Pod Save the UK

Russia’s war with Ukraine is escalating dramatically - as we record reports have begun to emerge about Ukraine firing British long-range “Storm Shadow” missiles into Russia. Nish and Coco are joined on the couch by Stephen Bush, associate editor at the Financial Times, to discuss the chance of...World War Three?

Meanwhile - closer to home - we find out why farmers are descending on Westminster. How big a blow is the Government’s budget for farmers and will Labour face a wipe out of rural supporters?

And as Elon Musk is summoned to testify about X’s role in the UK summer riots, we’ll be speaking to Jamie Bartlett misinformation expert and host of hit podcasts “The Missing Cryptoqueen” and “The Gatekeepers” about Musk’s influence in politics and if we should all be quitting X.

Guests:

Stephen Bush

Jamie Bartlett 

Useful Links:

Jamie Bartlett’s Substack - How to Survive the Internet

https://substack.com/@jamiejbartlett

Jamie Bartlett's BBC Radio 4 podcast on the rise of social media's power - The Gatekeepers 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001w207 

Audio Credits:

Sky News

BBC

Instagram / Rebecca Wilson

ITV News 

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

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President-elect Donald Trump has a strong stance on many issues, from isolationism to border control, not to mention he’s an open climate change denier. Is his political platform already shaping UK party politics? Nish and Coco chat to Sky News Political Editor and host of Electoral Dysfunction Beth Rigby about what his looming second-term means for the UK.

And with changes to university tuition fees in England for the first time in eight years - we dissect the crisis in higher education with President of the National Union of Students Amira Campbell and General Secretary of the University and College Union Jo Grady. Nish and Coco also dig into the mailbag to find out what you think. 

Plus - some essential listening - does Coco not understand what a mullet is?

Guests:

Beth Rigby

Amira Campbell

Jo Grady

Useful Links:

Christmas Comedy in aid of Women and Children First ft. Nish Kumar

https://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/show/christmas-comedy-in-aid-of-women-children-first/

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

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It’s a dark, dark day for the world. Donald Trump - a convicted criminal no less - has been elected 47th US president in a shocking political resurrection. 

Nish and Coco are joined by the Spectator’s political editor Katy Balls to discuss just how ready the UK Government is for Trump’s comeback and Kemi Badenoch’s leadership win. 

Later, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations, calls in to discuss her dismay at the US news and to Foreign Secretary David Lammy ruling out cash-based reparations for countries blighted by slavery.

And with the Government announcing the first hike in tuition fees since 2017 - we want to hear from you. Are the increased fees or maintenance loans affecting you? Are you sick of paying off student loan repayments? How can we fix the crisis in higher education? Email us at [email protected] as we’ll be chewing this over with some special guests next week. 

Guests:

Katy Balls

Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
 

Audio Credits:

BBC

Sky News

GB News

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

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Double, Double, toil and trouble…the Government’s first budget has been unveiled on the eve of Halloween, and Nish and Coco are peering into chancellor Rachel Reeve’s cauldron. It’s a spooky episode, so buckle up, we find out if the Halloween budget is the horror show it’s been predicted to be.

A seance with economic and political journalist Grace Blakeley helps us break down the raft of tax rises, loosened borrowing restrictions, and investment in public services.

But what about the skeletons in the closet? Principal policy advisor at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Katie Schmuecker drops in to chat about reforms to benefits for sick and disabled people, as well as private renters on low incomes.

And finally Torsten Bell, Labour MP and former head of the Resolution Foundation, reveals if he’s going to sleep easy or if he’s worried about any market monsters emerging overnight…

Guests: 

Grace Blakeley

Katie Schmuecker

Torsten Bell MP

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

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The Government’s rallying cry to the nation to help fix the NHS via a public consultation has not disappointed. In what is fast becoming the National Health Service’s very own Boaty McBoatface moment, Nish and Coco dissect the wild and weird policy suggestions flooding the website.

Then Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour Party leader and Independent MP for Islington North, joins to tell us how the left can make their voices heard in Parliament and whether a new leftwing political party could be on the horizon.

Later, with the US elections looming, co-host of our sister show Pod Save the World Tommy Vietor calls in to discuss why the Labour party is under fire for sending hundreds of staffers to canvas for the Democrats and what the result next month might mean for US-UK relations.

Finally, Nish and Coco discuss a protest from an Australian Senator who shouted directly into the ears of King Charles, which comes as the Government resists paying reparations - or even apologising for - slavery and the actions of the British Empire.

