Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband & Geoff Lloyd

Hello! Unfortunately, Geoff can’t be here this week so Ed’s got a special guest international guest to help him on the intro... In the episode we’re talking about a gaping democratic deficit in British politics: there are still too few black and minority ethnic MPs and councillors, and huge disparities in voter registration. We hear from Simon Woolley, founder and director of Operation Black Vote, who has been campaigning on BME political representation for more than two decades. Simon talks to us about what has been achieved and the huge task still ahead. Then we speak to Mayor of Barking and Dagenham Sanchia Alasia about the barriers facing BME politicians and her experience with OBV.

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Comedian and podcaster Benjamin Partridge pitches a forfeit for Br*x*t delays, limiting hand-driers noise, free theatre, trouser washing research, delaying Christmas, discounted good from Gregs based on their temperature