In this episode, we are joined by the Right Honourable Diane Abbott MP, a titan of British politics and a history-maker whose legacy was forged in the landmark general election of 1987. As the first Black woman ever elected to the House of Commons, she has spent nearly four decades at the heart of Westminster, recently earning the title of Mother of the House. This episode was recorded on the 4th February 2026.

From her early days as a trailblazing outsider to her current role as the longest-serving female MP, Diane offers a "long view" on the shifting tides of the United Kingdom. We discuss the current state of the Labour Party, the "unusual" rise of Keir Starmer, and the growing public cynicism toward the political class. With her trademark "plain speaking," she also addresses the complexities of race in modern Britain, the "glass ceiling" of the Premiership, and the personal resilience required to survive the "punches" of the 24-hour news cycle.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The Mother of the House: What it means to be the longest-serving woman in Parliament and the ceremonial role of the Privy Council.

• The Starmer Critique: Why Diane believes the current Prime Minister lacks the "base" and "charisma" of predecessors like Blair or Brown.

• Political Baggage: A candid discussion on the scandals currently embroiling Westminster and the "existential threat" of the Mandelson-Epstein files.

• The Race Metric: Why the rise of prominent Black politicians like Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly shows that the glass ceiling is "cracked," but not yet shattered.

• The Price of Pioneering: The private phone call that stopped Diane from quitting politics during her most difficult media "car crashes."

• The Trust Gap: Why only 9% of the public trusts politicians to tell the truth and how "online media" has fueled skepticism.

About the Guest:

In 1987 Diane Abbott made history by becoming the first black woman ever elected to the British Parliament. She has since built a distinguished career as a parliamentarian, broadcaster, and commentator. As of 4th July 2024, Diane Abbott as the longest serving woman MP is now the Mother Of The House.

From the outset of her career, Diane has championed global justice, human rights, and a peace-based foreign policy.

From 2015 to 2019 Diane Abbott was a prominent member of the Labour Party’s front bench, serving as the Shadow International Development Secretary, then Shadow Secretary of State for Health, and finally Shadow Home Secretary from 2016. In the last general election Diane was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington with a landslide majority.

In this episode, we sit down with Professor Dr. Lana E. Kandalaft, a world-renowned expert in immunotherapy and the Chief of Clinical and Translational Research at the Swiss Medical Network. The interview was recorded on the 17th November 2025.

For decades, the "one-size-fits-all" approach to cancer treatment has been the standard. But Professor Kandalaft is at the forefront of a medical revolution: Personalized Cancer Vaccines. By sequencing a patient's specific tumor mutations and "re-programming" their own immune soldiers (T-cells), her work is turning the body’s natural defences into a precision-guided strike force against disease.

We dive deep into the "Death Valley" of medical research—the treacherous gap between a laboratory breakthrough and a patient’s bedside—and discuss why the next 20 years of immunology will be the most transformative in human history.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The Soldier Metaphor: How to visualize your T-cells and the "brakes" that cancer uses to hide from them.

• The Fingerprint Discovery: Why sequencing individual tumors allows for vaccines synthesized for a single person.

• Bench to Bedside: The reality of "Death Valley" and the massive hurdles in funding and infrastructure for new cures.

• The Next Pandemic: Professor Kandalaft’s take on global preparedness and why "we cannot stop" the arrival of new viruses.

• Public vs. Private: How the relationship between big pharma and private research is evolving to bring drugs to market faster.

About the Guest:

Professor Dr. Lana E. Kandalaft is the Chief of Clinical and Translational Research at the Swiss Medical Network and Genolier Innovation Network, and the Director of the Vaccine Program at Clinique de Genolier. An Associate Professor at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and Associate Director at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, she formerly held research positions at the University of Pennsylvania. She has spent over 20 years bridging the gap between complex science and life-saving clinical applications.

General Sir Gordon Messenger, Trustee of the King’s Foundation and former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, joins the programme from Geneva to discuss the intersection of military leadership, sustainable development, and royal vision. This interview was recorded on 18th of November 2025.

