It Could Be Said

It Could Be Said #245 No Sleep Till Downing Street!

July 09, 2024 12:00 - 3 hours - 133 MB

A very tired Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup gathered on Saturday 6th July to unpick the general election results. They weren't quite the epic bloodletting some of the MRPs promised, but they delivered a brutal defeat to the Tory Party and the most left-wing parliament in British history. They review the election night coverage before unpicking what the results mean for each party, and why Luke hates the new Prime Minister so much.

It Could Be Said #244 Your Super Soaraway Elections Preview!

July 02, 2024 10:00 - 3 hours - 131 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup return with a super soaraway elections preview! They talk about the mechanics of watching elections night, including when to nap and what to eat, before looking at the latest polls, and making their predictions. Oh and Luke gives us the five safest Tory seats in Britain!

It Could Be Said #243 What Are The Odds of That Happening!?!

June 23, 2024 22:00 - 2 hours - 113 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup return to cover the latest goings on in the election including the Tory betting scandal, latest polling, lacklusture manifestos, Nigel Farage on Ukraine, environmentalism run amok, and whether Simon is a Urban Progressive

It Could Be Said #242 You Let RISHI Do A General Election!?!

June 10, 2024 15:00 - 2 hours - 92 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to talk yet another bad week in the general election for Rishi Sunak as Nigel Farage reenters frontline politics, he loses the debate to Sir Keir Starmer, gets shouted at for misusing government statistics, and then offend people by leaving the D-Day commemorations early. We look at how the Tory Party's campaign imploded over a week and what the future may hold.

It Could Be Said #241 On All Farage's Eve, The Podcast Did Record

June 04, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 82.4 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup return to discuss the first full week of the election campaign. Recorded before Nigel Farage's return to frontline politics on Monday, we look at the arguments over Diane Abbott, the Tory's new pensions policy, Will's article on Tory polling, and what is going on in America.

It Could Be Said #240 National Service For Some, Tax Cuts For Others

May 28, 2024 08:00 - 3 hours - 128 MB

Simon Alvey returns from Northern Ireland to catch up with Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup about the election. Together they discuss RIshi Sunak's shock announcement and the even more shocking state of the Tory Party's campaign, with Michael Gove's resignations, Sunak's gaffes and the National Service policy all getting a good kicking. We also discuss some of our expectations for the campaign.

It Could Be Said #239 Why Does It Always Rain On Rishi?

May 23, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 64.1 MB

Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to talk the surprise announcement of an election on Thursday 4th July. We discuss why Rishi Sunak decided upon a snap election, the amateurish announcement and Labour's response. We then look at the implications across the nation and what our early thoughts on the shape of the campaign and result.

It Could Be Said #238 The Winner's Gotta Be Anyone Other Than Kane

May 19, 2024 15:00 - 1 hour - 81.1 MB

Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to talk a disappointing end of the season for Harry Kane and the slow start to the longest election campaigns in British and American history. They also discuss whether devolution has been a success.

It Could Be Said #237 Ipswich FC, The Tories and John Swinney Walk Into A Bar...

May 10, 2024 08:00 - 3 hours - 127 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup return to talk about Ipswich's promotion to the premier league, Clarkson's Farm and a new First Minister in Scotland. They turn their minds to the local elections, looking at the big mayoral races, council elections, and even the odd references to Police and Crime Commissioners.

It Could Be Said #236 Oh Humza, You're Breaking Patrick's heart, You're Shaking Your Majority Dangerously

April 29, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 57 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to do a deep dive into Humza Yousaf's no-good, awful Thursday as his gambit to preempt the end of his coalition with the Greens may very well bring his premiership to a premature end.

It Could Be Said #235 I Got Threads, They're Multiplying

April 23, 2024 12:00 - 2 hours - 110 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup manage to fill a cute little podcast to capacity as they discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and American Congress, the return of Liz Truss ahead of the local elections, the growing problems afflicting the SNP, and the latest developments in the Football League.

It Could Be Said #234 We Be Canadian/Caledonian Dreaming

April 01, 2024 23:00 - 2 hours - 105 MB

Simon Alvey and Will Cooling return to talk about the utter destruction that is predicted for the Tories in the latest MRP modelling, and to what extent we should take the prospect of a Tory wipeout. We then get Will's updates on the latest developments in Northern Ireland before Simon gives his thoughts on Matthew Parris's advocacy for euthanasia as a means to place social pressure on disabled and elderly people to end their lives prematurely. They then talk about their sides battling for ...

It Could Be Said #233 So Dr Middup, How Was The Football Match?

