Arabic version: نفوذ جيمس آشبي داخل حزب أمة واحدة

According to The Guardian, a Full Story podcast episode examines the role James Ashby plays in One Nation, describing him as the party’s top adviser and a figure with as much, if not more, power as leader Pauline Hanson.

Many Australians know Hanson’s public story through her fish and chip shop, maiden speech and the phrase “please explain”. The podcast, titled The Populist: The favourite son, instead focuses on Ashby’s influence over the party’s operations.

When One Nation prevents media from attending press conferences, Ashby is the person who makes that decision, the Guardian says. The episode argues that understanding Ashby’s background is important to understanding how the party functions.

It traces his path from work as a public relations flack, through what the Guardian describes as a major parliamentary scandal, to his rise in political influence while One Nation’s popularity increases.

The episode is part of the Guardian’s coverage of One Nation, Australian politics and Pauline Hanson.