Podcast appearances and mentions of nick hilton

Over the summer months, we at Movers & Shakers HQ ran a competition: the local group who acquired the most signatures towards the Parky Charter petition would get their own special episode. And here it is, with the superstars from the Bexhill and Battle area, who acquired a whopping 573 signatures! Three of them joined the Movers & Shakers in the pub, and we also speak to the TikTok poet whose viral video spurred the campaign on. But most importantly, this episode contains important instructions on what you – yes: you! – need to do next. Write to your MP, share your experience, and urge Britain's politicians to give this debate proper consideration.If you'd like to download a template for writing to your MP, you can find one here.Sponsored by Albion Chambers.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The publishing mogul Robert Maxwell lived a life shrouded in mystery that was ultimately capped by great disgrace. But was he an out and out villain, like Anthony Trollope's fictional swindler in The Way We Live Now, or a more nuanced and tragic figure? We discuss the life, legacy and deals of the great pension purloiner with his biographer, John Preston. Hosted by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With John Preston.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Presented in partnership with the Library of Mistakes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the storms roll in and all memories of summer recede, for the health service this only means one thing; the start of the annual winter pressures faced by the NHS.After record waits in A&E last year, sharp increases in corridor care and waiting lists spiralling further beyond long-missed targets, this week host Alain Tolhurst looks at what the government is doing to prevent another crisis this winter.Joining him are Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP and her party's spokesman on health and social care, along with Rosie Beacon, research manager and head of health at  the Re:State think tank, and Siva Anandaciva, director of policy at the King's Fund, a health sector charity.To sign up for our newsletters click hereAnd to submit your nomination for this year's Women in Westminster: The 100 list, click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

There are few great anxiety inducers for Parkies than the prospect of having a fall. Squeezed into the Notting Hill pub – having dodged bustling waiters, stray chair legs and a labyrinthine tangle of cables – the Movers & Shakers are joined by two experts, Laura Douglas from Neuro Heroes and Dr Will Young, to discuss the reality of falls. Are people with Parkinson's at greater risk? And, if so, what can we do to a) prevent falls, and b) mitigate the seriousness? Navigating our way, ever so carefully, through this issue should shine a light on how to stay safe and help your loved ones. A note for listeners: Will Young and his team are currently running a research project looking at the psychological impact of various potential symptoms of Parkinson's. The aim is to validate a new questionnaire (the Lo-Co-Motion) that could be used as part of training/therapies for managing symptoms and any associated anxiety. This in an online survey that takes about 30-50 minutes. Further information and the online survey can be found here. Sponsored by Albion Chambers.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the collapse of the Chinese spying case, host Alain Tolhurst looks at the state of the Anglo-Sino relationship, how it has evolved over the years, where UK-China relations are now under this current government, and what should be done to improve them.On the panel are Tony Vaughan, Labour MP for Folkestone and Hythe, and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on China, along with Mark Field, former minister for Asia and author of The End of an Era: The Decline and Fall of the Tory Party, with Dr Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies and director of the Lau China Institute at Kings College London, and Luke de Pulford, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.To sign up for our newsletters click hereAnd to submit your nomination for this year's Women in Westminster: The 100 list, click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

On today's Movers & Shakers, we're putting down our pints and rolling a joint talking about how cannabis could be an important part of Parkinson's treatment. Subject to stigma over its use, have we been ignoring the therapeutic qualities of the plant? To discuss this, we talk to Professor Mike Barnes, a world expert in medical cannabis, and hear from many of our listeners who have dabbled with the various strains. With uses for everything from pain to sleep, this is an in-depth look at a much-maligned treatment option.Sponsored by Albion Chambers.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Britain's economy mired in 1970s misery, we thought we'd brighten things up a bit. So this week we present the most 1970s story ever: the history of GREEN SHIELD STAMPS! Oldies will know, but for younger listeners, you collected them in books, kids, and exchanged them for glass tumblers and soda syphons. Groovy huh? Neil and Jonathan talk to Prof Leigh Sparks about how they worked and changed British retail for ever.The show is made in partnership with The Library of Mistakes who are offering a 25% discount on their Practical History of Financial Markets course to listeners. Just follow this link https://www.libraryofmistakes.com/how-to/ and enter ALTIF25 into the box marked promo.Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Something a little bit different again this week, as host Alain Tolhurst and the PolHome team head up to Manchester for the Conservative Party's annual conference, and return with a despatch from the four-day event, finding out what the mood is like among the Tories as they settle into the slog of opposition.Featuring MPs, pollsters and academics, including Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride, Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly, shadow transport minister Greg Smith, pollsters Allie Jennings from ThinksInsight and Patrick English from YouGov, politics professor Rob Ford, and economist Tom Pope from the Institute for Government, they assess whether there is still life left in the party, what their plan is to get back into office, and whether it will be Kemi Badenoch who tries to lead them there...To sign up for our newsletters click hereAnd to submit your nomination for this year's Women in Westminster: The 100 list, click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

Can you hide your Parkinson's? And should you? Those are the questions we're tackling today, as we're joined in the pub by Rob Burley, a former BBC producer and author of Why Is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me?, a book about the lost art of the political interview. After his PD diagnosis, Rob went on television and found himself subjected to unfortunate social media feedback. Do we always know when it's time to reveal a diagnosis? And can you really keep things private as symptoms set in? This candid chat explores the difficult reality, especially for people still in the workforce. Sponsored by Albion Chambers.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode is a little different, as listeners are taken deep within Labour's annual party conference, giving you the inside track on how things unfolded in Liverpool over the past few days, from Andy Burnham's leadership challenge, Cabinet ministers taking on Nigel Farage, as well as the less serious moments such as a charity rugby league game and the infamous Mirror party on the final night.Host Alain Tolhurst spoke to a number of MPs, including transport minister Keir Mather, Charlotte Nichols, Josh Dean, Peter Swallow, Ben Goldsborough and Josh Fenton-Glynn, as well as West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, former MP and Manchester deputy mayor Kate Green, and pollsters Scarlett Maguire of Merlin Strategy and Patrick English from YouGov, plus the rest of the PolHome team, about the story of this year's event.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

This week, we're issuing a special episode to remember the life of John Stapleton, who died last week. We were privileged to have John join us in the pub earlier this year to discuss his life, career and PD journey. From getting pecked off our screen's by Rod Hull's intemperate Emu to making a film about his diagnosis with his award-winning documentarian son Nick, John led an extraordinary life. In this episode, we reflect on what made him a great presenter and a superb advocate for people with Parkinson's, and replay our conversation with him.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred Goodwin led Royal Bank of Scotland to ruin and Britain to the brink of financial disaster. But who was the man they called Fred the Shred and how did he build RBS into (briefly) the world's largest bank? And how was he allowed to make such a complete horlicks of it? In our first live show at the Library of Mistakes in Edinburgh, Neil and Jonathan discuss these issues with Ian Fraser, author of Shredded, the seminal history of the fall of RBS. The show is made in partnership with The Library of Mistakes who are offering a 25% discount on their Practical History of Financial Markets course to listeners. Just follow this link and enter ALTIF25 into the box marked promo.Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With Ian Fraser. In partnership with the Library of Mistakes.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the focus is on the Liberal Democrats after the party held their annual conference in Bournemouth.Which despite still giving off a celebratory mood at becoming the third-largest party in the Commons last year, was beset by questions over whether Ed Davey's stunt-based leadership style is wearing a little thin.And a discussion whether they are punching below their weight in the political discourse 12 months on from their biggest electoral success, as Reform and Nigel Farage continue to pull Westminster and the media's focus.The episode starts with some despatches from the south coast, recorded by PolHome reporter Zoe Crowther at the event, who spoke to a number of the party's MPs about the big themes of conference, and where the Lib Dems are positioning themselves in our fractured political system.She spoke to Jess Brown-Fuller, former leader Tim Farron, and James MacCleary, before joining host Alain Tolhurst alongside another Lib Dem MP, Alison Bennett, her party's spokesman on care and carers, as well as Sophie Church, reporter on our sister title The House magazine.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

Parkinsonism is the term used to refer to a group of conditions – like multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and Lewy Body Dementia – which resemble Parkinson's in some of their symptoms. To discuss these sibling conditions, the Movers & Shakers are joined at the pub by guests from across the spectrum who share their stories – often very uplifting – about learning to live with the new realities brought on by their illnesses.Sponsored by Albion Chambers.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the so-called ‘dark arts' of politics are being demystified, with a look inside the system known as whipping, where MPs are corralled by fair means or foul into voting with their party's leadership in Parliament.But in the modern era have things moved more from threats of punishment to pastoral care? And have the days of the 'little black book' filled with politicians misdeeds ready to be used against them, as made famous by Francis Urquhart, the fictional chief whip in the classic TV show House of Cards, been banished to a bygone era, or do whips still hold sway over their flock?Joining host Alain Tolhurst to discuss all that - and also the changes made by Keir Starmer to his whipping operation last week- are Seb Whale, journalist and author of a new book - The Usual Channels - which unpicks the mysterious world of political whips, as well as Lord Mark Harper, the Conservative peer and former Cabinet minister, who served as Chief Whip in the Commons under David Cameron's premiership.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

The Movers and Shakers are back in the pub after a relaxing summer. Oh, who are we kidding? It's been a frantic struggle to get the #ParkyCharter petition to 100k signatories but we – which is to say: you – did it! Now we're kicking off the new series with a look at Gillian's big news. She's had the brand new produodopa pump installed. But is it the blessing its champions suggest? Or do the downsides outweigh the positives? To discuss, we're joined by international expert Professor Camille Carroll, as well as hearing some testimony from other users.Sponsored by Albion Chambers.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

QE or QT? The impact of these hangover expressions from another era is only now becoming apparent. Christopher Mahon of Columbia Threadneedle talks to Jonathan and Neil about how the Bank of England bought government stocks and sold them back at a loss. One example:paying £101 (QE) and later selling it for £28 (QT). The cost of this insane behaviour to the taxpayer? Probably over £115 billion (that's billion).Secure your tickets to our live event in Edinburgh – on the life and times of Fred 'the Shred' Goodwin – by clicking here. Presented by Neil Collins and Jonathan Ford.With Christopher Mahon.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week is a look under the bonnet of British politics, and shining a light into the dark corners of how Westminster's finances operates, and seeing if the endless pledges to close loopholes and tighten regulations after every scandal have actually led to a crackdown on illegal lobbying and undue influence on democracy.Or whether the UK remains vulnerable to illicit wealth, cronyism and financial corruption, despite Keir Starmer's pledge to clean up politics if he got into power last year.Joining host Alain Tolhurst to discuss all that are Lloyd Hatton, the Labour MP for South Dorset, as well as Sue Hawley, executive director at Spotlight on Corruption, Daniel Bruce, Transparency International UK's chief executive, and the investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan, author of the Democracy for Sale website.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

As MPs returned to Westminster after the summer recess, this week we're looking ahead to a crucial autumn for this government, packed full of potential pitfalls as they hope year two in office is an upgrade from a tricky first 12 months.But after a clunky internal Downing Street reset and distracting revelations about Angela Rayner's tax affairs, things have not got off to the best start, with a high-risk Donald Trump visit, party conference season, the ongoing smalls boats crisis and Rachel Reeve' sophomore Budget to deliver, things don't get any easier for Keir Starmer and his team in the coming weeks.Joining host Alain Tolhurst to discuss how Labour navigates its way through all of this are two of the party's MPs; Antonia Bance, the member for Tipton and Wednesbury, and Jess Asato, the MP for Lowestoft.Alongside them are Chris Hopkins, Political Research Director at the pollsters Savanta, along with Adam Payne, editor of PoliticsHome.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

The government wants to build new towns on disused railway land to tackle the UK's housing crisis. A cracking idea, but will it be able to? Not just the planners but Natural England lie in wait. Neil and Jonathan are joined by Michael Dnes to investigate the murky tale of a new town on disused railway land in Kent that was eaten by a colony of jumping spiders. Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With Michael Dnes.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week is the sixth and final episode in our series over Parliament's summer recess, speaking to experts and looking at how Labour have performed in their first year in office in some of the big policy areas, and the biggest has been saved until last; the economy.Fixing the country's finances was their number one priority when Keir Starmer came into office last year, promising to kickstart economic growth after a decade of stagnation and austerity, followed by post-pandemic inflation and the chaotic fallout from the Liz Truss ‘mini-Budget'.But after announcing there was a so-called £22billion ‘black hole' in the country's finances once she arrived in the Treasury, Rachel Reeves announced £40billion of tax increases in her first Budget as Chancellor, and despite saying it would be a ‘one off', this year's sluggish growth figures mean she finds herself in a similarly difficult position as she heads towards her second Budget this autumn.So joining host Alain Tolhurst to discuss how well the government has managed the economy after being handed an undoubtedly difficult inheritance, and whether they will chart a path towards economic growth this parliament, is Helen Miller, the new director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the UK's most-respected economic think tank.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

In the latest episode in a series over Parliament's summer recess, speaking to experts looking at how Labour have performed in their first year in office, this week the focus is on the world of work, from employment rights, public sector pay, and the government's relationship with trade unions.Host Alain Tolhurst is joined by Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, which represents 48 unions with a total of about 5.5 million members, to discuss how well Labour have done so far, having come into office promising an end to the strikes in a number of sectors, repairing the relationship with public services, as well as sweeping changes to workers rights.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

In the fourth episode of a series over Parliament's summer recess, speaking to experts and looking at how Labour have performed in their first year in office, host Alain Tolhurst is joined by not one but two brilliant guests to discuss probably the single most important policy area outside of the economy for this government; health.Labour has long staked its reputation as being the defenders of the NHS and made big promises ahead of last year's election about fixing a broken system of healthcare in this country, but 12 months on, have they lived up to those pledges?Later in the episode Siva Anandaciva, director of policy at the King's Fund think tank, discusses the government's new 10-year plan to reform the health service, and how Wes Streeting is faring as health secretary, but first up in Dame Jennifer Dixon, the chief executive of the Health Foundation charity, to assess Labour's overall performance on health and social care so far.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

Our final profile of this summer series has a very particular set of skills... Jagdeep Aujla is a London-born karate champion and martial arts enthusiast who, since his Parkinson's diagnosis, has established the Dopamine Warriors Boxing Club. Jagdeep joins the Movers & Shakers in the pub and shows all the resilience you'd expect from the Bruce Lee of PD – but also some cheering optimism about embracing the challenges of the condition and fighting through.Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest in a series over Parliament's summer recess, looking at how Labour have performed in their first year in office, this episode features Chris Skidmore, the former Conservative MP, who as Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth, signed the UK's Net Zero pledge into law in 2019.Later asked to chair a review of the government's net-zero strategy, he resigned from the Commons in January last year over the introduction of the government's Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, calling it "the greatest mistake" of Rishi Sunak's premiership, and he now chairs the Climate Action Coalition launched by former US Secretary of State John Kerry.He spoke to host Alain Tolhurst about how Labour have got on with the country's climate commitments and its progress on Net Zero, what he makes of GB Energy, whatever happened to the party's promise of £28 billion of green Investment, and where the Tory party finds itself on all of these issues.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

