But Are You Listening?

In the second part of our January episode, AMO covers the Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill, recent cases of VAWG involving (now former) Met Police Officers and scandals surrounding prominent MPs, including our Prime Minister not wearing a seatbelt. Disclaimer: AMO does discuss details of a VAWG case within the timeframe of 25:00-50:00. Listener discretion is advised.  If you are a seeking support:https://refuge.org.uk/https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/find-help/https://www.womensaid.org.uk/Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening, TikTok @ButAreYouListeningUK or via email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.

It was the winter of strikes and it seemed to have continued into 2023. In AMO's first episode of the year, she discusses the latest developments on industrial action in the UK from Royal Mail and railway workers to teachers, nurses and paramedics. Made into a two-part episode, AMO will cover the Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill, recent cases of VAWG and scandals surrounding prominent MPs.Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening, TikTok @ButAreYouListeningUK or via email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.

With so many challenges facing the UK, the continuous U-turns we are seeing by the Conservatives and just the utter chaos that is our political landscape, AMO discusses whether it is about time we call an early GE and the insame laws it takes to do so....Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening, TikTok @ButAreYouListeningUK or via email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.

The first of (hopefully) many more to come! AMO reacts to your comments on Suella Braverman and her recent statements on the UK's immigration policy. Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening, TikTok @ButAreYouListeningUK or through email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.

Another week, another Tory Prime Minister.  AMO breaks down the reactions to the new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. She discusses the Nadia Whittome MP tweet,  Labour falling down the hole of ‘Fake Wokeism', Sky News' irresponsible coverage and more… Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening, TikTok @ButAreYouListeningUK or through email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.Show notes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-63405307https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63050482Sky News post referenced:https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFS7dAWL/ Sangita Myska

A lot went down in the space of a week in British politics. AMO talks the about the parliamentary meltdown, political burnout and the more important work that has been going. She discusses the recent climate activism, the buffer zones around UK abortion clinics and the Independent Inquiry into child sexual abuse. N.B. I said the inquiry was triggered when Theresa May was PM but it was when she was Home Secretary and so 3 PMs ago....Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening, TikTok @ButAreYouListeningUK or through email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.Notes: Beth Rigby Interview: https://news.sky.com/video/in-full-pms-interview-with-beth-rigby-12711935Mark Drakeford: https://youtu.be/e4FR4gO8SioMikaela Loach:https://instagram.com/mikaelaloach?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=Abortion support links:https://www.bpas.org/https://www.msichoices.org.uk/Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse:https://www.iicsa.org.uk/Support links: https://www.iicsa.org.uk/help-and-support-0https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/abuse/

Playing a game of catch-up AMO discusses everything that has gone on during the few first months of this parliamentary year - though it's hard to keep up. AMO talks the conservative leadership race, HM Queen's death, the mini-major budget and what it all means for the future of politics in the UK. Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening, TikTok @ButAreYouListeningUK or through email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.Disclaimer: This episode was recorded prior to the sudden change of Chancellor and the emergency statement. It was also recorded whilst I was sick so I sound nasally.

Meet  AMO, your (self-proclaimed) UK current affairs bestie, and host of But Are You Listening?  Each episode, she covers the headline stories and speaks her truths about what's going on with our MPs, policies and the public scandals that come along with them. And listen in on what the public has to say too. 

Pressure mounts on Boris Johnson with accusations of trying to get Carrie (then girlfriend) a tax-payer funded job and allowing Chris Pincher to continue as a backbencher following allegations of sexual misconduct.  AMO talks nepotism, side-gals and how for Boris Johnson “it's all over.” Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening, TikTok @ButAreYouListeningUK or through email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.Disclaimer: There are references to allegations of sexual misconduct that some listeners may find distressing and/or triggering. Sources:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-carrie-symonds-downing-street-b2114733.html?amphttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/chris-pincher-resignation-letter-sleaze-b2113552.htmlhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62002088.amphttps://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/04/chris-pincher-a-timeline-of-allegations-and-investigationshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62058236https://news.sky.com/story/amp/boris-johnson-apologises-for-appointing-chris-pincher-as-deputy-chief-whip-and-said-it-was-the-wrong-thing-to-do-12646408

