Pod Save the UK

A week that was supposed to bring more woe for Rishi Sunak has turned into arguably the biggest test of Keir Starmer’s leadership. Labour has had to suspend two of its parliamentary candidates for making comments about Israel. For Starmer, who’s staked his reputation on ridding Labour of anti-semitism, it’s been hugely embarrassing. Nish and Coco reflect on the farcical situation in Rochdale, where Azhar Ali will appear as a Labour candidate on the by-election ballot in a couple of weeks, despite the party having removed its support for him. With the Horizon Post Office scandal having put the use of non-disclosure agreements back in the spotlight, we hear from a woman who has made it her mission to stop NDAs being used to silence victims. Zelda Perkins, a former assistant to Harvey Weinstein, tells Nish and Coco about the traumatic experience of signing her NDA, which she likens to “legal waterboarding”, and why she chose to break it to help expose the film producer’s crimes. On an optimistic note, she reveals how politicians from across the political divide are helping her to achieve change.Wrexham FC owners Ryan Renolds and Rob McElhenney feature in heroes and villains, as do three councillors from Warwickshire County Council. Plus find out why Nish has ditched Coco on Valentine’s Day, and why they want your Jason Statham inspired film art. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guest:Zelda Perkins, co-founder of Can’t Buy My Silence Audio credits:Sky Newsparliamentlive.tv‘She Said’, Annapurna Pictures, Plan B Entertainment and Universal PicturesWarwickshire County CouncilUseful links:https://www.cantbuymysilence.com/https://protect-advice.org.uk/https://www.wbuk.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf joins Nish and Coco to reflect on the highs and lows of his first year as leader. He takes us back to the fateful Valentine’s night phone call with Nicola Sturgeon that changed his life, and tells us how he felt watching his former mentor shed a tear at the Covid Inquiry last week.The First Minister talks about the helplessness he felt when his family members were trapped in Gaza, and reveals his fears for his brother-in-law, a surgeon who remains in Khan Younis. He tells how Keir Starmer called to offer his support, in stark contrast to Rishi Sunak and his then Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.Their wide-ranging conversation also takes in King Charles’ shock cancer news, independence and Brexit, and the challenge the SNP faces at the next general election. Plus there’s Celtic FC, samosas and learn why his first ever job gave him a huge bicep! This week’s hero and villain can be found on our social media channels.Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guest:Humza Yousaf, First Minister of Scotland, and leader of the Scottish National Party Audio credits:UK Covid-19 InquiryBBC News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Amanda Ferguson joins Nish and Coco to discuss the possible return of the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland. Labour MP Nadia Whittome talks about donating half her salary and the lack of left-wing MPs in Keir Starmer's shadow cabinet. Coco celebrates drag artist Crystal for taking down a right-wing troll, while Nish is exasperated by the Tory 'evil plotters' WhatsApp group.

