Reunited, Coco and Nish are finally back together in the studio to talk U turns, disability benefits, Brexit and… gimp masks? There’s a lot of politics to catch up on including some big shifts from the Labour government.
First on Gaza - Keir Starmer and David Lammy changed tack with fierce criticism of the Israeli government. But critics argue that without an actual arms embargo talking tough with Israel is inadequate. So is it all too little, too late?
And in another change of direction, the Prime Minister has been listening to voters and his own disgruntled MPs on benefits. He signalled a rethink on one of Labour's most unpopular moves - cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners. But reforms of disability benefits are still on the cards so Nish heads to Westminster where disability activists gathered to lobby their MPs. With a major rebellion on the cards from Labour MPs, can Starmer be steered into a U-turn on this too?
Employment minister Alison McGovern explains how she’s going to get more young people into work and she has a message for Pod Save the UK’s disillusioned Labour voters.
And did you think Brexit bollocks was in the rearview mirror? Well sorry - this week the Brexit undead returned with nonsense we thought was safely consigned to the dustbin of history.
Guests:
Alison McGovern MP
Ellie Chowns MP
Nadia Whittome MP
Meg Thomas, Disability Rights Campaigner
Audio Credits:
Parliament TV
BBC
GB News
Useful Links:
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/mass-lobby-against-benefit-cuts-21st-may-be-there
Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
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50:05
Pod Save an Island of Strangers
Coco’s back! She’s both sleep and politics deprived, but Nish is ready to fill her in.
The government's shake-up of legal migration laws landed this week - but the news has been dominated by one question. Is Keir Starmer Enoch Powell incarnate? His speech warned that we ‘risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks together’ - a careless comment or a reaction to Reform gains? Nish and Coco dissect and take a deep dive into the government’s plans with Minnie Rahman, CEO of migrants' rights charity Praxis.
Next up, the Government are jumping for joy about the US-UK trade deal, but Nish struggles to find anything to say… is this just a downgrade portrayed as an upgrade?
The race for the next leader of the Greens is on, and will Youngblud make a foray into politics? Nish and Coco discuss how to capture the youth vote. And grassroots football teams are fighting back against the FA’s ban on trans women playing football.
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Useful Links:
To find out more about how people will be impacted check out Praxis' socials and sign up to their emails for campaign actions.’
https://everpress.com/gdfc-let-the-dolls-play
https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/nish-kumar-nish-dont-kill-my-vibe
Guest:
Minnie Rahman, CEO of Praxis
Audio Credits:
BBC
Parliament TV
Kemi badenoch / X
Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk
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54:59
How Labour should (but probably won’t) reset after Reform’s big win
There’s no ifs or buts - Reform had a won big in last week’s local elections - but it’s not all bad news. Near-total Tory wipeout, positive signs for the Liberal Democrats and Greens and a lesson for Labour: acquiescing to Nigel Farage will only empower him.
A slightly jetlagged Nish and a fresh as a daisy Zoë digest the results before diving into demands to end Israel’s occupation of Gaza… Led by, of all people, rebel tories? In the wake of the Netanyahu’s latest actions, why isn't the British Government speaking up more?
Later, the pair are joined by climate activist Patience Nabukalu, for an injection of hope following her direct action calling for an end to fossil fuel investment from one of the UK’s biggest banks.
**Comment was sought from HSBC regarding claims of dismissing voices at their AGM but was not received in time for publication. We will update this podcast if we receive a reply**
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Useful Links
https://www.instagram.com/patiencenabukalu
Guests
Patience Nabukalu
Audio Credits
Number 10 Downing Street
Zack Polanski
Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk
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54:03
The UK Supreme Court ruling and the fight for trans rights
In the wake of the UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of woman should be based on biological sex, Nish and Zoë speak to LGBTQ+ activist Ellen Jones, author of "Outrage: Why the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is not yet won and what we can do about it" about the implications for trans people .
They discuss how the campaigning of reactionaries like billionaire author JK Rowling led to the decision that has seen Prime Minister Keir Starmer backflipping on his support for the trans community. Ellen speaks on the dangers of the recent ruling and practical ways to resist and support the trans community.
Then, as the Tories flounder ahead of the local elections, Zoë hedges her bets. And we take a look at two shocking attempts to seize the limelight by Liz Truss and Tony Blair.
Plus, ahead of the Australian election this weekend, Nish speaks to former Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan about how, in the wake of Trump's tariffs and attacks on allies, the commonwealth might be more important than ever and what the US and UK could learn from Australia's compulsory preferential voting system.
CORRECTION: In this episode we at one point refer to the EHCR incorrectly, for clarity, it is the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
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Guests:
Ellen Jones
Wayne Swan
Useful links:
Outrage: Why the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is not yet won and what we can do about it by Ellen Jones
https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/ellen-jones/outrage/9781035030606
The Good Law Project Crowdfunder to legally challenge the Supreme Court Decision
https://goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/supreme-court-human-rights-for-trans-people/
Compilation of protests against the Supreme Court Decision
https://whatthetrans.com/compilation-of-protests-against-the-supreme-court/
Volunteer at your local trans pride - London Trans Pride call for stewards
https://www.instagram.com/londontranspride
Write to your MP
https://transactual.org.uk/change-actions/write-to-your-mp/
Reclaim the framing of UK trans rights
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTWR6sdj_xWKoOGLmwp0JotSL3NBrYSd1Dy3VZOIIKJKy0Ej6cFPt32IIKan3qCq6fG4lpgrw46ewO0/pub?urp=gmail_link
Protect the Dolls T-shirt in support of Trans Lifeline, a US-based charity
https://connerives.com/products/pre-order-protect-the-dolls-t-shirt
Info on voting in the Australian Election abroad:
ALPABROAD.ORG
Audio Credits
Sky News
ITV News
Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk
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57:41
Nish and Coco spill the tea: your questions answered
As Parliament sits for Easter Recess, Nish and Coco dive into the PSUK mailbag to answer your burning questions.
There’s the serious political questions - who are the real progressive party? How can we fight Reform? Should we all just leave the UK??
But there’s some curveballs, too - like what’s up with Bob Dylan’s instagram posting? Boxers or briefs? And most importantly… Has Nish Kumar ever eaten a pot noodle in the bath?
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Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk
Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk
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Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk
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Pod Save the UK is your weekly fix of political news, big ideas and a shot of inspiration. Each week hosts, comedian Nish Kumar and journalist Coco Khan are joined by politicians, experts, and famous friends to unpick the latest news, look for solutions, and inspire action. From Crooked Media – the creators of Pod Save America – in partnership with Reduced Listening, tune in to new episodes of Pod Save the UK every Thursday wherever you pod.