Podcasts about Lord Chancellor

In this week's episode, I take a historical digression to look at the four major Thomases of the English Reformation - Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragonskull series at my Payhip store: QUEST25 The coupon code is valid through March 9 2026. So if you need a new ebook this winter, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 292 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is February 27th, 2026. Today we are taking a digression into history by looking at the four Thomases of the English Reformation (with one bonus Thomas). We'll also have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing and publishing projects. First up, let's do Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragonskull series at my Payhip store. That coupon code is QUEST25 and as always, the links to the store and the coupon code will be available in the show notes of this episode. This coupon code is valid through March 9th, 2026. So if you need a new ebook this winter, we have got you covered. Now for an update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. I am very nearly done with Cloak of Summoning. As of this recording, I am 35% of the way through the final editing pass. This episode should be coming out on, let's see, March the 2nd. I'm hoping Cloak of Summoning will be available a few days (hopefully like one or two days) after this episode goes live, but we'll see how things go. In any event, it should be out in very early March, which is not far away at this point. I'm also 14,000 words into Blade of Wraiths, the fourth book in my Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series. Hopefully that will be out in April, if all goes well. That's my secondary project right now, but once it gets promoted to primary project once Cloak of Summoning is available, my new secondary project will be Dragon Mage, which will be the sixth book in the Rivah Half-Elven Thief series. I'm looking forward to that since it is going to bring to an end a lot of ongoing plot threads. So it should be quite a fun book to write and hopefully to read. That should hopefully be out in May or possibly June, depending on how things go. In audiobook news, Cloak of Titans, the audiobook narrated by Hollis McCarthy, should be available in more audiobook stores than it was this time last week, though it's still not on Amazon, Audible, or Apple. Brad Wills is working on recording Blade of Storms and I think the first six chapters are done. Hopefully we should have those audiobooks available to you before too much longer. So that is where I'm at with my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. 00:02:18 Main Topic: The Four Thomases of the English Reformation Now without further ado, let's get to our main topic and it's time for another of my favorite topics overall, a digression into obscure points of history. I've mentioned before that Wolf Hall (both the TV show and the book) is a lot easier to understand if you are at least passingly familiar with the key figures of the English Reformation, which happened during the reign of King Henry VIII. But who were these key figures? I had a history professor who said that to understand the English Reformation, you need to know about the four Thomases of the English Reformation: Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer, since each one of them altered events in a major way. Fun fact: only one of the four died from natural causes and right before he was about to go on trial for treason, which would have likely ended with his execution. The English Reformation was a tumultuous time and the Tudor court was not a place for the faint of heart or the morally scrupulous. So let's talk about the four Thomases and one bonus Thomas today. But first to understand them, we should look at three background trends that converged and boiled over during their lifetimes. #1: Henry VIII needs an heir. King Henry VIII was quite famously married six times and executed two of his wives in his quest for a male heir. To the modern era, this sounds odd and chauvinistic, but one of the errors of studying history is assuming that the residents of the past had any interest in 21st century standards of behavior. By the standards of Henry's time, having a male heir to assume the kingdom after his death was absolutely vital. In fact, an argument could be made that Henry was attempting to act responsibly by going to such lengths to father a male heir, though naturally he went about it in a spectacularly destructive and self-absorbed way. Remember, Henry's father, Henry VII, came to the throne after a 30-year civil war, and there were noble families that thought they had a better claim to the throne than Tudors and would be happy to exercise it. A good comparison is that the lack of a male heir for Henry VIII was as serious a crisis as a disputed presidential election in 21st century America would be. You can see evidence for this in Henry's famous jousting accident in 1536. For a few hours, people were certain that he was dead or was about to die, and this incident caused a brief constitutional crisis. If Henry died, who would rule? His daughter, Mary, who he had just declared a bastard? His young daughter Elizabeth from Anne Boleyn? His bastard son, Henry FitzRoy? A regent? One of the old families who thought they had a claim to the throne? Now, these are the sort of questions that tend to get decided by civil wars, which nobody wanted. So Henry needed a male heir and it weighed on him as a personal failure that he had been unable to produce one, which was undoubtedly one of the reasons he concluded that several of his marriages had been cursed by God and needed to be annulled. Though, of course, one of Henry's defining traits was that his self-absorption was such that nothing was ever his fault, but a failing of those around him. #2: The Reformation is here. At the same time Henry was beginning to have his difficulties, the Protestant Reformation exploded across Europe. The reasons for the Reformation were manifold. There was a growing feeling across all levels of society that the church was corrupt and more concerned about money than tending to Christ's flock, a feeling not helped by the fact that several of the 15th and 16th century popes were essentially Renaissance princelings more interested in luxury, money, and expanding the power of the papal states than in anything spiritual. Many bishops, archbishops, abbots, and other high prelates acted the same way. The situation the early 16th century church found itself in was similar to American higher education today. Many modern professors and administrators go about their jobs quietly, competently, and diligently, but if you want to find examples of corruption, folly, and egregious waste in American higher education, you don't have to try very hard. Reformers could easily find manifold examples of clerical and papal corruption to reinforce their arguments. Additionally, nationalism was beginning to develop as a concept, as was the idea of the nation state. People in England, Scotland, Germany, and other countries began to wonder why they were paying tithes to the church that went to build beautiful buildings in Rome and support the lavish lifestyle of the papal court when that money might be better spent at home. For that matter, the anti-clericalism of the Reformation was not new and had time to mature. At the end of the 14th century, Lollardy was a proto-Protestant movement in England that challenged clerical power. In the early 15th century, the Hussite wars in Bohemia following the teachings of Jan Hus were a preview of the greater Reformation to come. Papal authority had been severely damaged by the Great Schism at the end of the 14th and the start of the 15th century when two competing popes (later expanded to three) all tried to excommunicate each other and claim control of the church. In the aftermath, Renaissance Humanists had begun suggesting that only the Bible was the proper source and guide for Christianity, and that papal authority and many of the church's practices were merely human traditions that had been added later and were not ordained by God. A lot of the arguments of the Reformation had their earliest form from the writers of the 15th century. Essentially, the central argument of the Reformation was that the believer's personal relationship with God is the important part of Christianity and doesn't need to be mediated through ordained priests in the official sacraments of the church, though such things were still important. Of course, all the various reformers disagreed with each other about just how important and what the nature of that relationship was, how many sacraments there should be, and what the precise relationship between the individual, the church, and the state should be (and that argument got entangled with many other issues like nationalism), but that was a central crux of the Reformation. So all these competing pressures have been building up, and when Martin Luther posted his statements for debate on church reform in October of 1517, it was the equivalent of lighting a match in a barn that had been stuffed full of sawdust and was suffering from a natural gas leak. #3: The printing press. So why did Luther's action kick off the Reformation as we know it and not the other proto-Protestant movements we mentioned? I think the big part of that is the printing pass, perhaps the biggest part. The printing press did not exist during the early proto-Protestant movements, which meant it was a lot harder for the ideas of reform to spread quickly. The Lollards in particular wanted to translate the Bible into English instead of Latin, but the Bible is a big book and that is a lot of copying to do by hand. In 1539, after a lot of encouragement from Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII decreed that an English Bible should be placed at every church in England. In 1339, that would have been an impossible amount of copying by scribes. In 1539, thanks to the printing press, it was essentially on the scale of the government embarking on a mid-sized industrial project, perhaps a bit of a logistical and organizational challenge and you have to deal with contractors, but by no means impossible. The printing press made it possible for the various arguments and pamphlets of the Reformers to spread quickly throughout Europe. Luther published tracts on a variety of religious and political topics for the rest of his life, and those tracks were copied, printed, and sold throughout Europe. In fact, he had something of a flame war with Thomas More over Henry VIII's "Defense of the Seven Sacraments". Kings and governments frequently tried to suppress printers they didn't like, but the cat was out of the bag and the printing press helped drive the Reformation by spreading its ideas faster than had previously been possible. AI bros occasionally compare modern large language model AIs to the printing press as an irreversible technological advancement, but one should note that the printing press of the 16th century did not require an entire US state's worth of electricity and an unlimited supply of water. So those were some of the undercurrents and trends leading up to the English Reformation. With that in mind, let's take a look at our four Thomases. #1: Thomas Wolsey. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was Henry's right hand man during the first 20 years of his reign and essentially the practical ruler of England during that time. He started his career in Henry's reign as the almoner, essentially in charge of charity, and it ended up becoming the Lord Chancellor of England. Since Henry was not super interested in actually doing the hard work of government, Wolsey ended up essentially running the country while Henry turned his full enthusiasm towards the more ceremonial aspects of kingship. Wolsey was an example of the kind of early 16th Century church prelate we mentioned above, more of a Renaissance princeling than a priest. However, as Renaissance princelings went, you could do worse than to have been ruled by someone like Wolsey. And if you were a king, you would be blessed to have a lieutenant as diligent in his work as the Cardinal. Granted, Wolsey did amass a large fortune for himself, but he frequently patronized the arts, education and the poor, pursued some governmental reforms, and deftly maintained England's position in the turbulent diplomacy of the time. He was also much more forgiving in questions of religious dissent than someone like Thomas More. Wolsey was the most powerful man in England at his apex, and the nobility hated it for him because his origins were common. So long as he had Henry's favor, Wolsey was untouchable and the nobility couldn't move against him. But the royal favor came to an end as Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon was unable to produce a son. Since Catherine had previously (and briefly) been married to his older brother Arthur before Arthur's death, Henry became convinced (or succeeded in convincing himself) that his marriage was cursed by God for violating the prohibition against sleeping with your brother's wife in the book of Leviticus. His eye had already fallen on Anne Boleyn and Henry wanted an annulment and not a divorce in his marriage with Catherine. In the eyes of God, he would never have been married at all, and then he could marry Anne Boleyn with a clear conscience. Here, Wolsey's gift for diplomacy failed him, but perhaps it was an impossible task. Catherine of Aragon was the aunt of Emperor Charles V, who at the time was the most powerful man in Christendom. All of Wolseley's efforts to persuade the pope to annul the marriage failed, partly because the pope had already given Henry VIII dispensation to marry his brother's widow. Wolsey's failure eroded his support with the king. Anne Boleyn likewise hated Wolsey partly because she believed he was hindering the annulment, and partly because he had blocked her from marrying the Earl of Northumberland years before she had her eyes set upon Henry. Finally, Henry stripped Wolsey of his office of Lord Chancellor, and Wolsey retired to York to take up his role as archbishop there. Wolsey's popularity threatened Henry and Anne, so Henry summoned him back to London to face treason charges. Perhaps fortunately for Wolsey, he died of natural causes on the journey back to London. His replacement as Lord Chancellor was Thomas More, the next of our major for Thomases. #2: Thomas More. More was an interesting contrast-a Renaissance Humanist who remained a staunch Catholic, even though Renaissance Humanists in general tended towards proto-Protestantism or actual Protestantism. He was also in some ways oddly progressive for his time. He insisted on educating his daughters at a time was considered pointless to educate women about anything other than the practical business of household management. Anyway, More's training as a lawyer and a scholar led him to a career in government. He held a variety of posts under Henry VIII, finally rising to become the Lord Chancellor after Wolsey. In the first decades of his brain, Henry was staunchly Catholic and despised Protestantism, in particular, Lutheranism in general and Martin Luther in particular. In 1521, Henry published "Defense of the Seven Sacraments" against Luther, and More helped him write it to an unknown degree. In their dislike for all forms of Protestantism, More and Henry were in harmony at this point. More was involved in hunting down heretics (i.e. Protestants) and trying to convince them to recant. During his time as the Lord Chancellor, More ended up sending six people to be burned at the stake for heresy, along with the arrest and interrogations of numerous others. This rather clashes with his "humanist man of letters" aspect, but More was undoubtedly convinced he was doing the right thing. And while he might have believed in education, he most definitely did not believe in freedom of conscience in several areas. To be fair to More, in the view of many at the time, Protestants, especially Anabaptists, were dangerous radicals. Likely More viewed hunting heretics in the same way as some modern politicians view hunting down covert terrorist cells or surveilling potential domestic terrorists. Harsh measures true, but harsh measures allegedly necessary for the greater good of the nation. However, the concord between More and Henry would not last. Henry wanted to set aside Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, which More staunchly opposed. More especially opposed Henry breaking away from Rome and becoming head of an independent English Church. At first, More was able to save himself by maintaining his silence, but eventually Henry required all of his subjects take an oath affirming his status as head of the church. Thomas Cromwell famously led a deputation to try and change More's mind, but he failed. More refused, he was tried on specious treason charges, and beheaded in 1535. Later, the Catholic church declared him the patron saint of politicians. This might seem odd given that he oversaw executions and essentially did thought police stuff against Protestants, but let's be honest-it's rare to see a politician even mildly inconvenience himself over a point of principle, let alone maintain it until death when he was given every possible chance to change his mind. Probably the most famous fictional portrayals of More are A Man For All Seasons and Wolf Hall. I would say that A Man For All Seasons was far too generous to More, but Wolf Hall was too harsh. #3: Now for the third of our four Thomases, Thomas Cromwell. After Wolsey's fall and More's refusal to support Henry's desire to either annul his marriage to Catherine or to make himself head with the church so he couldn't annul the marriage, Thomas Cromwell rose become Henry's new chief lieutenant. Cromwell is both a fascinating but divisive figure. For a long time, he was cast as the villain in Thomas More's saga, but Hillary Mantel's Wolf Hall really triggered a popular reevaluation of him. Like A Man For All Seasons was too generous to More, I would say Wolf Hall was too generous to Cromwell. Nonetheless, I suspect Cromwell was and remained so divisive because he was so effective. He got things done on a scale that the other three Thomases of the English Reformation never quite managed. Cromwell's origins are a bit obscure. It seems he was either of non-noble birth or very low gentry birth and his father Walter Cromwell was a local prosperous tradesman in a jack of all trades with a reputation for litigiousness. For reasons that are unclear, Cromwell fled his birthplace and spent some time in continental Europe, possibly as a mercenary soldier. He eventually made his way to Italy and started working for the merchant families there, gaining knowledge of trade in the law, and then traveled to the Low Countries. When he returned to England, he became Cardinal Wolsey's right hand man. After Wolsey's fall, Cromwell went into Parliament and defended his master whenever possible. This loyalty combined with his significant talent for law and administration caught the eye of Henry and he swiftly became Henry's right-hand man. Amusingly, Cromwell never became Lord Chancellor like More or Wolsey, but instead accumulated many lesser offices that essentially allowed him to carry out Henry's directives as he saw a fit. Unlike More and Wolsey, Cromwell had strong Protestant leanings and he encouraged the king to break away from the Catholic Church and take control of the English Church as its supreme head. Henry did so. His marriage to Catherine of Aragon was nulled. The rest of Europe never accepted this until Catherine died of illness and it became a moot point. In 1533, he married Anne Boleyn. Like Cromwell, Anne had a strong Protestant bent and began encouraging reformers to take various offices and began pushing Henley to make more reforms than he was really comfortable doing. For example, Cromwell was one of the chief drivers behind the English Bible of 1539. This, combined with Anne's inability to give Henry a son, contributed to Anne's downfall. Unlike Catherine, she was willing to argue with Henry to his face and was unwilling to look the other way when he wanted a mistress, and this eventually got on Henry's nerves. Events are a bit murky, but it seems that Henry ordered Cromwell to find a way he could set aside Anne and Cromwell complied. Various men, including her own brother, were coerced and confessing to adultery with Anne on charges that were most likely fabricated and Anne's "lovers" and Anne herself were executed for treason in 1536. Cromwell had successfully used a technique that many modern secret police organizations and dictatorships employ- if you want to get rid of someone for whatever reason, accuse them of a serious crime, coerce them to a confession, and then have them executed. Joseph Stalin did basically the same thing when he purged the Old Bolsheviks after Lenin's death. Henry married Jane Seymour shortly after Anne's execution, and she finally gave Henry his long-waited son, though she died soon afterwards of postpartum complications. Cromwell also oversaw the dissolution of the English monasteries in the 1530s. Monasticism had become quite unpopular even before the Reformation, especially among humanist writers. The concentration of property in the hands of monasteries made for a ripe target. Using Parliament and with Henry's approval, the monasteries of England were dissolved, the monks and nuns pensioned off, and the various rich properties held by the monasteries were given to the king and his friends. Cromwell himself profited handsomely. This was essentially legalized theft, but there was nothing the monasteries could do about it. Cromwell pushed for more religious reforms, but that combined with the dissolution of the monasteries caused "The Pilgrimage of Grace" in 1537, a rebellion that Henry was able to put down through a combination of lies, stalling, outright bribery, and brutal repression under the Duke of Norfolk (more about him later). Cromwell was at the zenith of his power and influence, but his reformist bent and made him a lot of enemies. For that matter, Henry was increasingly uncomfortable with further religious changes. He wanted to be head of his own church, but essentially his own Catholic Church, not his own Reformed or Lutheran one. Cromwell's alignment with the reform cause gave his more traditionalist enemies a tool to use against him. Cromwell's foes had their chance in 1540 when Henry married his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Cromwell had heavily pushed for the match, hoping to make an alliance with the Protestant princes of Germany against the Catholic Holy Roman Emperor. For whatever reason, Henry took an immediate dislike to Anne and never consummated the marriage, which was swiftly annulled and Anne pensioned off. Henry blamed Cromwell for the failed marriage and Cromwell's enemies, particularly Duke of Norfolk and Bishop Gardiner of Winchester, were able to convince Henry to move against him. Cromwell was arrested, stripped of all the titles and property he had amassed, and executed in July of 1540. The sort of legal railroading process he had born against Anne Boleyn's alleged lovers and numerous other enemies of Henry's was used against him. This was one of the very few executions Henry ever regretted. Within a year, the French ambassador reported that Henry was raging that his counselors had misled him into putting to death the most faithful servant he had ever had. Once again, nothing was ever Henry's fault in his own mind. The fact that Henry allowed Cromwell's son Gregory to become a baron and inherit some of his father's land shows that he likely changed his mind about the execution. For once in his life, Henry was dead on accurate when he called Cromwell his "most faithful servant". He never again found a lieutenant with Cromwell's loyalty and skill. The remaining seven years of Henry's reign blundered from setback to setback and all the money Henry obtained from the dissolution of the monasteries was squandered in indecisive wars with France and Scotland. I think it's fair to say that the English Reformation would not have taken the course it did, if not for Cromwell. As ruthless and as unscrupulous as he could be, he nonetheless did seem to really believe in the principles of religious reform and push such policies whenever he could do so without drawing Henry's ire. #4: Now the fourth of our four major Thomases, Thomas Cranmer. If Thomas Cromwell did a lot of the political work of the English Reformation, then Thomas Cranmer wrote a lot of its theory. Cranmer was a scholar and something of a gentle-minded man, but not a very skillful politician. He seemed happy to leave the politicking to Cromwell. I think Cranmer would have been a lot happier as a Lutheran pastor in say, 1950s rural Nebraska. He could have married a farmer's daughter, had a bunch of kids, and presided at weddings, funerals, and baptisms where he could talk earnestly about Jesus and Christian virtues, and he probably would have written a few books on obscure theological points. But instead, Cranmer was destined to play a significant part in the English Reformation. He started as a priest and a scholar who got in trouble for marrying, but when his wife died in childbirth, he went back to the priesthood. Later, he became part of the team of scholars and priests working to get Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. While he was at university and later in the priesthood, he became fascinated by Lutheran ideas and became a proponent of reform. As with Cromwell, Henry's desire to marry Anne Boleyn gave Cranmer his great opportunity. Anne's family were also in favor of reform, and they arranged for Cranmer to become the new Archbishop of Canterbury. The new archbishop and the like- minded clerics and scholars laid the legal and theological groundwork for Henry to break with Rome and become head of the English church with Cranmer and the rest of the reform faction wanted to be used to push for additional church reforms. He survived the tumults of Henry's reign by total loyalty to the king – he mourned Anne Boleyn, but didn't oppose her execution (though he was one of the few who mourned for her publicly), did much the same when Cromwell was executed, and personally sent news of Catherine Howard's adultery to the king. Because of that, Cranmer had a great chance to pursue the cause of reform when Henry died and his 12-year-old son Edward VI became King. Edward's uncle Edward Seymour acted as the head of the King's regency council, and Seymour and his allies were in favor of reform. Cranmer was at last able to steer the English church in the direction of serious reform, and he was directly responsible for writing the Book of Common Prayer and several other key documents of the early Anglican church. But Cranmer's of luck ran out in 1553 when Edward VI died. Cranmer was part of the group that tried to put the Protestant Lady Jane Grey on the throne, but Henry's daughter Mary instead took the crown. Mary had never really wavered from her Catholicism despite immense pressure to do so, and she had last had a chance to do something about it. She immediately brought England back to Rome and started prosecuting prominent reform leaders, Cranmer among them. Cranmer was tried for treason and heresy and sentenced to be burned, but that was to be commuted if he recanted his views in public during a sermon, which he did. However, at the last minute, he thunderously denounced his previous recantation, asserted his reformist faith, and vowed that he would thrust the hand that signed the recantation into the flames first. Cranmer was immediately taken to be burned at the stake, and just as he promised, he thrust his hand into the flames, and his last word is that he saw heaven opening and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Cranmer had spent much of his life trying to appease Henry while pushing as much reform as possible, but in his final moments, he had finally found his defiance. When Mary died and Elizabeth took the throne, she returned England to Protestantism. Elizabeth was much more pragmatic than her half siblings and her father ever were, so she chose the most expedient choice of simply rolling the English church back to as it was during Edward VI's time. Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer and religious articles, lightly edited for Elizabeth's sensibilities, became the foundational documents of the Anglican church. So these four Thomases, Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer were central to the events of the English Reformation. However, we have one bonus Thomas yet. Bonus Thomas: Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk. Thomas Howard was a powerful nobleman during the reign of Henry, and the Duke of Norfolk was frequently Henry's lieutenant in waging various wars and putting down rebellions. He was also the uncle of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Henry's second and fifth queens. He was also involved in nearly every major event of Henry's reign. So with all that, why isn't Norfolk as remembered as well as the other four Thomases of the English Reformation? Sometimes a man would be considered virtuous by the standards of the medieval or early modern age, yet reprehensible in ours. For example, for much of the Middle Ages, crusading was considered an inherently virtuous act for a knight, whereas in the modern age, it would be condemned as war mongering with a religious veneer. However, by both modern standards and Tudor standards, Thomas Howard was a fairly odious character. For all their flaws and the morally questionable things they did, Wolsey, More, Cromwell, and Cranmer were all men of conviction in their own ways. More and Cranmer explicitly died with their faith. Cromwell's devotion to the Protestant cause got him killed since he insisted on the Anne of Cleves match. Even Wolsey, for all that he enriched himself, was a devoted servant of Henry after his downfall never betrayed the king. By contrast, Norfolk was out for Norfolk. This wasn't unusual for Tudor nobleman, but Norfolk took it to a new level of grasping venality. He made sure that his daughter was married to Henry's bastard son, Henry FitzRoy, just in case FitzRoy ended up becoming king. He used both his nieces, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, to gain power and lands for himself, and then immediately turned against him once he became politically expedient. In fact, he presided over the trial where Anne Boleyn was sentenced to death. After the failure of the Anne of Cleve's marriage, Norfolk made sure to bring his young niece Catherine Howard to court to catch Henry's eye, and to use the Anne of Cleve's annulment as a lever to get rid of Thomas Cromwell. Both stratagems worked, and he attempted to leverage being the new Queen's uncle to bring himself to new power and riches, as he had with Anne Boleyn. Once Henry turned on Catherine Howard, Norfolk characteristically and swiftly threw his niece under the bus. However, as Henry aged, he grew increasingly paranoid and vindictive, and he had Norfolk arrested and sentenced to death on suspicion of treason. Before the execution could be carried out, Henry died, and Norfolk spent the six years of Edward VI's reign as a prisoner in the Tower of London. When Edward died and Mary took the throne, she released Norfolk since she was Catholic and Norfolk had always been a religious traditionalist suspicious of reform. He spent the remaining year of his life as one of Mary's chief advisors before finally dying of old age. As I often say, history can be a rich source of inspiration for fantasy writers, and the English Reformation is full of such inspiration. Wolsey, More, Cromwell, and Cranmer can all make excellent inspirations for morally ambiguous characters. For that matter, you can see why the reign of Henry VIII has inspired so many movies, TV shows, and historical novels. The real life events are so dramatic as to scarcely require embellishment. So that's it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show and thank you for listening as I went on one of my little historical digressions. I hope you found the show enjoyable. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes on https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy, and we'll see you all next week.

Cambridge Chancellor joins Lisa Burke to explore AI's impact on education, free speech, climate challenges and why universities still matter. On this episode of The Lisa Burke Show, Lisa welcomes The Rt Hon the Lord Chris Smith, Baron Smith of Finsbury and the 109th Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. A former Labour Cabinet Minister, culture champion, environmental leader and the first openly gay Cabinet Minister in the world, Lord Smith reflects on a lifetime of public service and the evolving role of universities in a fast‑changing world. He describes a university's purpose as more than teaching or research: it is a place where “truth is honoured, evidence is sought, and debate happens.” At Cambridge, he reminds new students that they're not there to become better than others, but to become “the best version of themselves.” Yet he is clear that university is not the right path for everyone, arguing that the UK's push toward 50% university attendance diluted its value. On AI, Lord Smith recognises the power of large models to analyse vast bodies of knowledge instantly, but stresses the need for human judgment: AI can imitate style, but “it can't be genuinely creative.” He warns too of our “post‑Trump age,” where misinformation has become normalised, making critical thinking more essential than ever. Lord Smith also reflects on his legacy as Culture Secretary, where he introduced free admission to UK national museums. A moment with a father and daughter at the Science Museum, he says, confirmed that “a career in public life was worth it.” Museums, he argues, are part of a nation's collective memory and should never be gated by wealth. In discussing climate challenges, Chancellor Smith draws from his years chairing the Environment Agency, emphasising the need to trust scientific experts and to prioritise resources wisely. His lifelong love of the Scottish mountains began in a school expedition to Torridon, a formative experience that shaped his passion for nature and environmental stewardship. As Chancellor, he sees his role as both ambassador and advocate for higher education, calling the UK university fees system “broken” and in urgent need of reform. Above all, he places hope in the next generation: “Whenever I despair, I think about our young people… and that gives me hope.” A conversation spanning education, ethics, environment and the future, this episode is a powerful reminder of why leadership grounded in empathy, curiosity and truth still matters.

Why has the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten Windsor been arrested? How damaging is this unprecedented moment for the royal family? How effective was King Charles' response? Join Alastair and the former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Lord Falconer, as they answer all these questions and more. __________ The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. To sign up and for terms and conditions, visit ⁠fuseenergy.com/politics⁠. Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/restispolitic⁠s It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee ✅ Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at ⁠therestispolitics.com⁠ to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair's miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members' newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. Sign up for our free newsletter at ⁠⁠therestispolitics.com⁠⁠. __________ Instagram: ⁠@restispolitics⁠ Twitter: ⁠@restispolitics⁠ Email: ⁠therestispolitics@goalhanger.com⁠ __________ Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Josh Smith, Adam Thornton, Vasco Andrade Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne Producer: Evan Green Senior Producer: Callum Hill General Manager: Tom Whiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thomas More is best remembered as a martyr and a saint, but the circumstances of his death were just one facet of his controversial life. Historian and biographer Dr Joanne Paul speaks to Kev Lochun about More's many faces: the Lord Chancellor who refused to yield to Henry VIII; the writer who gave us Utopia, and the zealot who believed heretics deserved to be burned. Yet, she argues, he was none of these things of in isolation, but instead a complicated man whose life has lessons for us today. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Thomas More's Utopia is considered one of the most influential pieces of political philosophy today, but how did his contemporaries see it? Joanne Paul considers that thorny question for HistoryExtra: https://bit.ly/49IOYt6. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode brings you an exclusive recording of the official hustings for the election of the next Lord Speaker. Organised by the Hansard Society and chaired by podcast co-host Ruth Fox, the event took place last week in the Robing Room of the House of Lords.Peers put questions to the two contenders for the role: Conservative peer Lord Forsyth and Crossbench peer Baroness Bull. This episode gives listeners rare access to the full exchange between peers and the candidates.The discussion ranged from the practical business of running the House of Lords chamber to some of the biggest constitutional and governance challenges facing Parliament.The Lord Speaker chairs proceedings in the Lords from the Woolsack and acts as an ambassador for the House. The role also includes chairing the House of Lords Commission and sharing responsibility for the Restoration and Renewal programme for the Palace of Westminster. Created in 2006, the post replaced the Lord Chancellor as presiding officer and is filled by a five-year election among peers. Once elected, the Lord Speaker steps away from party affiliation and does not vote.From the outset, peers quickly tested a central tension in the contest: was Lord Forsyth too political, and was Baroness Bull political enough? Questions followed on how the Lord Speaker should defend the House if a future government had little or no representation in the Lords, prompting discussion of constitutional conventions, respect for the Commons' electoral mandate and the Lords' role as a revising, “think again” chamber.Key themes included governance, security and the looming decisions on restoration and renewal, with both candidates stressing the need for clearer accountability, better communication with members and efforts to rebuild public trust in Parliament. Other questions covered public engagement and media coverage, sitting hours and late nights, amendment grouping and Question Time, and the practical support available to members, especially those based outside London._____

Should misconduct be taken into account when an equitable division of assets is being attempted following a divorce?This is an extra special episode where we joined forces with the well-known legal podcast, Law & Disorder, hosted by Charlie Falconer (Labour peer and former Lord Chancellor), Baroness Helena Kennedy, Sir Nicholas Mostyn.  Sadly, Charlie Falconer could not join us on the day of the recording.Together they talk about financial remedy cases as it was, is and could possibly be, as our understanding of complex issues like domestic abuse and coercive control evolve.Our listeners will be especially interested to hear Sir Nicholas Mostyn's insights as he reflects on this complex issue.

