Never Mind The Bar Charts

Mark Pack and guests talk about the Liberal Democrats, British politics and a few stray digressions. Only a few.

Listen on:

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Podbean App
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
  • TuneIn + Alexa
  • iHeartRadio
  • PlayerFM
  • Samsung
  • Podchaser

Episodes

Saturday Sep 07, 2024

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts sees a return to the show for Sam Freedman. This time he’s got a new book out, about how our government is broken – and what to do to fix it.
Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.
Show notes
Failed State: Why Nothing Works and How We Fix It by Sam Freedman: Amazon, Waterstones, UK Bookshop (affiliate links).
Sam Freedman’s Prospect articles.
The Mill.
Sam Freedman’s newsletter.
The myth of Budget poll bounces.
Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
Check out some of this show’s most popular previous episodes.
Enjoy the show? Spread the word
Share the show’s website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

Sunday Aug 04, 2024


The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts discusses a great new book about the geography of British elections with its two authors, Jamie Furlong and Will Jennings.
Why do the Conservatives underperform on Merseyside yet overperform in Lincolnshire, and how much of electoral geography is really about individual campaigners?
Take a listen to find out...
Show notes
Get The Changing Electoral Map of England and Wales by Jamie Furlong and Will Jennings: Amazon, Bookshop, Waterstones. (Affiliate links.)
Get Putting Voters in Their Place: Geography and Elections in Great Britain by Ron Johnston and Charles Pattie: Amazon, Bookshop, Waterstones. (Affiliate links.)
My two previous podcasts discussing Brexitland: with Rob Ford and with Maria Sobolewska.
Jamie Furlong and Will Jennings on X/Twitter.
Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes.
Enjoy the show? Spread the word
Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

Sunday Jul 14, 2024

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts takes a look back to the five criteria for success that Professor Tim Bale set out for opposition leaders and considers how they played out by the end of the 2024 general election.
Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.
Show notes
Our original discussion of five tests for opposition parties.
Our December 2020, March 2022 and December 2022 updates.
Some of those Ed Davey stunts.
My puzzlement over the lack of concern from Conservatives about losing support in Surrey and London.
The size of Lib Dem majorities.
Ed Davey's campaign ratings.
Survey of Conservative membership on the next party leader.
Tim Bale on X/Twitter.
Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes.
Enjoy the show? Spread the word
Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

Tuesday Jul 02, 2024

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts is another special with John Potter and the Lib Dem Pod, looking at all the latest from the election campaign.
Show notes
The More in Common polling I mention.
Lib Dem Pod.
Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes.
For material which promotes the party’s candidates or future candidates, the imprint information is that it is promoted by Mike Dixon on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, both 1 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PN.
Enjoy the show? Spread the word
Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

Tuesday Jun 11, 2024


The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts is another special with John Potter and the Lib Dem Pod, looking at all the latest from the election campaign with Lib Dem peer Liz Barker and Lib Dem candidate David Chadwick.
Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.
Show notes
The Lib Dem manifesto.
The election timetable.
David Chadwick's campaign.
How we decide where to ask people to campaign.
Lib Dem Pod.
Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes.
For material which promotes the party’s candidates or future candidates, the imprint information is that it is promoted by Mike Dixon on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, both 1 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PN.
Enjoy the show? Spread the word
Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

Friday Jun 07, 2024


The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts is another team-up with the Lib Dem podcast, taking a look at the general election, mulling over Nigel Farage's entrance and hearing about how a Dalek got canvassed.
Appearing on the show is Victoria Collins. The constituency she is standing in includes the village of Aldbury, often used in TV and films, including for Doctor Who and The Avengers.
Show notes
Victoria Collins.
Aldbury.
The time Daleks nearly advertised Hamlet Cigars.
Lib Dem Pod.
Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes.
For material which promotes the party’s candidates or future candidates, the imprint information is that it is promoted by Mike Dixon on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, both 1 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PN. For content related specifically to a candidate, it is published and promoted by S. Oliver on behalf of V. Collins.
Enjoy the show? Spread the word
Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

Wednesday Jun 05, 2024

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts saw a return for the Professor of Political Leafleting, the Lady of the Leaflets, Professor Caitlin Milazzo. She's one of the top experts on what election candidates put in their leaflets and why. So just the person to talk with as even more leaflets are headed to people's letterboxes for the general election.
Show notes
The Open Elections website.
How are political leaflets changing (and do they work)? - previous podcast with Caitlin Milazzo.
Negative campaigning in political leaflets: what the evidence says - previous podcast with Caitlin Milazzo.
Perceived Negativity in British General Election Communications by Caitlin Milazzo and John Ryan.
Personal, policy and partisanship: Understanding voter reactions to campaign negativity by Alan Duggan, Caitlin Milazzo, Harry Applestein and John Ryan.
Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes.
Enjoy the show? Spread the word
Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

Thursday May 30, 2024


The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts is another team-up with John Potter and the Lib Dem Pod team. This time we were joined by Bill Revans, leader of the largest elected Lib Dem group in the country, to talk about the start of the general election.
Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.
Show notes
Lib Dem Pod.
Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
Check out some of this show's most popular previous episodes.
Enjoy the show? Spread the word
Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

Thursday May 09, 2024

The latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts is another joint venture with The Lib Dem Pod, taking a look at the 2024 local elections.
Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.
Show notes
The Week in Polls.
The Lib Dem Pod.
Tribute to Andrew Stunell.
Local election results in Preston.
The 2024 local election results.
Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
Check out some of this show’s most popular previous episodes.
Enjoy the show? Spread the word
Share the show’s website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

Monday Apr 08, 2024

Never Mind The Bar Charts took an unexpected turn when I was discussing the track record of polls closing in previous Parliaments with Professor Will Jennings. One of the most dramatic such examples was with Jeremy Corbyn in 2017... so perhaps he should be the role model for Rishi Sunak as he looks to rescue the Conservatives?
Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.
Show notes
Have the polls closed in previous Parliaments?
What are MRPs and can we trust them?
Voting intention by supermarket.
Sign up to the newsletter from Will Jennings.
Theme tune by Hugo Lee.
New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.
Check out some of this show’s most popular previous episodes.
Enjoy the show? Spread the word
Share the show’s website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.

Mark Pack

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20240731