March 31, 2024 00:00 - 2 hours - 87 MB

Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to discuss a range of topics including the shock resignation of Jeffrey Donaldson as DUP Leader following his arrest on Thursday, Matthew Parris's article advocating for the mass euthanasia of the old and disabled, the Guardian's expose of gentlemen's clubs not allowing women to join, and the state of the Tory Party following the budget. They then discuss what videos Luke watches on the internet and the comics and cartoons Will watched as a child in "cu...

It Could Be Said #232 ...Which Means You've Probably Lost Your Remote Control

February 26, 2024 10:00 - 2 hours - 119 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup return to discuss the latest developments in British politics. Before that however they discuss Notts County's current fortunes in the football league, Zone of Interest, and The Wild Men. They then discuss the chaos in parliament over the SNP's motion about Gaza, Lee Anderson's Islamophobic remarks, and the broader situation in Israel/Palestine.

It Could Be Said #231 The Rematch More Than A Century In The Making

January 05, 2024 14:00 - 2 hours - 94.6 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to look ahead to the election that we're all dreading; the rematch between Presidents Biden and Trump. We marvel at how Trump has managed to destroy his primary opposition and explain why the Democrats can't quit Joe! Luke then gives an update on Palestine/Israel and Ukraine.

It Could Be Said #230 It's A Wonderful Keir

December 18, 2023 12:00 - 2 hours - 99 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to discuss the year in British politics. They look at how Rishi Sunak has been brought crashing down to earth both by the Tory Party's crushing unpopularity and his own mistakes before considering how Sir Keir Starmer's Labour and the other political parties are seeking to capitalise. This podcast was recorded on the 11th December.

It Could Be Said #229 Davros Is Not For Turning

November 21, 2023 19:00 - 2 hours - 101 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup return to talk about a lot! We discuss Doctor Who's latest Davros retcon, the theological problem of moral evil, what bits of All Out War are still relevant in 2023, and the return of David Cameron to Government.

It Could Be Said #228 We Recorded This Last Night...OKAY!!!

November 13, 2023 10:00 - 2 hours - 91.6 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to not discuss the reshuffle because that happened after this podcast was recorded. We instead discuss whether Donald Trump could become President again, the chaos that has engulfed the House of Representatives, the impact of climate change on South and East Asia, and the conflict in the Middle East

It Could Be Said #227 Don't Ask Suella, Assume She's Useless

October 02, 2023 08:00 - 2 hours - 93.3 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to talk about the Department of Work and Pensions latest attempts to promote disability inclusion and Suella Braverman's recent comments about immigration and multiculturalism. They then close with thoughts on classical music, comic books, and controvesial referee decisions in football.

It Could Be Said #226 Sunak Over There, Sunak Over Here, Sunak Everywhere

September 24, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 76 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to recap a crazy week in British politics as they touch upon the beginning of the Lib Dem Conference, Liz Truss's latest comeback, Rishi Sunak trying to prove himself an Action Man by explaining why we can't do things, whether he actually is Scrooge McDuck and what the future holds for Sir Keir Starmer

It Could Be Said #225 And Now We Turn To The Mitterrand Position

September 03, 2023 23:00 - 2 hours - 95.8 MB

We're back from our summer holidays as Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup do a tour of various news stories including the mini-reshuffle, the state of Britain's schools, whether the death penalty should be brought back, what the future holds for Nadine Dorries, and why Labour are destined to disappoint us.

It Could Be Said #224 FOOTBALL'S BACK! MORALITY ISN'T!

August 05, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 64 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup surpass themselves by not getting past the introductions in this 90minute podcast! After looking forward to Notts County, Ipswich Town and Leicester City's new season we discuss Tottenham Hotspur trying to sell a player to a Russian player and whether we're all being too quick to condemn players for going to Saudi Arabia. We then close with looking at the future of the Commonwealth Games after another host has dropped out.

It Could Be Said #223 NHS & UKRAINE WINNING HERE!!!

July 18, 2023 00:00 - 2 hours - 104 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup talk about the NHS, Ukraine, Ben Wallace, University Admissions, and By-Elections and at no point do they say Keir Starmer is a wrong-un for his pro-child poverty policy. Well he is you know, and the mainstream media, such as It Could Be Media, won't tell you. So make sure you don't listen to these corporate sellouts, and oppose *Sir* Keir Starmer's attempt to make a Labour Government increase child poverty. But don't let tory bastards like Simo...

It Could Be Said #222 ASHES REVIEW PT. 1 - Bairstow Stumping, England Bouncing, Aussies Winning

July 04, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 79 MB

Will Cooling is joined by Liam F. Doom and Chris Linay to discuss the first two tests of the men's Ashes. We discuss the controvesial stumping of Johnny Bairstow, some bizarre performances in the field by England across both Tests, the forthcoming chances to both line-ups ahead of the third test, and whether England can keep the series alive up until the Oval. We then look at The Women's Ashes, the schedule for the 2024 summer, and finish by considering who is likely to emerge from the World...

