Regarding turning off, I saw James Cleverly being asked about the tory candidates not being suspended for gambling and his immediate response was "well, Kier Starmer and..." And at that point I skipped the rest of the statement as it was clearly going to be pointless bullshit.
According to the tories, without fail, the blame for this country's ills lie at the feet of labour and /or the EU and/ or immigrants (in no particular order); all while failing to acknowledge the obvious, that they have been 'governing' the UK for the last 14 years.
I wouldn't want to be Keir Starmer - it just won't be possible to fix a fraction of what's gone wrong since Cameron within the next five years. I suspect the right will blame them for every problem that still exists in under 18 months.
The talk on the bus in Peterborough was how the gambling scandel just shows that politicians just care about lining their pockets and not helping those who elected them. What does motivate people is the NHS. Cancel clinician student debt and get them to work in NHS for 5 years was the cry.
I think 30 years service is what they owe us. Trotting off to earn millions in US is immoral and should attract financial penalties - ie repaying their training. Exemptions for those going to work in third world.
How often do we have to hear the pathetic declaration "it might be wrong ... but it's not illegal"? The whole construction of British parliamentary culture has been based on the assumption that to get into power, politicians are 'honourable'. Thew reason why Johnson - and Trump - managed to do the unthinkable was that the founders of democracy didn't think characters like Johnson etc. would get into power. There's no rules against it because no one thought someone would do it! The whole gambling thing shows the shabby attitude of those currently at the top - they placed bets on the GE with the same attitude as a Derby sweep at the office. Consider that morally insider betting is as bad as insider trading. And we are shown that those at the top don't consider morality as a limiting factor.
As a former Public Servant I took my agreement and signing of the Official Secrets Act very seriously. I never used my position and any information to my own personal financial advantage, and I consider that MPs of any shade have an even higher bar to work to. Most of the Tories have ducked that bar, or never even considered it as applying to them. Disgraceful behaviour. 😡
Ukraine is lost. The Ukraine warmonger cheerleaders, for the longest time, forwarded the narrative that Ukraine was on the cusp of winning. What happened? Like the Forever Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the disgraceful legacy will be the billions of pounds shoveled into the Ukrainian war armaments abyss.
I'm in a Labour stronghold with a 15k majority and it could be a Green vote from me despite being a Labour member. Their wealth tax focus is a biggy. I don't like how limp Labour is being with wealth and the 1%'ers. I fall in an awkward spot where my effective tax rate is near 70% because of plan 2 degree and a masters degree + being in the top 5% of earners. So a hypothetical Green victory would shaft me even more but overall it would be better for the country. Edit: I don't like their nationalisation approach. It would cost us a few hundred billion to just nationalise everything how they want to whereas Labour want to slowly move towards nationalisation which I feel is more realistic. I don't like how the Greens view 50k and up as "high earner" in todays economy.
50k is around 150% median income - by percentile 75% is 48k, 80% is 52k; it might not sound much, particularly net, but it definitely qualifies as high in todays economy
I'm in a similar position wage wise, and I am also openly calling for me to be taxed a bit more, as long as billionaires are taxed so they pay their share too!
@@markwelch3564 /getting at the billionaires needs a total redefinition of 'income', or an equalising of dividend rates etc with income tax - The same thing Cameron criticized Jimmy Carr for, but is used by hundreds of mp's for articles, books & tv earnings. It'll never happen under the tories, but I doubt labour will either - Alistair's labour definitely didn't & their manifesto lists £5.25 Bn from non dom & tax avoidance measures (which cost the exchequer circa £140 Bn a year)
If you are earning 50k and over, you are doing EXTREMELY well in this economy. It's okay to admit how LUCKY you are, many of us are living in poverty through sheer bad luck
I don't think that people have lost interest in debates per se - I think they simply lack interest in the current political landscape. Sunak is written off by many people as incompetent and dishonest, Starmer is similarly written off as dull and vague in his answers, so people aren't willing to sit through a long debate where nothing of note is said. It's far more interesting, illuminating, and efficient for me as a member of the public to listen to commentators such as the two of you actually pulling them apart. If I felt that the leaders themselves would actually provide something of value we haven't all heard before in a debate, I'd watch it.
Likewise. I get all my debates second hand too. I chip in to help fund a few channels so they can sit through the news on my behalf and find the interesting stuff!
@@Brianunich Coincidence or what? King Ted's 1968 vintage here.. I have reread your comment and admit I underestimated the full meaning. My apologies...
I'm really not interested in the sexuality of others, and I'm a woman who's nearing 80 yrs now. As long as people do no harm to others is my motto and always has been. It figures nowhere on my political agenda, way behind poverty, affordable housing, schooling, health etc.
@@inter-linked No they're not. Overwhelmingly, actual child abusers are people the children already know well (family, stepfamily, religious figures, authority figures). Unless you consider education "abuse", but I think that would be more down to your fears that the next generation might turn out to be nicer and kinder than you are.
No politican or associate ought to be placing any bets on the election. There is a simple way to solve this problem for Sunak. He should simply ask each accused the simple question "have you placed a bet on the election timing?" If they answer yes, then they get booted out, if they say, no then Sunak has covered his arse, and they get to wait for the judgement.
So we don't want people to vote for populist or non-centrist parties, but we "can't afford" to institute policies which mitigate the suffering of the poor and lower middle classes. Good luck with that. Rory's willingness as a wealthier person to pay more tax is arguably the only sensible answer at this point. The 'grow the economy more' argument is a shallow and slow response. To see Labour man Alastair trying to undermine Rory by saying, "you'd be mad to vote for this or that party because it'll cost you more," shows exactly where the centre left have gone wrong. They've swallowed the selfish individualism logic of the neoliberal right hook, line, and sinker.
You guys are brilliant, its the politicians that are poor quality and why cant the British public see the quality of people of differing views having a rational conversation...I heard that GB radio interview and standing up for the young voters!!!, If we can give young people the vote it stimulates hopefully good debate and maybe shames the older/more enshrined positions to reflection.
Alistair, what you said about the transgender community was very much appreciated. I'm not trans but I am bi and I have had a couple transgender friends who I am honored to say trusted me enough to be the first person they came out to (and luckily mostly found acceptance from others and their families when they felt comfortable coming out to them though it hasn't been easy) so it's been really frustrating, scary, and enraging seeing them treated as political footballs. Culture wars may be mostly only important to those determined to fight them but remember there are real casualties and they target the most vulnerable among us. Also, the witch trials of JK Rowling is worth listening to, yes, but there's quite a lot wrong with the way it was presented and framed. If you really want to see how it affects those of us who have had to deal with the fallout rather than worrying about the billionaire with a castle who has somehow decided this is the one thing worth her time now, watch people like Caelan Conrad here on YT
Re the trans debate. As a woman (genetic, whatever the technical term is), I have absolutely no issues with trans women, and I certainly don’t feel unsafe sharing “female” toilets with them. They are more likely to be attacked by a woman by birth than vice versa. Yes there will be isolated incidents but that’s not anything to do with gender, if a person is vicious, dangerous, aggressive or otherwise that’s a personality trait. I also don’t feel unsafe around men, the majority of my friends are men and the only instance i am treated any differently if there is any kind of perceived danger, then they are more protective, aside from that my gender is irrelevant, i am just their friend. The real issue here is we need to teach attackers not to attack anyone else, not argue over genetic males and females or trans men and trans women. Live and let live!
You’re clearly not up to date with current affairs. Do you have young children? It is not simply about womens toilets, dear lady. Our children are being indoctrinated, medicated at mutilated. Trans propaganda is being promoted in schools and universities. Our children are being corrupted. It is a medical scandal. Anyone supporting/ tolerating such a vile abuse of children will be held account.
@hayee thank you for that sensible, compassionate and positive take. Trans people aren't the enemy of cis folk. The majority of us stand shoulder to shoulder to fight for women's rights
Listen to what Alastair is saying - Labour voters might be apathetic or considering Green - don't be put off by the Greens being a small party, now's the time to support them. If Alastair is concerned, then it is not a vote wasted!
