The New Statesman | UK politics and culture
Emily Thornberry: I won't be on the welcome committee for Trump
Dec 19, 2024
Emily Thornberry, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, shares insights on Labour's foreign policy goals and her perspective on controversial leaders. She critiques Donald Trump’s impact on UK relations, emphasizing the need for pragmatism. Thornberry also discusses challenges facing the Labour Party, including media scrutiny and internal tensions, alongside the implications of Prince Andrew's ties to a Chinese spy. The conversation sheds light on the delicate balance between domestic politics and global challenges.
27:45
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast highlights the WASPI women's campaign for pension equality, revealing Labour's struggle to reconcile opposition promises with the realities of governance.
- Discussion of Prince Andrew's ties to an alleged Chinese spy illustrates the UK government's challenge in balancing national security and economic relations with China.
Deep dives
WASPI Women and Pension Inequality
The discussion centers on the plight of WASPI women, who are campaigning against state pension inequality due to the gradual increase of the state pension age from 60 to 66. A key finding from the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman indicated that there was maladministration in how these changes were communicated, suggesting that affected women may deserve compensation for lost pension earnings. However, the Labour Party rejected the notion of compensation, emphasizing its estimated cost of £10.5 billion and the unsustainability of burdening taxpayers. This situation highlights a historical frustration among campaigners, particularly given Labour's previous promises while in opposition to address the issue.
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