Reform UK is on the rise, the Tories are reeling, and Labour can’t seem to land a punch. So on this week’s episode of Craft Politics, we called in one of the few Conservatives still winning elections to help us make sense of it all: Ben Houchen, the three-time elected Mayor of Tees Valley and a straight-talker from the Red Wall. He’s wickedly smart, and helps Andrew Percy and I make sense of:
Why Reform’s surge feels like Brexit 2.0
How Labour can win the headlines but still lose the vote
Whether we’re heading for a three-party system—or a Tory wipeout
The realignment that’s reshaping British (and Canadian) conservatism
What it’ll take to rebuild a competitive Conservative Party—from the vibes up
Plus:
🏗 Ben argues the future of the Conservative Party lies in blue-collar realignment, not home counties nostalgia.
🚨 Why a non-aggression pact with Reform is a non-starter—and what that means for the Tory path back.
📣 And Andrew tells the infamous story of (almost) endorsing Ben’s Labour opponent on live TV.
Full Episode here: Don’t forget to subscribe, wherever you get your podcasts.