Podcast Summary

The Peter McCormack Show #126 – Ant Middleton: Why Violence Creates Freedom
Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Peter McCormack
Guest: Ant Middleton (former Special Forces, author, TV presenter, and prospective mayoral candidate)

Episode Overview

This candid, wide-ranging conversation explores the role of violence in society, the crisis of British identity and culture, the failures of the current political system, and Ant Middleton’s motivations for seeking public office. With direct reflections on discipline, service, and leadership, Middleton offers both personal stories and sharp critiques of contemporary Britain, describing what it will take to restore order, unity, and pride.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Identity, Culture, and the Path to Violence

• Ant Middleton links a lack of cultural and personal identity to frustration, anger, and ultimately societal violence.
  • "It's the suppression of British culture ... if we're cultureless, that means we have no identity ... confusion, frustration, anger, violence." ([00:00])
• He describes modern Britain as being in an identity crisis, having "suppressed" both white and Christian elements of its history and values.
• Middleton asserts that multiculturalism, as defined today, erases British cultural identity: "If we're a multicultural country, that ... means we are cultureless ... and if we're cultureless, that means we have no identity." ([19:03])

2. The Role, Utility, and Mastery of Violence

• Violence as Necessary for Freedom:
  • Middleton embraces the controversial notion that violence underpins modern freedoms.
    • "Violence creates freedom, believe it or not. ... that's why you have the right to vote ... violent men predominantly give you that freedom." ([02:38]–[08:13])
• Distinction between Aggression and Violence:
  • He draws a line between necessary aggression (useful for success in society) and violence (only justified in unique military/life-or-death contexts).
  • "Aggression is a great tool ... violence isn't needed. ... It's better to unleash the beast and pull the beast in than to not have the beast released ever at all." ([09:29]–[12:27])

3. Leadership, Service, and Political Ambition

• Middleton frames his potential run for Mayor of London as a "duty of service," comparable to his time in Special Forces:
  • "It's my duty to serve. ... Now ... I'm going to serve my capital and my people." ([36:26])
  • Recalls the pride and commitment he felt taking his military oath, seeing a new parallel in politics.
• He critiques career politicians for lacking real leadership, proposing that the mayor must be "a leader with a team of SMEs [subject matter experts]." ([42:25])

4. Discipline, Accountability, and Victim Culture

• Middleton emphasizes self-discipline and accountability as keys to personal growth and societal recovery:
  • "Discipline is doing the things that you know you should do that you don't do." ([26:36])
• He criticizes the modern political and cultural elite for perpetuating "victim mentality":
  • "We've made people realize what they can complain about and we've kind of done the opposite [of personal growth]." ([73:15])
  • Believes the bravest thing is honest self-assessment and continual self-improvement:
    • "The most courageous thing you can do ... is tear yourself apart." ([74:07])

5. State Failure, Economics, and Public Trust

• Both Middleton and McCormack are highly critical of the UK government's effectiveness and trustworthiness:
  • "Do you trust the government with your personal safety, your health, your finances? ... They're failing on all three of these metrics." ([43:41])
  • Critiques of runaway taxation, regulatory burden, and inefficiency crowd the latter half of the podcast:
    • "You raise an invoice to your silent partner [the government] who then takes the invoice and goes, 'No, rework that.'" ([52:09])
  • Argues high tax/low trust is driving talent and business out of the UK, echoing points by figures like Rio Ferdinand ([48:27])

6. Campaign Strategy and Realpolitik

• Middleton discusses the realities of running for mayor in a "corrupt" system:
  • "Politics is military strategy ... instead of weapons, they use words. ... 80% of it is happening underneath the table." ([57:57]–[60:46])
• He is intentionally vague about specific policies, explaining that premature disclosure invites opponents to co-opt them or organize smears.
• Emphasizes the need for both public-facing leadership and back-channel strategic maneuvering.

7. Service, Sacrifice, and Family

• Middleton reflects on family sacrifices made during his military career and anticipates similar tradeoffs if elected:
  • "It's bigger than us ... my moral compass does not allow me to sit on my hands and live my lovely life." ([82:23])
• The theme of service recurs: from Special Forces, to TV mentorship, to politics.

8. The Pursuit of Excellence

• On growth:
  • "My internal purpose ... is to become the best version of who I can be, knowing that I never get there." ([80:46])
• Talks about balancing excellence and ego, and mentoring recruits (on SAS and in life) to recognize their own capabilities and own their faults.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On violence and freedom:
  • "Violence creates freedom, believe it or not ... that's what wins wars. That's why you have a right to vote." — Ant ([08:13])
• On self-discipline:
  • "Discipline is doing the things that you know you should do that you don't do." — Ant ([26:36])
• On British identity:
  • "If we're of all cultures ... that means we are cultureless ... and if we're cultureless, that means we have no identity." — Ant ([00:00], [19:03])
• On service and duty:
  • "It's my duty to serve ... I felt that same sacrifice now ... because I'm going to have to sacrifice a lot in order to take this position." — Ant ([36:26])
• On political reality:
  • "Politics is military strategies. But instead of weapons, they use words." — Ant ([57:57])
• On victim mentality:
  • "If you don't make mistakes in life, mate, you don't make anything." — Ant ([32:59])
• On family and motivation:
  • "It's all those other kids who aren't going to be fine, ... maybe you can help shift part of the world, part of this country to make it better for them." — Peter and Ant ([82:44])
• On excellence:
  • "You have no problem calling people out and doing it to other people, because I know they can come at me, then I can go, yeah, you know what, you're right about that." — Ant ([74:07])

Select Timestamps for Important Segments

• Identity Crisis and the Roots of Violence – [00:00], [15:48], [19:03]
• Violence and Freedom; Personal Military Stories – [02:38]–[08:13]
• Aggression vs. Violence; Life After Military – [09:29]–[12:27]
• British Culture and Multiculturalism Critique – [19:03]–[24:59]
• Discipline, Accountability, and Political Critique – [26:36]–[32:14]
• Political Service, Duty, and Motivation – [36:26]–[43:15]
• Trust in State Institutions and Personal Security – [43:41]–[47:16]
• Economic Critique: Tax, Regulation, and Business – [48:27]–[56:45]
• Campaign Realities and Political Strategy – [57:57]–[62:39]
• Victim Culture and Self-Improvement – [73:15]–[80:46]
• On Family Sacrifice, Service, and Future Plans – [82:23]–[91:19]

Summary Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode’s tone stays frank, intense, and self-reflective—Middleton combines military bluntness with moments of personal vulnerability. Topics range from the philosophical (“violence as the root of freedom”) to gritty practical politics. Both men share frustration with the British status quo but maintain a strong thread of duty, service, and hope for positive change.

Middleton ends by promising to bring energy, safety, and pride back to London—with service, discipline, and a team leadership approach at the heart of his campaign.