It Could Be Said #221 Another Promise Bites The Dust! And Another Promise Gone and...

June 16, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 74.5 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup are somehow able to still podcast after the shocking revelation that Boris Johnson lied to someone. They look at his bizarre resignation, the brual condemnation delivered to him by the House of Commons Priviledges Committee, and what the future holds for him. They also talk Nadine Dorries's non-resignation and Caroline Lucas planning to stand-down at the next election. The podcast does start on a sombre note, as the three of us, all of who graduat...

It Could Be Said #220 ASHES PREVIEW - Can't Sleep! Aussies Will Eat Me!

June 13, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 45.1 MB

Will Cooling is joined by Liam Doom to discuss The Ashes! We break down the big outstanding issues with England's line-up as we ponder whether Moeen Ali is the right replacement for Jack Leach, could Ben Stokes open or Ben Foakes squeezed in, and who should bowl at Edgbaston. We then look at how THE WORLD CHAMPIONS line-up before making our predictions for the series. We end with brief thoughts about the state of Irish cricket. We'll be doing another Ashes podcast in a couple of weeks, but i...

It Could Be Said #219 So Are You A Protestant A.I, or a Catholic A.I?

June 02, 2023 12:00 - 2 hours - 96.5 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup emerge blinking from their silo to discuss things that may go mad without enough sunlight. We look at the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence and what it might me for the future of war, politics and pop culture. We then look at the Northern Ireland Local Elections where nationalists became the largest designation for the first time in the province's history, and what that might mean for the province's future. Finally we look at the lat...

It Could Be Said #218 Zodak The Priest Has Been Arrested By The Met

May 21, 2023 21:00 - 2 hours - 112 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup return to talk the coronation of Notts County as a football league club once again, the impending coronation of Leicester City as a football league club once again, the coronation of environmentalist protestors as silly boys, the coronation of everyone other than the Tories as the winners of the local council elections, and the likely coronation of Keir Starmer as Prime Minister in the next eighteen months. Oh and also King Charles had a big part...

It Could Be Said #217 Maybe Nicola Won Bully's Special Prize

April 28, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 69.3 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return from their holidays to discuss politicians behaving badly. We look at the crisis that has engulfed the Scottish National Policy with several senior officials arrested as the police investigate their expenses and the party scrambles for a new auditor. We then turn to Dominc Raab being forced to resign after being identified as having bullied several civil servants, and Diane Abbot having the whip withdrawn after sending an anti-semitic lette...

It Could Be Said #216 Trump's Going To NYC & All He'll Get Is This Lousy Indictment

March 31, 2023 23:00 - 2 hours - 96.4 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to talk about Humza Yousaf's new Scottish Cabinet, when the next election will be, the future of Jeremy Corbyn as a MP, and whether Donald Trump is going to prison. We will also talk the Tetris movie, old politics documentaries, and Alan Clark being a terrible human being.

It Could Be Said #215 The Blessed Ratio Takes Scotland

March 27, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 60.3 MB

Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to talk SCOTLAND! We break down/gloat about the SNP Leadership Election Results, which have settled nothing after a bitter and unedifying leadership contest. We look at what the future holds for the two candidates who have a future, and where this leadership election ranks in the list of most destructive and most fun leadership elections.

It Could Be Said #214 OF COURSE!?! WE SHOULD RUN A BAR!

March 06, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 74.7 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup return to discuss the newly reformed and rebranded Northern Ireland Protocol. They cover what it means for both Northern Ireland and Great Britain, including whether this is proof that Rishi Sunak is on the comeback trail. We then talk who Isabel Oakeshott shivved harder by taking Matt Hancock's WhatsApp Messages to The Daily Telegraph; Hancock himself or News International. They then finish by talking about Sue Gray joining the Labour Party as K...

It Could Be Said #213 SASSENACHS ASSEMBLE

February 20, 2023 10:00 - 2 hours - 102 MB

Will Cooling, Simon Alvey and Dr Luke Middup assemble to discuss the latest goings on in Scotch politics. They consider whether it was problems within or outwith the SNP that prompted Nicola Sturgeon's shock resignation, and what the future holds for Scotland and the cause of Scottish Independence.

It Could Be Said #212 She's Still Spinning...Spinning Wrong Way Round

February 06, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MB

Liz Truss is back in the news! Dominic Robb is still being investigated! No one knows who's running CCHQ. Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup try to make sense of it all, but fail, because the Tory Party is a headless chicken that we're all strapped too. ARRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHH!

It Could Be Said #211 It's A Pot Luck Lightning Round

January 16, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 73.6 MB

Simon Santos, Will Santos, and Dr Luke Santos try something different on this podcast as they do a POT LUCK Lightning Round. That's right - with no one story dominating the headlines, they each bring two news stories that they spring upon their unsuspecting co-hosts. This is tacking not preparing before speaking to bold new heights. In less than two hours we discuss the violent scences from Brazil, the constitutional arguments of Scottish Gender Recognition Act reforms, China's evolving stan...

It Could Be Said #210 Is There Anything To Be Said For Another Vote for Speaker

January 08, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 65.7 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to discuss Will's surprisingly controvesial article on Northern Irish politics, Rishi Sunak's uninspiring pledges on public services and Kevin McCarthy long, dark (repeated fourteen times) night of the soul

It Could Be Said #209 Can't Catch An Infectious Disease Through Podcasting

December 31, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 65.6 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup ring in the New Year by looking back at their christmas and the big British political stories of the year.

It Could Be Said #208 Ronaldo Didn't Get Selected For This Either

December 11, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 49.1 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup decide not to talk politics but instead discuss the football as they prepare for the big England game. They discuss Notts County, Football Manager, big England matches and much more!

It Could Be Said #207 What's More Christmassy Than Participating In The Census?

December 05, 2022 02:00 - 2 hours - 90.9 MB

A High Anglican, Cultural Methodist and A Recovering New Atheist walk into a podcast to discuss the latest census results, make fun of Sam Bankman Fried, the forthcoming public sector strikes and the mess that the Scottish National Party has found itself in it. We also discuss INTERGENERATIONAL FAIRNESS!!!

It Could Be Said #206 Who's Afraid Of Talking About Rishi Sunak?

November 22, 2022 15:00 - 2 hours - 115 MB

Like guests at a dinner party with an argumentive couple, the podcast keeps trying to change the subject. Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup explore why they feel so unenthused about the change of Prime Minister and its efforts to repair the damage caused by Liz Truss. After tangents that included Barrack Obama, Alec Douglas-Home and Lincoln's steep hill they officially change the topic with looks at the recent problems facing Twitter, Sam Bankman-Fried and FIFA.

It Could Be Said #205 Future of Yimbyism, Fall of Truss, Farce of Johnson

October 23, 2022 17:00 - 2 hours - 110 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to talk about how Will correctly predicting that Liz Truss would have resigned by the next podcast. Well done Will. They also touch upon how Simon was very early to highlight George Canning's record as shortest reigning Prime Minister. Bravo Simon. Luke then talks about what he got wrong about Liz Truss. Very of honest of you Luke. We also discuss how to get more houses built in Britain, the last days of Liz Truss's premiership, and the o...

It Could Be Said #204 Fuck Off Liz

October 17, 2022 00:00 - 2 hours - 102 MB

Look...what do you want us to say? She's shit, she's not going to do anything of any use, she can't smile convincingly let alone string a sentence together, she should have the self-awareness and common decency to resign. Before Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup state the obvious to everyone accept the Libyan lobbyist in Number 10 they talk the scandal that has engulfed Sir Nick Clegg and fun facts about Prime Ministerial history. Then we all talk about the grotesque freak tha...

It Could Be Said #203 Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Truss

October 10, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 79.4 MB

The It Could Be Said chapter of the Anti-Growth Coalition meets in their virtual townhouse to pour over a grizzly conference for Liz Truss. Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup discuss why the new government is struggling so badly and what might happen next.

It Could Be Said #202 Truss Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

October 01, 2022 17:00 - 2 hours - 88.4 MB

Liz Truss's terrible, no good, awful week provokes Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup to alternate between righteous indignation and hysterical laughter for two hours

It Could Be Said #202 Truss Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

October 01, 2022 17:00 - 2 hours - 88.4 MB

Liz Truss's terrible, no good, awful week provokes Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup to alternate between righteous indignation and hysterical laughter for two hours

It Could Be Said #201 Pardon My Mini-Budget

September 27, 2022 00:00 - 2 hours - 101 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling and Dr Luke Middup return to finall talk the arrival of our new Trussian overlord! We look at the formation of her new Cabinet and her initial appearances. We then move to the courageous mini-budget of her new Chancellor that seems to have backfired spectacular.

It Could Be Said #200 Three Men Walk Into A Podcast

September 20, 2022 22:00 - 1 hour - 80.9 MB

Simon Alvey, Will Cooling, and Dr Luke Middup return for their 200th episode spectacular. After manipulating the episode schedule all summer to celebrate 200 episodes with breaking down the election of a new Prime Minister...we don't talk about that. Instead we look back on five years of podcasts, complete a quiz, and look back on the week of national mourning for The Queen. Thank you to everyone who has listened over the years and here's to many more fun if meandering conversations about po...

Episodes