Podcast appearances and mentions of Sadiq Khan

High streets across the UK are being overwhelmed by betting shops. They gobble up £4.6 billion from punters every year - and local councils have almost no powers to block them.  Labour MP Dawn Butler's constituency, Brent East in North-West London, has 81 licensed enterprises alone. Jumping into “Betsy”, Dawn's prized old-banger, Coco is taken out and about in Willesden to see first hand how betting shops are popping up everywhere and hear what local residents think.  Along with 37 council leaders and mayors, Dawn is calling for a reform of the Gambling Act 2005 and a hike in gambling duties. With hints she might stand to be London mayor at the next election - could this be the first glimpse of her campaign? Then, Nish and Coco give their assessment of Keir Starmer and the European moral support squad's visit to the White House - is Putin still calling the shots on Ukraine? And as Starmer's Government slumps to an all-time low in the polls, Sadiq Khan has a spicy take on Labour's first year in power. But a glimmer of hope: is that a don't-call-it-a-wealth-tax on the horizon? On a less hopeful note, what on earth is going on with Labour's social media account? And Nish and Coco struggle to get their head around the new Gen Z additions to the Cambridge Dictionary. Is politics all “delulu with no solulu”? CHECK OUT THIS DEAL FROM OUR SPONSOR https://www.wise.com USEFUL LINKS  See us Live in London!  Stop the Genocide Special - Tuesday 2nd  https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/pod-save-the-uk-x-amnesty-international-uk-stop-the-genocide/ Future of the left - Sunday 7th https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/pod-save-the-uk/ Sign Dawn Butler's Petition for Gambling Reform  https://www.dawnbutler.org.uk/gambling_reform_petition Gambling Support https://www.gamcare.org.uk/ GUESTS Dawn Butler MP CREDITS  IG / @UKLabour TikTok / @politicsprincess Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump #NationalGuard #Starmer #UKPolitics #BorderCrisis #ElectionNow #SadiqKhan #JonGaunt While Donald Trump takes decisive action in Washington DC, deploying the National Guard to restore order, the UK drifts deeper into chaos under Sir Keir Starmer's watch. From the southern border to the streets of DC, Trump proves where there's a will, there's a way. Meanwhile, in Britain, the political establishment sits on its hands: Illegal crossings surge as the Channel remains unguarded. Crime spirals as shoplifters walk free and police focus on tweets, not streets. London is plagued with violent crime, yet we get painted signs on pavements warning of phone snatchers instead of officers catching them. Like Washington, our capital needs cleaning up – and then we must move through the rest of the UK. Communities protest outside migrant hotels as tensions mount. 650,000 people have signed a petition demanding an election. Mums are protesting. Vigilante groups are forming. The UK needs action now – troops at Dover, the Navy in the Channel, and real policing on our streets.

Sadiq Khan offers to show Donald Trump around London, then drops a wild description of the city, J.K. Rowling urges boycott over a trans bra-fitting row. Plus, Disney airs Family Feud with an all-trans team raising money for sex workers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (08/05/2025): 3:05pm- At least fifty-one Texas House Democrats fled the state as part of an effort to deny the Texas House a quorum—effectively preventing a vote on redistricting while also prolonging a vote on providing financial relief for families impacted by last month's devastating floods that killed more than 120 people. In response, Governor Greg Abbott has argued that fleeing the state to prevent the legislative process simply because you don't like the expected outcome of an upcoming vote amounts to an “abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office.” 3:15pm- Fun Fact: Did you know that the total number of House members briefly expanded from 435 to 437 in 1959 when both Hawaii and Alaska became states. Congress temporarily approved of the expansion to prevent any existing state from losing a seat immediately upon the Hawaii/Alaska admission. 3:40pm- While appearing on CNBC, President Donald Trump said of Texas redistricting efforts: “We are entitled to five more seats.” 3:45pm- In response to Texas's redistricting attempt, Governor Gavin Newsom has pledged to redistrict California—presumably removing several Republican congressional seats. Interestingly, Republicans currently hold just 17% of the congressional seats in CA—despite nearly 40% of the state voting for Donald Trump in 2024. Doesn't that suggest the state is already heavily gerrymandered? Comparatively, Democrats currently hold 32% of the House seats in Texas (with one vacant seat in a district that is reliably blue—so, the real number is closer to 34%). Kamala Harris won 42% of the Texas statewide vote in 2024. 4:05pm- Hans von Spakovsky—Senior Legal Fellow at the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Department of Justice launching a grand jury investigation into the “Russiagate” hoax. 4:20pm- Rich saw the new Naked Gun movie with Liam Neeson—and it was surprisingly good! 4:35pm- Patricia Posner—Journalist & Author of the book, “The Pharmacist of Auschwitz”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss her latest piece for The New York Post, “Zohran Mamdani's NYC could look like Sadiq Khan's far-left London and New Yorkers should be terrified.” You can read the full article here: https://nypost.com/2025/08/02/opinion/zohran-mamdanis-nyc-could-look-like-sadiq-khans-far-left-london/. 4:50pm- From the White House, President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating a task force for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. 5:05pm- From the White House, President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating a task force for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Following the EO signing, Trump took questions from the press—including on the war between Russia and Ukraine, supplying food to the people of Gaza, transgender athletes competing in the Olympics, halting illegal border crossings, redistricting efforts in Texas, and the possibility of the Trump Administration paying Americans a “dividend” using some of the money saved via DOGE's government waste cuts. Plus, who does he think will be the Republican presidential nominee in 2028? He hinted at a potential JD Vance-Marco Rubio ticket! 5:40pm- Earlier today, President Donald Trump toured construction projects he's funding at the White House—including a quick stroll on the roof! 5:45pm- At least fifty-one Texas House Democrats fled the state as part of an effort to deny the Texas House a quorum—effectively preventing a vote on redistricting while also prolonging a vote on providing financial relief for families impacted by last month's devastating floods that killed more than 120 people. In response, Governor Greg Abbott has argued that fleeing the state to prevent the legislative process simply because you don't like the expected outcome of an upcoming vote amounts to an “abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office.” 5:50pm- Sen. Eli ...