On this day in Tudor history, 21st November 1558, a devoted servant of both Queen Mary I and her husband, Philip of Spain, died tragically young. His name was James Bassett. I'm historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today's video, I uncover the remarkable story of this scholar, exile, courtier, diplomat, and loyal servant of a queen and a king. Born around 1526, Bassett was connected to the royal bloodline through his stepfather, Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount Lisle, an illegitimate son of Edward IV. His education was exceptional, taking him from Reading Abbey to prestigious colleges in Paris and St Omer, shaping him into a learned and refined young courtier. But loyalty came at a price. When his mentor Stephen Gardiner fell from favour under Edward VI, Bassett stood by him, even when it meant imprisonment and exile for his Catholic faith.  When Mary I ascended the throne, everything changed. Gardiner returned as Lord Chancellor, and Bassett's fortunes soared.  His personal life reflected the same devotion: he married Mary Roper, granddaughter of Sir Thomas More, forming a union steeped in faith and scholarship. Yet his promising career was tragically short.  James Bassett died on 21st November 1558 at Blackfriars, London, aged just about thirty-two. In this episode, explore: • His deep loyalty to Stephen Gardiner • His imprisonment and exile under Edward VI • His rise at the courts of Mary I and Philip of Spain • His diplomatic missions and political influence • His marriage into the family of Sir Thomas More • Why his life, though brief, reveals so much about Tudor politics and faith #TudorHistory #JamesBassett #MaryI #PhilipOfSpain #TudorCourt #OnThisDay #HistoryYouTube #TudorDynasty #StephenGardiner #SirThomasMore #ClaireRidgway #TheAnneBoleynFiles

The fortunes of the O'Connors flip almost overnight. Nemone is no longer allowed to practice law, even after appealing to the highest authority, the Lord Chancellor. Meanwhile Jimmy's confrontational style of writing attracts the attention of the BBC, landing him several prime-time TV plays. All the while Jimmy's conviction is a constant shadow in their marriage. Meanwhile, in the present, the family continue to investigate the case. They uncover brand new documents that have never been seen before. Could these hold the key to getting Jimmy's conviction overturned? Presenter: Ragnar O'Connor Producer: Emily Esson, Victoria McArthur Research: Elizabeth Ann Duffy, Louise Yeoman Script Assistant and Additional Research: Marisha Currie Script Writers: Emily Esson, Jack Kibble-White Original Music: Lomond Campbell Theme Music: Barry Jackson Addition mixing and sound effects: Charlie McPhee, Kayleigh Raphel Story Consultant: Jack Kibble-White Script Editor: Graham Russell Executive Editor: Gillian Wheelan Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4 Thanks to Cheryl Field, Richard Field and Kirsty Williams

The Freedom of Information (FoI) Act – which was passed 25 years ago and came into force five years later – created a legal right for citizens to request information from public authorities. This was a radical shift in the government's approach to information and a significant step towards a more open culture of government. FoI was designed to generate more transparency and to tackle perceived secrecy in government, and it has been a vital tool for journalists, researchers and private citizens alike. However, some politicians have been critical of the burden that FoI requests create, and there are outstanding questions about how the FoI system can be more effective. With FoI requests more than tripling since it was introduced in 2005, this IfG event assessed the state of FoI on its double anniversary – and explored, through a series of proposals and an expert panel discussion, how the system can be improved.  To pitch their proposals for the future of Freedom of Information, the IfG was joined by Jenna Corderoy, Investigative reporter at Democracy for Sale Dr Louise Crow, Chief Executive of mySociety Dr Ben Worthy, Lecturer at Birkbeck University And to discuss the proposals and the FoI system more broadly: John Edwards, Information Commissioner Lord Charlie Falconer, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (2003–07) Lynn Wyeth, Executive Board Member of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, and Executive Board Member of The National Association of Data Protection and Freedom of Information Officers (NADPO)  The event was chaired by Gavin Freeguard, Associate of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's episode of Double Jeopardy, hosts Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen are joined once again by an old friend of the podcast, the award-winning, former BBC, journalist and crime and justice commentator Danny Shaw. Together, they dive into the legal, political, and social repercussions faced by Palestine Action supporters following mass arrests in the wake of the decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group under the Terrorism Act 2000. The trio also debate the claim by former Labour Lord Chancellor Charlie Falconer in the Guardian that Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood “has been an absolutely brilliant reforming Lord Chancellor in enormously difficult circumstances” and review Labour's law reform successes (and misses) one year into office.  They also discuss the benefits and challenges of proposed policy changes that could see foreign criminals deported immediately after conviction without serving any jail time in the UK. You can find the link to the permission judgment of Chamberlain J. on 30/7/25 in the Palestine Action judicial review case challenging the legality of the decision to proscribe PA as a terrorist group here. --- Covering the critical intersections of law and politics in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future. What happens when law and politics collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system? Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays. Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights. Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law. Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades.  Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape. If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.

Through a thematic and broadly chronological approach, WOLSEY (Routledge, 2020) offers a fascinating insight into the life and legacy of a man who was responsible for building Henry VIII's reputation as England's most impressive king.  The book reviews Thomas Wolsey's record as the realm's leading Churchman, Lord Chancellor and political patron and thereby demonstrates how and why Wolsey became central to Henry's government for 20 years. By analysing Wolsey's role in key events such as the Field of Cloth of Gold, the study highlights how significant Wolsey was in directing and conducting England's foreign relations as the king's most trusted advisor. Based on up-to-date research, Richardson not only newly appraises the circumstances of Wolsey's fall but also challenges accusations of treason made against him. This study provides a new appreciation of Wolsey's importance as a cultural and artistic patron, as well as a royal administrator and politician; roles which helped to bring both Henry VIII and England to the forefront of foreign relations in the early-sixteenth century.  Presenting Wolsey in his contemporary and historiographical contexts more fully than any currently available study, Wolsey is perfect for students of Tudor England. Author: Glenn Richardson is a Professor of Early Modern History at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and is an Honorary Fellow of the Historical Association. Dr. Kristen Vitale Engel, Assoc. FRHistS, Department of History at Southern New Hampshire University, Global, Editor-in-Chief of "The Court Observer" for The Society for Court Studies, Submissions Editor for the Royal Studies Journal and International Ambassador for HistoryLab+ in partnership with the Institute of Historical Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Through a thematic and broadly chronological approach, WOLSEY (Routledge, 2020) offers a fascinating insight into the life and legacy of a man who was responsible for building Henry VIII's reputation as England's most impressive king.  The book reviews Thomas Wolsey's record as the realm's leading Churchman, Lord Chancellor and political patron and thereby demonstrates how and why Wolsey became central to Henry's government for 20 years. By analysing Wolsey's role in key events such as the Field of Cloth of Gold, the study highlights how significant Wolsey was in directing and conducting England's foreign relations as the king's most trusted advisor. Based on up-to-date research, Richardson not only newly appraises the circumstances of Wolsey's fall but also challenges accusations of treason made against him. This study provides a new appreciation of Wolsey's importance as a cultural and artistic patron, as well as a royal administrator and politician; roles which helped to bring both Henry VIII and England to the forefront of foreign relations in the early-sixteenth century.  Presenting Wolsey in his contemporary and historiographical contexts more fully than any currently available study, Wolsey is perfect for students of Tudor England. Author: Glenn Richardson is a Professor of Early Modern History at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and is an Honorary Fellow of the Historical Association. Dr. Kristen Vitale Engel, Assoc. FRHistS, Department of History at Southern New Hampshire University, Global, Editor-in-Chief of "The Court Observer" for The Society for Court Studies, Submissions Editor for the Royal Studies Journal and International Ambassador for HistoryLab+ in partnership with the Institute of Historical Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

