Podcast appearances and mentions of Martin Kettle

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 17, 2024 is: otiose • OH-shee-ohss • adjective Otiose is a formal word typically used to describe either something that serves no useful purpose, or something that has no use or effect. // I enjoyed the storyline, but was bothered by the otiose punctuation. // The new zoning regulations rendered their proposal for the empty lot otiose. See the entry > Examples: "Christian Tetzlaff has only begun to play the concerto recently, but it was a masterly performance. The concentrated tension, always the hallmark of Tetzlaff's playing, never flagged.... In other hands, an encore might have been otiose after all that. But Tetzlaff's playing of the andante from Bach's A minor solo sonata proved just as magical, and seemed to draw the entire hall into its hushed meditations." — Martin Kettle, The Guardian (London), 25 Aug. 2023 Did you know? In this life, some pursuits seem destined to set the world on fire while others simply aren't worth the candle. That's where otiose comes in. The adjective traces back to the Latin noun otium meaning “leisure.” When otiose was first used in the late-18th century it described things that, like leisure (at least according to some), are pointless or otherwise produce no useful result, as in “it would be otiose to ask you about the book since you haven't read it yet.” By the mid-19th century it was also being used to describe people who indulge a bit too much in leisure and idleness—your loafers, layabouts, and lazybones—and thus need a fire lit under them. Both otiose and the noun otiosity (which predates the adjective by several centuries) are usually found in formal writing, but should you have a burning desire to do so, feel free to drop either into casual contexts at your leisure.

The Guardian's Martin Kettle rightly describes government division, and wrongly characterises Brexit and concerns over immigration.

Jessica Elgot and Martin Kettle discuss the government's narrow win to slash foreign aid spending. Plus, Sienna Rodgers, Will Tanner and Sunder Katwala reflect on how politicians are waking up to a progressive patriotism. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Jessica Elgot and Martin Kettle discuss the political fallout of the announced delay to the lifting of coronavirus restrictions in England. Plus: Peter Walker is joined by Sonia Sodha and Katy Balls to ask why MPs are so keen to get involved in the perennial culture wars. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Jessica Elgot and Martin Kettle run through the week's biggest stories, including the growing Greensill scandal. Rory Carroll and Naomi Long discuss what's happening in Northern Ireland. Plus, Aubrey Allegretti previews that all-important byelection in Hartlepool. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Mark is joined by Lesley Riddoch, Alex Massie & Martin Kettle.

In the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, I talked with the chief executive of Demos, Polly Mackenzie, about the impact of coronavirus on public policy. We got a bonus bit of background music courtesy of one of her children and a piano. As with the other shows since coronavirus, this one was recorded over video call so apologies for the occasional blip in sound quality. Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it. Show notes The Demos website, including the old content being re-released as discussed in the show. The previous show with Phil Cowley and that Martin Kettle piece. Nervous States: how feeling took over the world by William Davies - Amazon / Waterstones. Georgette Heyer's books - Amazon / Waterstones. Polly's previous appearance on Never Mind The Bar Charts. Follow Polly on Twitter. Find Never Mind The Bar Charts on social media Like the show? Do follow on Twitter or Facebook. It's a great way to hear more about the podcast - and to let your friends and colleagues know about it too.

In the latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts, I speak with Professor Phil Cowley, one of Britain’s leading political scientists, co-author for several general elections of authoritative Nuffield study and someone who casts the net so widely in his research that I occasionally appear in his footnotes. Phil’s been on my list of possible guests for a while, but I particularly wanted to talk to him now as he’s currently living in Hong Kong, somewhere that’s been much in the news here in the UK for comparisons over how coronavirus is being tackled in each place. We also talk about what this all means for British politics, and Phil's picks for books to read at the moment. Show notes Martin Kettle's piece on the possible (non-)impact of coronavirus on politics. Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How it Changed the World by Laura Spinney - Amazon / Waterstones. Agent Jack by Rob Hutton - Amazon / Waterstones. Electoral Shocks: The Volatile Voter in a Turbulent World - Amazon / Waterstones. Phil Cowley's excellent books - Amazon / Waterstones. Phil Cowley on Twitter.

This week on the day of Britain's exit from the EU, Bob talks with Guardian journalist Martin Kettle about Brexit, how the country got here and what could be next for his country. Martin Kettle writes for the Guardian mostly on British, European, and American politics. He has worked on the Guardian since 1984 in several capacities, including as a columnist, classical music critic, political leader writer, Guardian Europe editor, and US bureau chief 1997-2001. He was chief leader writer 2001-6. He became an assistant editor of the paper in 1994.Enjoying the show? Consider becoming a sponsor. More details can be found here:https://amazingagency.ca/c/raeThis episode is brought to you by Amazing Agency! A full-service digital marketing agency and podcast studio. https://www.amazingagency.ca/ 

With melt pundits like Martin Kettle touting a glorious comeback for the failing joke of a party, Jack and Geraint look back at the Liberal Democrats' recent history, particularly the Tim Farron era. (Taken from RP101 Extra, available in full on patreon.com/reelpolitik)

