The Edition: the dangers of political prosecution

Apr 18, 2024

This podcast discusses the dangers of political prosecution, including Trump's trials and the trend in the UK. They also talk about a defecting Labour member running as an independent, and protests by Youth Demand targeting government officials. The episodes highlight the politicized nature of legal actions and the impact on political dynamics.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Political Prosecution: Ethics and Power Dynamics

01:40 • 11min

Defense of Smoking Around Children and Political Scandal Revealed

12:29 • 4min

Exploring Political Plurality and Governance in Major Parties

16:46 • 2min

Political Party Dynamics and Book Review of 'Knife' by Salman Rushdie

19:06 • 4min

Youth Demand: Tactics and Targets

22:46 • 8min

This week: the usual targets

First: Trump is on trial again – and America is bored rather than scandalised. This is his 91st criminal charge and his supporters see this as politicised prosecution. As an American, Kate Andrews has seen how the law can be used as a political weapon – so why, she asks, is Britain importing the same system? In less than 18 months, the police have been sent to investigate Rishi Sunak for his seat-belt, Nicola Sturgeon for campaign funds, and Angela Rayner over her electoral registry: each time, the complainant is political and the process is the punishment. Kate joins the podcast alongside The Spectator’s editor Fraser Nelson to discuss. (01:34)

Then: Confessions of a defecting Starmtrooper. Katy Balls speaks to Jamie Driscoll, the former Labour North of Tyne mayor, who failed Keir Starmer’s selection process to be mayor of the soon-to-be-created North East metro mayoralty. He’s now running as an independent, backed by Andy Burnham, while half of the Labour council groups are refusing to endorse the official Labour candidate. ‘I know people who have left the Labour party who describe it as leaving an abusive relationship,’ he says. You can read the full interview in the magazine, but we have a short extract of their discussion on the podcast. (13:44)

And finally: Our reporter Max Jeffery gatecrashed a party of the Extinction Rebellion youth offshoot Youth Demand!, whose stunts have included targeting MPs’ houses and dousing the Ministry of Defence in red ink. ‘I’m so ketty!’ one of the partygoers told him (referring to the drugs she was on). ‘They wrote ideas on big sheets of paper and left them lying at the back of the bar while they celebrated. “Rishi Sunak pool/pond – dyeing it red – pool party?” someone wrote. “CEOs’ houses”; “water (Thames)”; “Planes/private jets”; “Eton”; “Transgressive stuff”.’ Max joins the podcast alongside Youth Demand! spokesperson Ella Ward. (24:18)

Hosted by Lara Prendergast and Gus Carter.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.