Join Sam Bidwell, a writer for The Spectator, as he dives into Britain's puzzling population undercountings, revealing serious implications for society. Trevor Phillips, a prominent broadcaster, adds his insights on migration data challenges. Michael Gove discusses a controversial ruling against The Spectator by Ipso, questioning the intersection of free speech and media regulation. Arabella Byrne makes a compelling case for the concept of 'trad dads,' exploring changing gender roles in modern families. It's a thought-provoking conversation on pressing societal issues!
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insights INSIGHT
UK Population Estimates
Official UK population figures are estimates, not exact counts, due to a lack of a central register and entry/exit data.
Informal measures like GP registrations and vaccination rates suggest the official estimates undercount the actual population.
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Impact of Undercounting
Undercounting the population has significant consequences for public services, infrastructure investment, and housing.
It also affects businesses, as undercounted illegal migrants may be exploited for cheap labor, creating unfair competition.
insights INSIGHT
Migration and Growth
Net benefits of migration involve trade-offs, and housing is a crucial factor to consider.
Trevor Phillips highlights that per capita growth is more important than overall growth, and accurate population data is essential for calculating it.
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The Doomsday Book, commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, was a comprehensive survey of England's landholdings and population. It provided valuable data for taxation and governance, offering a detailed snapshot of medieval English society. The survey's meticulous record-keeping established a baseline for understanding land ownership, demographics, and economic resources. Its impact extended far beyond its immediate purpose, shaping future administrative practices and providing historians with an invaluable source of information. The Doomsday Book remains a significant historical artifact, illustrating the importance of accurate data collection for effective governance.
This week: why don’t we know how many people are in Britain?
How many people live in the UK? It’s a straightforward question, yet the answer eludes some of the nation’s brightest statistical minds, writes Sam Bidwell for the cover this week. Whenever official figures are tested against real-world data, the population is almost always undercounted. For example, in England alone, nearly 64 million patients are registered with GP practices – higher than the Office for National Statistics (ONS)'s estimated population of 58 million. Sam argues there are serious consequences for our society at large, including for tax, housing and our utilities. Who is to blame for this data deficiency? And why is Britain so bad at tackling illegal migration? Sam joined the podcast alongside the broadcaster Trevor Phillips. (1:03)
Next: has gender ideology taken over the press regulator?
Two months ago, the press regulator Ipso upheld a complaint against The Spectator for the way in which writer Gareth Roberts referred to transgender author Juno Dawson. One person who wasn’t surprised by the ruling was Conrad Roeber, who was lead author of a report for the regulator examining how the press treats trans-related issues. In the magazine this week, he argues: ‘It effectively asked me to mark its homework,’ and he worries that the case demonstrates that a contentious ideology has taken over the regulator. What does this case mean for the intersection of equality, free speech and a free press? Conrad joined us to discuss, alongside The Spectator’s editor Michael Gove. (21:35)
And finally: trad dads vs female breadwinners
Arabella Byrne argues in favour of ‘trad dads’, saying that she is quite happy with her traditional family life with her husband as the main breadwinner. Her piece was (in part) a response to an article by Theo Hobson, published in The Spectator several weeks ago, where he shared his conflicting feelings about his wife being the main earner in his family. How much have societal norms really changed? What impact is there on a spouse who isn’t the breadwinner? And for all the talk of gender parity professionally, can it ever truly be achieved in the familial home? Both Arabella and Theo joined us to discuss. (36:00)
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