Through a thematic and broadly chronological approach, WOLSEY (Routledge, 2020) offers a fascinating insight into the life and legacy of a man who was responsible for building Henry VIII's reputation as England's most impressive king.  The book reviews Thomas Wolsey's record as the realm's leading Churchman, Lord Chancellor and political patron and thereby demonstrates how and why Wolsey became central to Henry's government for 20 years. By analysing Wolsey's role in key events such as the Field of Cloth of Gold, the study highlights how significant Wolsey was in directing and conducting England's foreign relations as the king's most trusted advisor. Based on up-to-date research, Richardson not only newly appraises the circumstances of Wolsey's fall but also challenges accusations of treason made against him. This study provides a new appreciation of Wolsey's importance as a cultural and artistic patron, as well as a royal administrator and politician; roles which helped to bring both Henry VIII and England to the forefront of foreign relations in the early-sixteenth century.  Presenting Wolsey in his contemporary and historiographical contexts more fully than any currently available study, Wolsey is perfect for students of Tudor England. Author: Glenn Richardson is a Professor of Early Modern History at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and is an Honorary Fellow of the Historical Association. Dr. Kristen Vitale Engel, Assoc. FRHistS, Department of History at Southern New Hampshire University, Global, Editor-in-Chief of "The Court Observer" for The Society for Court Studies, Submissions Editor for the Royal Studies Journal and International Ambassador for HistoryLab+ in partnership with the Institute of Historical Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Through a thematic and broadly chronological approach, WOLSEY (Routledge, 2020) offers a fascinating insight into the life and legacy of a man who was responsible for building Henry VIII's reputation as England's most impressive king.  The book reviews Thomas Wolsey's record as the realm's leading Churchman, Lord Chancellor and political patron and thereby demonstrates how and why Wolsey became central to Henry's government for 20 years. By analysing Wolsey's role in key events such as the Field of Cloth of Gold, the study highlights how significant Wolsey was in directing and conducting England's foreign relations as the king's most trusted advisor. Based on up-to-date research, Richardson not only newly appraises the circumstances of Wolsey's fall but also challenges accusations of treason made against him. This study provides a new appreciation of Wolsey's importance as a cultural and artistic patron, as well as a royal administrator and politician; roles which helped to bring both Henry VIII and England to the forefront of foreign relations in the early-sixteenth century.  Presenting Wolsey in his contemporary and historiographical contexts more fully than any currently available study, Wolsey is perfect for students of Tudor England. Author: Glenn Richardson is a Professor of Early Modern History at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and is an Honorary Fellow of the Historical Association. Dr. Kristen Vitale Engel, Assoc. FRHistS, Department of History at Southern New Hampshire University, Global, Editor-in-Chief of "The Court Observer" for The Society for Court Studies, Submissions Editor for the Royal Studies Journal and International Ambassador for HistoryLab+ in partnership with the Institute of Historical Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Through a thematic and broadly chronological approach, WOLSEY (Routledge, 2020) offers a fascinating insight into the life and legacy of a man who was responsible for building Henry VIII's reputation as England's most impressive king.  The book reviews Thomas Wolsey's record as the realm's leading Churchman, Lord Chancellor and political patron and thereby demonstrates how and why Wolsey became central to Henry's government for 20 years. By analysing Wolsey's role in key events such as the Field of Cloth of Gold, the study highlights how significant Wolsey was in directing and conducting England's foreign relations as the king's most trusted advisor. Based on up-to-date research, Richardson not only newly appraises the circumstances of Wolsey's fall but also challenges accusations of treason made against him. This study provides a new appreciation of Wolsey's importance as a cultural and artistic patron, as well as a royal administrator and politician; roles which helped to bring both Henry VIII and England to the forefront of foreign relations in the early-sixteenth century.  Presenting Wolsey in his contemporary and historiographical contexts more fully than any currently available study, Wolsey is perfect for students of Tudor England. Author: Glenn Richardson is a Professor of Early Modern History at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and is an Honorary Fellow of the Historical Association. Dr. Kristen Vitale Engel, Assoc. FRHistS, Department of History at Southern New Hampshire University, Global, Editor-in-Chief of "The Court Observer" for The Society for Court Studies, Submissions Editor for the Royal Studies Journal and International Ambassador for HistoryLab+ in partnership with the Institute of Historical Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

fWotD Episode 3004: Liz Truss Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Saturday, 26 July 2025, is Liz Truss.Mary Elizabeth Truss (born 26 July 1975) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. On her fiftieth day in office, she stepped down amid a government crisis, making her the shortest-serving prime minister in British history. The member of Parliament (MP) for South West Norfolk from 2010 to 2024, Truss held various Cabinet positions under three prime ministers—David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson—lastly as foreign secretary from 2021 to 2022.Truss studied philosophy, politics and economics at Merton College, Oxford, and was the president of the Oxford University Liberal Democrats. In 1996, she joined the Conservative Party. She worked at Royal Dutch Shell and Cable & Wireless, and was the deputy director of the think tank Reform. After two unsuccessful attempts to be elected to the House of Commons, she became the MP for South West Norfolk at the 2010 general election. As a backbencher she called for reform in several policy areas including the economy, childcare and mathematics in education. Truss co-founded the Free Enterprise Group of Conservative MPs and wrote or co-wrote a number of papers and books, including After the Coalition and Britannia Unchained.Truss was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Childcare and Education from 2012 to 2014 before Cameron appointed her Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in a cabinet reshuffle. Although she campaigned for Britain to remain in the European Union, Truss supported Brexit following the outcome of the 2016 referendum. Following Cameron's resignation in 2016 his successor, Theresa May, appointed her Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, making Truss the first woman to serve as Lord Chancellor in the office's thousand-year history; in the aftermath of the 2017 general election she was demoted to Chief Secretary to the Treasury. After May announced her resignation in May 2019 Truss supported Johnson's successful bid to become Conservative leader and prime minister. He appointed Truss Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade in July and subsequently to the additional role of Minister for Women and Equalities in September. Johnson promoted Truss to foreign secretary in the 2021 cabinet reshuffle; during her time in the position, she led negotiations on the Northern Ireland Protocol and the British response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.In September 2022, Truss defeated Rishi Sunak in a leadership election to succeed Johnson, who had resigned because of an earlier government crisis, and was appointed prime minister by Queen Elizabeth II two days before the monarch's death; the government's business was subsequently suspended during a national mourning period of ten days. In response to the rising cost of living and increased energy prices, Truss's ministry announced the Energy Price Guarantee. The government then announced large-scale tax cuts and borrowing, which led to financial instability and were largely reversed. Facing mounting criticism and loss of confidence in her leadership, Truss announced her resignation as leader of the Conservative Party on 20 October. Sunak was elected unopposed as her successor, and appointed prime minister on 25 October. After spending the duration of Sunak's premiership on the backbenches, Truss lost her seat at the 2024 general election.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:37 UTC on Saturday, 26 July 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Liz Truss on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Stephen.

This summer marks a year since Labour's landslide victory at the 2024 general election. The party's manifesto contained a number of pledges for reforming the UK's constitution and political institutions. So how have those pledges fared since Labour took office? Which promises have been delivered? What unexpected changes have been introduced? And what further reforms will – or should – be on the government's agenda?The rule of law The Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General have both placed great emphasis on this new government upholding the rule of law. What does this mean in practice? Has the government delivered on this aspiration, and what more is needed to do so? What challenges has it faced? Speakers:Andy Slaughter MP – Labour MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, and chair of the House of Commons Justice CommitteeBaroness (Victoria) Prentis of Banbury KC – Conservative peer, former Attorney General and former Conservative MPDr Joelle Grogan – legal academic and presenter of The Law Show on BBC Radio 4Chair: Professor Veronika Fikfak – Professor of Human Rights and International Law, UCL   Links:Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unitMailing list: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/get-involved/mailing-listBlog: constitution-unit.com

Is it actually possible to solve the problem of mass migration? And more specifically, that of illegal migration? It's the policy issue that continues to sink successive governments - but Jeremy Hunt thinks he has the answer. Along with Camilla, Jeremy is joined by former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk, and Director of the Migration Observatory, Madeleine Sumption to put his ideas to the test. In this special Daily T series inspired by his new book, Jeremy Hunt pitches his optimism and ideas to leading experts on how the UK can change the world for the better. From mass migration to leading the AI revolution, we ask, can we be great again?Can We Be Great Again?: Why a Dangerous World Needs Britain, by Jeremy Hunt (Swift Press), is out now: https://books.telegraph.co.uk/Product/Jeremy-Hunt/Can-We-be-Great-Again--Why-a-Dangerous-World-Needs-Britain/31045435We want to hear from you! Email us at TheDailyT@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on X, Instagram and TikTok.Producer: Rosie StopherExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsSocial Media Producer: Ji-Min LeeVideo Editor: Andy MackenzieStudio Operator: Meghan SearleOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when political leaders and media outlets misrepresent court decisions, and how does this impact judicial independence and public trust in the UK legal system?A range of high-stakes UK law and UK politics issues that have dominated headlines recently are tackled in this listener-driven postbag edition of Double Jeopardy. Hosts Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC begin with a scathing analysis of media misreporting on high-profile legal cases, including sensational headlines about immigration rulings that bear little resemblance to actual judicial decisions. Their discussion highlights the consequences of misinformation and the critical need for accurate, responsible journalism when reporting on UK law. They also discuss the legitimacy of political interference in a live criminal investigation, questioning the Justice Secretary's tweet calling for “the strongest possible punishment”  in the aftermath of the HMP Frankland prison attack. Is it another example of the Lord Chancellor's lack of understanding of the separation of powers, or just the new norm in UK politics? Ken and Tim examine the evolving debate about “thin” and “thick” theories of the rule of law, including a discussion of international legal obligations, parliamentary sovereignty, and the ideological battle playing out in the corridors of Westminster. With references to Lord Bingham, Lord Wolfson KC, Professor Richard Ekins and Attorney General Lord Hermer KC, they consider what these distinctions mean for the future of UK politics and the ongoing crisis of both criminal and civil justice. Finally, the episode turns to Labour's shifting identity under Keir Starmer, dissecting the emergence of “Hard Labour” and what a security-first political agenda means for freedom of expression, human rights law, and the broader relationship between politics and law. From prisons and sentencing to the principles that govern crime and punishment, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary that helps listeners understand how current events and current political events intersect with the UK's evolving legal framework.-----Covering the critical intersections of law and politics in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future. What happens when law and politics collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system? Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays at 6am GMT. Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights. Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law. Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades. Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.