On the topic of deep fakes and AI I think we need to delve into this further and talk more about automation. its not spoken about anywhere near enough in parliament and in manifestos for the next term. With the amount of progress in the last 2 years, we can expect an enormous amount of growth in the next 5. I realise not all politicians are experts in computing but surely we need to be talking about the effects of mass automation and how we best introduce it? It will directly affect the economy, jobs, education in positive and negative ways. Harnessing it is the best way forward!
Alistair continuously grilling and criticizing the government about making the lives of most people in this country worse over the past 14 years due to austerity. Whilst at the same time he laughs at the green manifesto which promises to improve working conditions, invest in industry, and reduce inequality but backs a labour manifesto that is signing up to austerity is not only hypocritical and not analytical but is the exact reason why people have stopped believing that centrist politics can improve their lives. Rory has clearly noticed that neoliberalism is failing and is open to looking for an alternative. Alistair should take note as this is the only way forward if he wants more people to care about politics which he so desperately does! Don't be part of the problem!
the fake leak would have been better coming from rory saying that they had accidentally not deleted him from the list for the campaign.if Alistair was going to do it he should have done it about Labour
It would be great to support Ukraine to victory, but there's a few commentators now saying it's not possible. What's happened to them has been brutal, the West needs to look at their fault in this debacle and help make the right decision
I think having a frequent flyer tax would be a great thing, also making all short haul flights much more expensive than the rail equivalent, preferably by reducing the cost of rail as well as increasing the cost of flying.
I’m afraid Alastair, JK Rowling does speak for me and the majority of my female friends. This is also important to my husband and some of his friends with young daughters. This issue is high on my list of considerations for who to vote for, which I’m still deciding. It certainly won’t be Labour though. Once all the noise around this is cut through it’s a sensitive yet serious issue around fairness and safety. I love this podcast but the relentless Labour cheerleading is a little tedious sometimes (although there’s nothing to cheer the Conservatives for at the moment!!).
On the subject of high income tax. It was never higher on the most wealthy than in the 50s and 60s when in fact people were much better off could afford housing and had university education with no fees and grants and a decent health service. I believe business still survived very well at that time so please stop this anti taxtion of the wealthy nonesense started by Freidman and put into action by Thatcher and Reagan but also carried on by every governement since then. Lower taxes on the wealthy IS the problem that caused everything else. It's time to go back to good sense balanced economics and balance requires that those with the broadest shoulders pay a lot more than at present.
I have vited green or Lib Dem in the past . The Greens co leader Adrian Ramsey is standing (new constituency Waveney) here and could get it But I will be voting reform . As will many others I know . I think you are both underestimating Farage and some of the reform candidates.
I cannot abide how career politicians operate in this country and do not pretend to understand politics , but, I find both of you fascinating and all your content is easy to follow and super interesting...
Insider trading is criminal. I think people are angry that the Tories always seem to get away with criminality whereas ordinary people are punished by the Tories just for being poor.
Thank you for mentioning Howard Bernstein at the end. As someone from the neighbouring city of Salford he did so much to help transform the area after the 1996 bomb.
I'm pretty certain this Ai stuff is a bubble at the moment. It's an important development no doubt, and it will play a big part in our future. I think the analogy people should work to is that it's basically the internet in 1995, it's going to make a difference, but it'll be over a longer span of 25 years, and well businesses are going to have implement it, so that's going to be something in itself. But even beyond that to the AGI predictions, there's 2 things where I think that's folly firstly the energy requirements, people are predicting exponential development, but well that requires exponential power, that's a serious bottleneck. And secondly, we have no idea how the mind works, just because they have come up with innovative and fast ways to trawl databases and combine the info doesn't mean it's intelligent. We have no idea how the mind works, intelligence isn't just going to spawn from connecting databases. A lot of people looking for investment I think.
Stewart and Campbell start by suggesting Farage has ruined things after his Ukraine remarks. Then go on to say Reform won't make much impacted with issues like 'woke' culture because according to polls only 5% think it is important. Yet an equal amount 5% on the same poll think supporting the Ukraine is important. Using the same logic why then would most voters really care what Farage says about the Ukraine. The problem with Rory Stewart asking his mother what she thinks, and Campbell's emotion at Farage, is they don't sound reliable. An Uber driver who meets the public would have a better idea of voters.
@@paulgibbon5991 You believe that I am trying to delegitimize the Ukraine by the use of 'the'... funny. 🤔 Anyway, the 5% of UK voters who think the Ukraine is an important issue is only one in twenty. It sounds like most voters do not care about the Ukraine. Alister and Tory as nice as they are, could be in their own bubble about Farage. When is the last time Alister or Tory played darts with a mechanic, electrician, or plumber? I have a hunch they only talk to people who share their views. The voters could turn on Labor, as easily as they have with the Tories over illegal migration. And if Farage is in parliament that is what he is hoping.
I have no experience and scant knowledge of the transgender community except that they represent a small part of the population, fewer than 1%. I find it unfathomable that anyone, Ms. Rowling included, needs to promote discrimination against such a minority to further their own ends.
Because having biological men in biological women’s bathrooms is lunacy… I have full respect and sympathy for transgender people. But we need to be realistic that some things in society are distinguished by biology rather than gender (social).
@@joshyman221 I assume that when you use the prudish term "bathroom", you mean toilet; do you have separate toilets for males and females in your home? Where I live, in the communal areas should it happen that a segregated sex toilet is out of service, everybody uses the same, male or female and nobody is put out, they just need to use the toilet.
@@joshyman221 I understand that in the men's loo the urinals stand against a wall, but in the women's there are stalls because we don't want to see each other.
@@joshyman221 I thought the “Ladies” all had individual cubicles. Your argument MIGHT, just perhaps, make sense in the Gents. Stop clutching your pearls for a moment and engage your Iccle bitty female brain. ❄️
04:16 Alistair said 'should feel part of Public Service ' THAT is what is wrong with politicians. They do not feel as though they are public servants to the people. Its self, party (ideology) then the population/country .... and that won't change while we allow ego and a lack of awareness to rule us.
Paying junior doctors their fair pay ... from 35% pay cut savings over past 14 years frozen pay is a lot cheaper than paying locum or senior doctors to cover shifts... The biggest problem is that less qualified Physician assistants are paid more then doctors for less qualification or knowledge and dangerous care
What I found worse than the corruption was that the security officer was arrested, yet those connected to power were merely forced to make a public mea culpa. On face value, this looks grossly unjust and far more corrosive than a simple betting scandal.
on the point of people not engaging with the live debates and the comparison against viewership for your discussions - the crucial point is, people find the politicians in the live debates far less interesting to listen to. Its not a fair comparison to compare the two directly, but the fact remains that the discourse that occurs in your discussions is far more interesting and informative than any live debate between politicians we have ever watched.
44:09 I have to correct Rory there, Zelenskyy didn't create his career around the role of the fictional president. Back in 2005 he and his friends had created a live TV show called The Evening Quarter, which was pretty much a political cabaret, and similarly to SNL in the US it has featured a lot of parodies of prominent Ukrainian political figures. The show was incredibly popular in Ukraine back in the late 00s (nauseatingly popular, I would say, you couldn't hide away from it), so by the time he did his Servant of the People TV series back in 2015 he was already one of the most recognizable people in Ukraine.
You both raise good points on the debates being boring, I think I personally value both your insights far more than either candidate as I feel you offer far more interesting thoughts compared to regurgitated lines from Sunak and Starmer. I just feel like I'll never learn anything new or interesting listening to the debates as they're so guarded because they are highly scrutinized so can't let normal human discussion happen. I think that's why people like Farage push through with some voters as he allows that human response out and sort of says I don't care what you think, this is how it is so people see the conviction and mistake is for being genuine/truthful. End of the day it's hard for people to connect to a tape recorder that keeps playing the same lines and why people disconnect from leaders especially if you lack charisma 😅
Hi Alistair and Rory, you went to Greece and interviewed the PM, can you interview the Albanian PM as well or maybe do a Western Balkan tour. Many Thanks
It is difficult to believe that British politicians or ex politicians could ever make a fortune. Their moral probity overides their every act, their only concern is to serve the people.
