Byline Podcast

 Rachel Reeves has told the House of Commons in her first major speech as Chancellor that the Conservatives covered up the full extent of the UK’s budget deficit and that since taking office, Labour has discovered a £22 billion black hole in the nation’s finances. She says some unfunded projects will be scrapped altogether, including a road tunnel under Stonehenge; while millions of pensioners will miss out on winter fuel payments which are to become means tested.  Teachers and NHS workers are to receive a 5.5% pay rise; prison and police officer will get an uplift too, while junior doctors have been offered a backdated 22% increase which is – according to Reeves’ predecessor Jeremy Hunt – one of the reasons for the budget gap that she has discovered. Is Reeves paving the way for prosperity? Or austerity? Adrian Goldberg hears from Dr Lydia Prieg, Head of Economics at the New Economics Foundation; and Pranesh Narayanan, a research fellow at the IPPR think tank. Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg for Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adrian Goldberg talks to Jen Stout, author of 'Night Train To Odesa - Covering The Cost of Russia's War'Recorded at the Byline Festival in Dartington. Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Phil Driscoll. Brought to you by Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former UK diplomat Alex Hall Hall discusses Kamala Harris' presidential chances post-Biden's decision. Topics include implications of a Trump victory, risks to NATO, Harris' rise in the Democratic Party, strategies for a female candidate, and assessing potential VP candidates.

Chris Packham - environmentalist, broadcaster and activist - gives his verdict on the convictions of five non-violent Just Stop Oil protestors who have collectively been sentenced to 21 years in jail.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg for Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Th e latest figures show that 7.6 million people have been waiting more than a year for hospital treatment and new Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said the NHS is 'broken'. He’s launched a 'warts and all' investigation headed up by Lord Ara Darzi – an independent peer and surgeon… As we’ve discussed numerous times on this podcast, the funding provided for the Health Service by the Conservative government since 2010 has fallen well below what was needed to keep pace with an ageing population but Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned there aren’t huge pots of money to available to magic up an instant cure. So what can be done. Adrian Goldberg hears from John Ashton, a doctor and for 13 years the director of public health for NW England; and Lord Victor Adebowale chair of the NHS confederation but speaking here in a personal ca[acity.Recorded for Byline Audio at Dartington Hall at the Byline Festival. Produced by Adrian Goldberg and Phil Driscoll. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Bloomfield and David Edgar talk to Adrian Goldberg about their latest release for Byline Books, The Little Black Book Of The Populist Right.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Brought to you by Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the potential consequences of a second Trump presidency? Adrian Goldberg to Jay Rosen, professor of politics at New York University. Produced by Adrian Goldberg and Phil Driscoll. Brought to you by Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should Joe Biden stay as the Democrat’s presidential candidate? Or should he go - leaving the way open for Kamala Harris to stand for the White House? Several senior Democrats have suggested he should step down following a stumbling appearance on a recent TV head to head with Donald Trump, but Biden himself insists that he’s the man for the job and he’s carrying on. Is that the right decision? Adrian Goldberg aught up with US born playwright and commentator Bonnie Greer – who now lives in the UK – at the Byline Festival at Dartington Hall in Devon. Produced by Adrian Goldberg and Phil Driscoll for Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former BBC and LBC presenter Sangita Myska tells Adrian Goldberg why many voters from minority ethnic backgrounds have reservations about Keir Starmer. Edited by Phil Driscoll. Recorded at the Byline Festival at Dartington Hall, Devon.Produced by Adrian Goldberg and Phil Driscoll for Byline Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the first round of voting in the parliamentary poll the clear winner with 33% of the votes was Marine Le Pen’s far right RN Party. They are the successor to the Front Nationale created by Jean Marie Le Pen, Marine’s Dad who famously declared that the holocaust was a 'detail' of history. The RN were hoping to install their candidate Jordan Bardella as prime Minister, but ahead of the second round of voting more than 200 opposition candidates have quit allowing for an anti RN coalition. Will that be enough to keep them out of office…and how did it even get this far? Adrian Goldberg hears from Assa Samake Roman, a French journalist based in Edinburgh and Olly Haynes a freelance specialising in France. Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Brought to you by Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices