Jan. 26, 2023
The UK government has racked up a record deficit in December. Should it be worried? Financial writer Frances Coppola talks about how modern monetary theory should be key to the government’s approach right now.
Jan. 19, 2023
Placards, donkey jackets and pickets gathered round braziers. The unions are back in the news. But is there a better path to effective industrial relations?
Jan. 12, 2023
Is the party over for the Tory party? Is the problem deeper than a succession of poor leaders?
Jan. 5, 2023
Whatever happened to cyber-wars? Wasn’t the future of fighting supposed to be keyboard warriors and hacks of government systems? Yet, in Europe’s first major war since 1945, we’re back to trenches and tanks, missiles and min…
Dec. 29, 2022
In a special New Year episode, Phil and Roger quiz Martin Raymond, co-founder of The Future Laboratory, about what 2023 holds for the UK and the world. The most likely tech developments, the next health emergency, what busin…
Dec. 22, 2022
What is the meaning of Christmas in a country where religion is losing popularity?
Dec. 15, 2022
The UK has a productivity problem. When it comes to how much output we each produce the UK is well behind our northern European counterparts, and its going from bad to worse. COVIDA hasn’t helped. According to the Office of …
Dec. 8, 2022
To what extent can we say what we want online, and what's the role of the online media giants in patrolling our opinions, however horrible our ideas might be?
Dec. 1, 2022
Has the Supreme Court issued the death knell for Scottish independence, or provoked more antagonism?
Nov. 24, 2022
After 27 COP meetings, has anything actually been achieved. Phl and Roger talk to journalist Lucy Siegle, just back from Sharm El-Skeikh
Nov. 10, 2022
Prof Chris Millward joins Roger and me to discuss whether the government is right to expect more vocational oriented degrees and adds some better dieas about how to improve further education.
Nov. 3, 2022
In a couple of weeks Jeremy Hunt, this month’s Chancellor, will present his Autumn Budget, heavily overseen by Rishi Sunak, our latest Prime Minister. So what can we expect? The noises from Downing Street are suggesting we h…
Oct. 27, 2022
Can the West prise themselves away from a reliance on China? Do they need to?
Oct. 13, 2022
This week Phil and Roger stop and search the police service, with the help of Rick Muir from the Police Foundation
Oct. 5, 2022
Something has to change at the NHS, but what? We talk to Tim Gardner at the Health Foundation.
Sept. 28, 2022
Kwarteng’s budget has taken a hammering in the markets? Justified or an overreaction. We ask FT’s Martin Wolf and he doesn’t hold back on what he thinks.
Sept. 22, 2022
A weak Tory prime minister, a dire economic crisis, a government seemingly set on making the rich richer while an election looms - an open goal for Labour surely? What could possibly go wrong? But the mood among the party fa…
Sept. 15, 2022
Vladimir Putin in Russia and Xi Jinping in China think their systems are better than ours. Who will win this war of ideas?
Sept. 8, 2022
Is the appointment of Liz Truss as PM a sign of a democratic deficit?
Sept. 1, 2022
Is the national broadcaster moving towards some kind of closedown? With the likely next prime minister challenging the BBC’s accuracy, and one of its most prominent former presenters questioning its impartiality, while the f…
Aug. 18, 2022
Can we really rely on central banks to fix the inflation problem and solve the cost of living crisis?
Aug. 11, 2022
Has the government abandoned its plans to level-up the UK. Did it ever really have it mapped out anyway?
Aug. 4, 2022
Can Europe make it through winter without having to do a deal with Russia?
July 28, 2022
When did flying become such a grim experience? Endless queues. Cancelled flights. Airport chaos. And stacked like sardines when you do eventually get aboard. With Heathrow capping the number of daily passengers and tickets s…
July 21, 2022
The Tory party leadership challenge is down to two players – Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. Sunak wants to keep taxes where they are, preaching fiscal conservatism, and fearing releasing more money into people’s pockets will onl…
July 14, 2022
Who are the least trusted people in society? Journalists? Car-sellers? Bankers? Nope. Politicians are top of the list. And you only have to look at the headlines to see why: Partygate here, Donald Trump’s false election frau…
July 7, 2022
The most toxic issue of our times – why have trans rights become such a bitter question in politics, sport, and even bathrooms? Some feminists say allowing those born biologically male to identify and be treated as female ri…
June 30, 2022
Has Putin's war in Ukraine given NATO a more united approach. The Telegraph's Dom Nicholls joins Phil and Roger to discuss.
June 23, 2022
The largest rail strike in 30 years is crippling the train network, causing disruption for millions as tens of thousands of staff walk out, demanding more money and better conditions. But is this a wider issue than a simple …
June 16, 2022
Can the Bank of England curb inflation without pushing us into a recession?
June 9, 2022
The Pros and Cons of Priti Patel's plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda