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Never Mind The Bar Charts

Never Mind The Bar Charts

By Mark Pack

THIS PODCAST HAS MOVED TO WWW.NEVERMINDTHEBARCHARTS.COM

Mark Pack and guests talk about the Liberal Democrats, British politics and a few stray digressions. Only a few.
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How are the Liberal Democrats going to do in the general election?

Never Mind The Bar ChartsNov 01, 2019

00:00
45:19
The virtues of Marmite: Tim Farron's advice on being a Liberal Democrat leader

The virtues of Marmite: Tim Farron's advice on being a Liberal Democrat leader

Welcome to a special re-run of a previous but once again very relevant edition of Never Mind The Bar Charts. It’s from June 2019, which feels a long time ago now but the calendar says that was only 12 months ago. It was the time of the party’s last leadership election, and I did an interview with Tim Farron about his experience as party leader. We focused on his advice for the next party leader as well as tips on what members should ask in hustings meetings.

Both Tim’s advice and tips are still very relevant, so here is that episode again. And do also take a listen to the episode I did recently with Tim Bale, where we also cooked up great hustings questions.

Hope you enjoy the repeat.

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Jun 26, 202047:01
(Full length version) Making the Liberal Democrats win more elections
Jun 19, 202039:46
Good News, Bad News

Good News, Bad News

Welcome to another special edition of Never Mind The Bar Charts, this time my appearance on Democratically: 2020 with Karin Robinson. We talk about my book, Bad News, the US Presidential race and how election coverage is so often wrong.

Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.

Show notes


Jun 07, 202001:02:15
The five things an opposition party must do: interview with Tim Bale

The five things an opposition party must do: interview with Tim Bale

What makes for a successful opposition party? How much of that success is down to the leader? How much does policymaking matter in opposition? Wnat question should be asked the Lib Dem leadership election hustings? These are just some of the topics I chewed over with opposition expert Professor Tim Bale in this episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts.

Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.

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May 29, 202054:13
Party leadership, online conferences and the election review
May 27, 202055:44
Why good pollsters are filled with doubt: interview with YouGov's Chris Curtis
May 20, 202036:36
What must the Liberal Democrats learn from Donald Trump?

What must the Liberal Democrats learn from Donald Trump?

Donald Trump may not be the most obvious of role models for the Liberal Democrats. But there's a lot about effective communication the party can learn from him. After all, he won a national election, defying political establishments and seeing off unfriendly media along the way.

So in this episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, I talk about him with Rob Blackie. I used to work with Rob at Lib Dem HQ many years ago when he was the maestro of costing manifesto policies. He has since carved out a very successful career in marketing and communications.

Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.

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May 13, 202040:59
The one in which I get compared to Terry Pratchett

The one in which I get compared to Terry Pratchett

Rather than a normal episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, this time I’m running an episode of the excellent Not Enough Champagne podcast, including an improbable comparison between me and Terry Pratchett.

You might recall me mentioning Not Enough Champagne as one of my favourite podcasts. I like it so much despite – or rather because – it’s done by two Labour Party activists, Cory and Steve, and therefore gives a rather different take on the world from mine.

Different enough to be thought-provoking and a guard against insular thinking without being so different as to cause me to hit stop in disgust.

And the reason for picking this particular episode that they’ve kindly let me re-run here?

Well, in it they talk about my book, Bad News. See what some non-Lib Dems make of it and enjoy listening, including hearing – if you listen right to the end, their cracking theme tune by Dave Depper.

Hope you enjoy their show and do subscribe to their podcast too.

Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.

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May 09, 202031:25
Protecting our privacy is key to fighting coronavirus

Protecting our privacy is key to fighting coronavirus

It's crucial that apps designed to help us battle coronavirus also protect our privacy as otherwise their take-up and so public health will suffer.

That's the key point made by the Open Rights Group's Jim Killock in the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts as we discussed the potential risks to our civil liberties from the different attempts to track who people have been in contact with. Such contact tracing is essential to tackling coronavirus, but how can it be done best? Listen to find out...

Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.

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May 06, 202035:60
Is over-centralisation hindering the struggle against coronavirus?

Is over-centralisation hindering the struggle against coronavirus?

In this episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, I talk with the Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, Munira Wilson, about what it's like being an MP, how over-centralisation may be hindering the struggle against coronavirus and how best to communicate with the public.

Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.

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Like the show? Do follow on Twitter or Facebook. It's a great way to hear more about the podcast - and to let your friends and colleagues know about it too.

