Share
The Bunker – Your daily news Deep Dive
The history of Britain's far right crisis
Season 1, Ep. 1671
•
This summer, Britain’s streets have boiled with right-wing anger. From flag debates to ‘patriotic’ rallies, the far right is trying to turn frustration into a movement. But it’s not the first time the far right has tried to muscle its way into British politics. Today on The Bunker, Gavin Esler is joined by Dr. Aaron Edwards, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Leicester, to explore how Britain’s far right past is shaping its turbulent present, and why this time things could end very differently.
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/thebunker to get 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
• We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to https://indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.
Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bunkerpod.bsky.social
Advertisers! Want to reach smart, engaged, influential people with money to spend? (Yes, they do exist). Some 3.5 MILLION people download and watch our podcasts every month – and they love our shows. Why not get YOUR brand in front of our influential listeners with podcast advertising? Contact ads@podmasters.co.uk to find out more
Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Robin Leeburn. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More episodes
View all episodes
1915. Trump, Musk and the ‘End Times Fascists’ – Deep Dive with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
35:28||Season 1, Ep. 1915What unites radicalised techbros, religious fanatics and ethnonationalists? According to Naomi Klein of No Logo/Shock Doctrine fame and co-author Astra Taylor, it’s an apocalyptic worldview that’s bad news for the rest of us. The award-winning writers call this bizarre march of the far-right “End Times Fascism” – but is there anything we can do to counter their attempts at a man-made Armageddon? Naomi and Astra tell Dorian Lynskey yes, there is – and it might actually lead to better times. • Buy Naomi and Astra’s book End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World from our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Dorian Lynskey. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leebrurn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk
1914. A Kemi for your thoughts? – Start Your Week with Rafael Behr
29:30||Season 1, Ep. 1914The Conservative Party conference is here and Kemi Badenoch seems to think she can save the Tories single-handedly. Can she? Rafael Behr joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss the news to look out for in the week ahead. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Advertisers! Want to reach smart, engaged, influential people with money to spend? (Yes, they do exist). Some 3.5 MILLION people download and watch our podcasts every month – and they love our shows. Why not get YOUR brand in front of our influential listeners with podcast advertising? Contact ads@podmasters.co.uk to find out more.Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Rafael Behr. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.
1913. Burnham’s big moment and the return of Musk – Weekly Wrap-Up with Alex von Tunzelmann
30:23||Season 1, Ep. 1913Looking back at the past week... Burnham has set out his vision and was praised for delivering Labour’s “best conference speech since Tony Blair”. What did he actually announce – and can his ideas stick? Plus: Donald Trump gathers the tech billionaires at the White House and brings former “first buddy” Elon Musk back into the fold. And what’s the latest on the RAF Fairford incident? Alex von Tunzelmann and Jacob Jarvis look at the biggest, weirdest and most under-reported stories of the week. • Listen to American Friction here: https://linktr.ee/americanfriction• Listen to Oh God, What Now? here: https://linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnowpod• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastAdvertisers! Want to reach smart, engaged, influential people with money to spend? (Yes, they do exist.) Some 3.5 MILLION people download and watch our podcasts every month – and they love our shows. Why not get YOUR brand in front of our influential listeners with podcast advertising? Contact ads@podmasters.co.uk to find out more.Written and presented by Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk
1912. Burnham ‘channels Oprah’ and iced coffee outrage – Hot Take Time Machine with Miranda Sawyer and Jonn Elledge
34:45||Season 1, Ep. 1912Paper Cuts survivors Miranda Sawyer, Jonn Elledge and Jacob Jarvis are back to pick apart the strangest takes from the op-edverse over the past month. This week: Andy Burnham has been accused of channelling his inner Oprah, and his Labour conference speech compared to a “Beatles granny song”. Sofa Socialism is on the rise, apparently, and iced coffee sparks an inter-generational rift. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis, with Jonn Elledge and Miranda Sawyer. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk
1911. Europe's “firewall” against the far-right is holding. But for how long?
42:52||Season 1, Ep. 1911The far-right is reshaping politics across Europe. So what is driving its rise? What do these movements have in common? How did we get here – and what might happen next? Steven Erlanger, The New York Times’ chief diplomatic correspondent for Europe, joins Rafael Behr to discuss whether Europe’s political firewall can hold. • Read Steven’s recent analysis in The New York Times • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk
1910. Two world wars and one long grudge — will Britain and Germany ever be pals?
31:13||Season 1, Ep. 1910Once, Britain and Germany were the closest of friends. But over the course of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, relations spectacularly unravelled – culminating in two world wars fought on opposite sides. So how did two countries with so much in common become bitter enemies? How did they find their way back to a more cordial relationship? And with Britain outside the EU, what does the future hold for the two European powers? Professor of History at Birkbeck University Jan Rüger joins Alex von Tunzelmann to untangle their turbulent history – and where things might be heading. • Pre-order Jan’s book Great Powers: A History of Britain and Germany from our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk
1909. Sabotage at RAF Fairford, Labour’s second chance – Start Your Week with Ros Taylor
29:09||Season 1, Ep. 1909Setting out the stories of the next seven days… Five men are arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack on RAF Fairford. It has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored action – who would escalate their conflict with the UK so seriously? Plus: Labour seizes its second chance with promises on social care, first-time buyers and devolution in Liverpool. Manchester City at the centre of the biggest scandal in football history. And don’t forget your Glastonbury tickets. Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison break down the stories that will dominate the week ahead. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk
1908. Burnham takes on Putin’s lie machine — Weekly Wrap-Up with Rafael Behr
34:42||Season 1, Ep. 1908Looking back at the big stories from the past seven days… Andy Burnham has vowed to crack down on Russia’s “poisonous” slopaganda campaign. Can he really stop the Kremlin meddling in Britain’s affairs? Plus: Trump meets Xi (again) this time in Washington, D.C., a super El Niño is underway and could kill 450,000 by February and far-right yob Daniel Thomas has been arrested after he was filmed slashing a dinghy in the Channel. Rafael Behr and Andrew Harrison recap the biggest, weirdest and most under-reported stories of the week. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Group Editor: Andrew Harrison with Rafael Behr. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk
1907. Crime is down – so why is everyone terrified in "Lawless Britain?"
31:03||Season 1, Ep. 1907Is Britain really the crime-ridden hellhole the right says it is? Well… no, not really. Crime has actually fallen over the past decade for most offences – ranging from phone snatching to murder. So why do people think it’s getting worse? Why are Reform voters particularly likely to buy some myths around crime? And what’s the knock-on effect for wider society? Bobby Duffy, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London, joins Zing Tsjeng to explain why public crime perceptions are wildly out of step with the facts. • Read Bobby’s research in full• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Zing Tsjeng. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk