Inside the Mind of Rachel Reeves (w/ Bloomberg's Joe Mayes)
The Chancellor will be unveiling what’s inside her Red Box on Wednesday the 26th of November. But before that major announcement in the House of Commons, Rachel Reeves has already attempted to give us, and Mr Market, a sense of what is to come. In a preview of her actual Budget speech, the top Labour minister has hinted at tax increases.This would, of course, break her party’s General Election Manifesto.But don’t worry, folks, there’s plenty to blame for this trust smashing exercise.The Chancellor has pointed to the tough macro-economic conditions the British economy has faced, her fiscal inheritance from the Conservative Party and the weather.Well, not quite the latter, but she might as well have. All in all, it’s looking like more doom and gloom from the Treasury. What better time then to talk to Joe Mayes, who is tasked by Bloomberg News to cover Rachel Reeves on a daily basis.Joe has a new book out Can You Run The Economy? An interactive guide on how to fix the UK’s economic plumbing, which draws on deep research and interviews from a string of former Chancellors. Joe talks about his career in journalism, his relationship with the Chancellor and he even gives some Budget predictions – the freezing of income tax thresholds sounds awfully prescient.Edited, produced and presented by Ian Silvera.
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Why Politicians Are So Unpopular
On this episode, we find out what voters are really thinking and why the UK’s politicians are so unpopular. I’m joined by Holly Day of Ipsos MORI, the polling agency best known for its monthly concerns index.We discuss how education has replaced social class as an identifier of voting behaviour, Holly explains how Sir Keir Starmer has gone from plus 34 to minus 34 points in the polls and how the May elections might pan out for the Labour Party. This episode is most suited for the political geeks amongst us. So, if you are one of those - secret or not - I hope you enjoy the episode and do please make sure to leave a review. Presented, hosted and edited by Ian Silvera, Editor of Tech, Power & Media.
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How To Report A Trade War
On this episode I’m joined by an old friend, Graham Lanktree of Politico, to talk about the new global trade war. Originally from Canada, Graham explains what the journalism scene in Montreal and Ottawa used to be like, his move to London and how he first started to cover the Trump administration back in 2016.Nowadays, Graham is considered to be one of the leading trade correspondents operating in the UK. Here, he outlines what it’s like covering the recent tariff developments from Trump and how even top trade negotiators are asking him what’s going on. Produced, edited and presented by Ian Silvera, Editor of Tech, Power & Media.
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The Social History of The Postman
On this episode, I speak to Alan Cleaver, a retired journalist turned author who lives next to one of England’s most beautiful spots, The Lake District. Alan’s latest project charts the rise and fall of the rural postman and the shortcuts they made across the British countryside as they delivered the post in all weathers.These so-called Postal Paths were the work of Royal Mail workers from the Victorian Era onwards. The bike and then the car would ultimately change the postie’s relationship with the countryside – and their customers – but Alan has been able to retrace many of these once important routes in his latest book. Sometimes approaching with a bugle call, the rural postie often carried gossip with them as well as a bag full of letters. They were an important part of rural social life in Britain, something Alan explains and explores during our own conversation.The Postal Paths: Rediscovering Britain’s Forgotten Trails And The People Who Walked Them will be out later this month.Produced by Ian Silvera, editor of Tech, Power & Media.
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The Substack Rich List Is Revealed With The Press Gazette's Bron Maher
On this episode of the Political Press Box, I speak to Bron Maher, a senior reporter at The Press Gazette. The outlet has published its annual Substack rich list, unveiling the highest earners in the industry, including the likes of Heather Cox Richardson, Nate Silver and Mehdi Hasan. It sounds like a European list could be coming soon. We also talk about the state of the media industry heading into the rest of 2025. Trump, AI and a volatile advertising market, it’s all going on. And Bron explains which news media companies he’s keeping an eye on.Produced and hosted by Ian Silvera, editor of Tech, Power & Media.
A conversation with journalists, pollsters and academics about politics and the media. Hosted by Ian Silvera, editor of Tech, Power & Media, the podcast aims to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of Westminster, Washington and beyond. www.news-future.com
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