![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/planet-normal-can-sunak-soothe-the-shires-while-not-jettisoning-the-red-wall/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/TELEMMGLPICT000314086665_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqNJjoeBT78QIaYdkJdEY4CnGTJFJS74MYhNY6w3GNbO8.jpeg&description=Can Rishi Sunak deliver the unity the Conservative party need? On this week's episode of the Planet Normal podcast, which you can listen to using the audio player above, co-hosts and columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan discuss whether Sunak can salvage his party. Both Allison and Liam think the new Prime Minister made a strong debut at his first Prime Minister's Questions, with Allison saying the former Chancellor looked surprisingly "young, modern and cool" compared to "pale, stale Starmer". But Allison wonders how the new PM will fare when faced with conquering the red wall. "I just think by electing him, the Conservatives have pretty much now ceded the Red Wall to Labour. In Sunak, we have an emollient centrist who is going to do an awful lot to soothe the Tories in the shires who were threatening to mutiny and vote Lib Dem over Boris's antics. But I'm wondering how it will play out, soothing the blue shires, but jettisoning the red wall." Liam is also concerned that the Tories could be giving Labour an 'open goal' with such an economically flush PM and Chancellor at the helm in the midst of a raging financial crisis. "Politics is a contact sport and it's not always fair. It is very much an open goal when you've got somebody who is so wealthy who hasn't always shown signs of really understanding how ordinary people live. for all his charisma and smooth delivery. So I think it is going to be difficult for the conservatives." Also on the podcast this week is Planet Normal listener and lifelong Conservative voter, Alison, who tells our co-pilots why she hopes her fellow Tories get behind new PM Rishi Sunak, and why she'd urge him to target younger voters. Listen to Planet Normal, a weekly Telegraph podcast featuring news and views from beyond the bubble, using the audio player above or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast app.){kind=link}
Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan discuss the potential pitfalls awaiting the new Prime Minister on this week’s Planet Normal podcast
Can Rishi Sunak deliver the unity the Conservative party need?
On this week’s episode of the Planet Normal podcast, which you can listen to using the audio player above, co-hosts and columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan discuss whether Sunak can salvage his party.
Both Allison and Liam think the new Prime Minister made a strong debut at his first Prime Minister’s Questions, with Allison saying the former Chancellor looked surprisingly “young, modern and cool” compared to “pale, stale Starmer”.
But Allison wonders how the new PM will fare when faced with conquering the red wall.