Is the UK heading toward a constitutional clash over crime and justice?  Exploring a wide range of pressing issues, from the government's proposed emergency legislation to override revised sentencing guidelines, to the implications of an international summit on organised migration crime. Examining the complexities of asylum claims, the growing controversy around Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, and how media narratives are shaping public perception of the UK legal system. As expert legal commentators, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC explore the mounting tension at the heart of UK law and politics - where legal principles collide with political pressure. Ken and Tim also explore growing political pressures in the UK as they relate to pre-sentence reports, criticisms of the Sentencing Council, and the broader debate over a so-called two-tier justice system. They focus on the UK criminal justice crisis, rising prison populations, and the shifting line between the executive and the judiciary - highlighting real risks to judicial independence, the rule of law, and freedom of expression. This is UK politics explained at its most urgent - where current events, high-profile legal cases, and ideological clashes converge. Whether you're a lawyer, policymaker, or politically curious listener, Double Jeopardy delivers unmatched legal system insights and expert legal commentary from two of the UK's most experienced legal voices.First the letter from Lord Justice Davis to the Lord Chancellor dated 20th March 2025 can be found here.Just Stop Oil protesters appeal against sentence can be found here.-----Covering the critical intersections of law and politics in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future. What happens when law and politics collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system? Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays at 6am GMT. Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights. Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law. Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades. Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.

Our courts are in crisis, with a sentencing backlog stretching to unthinkable lengths. To discuss this issue, the Law & Disorder trio are joined by Alex Chalk KC, who was Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice until the summer, and Lord Thomas, a former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. They are proposed a radical new programme for dealing with this backlog, involving slimming down the trial process for more minor offences. Could this clear the backlog? Or does it risk jeopardising our jury-based justice system? As ever, Helena Kennedy, Charlie Falconer and Nicholas Mostyn are on-hand to ask the questions.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via lawanddisorderfeedback@gmail.com!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Hosted by: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 6th March 1547, Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton and former Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII, suffered a dramatic fall from power, losing the Great Seal of his Lord Chancellorship. But was this really about his overreach, or was it part of a larger power struggle?   Wriothesley had been one of Henry VIII's most trusted advisors. He played a key role in major Tudor events, including Catherine Howard's downfall, Anne Askew's trial, and Henry VIII's final days. Yet, his opposition to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, sealed his fate.   Join me as I explore the life, power, and downfall of this controversial Tudor figure.   #TudorHistory #HenryVIII #ThomasWriothesley #WolfHall #AnneBoleynFiles #OnThisDay #HistoryLovers #Tudors #BritishHistory #RenaissanceHistory #HouseOfTudor

Women in prison are resorting to self-harm because of “astonishing gaps” in basic services including strict time limits when contacting their children, according to a new report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales released today. The report's author Sandra Fieldhouse joins Anita Rani, as does the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood. Singer and stand-up comedian Hajar J Woodland joins Anita to discuss her show, First Love, coming to Soho Theatre in London. After being raised in a household where singing wasn't encouraged, her show explores the boundaries we put up around ourselves and what it means to finally find love and your voice. New research has quantified for the first time how many young people have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria by GPs in England. Academics at the University of York studied a decade's worth of NHS records and discovered a 50-fold increase in this particular diagnosis between 2011 and 2021. However each general practice will only see one or two such patients each year. Anita speaks to Professor of Health Policy Tim Doran.The French have been told to wear the same T-shirt for five days before washing it, and sports clothing three times. It's part of advice from the government's Ecological Transition Agency, which is trying to get people to do less laundry to save water. So how often should we really be washing our clothes? Anita is joined by Professor Sally Bloomfield from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to tell us more. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Emma Pearce

rWotD Episode 2823: Master of the Rolls (Ireland) Welcome to Random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia’s vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Saturday, 25 January 2025 is Master of the Rolls (Ireland).The Master of the Rolls in Ireland was a senior judicial office in the Irish Chancery under English and British rule, and was equivalent to the Master of the Rolls in the English Chancery. Originally called the Keeper of the Rolls, he was responsible for the safekeeping of the Chancery records such as close rolls and patent rolls. The office was created by letters patent in 1333, the first holder of the office being Edmund de Grimsby. As the Irish bureaucracy expanded, the duties of the Master of the Rolls came to be performed by subordinates and the position became a sinecure which was awarded to political allies of the Dublin Castle administration. In the nineteenth century, it became a senior judicial appointment, ranking second within the Court of Chancery behind the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. The post was abolished by the Courts of Justice Act 1924, passed by the Irish Free State established in 1922.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:13 UTC on Saturday, 25 January 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Master of the Rolls (Ireland) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Amy.

Thomas More knew the risks of serving King Henry VIII—but he chose to serve him anyway. Why?    Join me as we uncover the fascinating story of More's rise as Lord Chancellor, his sharp insight into Henry's dangerous nature, and the principles that ultimately led to his tragic end. Was he a loyal servant or a man who couldn't abandon his convictions?   Discover the truth behind one of Tudor England's most brilliant minds and his chilling prophecy: "If my head would win him a castle in France, it should not fail to go."   Watch now and let me know—was More's loyalty admirable or naïve?   #TudorTriviaSaturday #ThomasMore #HenryVIII #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #TudorTrivia #HistoricalMysteries #TudorCourt

fWotD Episode 2766: January 1908 Irish representative peer election Welcome to Featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia’s finest articles.The featured article for Saturday, 30 November 2024 is January 1908 Irish representative peer election.The January 1908 Irish representative peer election was held to fill a vacancy among the 28 Irish representative peers at that time elected to the British House of Lords. Conducted by post, with ballots sent to the 134 holders of Irish peerages eligible to vote, the election was necessitated by the death of Francis Browne, 4th Baron Kilmaine, and resulted in the election of Lord Curzon, the former viceroy of India. Curzon narrowly defeated Frederick Trench, 3rd Baron Ashtown, and Arthur Maxwell, 11th Baron Farnham. Curzon's eligibility for election was questioned, but the House of Lords seated him. Curzon was an Englishman who had been granted an Irish peerage to give him a title before beginning his position as viceroy; he had never been to Ireland and owned no property there. He contested the election as a means of returning to parliament after being denied a United Kingdom peerage by the prime minister, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. The fact that Curzon was not Irish sparked opposition, and his late entry into the race worked against him. As he had never asked the House of Lords to affirm his right to vote in Irish representative peer elections, something required to vote in them, some argued that this made him ineligible to be elected.Curzon headed the poll with two votes more than Ashtown, who had two votes more than Farnham, but the official return noted that Curzon was not among those eligible to vote and that Ashtown had gained the most votes among those eligible to vote. When the House of Lords convened, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Loreburn, ruled that the requirement did not apply to candidates and declared Curzon the winner. Ashtown and Farnham tied in the next election, in November 1908. Ashtown won the election when his name was drawn from a glass before the House of Lords, the procedure mandated by the Acts of Union 1800, but Farnham was chosen to fill the next vacancy, also in 1908.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:30 UTC on Saturday, 30 November 2024.For the full current version of the article, see January 1908 Irish representative peer election on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Justin.

"Prison isn't working" for women, according to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.     She told the Labour Party conference that after serving a short custodial sentence, women are more likely to reoffend than those given a non-custodial sentence. Women are also less likely to get a job after leaving jail than men.    As the government launches an inquiry into reoffending rates, Niall is joined by Sky's home editor Jason Farrell who has visited a women's jail to see what conditions are like, and hears from former inmate turned researcher Scarlett Roberts about her experience of rehabilitation in prison.  In response to Jason's reporting, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said:   "For many women, prison isn't working. Most women in prisons are victims themselves. Over half are mothers, with a prison sentence separating parent and child.     “That's why I am establishing a new Women's Justice Board, tasked with reducing the number of women in prison by exploring alternatives to custody for female offenders.”     Podcast Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse  Editor: Paul Stanworth   

The oldest surviving part of Hampton Court Palace is a series of chambers and closets built in the 1520s for Henry VIII's chief advisor and Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey. They are now the setting for a wonderful exhibition bringing together artworks created during Henry VIII's reign alongside some evocative 16th century objects and brilliant interactive displays.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb goes to Hampton Court to meet curator Brett Dolman and talk about the exhibition which takes visitors back into the Tudor world and the lives not just of the kings and queens, but of the ordinary people whose labour upheld the functioning and magnificence of the Tudor court.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The audio editor is Ella Blaxill, the researcher is Alice Smith, and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign up HERE for 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘TUDORS' https://historyhit.com/subscriptionYou can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK

After a new bill attempting to legalise assisted dying in the UK was introduced to the House of Commons, the Green Party MP Sian Berry, former Lord Chancellor and Labour Peer Lord Falconer, and Nathan Stillwell, assisted dying campaigner at Humanists UK, join host Alain Tolhurst to look at how likely Kim Leadbeater's private member's bill is to eventually become law, the scope it might cover, how other countries like Canada have introduced and managed the process, and how to assuage the concerns of those worried about coercion, and that passing the law might start a slippery slope towards legalised euthanasia. To sign up for our newsletters click here Presented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton for Podot

Sir Brandon Lewis was a businessman before he entered Parliament in 2010 and served in numerous Government and Cabinet roles for over 10 years, during his time as Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth from 2010 to 2024. During his decade as a member of the British Government, he held several Ministerial and Secretary of State positions under 4 Prime Ministers. His final role was as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, a role in which he was involved in the Accession Ceremony for King Charles III.Prior to that, he was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and  Minister of State at the Home Office. He has also served as Minister of State for Housing & Planning, Minister for Local Government and Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service. He was also Chairman of the Conservative Party.Having retired as an MP at the 2024 General Election, Brandon has since taken up strategic advisory roles including Chairing the Advisory Board of Letter One, a main board Director of Veon, Civitas Investment Management, FM Conway and Thakeham, providing high level strategic advice on digital strategy development and public and private sector engagement and advocacy.   He is also a qualified a Barrister.

This Day in Legal History: William Rehnquist BornOn October 1, 1924, William Hubbs Rehnquist, the 16th Chief Justice of the United States, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1972 by President Nixon, Rehnquist became a polarizing figure, known for his staunch conservatism and originalist approach to the Constitution. His judicial philosophy often focused on restricting federal authority and bolstering states' rights, positions that critics argued rolled back civil rights protections and hindered federal progress on social justice issues. In 1986, President Reagan elevated Rehnquist to Chief Justice, a decision that pushed the Court further right. At his swearing-in, Reagan hailed him as a defender of constitutional values, but opponents viewed his appointment as the solidification of an increasingly reactionary judiciary. The same ceremony saw Antonin Scalia, another conservative, sworn in, signaling a shift that would influence rulings on affirmative action, voting rights, and church-state separation.Rehnquist's tenure included controversial rulings, notably his role in Bush v. Gore (2000), which critics argue undermined democratic principles by halting the Florida recount and effectively deciding a presidential election. His leadership on the Court was also marked by decisions that curtailed congressional power under the Commerce Clause, weakening federal authority in areas like civil rights and environmental regulation. While his supporters celebrated him as a guardian of limited government, his legacy remains contentious, with lasting impacts on the Court's direction and the balance between federal and state power.A fun Rehnquist fact is that you'll see in any official pictures or portraits of him as Chief Justice, his sleeves have yellow arm bands. Rehnquist insisted on adding four gold stripes on each sleeve to distinguish himself from the associate justices. He was inspired by the costume of the Lord Chancellor in a production of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera Iolanthe. Rehnquist's addition of the stripes was an unusual departure from the traditional plain black robes worn by justices, and it became a symbol of his unique approach to the role.New York Mayor Eric Adams has brought on three high-profile litigators as he faces federal criminal charges. William Burck, a former George W. Bush White House lawyer and current Fox Corp. board member, is one of the lawyers advising Adams. Burck, known for representing figures like Stephen Bannon and Don McGahn, joins Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan partners John Bash III and Avi Perry on Adams' defense team. Alex Spiro, a partner at Quinn Emanuel with experience defending high-profile clients like Elon Musk, is leading the defense. The charges involve allegations that Adams accepted lavish travel perks and had improper ties to the Turkish government. Adams has denied wrongdoing and vowed to continue as mayor while fighting the charges. His legal team has requested the case's dismissal.Meanwhile, a legal defense fund for Adams has paid over $877,000 to law firm WilmerHale, and several staffers have left his administration amid ongoing investigations. Additionally, Theresa Hassler was recently appointed general counsel for the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, a nonprofit under scrutiny for its fundraising practices.Ex-Bannon Lawyer With Fox News Ties Joins NYC Mayor Defense TeamToday, on October 1, 2024, a Georgia judge will hear a challenge from Democrats against new election rules introduced by the Republican-led Georgia Election Board. These rules, approved in August, allow county officials to investigate discrepancies in vote counts and scrutinize election-related documents before certifying results. Democrats argue that these changes, which came just before the November 5 election, are designed to erode trust in the process and could delay certification. The rules were backed by three board members who are allies of Donald Trump, who continues to challenge his 2020 loss in Georgia. Trump has praised these board members for their efforts to increase election security, though critics, including Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, say the changes could undermine voter confidence and strain election workers.A separate lawsuit was also filed to block a new requirement for a hand count of ballots. Democrats contend that these rules create confusion and provide too much leeway for local officials to investigate alleged fraud, potentially delaying results. The trial in Fulton County Superior Court is part of a broader national focus on battleground states like Georgia, where both Republicans and Democrats are intensely focused ahead of the upcoming presidential election.Challenge by US Democrats to Georgia election rules goes to trial | ReutersAs artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform industries, more U.S. law firms are appointing executives to lead AI initiatives. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and McDermott Will & Emery both announced new AI leadership hires, with Akin appointing Jeff Westcott as director of practice technology and AI innovation, and McDermott hiring Christopher Cyrus as director of AI innovation. These moves reflect the growing belief that AI will have a permanent role in the legal profession, particularly in areas like research, drafting legal documents, and reducing administrative tasks.Law firms are responding to client expectations and the surge in AI technologies, which have expanded dramatically in the past two years. Other firms, such as Covington & Burling, Latham & Watkins, and Reed Smith, have similarly created AI and data science roles since the rise of tools like ChatGPT. Westcott will focus on how Akin Gump can strategically invest in AI technology, assessing whether to develop tools in-house, purchase products, or partner with vendors.Additionally, legal AI startup Harvey's chief strategy officer, Gordon Moodie, transitioned to Debevoise & Plimpton as a partner specializing in mergers and acquisitions. These developments underscore the legal industry's growing focus on AI integration as firms aim to remain competitive and adapt to technological advances.More US law firms turn to executives for AI leadership roles | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Mark Fairhurst, the National Chairman of the Prison Officers Association, returns to Double Jeopardy to further discuss the prison crisis, now a focal point in the first week of the new Labour government. Guided by hosts Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen, the conversation addresses the emergency measures announced by the new Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, aimed at addressing critical prison overcrowding.   Amongst discussing historical context and years of inaction, the podcast also talks about the broader systemic changes needed, including probation service, mental health support and the role of the judiciary in sentencing reform.    Ken and Tim also highlight the appointment of James Timpson as the new Prisons Minister and discuss his views on prison reform as well as the potential changes for the future of penal policy.

Shabana Mahmood is the new Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. Born in Birmingham in a Kashmiri Pakistani family, she has three siblings, one of whom is her twin. From an early age her father ensured that the children were aware of the world around them, and made them each read five minutes from the Times newspaper every evening. Inspired by the 1990's TV series, 'Kavanagh QC' to become a lawyer, Shabana Mahmood attended Lincoln College, Oxford University, a year below a certain Rishi Sunak. After a few years working in law, she changed career and moved into politics, in 2010 winning the seat of Birmingham Ladywood for Labour, which she has held to date. Stephen Smith talks to those who know her. Presenter: Stephen Smith Producers: Diane Richardson and Julie Ball Editor: Penny Murphy Production Co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Rosie Strawbridge Sound mix: Hal HainesCONTRIBUTORS William Audland KC, 12 Kings' Bench Walk Chambers David Gauke, former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Jane Haynes, Journalist Birmingham Live/Mail Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, former, Chair of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio. Lord Tom Watson, former MP West Bromwich East & deputy leader of the Labour partyCREDITS Kavanagh QC - Central TV for ITV productions Political Thinking - Nick Robinson BBC R4/BBC Sounds

It's time for us to open up the mailbag and see what Law & Disorder listeners have made of the first six months of the show's existence. From the right to protest to the right to die, Liz Truss to Amber Heard, your questions run the gamut of the topics covered in the podcast. Should we televise courts? How badly did Charlie screw the pooch on his Lord Chancellor reforms? And are we all really just a bunch of whinging lefties? Listen to our mailbag and find out more!For inclusion in our next mailbag edition, do send your thoughts to us via lawanddisorderfeedback@gmail.com!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey.PR by Sally Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘London. Michaelmas Term lately over and the Lord Chancellor sitting in Lincoln's Inn Hall…' This week, Sally has been reading and teaching Charles Dickens' Bleak House (1852). Follow her on a journey through his London, in the company of its climate, characters, and the bewildering legal bureaucracy not very far from our own…. Music used throughout includes ‘Tuesday' and ‘Thursday' by Paul Sebastian. This episode was edited and produced by James Bowen. Special thanks to Andrew Smith, Violet Henderson, Kris Dyer, and Maeve Magnus.

What are the powers of the Lord Chancellor? How important are friendships in politics? What needs to change to solve the prison crisis in the UK? Rory and Alastair are joined by Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Alex Chalk to answer all these questions and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. TRIP TOUR: To buy tickets for our October Tour, just head to www.therestispolitics.com Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Video Editor: Teo Ayodeji-Ansell Social Producer: Jess Kidson Assistant Producer: Fiona Douglas Producer: Nicole Maslen Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Laura is rejoined once more by Diana Parkes, Joanna's mother, and Hetti Nanton, Joanna's best friend and chair of the national domestic violence charity, Refuge to discuss the incredible campaign which started on Crime Analyst resulting in the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk preventing Brown's automatic release from prison in November 2023.   THAT was not the end of the story. however. Join Laura, Diana and Hetti as they discuss Robert Brown's judicial review and what it revealed about Brown and his ominous psychopathology. You won't want to miss this exclusive and in-depth conversation. #JoannaSimpson #HerNameWasJoSimpson #RobertBrown #BritishAirwaysKiller #CoerciveControl #Stalking #PreventMurderInSlowMotionä #WomenMatter #ChildrenMatter #DomesticAbuse #MaleViolence #CrimeAnalyst #Expert #Analysis #Behaviour #TrueCrime #Podcast #Crime #DomesticHomicide #NotAnotherJo   Sources View the Judicial Review Crime Analyst Episodes on Joanna Simpson's case: Ep 105: Joanna Simpson: A Miscarriage of Justice, Part 1 Ep 107: Joanna Simpson: A Miscarriage of Justice, Part 2 Ep 110: How to Save a Life with Hetti Nanton, Part 3Ep 111: Reflections of Joanna Simpson, Part 4 The Case of Joanna Simpson: the British Airways killer who must stay behind bars The Case of Joanna Simpson: killer pilot Robert Brown planned every detail of killing Jo   SIGN the petition for serial domestic abusers and stalkers to be on the same register as sex offenders and ensure they are proactively assessed and monitored.   https://www.jsfoundation.org.uk/ https://refuge.org.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is Rishi Sunak's plan to win back voters? Why has Putin removed his ally as Russia's defence minister? Has Labour's embrace of a defecting Tory MP backfired? This week, Alastair is joined by former Lord Chancellor and Conservative MP, David Gauke, to answer all these questions and more.

