Podcast appearances and mentions of lara prendergast

Donald Trump touches down in Britain next week for his state visit and political editor Tim Shipman has the inside scoop on how No. 10 is preparing. Keir Starmer's aides are braced for turbulence; ‘the one thing about Trump which is entirely predictable is his unpredictability,' one ventures. Government figures fear he may go off message on broadcast – he is scheduled to be interviewed by GB News.A second state visit, especially during a second term, is unprecedented. But, as Tim says, ‘Britishness is fashionable in Washington' and no-one likes ‘royal treatment' more than Trump. So, can Starmer take advantage of the President's ‘love of the deal'?Tim joins Will Moore and Lara Prendergast, the Spectator's features and executive editors respectively, in a conversation recorded originally for the Edition podcast. For more from the Spectator, search 'The Edition' wherever you subscribe to your podcasts.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First: a look ahead to President Trump's state visit next weekTransatlantic tensions are growing as the row over Peter Mandelson's role provides an ominous overture to Donald Trump's state visit next week. Political editor Tim Shipman has the inside scoop on how No. 10 is preparing. Keir Starmer's aides are braced for turbulence. ‘The one thing about Trump which is entirely predictable is his unpredictability,' one ventures. And government figures fear he may go off message on broadcast – he is scheduled to be interviewed by GB News.It is rare for leaders to receive a second visit, especially those in their second term. But, as Tim says, ‘Britishness is fashionable in Washington' and no-one likes ‘royal treatment' more than Trump. So, can Starmer take advantage of the President's ‘love of the deal'? Tim joins the podcast to discuss.Next: why are historical figures being labelled neurodiverse?A new biography of Margaret Thatcher has provoked much discussion by claiming that Britain's former Prime Minister was autistic. The proof for such a claim rests on the Iron Lady's (supposed) lack of a sense of humour, a lack of feeling embarrassed and a tendency to see the world in black and white. But is there a danger in reappraising historical and political figures, particularly when it comes to personal traits? Historians – and frequent Spectator contributors – Robert Tombs and John Keiger joined the podcast to give their verdict.And finally: is everyone on Ozempic?One of the Spectator's writers, under the pseudonym Henrietta Harding, headed out on what she terms ‘Ozempic safari' – spotting the ‘Mounjaro Mummies' as they drop off their children at school. ‘We know what to look for', she says, ‘sunken faces, slightly wasted arms and, of course, envy-inducing weight loss'.But the school gates aren't the only place Ozempic seems to have taken hold. Westminster is awash with politicians who have suspiciously slimmer fitting suits – but why? Associate editor Toby Young and deputy political editor James Heale join the podcast to make sense of the trend for trim.Plus: As President Xi re-emerges, Francis Pike asks who's really in charge in China?Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First: a look ahead to President Trump's state visit next weekTransatlantic tensions are growing as the row over Peter Mandelson's role provides an ominous overture to Donald Trump's state visit next week. Political editor Tim Shipman has the inside scoop on how No. 10 is preparing. Keir Starmer's aides are braced for turbulence. ‘The one thing about Trump which is entirely predictable is his unpredictability,' one ventures. And government figures fear he may go off message on broadcast – he is scheduled to be interviewed by GB News.It is rare for leaders to receive a second visit, especially those in their second term. But, as Tim says, ‘Britishness is fashionable in Washington' and no-one likes ‘royal treatment' more than Trump. So, can Starmer take advantage of the President's ‘love of the deal'? Tim joins the podcast to discuss.Next: why are historical figures being labelled neurodiverse?A new biography of Margaret Thatcher has provoked much discussion by claiming that Britain's former Prime Minister was autistic. The proof for such a claim rests on the Iron Lady's (supposed) lack of a sense of humour, a lack of feeling embarrassed and a tendency to see the world in black and white. But is there a danger in reappraising historical and political figures, particularly when it comes to personal traits? Historians – and frequent Spectator contributors – Robert Tombs and John Keiger joined the podcast to give their verdict.And finally: is everyone on Ozempic?One of the Spectator's writers, under the pseudonym Henrietta Harding, headed out on what she terms ‘Ozempic safari' – spotting the ‘Mounjaro Mummies' as they drop off their children at school. ‘We know what to look for', she says, ‘sunken faces, slightly wasted arms and, of course, envy-inducing weight loss'.But the school gates aren't the only place Ozempic seems to have taken hold. Westminster is awash with politicians who have suspiciously slimmer fitting suits – but why? Associate editor Toby Young and deputy political editor James Heale join the podcast to make sense of the trend for trim.Plus: As President Xi re-emerges, Francis Pike asks who's really in charge in China?Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a bumper episode, the legend that is Raymond Blanc joins Olivia Potts and Lara Prendergast. The self-taught chef heads up the double Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, has trained chefs from Heston Blumenthal to Marco Pierre White, and received an honorary OBE in 2008. His new book Simply Raymond Kitchen Garden is out now.The chef tells Liv and Lara about his earliest memories of food – from eating worms to easter eggs, how his love of food is connected to the garden and why he owes his existence to General de Gaulle. He explains how he ended up becoming 'exiled' to Great Britain, how he fell in love with Le Manoir and why he would have to choose an English chef to cook his dream meal. Plus: Lara's daughter makes a guest appearance.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First: Reform is naff – and that's why people like itGareth Roberts warns this week that ‘the Overton window is shifting' but in a very unexpected way. Nigel Farage is ahead in the polls – not only because his party is ‘bracingly right-wing', but ‘because Reform is camp'. Farage offers what Britain wants: ‘a cheeky, up-yours, never-mind-the-knockers revolt against our agonisingly earnest political masters'.‘From Farage on down,' Roberts argues, ‘there is a glorious kind of naffness' to Reform: daytime-TV aesthetics, ‘bargain-basement' celebrities and big-breasted local councillors. ‘The progressive activists thought they could win the culture war simply by saying they had won it', but ‘the John Bulls and Greasy Joans are stirring again'. Roberts loves how ‘the current excitement over flag-raising' is the ‘conniptions' it gives to ‘the FBPE crowd'. Of course, for Farage, planning for government ‘really cannot be a pantomime affair'. But ‘in these grim times' we ‘need the romping Reform'. Gareth joins the podcast to make his case for Carry On Reform.Next: the ‘she' consumed by masculine rageLionel Shriver reacts to the latest school shooting in America. The perpetrator was widely reported in the media with the pronouns ‘she/her' which, Lionel argues, is not just an issue around politeness. This glosses over the fact that the shooter was biologically male, adding to the majority of cases of school shootings that are conducting by men. By pandering to this incoherence of the reality of the situation, it doesn't help society to uncover the reasons behind the issue.Lionel joined the podcast alongside the Spectator's US editor Freddy Gray. Freddy points out how this shooting is just one example of how younger people can be transfixed by the very darkest sides of the internet.And finally: why people make up languages Constructed language expert Dr Bettina Beinhoff and author and historian Peter Parker join the podcast to talk about ‘made-up' languages. Why do humans construct languages outside of their every-day speech? Most people will have heard of Klingon or Elvish, used in books and film, but what about Polari – the subversive language used by groups of LGBT people decades ago – or the Potato language – which writer Melanie Ferbreach says her parents used to hide their conversations from her. Listeners may be impressed to hear Lara's own attempt at 'eggy-peggy'...Plus: with a special introduction from our political editor, Tim Shipman interviews shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick – is he trying to outflank Farage? Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Natasha Feroze. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First: Reform is naff – and that's why people like itGareth Roberts warns this week that ‘the Overton window is shifting' but in a very unexpected way. Nigel Farage is ahead in the polls – not only because his party is ‘bracingly right-wing', but ‘because Reform is camp'. Farage offers what Britain wants: ‘a cheeky, up-yours, never-mind-the-knockers revolt against our agonisingly earnest political masters'.‘From Farage on down,' Roberts argues, ‘there is a glorious kind of naffness' to Reform: daytime-TV aesthetics, ‘bargain-basement' celebrities and big-breasted local councillors. ‘The progressive activists thought they could win the culture war simply by saying they had won it', but ‘the John Bulls and Greasy Joans are stirring again'. Roberts loves how ‘the current excitement over flag-raising' is the ‘conniptions' it gives to ‘the FBPE crowd'. Of course, for Farage, planning for government ‘really cannot be a pantomime affair'. But ‘in these grim times' we ‘need the romping Reform'. Gareth joins the podcast to make his case for Carry On Reform.Next: the ‘she' consumed by masculine rageLionel Shriver reacts to the latest school shooting in America. The perpetrator was widely reported in the media with the pronouns ‘she/her' which, Lionel argues, is not just an issue around politeness. This glosses over the fact that the shooter was biologically male, adding to the majority of cases of school shootings that are conducting by men. By pandering to this incoherence of the reality of the situation, it doesn't help society to uncover the reasons behind the issue.Lionel joined the podcast alongside the Spectator's US editor Freddy Gray. Freddy points out how this shooting is just one example of how younger people can be transfixed by the very darkest sides of the internet.And finally: why people make up languages Constructed language expert Dr Bettina Beinhoff and author and historian Peter Parker join the podcast to talk about ‘made-up' languages. Why do humans construct languages outside of their every-day speech? Most people will have heard of Klingon or Elvish, used in books and film, but what about Polari – the subversive language used by groups of LGBT people decades ago – or the Potato language – which writer Melanie Ferbreach says her parents used to hide their conversations from her. Listeners may be impressed to hear Lara's own attempt at 'eggy-peggy'...Plus: with a special introduction from our political editor, Tim Shipman interviews shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick – is he trying to outflank Farage? Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Natasha Feroze.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First: an economic reckoning is looming ‘Britain's numbers… don't add up', says economics editor Michael Simmons. We are ‘an ageing population with too few taxpayers'. ‘If the picture looks bad now,' he warns, ‘the next few years will be disastrous.' Governments have consistently spent more than they raised; Britain's debt costs ‘are the worst in the developed world', with markets fearful about Rachel Reeves's Budget plans. A market meltdown, a delayed crash, or prolonged stagnation looms. The third scenario, he warns, would be the bleakest, keeping politicians from confronting Britain's spendthrift state. We need ‘austerity shock therapy' – but voters don't want it. To discuss further, we include an excerpt from a discussion Michael had with our deputy editor Freddy Gray and economist Paul Johnson for Spectator TV. Next: can the foster system survive? ‘The foster system in this country is collapsing,' Mary Wakefield warns. There around 80,000 children who need homes, but ‘a catastrophic lack of people prepared to care for them'. Every year the small pool of available foster households shrinks, with younger generations unwilling to become carers and more and more existing carers considering leaving. Mary joined the podcast to explain how bad the problem is, alongside author and full-time foster carer Rosie Lewis.And finally: the unsettling rise of DeathTokDamian Thompson highlights the rise of ‘DeathTok' – the name given to videos shared on the social media platform Tik Tok by users who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Ordinary young people ‘employ adult communications skills to express adolescent feelings' and share every stage of the ruthlessness of their cancer journey. The videos may upset younger uses who stumble across them, but for many this digital sense of community will prove invaluable.There is a wider question though – ‘the luxury of fading memories' says Damian, is something we lose with every advance in media technology. Can this really be a good thing?Plus: Tom Slater says that Britain is having its own gilet jaunes moment and Philip Womack reacts to the news that the Pope will be getting some flatmates.Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First: an economic reckoning is looming ‘Britain's numbers… don't add up', says economics editor Michael Simmons. We are ‘an ageing population with too few taxpayers'. ‘If the picture looks bad now,' he warns, ‘the next few years will be disastrous.' Governments have consistently spent more than they raised; Britain's debt costs ‘are the worst in the developed world', with markets fearful about Rachel Reeves's Budget plans. A market meltdown, a delayed crash, or prolonged stagnation looms. The third scenario, he warns, would be the bleakest, keeping politicians from confronting Britain's spendthrift state. We need ‘austerity shock therapy' – but voters don't want it. To discuss further, we include an excerpt from a discussion Michael had with our deputy editor Freddy Gray and economist Paul Johnson for Spectator TV. Next: can the foster system survive? ‘The foster system in this country is collapsing,' Mary Wakefield warns. There around 80,000 children who need homes, but ‘a catastrophic lack of people prepared to care for them'. Every year the small pool of available foster households shrinks, with younger generations unwilling to become carers and more and more existing carers considering leaving. Mary joined the podcast to explain how bad the problem is, alongside author and full-time foster carer Rosie Lewis.And finally: the unsettling rise of DeathTokDamian Thompson highlights the rise of ‘DeathTok' – the name given to videos shared on the social media platform Tik Tok by users who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Ordinary young people ‘employ adult communications skills to express adolescent feelings' and share every stage of the ruthlessness of their cancer journey. The videos may upset younger uses who stumble across them, but for many this digital sense of community will prove invaluable.There is a wider question though – ‘the luxury of fading memories' says Damian, is something we lose with every advance in media technology. Can this really be a good thing?Plus: Tom Slater says that Britain is having its own gilet jaunes moment and Philip Womack reacts to the news that the Pope will be getting some flatmates.Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First: Putin has set a trap for Europe and Ukraine ‘Though you wouldn't know from the smiles in the White House this week… a trap has been set by Vladimir Putin to split the United States from its European allies,' warns Owen Matthews. The Russian President wants to make a deal with Donald Trump, but he ‘wants to make it on his own terms'. ‘Putin would like nothing more than for Europe to encourage Ukraine to fight on… and lose even more of their land'. But, as Owen writes, those who count themselves among the country's friends must ask ‘whether it's time to choose an unjust peace over a just but never-ending war'. Have European leaders walked into Putin's trap? Owen joins the podcast alongside Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times. Next: Lionel Shriver, Toby Young & Igor Toronyi-Lalic on the decline of shame in society A rise in brazen shoplifting, attempts to police public spaces and moralising over ‘Art' – these are all topics touched on by columnists Lionel Shriver and Toby Young and Arts editor Igor Toronyi-Lalic in the magazine this week. Are these individual problems in their own right, or could they be symptomatic of wider failings in British society? Lionel, Toby and Igor joined the podcast to try to make sense of why guilt and shame seem to have disappeared in modern Britain.And finally: the hell of owning a holiday rentalWilliam Cash writes in the magazine this week about the trials and tribulations of running a holiday let. He complains that the lines between hotels and holiday lets have become blurred, and people of all ages are now becoming guests from hell. He writes: ‘it has become increasingly evident that middle class families have no idea how to behave on holiday… basic guest decorum seems to belong to a different summer holiday age'. So how did things get so bad? William joined the podcast alongside Spectator columnist Melissa Kite – who runs her own B&B in Ireland.Plus: ahead of the long weekend, Mark Mason reveals who we can thank for bank holidays. Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First: Putin has set a trap for Europe and Ukraine ‘Though you wouldn't know from the smiles in the White House this week… a trap has been set by Vladimir Putin to split the United States from its European allies,' warns Owen Matthews. The Russian President wants to make a deal with Donald Trump, but he ‘wants to make it on his own terms'. ‘Putin would like nothing more than for Europe to encourage Ukraine to fight on… and lose even more of their land'. But, as Owen writes, those who count themselves among the country's friends must ask ‘whether it's time to choose an unjust peace over a just but never-ending war'. Have European leaders walked into Putin's trap? Owen joins the podcast alongside Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times. Next: Lionel Shriver, Toby Young & Igor Toronyi-Lalic on the decline of shame in society A rise in brazen shoplifting, attempts to police public spaces and moralising over ‘Art' – these are all topics touched on by columnists Lionel Shriver and Toby Young and Arts editor Igor Toronyi-Lalic in the magazine this week. Are these individual problems in their own right, or could they be symptomatic of wider failings in British society? Lionel, Toby and Igor joined the podcast to try to make sense of why guilt and shame seem to have disappeared in modern Britain.And finally: the hell of owning a holiday rentalWilliam Cash writes in the magazine this week about the trials and tribulations of running a holiday let. He complains that the lines between hotels and holiday lets have become blurred, and people of all ages are now becoming guests from hell. He writes: ‘it has become increasingly evident that middle class families have no idea how to behave on holiday… basic guest decorum seems to belong to a different summer holiday age'. So how did things get so bad? William joined the podcast alongside Spectator columnist Melissa Kite – who runs her own B&B in Ireland.Plus: ahead of the long weekend, Mark Mason reveals who we can thank for bank holidays. Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brett Graham is the man behind the Michelin-starred The Ledbury in Notting Hill, which is celebrating 20 years this year. He's also the director of The Harwood Arms in Fulham, London's only pub with a Michelin star. On the podcast, Brett tells hosts Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts about why being in the kitchen is like being in the army, what it was like for The Ledbury to receive its third Michelin star and the trials and tribulations of learning food production – including ending up with 127 piglets.

Brett Graham is the man behind the Michelin-starred The Ledbury in Notting Hill, which is celebrating 20 years this year. He's also the director of The Harwood Arms in Fulham, London's only pub with a Michelin star. On the podcast, Brett tells hosts Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts about why being in the kitchen is like being in the army, what it was like for The Ledbury to receive its third Michelin star and the trials and tribulations of learning food production – including ending up with 127 piglets.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Does – or did – Nigel Farage have a woman problem? ‘Around me there's always been a perception of a laddish culture,' he tells political editor Tim Shipman, for the cover piece of the Spectator this week. In last year's election, 58 per cent of Reform voters were men. But, Shipman argues, ‘that has begun to change'. According to More in Common, Reform has gained 14% among women, while Labour has lost 12%. ‘Women are ‘more likely than men… to worry that the country is broken.'Many of Reform's most recent victories have been by women: Andrea Jenkyns in the mayoral elections, Sarah Pochin to Parliament; plus, their most recent high profile defections include a former Tory Welsh Assembly member and a former Labour London councillor. What makes Reform's success with women all the more remarkable is that it appears organic; ‘we haven't forced this' says Farage. So why are women turning to Reform UK? Tim Shipman and Sarah Pochin MP join William Moore and Lara Prendergast, the Spectator's features and executive editors respectively, to discuss further, with an introduction from Oscar Edmondson. For more discussions related to articles in the Spectator, search The Edition wherever you listen to your podcasts.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

First: Nigel Farage is winning over womenDoes – or did – Nigel Farage have a woman problem? ‘Around me there's always been a perception of a laddish culture,' he tells political editor Tim Shipman. In last year's election, 58 per cent of Reform voters were men. But, Shipman argues, ‘that has begun to change'. According to More in Common, Reform has gained 14% among women, while Labour has lost 12%. ‘Women are ‘more likely than men… to worry that the country is broken.'Many of Reform's most recent victories have been by women: Andrea Jenkyns in the mayoral elections, Sarah Pochin to Parliament; plus, there most recent high profile defections include a former Tory Welsh Assembly member and a former Labour London councillor. What makes Reform's success with women all the more remarkable is that it appears organic; ‘we haven't forced this' says Farage.So why are women turning to Reform UK? Tim Shipman and Sarah Pochin MP join the podcast to discuss. Next: is Italy experiencing a renaissance? From Italy, Owen Matthews argues that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has revived her nation. While he says that Italy has been ‘suffering from the same economic malaise' as the rest of Europe, the macroeconomics covers up the true affordability of the country. Espressos cost €1.20, pizzas are no more than €10, and rents in even the swankiest areas are ‘laughably' cheap compared to Britain. Plus, Owen sees none of the ‘media catastrophisation' over issues like immigration, social cohesion and militant Islam that appears to grip the UK. So how has Meloni done it? To discuss, Owen joined the podcast alongside Antonello Guerrera, UK & Westminster correspondent for the Italian newspaper Repubblica.And finally: one in three British adults cannot swimThis week, Iram Ramzan provides her ‘notes on' learning to swim saying, ‘it's humiliating to admit that at 37' she can't. She's not alone though – one third of British adults cannot swim, and the proportion appears to be rising. Iram highlights the disparities between different communities; 76 percent of South Asian women for example cannot swim 25 metres. Iram joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside fitness professional and entrepreneur Elle Linton who also learnt to swim in her thirties.Plus: what small error led Rachel Johnson to get a telling off from Noel Gallagher? And Max Jeffery reports from court, where the Spectator and Douglas Murray have won a defamation claim brought against them by Mohammed Hijab. Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

First: Nigel Farage is winning over womenDoes – or did – Nigel Farage have a woman problem? ‘Around me there's always been a perception of a laddish culture,' he tells political editor Tim Shipman. In last year's election, 58 per cent of Reform voters were men. But, Shipman argues, ‘that has begun to change'. According to More in Common, Reform has gained 14% among women, while Labour has lost 12%. ‘Women are ‘more likely than men… to worry that the country is broken.'Many of Reform's most recent victories have been by women: Andrea Jenkyns in the mayoral elections, Sarah Pochin to Parliament; plus, there most recent high profile defections include a former Tory Welsh Assembly member and a former Labour London councillor. What makes Reform's success with women all the more remarkable is that it appears organic; ‘we haven't forced this' says Farage.So why are women turning to Reform UK? Tim Shipman and Sarah Pochin MP join the podcast to discuss. Next: is Italy experiencing a renaissance? From Italy, Owen Matthews argues that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has revived her nation. While he says that Italy has been ‘suffering from the same economic malaise' as the rest of Europe, the macroeconomics covers up the true affordability of the country. Espressos cost €1.20, pizzas are no more than €10, and rents in even the swankiest areas are ‘laughably' cheap compared to Britain. Plus, Owen sees none of the ‘media catastrophisation' over issues like immigration, social cohesion and militant Islam that appears to grip the UK. So how has Meloni done it? To discuss, Owen joined the podcast alongside Antonello Guerrera, UK & Westminster correspondent for the Italian newspaper Repubblica.And finally: one in three British adults cannot swimThis week, Iram Ramzan provides her ‘notes on' learning to swim saying, ‘it's humiliating to admit that at 37' she can't. She's not alone though – one third of British adults cannot swim, and the proportion appears to be rising. Iram highlights the disparities between different communities; 76 percent of South Asian women for example cannot swim 25 metres. Iram joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside fitness professional and entrepreneur Elle Linton who also learnt to swim in her thirties.Plus: what small error led Rachel Johnson to get a telling off from Noel Gallagher? And Max Jeffery reports from court, where the Spectator and Douglas Murray have won a defamation claim brought against them by Mohammed Hijab. Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

First: the new era of censorshipA year ago, John Power notes, the UK was consumed by race riots precipitated by online rumours about the perpetrator of the Southport atrocity. This summer, there have been protests, but ‘something is different'. With the introduction of the Online Safety Act, ‘the government is exerting far greater control over what can and can't be viewed online'. While the act ‘promises to protect minors from harmful material', he argues that it is ‘the most sweeping attempt by any liberal democracy to bring the online world under the control of the state'.Implemented and defended by the current Labour government, it is actually the result of legislation passed by the Conservatives in 2023 – which Labour did not support at the time, arguing it didn't go far enough. So how much of a danger is the Act to free speech in Britain?John joined the podcast to discuss further alongside former Conservative minister Steve Baker, MP from 2010-24, and who was one of the biggest critics of the bill within the Conservative Party at the time.Next: should we be worried about protests against migrants?This week, outside a hotel in Epping, groups amassed to protest against the migrants housed there, with counter-protestors appearing in turn. Tommy Robinson might not have appeared in the end, but the Spectator's Max Jeffrey did, concluding that the protests were ultimately ‘anticlimactic'.Nevertheless, the protests have sparked debate about the motivations of those speaking out against the migrants – are there legitimate concerns voiced by locals, or are the protests being manipulated by figures on the political fringes? And what do the protests tell us about community tensions in the UK? Max joined the podcast to discuss alongside the editor of Spiked Tom Slater.And finally: why are ‘romantasy' novels so popular?Lara Brown writes in the magazine this week about the phenomenon of the genre ‘romantasy', which mixes romance with fantasy. While ‘chick-lit' is nothing new, Lara argues that this is ‘literature taken to its lowest form', emblematic of the terminally online young people who consume it. Nevertheless, it is incredibly popular and is credited by publishers as boosting the British fiction industry to over £1 billion. To unpack the genre's popularity, Lara joined the podcast, alongside Sarah Maxwell, the founder of London's first romance-only bookshop Saucy Books, based in Notting Hill.Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.

First: the new era of censorship A year ago, John Power notes, the UK was consumed by race riots precipitated by online rumours about the perpetrator of the Southport atrocity. This summer, there have been protests, but ‘something is different'. With the introduction of the Online Safety Act, ‘the government is exerting far greater control over what can and can't be viewed online'. While the act ‘promises to protect minors from harmful material', he argues that it is ‘the most sweeping attempt by any liberal democracy to bring the online world under the control of the state'. Implemented and defended by the current Labour government, it is actually the result of legislation passed by the Conservatives in 2023 – which Labour did not support at the time, arguing it didn't go far enough. So how much of a danger is the Act to free speech in Britain? John joined the podcast to discuss further alongside former Conservative minister Steve Baker, MP from 2010-24, and who was one of the biggest critics of the bill within the Conservative Party at the time. Next: should we be worried about protests against migrants?  This week, outside a hotel in Epping, groups amassed to protest against the migrants housed there, with counter-protestors appearing in turn. Tommy Robinson might not have appeared in the end, but the Spectator's Max Jeffrey did, concluding that the protests were ultimately ‘anticlimactic'. Nevertheless, the protests have sparked debate about the motivations of those speaking out against the migrants – are there legitimate concerns voiced by locals, or are the protests being manipulated by figures on the political fringes? And what do the protests tell us about community tensions in the UK? Max joined the podcast to discuss alongside the editor of Spiked Tom Slater. And finally: why are ‘romantasy' novels so popular?Lara Brown writes in the magazine this week about the phenomenon of the genre ‘romantasy', which mixes romance with fantasy. While ‘chick-lit' is nothing new, Lara argues that this is ‘literature taken to its lowest form', emblematic of the terminally online young people who consume it. Nevertheless, it is incredibly popular and is credited by publishers as boosting the British fiction industry to over £1 billion. To unpack the genre's popularity, Lara joined the podcast, alongside Sarah Maxwell, the founder of London's first romance-only bookshop Saucy Books, based in Notting Hill. Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Charlotte Ivers is the restaurant critic for the Sunday Times; most recently she reviewed Lupa, Fenix and Home SW15. Charlotte started her career as a media adviser in Theresa May's Number 10, before she moved into the world of radio. She was a political correspondent at talkRADIO and Wireless Group before joining Times Radio.  On the podcast, Charlotte tells hosts Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts about chasing the high she felt from tasting risotto for the first time, how a second date unwittingly converted her from vegetarianism and what she thinks makes a good restaurant critic.

Charlotte Ivers is the restaurant critic for the Sunday Times; most recently she reviewed Lupa, Fenix and Home SW15. Charlotte started her career as a media adviser in Theresa May's Number 10, before she moved into the world of radio. She was a political correspondent at talkRADIO and Wireless Group before joining Times Radio.  On the podcast, Charlotte tells hosts Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts about chasing the high she felt from tasting risotto for the first time, how a second date unwittingly converted her from vegetarianism and what she thinks makes a good restaurant critic.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

The soul suckers of private equity, Douglas Murray on Epstein and MAGA & are literary sequels ‘lazy'?First up: how private equity is ruining BritainGus Carter writes in the magazine this week about how foreign private equity (PE) is hollowing out Britain – PE now owns everything from a Pret a Manger to a Dorset village, and even the number of children's homes owned by PE has doubled in the last five years. This ‘gives capitalism a bad name', he writes. Perhaps the most symbolic example is in the water industry, with water firms now squeezed for money and saddled with debt. British water firms now have a debt-to-equity ratio of 70%, compared to just 4% in 1991. Britain's desperation for foreign money has, quite literally, left Britain ‘in the shit'. Gus joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside the journalist Megan Greenwell, author of Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream. (00:46)Next: why is MAGA so incensed over Jeffrey Epstein?Six years after he died, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is still haunting Donald Trump. Trump had vowed to release all files on various cases that attract conspiracy theorists – from JFK to Martin Luther King Jr. What makes the Epstein case different, as Douglas Murray writes in the magazine this week, is that the case was so recent and Epstein's ties with the elites, many of whom are still in power. Trump appeared to backtrack on releasing files relating to Epstein, prompting ire from the MAGA world, and there is now mounting cross-party pressure to uncover who knew what. Mike Johnson, the House speaker, sent representatives home early for summer, and there is even talk of Ghislaine Maxwell testifying.  Why is the Epstein scandal such a lightning rod for MAGA rage? Douglas Murray joined the Spectator to discuss. The full interview can be found on Spectator TV. (15:49)And finally: are literary sequels ‘lazy'?It's ‘sod's law', says the Spectator's literary editor Sam Leith, that when a friend's book is due to be reviewed in the pages of the books section that you edit, the review will be bad. Mike Cormack reviews Men In Love by Irvine Welsh this week, calling the decision by Welsh to pen another sequel to Trainspotting ‘lazy'. At the Spectator this made us ponder whether this is true of all literary sequels, and what motivates authors to stick with characters and stories that they know.Sam joined us to discuss further alongside Lucy Thynne, the Telegraph's deputy literary editor. (33:59)Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.

The soul suckers of private equity, Douglas Murray on Epstein and MAGA & are literary sequels ‘lazy'?First up: how private equity is ruining BritainGus Carter writes in the magazine this week about how foreign private equity (PE) is hollowing out Britain – PE now owns everything from a Pret a Manger to a Dorset village, and even the number of children's homes owned by PE has doubled in the last five years. This ‘gives capitalism a bad name', he writes. Perhaps the most symbolic example is in the water industry, with water firms now squeezed for money and saddled with debt. British water firms now have a debt-to-equity ratio of 70%, compared to just 4% in 1991. Britain's desperation for foreign money has, quite literally, left Britain ‘in the shit'. Gus joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside the journalist Megan Greenwell, author of Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream. (00:46)Next: why is MAGA so incensed over Jeffrey Epstein?Six years after he died, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is still haunting Donald Trump. Trump had vowed to release all files on various cases that attract conspiracy theorists – from JFK to Martin Luther King Jr. What makes the Epstein case different, as Douglas Murray writes in the magazine this week, is that the case was so recent and Epstein's ties with the elites, many of whom are still in power. Trump appeared to backtrack on releasing files relating to Epstein, prompting ire from the MAGA world, and there is now mounting cross-party pressure to uncover who knew what. Mike Johnson, the House speaker, sent representatives home early for summer, and there is even talk of Ghislaine Maxwell testifying.  Why is the Epstein scandal such a lightning rod for MAGA rage? Douglas Murray joined the Spectator to discuss. The full interview can be found on Spectator TV. (15:49)And finally: are literary sequels ‘lazy'?It's ‘sod's law', says the Spectator's literary editor Sam Leith, that when a friend's book is due to be reviewed in the pages of the books section that you edit, the review will be bad. Mike Cormack reviews Men In Love by Irvine Welsh this week, calling the decision by Welsh to pen another sequel to Trainspotting ‘lazy'. At the Spectator this made us ponder whether this is true of all literary sequels, and what motivates authors to stick with characters and stories that they know.Sam joined us to discuss further alongside Lucy Thynne, the Telegraph's deputy literary editor. (33:59)Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

This week: war and peaceDespite initial concerns, the ‘Complete and Total CEASEFIRE' – according to Donald Trump – appears to be holding. Tom Gross writes this week's cover piece and argues that a weakened Iran offers hope for the whole Middle East. But how? He joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside Gregg Carlstrom, the Economist's Middle East correspondent based in Dubai. (01:51)Next: why are so many restaurants offering halal meat?Angus Colwell writes about the growing popularity of halal meat in British restaurants. This isn't confined to certain food groups or particular areas – halal is now being offered across restaurants serving all sorts of cuisine, from Chinese to Mexican. But why is it so popular? And is it just a trend, or part of a wider shift for British restaurants? Angus joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside restaurateur James Chiavarini, owner of Il Portico and La Palombe, both in Kensington. (23:46)And finally: millennials, the brown furniture is on its wayThe ‘great wealth transfer' – the transfer of trillions in wealth from boomers to millennials – is oft-discussed, but Arabella Byrne argues this goes far beyond just money. Brown furniture, from desks to cabinets to mirrors, will be passed on as inheritance by boomers who downsize – and Arabella says this is ‘the abject symbol of generational misalignment'. Arabella joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside The Spectator's economics editor Michael Simmons. (33:07)Hosted by Lara Prendergast and William Moore.Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.

