Share

cover art for From crisis to calamity? The UK's coming COVID-19 and Brexit challenges

Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

From crisis to calamity? The UK's coming COVID-19 and Brexit challenges

While the coronavirus crisis in the United Kingdom has abated somewhat in recent months, is life in the country going to get tougher if winter brings about a growing risk of transmission and Brexit negotiations falter? With us this week to discuss the challenges facing Britain are Remainiacs and The Bunker host Ros Taylor, pod regular Elizabeth Ames, and Brexit researcher Georgina Wright.


It has been a very tough year in the UK, but some fear that very difficult times still lie ahead. With schools reopening and winter set to force Britons back indoors, will the colder months bring with them another spike in COVID-19 cases? While the country has seen an outpouring of support for frontline workers, is the pandemic actually undermining the social contract in the UK? And with Brexit negotiations forced down the priority list, what impact is the uncertainty about the future of UK-European relations having on British business already struggling? On this Democracy Sausage Extra we’re joined by a top panel of UK-based experts - Ros Taylor, Elizabeth Ames and Georgina Wright - to look at the challenges facing Britain as it tries to manage Brexit negotiations and a global pandemic.


Georgina Wright is a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government, where she focuses on the United Kingdom's engagement and influence in the European Union after Brexit. Her research interests also include Franco-British relations and the future of the European Union.


Ros Taylor is Research Manager for the LSE Truth, Trust & Technology Commission and Managing Editor of the LSE Brexit blog, and the host of the Remainiacs and The Bunker podcasts.


Elizabeth Ames is an international trade policy expert. She is currently Director of the Britain-Australia Society and Trustee of the Menzies Australia Institute at King's College London.


Martyn Pearce is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod and the Editor of Policy Forum.


Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on AcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.


This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Stormy waters

    01:03:22|
    Have the US achieved their principle objectives in Iran? Will the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz improve the US negotiating position? Will Australian naval capability be useful if formally called upon?Jennifer Parker joins Democracy Sausage to shed light on the American military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the recent personnel changes within senior ADF leadership. 
  • Finis Pacis Americanae

    48:25|
    Have the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine demonstrated the limits of great power aggression? Can American prestige survive the chaotic and devastating conflict in Iran, and the fallout around the globe?Charlie Miller joins Democracy Sausage to shed light on American military adventurism and the path to peace. 
  • Opportunity in chaos

    01:00:16|
    What does the Middle East conflict mean for Australia and how instructive is the past in drawing parallels with the chaos of today? Will a global recession benefit One Nation in marginal, outer suburban electorates? How worried should the National Party be in the upcoming Farrer by-election? Can Albo manage the Trump relationship?Frank Bongiorno joins Mark to discuss his new role, instructional history, and the fallout for Australian politics.
  • One Nation watershed

    59:15|
    Will the Liberal and National parties do better in the Victorian election and the Farrer by-election? Can One Nation build itself into a national political force, beyond its Queensland heartland and newfound popularity in South Australia? Will poor leadership and discipline unravel One Nation success, or will it become the party of the right?South Australia political junkies, Josh Sunman and Dr Emily Foley join Democracy Sausage to discuss the South Australian election washup and the performance for One Nation. 
  • The scales of war

    52:47|
    What are the legal implications of Australia's participation in the Gulf? Is International Law being undermined by the US? How are the powers of influence tipping the scales of justice? Leading international law expert Donald Rothwell joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the legal implications of the Iran war.
  • Insider view

    01:02:19|
    What were the domestic pressures in Israel and the US for attacking the Iranian regime? Has the international rules-based order been permanently eroded or is the current conflict lawful? How does the Australian government plan consular service responses in a time of conflict and what is the IDETF? Career diplomat and foreign policy observer, Andrew Goledzinowski joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the conflict in the Middle East and the prospects for regime change in the Islamic Republic.
  • Pub politics

    01:04:17|
    Can Angus Taylor rebuild public confidence in the Liberal Party and will Migration play out well for them? What are the risks for Angus Taylor in the Farrer by-election? Will One Nation capitalise on the disarray in the Liberal party?‘Live to tape’ at the Australian National University, political scientist, Jill Sheppard and The Saturday Paper national affairs correspondent, Jason Koutsoukis join the DS team for a beer and to discuss the reconfiguration of the coalition, the Farrer by-election and all things 1 Nation.
  • Conservative cleavage

    01:01:03|
    How long does Angus Taylor and the Liberal party have to redefine themselves in a changed electoral landscape? Can the major parties develop serious policy in the era of grievance politics? What is ‘cross-cutting cleavage’?With a new opposition leader and the return of Nationals to the shadow cabinet, Intifar Chowdhury and Richard Denniss join Democracy Sausage to discuss the rocky path ahead for mainstream conservative politics.
  • Building social cohesion

    58:23|
    What has fuelled grievance politics and anti-system sentiment in Australian politics? How does policy reform in housing and education build social cohesion and why are One Nation successful in harnessing voter discontent? How have policy settings created intergenerational inequity and will the ALP develop a significant reform agenda in this term, or next?Member for Reid, Sally Sitou joins Democracy Sausage to discuss her political journey, migration, grievance politics and areas of reform needed to improve social cohesion.