In the second episode of a series over Parliament's summer recess looking at how Labour have performed in their first year in office, this week's guest on The Rundown is Sarah Owen, Labour MP for Luton North and the chair of the Commons select committee on women and equalities.Speaking to host Alain Tolhurst, she discusses how this government is doing on its manifesto commitments to tackle racial injustice and gender inequality, improve the lives of the disabled and to protect trans people and other marginalised communities, as well as the role of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

Our profile this week is of a Parky on a mission: Alison Anderson who is, as you listen to this episode, cycling across America to raise money for Cure Parkinson's. This isn't Alison's first marathon bike ride, she's previously zoomed across Southeast Asia, raising money and awareness. An inspiration for both her athletic endeavour and fundraising prowess, Alison is living, cycling proof that Parkinson's doesn't have to stop you in your tracks!You can still sponsor Alison's bike ride across America – go here to send your support!Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Parliament now into its summer recess, The Rundown is going to spend the next few weeks assessing how the Labour government is performing after a year in office in a number of key areas, with the help of some top experts and those with experience of having facing the same problems staring back at Keir Starmer and his Cabinet.Starting this week with the subject of social mobility, and that most key of all questions we ask of those in power; have you made our lives better? And have those barriers to success been removed?To discuss if Labour are on the right track so far, and her own party's record in this area, host Alain Tolhurst is joined by someone who has made social mobility the focal point of her political and business career, the former Conservative education secretary Justine Greening.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

This Wednesday, our titanic campaign to reach 100,000 signatures on the Parky Charter petition reached its climax. After a marathon effort involving Gillian commandeering EasyJet planes, the Judge haranguing cricket-goers at Lords, and an unexpected segue into TikTok virality, that target was reached. To celebrate, we gathered 80% of the Movers & Shakers at Gillian's to raise a glass of bubbly – and were delighted to be joined by some very special guests who had gone the extra mile to get signatures!Don't stop signing Parky Charter petition! You can do so by going to ParkyPetition.com!Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week marks nine years since Theresa May entered Downing Street, after David Cameron's resignation the morning after the EU referendum, but while Brexit was the reason she became Prime Minister, ultimately it was the thing that ended her premiership too, after she was unable to get a deal through Parliament.Consequently most look back on her tenure as a failure, but looking back now while her three years in Number 10 were undoubtedly some of the most chaotic in recent memory, they might also be some of the most consequential, with events and legislation taking place that still impact our politics now, despite the vast stream of history that has thundered through in the years since she left office.So joining host Alain Tolhurst to take another look at what Theresa May's time as PM achieved, and what the current Downing Street incumbent Keir Starmer can learn about dealing with a difficult inheritance and global headwinds while also trying to get your own agenda implemented, I'm delighted to be joined by Baroness JoJo Penn, who was her deputy chief of staff.Alongside her is Seema Kennedy, the former Tory MP who was May's Parliamentary Private Secretary, and is now executive director of Fair Civil Justice, and also the journalist and author Isabel Hardman, assistant editor of The Spectator, and also appearing in the episode is Paul Harrison, who Theresa May's press secretary.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

With this week's state visit to Britain by Emmanuel Macron, we're looking at the state of UK-Franco relations, and how important a new ‘entente cordiale' is to Keir Starmer as he deals with political problems both home and abroad.Joining host Alain Tolhurst to discuss why the French president is open to a rapprochement after a pretty frosty few years post-Brexit, what both sides have been able to agree on, and what still divides them, are Sir Peter Westmacott, a former UK ambassador to France, as well as Ben Lake, Plaid Cymru MP and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on France.Alongside them are Francois-Joseph Schichan, director at Flint Global and former career diplomat in the French diplomatic service, Adam Plowright, ex-deputy editor-in-chief for Europe at Agence France Presse and a biographer of Emmanuel Macron, and Matilda Martin, reporter at PoliticsHome.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

In a long and varied career, John Caulcutt has worn many hats: rock musician, stockbroker, marketing man, bobsled champion, fundraising extraordinaire, and, since 2019, parky. He joins us for this, the latest in our summer interview series, to discuss a life well-lived and how he ended up a prolific philanthropist who believes that a breakthrough for PD could be just around the corner...Don't forget to sign the Parky Charter petition by going to ParkyPetition.com!Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weekend marks 12 months since last year's General Election, when Labour were swept to power with an enormous landslide victory ending 14 long years in opposition, but it seems unlikely they will be hanging the bunting outside Number 10 after a very tough first year in office for Keir Starmer.To discuss just how bad things have got, and how Labour might solve their problems, PoliticsHome have again partnered with the pollsters Thinks Insight & Strategy, who have taken the nation's temperature this week, and with host Alain Tolhurst to discuss the results of their voter survey is their CEO Ben Shimshon, along with two Labour MPs elected for the first time last summer, Rachel Blake, the member for Cities of London and Westminster, and Julia Buckley, the MP for Shrewsbury.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

This week we're taking a look at what life is like not for politicians themselves, but for their spouses, asking what does a life in the Westminster spotlight do to relationships, what their role is, and the often unfair way they are portrayed in the public eye.Someone who knows more about this than most is the journalist Sarah Vine, who for many years was married to Michael Gove as he served in the Cabinets of multiple Prime Ministers, giving her a front row seat to the many machinations of the modern Tory party.She has written a new book called ‘How Not to be a Political Wife', charting her difficult upbringing to entering the so-called Notting Hill set as David Cameron become Conservative leader, through to her falling out with his wife Samantha, as the couples fell on either side of the Brexit divide, and her surprisingly amicable divorce.Host Alain Tolhurst and producer Nick went to visit Sarah at her home in West London this week to chat at her kitchen table about unrealistic expectations, what she'd learned from her 20 years as a Westminster wag, what advice she'd give to any soon-to-be political spouse about how to get through it with marriage intact, and what her own political ambitions are now her ex-husband is out of the Commons.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

This summer we'll be interviewing a handful of interesting people who are living with Parkinson's. First up: the novelist Linda Grant. Linda started life as a journalist before becoming acclaimed fiction writer who won the Women's Prize in 2000 for her novel When I Lived in Modern Times, and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2008 for The Clothes on Their Backs. Here, she talks for the first time about her Parkinson's diagnosis, how it has impacted her writing, and how she plans to become (maybe) the first writer to bring to life a protagonist living with PD.Don't forget to sign the Parky Charter petition by going to ParkyPetition.com!Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week host Alain Tolhurst is joined by Zack Polanski, Green Party deputy leader, as the podcast takes a look at the forgotten winners of last year's general election, as despite unprecedented success in winning 1.8 million votes and quadrupling their number of MPs to 4, the Greens finds themselves at something of a crossroads.They are joined by Sophie Stowers, research manager at the think tank More in Common, and Sophie Church, reporter at our sister title The House magazine, about how the party builds on that success, what can it do to remain part of the national conversation, champion its progressive causes under the banner of eco populism, and Polanski's bid to become their new leader.To sign up for our newsletters click hereRead Sophie's piece about the Green Party click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

