Craft Politics
Craft Politics
Podcast Description
Join Craft Politics, where politics meets business over a pint. Hosted by a former politician and a seasoned political staffer, this podcast translates world events into actionable insights for business leaders. With populism on the rise, understanding this intersection is more crucial than ever. Why beer? Because the best political discussions happen with a pint in hand. Joseph Lavoie and Andrew Percy bring decades of experience in politics and business, offering concise, targeted insights to help you navigate the political landscape. Cheers to making politics work for your business!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on the intersection of politics and business, covering a range of topics such as polling dynamics, the Conservative movement in Canada, economic tariffs, and the influence of American politics on Canadian affairs. Episodes include in-depth discussions like the implications of Trump's tariffs on trade relations and insights into leadership changes within Canadian political parties.
The best political chats don’t happen in boardrooms, and they rarely show up in briefing notes. They happen in pubs — over a pint or three. Or, right here on Craft Politics. With craft beer on the table and stories from decades in politics across the UK and Canada, Andrew Percy and Joseph Lavoie take you behind the headlines to show you how politics really works — and why it matters to you. Candid, witty, sometimes inappropriate, it’s a reminder that politics doesn’t have to be boring or polarizing.
Budget Season, Housing Scandals & Populist Snapbacks
Joseph’s in a bad mood. Andrew’s six minutes late. Holly’s podcasting from a cow-filled Cumbrian farm. And somehow, this chaotic start perfectly mirrors the week in politics we’re about to unpack.
In this week’s Issue Scan, we tackle three big stories⸻
💸 1. Carney’s Budget of Austerity (Without Saying “Austerity”)
We preview Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first federal budget, which the Liberals are billing as transformational — but may look a lot like a cutback budget with better PR.
• Spending cuts to government operations
• Big promises on defense, trade and climate
• An electorate with zero patience and plummeting expectations
“It’s starting to feel like Canadians don’t want change — they want certainty.”
We debate:
• Is this a red-tinted version of David Cameron’s ‘Age of Austerity’?
• Will progressive voters tolerate fiscal discipline?
• And what happens if the elbow-throwing on trade still doesn’t land a deal with Trump?
🏘 2. Rachel Reeves’ Rental Row: A Crisis of DetailThe UK Chancellor has a problem: two letters, one missed license, and a husband who didn’t “sort it.”
We break down:
• The timeline of the scandal
• What it reveals about Labour’s growing housing PR headache
• And why this is more than just “admin error”
Lipstick on a Gerbil Score: 🧴
1 coat — “She said she took responsibility. But mostly blamed everyone else.”“If this were a Tory, Labour would have eaten them alive. But now? Just more letters on Starmer’s desk.”
🇳🇱 3. Dutch Election Surprise: Populists Rejected?
Andrew brings us a European update as the Dutch electorate gives populism a timeout — rejecting Geert Wilders and rewarding centrist parties.
• What went wrong for the populists this time?
• Is this a snapback to the centre or a one-off?
• And what could it mean for Farage-style politics elsewhere?
Populists won power, disappointed voters, and got punished. So what comes next?”
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