Former Chancellor Ken Clarke & Baroness Shami Chakrabarti talk with presenter Gavin Esler about the culture of contemporary politics, the need for action on wealth inequality, & the actions that can be taken to build a more respectful & honest politics. Across the Benches is produced by Compassion In Politics in partnership with The Real Agenda Network 

In the latest edition of Across the Benches, Co-Director Jennifer Nadel interviews Labour MP Rupa Huq and the former Health Secretary Matt Hancock. They talk about the need for new institutions to encourage cross-party working, their worries about the toxicity of online debate, and their desires to improve the culture of politics.

Across the Benches is the new podcast from Compassion in Politics which brings together two MPs from different parties to discuss the values they have in common. In this first episode Labour's Jess Phillips and Conservative MP Maria Miller share what brought them into politics, the culture of parliamentary life, and the progress towards gender equality. The show is hosted by award-winning broadcaster Gavin Esler.

Can education be compassionate? Kathryn Waddington, reader in psychology at the University of Westminster, joins us to discuss her new book - Towards the Compassionate University - which examines what a compassionate university looks like and how we can bring more compassion into education. This podcast series is produced by Compassion in Politics, working to bring more compassion into public life and distributed by The Real Agenda Network www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Former Mayor of Sheffield Magid Magid and Jackie Weaver - of Handforth Parish Council fame - join us to discuss local politics, the power of communities, upcoming elections, and the culture of political life. This podcast series is produced by Compassion in Politics, working to bring more compassion into public life and distributed by The Real Agenda Network www.compassioninpolitics.com  www.realagenda.org

Award-winning journalist, author, & TV presenter Gavin Esler joins us to discuss his new book: How Britain Ends - and whether or not far-right nationalism could lead to the break-up of the UK. We also talk about how we can change the divisive culture of politics (and the media) & the prospects for the Biden presidency. Produced by Compassion in Politics, which works to bring more compassion into public life, distributed by The Real Agenda Network www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Orwell Prize winning author, musician, and TV presenter Darren McGarvey aka 'Loki' joins us to discuss class, the origins of and attempts to solve poverty, and the problem of tribalism in politics - plus much more. This podcast is produced by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life and is distributed by The Real Agenda Network of podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com  www.realagenda.org

Dr Nina Ansary, a visiting Fellow at the LSE, UN Women Champion for Innovation, and the author of two ground-breaking books on feminism and female equity, talks about overcoming divisions, the global history of the feminist movement, and the power of cultural myths and stories. This podcast is produced by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life and is distributed by The Real Agenda Network of podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com  www.realagenda.org

Debbie Abrahams MP tells us what life is like inside parliament, how we can transform politics with compassion, and what listeners can do to change politics for good. This podcast is produced from Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life and is distributed by The Real Agenda Network of podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com  www.realagenda.org