Earlier this month, the Movers and Shakers descended on Brighton in order to drum up enthusiasm for our petition. We're looking for 100,000 signatures in order to guarantee that our Parky Charter – a list of demands/requests that would improve Parkinson's care – gets a debate in Parliament. On this special episode (during our summer break) we report back from the (very rainy) seaside, and catch-up in the Notting Hill pub to look at how the petition is progressing and launch a very special competition which could bring the show to where you – yes, you – live.Don't forget to sign the Parky Charter petition by going to ParkyPetition.com!Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.The Movers & Shakers are: Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil and Jonathan talk to Duncan Weldon about his new book Blood and Treasure about the interplay between war, society and economics from the violent larceny of the Vikings to the GDP-chomping total wars of the 20th century.Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With Duncan Weldon.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While this week Rachel Reeves set out her plans on how and where Labour is set to spend money for much of the rest of this Parliament, the question now is do they have a plan for how they're going to deliver on their priorities, and succeed in completing Keir Starmer's missions for government?Joining host Alain Tolhurst to discuss the vexed issue of actually delivering in office what you came in to do is Michelle Clement, lecturer in government studies at the Strand Group at King's College London, who has just published a new book ‘The Art of Delivery: The Inside Story of How the Blair Government Transformed Britain's Public Services' which goes inside the work of Michael Barber, who was put in charge of Tony Blair's delivery unit in 2001.Alongside them are Charlotte Pickles, director of the Re:State think tank and a former special adviser to Iain Duncan Smith, Alexander Iosad, director of Government Innovation at Tony Blair Institute, and John McTernan, former Political Secretary to Tony Blair and a government special adviser.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

With Rachel Reeves still finalising her comprehensive spending review next Wednesday, this week we're looking at how the process works, going inside the battles between the Treasury and Whitehall departments on spending plans for the coming years, with John Glen, conservative MP and a former Treasury minister, Sonia Khan, a special adviser to Philip Hammond during his time as Chancellor, join host Alain Tolhurst alongside Bee Boileau, research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and Tom Pope, deputy chief economist at the Institute for Government.They reflect on how useful spending reviews are for creating economic policy, take a look back at previous reviews and see what can be learned ahead of the Chancellor's big speech, and what it will say about this government's priorities over the course of the Parliament, while later in the episode Brandon Lewis, who was a minister in multiple departments under four different prime ministers, describes his experience of the spending review process.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

As a special extra, to round out this fifth season of Movers and Shakers, the show is coming to you live from Henley! Away from the pub (and with a live audience) the gang talk about their Parkinson's progress and are joined by a couple of special guests, representing the local area and giving you a glimpse inside Paul's brain...Don't forget to sign the Parky Charter petition by going to ParkyPetition.com!Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, we'll talk about how The Standard is coming to Hyatt...(but we're too old for it). Nick will enlighten Greg about the fact that Air France flies to French Polynesia, and we'll talk through our recent award booking stories.(01:24) - A correction about the Delta Business Gold card (with a $150 hotel credit, not $200 as mentioned in the episode).(02:23) - Would a speculative Discover Miles card be worth it for the 3x everywhere for the first year, with the chance that those all become transferable to C1 miles when the merger goes through?(08:05) - Greg acquired Smartly 4% card, downgraded Chase Sapphire Reserve, and got approved for Chase Sapphire Preferred(20:06) - Citi Rewards+ may be achievable for some(22:54) - Cardless removes one card per lifetime limit(24:10) - Qatar cards increased offers(29:54) - Rakuten's shopping portal has a great new trick | Coffee Break Ep55 | 5-5-25 (Earn Amex and Chase cards at once)Check out the coffee break episode 55 here.(34:52) - TPG: "Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex EveryDay Preferred: A $95 annual fee showdown"(37:57) - Hyatt integration of The Standard(43:15) - Air Tahiti bookable via Flying Blue(47:19) - Nick: Hilton free night extendable(50:43) - Gondola no longer requires access to your emailMain Event: Award Booking Stories(52:09) - Greg: Booked premium cabin flights to Japan for his sonRead more about this trip here.(1:01:28) - Nick: Booked unexpected trip to Bora Bora(1:18:54) - Greg: Booked lie-flat round trip to London for 3(1:34:28) - Why do people choose to do all this work for travel rather than just cash back?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder

This week saw the first substantial debate in the UK Parliament on the subject of Parkinson's – and it was initiated by an enterprising Scottish MP, Graeme Downie, off the back of the Movers and Shakers' Parky Charter. So, for this emergency episode, Gillian and Mark report live from Parliament, introducing some highlights from the debate, and speaking to Graeme and his office manager, the inimitable Vonnie, about how politics can be used to help Britain's Parkies.Don't forget to sign the Parky Charter petition by going to ParkyPetition.com!Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this, the last episode in our current series, the Movers & Shakers have gathered at the Notting Hill pub with (most of) their spouses, to talk about how to navigate a relationship after the diagnosis. With the able assistance of a relationship expert, Gillian and Mike, Mark and Jo, Paul and Julie, Nick and Liz, and Rory – riding solo – talk through the ups and downs of coupledom in the wake of the Parkinson's reveal. Honest, revealing and often very funny, this is a guide on how to (or, perhaps, how not to) stick it out. Don't forget to sign the Parky Charter petition by going to ParkyPetition.com!Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travelling with Parkinson's shouldn't be a nightmare – but often it is. From long lines at the airport to the constant battle for a seat on the Tube, how can people with Parkinson's navigate the frenetic world of travel? On this episode, the Movers and Shakers gather at the pub to consider their experiences – good and bad – and whether there's the chance to reinvent the way that companies and the public think about disabled people travelling. We also speak to a top travel expert, and a former Home Secretary, about the changes needed to make the world of travel a more accommodating place.Don't forget to sign the Parky Charter petition by going to ParkyPetition.com!Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this very special episode of Movers and Shakers, the gang head out of the Notting Hill pub to take, once again, to Downing Street. But handing over the latest petition is only the start of an action packed day – from there, it's on to the Houses of Parliament to convene with hundreds of Parkies for The Big Sing! This episode is a little journey through the day, as we speak to people who made the trip down to London about their experiences and hopes for the future. Plus, Mark Mardell is up in Huddersfield, as the WPD celebrations spread across the country.Don't forget to sign the Parky Charter petition by going to ParkyPetition.com!Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Each time we, the Movers and Shakers, convene at the pub for a recording session, we follow it up with an anarchic planning session, where we analyse the episodes that been recently broadcast and debate what should be featured on future instalments. This week, we're leaving the microphones running during this meeting to give you the inside scoop on how the podcast is made, and a little preview of the exciting editions that might be headed your way soon.Don't forget to sign the Parky Charter petition by going to ParkyPetition.com!And for more information about our plans for April 11th, World Parkinson's Day, please visit our website.Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's no doubting the ability of music to uplift the soul – but could it also help to manage the symptoms of Parkinson's? That's what the Movers and Shakers are discussing today in the Notting Hill pub, as they're joined by musical experts, including a man who whistled for Monty Python's The Life of Brian and a Welsh samba band (who have brought their drums all the way to W11). Whether it's a conduit for new creativity, a means of raising awareness or a cuing mechanism to arrest the disease's progression, there's something undeniably special about music. So pause Classic FM (or BBC Radio 6, we don't discriminate) and tune in. Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's said that the most consistent symptom of Parkinson's isn't the tremor, but constipation. Could this rather inconvenient truth reveal a relationship between our gut microbiome and development of the disease? To help with this deep-dive into the gut, the Movers & Shakers are joined by a gastroenterologist, a professor of microbiome, and the creator of a probiotic for gut health. Tune in, and get to the heart of how a Mediterranean diet could help with PD (though sadly it doesn't consist of profiteroles, moussaka or a big bowl of paella).Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recent spate of Parkinson's related headlines – from miracle pumps to worm-based solutions – have had the Movers and Shakers questioning exactly how the condition is portrayed in the media. Are we getting a good balance between raising the salience of the diseases ill effects, on the one hand, and inspiring hope on the other? To discuss this, the (rather depleted) team in the pub are joined by a top newspaper editor and the Parkinson's UK's media bod.Sponsored by Boardwave, who support Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.