Today we take a look at accusations that former Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke lobbied former Lord Chancellor, Sir Robert Buckland, over her then-husband Charlie's sexual assault case.A spokesman for Ms Elphicke, said the claims were "nonsense". Laura, Paddy and Henry discuss how big a problem it is for the party, and how the story came to light.And Laura's been speaking to the foreign secretary, Lord David Cameron, as Israel expands its military operation in Rafah. Paddy also reveals what it's like to be behind the scenes with Terry Wogan at Eurovision. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn with Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Jonny Baker. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

In this episode of People Talk...Politics, our Policy Fellow Matthew Brooker interviewed Rt Hon Sir David Lidington CBE, UK's longest serving Minister for European Affairs, Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office in Theresa May's government. They discussed how internal divisions in the Conservative Party may affect its electability and what issues and policies the Tories should emphasise in their campaign. Sir David also shared his insights on the relationship between government, the civil service and local government, outlining potential reforms that could increase efficiency, transparency and decentralisation.

The Treasury is perhaps the most powerful department in Whitehall. Its ownership of public spending means it has direct control over the money available to the rest of government, while the Treasury's responsibility for tax policy gives it enormous influence over the finances of households and businesses. But criticism of the department's influence on government policy is almost as old as the institution itself, with frequent complaints about the “dead hand of the Treasury” or attacks on the department's “orthodoxy”. However, a recent IfG report found many of the fiercest criticisms to be overblown: many simply represent a dislike of a budget constraint. The department plays an important function in effectively managing public spending and guarding against financial disorder. It has also consistently been a champion of economic growth, though there is debate about how that is managed against its responsibility for managing government spending. While the department has clear strengths, there are clearly problems with how it functions. The Treasury often takes a short-term approach, is frequently accused of micromanaging other departments, and wields excessive influence over government policy relative to the rest of the centre. So how can these problems be addressed? How much are they due to the relative weakness of other departments or the incentives facing Treasury ministers? And just what impact does the Treasury have on government policy making? Our expert panel exploring these issues and more featured: James Bowler CB, Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research at the Health Foundation and former Director of Public Spending at HM Treasury David Gauke, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and co-author of Treasury orthodoxy, and former No 10 special adviser for industrial strategy The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

The Today Debate is about taking a subject and pulling it apart with more time than we have in the morning.Amid a significant backlog in crown courts in England and Wales and related problems in the system in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Today presenter Mishal Husain asks if justice delayed is justice denied?Joining Mishal on the Today debate panel are Claire Waxman, the Independent Victims' Commissioner for London; Charlie Taylor; His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales; Joanna Hardy-Susskind, a barrister at Red Lion Chambers; Lord Falconer, Labour Peer and former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and Sir Max Hill, who was the director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales until October last year.

With the government under pressure to act quickly in the Post Office IT scandal, a former Lord Chancellor tells us that new legislation is needed immediately.Also on the programme: Cowbells and tractor horns on the streets of Berlin today - as German farmers expressed their frustrations. We find out why. And the legendary German footballer Franz Beckenbauer has died. We hear what he was like to play against - from a member of the England team he helped defeat in the 1970 World Cup Quarter Final.

What should the government do if the Supreme Court calls their policy unlawful? Simples. Just change the law.It's not the Christmas cracker joke answer for some in the Conservative Party who are actively trying to get the PM to do just that. Today, a former Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland, spells out the damage that would do.Later, we ask what the decapitation of Sam Altman at the top of OpenAI tells us. Was he going too fast towards an unregulated AI world? And is it too late to put the genie back in the bottle, if so?And... MAGA. Argentine style.Senior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

Robert Frederick is the host of The Hidden Life Is Best podcast. He tells the mind bending story of philosopher Sir Francis Bacon: the smartest and most influential person who ever lived. Known as the father of modern science, he was heavily involved with Freemasonry and the Rosicrucians, Alchemy, secret societies, the writing of Shakespeare and the very beginnings of the English Empire. He was also the Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England and many believe he was the son of the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth the 1st.    thehiddenlifeisbest.com   - - - -   Following on from the grand success of last year's Delingpod event in London with guest Maajid Nawaz and earlier this year with the great Neil Oliver - James has decided to bring his popular Delingpod LIVE UP NORTH this time with his extremely special guest, David Icke!   Please note that the exact location of the event will be disclosed within 48 hours of the date.   Link to buy tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thedelingpodlive/1012094?fbclid=IwAR1C_3Vldrr8w0ifxPL81j-6qiQa1c6QB3BZ1lFfxcoDSiLooSCeoDbU--g     - - - -   Whether you're looking for satirical synth-pop, or sardonic tales of modern romance, Tinderella's songs have it all. They will make you laugh, cry and hit 'Like' and 'Subscribe' simultaneously. Visit tinderella.info to listen to the sound of tomorrow today.   ↓ ↓ ↓   If you need silver and gold bullion - and who wouldn't in these dark times? - then the place to go is The Pure Gold Company. Either they can deliver worldwide to your door - or store it for you in vaults in London and Zurich. You even use it for your pension. Cash out of gold whenever you like: liquidate within 24 hours. https://bit.ly/James-Delingpole-Gold   / / / / / /   Earn interest on Gold: https://monetary-metals.com/delingpole/   / / / / / /   Buy James a Coffee at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jamesdelingpole Support James' Writing at: https://delingpole.substack.com Support James monthly at: https://locals.com/member/JamesDelingpole?community_id=7720

What do you get when you bring together five top historians to debate depictions of Thomas More on film and TV? History with the gloves off - our third special episode of Not Just the Tudors Lates! This time, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb takes as her starting point the life of the scholar who wrote Utopia, the Lord Chancellor who became a Roman Catholic martyr and saint.Suzannah is joined again by Dr Joanne Paul, Jessie Childs, Alex von Tunzelmann and Professor Sarah Churchwell to compare the various film versions of Thomas More's story, where they have got it right - and often wildly wrong.This episode was produced by Rob Weinberg.Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians including Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Matt Lewis, Tristan Hughes and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code TUDORS. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up here >You can take part in our listener survey here >For more Not Just The Tudors content, subscribe to our Tudor Tuesday newsletter here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Beau and Carl chat about the life and times of Henry II's Lord Chancellor and then Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. Later, Saint Thomas of Canterbury. From humble beginnings, to the second most powerful man in England, his meteoric rise and precipitous downfall, ending with his murder, is a rollercoaster ride.

We have an urgent episode today about a case listeners particularly in the U.K. need to be aware. Serial Child Murderer and rapist Colin Pitchfork — who raped and murdered two 15 year old girls, Lynda Mann in 1983 and Dawn Ashworth in 1986 in Leicestershire - is about to be released from prison into the community unless Ministers take action. In our opinion as experts, we strongly believe that it's not possible for psychopath Colin Pitchfork to be rehabilitated and we explain why in this episode.The Parole Board has shown a shocking lack of understanding of psychopaths (which Pitchfork has been diagnosed) in allowing this 63 year old man his freedom. Would you believe that he was granted parole in 2021 but had to be re-locked up because he had immediately violated the terms? Why is he getting another chance? Laura lays out the glaring red flags and her fears about what cunning strategies Pitchfork may be planning in order to offend again. Jim weighs in on the layers of psychopathy that Pitchfork appears to possess. If you are in the U.K., please take action and write to the Lord Chancellor and Secretary State for Justice Alex Chalk at Alex.Chalk.Mp@parliament.uk and ask him to intervene and challenge the Parole Board's decision for their flawed assessment. You can list the many reasons you have heard on today's show. #LyndaMann #DawnAshworth #SerialKiller #SerialRapist #StopReleasingMurderers #Psychopath #ExpertAnalysis#NewScotlandYard #FBI #CriminalBehaviorAnalysts #ParoleBoard #PublicSafety #ColinPitchfork #ChildMurderer #LordChancellor #AlexChalk #DNAProfiling #WomensSafety #RiskAssessment #MinistryofJusticeYou can listen to Laura's interview on the BBC about this case here.https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mv0gYou can also watch Laura speak on this case on her Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksfRSwfwFqUCjcxKYju6_QFollow us and continue the conversationOn Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/realcrimeprofile/?hl=enOn Twitterhttps://twitter.com/realcrimeprofilOn Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/realcrimeprofile/>>>>>>>>> SUPPORT OUR OTHER SHOWS

After Caroline Sheridan Norton's husband once again tried to destroy her life, she lobbied for another change in English law. This time, she worked to gain equal legal treatment for women in divorces. Research:   Reynolds, K. D. "Norton [née Sheridan], Caroline Elizabeth Sarah [other married name Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Stirling Maxwell, Lady Stirling Maxwell] (1808–1877), author and law reform campaigner." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.  25. Oxford University Press. Date of access 20 Mar. 2023,

Caroline Sheridan Norton's left an abusive marriage in 1835. She then turned her skill as a writer into a lobby for legislation that would enable mothers in England to get custody of their young children. Research: Reynolds, K. D. "Norton [née Sheridan], Caroline Elizabeth Sarah [other married name Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Stirling Maxwell, Lady Stirling Maxwell] (1808–1877), author and law reform campaigner." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.  25. Oxford University Press. Date of access 20 Mar. 2023,