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: 4:05pm- Hans von Spakovsky—Senior Legal Fellow at the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Department of Justice launching a grand jury investigation into the “Russiagate” hoax. 4:20pm- Rich saw the new Naked Gun movie with Liam Neeson—and it was surprisingly good! 4:35pm- Patricia Posner—Journalist & Author of the book, “The Pharmacist of Auschwitz”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss her latest piece for The New York Post, “Zohran Mamdani's NYC could look like Sadiq Khan's far-left London and New Yorkers should be terrified.” You can read the full article here: https://nypost.com/2025/08/02/opinion/zohran-mamdanis-nyc-could-look-like-sadiq-khans-far-left-london/. 4:50pm- From the White House, President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating a task force for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

This week on The Trawl, Jemma is holding the fort while Marina dials in from across the pond — on an Aperol-fuelled mission to confront Ron DeSantis (allegedly).Meanwhile, Trump's been busy spreading his own unique brand of diplomacy terrorising Scotland, schmoozing Ursula von der Leyen with his usual brand of gibberish, and trying to memory-hole Epstein. He also undermines Starmer, slags off Sadiq Khan and gets annoyed with starving Gazans for not saying 'thank you.' There's some incredible South Park chaos, a Jerome Powell punch-up, and Keir Starmer's latest attempt at relatable politics – with all the grace of a Turdbury meal deal. As always, it's chaotic, unfiltered, and one hell of a scroll.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

Donald Trump is in Scotland, holding court at Turnberry. He's welcomed Sir Keir and Lady Victoria Starmer to his golf course, and had a long discussion with reporters at a wide ranging press conference, that covered Russia, Gaza, and his long running feud with London mayor Sadiq Khan. To unpack it all, Freddy is joined by political editor Tim Shipman, and deputy US editor Kate Andrews.

Tom Harwood looks at the most explosive moments from Donald Trump's UK press conference – including his brutal swipe at London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Trump didn't hold back, calling Khan "nasty," while Keir Starmer faced an awkward moment trying to defend the under-fire Mayor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage is no stranger to harsh criticism from his political rivals, but never before has he been linked to prolific paedophile Jimmy Savile.That is, until now.Cabinet minister Peter Kyle has accused the Reform UK leader of being “on the side” of Savile after Farage said he would repeal the government's online safety act. Farage has now demanded an apology - but Kyle's doubled down. Are Labour brushing over the genuine unease that many people have about the online safety act? And is their rhetoric making Farage look like the grown up in the room? Later, did Starmer do enough to defend his friend Sadiq Khan after Trump called him a “nasty person?”The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Donald Trump is in Scotland, holding court at Turnberry. He's welcomed Sir Keir and Lady Victoria Starmer to his golf course, and had a long discussion with reporters at a wide ranging press conference, that covered Russia, Gaza, and his long running feud with London mayor Sadiq Khan. To unpack it all, Freddy is joined by political editor Tim Shipman, and deputy US editor Kate Andrews. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Jon Gaunt says that in just 20 minutes, Donald Trump destroyed Keir Starmer and handed the keys of Number 10 to Nigel Farage and Reform UK. Trump showed how securing the border and stopping illegal immigration won him the White House — and exposed Starmer's total weakness on the issue. Starmer squirmed, lied, and stumbled when challenged on illegal immigration, farmers' anger, crime in London under Sadiq Khan, and more. It was excruciating and hilarious in equal measure. Just a day after the Lionesses made us proud to be English again, our Prime Minister was humiliated in front of the world's press. Was this the longest political suicide note in British history? Can Starmer survive it?  This video is a politics blog and social commentary by award winning talk radio star, Jon Gaunt  