Useful links:

https://crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-the-world/

Guests: 

Jeremy Corbyn MP

Tommy Vietor

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

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With just two weeks to go until the Autumn budget, the Labour government is preparing to make some huge reforms. But just how ruthless is Keir Starmer willing to be in reshaping the UK? Coco and Nish dig into it with Anushka Asthana, ITV’s political editor and author of “Taken as Red: How Labour won big and the Tories crashed the party”.

Later, in the wake of the Tories latest round of madness, Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde calls in from parliament to discuss how the Government can be held to account in the absence of a sane opposition.

And speaking of political ruthlessness, we find out why Labour are demanding a police investigation into the Monster Raving Loony Party’s role in unseating Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth in Leicester South.
 

Useful links:

Taken as Red: How Labour won big and the Tories crashed the party.
 

Guests: 

Anushka Asthana 

Josh Babarinde MP 

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

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The Tory party have once again chosen violence against themselves, as Keir Starmer’s Labour party are languishing in the polls after 90-something days of a lack of action. 

Nish and Coco burst the bubble on the news that Starmer’s Chief of Staff has been replaced by his election guru, joined by political journalist Ian Dunt to find out just how big a deal this backroom reshuffle is for the machinations of government. 

Ian also unravels the ideology of centrism - explaining why it was a huge part of the Labour Party’s success at the general election and why it might not be enough to keep the electorate happy without some actual policy to back it up. 

Later, Labour MP Nadia Whittome calls in from Portcullis House to talk about why she’s still hopeful for what the new government can deliver, before the biggest WTF moment since Rishi Sunak walked out in the rain - the Tory Party eliminating centrist candidate James Cleverly from the leadership. 

Guests: 

Ian Dunt 

Nadia Whittome MP 

Audio Credits: 

LBC

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

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The new Labour government has promised bold action to fix Britain’s benefit system. Last week, Keir Starmer announced a crackdown on benefit fraud and said people on long-term sickness benefits should look for work. But is this the answer?

To chew over the Government’s plans, Coco and Nish are joined by Caroline Selman, senior research fellow at the Public Law Project, and John Pring, the founder and editor of Disability News Service and author of “The Department: How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence”. With some help from our listeners, they tell us how broken the benefit system is and how we can fix it.

Then, to mark the Conservative party conference, we have the return of the section we like to call WTF. Some absolute shockers from the Tory leadership hopefuls remind us why they are no longer in power.

Useful Links: 

For advice on benefits 

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-deal-universal-credit-overpayment

Contacting your MP

https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/

Guests: 

John Pring https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/

https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745349893/the-department/

Caroline Selman https://x.com/publiclawprojct

Video Credits: 

Times Radio

Sky

BBC

Daily Express

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

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Keir Starmer gave his first Labour Conference speech as Prime Minister this week - but his message of “national renewal” was slightly spoiled by a backdrop of poor polling, infighting and their never ending “garm drama”. Journalist Zoë Grünewald joins Nish and Coco on the couch to search for the “light at the end of the tunnel” promised by the new government.

Later, Simon Kuper, Financial Times journalist and author of Good Chaps: How corrupt politicians broke our law and institutions - and what we can do about it, joins the show to  delve into the government’s first scandal-not-scandal. They discuss how donations have infected our politics and why there’s no such thing as a free box at the Arsenal game.

Guests: 

Simon Kuper https://x.com/KuperSimon
Zoë Grünewald

Audio Credits: 

ITV News

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

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Keir Starmer promised a Labour government would “turn the page” on scandal - but he’s already under fire after a late declaration of thousands of pounds of gifts. As the Tories clamour for an investigation, Nish and Coco take to the PSUK couch to weigh in on the row.

Later, they’re joined by independent researcher on migration policy Zoe Gardner to discuss why Starmer is seeking immigration lessons from Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni. Zoe tells us about Italy’s controversial migration deals with North African countries and Albania, as well as what a migration system with a degree of humanity might look like.

Next we open the mailbag to hear your unpopular policy suggestions - ranging from taxes on second homes to a maximum wage cap.

Useful Links: 

Tickets for Nish Kumar: “Nish, don’t kill my vibe” 

https://www.nishkumar.co.uk/

Guests: 

Zoe Gardner https://www.tiktok.com/@zoejardiniere

Audio credits:

The Telegraph

Times Radio

X / Ed Miliband

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld