Funding the Future

Explore the mediocrity gripping UK politics and how rigid ideologies push away talent. Discover how Brexit reshaped the Conservative Party into a defender of privilege, while Labour's abandonment of core values stifles principled thinkers. Richard discusses the dogmas of Westminster politics that reject reality and calls for a political renewal rooted in truth and public purpose. He highlights the rise of movements outside traditional parties, urging citizens to demand integrity and courage from their leaders.

The discussion unveils Britain's housing market as a Ponzi scheme fueled by debt and speculation. Tax breaks and cheap credit convert homes into assets, exacerbating wealth inequality. Political choices safeguard homeowner wealth while trapping new buyers in a cycle of high costs. The consequences extend to delayed families and hindered entrepreneurship. A dwindling pool of buyers threatens market sustainability, prompting urgent calls for government intervention. Advocating for social housing and tenant protections highlights the need to prioritize community over profit.

Dive into the intriguing clash between crypto and AI, where both are seen more as speculative bubbles than revolutionary solutions. Discover how crypto failed as a stable currency and became a hotbed of fraud, while AI is beset by hype that oversells its true capabilities. The discussion highlights the dangerous concentration of power these technologies create, driven by greed in crypto and fear in the AI industry. Ultimately, there's a powerful call to redirect our focus from speculation to investing in people and care.

Neoliberalism, once heralded for promises of growth, has led to rising inequality and financial chaos. The conversation dives into its failures, highlighting the need to shift from market-centric ideologies to people-focused policies. A new economic approach prioritizes care and well-being over profit, challenges the myths of scarcity, and encourages public investment. The discussion emphasizes redistributing wealth and developing better jobs, advocating for a courageous state that places democracy and community at its core.

Around the world, people are marching: against Trump’s authoritarianism in the USA, Macron’s failures in France, and the cruelty of Gaza policy in the UK. Everywhere, governments are asking how to stop protest? when they should be asking why people feel the need to protest?. In this video, I argue that protest is a democratic safety valve — a sign that governments are failing to meet basic human needs like food, housing, warmth, dignity, and justice. When people protest, it’s because they have been ignored. Governments that suppress protest aren’t defending democracy; they are betraying it. The real question is not how to silence dissent, but how to listen and act on what it tells us. Watch now to explore why protest is essential to democratic life — and what it tells us about political failure and the possibility of renewal.

The Financial Times asked whether the global economy can survive another shock. I think it’s the question of our time. Debt, war and climate change are pushing us to breaking point and yet our governments still pretend that markets will save us. In this video, I explain why that’s a dangerous illusion, how neoliberal policy has made us fragile, and why only courageous governments, ready to act in the public interest, can prevent systemic collapse.

The discussion tackles the misleading narrative surrounding inequality in the UK. Key statistics are questioned, revealing that the Gini coefficient ignores crucial factors like wealth accumulation and inflation that disproportionately affect the poor. The host exposes how rising household debt and housing costs trap families in poverty. Additionally, he emphasizes the need for accurate measurements of inequality and fairer tax policies to address these disparities. Solutions like targeted inflation protections and debt relief programs are also proposed.

In 2011 I wrote The Courageous State — a call for governments that act with purpose and confidence, not cowardice. Fourteen years later, we still live with austerity, outsourcing and fear. I argue it’s time to reclaim the language of democracy — to speak of courage, care, and common purpose. The words we choose decide the world we live in. Watch now — and ask yourself: Do you want a courageous state?

What if the UK government admitted it already uses modern monetary theory? Would markets panic — or would we finally have the power to rebuild Britain? In this video, I explain: Why MMT isn’t a policy, but a fact. How the “market panic” MMT would supposedly create is a myth. How the UK could use MMT to invest, create jobs, and tackle inequality. The truth is simple: the UK already creates money this way. The question is — how do we make that work for us all?  

AI is reshaping work faster than universities, employers, or governments can adapt. In this intergenerational conversation, I talk with my son Tom about how artificial intelligence has destroyed the old promise: work hard, get good grades, and you’ll get a good job. From “ghost jobs” to algorithmic hiring and a two-tier workforce, this video explores what happens when AI changes everything — and how young people can still shape their future.