On 21st, 23rd and 25th June, over 50,000 railway workers staged a walk out. It was Britains biggest rail strike in 30 years. AMO breaks down our reaction to ✨ Mick Lynch ✨ , how the railway bosses have the Conservatives by the b*lls and the Labour Party's identity crisis. Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening or through email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.N.B. Mick Lynch had Thunderbird villain, the Hood, as his facebook profile picture. Sources:https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-launch-3-days-of-national-train-strike-action/https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/2036/rail-industry-finance-uk-statistical-release-2020-21.pdf#page15https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Annual-report-and-accounts-2021-Chief-financial-officers-review.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dft-payments-to-passenger-rail-operators-under-emergency-agreements

AMO addresses the Royal, bejewelled elephant in the room at the State Opening of Parliament 2022, i.e. The UK Monarchy, and makes some observations of their recent appearances. AMO also dabbles in the speech discussing the four Bills that she thinks you need to know about - thank her later.  Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening or through email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.Sources: https://youtu.be/rzmfHrq2M54https://www.royal.uk/financial-reports-2020-21-0https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57559653.amphttps://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/en-gb/media-and-insights/news/the-crown-estate-announces-3127-million-net-revenue-profit-for-202122/https://www.republic.org.uk/the_true_cost_of_the_royalshttps://www.bigissue.com/news/activism/public-order-bill-explained-protest/https://amp.theguardian.com/education/2022/may/09/universities-oppose-plan-for-student-cap-and-loans-in-england

A number of Tory MPs have come out giving their opinions on how to manage the cost of living crisis in the UK, which seem remarkably inspired by Kim K and Molly-Mae.  AMO breaks down Tory MPs Rachael Maclean and Lee Anderson's advice on the cost of living and the reality if people were to follow it. Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening or through email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.Sources: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/cost-of-living-crisis-food-poverty-heat-or-eat-uk-economy-inflation-recession-b999586.html?amphttps://news.sky.com/story/cost-of-living-utterly-shameful-that-pensioners-are-riding-buses-to-keep-warm-says-labour-12604615https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1610970/cost-of-living-crisis-Tory-minister-more-hours-paid-job-centre-MP-Rachel-Maclean-vnhttps://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/press-releases/articles/poor-mental-health-costs-uk-employers-up-to-pound-45-billion-a-year.htmlhttps://www.cipd.co.uk/news-views/cipd-voice/Issue-33/levelling-white-paper-skills#grefhttps://committees.parliament.uk/publications/4090/documents/40532/default/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-for-jobs-lifelong-learning-for-opportunity-and-growthhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-food-strategy-for-englandhttps://www.newstatesman.com/society/2022/05/the-inside-story-of-a-tory-mps-30p-meals-which-cost-50-up-fronthttps://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/may2022https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/averageweeklyearningsingreatbritain/april2022#:~:text=Average%20weekly%20earnings%20were%20estimated,(COVID%2D19)%20pandemic.https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9428/

The Mail on Sunday published an article where Tory MPs accuse Deputy Labour Leader, Angela Rayner, of trying to distract the PM by crossing and uncrossing her legs.  AMO talks sex fantasies, elitism and misogyny and the impact they have in people stepping foot into the Houses of Parliament. Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening or through email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.Articles referenced: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10746873/Tories-accuse-Angela-Rayner-Basic-Instinct-ploy-crosses-uncrosses-legs-PMQs.htmlhttps://www.lbc.co.uk/news/anne-marie-trevelyan-pinned-against-wall/

Home Secretary, Priti Patel, called critics of the UK-Rwanda MoU “xenophobic”.  And so, AMO looks into whether our reactions to the MoU and towards Priti Patel are xenophobic. She also looks into why the conservatives are pushing so hard for the MoU.Send us your thoughts to our twitter or instagram page @ButAreYouListening or through email to butareyoulistening@gmail.com to be featured on our socials and/or next episode.Show notes: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/04/23/priti-patel-bbc-guilty-xenophobia-rwanda-refugee-deal/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/memorandum-of-understanding-mou-between-the-uk-and-rwandahttps://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/37th-universal-periodic-review-uk-statement-on-rwandahttps://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/home-secretarys-speech-on-uk-and-rwanda-migration-and-economic-development-partnershiphttps://news.sky.com/story/how-the-uks-rwanda-plan-mirrors-immigration-policies-in-australia-israel-and-denmark-12594456https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/17/home-office-chief-doubts-sending-asylum-seekers-to-rwanda-will-be-a-deterrent