Byline Times Podcast

We mark Press Freedom Day by celebrating the Anti-Slapp campaign, which is aimed at protecting journalists who want to expose wrongdoing.A SLAPP is a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation – a legal case brought, usually by the rich and powerful to intimidate those who want to question their behaviour into silence. Famous examples include the fomerChelsea owner and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich who took action against Catherine Belton and her publisher Harper Collins over claims made in Belton’s book ‘Putin’s People’: and attempts by lawyers working for the then Chancellor Nadim Zahawi to gag tax lawyer and journalist Dan Neidle who’d been investigating his.finances. Adrian Goldberg hears from Susan Coughtrie, co chair of the Anti Slapp coalition and  Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana, CEO of the press regulator Impress.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.  

Andrew Kersley and Hardeep Matharu explore how ow the far right exploits victims of child sexual exploitation as featured in the latest print edition of Byline Times. Hosted by Adrian Goldberg.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

After five more people died in the Channel attempting to cross to the UK – one of them a seven year old girl – Adrian Goldberg asks if the government’s Rwanda scheme is a humane response, and whether it will be effective. Rishi Sunak made it an article of faith to push the Rwanda Bill through parliament despite previous objections by the European Court of Human Rights . Migrants who arrive in the UK by boat will henceforth risk being sent to the East African state to have their asylum claims processed and even if they are successful, they won’t be allowed to return to the UK. 52,000 people are currently eligible for deportation under the plan, but more legal challenges can be expected. Leila Zadeh is Executive Director of Rainbow Migration and Amreen Quereshi is a Research Fellow at the IPPR.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

Two MP's, Angela Rayner and Mark Menzies are embroiled in what the tabloids like to call a 'scandal'. Both deny any wrong doing.But what unites these stories - and what divides them?Adrian Goldberg talks to Byline Times political editor Adam Bienkov and John McTernan, Tony Blair’s director of political operations at Downing Street between 2005 and 2007. Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

Adrian Goldberg investigates Imprisonment for Public Protection jail sentences and the licensing conditions that are attached to them.He's join by Ishuba Salmon, who was spent 17 years in jail on IPP sentences; Emma McClure from SL5 legal who represented Matthew Price; and Donna Mooney from campaign group UngrIPP.

"How Brexit Wrecked The Stock Market" is the startling title of new blog by Simon Nixon, one time chief leader writer for the Times and former chief European commentator on the Wall Street journal. His Substack "The Wealth of Nations" is a must read for anyone interested in the workings of the UK economy. Simon is not kneejerk 'Remoaner'. He has recently been critical of the workings of the EU single market, for example, and his analysis of the impact of Brexit on the City of London is both thoughtful and disturbing for anyone concerned about Britain’s long term well-being. Produced by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White in Birmingham. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times.

Amalfi Midco - parent company of the UK’s largest children's care Home provider Care Tech – has published annual accounts showing that it charged local authorities £575 million but spent £136 million of that on what it describes as ‘financial expenses’. This means at more than £1 in every £5 provided by Councils for looked after youngsters goes to servicing debts, and other finance charges. Adrian Goldberh talks to Martin Barrow, a journalist specialising in the care system, and Carolyne Willow founder director of Article 39 which fights for children's rights in institutional settings. Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times. 

Former "Observer" Editor in Chief Will Hutton talks to Adrian Goldberg about his new book "This Time No Mistakes - How To Remake Britain" (Bloomsbury) which calls for an alliance on the progressive left.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.