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.”
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Inside the Tory Conference: A Wake, a Reset, or Just Really Bad Gossip?
With Andrew Percy, Holly Mumby-Croft & guest roving reporter Antony HigginbothamJoseph’s away, so the adults are off-duty — and the former MPs are in charge.In this special Tory Party Conference edition, Andrew and Holly are joined by their old colleague (and flatmate) Antony Higginbotham — back from the ground in Manchester with gossip, grit, and grim assessments of where the Conservative Party stands post-election.🧭 What’s Inside:🚪 Low turnout, low energy, lower expectationsThis year’s Tory conference felt like a wake: fewer lobbyists, fewer ministers, and… fewer rumoursSome MPs showed up to mourn; others showed up to rebuildShadow ministers name-dropped Kemi, but were they really rallying around her?“If the Tory Party has stopped producing good gossip… that may be the most dangerous sign yet.”💥 Still relevant? Or a brand waiting to be rebought?Antony offers a brutal but honest diagnosis:The party may be down — but if the Woolworths model holds, it’s still salvageable. Eventually.“No one trusts the policies or the people—but the brand still has residual value.”📉 A generational void and the candidate droughtToo few safe seats to attract serious talentToo many 2024 losers who only want to return if they get a guaranteeA pipeline problem for any future right-of-centre government“We’ll need to form a government with people who aren’t even MPs yet — and that’s a problem.”💬 The reform shadow, Kemi’s moment, and leadership gossipMay’s local elections could be the breaking pointBut scar tissue from years of churn might delay any internal revoltAnd reform continues to absorb “the laziest defectors” — in Anthony’s words — without a clear plan to use them
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Dan Hannan on the Right: Brexit, Reform, and What Comes Next
This week, we’re joined by Lord Daniel Hannan, one of the most thoughtful — and globally fluent — conservative voices in politics.We go deep on the future of the right across the Anglosphere:🇬🇧 Is the British Conservative Party dead or just regenerating?🇺🇸 Has the U.S. abandoned the world it built?🇨🇦 Why is Canadian conservatism still the sanest?🗳 And is the UK heading toward a merger moment like Canada’s in 2003?🧭 What We Cover1. The Anglosphere’s Conservative CrisisHow lockdown changed the role of the stateWhy “Trumpism” is reshaping the right in every country — including IcelandAnd why Canada may be the only place where centre-right politics still feel normal“Preserving the sanity and civility of Canadian politics is no small prize.” — Hannan2. Can Reform and the Tories Work Together?Hannan lays out the most detailed case yet for a non-merger, non-coalition electoral pact — and explains why time is running out.He also draws a direct line from Farage’s playbook to Canada’s 1993-2003 Reform-Conservative story — and suggests it may all play out again, faster than we think.“If we were all Dr. Spock from Star Trek, we’d have done this by now.”3. The Long History of ToryismDaniel is writing the first comprehensive history of the Conservative Party — from the 1600s onward.He reminds us why old parties shouldn’t be underestimated… and why “Toryism” might survive even if the Tory party doesn’t.4. On Brexit: Not a disaster — just underusedWe close the episode by tackling the narrative around Brexit’s so-called failure.“Brexit didn’t make you richer or poorer. It gave you back the right to make different choices. Whether you succeed or fail depends on what you do next.”🎧 This is one of our favourite episodes of the season. Whether you’re a political junkie, a student of history, or just trying to make sense of where the right goes next — don’t miss it.
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Trump's Gaza Plan, Labour Conference, and a Postal Strike
We’re back with another Issue Scan — and we’ve got a full lineup:🌍 A 20-point postwar plan for Gaza🇬🇧 Labour’s conference drama (or lack thereof)📬 And a Canada Post strike that’s gone… oddly unnoticed?Joseph, Andrew, and Holly break down the headlines with just enough disagreement to keep things honest — and just enough beer to keep things friendly.
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Canada and UK Recognize Palestinian Statehood
We had intended to explore this major foreign policy shift with a former G7 foreign minister, but unfortunately, schedules got in the way. Percy and Joseph share their thoughts on what is an incredibly sensitive topic.The conversation delves into the recent recognition of Palestine at the UN, contrasting Canadian foreign policy, and the implications of the October 7th attacks. We discuss the roles of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, the two-state solution debate, and the rising antisemitism in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We explore the military strategy of Israel post-October 7th, its diplomatic isolation, and the political motivations behind the recognition of Palestine. The discussion concludes with a hopeful note for peace amidst ongoing conflict.
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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