What’s Boris Johnson going to say at the Covid inquiry?
Dec 2, 2023
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Former PM Boris Johnson, Yanis Varoufakis, and Julia Gillard discuss Boris Johnson's upcoming appearance at the Covid inquiry, Rishi Sunak's cancellation of a meeting with the Greek PM, the Pantheon Sculptures dispute, COP28 in Dubai, and Julia Gillard's climate legacy in Australia.
Boris Johnson's appearance at the Covid inquiry will likely focus on his decision-making process and the impact of government dysfunction on the pandemic response.
The discussion at the COP climate conference in Dubai highlights the importance of addressing climate change as a health issue and the need for evidence-based decision-making and ambitious actions from world leaders.
Deep dives
Cats knowing their names
The podcast episode begins with a correction made by Newscaster Philippa, who challenges the statement that cats do not know their own names. She shares her experience of owning nine cats, all of whom know their own names. This serves as a reminder that animals, including cats, are often more intelligent and perceptive than we give them credit for.
Boris Johnson and the COVID inquiry
The former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to appear at the COVID inquiry, and there is already speculation about what he will say. Reports suggest that he may apologize for certain aspects of his decision-making during the pandemic while maintaining that his overall approach was correct. This pre-appearance briefing has garnered attention, as it frames the narrative before his actual testimony. Questions surrounding his actions, including the decision-making process, the possibility of avoiding a full lockdown, and the impact of government dysfunction on the pandemic response, will likely be key points of discussion during the inquiry.
The controversy over the Parthenon sculptures
An interview with the Greek Prime Minister led to a diplomatic incident, as the British Prime Minister canceled his meeting with him. This escalated into a bigger story, culminating in the former Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, and former Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, discussing the issue in the podcast. Varoufakis suggests that financial motivations may underlie the British Museum's reluctance to return the sculptures, while Gillard highlights the need for transition and adaptation in economies like Australia, which heavily rely on fossil fuels. The discussion emphasizes the need for a solution that focuses on the defacement of the monuments and the display of artifacts in the Acropolis Museum, while still maintaining a partnership between the museums.
Climate change, health, and political challenges
The COP climate conference in Dubai is a gathering of global leaders to discuss climate change. Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia and current chair of the Welcome Trust, discusses the importance of addressing climate change as a health issue. She reflects on the partisanship and denialism she faced during her political career, emphasizing the need for evidence-based decision-making and ambitious actions from world leaders. Gillard acknowledges the challenges her country faces due to its reliance on fossil fuels and the need for a transition to a low-carbon economy. She also highlights the importance of adaptation strategies alongside emissions reduction. The discussion touches on the UK's political developments on climate change and the role of past political polarization in shaping climate policy.
Former PM Boris Johnson will appear at the Covid inquiry next week, and journalists are being told what to expect. Laura and Paddy talk about his media management.
They also look back at a week in which Rishi Sunak cancelled a meeting with the Greek PM. We hear from Greece’s former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis on the issue at the heart of it - the Pantheon Sculptures.
And former Australian PM Julia Gillard is on from COP28 in Dubai to talk about what’s happening there, and her climate legacy in Australia.
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Today's Newscast was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn with Clare Williamson and Gemma Roper. The technical producer was Matt Dean. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.
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