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Not Another One
Is the UK government right to take control of British Steel?
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All the main parties backed some form of state intervention to save the Scunthorpe steel plant. Does this rare consensus mark a new era of the active state? Plus, the wider implications of the refuse strike in Birmingham. And which of us refers most to Mrs Thatcher in the podcast? A listener has monitored every podcast to provide the answer.
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Do reshuffles make any difference?
48:28|As Kemi Badenoch conducts her first extensive reshuffle we explore the degree to which her moves will improve the Tories’ fortunes, or make them worse, with a focus on the role of Robert Jenrick. Plus, is Keir Starmer right not to conduct a cabinet reshuffle after his first year in power? Much agreeable disagreement.Steve is presenting his RocknRoll Politics show at the Edinburgh Festival. Tickets here:https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/steve-richards-presents-rock-and-roll-politicsIs Donald Trump's policy agenda winning?
37:38|The US President has shifted on Ukraine - criticising Putin and facilitating more weapons for Kyiv. Has the Russian leader miscalculated? On Iran, the US has managed to isolate the regime. Domestically, Trump’s opponents are still in disarray. Six months in to his second term, is Donald Trump proving his critics wrong? Or is America heading in a sinister direction?Is UK politics moving left?
51:13|With a new Corbynite party mooted and Reform adopting policies traditionally seen as being on the other side of the divide, we ask whether the real shift of recent years has been towards a big state. And where does this shape-shifting populist threat leave Starmer and Reeves in their hunt for growth to pay for it all?How much trouble is this government really in?
58:28|After a bruising succession of setbacks and confrontations, and a dramatic disavowal from the PM, our team debate Starmer's chances of recovering. With lessons from 20th century history. Plus: a new Corbynite party and memories of Norman Tebbitt.How are Britain’s opposition parties doing?
50:51|A year since Sir Keir Starmer and Labour won a landslide election victory, the team assess the performance and prospects of the other parties. In our weekend edition we ask whether Kemi Badenoch is struggling or turning a corner. More broadly, have the Tories failed to have a proper reckoning with their failures in office? Is Reform getting ready for power? What of the Lib Dems and Greens? And we explore the situation in Scotland and Wales ahead of next year’s devolved elections.A year after Labour’s landslide - what have we learnt?
49:43|Do we know more about Keir Starmer now he has been prime minister for twelve months or even less? Why has a landslide government struggled to make headway on many key issues? Is a reset the answer and if so what form will it take? So many questions a year on from the election… and our team disagree (calmly) on all of them.Is Starmer squandering his landslide?
43:44|In our weekend edition, the team discuss the advantages and perils of a large Commons majority. The context is the parliamentary crisis facing the Prime Minister. The conflict with a large number of Labour MPs over the welfare bill raises questions. We ponder why a huge majority can prove so hard to manage. With lessons from tight votes that challenged the authority of previous beleaguered leaders.Is Trump right on Iran?
45:39|Trump’s ceasefire between didn’t last very long. He responded with an astonishing public verbal onslaught against Nethanyahu. Who is weakened by the latest developments and what might happen next? We discuss the many layers of this complex story, disagreeing and occasionally agreeing about Trump, Nethanyahu, the situation in Iran and whether Starmer’s ambiguity is sustainable for much longer.Is Reform UK on course for a breakthrough in all the nations?
42:53|For the weekend edition, we share tips for surviving or avoiding SW1's summer party circuit. Then soberly turn to whether Reform's rise might help the SNP hang on to power in Scotland for even longer. And if Labour ever could be vulnerable in Wales, might new changes to voting next year deliver an upheaval?