Established by King Charles III in 1990, the King’s Foundation is distinct from the King’s Trust, focusing not just on youth but on the philosophy of "harmony"—working with the grain of nature rather than imposing upon it. General Messenger explains how this philosophy translates into practical action, from heritage craft training to urban regeneration.

Key discussion points include:

• The Philosophy of Harmony: King Charles III’s vision of integrating human activity with the natural world.

• Redefining Sustainability: Why true sustainability goes beyond carbon targets to include heritage, craftsmanship, and community "placemaking."

• The Economics of Quality: The argument against short-termism and why quality construction (like Poundbury) is more economically viable than "cheap and cheerful."

• Leadership Lessons: Insights from a distinguished military career on authenticity, building teams around a common purpose, and maintaining judgment during crises.

• The Next Generation: Why General Messenger remains optimistic about the values and environmental commitment of today’s youth.

• Impressions of the King: A personal look at King Charles III’s authenticity, lack of airs, and deep commitment to his causes.

• Global Impact: How the Foundation’s model at Dumfries House is inspiring projects internationally, including in Australia.

This episode offers a fascinating look at how traditional values and skills are being revitalized to address modern challenges, guided by experienced leadership.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with winds reaching nearly 300 km/h, recently devastated Jamaica, leaving over 600,000 people displaced and wiping out nearly 30% of the country’s GDP. In this episode of The McKay Interview, Jamaican Ambassador Dr. Richard Brown outlines the full scale of the destruction and the urgent need for stronger global support — particularly from international organisations and the United Nations system. This interview was recorded on 6th of November 2025.

Michael McKay and Dr. Brown explore:

• The unprecedented scale of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction across Jamaica’s western parishes

• The economic toll: $6–7 billion in damages and over 120,000 structures affected

• What worked — and didn’t — in Jamaica’s disaster preparedness and response

• How catastrophe bonds and parametric insurance are helping fund emergency relief

• Why small island developing states like Jamaica need tailored climate finance and legal recognition

• The role of Geneva-based organisations and how donors can support Jamaica’s recovery

This conversation also delves into larger questions:

• Is the international system, including the United Nations, still fit for purpose?

• Can small countries weather climate shocks without systemic global reform?

• And what does Jamaica’s resilience — “Wi likkle but wi tallawah” — look like in 2025?

Listen now to better understand the link between diplomacy, climate justice, and international solidarity.

Michael Møller, former United Nations Under Secretary-General and Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, returns to The McKay Interview for a hard-hitting, wide-ranging discussion. With over four decades of service across five continents, Møller offers deep insight into the challenges facing multilateralism — and the urgent reforms the United Nations must now confront. This interview was recorded on 14th of October 2025.

We discuss:

• The fragmentation of geopolitics and the fading taboo against the use of force

• How technology is reshaping international diplomacy — and exposing systemic weaknesses

• UN reform: why “UN 2.0” proposals may be too little, too late

• Why budget cuts are not just administrative — they’re existential

• The growing disconnect between the political UN and the operational UN

• Cities, regions, and businesses: the new multilateral actors stepping up

• The US and China: the funding gap that’s quietly paralyzing international cooperation

• The future of International Geneva – and whether it's being eclipsed by other global hubs

• What kind of leadership the UN — and the world — really needs

• Reflections on Gaza, Trump, peacekeeping, and the limits of diplomacy

Møller is frank, thoughtful, and unflinching. This is a timely episode for anyone concerned with the future of the international system and the role of the UN in a deeply divided world.

We speak with Professor Emerita Victoria Curzon Price of the University of Geneva, economics department, a leading thinker in international economics and an old friend of the programme. Together, we unpack the shifting global trade landscape, the resurgence of tariffs, and what it all means for Switzerland and the wider world.

We discuss:

• Why the United States is using tariffs as a strategic tool and whether Trump’s approach contains “a grain of truth.”

• The benefits and risks of tariffs for both exporters and domestic consumers.

• How Switzerland has been caught in the crossfire of recent U.S. trade policies and what options it has.

• The weakening of the World Trade Organization and the consequences for international law and global commerce.

• The lessons of history – from mercantilism to the Marshall Plan – for today’s trade tensions.

Professor Curzon Price’s clear-eyed analysis brings historical depth and sharp insights to one of the most pressing economic issues of our time.

