progressive voters tolerate fiscal discipline? • And what happens if the elbow-throwing on trade still doesn’t land a deal with Trump?🏘 2. Rachel Reeves’ Rental Row: A Crisis of DetailThe UK Chancellor has a problem: two letters, one missed license, and a husband who didn’t “sort it.”We break down: • The timeline of the scandal • What it reveals about Labour’s growing housing PR headache • And why this is more than just “admin error”Lipstick on a Gerbil Score: 🧴 1 coat — “She said she took responsibility. But mostly blamed everyone else.”“If this were a Tory, Labour would have eaten them alive. But now? Just more letters on Starmer’s desk.”🇳🇱 3. Dutch Election Surprise: Populists Rejected?Andrew brings us a European update as the Dutch electorate gives populism a timeout — rejecting Geert Wilders and rewarding centrist parties. • What went wrong for the populists this time? • Is this a snapback to the centre or a one-off? • And what could it mean for Farage-style politics elsewhere?Populists won power, disappointed voters, and got punished. So what comes next?”
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The Dumbest $75M Ad Ever? Or Genius Strategy?
From the UK’s disastrous week under Labour to a major trade gaffe (or not?) in Canada, and Doug Ford’s surprising turn as global spokesman for tariffs and Reaganomics — we unpack a week of political faceplants, media spin, and near perfect lipstick jobs.⸻🧨 1. A Week in the Life of a Labour PMOne tweet said it all.Six political scandals. One week. And a mounting sense that Keir Starmer’s government is spiralling: • Botched handling of the Maccabi fan ban • Immigration failures (again) • Rape gang inquiry collapses • Labour loses its own seat in Wales • Starmer caught in a China fib • An Epping sex offender goes AWOLWe ask: Is this just governing as usual? Or has Labour lost the plot just one year into its mandate?“This feels like third-term fatigue… but it’s only year one.”⸻🗳 2. Labour Gets Wrecked in WalesA shock by-election in Caerphilly saw Labour collapse to 11%.Plaid Cymru won, Reform surged to second — and Farage is claiming “main challenger” status.We break down: • What the Welsh result tells us about progressive alliances • Whether Reform has a hard ceiling • And why Labour MPs are already talking like they’ve lost“They’ve only got the cards they’ve got — and we’ve seen what’s in that deck.”⸻🇨🇦 3. Ontario’s World Series Ad Bombs Trade TalksPremier Doug Ford ran a $75M ad campaign during the World Series — using Ronald Reagan’s words to shame Trump’s tariffs.Trump responded by escalating tariffs. Negotiations collapsed. The Reagan Foundation called it misinformation.We debate: • Was this political genius… or tactical self-sabotage? • Who was the ad really for — Trump or Ontarians? • And did Mark Carney know it was coming?“It smells like genius… but I’m not smart enough to understand why.”⸻💄 Lipstick on a Gerbil: Doug Ford Defends the AdIn our favourite comms segment, we rate Ford’s CNN appearance defending the ad.Was he playing 4D chess, or just trying to out-Trump Trump?Our verdict:🧴🧴🧴 Three coats — Warm, confident, and weirdly likeable.⸻📩 Subscribe or listen at craftpolitics.fm🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & Substack
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Fan Bans, Brexit Blame & Trump vs. Rudd
🧨 1. Maccabi Tel Aviv Fan Ban: Judenfrei by Policing?When Aston Villa banned Israeli fans from attending their upcoming UEFA fixture, citing security risks, it sparked outrage — and raised serious questions.Why did local UK officials capitulate to pressure from anti-Israel campaigners?How did Birmingham end up, as Andrew puts it, “effectively declared Judenfrei”?What does this mean for sport as a safe and unifying space?“If you threaten violence, you win. That’s the message. It’s shameful.”🇬🇧 2. Blaming Brexit — Labour’s Budget Pre-SpinAhead of the UK’s autumn budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves claims Brexit, austerity, and productivity slumps have created a deep funding hole.We debate:Is this a smart preconditioning move — or a dangerous misread of voters?Are Labour making Reform’s case for them?And how long can you keep blaming decisions from eight years ago?“They’re telling voters they were stupid. Farage couldn’t have scripted it better.”🇨🇦 3. Poilievre’s RCMP Blunder — Just Off the Cuff?Pierre Poilievre is on cleanup duty after comments he made accusing the RCMP of covering up Trudeau-era scandals. He says it was aimed at former commissioner Brenda Lucki — not the force itself. But the damage may already be done.Was it an off-the-cuff moment of honesty or a Trump-style overreach?Is it alienating swing voters just when the Tories should be widening their appeal?And what does it say about how Poilievre handles comfort-zone media?“He needs to be most careful when he’s most comfortable.”💄 Lipstick on a Gerbil: Penny Wong Defends Trump’s Takedown of Kevin RuddIn our favourite comms segment, we rate Australia’s Foreign Minister as she tries to explain away Donald Trump’s brutal dismissal of Ambassador (and ex-PM) Kevin Rudd:Our rating?🧴 One coat — Barely concealed, pivoted well, but we’re not buying it.“I don’t like him… and I probably never will.”
