Plain English with Derek Thompson

The UK Is in Trouble: Economic Crises, Energy Shocks, and the Queen’s Death

Sep 8, 2022

Duncan Weldon, Britain economics correspondent at The Economist and author of '200 Years of Muddling Through,' joins to delve into the UK's current economic woes. He discusses how Russia's invasion of Ukraine has skyrocketed energy prices and inflation, leaving the UK facing a severe recession. The conversation reflects on historical economic stagnation, the impacts of Brexit, and the political chaos surrounding recent leadership. Weldon also considers how Queen Elizabeth II's death may shift the nation's political landscape amidst these crises.

52:07

Episode guests

Duncan Weldon

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Navigating the UK's Economic Turmoil

16min

Understanding the UK's Economic Challenges

16min

Unraveling the Economic Tapestry of the UK and the Truth Behind Brexit

6min

Brexit's Economic Fallout

7min

The Shift from Material to Cultural Priorities in an Affluent Society

3min

Hours before the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Derek talked to Duncan Weldon, the Britain economics correspondent at The Economist, about the UK's political and economic challenge. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent energy prices soaring across Europe, but few countries have it worse than the UK, where inflation skyrocketed past 10 percent and the Bank of England projects a deep and lasting recession. This comes after a 15-year period of utter economic stagnation, Brexit, and the clown show of Boris Johnson. How did the UK, the birthplace of modern capitalism and the industrial revolution, become such an economic and political disaster? And will the queen's death affect the nation's trajectory?

If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. You can find us on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@plainenglish_

Host: Derek Thompson

Guest: Duncan Weldon

Producer: Devon Manze

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