We speak with Professor Emerita Victoria Curzon Price of the University of Geneva, economics department, a leading thinker in international economics and an old friend of the programme. Together, we unpack the shifting global trade landscape, the resurgence of tariffs, and what it all means for Switzerland and the wider world. This interview was recorded on 24th of September 2025.

We discuss:

• Why the United States is using tariffs as a strategic tool and whether Trump’s approach contains “a grain of truth.”

• The benefits and risks of tariffs for both exporters and domestic consumers.

• How Switzerland has been caught in the crossfire of recent U.S. trade policies and what options it has.

• The weakening of the World Trade Organization and the consequences for international law and global commerce.

• The lessons of history – from mercantilism to the Marshall Plan – for today’s trade tensions.

Professor Curzon Price’s clear-eyed analysis brings historical depth and sharp insights to one of the most pressing economic issues of our time.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), leads one of the world’s most powerful yet least-known organizations from her base in Geneva. The ITU is responsible for everything from managing global radio frequencies and satellite orbits to bringing 2.6 billion people online and shaping the digital future. This interview was recorded on 29th of August 2025.

This conversation goes far beyond acronyms and infrastructure. It’s about power, inequality, space governance, and the foundational role connectivity plays in modern life.

Key topics include:

• The cost of connecting the unconnected: why $1.6 trillion is needed by 2030

• How the ITU governs satellite orbits and global radio spectrum

• The geopolitical tug-of-war behind technical standards and spectrum access

• Why AI cannot serve humanity until the digital divide is closed

• Partnerships with the private sector and governments across 194 member states

• Early-warning systems, disaster risk reduction, and space sustainability

• How Geneva’s ecosystem of international organizations enables global cooperation

• The future of the ITU in a time of budget pressure and rising nationalism

From space debris to digital literacy, this episode explores the invisible infrastructure behind everything from your smartphone to international security.

Michael McKay sits down with the Right Honourable Helen Clark—former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former head of the United Nations Development Programme—for a wide-ranging conversation on democracy, multilateralism, women in leadership, and global governance.

Helen Clark is widely regarded as a modern-day stateswoman, with decades of experience in public service, diplomacy, and international development. As Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, and later as Administrator of the UNDP, she has worked at the intersection of national politics and global cooperation.

Together, McKay and Clark explore:

• Why 2024–25 marks a critical juncture for democracy, with elections in over 60 countries.

• The rise of populism and political polarisation—and how institutions can weather the storm.

• New Zealand’s regional role in the Asia-Pacific and its unique diplomatic stance.

• Lessons from leading in a multicultural, treaty-based democracy.

• The challenge of engaging younger generations in politics and civic responsibility.

• Gender and leadership: How women lead differently—and why it matters.

• The role of international organisations like the UN, Chatham House, and the Global Leadership Foundation in rebuilding trust and dialogue.

• The future of global governance in the face of wars, climate change, and crumbling consensus.

This episode is a rich, insightful reflection on leadership, values, and the uncertain path ahead for democratic societies.

Michael reconnects with veteran BBC Vatican correspondent David Willey OBE for a compelling conversation on the end of Pope Francis’ papacy and the early days of his successor, Pope Leo. The interview was recorded on the 12th June 2025.

Drawing on over four decades of covering the Holy See, Willey offers a unique insider's view on the Church’s evolving leadership, the challenges it faces in a rapidly changing world, and the significance of a new, polyglot pope at the helm.

The discussion covers:

• Pope Francis’ legacy: his personal simplicity, reform efforts, and the limits of his pontificate.

• The unresolved crises of Vatican finances and clerical abuse scandals.

• The early signals from Pope Leo: his American background, his cautious leadership, and his surprising love of tennis.

• The future of priestly celibacy, the role of women, and the Vatican’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues.

• Catholic relations with China, Islam, and Evangelical Christianity.

• Whether the Vatican can still be a force for global diplomacy in conflicts such as Ukraine.

• The shifting centre of gravity in the Church—from Europe to the Global South.

This interview offers an unflinching yet hopeful look at where the Catholic Church stands today—and where it may be heading tomorrow.