In this episode, Tom talks to John Rentoul, the Chief Political Commentator at The Independent. Rentoul enjoyed a front row seat to the New Labour project, writing one of the very first biographies of Tony Blair, co-authoring an analysis of Blair’s premiership with Prof. Jon Davis, and teaching on the ongoing ‘New Labour Years’ module at King’s College London.During the interview, Rentoul points out that, in just 4 years, Keir Starmer tried to do what Neil Kinnock, John Smith and Tony Blair did over 14 years: rebrand the Labour Partyand prepare it for government. As a leadership election looms, this is crucial food for thought. If we keep changing prime minister every 2 years (let alone 49 days), is it any wonder that the newcomer struggles to implement their agenda (assuming they have one)?(00:00) - (02:45) | Introduction (02:45) - (08:34) | John’s time at uni and his route into journalism.(08:34) - (10:18) | Comparing the British press at the beginning of John’s career and now.(10:18) - (16:30) | Why Tony Blair? And the process of writing a biography.(16:30) - (20:18) | Why John progressively became more of a fan over time. (20:18) - (21:20) | On a spectrum from Corbyn to Blair, where would Keir Starmer be? (21:20) - (23:10) | Rebranding the Labour Party. Why the New Labour brand was more successful than the post-Corbyn brand change.(23:10) - (25:23) | Starmer and Blair’s similar majorities, but different power. Could Starmer learn any lessons from Blair’s leadership of the party?(25:23) - (26:19) | Starmer has tried to do what Kinnock, Smith and Blair did over 14 years in just 4. (26:19) - (27:18) | The consequence: Starmer was not focused on preparing for government. (27:18) - (28:47) | Will there be a party with a stable political base again? Why John thinks MPs should choose their party’s leader.(28:47) - (30:04) | Of Blair’s successors, whose reputation will grow over time?(30:04) - (33:49) | What being a Chief Political Commentator involves and advice for budding political journalists. (33:49) - (35:34) | “Questions to which the answer is no.”(35:34) - (37:28) | Book recommendation to aid understanding of New Labour. Perhaps unsurprising: Blair’s memoir, A Journey.(37:28) | OutroFion Cudmore - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionnuala-cudmore-293089269/Tom Turner - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomturner04/
For young people in the UK, ‘political stability’ is an oxymoron. Our generation has grown up alongside a series of so-called ‘once-in-a-generation’ crises, and many hear the phrase ‘British Government’ and immediately think of a controversial policy choice, frontline politician or a scandal which is dominating the news. This series, however, takes the long view of British politics and aims to gain a clearer understanding of how and why it has changed in the 21st century by interviewing 4 people who have each worked in and around the heart of Government during this time. In this episode, Tom speaks to ex-Shadow Chancellor and King's College London Professor Ed Balls about the nature of crisis, the Treasury, and the changing media landscape.(00:00) - (03:05) | Introduction(03:05) - (07:32) | Ed’s own university days and how he ended up at KCL.(07:32) - (11:06) | KCL’s module partnered with HM Treasury.(11:06) - (16:50) | Crises: the 21st century’s reinforcing turbulence.(16:50) - (23:30) | No.10 and the Treasury: searching for the right dynamic.(23:30) - (26:20) | How the media makes political lifespans shorter – ‘bad decisions get found out faster’.(26:20) - (29:30) | Modern governments are too short term-ist. Why long term messaging and narrative is more important than ever in a faster-paced media environment.(29:30) - (33:45) | Improving government communication: the media round as a case study.(33:45) - (39:00) | Ed talks drumming in the Centrist Dad band.(39:00) - (41:51) | Book and TV series recommendations.(41:51) > | Outro.Fion Cudmore - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionnuala-cudmore-293089269/Tom Turner - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomturner04/
