The Prospect Interview

Could a populist right-wing party take power in the UK? And if one did, what would it do?This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by Prospect’s contributing editor Philip Collins who analyses Reform UK’s strategy for the local elections taking place in parts of England next week. With Labour, the Tories and Reform neck-and-neck in the polls, will these be the most consequential local elections in decades? What will the biggest story be?As a former No. 10 speechwriter, Phil also analyses the current cabinet’s different communication styles and whether there is anything Labour can learn from Reform—or do they need to set themselves apart? Phil discusses the right-wing alliances on the horizon and shares a sneak peek into his reporting for the next issue of Prospect into the populist right’s plans.Plus, after the long weekend, Ellen and Alona discuss a four-day working week: ‘banger’ or ‘dud’?

This week on the Prospect Podcast, philosopher and public intellectual Slavoj Žižek joins Ellen and Alona.Slavoj discusses fatherhood and Netflix’s Adolescence, as awareness grows around young male radicalisation via the “manosphere”. He also talks about feminism and his criticisms of #MeToo.Plus, with the release of his latest book, in which he argues that the left has hit its “zero point”, is there any hope for its recovery? He draws a through line from the left-wingers of 1968 to the politics and personality of Elon Musk—and gives his analysis on Starmer’s Labour as a "moderate, centre-right party" wrestling with the populist right. Slavoj suggests: does the left need a Trump figure?Slavoj’s latest book, Zero Point, is out now (Bloomsbury, £9.99 paperback)

This month on Prospect Lives: Vitali Vitaliev hits 60 and gets slammed with funeral ads, while Sarah Collins finds unexpected wisdom at the nail salon. Alice Garnett wonders how to plan for the future on a burning planet, while Alice Goodman wrestles with whether you can—or should—pray for someone like Putin.

This week, writer and human rights lawyer Philippe Sands joins Ellen and Alona to discuss the ‘age of impunity'. Are international systems crumbling, or will they stand the test of time?Philippe reflects on the process of writing his most recent book 38 Londres Street, and the relationship between storytelling and the law. He also discusses representing Palestine at the ICJ and his thoughts on the utility of genocide as a legal term. And with the arrests and deportations in the US, Philippe discusses the state of human rights under Trump, and what might be next for the country.Philippe’s book ‘38 Londres Street: On Impunity, Pinochet in England and a Nazi in Patagonia’ is out now.To read more on this topic from our website, head to prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/international-law

Asbestos might seem like a problem of the past, but it is still killing thousands every year. In the March issue of Prospect, Charlotte wrote about how her father’s death from mesothelioma—a cancer caused by asbestos—led her into years of research, uncovering a shocking history of corporate negligence and government inaction.This week, Charlotte joins the Prospect podcast to share her findings. How long have we known asbestos is deadly? How have companies actively covered up the dangers? And why is asbestos still present in our homes, workplaces and schools, today? Charlotte discusses the latest push for justice—and whether those responsible will ever be held to account.Plus, Ellen and Alona weigh up school phone bans: “banger” or “dud”?To read Charlotte’s piece ‘Asbestos: a corporate coverup, a public health catastrophe’, head to prospectmagazine.co.uk.

This week, the Prospect podcast meets Kyoto, the new West End play dramatising the high-stakes negotiations behind the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Written by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, the play brings to life the power struggles, disruptors, and unexpected alliances that shaped the first major international climate treaty.Prospect’s Isabel Hilton sits down with the playwrights and former UK negotiator Peter Unwin to discuss the real-life drama behind the diplomacy, whether multilateralism still works, and what Kyoto’s legacy means for today’s climate crisis.Plus, Ellen and Alona mull over whether musicals are a “banger” or a “dud”.Kyoto is playing at London’s Soho Place Theatre until 3rd May 2025.To read Isabel’s writing on geopolitics and climate, head to prospectmagazine.co.uk.

This month’s episode features journalist Kiran Sidhu on the power of communal dance, and actor and writer Sheila Hancock on the need for more women in global politics. Gen Z-er Alice Garnett imagines a world without TikTok, and journalist and host Sarah Collins grapples with the news that her therapist is retiring. Plus, Anglican priest Alice Goodman delves into doubt in the Church.

Has the United States switched sides, acting in Russia’s interests and abandoning its European allies? Or is the transatlantic alliance still intact—albeit under strain?Prospect’s contributing editor Isabel Hilton joins this week’s podcast to untangle increasingly urgent questions of European defence and security. From Trump cutting intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, to Russian espionage in the UK, Isabel explores the vulnerabilities Europe faces and what might come next.Can European nations defend themselves without US support? Is a “coalition of the willing” or a European army a realistic solution? And what opportunities does America's erratic politics create for China?Plus, Ellen and Alona weigh in on International Women’s Day: “banger” or “dud”?