HowardCox #StopTheBoats #UKPolitics #TommyRobinson #JonGaunt

Ofwat is to be scrapped as part of a radical overhaul of a “broken” water regulatory system Environment Secretary Steve Reed confirmed today, following the publication of a major report from the Independent Water Commission. Giles Bristow, CEO of the campaign group Surfers against Sewage, responds to the news - and Paul Powlesland, Barrister at Lawyers for Nature, explains why he decided to become a guardian of the River Roding in East London, to spot illegal sewage leaks. And in part two, Sadiq Khan has called London ‘the undisputed capital of music”, but are this summer's huge gigs the full story? The Standard's Head of Culture Martin Robinson questions whether it's good for the music industry. *This episode contains one example of mild explicit language Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bring on the wealth tax, zonal pricing is toast, and Dale's new moniker ‘Power Baron'.Trump and Musk bromance well and truly dead… Sadiq Khan's low-traffic neighbourhoods keeping people alive … and energy use by AI slashed. Fighting the planners over flying Palestinian flag whilst the IDF keeps murdering. And listeners ask about Glasto politics and small windmills. In X-rated corner there's gripes on tax paid, protesters and vegan food… 

This week we look at the return of Oasis; how to read truth; Piers Morgan and Owen Jones; Norman Tebbit; Country of the week - Uganda; The Mushroom Murders in Australia; Anti-semitism in Melbourne; Remembering the London bomb attacks; Tom Slater - Essay of the Week; The Texas Floods; What do men think?; Pale Rider; Fact Checking company closes; Jaguar sales plummet; NHS Fife pays to sue employee for anti-trans comments; Sadiq Khan on Pride; Australian Medical School teaches anti-biology; UK government honours those who have miscarriages;  Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver on abortion; Anglican Vicar urges elderly congregation to civil disobedience;  Final Word - the Tower of Babel; with music from  Bruce Springsteen; Oasis; Ntaate;  Colin Buchanan and City Alight. 

Send us a text#podcast #sadiqkhan #shyambatra #greatbritain #15minutecity #cityoflondonSupport the showJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVjOe4UwNRZx89uBXojoPcw/joinYou can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Google Podcasts!For more content head over to..Instagram: ThecentralclubpodcastFacebook Page: The Central ClubFacebook Profile: Central ClubTiktok: thecentralclubpodcastTiktok: thecentralclubclipsE-mail us at: Thecentralclubpodcast@gmail.comSTAY CENTRAL

Tomorrow, Labour MPs will be asked to vote on the rejigged welfare reform bill. Senior Labour politicians Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham still don't think it's worth the paper it's written on. But the whole debacle has thrown up a bigger question about Starmer's leadership and authority. Does anyone really understand what's in the PM's mind or what he is trying to achieve? We speak to the Starmer whisperer, Tom Baldwin. Later, Glastonbury, Bob Vylan and the BBC. And how has Wimbledon now become a symbol of Britain's decline?The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Beau, Luca and Steven discuss Palestine Action getting proscribed, New York getting their own Sadiq Khan, and the independent taskforce that's investigating the cause of riots in the UK.

Want your own Brand or Business Podcast? Try out our NEW Podcast Calculator: https://www.boxlight.io/ In Conversation with Sadiq Khan: London's Diversity, Politics, and Future Join us for an engaging conversation with Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, as he discusses his journey, the challenges of urban administration, and the importance of diversity in London's growth. Sadiq reflects on his early life, including his first jobs, and shares his thoughts on the evolving landscape of immigration, housing, and business in London. He also offers personal insights on balancing his demanding career with family life, and the influence of various Prime Ministers on his tenure. Don't miss this comprehensive look at one of the key figures shaping London's future! 00:00 Introduction to Diversity and Politics 00:25 Reflections on Immigration and Language 01:56 Personal Anecdotes and Early Jobs 02:45 Quickfire Questions and Personal Insights 03:25 Favorite Places and Views in London 06:56 Admired Mayors and Global Connections 09:13 Challenges and Changes in Mayoral Powers 18:24 Housing Crisis and Rent Control 20:36 Business Admiration and Future Plans 21:31 Introduction to Successful Businesses in London 21:52 Prominent Companies Expanding in London 22:23 Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises 24:31 Challenges in Scaling Up to Billion-Dollar Companies 26:11 London's Unique Business Environment 29:21 Revitalizing High Streets and Local Businesses 32:41 The Impact of Immigration on London 35:32 Racism and Social Progress in London 39:11 Parenting Challenges in the Modern World 40:52 Reflections on Public Service and Future Plans 44:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: sunny@jobsofthefuture.co Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/ Junior Producer: Thuy Dong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

London mayor Sadiq Khan will press ahead with the part-pedestrianisation of Oxford Street to the cost of £150 million. The Standard's City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall has the latest. And in part two, The Standard's celebrity correspondent Tina Campbell joins us to explain why fans are divided over the musical Evita which is currently showing at London's Palladium theatre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's #NCFNewspeak, the panel discuss: * Northern Ireland in flames as anti-immigration riots erupt * Why was Sadiq Khan knighted? * Dominic Cummings believes Britain's establishment regime (politicians, civil service, media, universities etc.) is in its death throes.

În episodul 343 al podcastului „Un român în Londra” am vorbit despre faptul că Sadiq Khan a primit titlul de Sir.   Show notes: manuelcheta.com

The CBO says that President Trump's BBB could add almost $2.5tn to the U.S. deficit. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who oversaw Doge cuts to government waste, has urged lawmakers to ‘kill the bill'. We hear from London Mayor Sadiq Khan who says he welcomes Prime Minister Keir Starmer's efforts to strike a trade deal with President Trump but that trade ties with the EU should be deepened. And we are live at Berlin's private markets Super Return conference where increasing opportunities around Europe are the focus of discussions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why isn't the government honouring its pledge to transfer more power to mayors? Why doesn't the government do more to attract American talent to the UK? Should the London mayor set rent controls? Robert is joined by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. We appreciate your feedback on The Rest Is Money to help make the podcast and our partnerships better: ⁠⁠https://opinion-v2.askattest.com/app/41f5060f-0f52-45bc-bf86-bf3c9793618e?language=ENG⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get more stories from the world of business and finance. Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠restismoney@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheRestIsMoney⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheRestIsMoney⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@RestIsMoney⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://⁠⁠⁠goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://monzo.com/therestismoney⁠⁠⁠/⁠ Assistant Producer: India Dunkley, Alice Horrell Producer: Ross Buchanan Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In CI News this week: The Church of Scotland votes to reaffirm its opposition to assisted suicide, London Mayor Sadiq Khan pushes the Government to decriminalise cannabis, and a US court rules that a Christian businesswoman cannot be forced to photograph same sex weddings. You can download the video via this link. Featured stories Kirk maintains opposition to assisted suicide Sadiq Khan backs latest call to decriminalise ‘harmful' cannabis Betting firm to exit UK after £3.3 million fine as football clubs warned to take note US Christian cannot be forced to photograph same-sex weddings

ZERO TOLERANCE on Fare Dodgers – Robert Jenrick Is RIGHT | Jon Gaunt LIVE FareDodgers #ZeroTolerance #RobertJenrick #JonGauntShow It IS time for a crackdown on fare dodgers on the London Underground and beyond.  Robert Jenrick, Tory Shadow Minister for Justice, says yes — and I completely agree. In fact, I'd go even further. We need a “Zero Tolerance” policy like the one that cleaned up New York in the '90s. I met the man behind that success, Bill Bratton, and saw first hand how his Broken Windows policing transformed the NYC subway system. It worked there — and it can work here.  In London, 1 in 25 passengers are dodging fares. But it doesn't stop there. We're also seeing a rise in: • Vandalism  • Graffiti  • Bike theft  • Littering • Shoplifting  It's time for action, and it starts with a change in attitude — from the Mayor down. Are you listening, Sadiq Khan?

The falling out between Elon Musk and Donald Trump was predictable enough but consequential all the same. The Matts explore what this says about the Trump administration and the personal damage to Musk. Also - as Sadiq Khan calls for the decriminalisation of small amounts of cannabis, the Matts take a deep breath and try to bring some perspective to an issue that has sent all their usual dopes into a frenzy. Enjoy!EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's #NCFNewspeak we expose Sadiq Khan's outrageous migrant misinformation. He blatantly deceived the public. Also, it's official: Starmer LIED about Southport. Plus, with his new immigration policies, is Starmer now a Far-Right Thug too?

This is a catch-up version of James O'Brien's live, daily show on LBC Radio. To join the conversation call: 0345 60 60 973

Harrison Pitt joins Carl and Josh to discuss the discontent in England, the true ruler of Britain, and how Sadiq Khan still isn't English.

Today, after Pete introduces us to the world of expat DJ channels, Luke is left wondering why some expats seem to loathe British culture — especially the ones who spend their days googling Sadiq Khan and eat only English food once they've moved to Spain. Luke wants absolutely nothing to do with it, so Pete offers up an alternative: life in a swamp, anyone?Plus, someone's eating sunflower seeds with the shells still on…pure lunacy, and Pilot Dave is back in the LAPS cockpit!Email us at hello@lukeandpeteshow.com or you can get in touch on X, Threads or Instagram if character-restricted messaging takes your fancy.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Islam in the UK: A Christian Response | Biblical Worldview News Analysis For the video version visit: https://youtu.be/ALAVF5ZRLkc In this powerful episode of the Global News Update, we dive into the growing influence of Islam in the UK and explore recent high-profile events through a biblical Christian lens.

In today's episode of iGaming Daily, brought to you by Optimove, the two Ted's return to dive into the complex relationship between local politics and gambling advertising in the UK. Both Ted Menmuir and Ted Orme-Claye's conversation centres on Sadiq Khan's unfulfilled promise to ban gambling ads on Transport for London and what it reveals about the power—and limitations—of local government in shaping gambling laws. The duo explore the role of councils, mayors, and community advocacy in influencing policy, as well as the broader implications for the gambling industry. How do local political decisions ripple into national debates? And what does the future hold for gambling regulations in the UK? To read more on the topic, click on the link below:- https://sbcnews.co.uk/featurednews/2025/03/28/city-government-gambling/Host: Ted MenmuirGuest: Ted Orme-ClayeProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: James RossiGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service. 

A version of this essay was published by firstpost.com at https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/shadow-warrior-britains-outsized-malign-role-in-global-chaos-13872084.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialBeing a keen observer of the United Kingdom, I have lately noticed a few apparently unconnected events with dismay. If I were to connect the dots, it begins to appear that Britain has had an outsize influence on international affairs. Maybe the James Bond meme isn't the total fantasy I had assumed it was: a juvenile wet dream about nubile maidens and irresistible heroes bumping off sundry villains.The reality appears to be quite impressive. This tiny, rainy island off Northwest Asia has been running quite a number of worldwide schemes. Its administrative center, Whitehall, manages a global web of intrigue and narrative-building, and has created a number of ‘imperial fortresses', thus punching above its weight-classOne of their principal assets in gaslighting others is the BBC (not to mention their plummy accents that, for example, make Americans just melt). The BBC has a sterling reputation which does not seem well-deserved. There have been many instances of motivated bias (eg. in their Brexit or India coverage), lack of integrity (eg. sexual transgressions by senior staff) and so on. In reality, it is about as unabashed at pushing its agenda as Al Jazeera is about its own.Admittedly, Britain has made one major blunder along the way, though: Brexit, which left them in trisanku mode, sort of adrift mid-Atlantic. They were distancing themselves from the European Union, counting on their so-called ‘special relationship' with the US to sustain them, away from what they perceived, correctly, as a declining and disunited Europe. They also thought they could dominate their former colonies again (see the frantic pursuit of a Free Trade Agreement with India?) without onerous EU rules. Sadly, none of this quite worked out.The reason is a fundamental problem: there is not much of a market for British goods any more. Indians once coveted British products as status symbols, but today, with the possible exceptions of Rolls Royce cars and single-malt whiskey, there's very little anybody wants from them. They still do good R&D, make aircraft engines (India could use that technology), and their apparently for-hire journalism is well-known, but that's about it.On the other hand, they have managed to stay entrenched in the international financial system, starting with colonial loot, especially the $45 trillion they are believed to have taken from India. It is rumored that they used stolen Indian gold to buy distressed assets in the US after the Civil War. It is possible they had the same game plan for Ukraine: acquire rich agricultural land and mineral deposits at distressed prices. Some point to the port of Odessa as another targetUkraine: bad faith actor?It is remarkable how Boris Johnson, then PM of UK, is alleged to have single-handedly ruined the chance of a ceasefire in April 2022 during his visit to Kiev in the early days of the Ukraine war, when there was a chance of a negotiated cessation of hostilities with all parties adhering to the Minsk 1 and 2 agreements.In January, just before President Trump took office, UK PM Starmer signed a minerals agreement with Ukraine as part of a “100-Year Partnership” that appears to pre-emptively undercut Trump's proposed $500-billion US deal. That lends credence to allegations about the UK's coveting minerals, as well as its not being interested in ending the tragic war.Gold: is it all there?The UK does have a thing for tangible assets, including gold. A lot of the world's gold (5000 metric tons) is supposedly held in secure custody in London. But there are fears that this may not physically be there in the vaults of the Bank of England any more. They may have indulged in ‘gold leasing', where the actual gold ends up being replaced by paper promises after it is lent out to bullion banks, from where it may be moved around and be inaccessibleExtraordinary delays in gold deliveries in 2025 (on withdrawals to New York triggered by tariff fears) increase this concern. There is a lack of transparency in transactions in the metal in the UK. Spooked, many countries are taking their gold back. India repatriated 200+ tons of its own gold from London in 2024. Venezuela is fighting a court battle to get its gold back.Then there are concerns raised by the arguably unfair freezing of Russian assets held abroad as part of Ukraine-war sanctions: Starmer recently promised to give Ukraine $2 billion, basically the interest generated by those assets. This doesn't sound quite right, and has dented the image of London as a reliable financial hub. Brexit was a blow; the rise of Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai and Zurich all threaten the City of London, but it is second only to New York, still.Imperial Fortresses galoreAnother win for the British was the selection of Mark Carney, a former Bank of England governor, as the Prime Minister of Canada. The Anglosphere continues to be dominated by the UK, although the Commonwealth is a club that serves no particular purpose any more, except as a curious relic of the British empire.This highlights the concept of ‘imperial fortresses': far-flung outposts that have helped sustain British military power and diplomatic clout despite the loss of empire. Traditionally, these were naval bases/garrisons such as those in Malta, Gibraltar, Bermuda, etc. that allowed Britain to keep an eye on the ‘restless natives'. However, I contend that the entire Anglosphere