I feel betrayed by Starmer and the direction he has taken Labour in in order to win power. No way I can vote for him. I'll be hoping that a combination of low turnout, votes for smaller parties and independents, and the general malaise for mainstream politics keeps Labour's majority to a minimum.
14:07 I'm so happy that AC said this. So much of the mainstream media and centre-left pander to JKR and her bigotry. For someone like AC to call out the nonsense and highlight the discrimination Trans people experience is incredible.
Sorry Alastair but you’ve clearly not done any meaningful research on the trans issue. Rory is right to concede his lack of qualification for the debate. To put it mildly, it’s easy to take a moral position when it costs you nothing. As a man, the trans issue costs Alastair precisely nothing.
The people that still support the Tories are those doing so through habit, those who have been taught to vote tory and those who gain from the tories. Which 20% equates to 20% of the population. Funnily those that gain from the tories are less than 1% so that other 18%-19% i actually feel sorry for. Couple days ago i watched someone interviewing someone from Goldalming and they said the tories have done a bad job and Sunak is a joke then to say but im still voting tory because my late parent's voted tory. Then he was asked if the tories could do anything to lose your vote and the man said 'probably not'. That statement has stayed with me the last few days. I was told by a lecturer 20 years ago to see yourself as an independent and judge each candidate based on merit and see if you have shared ideas and views. Once you vote for them hold them to the highest standard and scrutinize them. Mr Tan also went on to say if you pledge your loyalty and unwavering future support to them you become a tool for them and they will only call on you when needed. All parties forcus there attention to independent or swing voters. Also i was told never let any candidate know what your voting intentions are make them work for your vote. Finally he said be weary of those that are lifelong single party voters as they are the sheep you do not want to be following. A person who views and beliefs that dont change over time are those that dont grow and develop. I have a couple friends like that aged 40 that still hold the same veiws and beliefs now and act the same way now as they did when they were 20. Education and knowledge changes you over time!
Just so you know “democracy” doesn’t mean only center left or center right parties that “well-educated” london or paris bubble liberals , whether they call themselves conservatives or not, approve of 🤦♂️
Much prefer to attend a constituency hustings where I can vote for the candidates unlike the leaders' debates which play into this presidential style of politics where there is more heat than light.
love the show guys but think your wrong about Russia not being provoked into this war because it certainly was. I would love to be able to vote in this election but can't as the postal option is a none starter here in Greece and when you have been out of the UK for decades there are a forever dwindling number of people you know who could or would act as a proxy. It could be made easy using the chip in the passport as validation through the UK government gateway. all the best to you and your team.
I'm getting really fed up with these two. Alistair Campbell's "I won three elections in a row", and RoryStewart's "I'm too good for this world" shtick is starting to wear very thin.
A corrections. The Front Populaire is at 29.5% . Clarification that indicates the right wing nature of Macrons party. Eduard Philippe identifies as right wing.
The deepfake of Rishi's face super imposed onto Ricky Tomlinson in Royal Family, when they buy him Sky TV for Christmas. Priceless! "Sky? Sky TV? You got me Sky TV? 200 Channels?!"
I like your podcast and it is very imformative. But your two talking heads with images of you two talking heads behind you is a little weird. Could you maybe have a word with your set designer? Otherwise nice work.
if ivan toney can be banned/suspended from his profession and made to attend a "re-education camp" at the behest of the anti gambling lobby and other religious types, then so too can sunak and co. then we should probably crush the anti gambling lobby and the tory party.
So Alistair, you were asked for your thoughts on JK Rowling's article many times but you decided not to read it because you already know what she thinks. Is that right? Wow.
If Dorries is involved, I'm in... She is a gold mine these days, but she shouldn't ever be near the levers of government at all. I hope they just keep feeding her Gin through the night.