This week: war and peaceDespite initial concerns, the ‘Complete and Total CEASEFIRE' – according to Donald Trump – appears to be holding. Tom Gross writes this week's cover piece and argues that a weakened Iran offers hope for the whole Middle East. But how? He joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside Gregg Carlstrom, the Economist's Middle East correspondent based in Dubai. (01:51)Next: why are so many restaurants offering halal meat?Angus Colwell writes about the growing popularity of halal meat in British restaurants. This isn't confined to certain food groups or particular areas – halal is now being offered across restaurants serving all sorts of cuisine, from Chinese to Mexican. But why is it so popular? And is it just a trend, or part of a wider shift for British restaurants? Angus joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside restaurateur James Chiavarini, owner of Il Portico and La Palombe, both in Kensington. (23:46)And finally: millennials, the brown furniture is on its wayThe ‘great wealth transfer' – the transfer of trillions in wealth from boomers to millennials – is oft-discussed, but Arabella Byrne argues this goes far beyond just money. Brown furniture, from desks to cabinets to mirrors, will be passed on as inheritance by boomers who downsize – and Arabella says this is ‘the abject symbol of generational misalignment'. Arabella joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside The Spectator's economics editor Michael Simmons. (33:07)Hosted by Lara Prendergast and William Moore.Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.

Starmer's war zone: the Prime Minister's perilous positionThis week, our new political editor Tim Shipman takes the helm and, in his cover piece, examines how Keir Starmer can no longer find political refuge in foreign affairs. After a period of globe-trotting in which the Prime Minister was dubbed ‘never-here Keir', Starmer's handling of international matters had largely been seen as a strength. But as tensions escalate in the Iran–Israel conflict, global events are beginning to create serious challenges. They threaten not only to derail the government's economic plans but also to deepen divisions within the Labour party, particularly between the leadership and much of the parliamentary party. Tim joined the podcast alongside The Spectator US editor Freddy Gray. (02:08)Next: is it a mistake to try and topple Iran's Supreme Leader?Justin Marozzi asks if we are seeing ‘an ominous mission creep in Israel's blistering attack on Iran'. Donald Trump has been calling for the ‘UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' of Iran, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been directly addressing the Iranian people. The regime may be unpopular, but how realistic is the expectation of regime change? Marozzi joined the podcast alongside Michael Stephens, a Middle East expert at the defence and security thinktank Rusi. (19:07)And finally: should we embrace feeling shame?Stuart Jeffries reviews a new book by the French philosopher Frédéric Gros in the books section of the magazine this week. A Philosophy of Shame: A Revolutionary Emotion argues that shame should be embraced, rather than avoided. So, in an era of ‘cancel culture' and public shaming – not to mention some of the shamelessness exhibited by social media influencers – can ‘shame' be a good thing? Stuart joined the podcast to discuss. (34:31)Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.

Starmer's war zone: the Prime Minister's perilous positionThis week, our new political editor Tim Shipman takes the helm and, in his cover piece, examines how Keir Starmer can no longer find political refuge in foreign affairs. After a period of globe-trotting in which the Prime Minister was dubbed ‘never-here Keir', Starmer's handling of international matters had largely been seen as a strength. But as tensions escalate in the Iran–Israel conflict, global events are beginning to create serious challenges. They threaten not only to derail the government's economic plans but also to deepen divisions within the Labour party, particularly between the leadership and much of the parliamentary party. Tim joined the podcast alongside The Spectator US editor Freddy Gray. (02:08)Next: is it a mistake to try and topple Iran's Supreme Leader?Justin Marozzi asks if we are seeing ‘an ominous mission creep in Israel's blistering attack on Iran'. Donald Trump has been calling for the ‘UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' of Iran, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been directly addressing the Iranian people. The regime may be unpopular, but how realistic is the expectation of regime change? Marozzi joined the podcast alongside Michael Stephens, a Middle East expert at the defence and security thinktank Rusi. (19:07)And finally: should we embrace feeling shame?Stuart Jeffries reviews a new book by the French philosopher Frédéric Gros in the books section of the magazine this week. A Philosophy of Shame: A Revolutionary Emotion argues that shame should be embraced, rather than avoided. So, in an era of ‘cancel culture' and public shaming – not to mention some of the shamelessness exhibited by social media influencers – can ‘shame' be a good thing? Stuart joined the podcast to discuss. (34:31)Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.

Nadine Dorries is one of the most recognisable Conservative politicians from the past two decades. Elected as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire in 2005, she notably clashed with David Cameron and George Osborne (who she called ‘two arrogant posh boys') and lost the whip in 2012 when she took part in the reality show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here. Loyal to Boris Johnson, she served in his government and rose to be Culture Secretary. She stood down in 2023 and went on to write about politics in the bestselling books The Plot and Downfall.On the podcast, Nadine tells the Spectator's executive editor Lara Prendergast about her memories of tinned burgers and Sunday lunches as a child, working long shifts as a nurse in Warrington and what it was like spending a year in Zambia. She also explains the ‘relentless' but ‘collegiate' atmosphere of Parliament and how she once saw a mouse at the Commons' salad bar. Nadine explains what it is like to have recently used the weight-loss jab Mounjaro and why, in her family, she is still the ‘queen of the Sunday roast'.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nadine Dorries is one of the most recognisable Conservative politicians from the past two decades. Elected as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire in 2005, she notably clashed with David Cameron and George Osborne (who she called ‘two arrogant posh boys') and lost the whip in 2012 when she took part in the reality show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here. Loyal to Boris Johnson, she served in his government and rose to be Culture Secretary. She stood down in 2023 and went on to write about politics in the bestselling books The Plot and Downfall. On the podcast, Nadine tells the Spectator's executive editor Lara Prendergast about her memories of tinned burgers and Sunday lunches as a child, working long shifts as a nurse in Warrington and what it was like spending a year in Zambia. She also explains the ‘relentless' but ‘collegiate' atmosphere of Parliament and how she once saw a mouse at the Commons' salad bar. Nadine explains what it is like to have recently used the weight-loss jab Mounjaro and why, in her family, she is still the ‘queen of the Sunday roast'.  Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

OnlyFans is giving the Treasury what it wants – but should we be concerned?‘OnlyFans,' writes Louise Perry, ‘is the most profitable content subscription service in the world.' Yet ‘the vast majority of its content creators make very little from it'. So why are around 4 per cent of young British women selling their wares on the site? ‘Imitating Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips – currently locked in a competition to have sex with the most men in a day – isn't pleasant.' OnlyFans gives women ‘the sexual attention and money of hundreds and even thousands of men'. The result is ‘a cascade of depravity' that Perry wouldn't wish on her worst enemy.In business terms, however, OnlyFans is a ‘staggering success', according to economics editor Michael Simmons. ‘Britain's sex industry brings in far more to the economy than politicians are comfortable admitting'; OnlyFans might just be Britain's most profitable tech start-up. ‘If we are going to wage a moral war on porn,' Simmons argues, ‘we should at least be honest about what we're sacrificing.' Louise and Michael joined the podcast to discuss further (1:21).Next: could Xi Jinping's time be up?Historian Francis Pike writes about the unusual absence of China's President Xi. China-watchers have detected some subtle differences from the norm in Chinese media, from fewer official references to Xi to changes in routine politburo meetings. So, could Xi Jinping be forced to step down? And if so, who is on manoeuvres and why?Francis joined the podcast alongside former diplomat Kerry Brown, professor of China Studies at King's College London (22:31).And finally: is the era of the lonely hearts ad coming to an end?Tony Whitehead provides his notes on lonely hearts columns this week, writing about how, 330 years after they first appeared in print in Britain, they may soon disappear. Francesca Beauman – who literally wrote the book on the subject, Shapely Ankle Preferr'd – and Mark Mason join the podcast to provide their favourite examples, from the serious to the humorous (35:13).Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OnlyFans is giving the Treasury what it wants – but should we be concerned?‘OnlyFans,' writes Louise Perry, ‘is the most profitable content subscription service in the world.' Yet ‘the vast majority of its content creators make very little from it'. So why are around 4 per cent of young British women selling their wares on the site? ‘Imitating Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips – currently locked in a competition to have sex with the most men in a day – isn't pleasant.' OnlyFans gives women ‘the sexual attention and money of hundreds and even thousands of men'. The result is ‘a cascade of depravity' that Perry wouldn't wish on her worst enemy.In business terms, however, OnlyFans is a ‘staggering success', according to economics editor Michael Simmons. ‘Britain's sex industry brings in far more to the economy than politicians are comfortable admitting'; OnlyFans might just be Britain's most profitable tech start-up. ‘If we are going to wage a moral war on porn,' Simmons argues, ‘we should at least be honest about what we're sacrificing.' Louise and Michael joined the podcast to discuss further (1:21).Next: could Xi Jinping's time be up?Historian Francis Pike writes about the unusual absence of China's President Xi. China-watchers have detected some subtle differences from the norm in Chinese media, from fewer official references to Xi to changes in routine politburo meetings. So, could Xi Jinping be forced to step down? And if so, who is on manoeuvres and why?Francis joined the podcast alongside former diplomat Kerry Brown, professor of China Studies at King's College London (22:31).And finally: is the era of the lonely hearts ad coming to an end?Tony Whitehead provides his notes on lonely hearts columns this week, writing about how, 330 years after they first appeared in print in Britain, they may soon disappear. Francesca Beauman – who literally wrote the book on the subject, Shapely Ankle Preferr'd – and Mark Mason join the podcast to provide their favourite examples, from the serious to the humorous (35:13).Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

How Reform plans to winJust a year ago, Nigel Farage ended his self-imposed exile from politics and returned to lead Reform. Since then, Reform have won more MPs than the Green Party, two new mayoralties, a parliamentary by-election, and numerous councils. Now the party leads in every poll and, as our deputy political editor James Heale reveals in our cover article, is already planning for government.The party's chair, tech entrepreneur Zia Yusuf, describes the movement as a ‘start-up'; and like a start-up, Reform is scaling up at speed. Among the 676 councillors elected last month, a number are considered more than ready to stand as MPs. James also interviewed Reform's deputy leader, the MP Richard Tice, who said that the Reform movement cannot be thought of within the traditional left-right political spectrum.James joined the podcast to discuss further; you can also hear an extract from his interview with Richard. (1:01)Next: are young people turning to religion?A recent survey by the UK's Bible Society has found that over the past six years, Church attendance has risen by 50 per cent. There are signs that this is being driven by younger people – why are Gen Z turning to religion? A new book by Lamorna Ash, Don't Forget We're Here Forever: A New Generation's Search For Religion, seeks to answer this question and is reviewed in the magazine this week by Rupert Shortt.To unpack this potential Church revival, Rupert – the author of The Eclipse of Christianity and Why It Matters – joined the podcast, alongside Georgia Clarke, director of youth ministry at St Elizabeth of Portugal Roman Catholic Church in London. (21:25)And finally: is experimental fiction truly novel?Philip Hensher writes in the magazine this week about the modern trend of ‘experimental literature'. For Philip, not only do these novels have incredibly rigid rules, but they are far from ‘experimental' as he feels many of their components aren't truly new.To discuss further, Philip – who has been writing his own history of the novel – joined the podcast, alongside Simon Okotie. Simon, author of The Future of the Novel, is also a judge for the Goldsmiths Prize, which awards a novel which ‘breaks the mould or extends the possibilities of the novel form'. (33:11)Plus: extracts from Tanya Gold's article on selling bathwater (17:54) and Madeline Grant's on the decline of period dramas (19:35).Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Reform plans to win Just a year ago, Nigel Farage ended his self-imposed exile from politics and returned to lead Reform. Since then, Reform have won more MPs than the Green Party, two new mayoralties, a parliamentary by-election, and numerous councils. Now the party leads in every poll and, as our deputy political editor James Heale reveals in our cover article, is already planning for government.The party's chair, tech entrepreneur Zia Yusuf, describes the movement as a ‘start-up'; and like a start-up, Reform is scaling up at speed. Among the 676 councillors elected last month, a number are considered more than ready to stand as MPs. James also interviewed Reform's deputy leader, the MP Richard Tice, who said that the Reform movement cannot be thought of within the traditional left-right political spectrum.James joined the podcast to discuss further; you can also hear an extract from his interview with Richard. (1:01) Next: are young people turning to religion? A recent survey by the UK's Bible Society has found that over the past six years, Church attendance has risen by 50 per cent. There are signs that this is being driven by younger people – why are Gen Z turning to religion? A new book by Lamorna Ash, Don't Forget We're Here Forever: A New Generation's Search For Religion, seeks to answer this question and is reviewed in the magazine this week by Rupert Shortt.To unpack this potential Church revival, Rupert – the author of The Eclipse of Christianity and Why It Matters – joined the podcast, alongside Georgia Clarke, director of youth ministry at St Elizabeth of Portugal Roman Catholic Church in London. (21:25) And finally: is experimental fiction truly novel?Philip Hensher writes in the magazine this week about the modern trend of ‘experimental literature'. For Philip, not only do these novels have incredibly rigid rules, but they are far from ‘experimental' as he feels many of their components aren't truly new.To discuss further, Philip – who has been writing his own history of the novel – joined the podcast, alongside Simon Okotie. Simon, author of The Future of the Novel, is also a judge for the Goldsmiths Prize, which awards a novel which ‘breaks the mould or extends the possibilities of the novel form'. (33:11)Plus: extracts from Tanya Gold's article on selling bathwater (17:54) and Madeline Grant's on the decline of period dramas (19:35).Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The great escape: why the rich are fleeing Britain Keir Starmer worries about who is coming into Britain but, our economics editor Michael Simmons writes in the magazine this week, he should have ‘sleepless nights' thinking about those leaving. Since 2016, nearly 30,000 millionaires have left – ‘an outflow unmatched in the developed world'. Tax changes have made Britain a ‘hostile environment' for the wealthy, yet we are ‘dangerously dependent' on our highest earners: the top 0.01 per cent pay 6 per cent of all income tax. If the exodus is ‘half as bad' as those he has spoken to think, Simmons warns, a 2p hike to income tax looms. Michael joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside private wealth specialist James Quarmby from advisory firm Stephenson Harwood. (1:04) Next: Michael Gove interviews justice secretary Shabana Mahmood ‘There's a moment of reckoning to come' Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood tells The Spectator's editor Michael Gove in a wide-ranging interview in the magazine this week. Gove writes that he has a degree of sympathy for her, given he occupied her post for 15 months several years ago; ‘it's the most glamorous and least attractive job in the cabinet' he writes. The interview touched on grooming gangs, AI and the oath she swore on the Quran. You can hear an extract from the interview on the podcast but, for the full interview, go to Spectator TV (16:08) And finally: ‘pond terfs' versus the ‘right on' Zoe Strimpel highlights a schism that has emerged over Hampstead ladies pond in the magazine this week: whether trans women should be allowed to swim in the ladies pond. The division, between older ‘pond terfs', who are against their inclusion, and younger ‘right on' women, has only widened following the Supreme Court ruling. Far from solving the issue, the fight has only intensified.   Zoe joined the podcast alongside Julie Bindel to discuss further. (27:48) Hosted by Lara Prendergast and Gus Carter. Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.

The great escape: why the rich are fleeing Britain Keir Starmer worries about who is coming into Britain but, our economics editor Michael Simmons writes in the magazine this week, he should have ‘sleepless nights' thinking about those leaving. Since 2016, nearly 30,000 millionaires have left – ‘an outflow unmatched in the developed world'. Tax changes have made Britain a ‘hostile environment' for the wealthy, yet we are ‘dangerously dependent' on our highest earners: the top 0.01 per cent pay 6 per cent of all income tax. If the exodus is ‘half as bad' as those he has spoken to think, Simmons warns, a 2p hike to income tax looms. Michael joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside private wealth specialist James Quarmby from advisory firm Stephenson Harwood. (1:04) Next: Michael Gove interviews justice secretary Shabana Mahmood ‘There's a moment of reckoning to come' Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood tells The Spectator's editor Michael Gove in a wide-ranging interview in the magazine this week. Gove writes that he has a degree of sympathy for her, given he occupied her post for 15 months several years ago; ‘it's the most glamorous and least attractive job in the cabinet' he writes. The interview touched on grooming gangs, AI and the oath she swore on the Quran. You can hear an extract from the interview on the podcast but, for the full interview, go to Spectator TV (16:08) And finally: ‘pond terfs' versus the ‘right on' Zoe Strimpel highlights a schism that has emerged over Hampstead ladies pond in the magazine this week: whether trans women should be allowed to swim in the ladies pond. The division, between older ‘pond terfs', who are against their inclusion, and younger ‘right on' women, has only widened following the Supreme Court ruling. Far from solving the issue, the fight has only intensified.   Zoe joined the podcast alongside Julie Bindel to discuss further. (27:48) Hosted by Lara Prendergast and Gus Carter. Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.

Scuzz Nation: Britain's slow and grubby decline If you want to understand why voters flocked to Reform last week, Gus Carter says, look no further than Goat Man. In one ward in Runcorn, ‘residents found that no one would listen when a neighbour filled his derelict house with goats and burned the animals' manure in his garden'. This embodies Scuzz Nation – a ‘grubbier and more unpleasant' Britain, ‘where decay happens faster than repair, where crime largely goes unpunished, and where the social fabric has been slashed, graffitied and left by the side of the road'. On the podcast, Gus speaks to Dr Lawrence Newport, founder of Crush Crime, to diagnose the issues facing Britain – and offer some solutions to stop the rot. (01:28) Next: is it demeaning to study Dickens? In the magazine this week, Philip Hensher reviews ‘Literature and Learning: A History of English Studies in Britain' by Stefan Collini. Philip's main gripe is that the history stops short of charting the threats posed to the study of English literature in the past fifty years. Accessible, ‘relevant' short stories are increasingly replacing the classics, as the monuments of Victorian literature defeat today's undergraduates. So can English literature still teach us how to read deeply in an age of diminishing attention spans? Philip joins the podcast alongside Orlando Reade, author and assistant professor at Northeastern University London, where he teaches English and creative writing. (17:47) And finally: are you a bad house guest? In the magazine, Christa D'Souza bemoans terrible house guests. Set against the idyllic backdrop of her home in the Greek Cyclades, she gives an account of the trials and absurdities of hosting – from towel-hoarding Americans to the toddler-like breakfast habits of many grown adults. She joins the podcast alongside our very own agony aunt, Mary Killen, to discuss further – and hopefully offer some advice on how better to deal with rude house guests. (29:04) Hosted by Lara Prendergast and Gus Carter. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Scuzz Nation: Britain's slow and grubby decline If you want to understand why voters flocked to Reform last week, Gus Carter says, look no further than Goat Man. In one ward in Runcorn, ‘residents found that no one would listen when a neighbour filled his derelict house with goats and burned the animals' manure in his garden'. This embodies Scuzz Nation – a ‘grubbier and more unpleasant' Britain, ‘where decay happens faster than repair, where crime largely goes unpunished, and where the social fabric has been slashed, graffitied and left by the side of the road'. On the podcast, Gus speaks to Dr Lawrence Newport, founder of Crush Crime, to diagnose the issues facing Britain – and offer some solutions to stop the rot. (01:28) Next: is it demeaning to study Dickens? In the magazine this week, Philip Hensher reviews ‘Literature and Learning: A History of English Studies in Britain' by Stefan Collini. Philip's main gripe is that the history stops short of charting the threats posed to the study of English literature in the past fifty years. Accessible, ‘relevant' short stories are increasingly replacing the classics, as the monuments of Victorian literature defeat today's undergraduates. So can English literature still teach us how to read deeply in an age of diminishing attention spans? Philip joins the podcast alongside Orlando Reade, author and assistant professor at Northeastern University London, where he teaches English and creative writing. (17:47) And finally: are you a bad house guest? In the magazine, Christa D'Souza bemoans terrible house guests. Set against the idyllic backdrop of her home in the Greek Cyclades, she gives an account of the trials and absurdities of hosting – from towel-hoarding Americans to the toddler-like breakfast habits of many grown adults. She joins the podcast alongside our very own agony aunt, Mary Killen, to discuss further – and hopefully offer some advice on how better to deal with rude house guests. (29:04) Hosted by Lara Prendergast and Gus Carter. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