has been treated as imperial fortresses by them.Canada, Australia and New Zealand still continue to have the British King as their Head of State, which is astonishing for supposedly sovereign nations. But it's far more interesting that, in effect, the US has been treated as another vassal by the Brits, pillow-talked into doing things that are generally only in the interests of Britain. All that pomp and circumstance has beguiled poor Americans. Whitehall, I assert, have been Svengalis to Foggy Bottom.Master Blaster blowback?The other metaphor is from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), where "Master Blaster" is a literal duo: Master, a cunning dwarf, and Blaster, his brawny, enforcer bodyguard. The Americans unwittingly have provided the muscle to the calculating dwarf's machinations, which generally end up mostly benefiting the latterBut there is yet another imperial fortress that we should consider: Pakistan. It was created expressly to be a geographically well-placed client state for the Brits to continue their 19th century Great Game from afar to checkmate Russia, and incidentally to contain India. From that point of view, Pakistan has been a successful imperial outpost, notwithstanding the fact that it, despite decades of US largesse, is a failing state (see the Baloch train hijack recently).This is part of the reason why Americans have a hard time explaining why they get involved in Pakistan and Afghanistan again and again to their ultimate regret, with painful exits. They have been induced to do this by the clever Brits, who, quite evidently, sided with Muslims against Hindus in the sub-continent, for instance in the British-led merger of Gilgit-Baltistan into Pakistan, contrary to the Instrument of Accession.There is considerable irony in all this, because one could argue that Pakistani-origin Brits have now done a ‘reverse master-blaster' to the Brits. That sounds eerily like the ‘reverse-Kissinger' that Trump is supposed to be doing. Or maybe it is a ‘recursive master-blaster', although the mind boggles at that.Consider the facts: UK rape-gangs are almost entirely of Pakistani origin; several current mayors (including Sadiq Khan in London) and past mayors are of that ethnicity, indicating a powerful vote-bank; they have at least 15 MPs and a large number of councillors.There's Pakistani-origin Sir Mufti Hamid Patel, the chair of the Office of Standards in Education; Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary; Humza Yusuf, the former First Minister of Scotland. This imperial fortress is fighting back, indeed, and winning. The UK may not have quite anticipated this outcome.The American vassal-state is also beginning to rebel. Trump was personally incensed by the fact that Starmer sent 50 Labor operatives to work against him in the 2024 US elections: their interactions have been a little frosty.Khalil, an embedded asset?Then there is the case of a current cause celebre in the US, Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent. He has been accused of leading violent anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, and detained on that count. Interestingly, he had a security clearance from the UK, and was part of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, living in Beirut and leading a scholarship program for Syrians. Yes, Syria.And then Khalil suddenly showed up with a green card (not a student visa), got married to a US citizen named Noor Abdalla, finished his program at Columbia, and so on. To me, all this sounds like it was facilitated, and that he has certain powerful foreign friends. No prizes for guessing who they were.Iraq, Libya and Syria: Humanitarian crisesSpeaking of Syria, Whitehall spent at least 350 million pounds sterling between 2011 and 2024 in regime-change activities targeting the Assad government, according to Declassified UK.The UK's meddling in the Middle East, going back to the Sykes-Picot carving up of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, and mandates in Palestine and Iraq, and even earlier to the antics of T E Lawrence, was clearly intended to advance and sustain British interests in, and influence on, the region. Which is not unreasonable.The sad fact, though, is that it appears the British have actively fomented, or been deeply involved in, a lot of the military misadventures that have turned the region into a mess of human misery. To take relatively recent history, the invasions of Iraq, Libya, and now of Syria were arguably dreamt up or at least actively supported by Britain.The invasion of Iraq was certainly endorsed by Tony Blair's infamous September 2002 dossier about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which turned out to be imaginary, but then, lo! Saddam Hussein was overthrown and killed.The invasion of Libya saw Britain take on an even more active role. David Cameron and France's Nicolas Sarkozy in effect prodded a somewhat reluctant Barack Obama to invade, even co-drafting the UN Security Council Resolution 1973 in 2011 that was the formal permission for the war. The net result was the killing of Muammar Gaddafi.In the case of Syria, Britain began covert operations in 2012, with MI6 allegedly organizing arms shipments, training and coordination of groups opposed to the Assad regime. The sudden fall of Assad in December 2024, driven by groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that Britain indirectly supported, underscores the successful outcomes of this policy.In all three cases, a secular dictatorship was overthrown and religious extremists took over. Earlier, civilians had reasonably prosperous lives; women were generally educated and present in the workforce. After the regime changes, all three are bombed-out hellholes, with no rights for women or religious minorities. In particular, the latter have been consistently subjected to massacres, as in the recent large-scale executions of Alawites in Syria.Even though Americans were the principal players in all these cases, the impression is that British Whitehall's gaslighting of their US counterparts in Foggy Bottom could well have tipped the scales and turned skirmishes into outright war and disaster.Thus it is clear that Britain is still a formidable player in the world of international relations, despite the loss of empire and relative decline. It is unfortunate, however, that the net result of its actions is to add to entropy and chaos and the loss of human lives and rights. Perfidious Albion it still is.1950 words, Mar 16, 2025AI-generated podcast from NotebookLM.google.com: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

Monocle speaks to the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, at the Mipim property fair in Cannes. Plus: the new English-language edition of ‘M Le Magazine du Monde’ and highlights from Matter and Shape, the annual design salon in Paris.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan meets city hall and transport editor Ross Lydall to discuss the news of a public consultation and his plans to take control of Oxford Street.CALM CEO Simon Gunning joins us to discuss recent figures revealing that 50% of London-based adults believe the government should do more to prevent youth suicide.Plus, lifestyle and culture writer India Block visits Dennis Seevers' House in Shoreditch—a theatrical reimagining of Georgian-era living.If you have been affected by the topics discussed in this podcast, call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org or CALM. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London parking fines are set for a price hike. Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced he'll raise penalty charge notices meaning some fines could hit £160. But why the hike? How will the money be used? And where do the fines apply?Rachelle Abbott's joined by The London Standard's City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall, to break down all you need to know.In part two, we explore the scents of ancient Egypt. Researchers from University College London and University of Ljubljana have uncovered the smells of nine mummified bodies. Dr Cecilia Bembibre, co-author and lecturer at UCL's Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources, joins us to explain how they extracted and analysed the ancient aromas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we look at Belinda Carlisle's view of heaven; the Moral Maze; French schools and wine; Trumps Tariffs, Crypto, Gaza plans and USAID; Death of the Aga Khan; Protecting womens sport in the US; Angela Rayner and Islamaphobia;  growth of LGBTQI youth numbers in the UK; Trans indoctrination in the UK; Sadiq Khan removes pronouns; Country of the week - Myanmar; Big Pharma funding Bernie Sanders; History of the Bagpipes; Joe Rogan on LA fires; Dale Vince gets his reward; Death of Jack Hemmings; persecution of the Church in China; Feedback and Psalm 27 with music from Belinda Carlisle, UB40,  the Beatles, Fred Morrison, the Peatbog Faeries; Marty Robbins; and the Gettys 

Britain's Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled her plan for economic growth, announcing a number of projects, including reviving a plan to expand London's Heathrow Airport, which has already drawn opposition from the city's Mayor Sadiq Khan. BBC political correspondent Rob Watson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2024 on Saturday 19 October at Church House, Westminster. ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION Smartphones have become almost ubiquitous in modern society. The rise of social-media services, which have billions of users worldwide, has gone hand in hand with the use of smartphones. Few technologies have seen such rapid adoption. With concerns about several social problems coming to the fore in recent years, a variety of commentators have pointed to this new technology as an important cause. But in this case, does correlation really equal causation? One problem is how we discuss social and political issues. Social media has democratised political debate. But that debate seems increasingly polarised and toxic, with social media being blamed by many for the summer riots in the UK and Elon Musk being the target of hatred from some for his relatively liberal approach to posts on X/Twitter. The rise of AI, particularly the ease of making ‘deep fakes', has complicated matters further, making it harder for voters to figure out what candidates really believe or potentially stirring up conflict – as illustrated by fake audio of London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, earlier this year. There are also worries – most prominently expressed by Professor Jonathan Haidt – that spending so much time looking at devices has damaged children's mental health, sense of independence and concentration spans. High-profile head teacher Katherine Birbalsingh has caused controversy by banning smartphones from the classrooms at Michaela School in London, a trend now mirrored in state-wide bans on smartphones in schools in some parts of America. But do such concerns over-inflate the importance of technology? For example, one worry is the decline of children's independent play and travel – but this has been a trend for decades in much of the West, leading to debates about ‘cotton wool' kids. Haidt himself has pointed to this as part of the problem. Declining mental health, for children and adults, has also been a concern for many years, but how much of it is new and how much is a result of expanding definitions of mental illness is unclear. Is new technology really responsible for these social trends – or is it mere coincidence? What else might explain these changes – and what should we do about to tackle such problems? SPEAKERS Lord James Bethell former health minister; member, House of Lords Andrew Doyle presenter, Free Speech Nation, GB News; writer and comedian; author, The New Puritans and Free Speech and Why It Matters Timandra Harkness journalist, writer and broadcaster; author, Technology is Not the Problem and Big Data: does size matter?; presenter, Radio 4's FutureProofing and How to Disagree Sandy Starr deputy director, Progress Educational Trust; author, AI: Separating Man from Machine CHAIR Rob Lyons science and technology director, Academy of Ideas; convenor, AoI Economy Forum; author, Panic on a Plate

Donald Trump will enter the White House on Monday, Joe Biden has to pack his bags and make sure he doesn't fall over again on his way out. Sadiq Khan ramps up another notch on the arrogant dictator scale and Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown talks to Mike about the sheer scandal that is our pot marked roads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To welcome in the New Year, Grace is joined by politician Sadiq Khan. Born in south London, to British Pakistani parents, he is one of eight children and was MP for Tooting before becoming London's mayor in 2016. Now in his third term, Sadiq and Grace talk about how doughnuts fuel him during elections, the art of screwing up a tuna pasta bake, and where he'd like to take Donald Trump for dinner next time the president-elect is in town.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv New Year Honours Gareth Southgate, Stephen Fry and Olympians on list Nationwide boss Women working at home could risk missing out Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reach divorce deal US Treasury says it was hacked by China in major incident Laura Kenny Can elite sport damage womens fertility Gaza babies dying from the cold as winter temperatures drop Primrose Hill jewellery raid victims offer up to 1.5m in rewards Sadiq Khan knighthood prompts Tory criticism Two Oregon men found dead while searching for Bigfoot Sophie Ellis Bextor Saltburn led to 110 gigs in 2024

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Whitehaven explosion Three injured in suspected gas blast UK weather warnings dampen New Year celebrations Primrose Hill jewellery raid victims offer up to 1.5m in rewards Brangelina Why has the Pitt and Jolie divorce taken so long Star Wars actor Angus MacInnes dies aged 77 Ukraine to end transit of Russian gas into Europe Johnnie Walker Former BBC Radio 2 DJ dies at the age of 79 Police identify woman set on fire in deadly New York City attack UK special forces troops face possible Syria war crimes charges Sadiq Khan knighthood prompts Tory criticism

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Primrose Hill jewellery raid victims offer up to 1.5m in rewards UK special forces troops face possible Syria war crimes charges Whitehaven explosion Three injured in suspected gas blast Star Wars actor Angus MacInnes dies aged 77 Johnnie Walker Former BBC Radio 2 DJ dies at the age of 79 Sadiq Khan knighthood prompts Tory criticism Police identify woman set on fire in deadly New York City attack Brangelina Why has the Pitt and Jolie divorce taken so long UK weather warnings dampen New Year celebrations Ukraine to end transit of Russian gas into Europe

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Sadiq Khan knighthood prompts Tory criticism New Year Honours Gareth Southgate, Stephen Fry and Olympians on list Two Oregon men found dead while searching for Bigfoot Sophie Ellis Bextor Saltburn led to 110 gigs in 2024 Primrose Hill jewellery raid victims offer up to 1.5m in rewards Laura Kenny Can elite sport damage womens fertility Gaza babies dying from the cold as winter temperatures drop Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reach divorce deal Nationwide boss Women working at home could risk missing out US Treasury says it was hacked by China in major incident

Syria's de facto leader says he'll host a national dialogue conference in the new year bringing together the country's various political factions and society groups. As the country emerges from a 13-year civil war, we look ahead to what 2025 could bring.The New Years Honours list has prompted a backlash as Sadiq Khan was awarded a knighthood. The Conservatives called it a "reward for failure".And we speak to the DJ who will open a 35-hour New Year's rave at the legendary Berlin techno club Watergate, which is closing amid rising costs.

Transport for London has announced fare increases for Tube travellers next year at more than double the rate of inflation.Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed the cost of travelling on the Underground, London Overground and Elizabeth line would increase at double the rate of inflation - but bus fares remain frozen, stay tuned for details.The London Standard's transport editor, Ross Lydall, interviewed the mayor following Friday's announcement, and joins us to examine cost, policy and politics.In part two, the Science Museum's curatorial lead of exhibitions Dr Glyn Morgan on Versailles: Science and Splendour, which includes a late 18th Century Breguet No.160 watch created for Marie Antoinette - once valued at almost £24 million. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We welcome the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to High Performance. In this episode, Sadiq sits down with Jake and Damian for an honest and open conversation about his life, his journey, and what it means to lead a city as vibrant and complex as London. From his family's roots in Pakistan to his path to becoming mayor, he shares insights that go far beyond politics.Sadiq opens up about his personal background, reflecting on his parents' migration story and his own experience growing up in London. He discusses how his upbringing has shaped his values and how he's tried to instill those same values in his own children. Sadiq also dives into the balance he maintains between his political responsibilities and personal beliefs, explaining his unique approach to decision-making.He discusses the challenges he faces in his role, from handling the intensity of London's mayoral responsibilities to navigating complex issues like racism and public scrutiny. He also touches on his well-known feud with Donald Trump, offering insights into how he deals with public criticism and personal attacks while staying focused on his goals. This episode offers a fascinating look into Sadiq's background, his approach to leadership, and his ability to maintain optimism despite the challenges he faces in his political career.

Sadiq Khan, Starmer & Trump: Have Labour ruined the UK-US Special Relationship? A brilliant episode of #NCFDeprogrammed, as hosts Connor Tomlinson & Harrison Pitt discuss all things Trump with GB News presenter Ben Leo who's just back from covering the US election.