The New Statesman | UK politics and culture

Do politicians understand the internet? | Politics with Rachel Cunliffe

Aug 1, 2025
The podcast delves into the Online Safety Act, highlighting its shortcomings and politicians' misunderstandings of the internet. It explores the disconnect between legislative efforts and youth engagement, revealing the challenges of appealing to younger voters. The discussion also spans economic disparities, comparing the UK and Greece. Additionally, the potential for new political alliances, particularly between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, is examined against the backdrop of changing voter dynamics and the growing role of the Commonwealth.
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INSIGHT

Politicians' Internet Understanding Limits

  • Politicians partly lack internet understanding and partly pursue good politics despite obvious workarounds like VPNs.
  • The Online Safety Act responds to real concerns about children accessing harmful online content but has technical and privacy challenges.
INSIGHT

Backlash Over Online Safety Act

  • The Online Safety Act backlash demonstrates surprise and discomfort over practical enforcement, especially facial ID for adult content.
  • Protecting children is popular, but impacts on personal freedoms complicate political reactions and public acceptance.
INSIGHT

UK Debt Interest Explained

  • UK's higher interest rates than Greece arise from stagnant economic growth and inflation impacting lender demands.
  • Inflation in the UK pushes borrowing costs up to compensate investors for currency value loss.
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