Pod Save the UK

Activist George Monbiot demystifies Neoliberalism and its impact on UK politics. Discusses moving away from consumerism to reclaim democracy. Hosts criticize Esther McVey's campaign against rainbow lanyards. Touches on economic challenges, privatization woes, Labour's Green Investment Pledge, and reclaiming democratic engagement.

“A hung Parliament” - it’s not quite admitting defeat, but the new media lines from Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party suggest that even the Government knows its days are numbered. Nish and Coco unpack Sunak’s shock admission and some of the highlights from the local elections. Comedian, actor and activist (and old colleague of Nish) Aisling Bea drops in to talk about campaigning against food insecurity. The “Essentials Guarantee” campaign championed by the Trussell Trust asks that political parties prioritise all citizens having basic essentials as part of their election manifestos.Aisling also talks about the fight for abortion rights in her homeland of Ireland, while Coco reminds us that the abortion laws in England, Scotland and Wales are incredibly archaic. Abortion buffer zones, 150m no-protest areas around clinics have just hit their one-year anniversary of receiving royal ascent for England & Wales, however, the Home Office has yet to roll out the change to the law - leaving protestors free to approach women outside. Finally, the gang mix together a metaphorical soufflé of villains, stirring in a healthy dose of uncapped banker bonuses, adding a dash of Susan Hall, and a pinch of the Labour Party’s surprise new MP. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guest:Aisling Bea Audio credits:BBCThe Guardian GB News Useful links:Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!Essentials Guarantee Campaign - Trussell TrustCould there really be a hung parliament at the next UK general election? - The Guardian Anti-abortion activists ramping up protests outside clinics after failure to introduce buffer zones - The Independent Goldman Sachs’s UK gender pay gap widest in six years - Financial Times On abortion culture wars, Britain takes a different path - PoliticoWhat a sad little life Jane  - Come Dine With Me Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Liz Bates from Sky News joins Nish and Coco to discuss the seismic byelection results in Blackpool. They debate if Reform UK's results will push the Tories to extreme rhetoric, Boris Johnson's ID mishap, and Keir Starmer's leadership. They also speculate on a potential hung parliament, Tory strategies to regain favor, and the looming general election.

The Westminster rumour mill went into overdrive last weekend peddling an ultimately incorrect rumour that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was due to call a summer election. With suggestions that this rumour was started by the Labour Party, Nish and Coco ask whether progressives might be starting to control the narrative.And might that change in power balance towards the Left also be coming to the fore in Scotland? Following the shock resignation of First Minister and SNP Leader Humza Yousaf, Politico’s reporter Andrew McDonald unpacks how the Green Party may have greater influence in Scottish politics moving forward.And what are the radical solutions we need to address the crisis in Britain’s care system for children? The collaborators of the new book Free Loaves on Friday poet Lemn Sissay and journalist Rebekah Pierre explain why hearing directly from care leavers is vital for addressing problems across the system.This week - we present the PSUK hero no one asked for and the villain you never saw coming. Move aside Idris Elba - Nish Kumar is coming for your spotlight…Finally - make sure to look out for a bonus edition of Pod Save the UK this week where we bring you analysis from the results of the elections across England and Wales with Liz Bates.Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guests:Andrew McDonald, PoliticoRebekah Pierre, Journalist and Social WorkerLemn Sissay, Poet and Activist Audio credit:Sky News Useful links:https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-idhttps://unbound.com/books/free-loaves-on-fridays Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caroline Lucas criticizes Rishi Sunak for his actions on the Safety of Rwanda Bill, discusses 'Englishness', and trains to become a death doula. Nish and Coco analyze local elections, voter ID rules, and condemn Sunak's attack on disabled people. Plus, fun hypothetical scenarios and hero/villain of the week.

Labour MP Jess Phillips joins the hosts to discuss Angela Rayner's tax controversy, Iran's attack on Israel, Sunak's anti-smoking legislation, and the need for Diane Abbott to get the whip back. Liz Truss is labeled the villain, while Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham gets praise for standing up to sexism. Songwriting tips for Megan Thee Stallion are also shared.

Coco is back from holiday and the first order of business is for Nish to explain the Westminster “honeypot” scandal, which has seen the vice-chairman of the 1922 committee resign. But beyond a salacious story about MPs texting, what are the broader security issues this raises? Nish and Coco also take issue with Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting attacking “middle-class lefties” in a tabloid newspaper.Special guest Shami Chakrabarti joins Nish and Coco to discuss human rights - what they are, why we need them, and how we need to define them in a future that’s powered by technology and AI. The Labour peer also gives her verdict on Keir Starmer’s leadership, Diane Abbott’s suspension, and responds to listener comments about the importance of voting. Plus she takes an unexpected detour into film criticism.Nish laments the fall of a heroic shoe, and Coco aims a government department for the way it treats carers in her villain of the week.Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guests:Baroness Shami Charkrabarti, human rights lawyer and author of Human Rights: The Case for the Defence’.  Audio credits:Dr Luke Evans MPSky NewsElent Finance/InstagramLBC Useful links:https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast delves into the UK's asylum policy, featuring discussions on the Rwanda Bill and refugee rights. Nish visits the House of Lords to speak with Lord Dubs and explores the challenges asylum seekers face in Calais. They highlight the importance of establishing safe routes for refugees and the power of art in shaping perceptions. The episode offers insightful reflections on engaging with policymakers and emphasizes the need for international cooperation in aiding refugees.

Special guest George the Poet joins Nish and Coco for a fascinating conversation about disillusionment with Westminster politics and the pitfalls of social media arguments. They discuss a villainous Tory campaign ad, the plight of WASPI women, and why Alan Titchmarsh's trousers were censored in North Korea.

Discussing political corruption, a historic moment in Welsh politics with the first black leader in Europe, and the surprise visit of Obama for tea. Plus, insights into donation impact on politics, Welsh leader's challenges, and the importance of independent journalism. A Glasgow record shop raises funds for medical aid in a unique way. Humorous takes on Prince Andrew and contact details for the podcast.