Politips... for A-Level Politics and Beyond

Introducing Politips Explains, our new short episodes aimed at explaining important political concepts and ideas. These will be shorter than our usual episodes and aim to explain key concepts, rather than the discussion style of our normal episodes. They will be particularly useful for anyone revising for their politics exams.

In this special episode, an audience of 14-18 year olds from St Barts in Newbury quiz the veteran political journalist. Topics covered include the next election, what it was like to meet Margaret Thatcher, interviewing Donald Trump, and who was the most frustrating politician to interview.

In this episode we review the extraordinary rise and rapid fall of Liz Truss as Prime Minister. We analyse what went wrong. Was it her policies, her personal qualities or the political circumstances of 2022?

In this episode we introduce the individuals and thinkers who have shaped the big political ideologies. We discuss why this is a fascinating subject and consider the development of political thinking from ancient Greece though to Medieval times. This introduces a new series of episodes that will focus on key political thinkers.

In this episode we delve into the military power of the US and UK. We discuss the limits placed on the ability of presidents and prime ministers in the US and UK to deploy military force.

In this episode Jonny and Ed discuss how much involvement citizens have in democratic decision making in the US and UK.

In this episode we discuss the pitfalls of finding reliable sources of political information and reveal our favourite news sources. Our roaming host, James Wilder, makes a cameo appearance at the end.

In this episode we speak to our special guest Mark Owen about the role of the Holocaust in education. We cover Mark's research into Holocaust education and the challenges and significance of teaching this important topic.

Dive into the fascinating world of constitutional change in the UK since 1997! Discover how New Labour reshaped democracy and explore the impacts of key reforms like the House of Lords Act. The conversation delves into the roles of mayors in enhancing local democracy and the evolution of human rights legislation, including pivotal acts from 1998 and 2010. Plus, explore the dynamics of devolution, discussing the balance of power between regions and the UK. A thought-provoking analysis packed with insights on modern governance!

In this episode we talk about the pros and cons of further use of referendums in British politics.