SHORT SHARP SHROP: Christmas comes early as Johnson’s Tories are utterly humiliated in the North Shropshire by-election, with the ignominious loss of a 23,000-vote majority in a Tory heartland – and the biggest swing to the Lib Dems since 1993. What brought about this debacle: sleaze, scandal, Christmas parties, Johnson selling out farmers, Owen Paterson’s arrogance, or Johnson’s own repellent personality? And did Labour play it right by not campaigning too hard? Ros, Naomi and Dorian gather for a nice hot glass of mulled schadenfreude.


“This shows there isn’t yet huge appetite for a Starmer government. What there is, is disgust at the Conservative government.” – Ros Taylor



“Unlike Chesham and Amersham this wasn’t Remainers’ Revenge. This was very much a verdict on Johnson.” – Naomi Smith



“The Paterson affair shows Johnson’s fatal flaw: hubris. This will be his downfall.” – Ros Taylor


Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Naomi Smith and Ros Taylor. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Cornershop. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.
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