Apr 27, 202033:19
What do the experts say about coronavirus?

What do the experts say about coronavirus?

In the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, I talked with Ben Johnson, a former Liberal Democrat councillor in Southwark with a PhD on the influenza virus from Public Health England and the University of Reading, and now working for Nature, one of the world’s most famous and respected scientific journals.

Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.

Show notes Find Never Mind The Bar Charts on social media

Like the show? Do follow on Twitter or Facebook. It's a great way to hear more about the podcast - and to let your friends and colleagues know about it too.

Apr 23, 202044:52
The Project: how the Conservatives were beaten last time
Apr 16, 202046:29
Our bias toward pessimism - Sunder Katwala on reactions to coronavirus

Our bias toward pessimism - Sunder Katwala on reactions to coronavirus

In the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, I talk with Sunder Katwala from the British Future think tank. Along with discussing civil rights in the age of coronavirus and the impact on BAME communities, he raised the important issue of the human bias towards pessimism and its impact on our reactions to the coronavirus crisis.

Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.

Show notes Find Never Mind The Bar Charts on social media

Like the show? Do follow on Twitter or Facebook. It's a great way to hear more about the podcast - and to let your friends and colleagues know about it too.

Apr 08, 202029:07
What does coronavirus mean for public policy? Interview with Polly Mackenzie
Apr 02, 202026:42
Special joint episode with Lib Dem Podcast: Leadership election postponed / should we cancel Brighton conference?
Mar 29, 202047:37
Coronavirus: the Hong Kong experience and what next for British politics? S2/E7

Coronavirus: the Hong Kong experience and what next for British politics? S2/E7

In the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, I speak with Professor Phil Cowley, one of Britain’s leading political scientists, co-author for several general elections of authoritative Nuffield study and someone who casts the net so widely in his research that I occasionally appear in his footnotes.

Phil’s been on my list of possible guests for a while, but I particularly wanted to talk to him now as he’s currently living in Hong Kong, somewhere that’s been much in the news here in the UK for comparisons over how coronavirus is being tackled in each place.

We also talk about what this all means for British politics, and Phil's picks for books to read at the moment.

Show notes
Mar 27, 202032:15
How you can figure out which news stories to trust: the story behind Bad News S2/E6

How you can figure out which news stories to trust: the story behind Bad News S2/E6

Before the coronavirus crisis hit, I recorded a podcast with my published, Biteback Books, about my new book, Bad News.

Listen to find out how you can make sense of the news all around us, the problem with news coverage on gun control, the (lack of a problem) with news echo chambers and filter bubbles, why I look back on my daily commute in years past with amazement and how I came to write Bad News.

Show notes
Mar 20, 202023:12
What does the polling data say about the future for the Lib Dems? Interview with Paula Surridge S2/E5
Mar 19, 202029:01
What's it like being a councillor and how do you get to be one? With Anton Georgiou S2/E4
Mar 09, 202027:50
What does a Liberal Democrat council leader do? With Cllr Stephen Robinson S2/E3

What does a Liberal Democrat council leader do? With Cllr Stephen Robinson S2/E3

In this episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, the Liberal Democrat leader of Chelmsford Council, Stephen Robinson is interviewed about what Lib Dem council leader does, and how he got to be one in the first place.

Show notes: 
Feb 10, 202029:30
How do you make someone join a political party? Tim Bale has the evidence S2/E2
Jan 23, 202028:52
What does the future hold for British politics? With Lynne Featherstone S2/E1
Jan 04, 202033:20
Season 1 Finale: an interim elections post-mortem #26

Season 1 Finale: an interim elections post-mortem #26

In the final episode of season one, Mark and Stephen pick over the general election result, another less important election result and the plans for Season 2 of Never Mind The Bar Charts.

Dec 16, 201942:53
How to change the result of the election with the help of targeting #25
Dec 06, 201953:44
How is the Liberal Democrat general election campaign going? #24
Nov 29, 201947:08
Prince Andrew, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, and the Liberal Democrats #23
Nov 18, 201934:57
Battlegrounds, bar charts but not Brexit
Nov 11, 201936:52
How are the Liberal Democrats going to do in the general election?
Nov 01, 201945:19
LIVE SHOW: Is Dominic Cummings a genius?

LIVE SHOW: Is Dominic Cummings a genius?

In the first live audience recording of Never Mind The Bar Charts, host Stephen Tall talks to two people who have worked with Dominic Cumnings: Polly Mackenzie and Sean Kemp.

Oct 13, 201955:57
Rebels with a cause
Oct 08, 201940:10
Is politics still about left versus right?
Sep 22, 201922:01
Lib Dems do the Revokey-Cokey
Sep 10, 201939:11
The Brexit Episode: Remain is winning! (Or is it?)
Aug 30, 201931:31
And then there were two... (more MPs on the Lib Dem Parliamentary benches)

And then there were two... (more MPs on the Lib Dem Parliamentary benches)

Stephen Tall and Mark Pack discuss the victory of Jane Dodds and the switch of Sarah Wollaston.
Aug 15, 201936:05
Why did Jo Swinson win and what happens now?

Why did Jo Swinson win and what happens now?

Stephen Tall and Mark Pack discuss the outcome of the Lib Dem leadership race and how optimistic Lib Dems should now be.
Jul 30, 201940:36
What have we learnt so far about Jo Swinson and Ed Davey?

What have we learnt so far about Jo Swinson and Ed Davey?

Mark and Stephen share their frustrations, insights and praise for the Lib Dem leadership contest in this special double-length episode.
Jul 03, 201955:54
Exclusive: Edward Davey interview

Exclusive: Edward Davey interview

Mark Pack interviews would-be Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey about why he's decided now is the time to run for leader. They also discuss the Coalition Government, environmental policy and how to defeat Boris Johnson.
Jun 27, 201939:38
Exclusive: Jo Swinson interview

Exclusive: Jo Swinson interview

Mark Pack interviews would-be Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson about why she wants the job. The topics they discuss include what she thinks of the SNP, what she'd do in a hung Parliament and how the party can be more successful.
Jun 25, 201937:55
Announcement: three special episodes coming up

Announcement: three special episodes coming up

Exclusive interviews with Edward Davey and Jo Swinson coming up. Subscribe the podcast to make sure you don't miss them.
Jun 21, 201902:20
Will the Liberal Democrat boom go bust?

Will the Liberal Democrat boom go bust?

In episode #9, Stephen Tall and Mark Pick pick over the European election results and what comes next for the Lib Dems. Can the party sustain its May run of successes?
May 28, 201929:25
Just how happy should the Lib Dems be?

Just how happy should the Lib Dems be?

Stephen Tall and Mark Pack discuss the local elections, the Euros and the pace of Liberal Democrat recovery.
May 14, 201936:56
Friend or foe? Change UK and the Lib Dems

Friend or foe? Change UK and the Lib Dems

Stephen Tall and Mark Pack discuss the leaked Change UK memo about the Lib Dems, where Change UK is headed, a bold claim about Tony Blair from Stephen and how the local elections may change the political trajectory of the Remain parties.

Apr 29, 201915:08
Are the Lib Dems about to lose an MP?

Are the Lib Dems about to lose an MP?

Stephen finally gets Mark to talk about Brexit. But only after discussing the Newport West by-election. They also discuss whether the Lib Dems are about to lose another MP over Brexit.
Apr 05, 201929:24
Vince Cable: how did he do and who will succeed him?

Vince Cable: how did he do and who will succeed him?

Mark Pack and Stephen Tall discuss Vince Cable's record as leader, what happened at conference and why Stephen pays money to the New Statesman. Plus - who will be the next Lib Dem leader?
Mar 19, 201930:47
The Independent Group: earthshattering or earthbound?

The Independent Group: earthshattering or earthbound?

Mark Pack and Stephen Tall discuss The Independent Group, the future of the Lib Dems and Brexit. With shout outs for The Times Red Box podcast and the Polling Matters podcast.

Mar 04, 201929:38
Pilot episode #3: universal basic income, radicalism and new parties

Pilot episode #3: universal basic income, radicalism and new parties

Stephen and Mark discuss three things they don't like.
Feb 13, 201932:01
Pilot episode #2: Paddy, coalition and little Englanders

Pilot episode #2: Paddy, coalition and little Englanders

Mark Pack and Stephen Tall discuss Paddy Ashdown, Lib Dem strategy and our obsession with US politics. Brexit nearly doesn't get mentioned.
Jan 18, 201938:16
Pilot episode #1: the best political commentators, the Lib Dems and what if Brexit wasn't happening?

Pilot episode #1: the best political commentators, the Lib Dems and what if Brexit wasn't happening?

Stephen Tall and Mark Pack talk about their favourite political podcasts and commentators, what the government should be doing if it wasn't consumed by Brexit and the Liberal Democrats.

Dec 23, 201837:59