A discussion with the Liberal Party on an ailing force in British politics and the battle for liberalism's identity.

In this episode I spoke to the Liberal Party. The term ‘liberal’ is startlingly infrequent in British political discourse, much to the contrast of our American cousins. In the past 40 years, those identifying as liberals have played a key role in determining the outcome of UK general elections, be that through the SDP or Lib Dems. Now, however, the movement has been pushed to the fringes of mainstream policy making. I spoke to Liberal Party leader and councillor in Liverpool Steve Radford, to discuss the state of Liberalism, the Party’s roots its links to the US Democrats and UKIP.

Episode Four: Liberal Party

A discussion with one of the country's least well-known regional groups.

In this episode, I spoke to the Wessex Regionalists. We explored localism on the Yorkshire Party podcast earlier this series and I first found Wessex to be in a peculiar position to the typical model of region-focused parties. This is chiefly because, I suspect, that the vast majority of the population would struggle to draw Wessex on a map or really know what it is. I wanted to find out how this identity fitted into 21st century Britain and how a party dedicated to it could play a role in our political culture. I spoke to Nick, Jim and David from the party’s leadership.

Episode Three: Wessex Regionalists

A discussion on the future of animal rights and how voters perceive the topic with the AWP.

I spoke to the Animal Welfare Party. From a basic if maybe crude standpoint, the rights of animals appears to be something the population generally agrees with. So turning broad, if inactive, support into votes at the ballot box for this singular issue could be an incredibly tough act. What I found was a party fighting both of these assumptions, tooth and nail. I spoke to Vanessa, Jane and Gavin from the party leadership.

Episode Two: Animal Welfare Party

A discussion on representing God's Own County with Bob, Tim and Darren from the party’s executive committee. 

During this series, I will be speaking to some of Britain’s smallest political parties, to ask them what motivates for a cause that can often only be rewarded by a handful of votes and a lost deposit. In the first episode, I spoke to the Yorkshire Party.&nbsp; Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/Why_Bother_Pod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@Why_Bother_Pod</a> on Twitter.

Episode One: Yorkshire Party

A preview of the upcoming first series of Why Bother? Podcast

Series One of Why Bother? Podcast is out soon. Join Marc for a sneak preview of the upcoming episodes with some of Britain's smallest political parties...

Trailer

Exploring the people at the fringes of the mainstream - Series 1: Britain's Smallest Political Parties

Why Bother? Podcast explores the fringes of our mainstream culture, and the sort of people that occupy them. In my first series, I will be speaking to some of Britain’s smallest political parties, to ask them what motivates them to dedicate time and energy into a cause that can often only be rewarded by a grinding election, a handful of votes, and a lost deposit. These are tales of camaraderie and morality from those who aim to turn hopeless causes into reality.