1 in 5 local councils in England is in danger of going bankrupt within the next two years - it’s a growing crisis that Westminster has done its best to ignore. With their budgets continually slashed, council leaders are faced with sometimes impossible choices about which services can be funded and which have to be axed. Nish and Coco discuss the crisis with a council leader, Joe Harris, and a ‘policy wonk’ Zoe Billingham. As they chat it emerges that Michael Gove has committed an extra £500 million into the pot for next year. Our guests verdict? It won’t touch the sides.Meanwhile in Westminster, is it a rebellion if it’s only one person rebelling? Plus introducing your new favourite Conservative group…the Popular Conservatives or PopCons! Nish is obviously delighted to hear about another SFG (or stupid fucking group), especially as this one has a certain Liz Truss attached to it.Also find out what Ministers Lucy Frazer and Hugh Merriman did to jointly take the villain of the week crown, while the hero of the week goes to a judge who defended the honour of the poppadom. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guests:Joe Harris, vice chair of the Local Government Association, and the Lib Dem leader of Cotswold District CouncilZoë Billingham, the director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) North think tank Audio credits:Sky NewsBBC News / Laura Kuenssberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s groundhog day at Westminster as Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda Bill returns to the Commons - will all the talk of rebellion come to anything this time? Nish and Coco discuss whether an opinion poll in the Telegraph was used to try to influence the debate and encourage the rebels. Plus they ask how it is that the UK has granted asylum to Rwandans AFTER signing a deal that deems the country safe.Labour MP Clive Lewis and journalist Laura Trevelyan went on a fascinating journey together, after discovering a shared connection on the island of Grenada….where his ancestors were enslaved and hers were slave owners. They discuss whether countries involved in the slave trade should pay reparations…and what goes into the traditional Grenadian meal of Oil Down.Find out why Manchester United fan Nish is full of praise for Liverpool fans, and what Avanti West Coast Trains have done to annoy Coco. Plus there’s some disagreement over whether we should be helping lonely Pod Save the Uk fans find love…Pod Shag the Uk anyone? Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guests:Laura Trevelyan, campaigner and journalistClive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South Audio credits:Heirs of Enslavement, PersephonicaSky NewsThe Traitors US, Peacock Useful links:https://www.persephonica.com/shows/heirs-of-enslavement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Harding, former BBC director of News and Current Affairs, joins Nish and Coco to discuss the Horizon Post Office scandal and its impact on sub-postmasters. They also talk about the declining birth rate in the UK and the need for progressive conversations. The chapter highlights advocacy for compensation and accountability, the influence of media on elections, and their love for Lionel Richie.

Comedians Nish and Coco are joined by Andy Zaltzman and Catherine Bohart to make predictions for politics in 2024, including the possible date of the next general election, the chances of Keir Starmer winning over the electorate, and the terrifying prospect of another Trump presidency. They also discuss whether anyone would kiss a Tory, the fitness of our electoral system, and who would win in a fight between Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage. The podcast wraps up with reflections on the depressing legacy of Conservative rule and expressions of gratitude towards the listeners.

Comedians Andy Zaltzman and Catherine Bohart take up Nish and Coco’s challenge, to find the laughs in another chaotic year in British politics. Is it cheating that they had to deploy novelty Christmas hats? You decide.Our review of 2023 starts with a fresh-faced and optimistic Rishi Sunak making his five pledges, and ends with the Conservatives tearing themselves apart over Rwanda. In between, we take in King Charles getting his fancy new hat, Nicola Sturgeon’s shock exit, Boris Johnson getting his comeuppance, Keir Starmer getting glitterbombed, and of course, the continuing mis-adventures of Suella Braverman.Plus two Ben’s battle it out for the title of PSUK Hero of the Year, while it’s more of a one-man race to the title of PSUK Villain of the Year. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guests:Andy Zaltzman, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, and The Bugle podcastCatherine Bohart, comedian and co-presenter of Trusty Hogs podcast Audio credits:Sky NewsBBC NewsRishi Sunak - InstagramITV NewsGB NewsSTV News Useful links:https://www.catherinebohart.com/livehttps://www.thebuglepodcast.com/live Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Topics covered in this podcast include Rishi Sunak's tough week, the death of an asylum seeker aboard a barge, the delay of the Grenfell Inquiry's report, the legacy of Mark Drakeford, factors contributing to the Grenfell Tower disaster, negligence in building safety, and the impact of the summer of protest on women's achievements.

Please note: This podcast includes a description of a death from Covid, that some may find distressing. This week saw arguably the most anticipated moment of the Covid Inquiry so far, the first appearance of Boris Johnson, who was Prime Minister during the pandemic. Over two days at the hearing, he offered an apology and  admitted some mistakes were made, but defended his overall approach.In this bonus episode, Nish and Coco find out how his words went down with those most deeply affected by the pandemic, those who lost their loved ones. Susie Crozier-Flintham, who lost her dad Howard, reveals what it was like to be in the room to hear his testimony - she says he refused to look at the families who were there, and in fact arrived 3 hours early just so he could avoid them.Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guest:Susie Crozier-Flintham, Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Audio credits: Uk Covid-19 Inquiry Useful links:https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices