Headspace

As the winter of discontent continues, with a building public service crisis and escalating industrial action, the government has responded by trying to pass legislation to control the unions and clamp down on protests. But what are the political consequences of this approach? What does the public think? And what will happen next? Veteran political journalist and pollster Peter Kellner and Naomi Smith, chief executive of campaigning organisation Best for Britain join Alan Rusbridger to discuss. If you enjoyed this podcast, why not have a listen to our Prospect Lives podcast? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than 320 days into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Rafael Behr and Francesca Ebel join Alan Rusbridger to discuss how Russians themselves have responded to the war. Are they fighting, fleeing or resisting? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team discuss the turbulent year that's passed and give predictions for the year ahead, as well as sharing their highlights from Prospect in 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do a farmer, an actor and an Anglican priest have in common? How will Sheila Hancock celebrate her 90th birthday and what will Tom Martin's sheep do on Christmas Day? Three of Prospect's seven Lives columnists—who write a monthly reflection on their experiences of modern Britain—join Alan Rusbridger for a festive catch-up.Subscribe to our monthly Prospect Lives podcast to hear more from Sheila, Alice, Tom and the rest of the Lives family here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For decades, China has been the engine of the global economy, but what if it is stalling? Journalist and founder of China Dialogue, Isabel Hilton and historian and author Rana Mitter join Alan Rusbridger to discuss Xi Jinping's change of direction and the consequences for the rest of the world.If you enjoyed this podcast, subscribe to our Prospect Lives channel here: https://podfollow.com/prospect-lives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This winter—perhaps more than any other—we’re aware that there are millions of people languishing on waiting lists for treatment, and ambulance response times are getting longer and longer. Is it time to replace the NHS wholesale? Alexander Menden, a journalist for the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and author of the cover story of Prospect's winter special, How not to fix the NHS, joins Sally Warren, director of policy at the King's Fund and Melanie Phillips, journalist for The Times to discuss this question. To subscribe to Prospect Lives, click here: https://podfollow.com/prospect-lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The climate crisis and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have reinvigorated debate about the role of nuclear energy in decarbonising our grid. Bryony Worthington, a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, who has spent a career on conservation, energy and climate change issues and Simon Evans, deputy editor at Carbon Brief join Ellen Halliday to discuss why the answer is more complicated than you might think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five and half years on from the fire that killed 72 people in a high-rise block in North Kensington, 400 days of testimony to a public enquiry have ended. But will anyone be held accountable for the mistakes that led to the disaster? And are the survivors any closer to getting justice? Peter Apps, deputy editor of Inside Housing and author of new book "Show Me the Bodies: How we let Grenfell Happen" joins Sarah Collins on the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leading political journalist and pollster Peter Kellner and Alfie Stirling, chief economist at the New Economics Foundation, unpack today's Autumn Statement with deputy editor Ellen Halliday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s 80 years since William Beveridge identified the five giant problems holding back post-war Britain, laying the groundwork for the welfare state. Today, that welfare state appears in crisis—but has it failed, or has it simply not evolved after completing its original tasks? Paul Maynard, Conservative MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, and Helen Barnard, associate director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, join Ellen Halliday to discuss what the welfare state must fix next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor at Harvard University, Caroline Elkins joins Richard Hermer, Murray Hunt and Helen Mountfield to discuss her new book Legacy of Violence: A History of the British Empire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does Sheffield have a productivity problem? Or is it a city on the verge of "levelling up"? Contributing editor Tom Clark and Sheffield born podcasting maestro Dino Sofos join Alan Rusbridger to discuss Sheffields post-industrial revolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it too difficult to dismiss officers who commit misconduct from the police? Are there a few rotten apples or a culture of sexism? Helen King, former assistant commissioner for the Metropolitan Police and principal of St Anne's College Oxford, and Emily Lawford, assistant editor at Prospect join Sarah Collins on the podcast to discuss Baroness Casey's recent review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Resigning as prime minister this afternoon, Liz Truss has been outlived by the Daily Star's lettuce. Peter Kellner and Naomi Smith return to the podcast to discuss how Truss was toppled and which of the leadership hopefuls might follow her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After another chaotic week in Westminster—in which Penny Mordaunt had to reassure the House of Commons that prime minister Truss was not "hiding under a desk"—chief executive of Best for Britain Naomi Smith and seasoned political journalist Peter Kellner join Alan Rusbridger to discuss whether Truss can cling on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite being overall a wealthy country, the UK has the second highest income inequality in the G7—a point best exemplified by the huge disparity in wealth between the top executives and the lowest paid in some of the country’s biggest countries. In this week’s podcast, deputy editor Ellen Halliday is joined by Luke Hildyard, director of the High Pay Centre, and Sandy Pepper, emeritus professor of the London School of Economics, to discuss how CEO pay packets got so out of control—and whether or not there’s a way to fix it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Observer writer Sonia Sodha and political columnist at The Times, Rachel Sylvester join Alan Rusbridger on the podcast to discuss an eventful week at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The announcement of the chancellor's mini-budget—including tax breaks for the highest earners and cuts to stamp duty—threatens to ignite an already raging public anger, argue journalist John Lloyd, political economist Will Hutton, and Taj Ali, member of the Enough is Enough Campaign. They join Prospect deputy editor Ellen Halliday on the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David McAllister hosts a quick-fire roundup of some of the most interesting books of the month with the writers who reviewed them in Prospect. Sarah Collins discusses Elizabeth's Strout's pandemic novel, Lucy by the Sea while Lucy Thynne tells us about Shehan Karunatilaka’s latest book, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. Peter Forbes reviews Prospect science writer Philip Ball's The Book of Minds, while David reviews Murray Pittock's new history Scotland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the emotional consequences of precarious housing? How do we reframe the housing crisis from a "knotty policy problem" to a "fundamental issue of justice"? Planning barrister and author of a new book A Home Of One's Own, Hashi Mohamed joins Sarah Collins on the podcast, along with Ben Reeve-Lewis, co-founder of housing charity Safer Renting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.