This week: the left-wing radicalism of Garden Court Garden Court Chambers has a ‘reassuringly traditional' facade befitting the historic Lincoln's Inn Fields in the heart of London's legal district. Yet, writes Ross Clark in the cover article this week, ‘the facade is just that. For behind the pedimented Georgian windows there operates the most radically effective cell of left-wing activists in Britain'. Ross argues that cases taken on by Garden Court lawyers raise questions of impartiality. Is this just another example of ‘law's expanding empire' over the domain of elected politicians, as former Supreme Court judge Jonathan Sumption has warned? The Spectator's editor, and former Justice Secretary, Michael Gove joined the podcast to discuss. (1:16) Next: cultural desert ‘From its gloopy green-filled chocolate to its soulless towers, Dubai is exerting a cultural influence over our capital' writes Angus Colwell in the magazine this week. More and more young people might be moving to the city, but its influence is being exported back. With around 250,000 Brits living in the Middle Eastern Emirate, why is Dubai so popular? Angus worries that we may lose some of the ‘pleasingly chaotic' aesthetic of London to Dubai's ‘artificial construction'. Angus joined the podcast alongside the writer Louise Perry. (13:43) And finally: the enduring obsession with Princess Diana  Almost 30 years on from her death, why has a fascination with Princess Diana endured? Philip Hensher reviews Dianaworld: An Obsession, by Edward White, in the magazine this week which explores the effect that Diana had – and still has – on people around the world. Why did people feel such a connection to the late Princess of Wales?  Philip joined the podcast alongside royal commentator Angela Levin. Philip explains that a ‘passive victimhood' has crept into society since Diana's death while, for Angela, the public felt they ‘owned' the Princess. (22:32) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: the left-wing radicalism of Garden Court Garden Court Chambers has a ‘reassuringly traditional' facade befitting the historic Lincoln's Inn Fields in the heart of London's legal district. Yet, writes Ross Clark in the cover article this week, ‘the facade is just that. For behind the pedimented Georgian windows there operates the most radically effective cell of left-wing activists in Britain'. Ross argues that cases taken on by Garden Court lawyers raise questions of impartiality. Is this just another example of ‘law's expanding empire' over the domain of elected politicians, as former Supreme Court judge Jonathan Sumption has warned? The Spectator's editor, and former Justice Secretary, Michael Gove joined the podcast to discuss. (1:16) Next: cultural desert ‘From its gloopy green-filled chocolate to its soulless towers, Dubai is exerting a cultural influence over our capital' writes Angus Colwell in the magazine this week. More and more young people might be moving to the city, but its influence is being exported back. With around 250,000 Brits living in the Middle Eastern Emirate, why is Dubai so popular? Angus worries that we may lose some of the ‘pleasingly chaotic' aesthetic of London to Dubai's ‘artificial construction'. Angus joined the podcast alongside the writer Louise Perry. (13:43) And finally: the enduring obsession with Princess Diana  Almost 30 years on from her death, why has a fascination with Princess Diana endured? Philip Hensher reviews Dianaworld: An Obsession, by Edward White, in the magazine this week which explores the effect that Diana had – and still has – on people around the world. Why did people feel such a connection to the late Princess of Wales?  Philip joined the podcast alongside royal commentator Angela Levin. Philip explains that a ‘passive victimhood' has crept into society since Diana's death while, for Angela, the public felt they ‘owned' the Princess. (22:32) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: the many crises awaiting the next pope ‘Francis was a charismatic pope loved by most of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics' writes Damian Thompson in the cover article this week. But few of them ‘grasp the scale of the crisis in the Church… The next Vicar of Christ, liberal or conservative' faces ‘challenges that dwarf those that confronted any incoming pope in living memory'.  Ahead of Pope Francis's funeral this weekend, Damian joined the podcast alongside the Catholic theologian Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith to unpack all the political intrigue underpinning the upcoming papal conclave. They say that he who enters the conclave as a pope, leaves as a cardinal – do we have any clues to who could emerge as Francis's successor? (1:01) Next: the ghastliness of AI ghouls The late Lily Parr – a chain-smoking, 6ft, Lancastrian, lesbian pre-war footballer – has been resurrected via an AI avatar. All fun and games at first glance but, as Mary Wakefield writes in the magazine this week, what the AI's creators have summoned is ‘a ghoul, a flimsy echo of Parr, infused with the spirit of Gen Z', lacking the original's character. Aside from the obvious issues, is this ethical, or even legal? Mary worries that overworked and underpaid teachers could soon deploy AI to summon the spirit of Churchill or Shakespeare. How concerned should we be about AI creep? Mary joined the podcast to discuss. We thought who better to ask about AI than AI itself so ChatGPT's latest AI model joined Mary to answer a few questions… (19:09) And finally: long live long lunch! Kenton Allen writes in defence of the traditional business lunch in the magazine this week. And it should be two hours at a minimum. This isn't a ‘long' lunch, he says, but a ‘proper' lunch. What does the decline of the work lunch tell us about society today? Kenton joined the podcast alongside the Spectator's restaurant critic Tanya Gold. They say there was a serious purpose to a long lunch, something being lost today by the modern workforce. Plus, they share their restaurant tips for the best long lunch. (27:46) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.

This week: the many crises awaiting the next pope ‘Francis was a charismatic pope loved by most of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics' writes Damian Thompson in the cover article this week. But few of them ‘grasp the scale of the crisis in the Church… The next Vicar of Christ, liberal or conservative' faces ‘challenges that dwarf those that confronted any incoming pope in living memory'.  Ahead of Pope Francis's funeral this weekend, Damian joined the podcast alongside the Catholic theologian Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith to unpack all the political intrigue underpinning the upcoming papal conclave. They say that he who enters the conclave as a pope, leaves as a cardinal – do we have any clues to who could emerge as Francis's successor? (1:01) Next: the ghastliness of AI ghouls The late Lily Parr – a chain-smoking, 6ft, Lancastrian, lesbian pre-war footballer – has been resurrected via an AI avatar. All fun and games at first glance but, as Mary Wakefield writes in the magazine this week, what the AI's creators have summoned is ‘a ghoul, a flimsy echo of Parr, infused with the spirit of Gen Z', lacking the original's character. Aside from the obvious issues, is this ethical, or even legal? Mary worries that overworked and underpaid teachers could soon deploy AI to summon the spirit of Churchill or Shakespeare. How concerned should we be about AI creep? Mary joined the podcast to discuss. We thought who better to ask about AI than AI itself so ChatGPT's latest AI model joined Mary to answer a few questions… (19:09) And finally: long live long lunch! Kenton Allen writes in defence of the traditional business lunch in the magazine this week. And it should be two hours at a minimum. This isn't a ‘long' lunch, he says, but a ‘proper' lunch. What does the decline of the work lunch tell us about society today? Kenton joined the podcast alongside the Spectator's restaurant critic Tanya Gold. They say there was a serious purpose to a long lunch, something being lost today by the modern workforce. Plus, they share their restaurant tips for the best long lunch. (27:46) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.

This week: should the assisted dying bill be killed off? Six months after Kim Leadbeater MP launched the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a group of Labour MPs have pronounced it ‘irredeemably flawed and not fit to become law'. They say the most basic aspects of the bill – having gone through its committee stage – do not hold up to scrutiny. Dan Hitchens agrees, writing in the magazine this week that ‘it's hard to summarise the committee's proceedings except with a kind of Homeric catalogue of rejected amendments' accompanied by a ‘series of disconcerting public statements'. With a third reading vote approaching, what could it tell us about the country we live in? Dan joins the podcast alongside the Revd Fergus Butler-Gallie, who provides the Spectator's diary for the week. (1:34) Next: where are all the rabbits? If you've noticed fewer rabbits across the countryside that might be due to a killer pandemic that has appeared on Britain's shores. Henry Williams raises awareness in the magazine this week about Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD), which has a mortality rate of between 70 and 100% and has already left rabbits endangered in countries like Spain. The disease can kill suddenly and is particularly prolific within wild rabbits, which are less likely to be vaccinated than household pets. How concerned should we be? Henry joined the podcast to discuss. (20:56) And finally: are creme eggs delicious – or disgusting? ‘How do you eat yours?' asks the famous Cadbury's advert for creme eggs. James Innes-Smith, writing his notes on creme eggs in the magazine this week, responds ‘stamping on them in disgust'. James might not be a fan but most of the British public are – over 220 million of them are sold in the UK each year. Even more astonishing given they're only available to buy for a third of the year. Why are they loved so much? James joined the podcast alongside The Guardian's Lucy Mangan, who makes the case for creme eggs. (27:09) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: should the assisted dying bill be killed off? Six months after Kim Leadbeater MP launched the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a group of Labour MPs have pronounced it ‘irredeemably flawed and not fit to become law'. They say the most basic aspects of the bill – having gone through its committee stage – do not hold up to scrutiny. Dan Hitchens agrees, writing in the magazine this week that ‘it's hard to summarise the committee's proceedings except with a kind of Homeric catalogue of rejected amendments' accompanied by a ‘series of disconcerting public statements'. With a third reading vote approaching, what could it tell us about the country we live in? Dan joins the podcast alongside the Revd Fergus Butler-Gallie, who provides the Spectator's diary for the week. (1:34) Next: where are all the rabbits? If you've noticed fewer rabbits across the countryside that might be due to a killer pandemic that has appeared on Britain's shores. Henry Williams raises awareness in the magazine this week about Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD), which has a mortality rate of between 70 and 100% and has already left rabbits endangered in countries like Spain. The disease can kill suddenly and is particularly prolific within wild rabbits, which are less likely to be vaccinated than household pets. How concerned should we be? Henry joined the podcast to discuss. (20:56) And finally: are creme eggs delicious – or disgusting? ‘How do you eat yours?' asks the famous Cadbury's advert for creme eggs. James Innes-Smith, writing his notes on creme eggs in the magazine this week, responds ‘stamping on them in disgust'. James might not be a fan but most of the British public are – over 220 million of them are sold in the UK each year. Even more astonishing given they're only available to buy for a third of the year. Why are they loved so much? James joined the podcast alongside The Guardian's Lucy Mangan, who makes the case for creme eggs. (27:09) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: Trump's tariffs – madness or mastermind? ‘Shock tactics' is the headline of our cover article this week, as deputy editor Freddy Gray reflects on a week that has seen the US President upend the global economic order, with back and forth announcements on reciprocal and retaliatory tariffs. At the time of writing, a baseline 10% on imports stands – with higher tariffs remaining for China, Mexico and Canada. The initial announcement last week had led to the biggest global market decline since the start of the pandemic, and left countries scrambling to react, whether through negotiation or retaliation. China announced a second wave of retaliatory tariffs – to 84% – and Trump, while softening his stance towards other countries, appeared to lean in to a trade war with China by announcing a further hike to 125%. As Freddy writes, for Trump and his supporters ‘China is America's chief enemy.' ‘President Trump just took a massive punch at Xi, right in the chops,' said Steve Bannon. ‘The overlords of easy money, the sociopathic overlords that run Wall Street, the globalist corporatists and the apartheid state of Silicon Valley – all of them combined are the partners of the Chinese Communist party.' But, as Freddy asks in the magazine, is there method in the madness? Freddy joined the podcast to discuss alongside the financial journalist and Spectator contributor Michael Lynn. (1:35) Next: should cousin marriages be banned? Cousin marriage has been back in the news since the Conservative MP Richard Holden proposed banning the practice. Much of the debate has focused on the British Pakistani community where marriage between cousins is less taboo than other communities within the UK. But, as Iram Ramzan writes in the magazine this week, marriage between cousins has been legal in the UK stretching back to Henry VIII. The dictator Saddam Hussein, the musician Jerry Lee Lewis and even the father of evolution Charles Darwin are surprising examples of people who married their first cousins. Iram writes that it was to her horror that her family suggested she marry her second cousin. To what extent is the law the right recourse to deter cousin marriage? And what are the cultural, ethical, as well as genetic, considerations? Iram joined the podcast alongside Dominic Wilkinson, professor of medical ethics at the University of Oxford. (18:09) And finally: restaurant thefts are rising – why? The Spectator's food columnist Olivia Potts explores how restaurants are facing a rising problem of theft. Gordon Ramsay's latest restaurant suffered a £2,000 loss in one week for example. from theft. And, as many as 17 million Britons say they have stolen from a pub or restaurant. Why do they do it? And why is restaurant theft a particular problem now? Liv joined us to discuss further, alongside an anonymous contributor who agreed to share their own experience of stealing from restaurants. (29:57) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.

This week: Trump's tariffs – madness or mastermind? ‘Shock tactics' is the headline of our cover article this week, as deputy editor Freddy Gray reflects on a week that has seen the US President upend the global economic order, with back and forth announcements on reciprocal and retaliatory tariffs. At the time of writing, a baseline 10% on imports stands – with higher tariffs remaining for China, Mexico and Canada. The initial announcement last week had led to the biggest global market decline since the start of the pandemic, and left countries scrambling to react, whether through negotiation or retaliation. China announced a second wave of retaliatory tariffs – to 84% – and Trump, while softening his stance towards other countries, appeared to lean in to a trade war with China by announcing a further hike to 125%. As Freddy writes, for Trump and his supporters ‘China is America's chief enemy.' ‘President Trump just took a massive punch at Xi, right in the chops,' said Steve Bannon. ‘The overlords of easy money, the sociopathic overlords that run Wall Street, the globalist corporatists and the apartheid state of Silicon Valley – all of them combined are the partners of the Chinese Communist party.' But, as Freddy asks in the magazine, is there method in the madness? Freddy joined the podcast to discuss alongside the financial journalist and Spectator contributor Michael Lynn. (1:35) Next: should cousin marriages be banned? Cousin marriage has been back in the news since the Conservative MP Richard Holden proposed banning the practice. Much of the debate has focused on the British Pakistani community where marriage between cousins is less taboo than other communities within the UK. But, as Iram Ramzan writes in the magazine this week, marriage between cousins has been legal in the UK stretching back to Henry VIII. The dictator Saddam Hussein, the musician Jerry Lee Lewis and even the father of evolution Charles Darwin are surprising examples of people who married their first cousins. Iram writes that it was to her horror that her family suggested she marry her second cousin. To what extent is the law the right recourse to deter cousin marriage? And what are the cultural, ethical, as well as genetic, considerations? Iram joined the podcast alongside Dominic Wilkinson, professor of medical ethics at the University of Oxford. (18:09) And finally: restaurant thefts are rising – why? The Spectator's food columnist Olivia Potts explores how restaurants are facing a rising problem of theft. Gordon Ramsay's latest restaurant suffered a £2,000 loss in one week for example. from theft. And, as many as 17 million Britons say they have stolen from a pub or restaurant. Why do they do it? And why is restaurant theft a particular problem now? Liv joined us to discuss further, alongside an anonymous contributor who agreed to share their own experience of stealing from restaurants. (29:57) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.

This week: Starmerism's moral vacuum ‘Governments need a mission, or they descend into reactive incoherence' writes Michael Gove in this week's cover piece. A Labour government, he argues, ‘cannot survive' without a sense of purpose. The ‘failure of this government to make social justice its mission' has led to a Spring Statement ‘that was at once hurried, incoherent and cruel – a fiscal drive-by shooting'.  Michael writes that Starmer wishes to emulate his hero – the post-war Prime Minister Clement Atlee, who founded the NHS and supported a fledgling NATO alliance. Yet, with policy driven by Treasury mandarins, the Labour project is in danger of drifting, as John Major's premiership did. Starmerism's policy vacuum is being filled so rapidly by HMT that we are embarking on an era of ‘cruel Labour'.  Michael joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside John McTernan, former private secretary to Tony Blair. (1:37) Next: have the Church's sacred spaces become community clubs? From yoga classes to drag shows, and even a helter-skelter, the Revd Dr Jamie Franklin, host of the podcast Irreverentand author of The Great Return, writes in the magazine this week about what he argues is the ‘tragic misuse of its sacred spaces' by the Church of England. This new reality may be symptomatic of a wider issue with the leadership of the Church, currently pondering its future. The journalist Quentin Letts provides his own manifesto for the next Archbishop of Canterbury in this week's diary.  So do diverse uses of space broaden the Church's appeal or does it run the risk of diluting its holiness? Quentin, whose new book NUNC! Is out now, joined the podcast alongside Jamie to discuss. (20:52) And finally: is Clandon Park a visionary restoration or a catastrophic precedent? Calvin Po addresses the ‘conundrum of conservation' in the Arts lead for the magazine this week: how much of a building can be restored before it becomes a different building entirely?  Plans have moved forward for the 18th century Palladian mansion Clandon Park, managed by the National Trust, to be preserved in a half-charred form, following its gutting by fire in 2015. The Trust says this ‘approach combines careful conservation, scholarly restoration and sensitive contemporary design'. And The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), founded by William Morris, has hailed the plans, arguing that a full restoration would amount to a ‘feeble and lifeless forgery' and the ‘Clandon of the future will offer a markedly different visitor experience to that of the past, but one that will have its own interest'. Calvin, however, worries that this sets a ‘catastrophic precedent' for restorations of the future, and The Georgian Group actively opposed the Trust's proposal, arguing that the building's merit comes in its original design ‘not in burnt bricks'.  To discuss further we were joined by The Georgian Group's director Dr Anya Lucas, and the architectural historian – and former Chair of SPAB – Gillian Darley. (35:17) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.

This week: Starmerism's moral vacuum ‘Governments need a mission, or they descend into reactive incoherence' writes Michael Gove in this week's cover piece. A Labour government, he argues, ‘cannot survive' without a sense of purpose. The ‘failure of this government to make social justice its mission' has led to a Spring Statement ‘that was at once hurried, incoherent and cruel – a fiscal drive-by shooting'.  Michael writes that Starmer wishes to emulate his hero – the post-war Prime Minister Clement Atlee, who founded the NHS and supported a fledgling NATO alliance. Yet, with policy driven by Treasury mandarins, the Labour project is in danger of drifting, as John Major's premiership did. Starmerism's policy vacuum is being filled so rapidly by HMT that we are embarking on an era of ‘cruel Labour'.  Michael joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside John McTernan, former private secretary to Tony Blair. (1:37) Next: have the Church's sacred spaces become community clubs?  From yoga classes to drag shows, and even a helter-skelter, the Revd Dr Jamie Franklin, host of the podcast Irreverend and author of The Great Return, writes in the magazine this week about what he argues is the ‘tragic misuse of its sacred spaces' by the Church of England. This new reality may be symptomatic of a wider issue with the leadership of the Church, currently pondering its future. The journalist Quentin Letts provides his own manifesto for the next Archbishop of Canterbury in this week's diary.  So do diverse uses of space broaden the Church's appeal or does it run the risk of diluting its holiness? Quentin, whose new book NUNC! Is out now, joined the podcast alongside Jamie to discuss. (20:52) And finally: is Clandon Park a visionary restoration or a catastrophic precedent? Calvin Po addresses the ‘conundrum of conservation' in the Arts lead for the magazine this week: how much of a building can be restored before it becomes a different building entirely?  Plans have moved forward for the 18th century Palladian mansion Clandon Park, managed by the National Trust, to be preserved in a half-charred form, following its gutting by fire in 2015. The Trust says this ‘approach combines careful conservation, scholarly restoration and sensitive contemporary design'. And The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), founded by William Morris, has hailed the plans, arguing that a full restoration would amount to a ‘feeble and lifeless forgery' and the ‘Clandon of the future will offer a markedly different visitor experience to that of the past, but one that will have its own interest'. Calvin, however, worries that this sets a ‘catastrophic precedent' for restorations of the future, and The Georgian Group actively opposed the Trust's proposal, arguing that the building's merit comes in its original design ‘not in burnt bricks'.  To discuss further we were joined by The Georgian Group's director Dr Anya Lucas, and the architectural historian – and former Chair of SPAB – Gillian Darley. (35:17) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.

