Local elections preview: how bad will it be for Labour?

In this week’s Q&A: are the local elections about to deliver a political shock? With Labour facing pressure from Reform, the Greens and resurgent local challengers, Michael and Maddie assess whether the party is heading for heavy losses – and what it would mean if even its traditional heartlands start to slip away.Also this week: can journalists trust artificial intelligence? After a high-profile case of AI use in the media, they debate where the line should be drawn – and whether relying on it risks hollowing out real expertise and judgment.And finally: has ‘twee’ taken over? From Paddington to ‘be kind’, they ask whether a softer, more infantilised tone is crowding out serious debate – and what that says about modern Britain.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.