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Three Ways Conservatives Can Win Again
Guest: Dan Robertson, former Conservative strategist & founder of ORB AdvocacyThis week, Joseph and Holly are joined by long-time conservative strategist Dan Robertson, who has an unconventional set of ideas: Canada’s Conservative Party can’t out-campaign a system rigged against it.Dan’s solution? Structural reform. In a recent op-ed, he outlines three controversial but compelling ideas to level the playing field—and maybe even turn the Tories into a true national contender again.1. Proportional RepresentationWhy the “first past the post” system doesn’t actually benefit conservativesHow PR could eliminate the Liberals’ advantage in voter efficiencyAnd why Canada’s system keeps millions of centre-right votes from counting at all“I’d love to see conservatives champion competition everywhere—except in politics. It makes no sense.”2. Mandatory VotingWhy the right underperforms in low-turnout electionsA civic case for participation as a duty of citizenshipAnd what Australia can teach Canada about centre-right success in a compulsory voting system“This is the bare minimum of civic service. If we believe in responsibility, this is a no-brainer.”3. A New Strategy for QuebecDan proposes the unthinkable: Fold the federal Conservative brand in QuebecInstead, back a CAQ-style provincial-federal hybrid partyAnd model a new electoral coalition—just like the CDU–CSU in Germany.“In Quebec, we’re foreigners. It’s not ideological. It’s tribal. We need to rethink everything.”🎧 Plus:Could these reforms actually help turnout?Why voter apathy might be structural, not culturalAnd how to build a cross-partisan case for political reform, even on the right
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Can Carney Land a Deal? Gaza, Green Strategy & Canada’s Trade Reset
Joseph is back, Andrew has a cold, Holly has green tea — and the Craft Politics crew takes on three major stories reshaping the political map: peace in Gaza, Canada’s economic pivot, and Britain’s inflation problem.🧭 What’s Inside:🇮🇱 20 Hostages Freed — Can Trump Deliver Peace in Gaza?All living hostages have been returned after 738 days in captivityTrump takes centre stage in the peace process — with the kind of leverage few global leaders can summonHolly, Andrew, and Joseph debate whether this moment is a turning point or a temporary pause in a brutal conflict“Let’s not underestimate what Trump has already achieved in returning the hostages. That’s a phenomenal and important win.”🌍 Canada’s Climate Pivot & the India ResetOttawa hints at a climate competitiveness strategy focused on jobs over targetsCarney’s Liberals soften the climate line, downplay emissions caps, and seek Alberta buy-inAt the same time, Canada and India agree to reset diplomatic relations after a two-year rupture“You can feel the contrast with the Trudeau era. There’s a shift toward pragmatism—jobs, trade, and economic security.”💸 Britain’s Inflation Warning: Highest in the G7 (Again)IMF says UK inflation will outpace every other G7 country through 2026Food, hospitality, and taxes are driving the pressureKemi’s Tories pitch tax relief and spending restraint — but will anyone buy it?“You’re paying more tax but getting worse services. That’s why inflation feels higher than it is.”💄 Lipstick on a Gerbil: Melanie Joly Spins the Stalled Trump TalksCanada’s Industry Minister tries to explain what the second visit to the White House has produced — and comes up short.“One and a half coats. Solid performance, but there’s only so many times you can say we’re still talking.”
The best political chats don’t happen in boardrooms, and they rarely show up in briefing notes. They happen in pubs — over a pint or three. Or, right here on Craft Politics. With craft beer on the table and stories from decades in politics across the UK and Canada, Andrew Percy and Joseph Lavoie take you behind the headlines to show you how politics really works — and why it matters to you. Candid, witty, sometimes inappropriate, it’s a reminder that politics doesn’t have to be boring or polarizing.
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