This week: welcome to the age of the strongman ‘The world's most exclusive club… is growing,' writes Paul Wood in this week's Spectator. Membership is restricted to a very select few: presidents-for-life. Putin of Russia, Xi of China, Kim of North Korea and MBS of Saudi Arabia are being joined by Erdogan of Turkey – who is currently arresting his leading domestic political opponent – and Donald Trump, who ‘openly admires such autocrats and clearly wants to be one himself'. ‘This is the age of the strongman,' Wood declares, ‘and the world is far more dangerous because of it.' Despite their bombast, these ‘are often troubled characters', products of difficult childhoods. But ‘the real danger' lies in their ‘grandiose plans' and ‘wish to secure their place in history by redrawing the map' whether over Ukraine, Taiwan or even Greenland. What drives them, and how worried should we be? Paul joined the podcast alongside the Financial Times journalist, and author of The Age of the Strongman, Gideon Rachman. (1:01) Next: Tesla owners, beware! Jonathan Miller writes in the magazine this week about the phenomenon of Tesla cars being defaced, damaged, and even set fire to. The brand's association with its owner Elon Musk has made it an ‘accessible but indefensible' target for activists. And, despite Musk's role in the Trump administration, this issue isn't confined to the US. Jonathan joined the podcast from his hamlet in the south of France to talk about how local Tesla-owners are preparing to fight back. A representative from the activist group Tesla Takedown did initially accept an invitation to join the podcast…  (15:50) And finally: are theatre matinees experiencing a revival? Playwright Jonathan Maitland highlights the resurgent popularity of theatre matinees in the arts lead of the magazine. Matinees have a long history within theatre and now offer a greater convenience for diverse audiences in a post-pandemic age. Jonathan's new play, Wilko: Love and Death and Rock n Roll, is a good example of this. At London's Southwark Playhouse until the 19th April, they've put on extra matinee performances to cope with demand (a small number of tickets are still available).  Jonathan joined the podcast alongside Nica Burns, the theatre producer and co-owner of the Nimax Theatres group which runs six West End theatres including the Palace, the Apollo and the Garrick. (22:25) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: welcome to the age of the strongman ‘The world's most exclusive club… is growing,' writes Paul Wood in this week's Spectator. Membership is restricted to a very select few: presidents-for-life. Putin of Russia, Xi of China, Kim of North Korea and MBS of Saudi Arabia are being joined by Erdogan of Turkey – who is currently arresting his leading domestic political opponent – and Donald Trump, who ‘openly admires such autocrats and clearly wants to be one himself'. ‘This is the age of the strongman,' Wood declares, ‘and the world is far more dangerous because of it.'  Despite their bombast, these ‘are often troubled characters', products of difficult childhoods. But ‘the real danger' lies in their ‘grandiose plans' and ‘wish to secure their place in history by redrawing the map' whether over Ukraine, Taiwan or even Greenland. What drives them, and how worried should we be? Paul joined the podcast alongside the Financial Times journalist, and author of The Age of the Strongman, Gideon Rachman. (1:01) Next: Tesla owners, beware! Jonathan Miller writes in the magazine this week about the phenomenon of Tesla cars being defaced, damaged, and even set fire to. The brand's association with its owner Elon Musk has made it an ‘accessible but indefensible' target for activists. And, despite Musk's role in the Trump administration, this issue isn't confined to the US. Jonathan joined the podcast from his hamlet in the south of France to talk about how local Tesla-owners are preparing to fight back. A representative from the activist group Tesla Takedown did initially accept an invitation to join the podcast…  (15:50) And finally: are theatre matinees experiencing a revival? Playwright Jonathan Maitland highlights the resurgent popularity of theatre matinees in the arts lead of the magazine. Matinees have a long history within theatre and now offer a greater convenience for diverse audiences in a post-pandemic age. Jonathan's new play, Wilko: Love and Death and Rock n Roll, is a good example of this. At London's Southwark Playhouse until the 19th April, they've put on extra matinee performances to cope with demand (a small number of tickets are still available).  Jonathan joined the podcast alongside Nica Burns, the theatre producer and co-owner of the Nimax Theatres group which runs six West End theatres including the Palace, the Apollo and the Garrick. (22:25) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: why is economic growth eluding Labour? ‘Growing pains' declares The Spectator's cover image this week, as our political editor Katy Balls, our new economics editor Michael Simmons, and George Osborne's former chief of staff Rupert Harrison analyse the fiscal problems facing the Chancellor. ‘Dominic Cummings may have left Whitehall,' write Katy and Michael, ‘but his spirit lives on.' ‘We are all Dom now,' according to one government figure. Keir Starmer's chief aide Morgan McSweeney has never met Cummings, but the pair share a diagnosis of Britain's failing economy. Identifying a problem is not, however, the same as solving it. As Rachel Reeves prepares her Spring Statement, ministers are bracing themselves for cuts in day-to-day spending as the public finances deteriorate. Is austerity back? Michael and Rupert joined the podcast to discuss further. (1:02) Next: survival of the fittest vs seduction by the hottest Biologist and Conservative peer Matt Ridley writes about the concept of sexual selection in the magazine this week, explaining that evolution might not just be driven by survival of the fittest but also by section by the hottest. This, he says, would explain some of nature's most colourful oddities, particularly within birds, as outlined in his new book Birds, Sex and Beauty. Charles Darwin proposed this as a later part of his evolutionary theory, but it caused a rift amongst his contemporaries – why is it a controversial concept? And could it be true for other species such as humans? Matt joined the podcast alongside David Puts, Professor of Anthropology and Psychology at Penn State University. (19:13) And finally: what makes historic murders so fascinating? Historian and author Hallie Rubenhold's new book, Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress and Dr Crippen, retells the famous murder case from the perspective of the women involved. Lisa Hilton declares it an ‘intellectual adventure' in the lead book review in the magazine this week. But why do these cases continue to capture our imaginations, decades and even centuries later? And, whether as victims or as accomplices, what makes women such compelling subjects in historic cases like these? Hallie joined the podcast alongside the historian and broadcaster Alice Loxton, author of Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives. (30:40) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: sectarian persecution returns Paul Wood, Colin Freeman and Father Benedict Kiely write in the magazine this week about the religious persecution that minorities are facing across the world from Syria to the Congo. In Syria, there have been reports of massacres with hundreds of civilians from the Alawite Muslim minority targeted, in part because of their association with the fallen Assad regime. Reports suggest that the groups responsible are linked to the new Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani). For some, the true face of the country's new masters has been revealed. Whether the guilty men are punished will tell us what kind of country Syria has become since the fall of Assad's dictatorship. Speaking to those on the ground, Wood reports of fathers who were shot in front of their families, victims made to howl like dogs as they crawled through piles of corpses, and of state security forces trying to prevent survivors from photographing or talking about what had happened. But to what extent is al-Sharaa responsible? And could other minorities, like the Syrian Christian minority – one of the oldest in the world, be next? Paul and Fr Benedict joined the podcast to discuss. (1:02) Next: this century's ‘unstoppable process of language extinction' There are around 7,000 languages currently spoken across the world, but by the end of the century only 500 are expected to survive. Thus, documenting endangered languages has never been so important and this is the starting point of Lorna Gibb's new book, Rare Tongues: The Secret Stories of Hidden Languages, reviewed by Harry Ritchie in the books section of the magazine this week. What are some examples of the languages facing extinction? And should we accept this as an inevitable cultural rise and fall, or should we be working to combat this? Harry joined the podcast alongside Dr Oliver Mayeux, a sociolinguist at Cambridge, who also speaks Louisiana creole – a language spoken by fewer that 10,000 people. With special thanks to the Endangered Language Alliance, for allowing us to use a clip of the Garifuna language, who are working to document and preserve languages facing extinction across the world. (18:06) And finally: what is ‘Boom Boom', Gen Z's favourite aesthetic trend? Out are boring converse and dirty t-shirts beloved by millennial tech bros and in are high-fashion double-breasted suits and loafers, or so says Arabella Byrne who writes about the aesthetic trend defining Gen Z. American trend analyst Sean Monahan – who also coined 2013's ‘normcore' – coined the term ‘Boom Boom' to encapsulate the look and feel of the trend. Think 1980s yuppies updated for 2025 – so why exactly is it popular, and what does it tell us about today's twentysomethings? Arabella and Sean joined the podcast to discuss. (27:50) Plus: Matthew Parris, Stephen Fry, Rory Sutherland, Rachel Johnson, Philip Hensher, Sean Thomas and Petronella Wyatt reveal the worst insults they ever received from a teacher. (13:59) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: the carve-up of Ukraine's natural resources From the success of Keir Starmer's visit to Washington to the squabbling we saw in the Oval Office and the breakdown of security guarantees for Ukraine – we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of geopolitics in the last week, say Niall Ferguson and Nicholas Kulish in this week's cover piece. They argue that what Donald Trump is really concerned with when it comes to Ukraine is rare earth minerals – which Ukraine has in abundance under its soil. The conventional wisdom is that the US is desperately short of these crucial minerals and, as Niall and Nicholas point out, the dealmaking president is driven by a nagging sense of inferiority in comparison to rare earth minerals powerhouse China. Niall and Nicholas joined the podcast to talk further. (02:19) Next: why are women having caesareans being offered sterilisation? During a routine antenatal appointment, Flora Watkins was blindsided by the opening gambit from her obstetrician: ‘Why don't we tie your tubes when we've got the baby out?' The doctor wouldn't drop it, despite Flora's objections, insisting it was ‘a very simple procedure'. Flora speaks to other women who were traumatised by these unsolicited offers and confused about why they had been targeted. Most felt it was a judgment on the number of children they ‘should' have. Only one woman had been given a medical reason. Flora joined the podcast to discuss this further, alongside Dr Janet Barter, president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, which advises women on contraception. (18:50) And finally: when is poetry so bad that it becomes good? Sam Leith, The Spectator's literary editor, celebrates William McGonagall in the magazine – the man affectionately considered the worst poet in history. McGonagall was, as Sam says, an ‘anti-genius' who (in light of the Tay Bridge Disaster) concocted such memorable stanzas as: Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay! Alas! I am very sorry to say That ninety lives have been taken away On the last Sabbath day of 1879, Which will be remember'd for a very long time. But Sam argues that there is joy to be found in bad poetry. To discuss good poetry, bad poetry and the very fine line between them, Sam Leith joined the podcast alongside one of the more successful Dundonian poets, Don Paterson. (33:08) Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.