What Were You Thinking?

Laura Round is joined by Labour MP Jess Phillips about what has influenced her views and priorities as a politician. It is clear that her time working at Women’s Aid has had a profound impact on her politics, not least now she’s Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding.

We talk about gender equality, the idea of an exchange programme for MPs and how entering parliament changed some of her views whilst she has always stayed loyal to her core principles.

We also talk about tribalism and her journey from growing up in a household where her father used to get in fights with Conservatives at election counts to receiving fan mail from conservative voters.

You can follow Jess and Laura on Twitter: @JessPhillips and @LauraRound

Edited by Alex Graham

This podcast is in partnership with the Big Tent Ideas Festival, the non-partisan festival of politics, culture technology and fresh thinking. Give them a follow: @BigTentIdeas And if you are looking for more content, become a friend of the Big Tent for only £6 per month.

In the first episode of What Were You Thinking, Laura is joined by Nick Timothy who was Joint Chief of Staff to Theresa May in Number 10 and in the Home Office. Nick provides a rare glimpse into what it is really like working in Downing Street. It is a fascinating discussion where he talks about the threats of China, Theresa May's change of heart on Huawei and his concerns around policing.

Nick even shares stories from a meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office, which he hasn’t discussed publicly before… It really is quite something!

Follow Nick on Twitter here: @NJ_Timothy and check out his new book called Remaking One Nation: Conservatism in an Age of Crisis.

And follow Laura on Twitter: @LauraRound

This podcast is in partnership with the Big Tent Ideas Festival, the non-partisan festival of politics, culture technology and fresh thinking. Give them a follow: @BigTentIdeas And if you are looking for more content, become a friend of the Big Tent for only £6 per month. 

Former political advisor Laura Round speaks to politicians, opinion formers and business people to find out about the experiences, people and places that have inspired them. 

What motivates them? Why did they decide to do what they do? What are the most memorable and surprising situations they have found themselves in? The answer is often unexpected.  

What Were You Thinking is in partnership with the Big Tent Ideas Festival, the non-partisan festival of politics, culture, technology and fresh thinking.