Jessica Elgot is joined in the studio by Katy Balls, Martin Kettle and Stephanie Lloyd to discuss Boris Johnson's trip to Northern Ireland and no-deal Brexit planning. Please note: In the first release of this podcast on 01/08/19 Martin Kettle was heard to say that the majority of opinion in Northern Ireland is opposed to the Northern Ireland backstop. This was an error and we apologise. This has been removed from the podcast. Majority of opinion in Northern Ireland supports the backstop and the majority of members of the NI assembly (if it was sitting) are from parties that support the backstop too. Updated: 02/08/19. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Jessica Elgot is joined by Polly Toynbee, Martin Kettle and Aarti Shankar to discuss the latest round of fantasy Brexit. Plus: a short history of Brexit, and why MPs should pay their speeding fines. To support The Guardian's independent journalism, visit theguardian.com/give/podcast

Building the future: shaping our social work identity newly qualified social worker conference was held on 31 May 2018 in Edinburgh. Delivered with the University of Edinburgh (in partnership with the Higher Education Heads of Social Work Group), Iriss, Scottish Social Services Council, the Scottish Association of Social Work, Social Work Scotland and the Scottish Government, it provided an opportunity for newly qualified social workers to come together to connect and reconnect. In this episode, Martin Kettle of Glasgow Caledonian University gives an overview of research on newly qualified social worker perceptions of social work education and practice. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes

Britain’s vote to leave the EU, the election of Donald Trump and the high opinion poll ratings of Marine Le Pen’s Front National have led to anxious debate about the rise of populism, inspired by what many regard as a rogues’ gallery of demagogic leaders of rising anti-immigrant and anti-Islamic movements throughout Europe and the US. The declining appeal of traditional parties of both left and right has been apparent for a generation, and now seems to have reached a head, to the consternation of those who see the new populism as a rejection of common sense. At the height of the referendum campaign, the Guardian’s Martin Kettle articulated the exasperation of the political establishment at the evident disaffection of the masses when he described support for Brexit as ‘part bloody-mindedness, part frivolity, part panic, part bad temper, part prejudice’. Almost invariably, the concept of populism is used in a pejorative way. It is often preceded by the implicitly disparaging adjective ‘right-wing’ and directly linked to notions such as racism, ‘xenophobia’ or ‘Islamophobia’. Yet in the past, populist movements have as commonly had a left-wing as a right-wing character. They have often expressed an inchoate animosity towards a corrupt elite. Such movements are inherently unstable and tend to evolve, according to circumstances, in either a radical or reactionary direction. Recent political phenomena such as Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain, the Five Star Movement in Italy, and the successes of Bernie Sanders in the USA and Jeremy Corbyn in the UK, show the complexity of the popular movements that have emerged to fill the vacuum left by the decay of the old politics. Mainstream politicians and commentators fear the polarisation resulting from the rise of populist movements, but seem unable to engage the public through open debate. Others argue that the upsurge of popular discontent with the stagnant political order points the way towards the revival of democratic politics, and is worth celebrating even if it unleashes uncomfortable sentiments. Are populist movements merely ‘morbid symptoms’ of a decadent political order, or harbingers of a democratic renewal? SPEAKERS Nick Caterexecutive director, Menzies Research Centre, Australia; columnist, The Australian Ian Dunteditor, Politics.co.uk; political editor, Erotic Review Ivan Krastevchairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia; permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna Jill Rutterprogramme director, Institute for Government Bruno WaterfieldBrussels correspondent, The Times; co-author, No Means No

Author Pat Barker chooses Benjamin Britten's song cycle Who Are These Children? Plus archive interviews with Britten and Gladys Parr, a masterclass in performing the piece by Peter Pears - and a recent Front Row discussion with the singer Ian Bostridge and the Guardian columnist Martin Kettle on dealing with the composer’s dramatisation of and fascination with children in a culture of heightened sensitivities about the young. Go to Front Row’s Cultural Exchange website for full details.

With Mark Lawson. When Matthew Bourne established the dance company Adventures in Motion Pictures in 1987, his pioneering fusion of contemporary dance, classical ballet, and theatre thrilled audiences worldwide, won prizes on both sides of the Atlantic, and divided critics. He discusses his new production of Sleeping Beauty and what he's learned from Strictly Come Dancing. It's exactly 99 years since the birth of composer Benjamin Britten, and next year's centenary celebrations include numerous concerts, operas and broadcasts. But the events of recent weeks have renewed the focus on Britten's friendships with adolescent boys, a subject covered in biographies and documentaries - although there is no evidence of criminal behaviour. Singer Ian Bostridge, Jonathan Reekie of Aldeburgh Music and writer Martin Kettle reflect on Britten's current reputation. The American actor John Lithgow takes the title role in The Magistrate, in a new National Theatre staging of Pinero's farce about a respectable man caught up in a series of scandalous events. Sarah Crompton reviews. Producer Nicki Paxman.

Larry Elliott, Martin Kettle, Polly Toynbee and host Tom Clark discuss the winners and losers in the budget announcement from chancellor George Osborne

In the first in a series of podcasts focusing on Europe, Martin Kettle, Sebastian Borger and Fiona Harvey join Jon Henley to discuss the success of the German economy