Episodi

  • The Bigger Picture: Under-16 social media ban, defections to Reform & Trump's erratic behaviour

    The Bigger Picture: Under-16 social media ban, defections to Reform & Trump's erratic behaviour
    Jan 22 2026
    Political commentator Mike Indian tries his best not to mention “the giant orange elephant in the room”. He discusses the Lords amendment which would impose a ban on social media for the under-16s. This would follow a similar move in Australia and has strong cross-party consensus. Robert Jenrick’s defection to Reform was undermined to some extent by the response from a more assertive Kemi Badenoch which took some of the wind out of Nigel Farage’s sails. He does not have a history of playing nicely with people and Jenrick may yet find himself a bit player in the Nigel Farage Show. As for Trump’s speech in Davos, despite his trampling of the rule-based international order, he clearly yearns for acceptance from the world elite. But, as his health fails, he is becoming increasingly erratic and may yet try and find a way to get a third term. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    23 min
  • The Bigger Picture: The main themes for the UK in 2026, ID cards and other Labour U-turns

    The Bigger Picture: The main themes for the UK in 2026, ID cards and other Labour U-turns
    Jan 15 2026
    For his first appearance in 2026, Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks as what he feels will be the big themes for the United Kingdom this year: geopolitics; living standards; state efficiency; devolution; leadership, the EU; trade & tech; and Net Zero. When it comes to ID cards, with the government heavily influenced by Tony Blair, the protests against the scheme made the public – who had been moderately in favour – realise the drawbacks and cost, so that it became a political liability. Tim cantered through the various Labour U-turns on income tax thresholds, workers' rights, the WASPI women, grooming gangs, winter fuel payments, pub business rates, farming inheritance tax and welfare reforms. Labour appears to have no strategy. The U-turns smack of weakness and, in the public mind, echo the 14 years of Conservative rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    27 min
  • The Bigger Picture: Trump, Venezuela & Greenland and Starmer's New Year reset

    The Bigger Picture: Trump, Venezuela & Greenland and Starmer's New Year reset
    Jan 8 2026
    Political commentator Mike Indian says that President Trump's abduction of Nicolás Maduro sets a new and dangerous precedent in international relations. It's a spectacular gesture but a "gesture" is all that it is and it could further destabilise an already unstable country. Trump's stated aims for Greenland risk undermining NATO and relations between the US and Europe. Mike believes he is acting to create a legacy, exerting power in the most direct way he can. However, even the US could overextend itself and then find that it does, after all, need other countries. In the meantime, Trump's actions will simply embolden the world's autocrats. 2026 could be a very volatile year. In the UK, Keir Starmer looks to be in a stronger position than he was before Christmas. There does not seem to be a credible challenge to his leadership. To some extent, his unpopularity is now almost a boon, as it is out of the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    26 min
  • The Bigger Picture: Tim’s Top Ten in 2025

    The Bigger Picture: Tim’s Top Ten in 2025
    Jan 5 2026
    Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University rounds off 2025 with his countdown of the 10 most significant issues. 10: Trade frictions and international relations are moving away from blockification and becoming messier. 9: Net Zero is on the wane and nuclear power is on the rise. Hydrocarbons could be around for longer than expected. 8: Productivity problems in Britain continue to bedevil the economy. 7: The lack of success in welfare reform, with inflation continuing to exacerbate poverty. 6: The housing crisis and the rise in homelessness. Red tape and bureaucracy continue to hold housebuilding back. 5: Fiscal strategy and stealth taxes. The policy of borrowing now and paying later is very dicey. 4: The NHS. It is still in crisis, despite tens of billions of pounds poured in. 3: The cost of living crisis. Inflation is a hidden tax and most people have not seen their wages increase significantly for 20 years. 2: Immigration, which is fuelling anxiety and division, not just in Britain but throughout Europe. 1: Stagnating economic growth. We could now be in a recession. People are down and depressed and expect things to get worse. The Government is injecting misery and pessimism without understanding the consequence of their actions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    28 min
  • The Bigger Picture: The Three Unwise Men

    The Bigger Picture: The Three Unwise Men
    Dec 18 2025
    In seasonal spirit after what has felt like an exhausting political year, Mike Indian looks at the Three Unwise Men: Starmer; Trump; and Farage. Not since Attlee has a Labour PM had such internal difficulties and such a short honeymoon. His achievements have been drowned out by U-turns, defeats and gaffes. Labour are expected to do poorly in the May elections. Starmer is resilient and ruthless, but can he recover his authority? The unwisest man is surely Donald Trump. Eccentric and sometimes delusional, there has rarely been a more chaotic period in recent American history. His actions have a massive effect around the world. His health is now in question and it’s unlikely that he will go gracefully when is term is up. Of the three, Farage has had the best year. With just 5 MPs, Reform is polling above 30%. But the Russian links are insidious and it is still too early to predict the next election. We need to see real policies, not empty slogans. The next election will be the most pluralistic since 1923. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    26 min
  • The Bigger Picture: Abolishing trial by jury & Labour pleasing the libertarian right

    The Bigger Picture: Abolishing trial by jury & Labour pleasing the libertarian right
    Dec 15 2025
    Professor Tim Evans adds his voice to those opposing the restriction to trial by jury. It is an ancient right to be judged by one's peers, a democratic safeguard of liberty against an overbearing state. He feels it will lead to a loss of public confidence and democratic illegitimacy of the legal system. Without the rule of law, you don't have trust and without trust you don't have an economy. The government need to find other ways to reduce the legal backlog. While the Chancellor and her advisers appear not to have worked out exactly how EV users will be charged per mile they drive, Tim wonders if she realises that the idea is a darling of the libertarian right, proposed by Milton Friedman back in the early 1950s. It is, in essence, returning to the Georgian era of turnpikes. He feels, though, that it will create an incentive to keep roads in a good state. The era of all roads being "The King's Highway" can no longer be afforded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    28 min
  • The Bigger Picture: Reeves' Budget, Calamity Lammy's latest & the Farage racism claims

    The Bigger Picture: Reeves' Budget, Calamity Lammy's latest & the Farage racism claims
    Dec 8 2025
    Political commentator Mike Indian says that Reeves had to satisfy both Labour MPs and the bond markets and, in doing so, has proven herself a better political operator than given credit for. But the tussle with the OBR is unfortunate. Mike feels its forecast horizon is too distant, though it must offer a robust challenge to government. "Calamity" Lammy's move to Justice has been nothing short of a disaster, topped by changing Levinson's recommendations on trial by jury. Mike doesn't think he will survive the year. And he finds the timing of the racist accusations against the schoolboy Farage suspect, smacking of cynical media opportunism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    24 min
  • The Bigger Picture: What will be the outcome of Reeves' political Budget?

    The Bigger Picture: What will be the outcome of Reeves' political Budget?
    Nov 27 2025
    Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University thinks that Rachel Reeves' highly-political Budget could have bought her and the Prime Minister some time, calmed the markets and even reunited the Labour Party. But what will be the unintended consequences? There will be a lot of deferred pain through tax rises. It could create weaker productivity, risk a two-speed economy, dampen consumer spending and investment, persuade more wealthy and talented people to emigrate, depressing tax revenue and it may yet prove inflationary. It will take some time before we get a clearer idea what the consequences will be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    28 min