Original Broadcast: How did we get here? A history of the UK’s political parties.
Simon Rose is joined by political commentator and author of The Groucho Tendency blog, Mike Indian, to discuss how UK politics has got to where it is today. In this episode, Simon and Mike discuss the history of the Conservative Party, from its inception right up to the modern day.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University considers the many twists and turns at Labour's Party Conference in Brighton and wonders if Momentum is turning into phut. He looks at a pollster's analysis of the concerns of regional Conservative voters which appear to confound popular thought. And he looks at the long-term implications of the Supreme Court Decision and whether the UK should have a written constitution.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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James Cameron-Wilson casts his eye over the UK box office where, as in the US, the new Brad Pitt sci-fi film Ad Astra takes second place to Downton Abbey, still at #1. Rambo: Last Blood comes in at #4 while the new Melissa McCarthy enters at #14. On DVD is the Austrian/German detective series The Pass while James recommends the Blu-Ray release of the Elton John biopic musical Rocketman, for which Taron Egerton is being tipped for an Oscar nomination.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: The Week That Was and The Week Ahead
Graham Spooner of The Share Centre looks at recent news from Pearson, Imperial Brands, Boohoo and Sainsbury's. He then casts his eye ahead to consider what we might expect from Tesco, Gregg's and Ferguson.
Guests: Graham Spooner
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Steve Caplin wonders about the merits of Facebook's planned dating platform, with the company trying to trademark the word "book". He slavers over a beautiful orange juice kiosk which uses peel to make 3D cups. There's a clever new laser projector, a pen that will draw in any colour, a Skoda e bike and life-saving news about the preservation time for liver donations.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
With the Supreme Court weighing up the prorogation of Parliament, political commentator Mike Indian considers where the power lies in our parliamentary democracy and how MPs should behave if they disagree with their constituents. He ponders whether the UK would be better off with a written constitution and, with the publication of his memoirs, believes that David Cameron is the last gasp of a bygone political era.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Steve Caplin reveals the winners of the IgNobel Awards for bonkers scientific research. He drools over the new iPhone and thinks gamers will love the company's Apple Arcade. In auto news there's funding for a project to charge car batteries in 6 minutes, a 3-wheel electric car from Estonia and an electric water taxi on trial in the Seine. Self-driving Segways will soon recharge themselves while e scooters could speed up urban journey times if made legal.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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James Cameron-Wilson looks at the UK box office, where Downton Abbey has scored the highest-ever opening for a British period film. In at #3 is the Jennifer Lopez true-life scam movie Hustlers. For home viewing, James recommends the Blu-Ray release of the 1952 Western High Noon starring Gary Cooper.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: The Week That Was and The Week Ahead
Helal Miah of The Share Centre looks at recent news from Ocado, Kingfisher, Next and Sirius Minerals, as well as the surge in the oil price. He also looks ahead to what we might expect from Boohoo, Halma, the AA, United Utilities and SSE.
Guests: helal miah
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin reveals why the BBC's voice assistant is being taught regional accents, where magnetic north has moved to, Bosch's electric pushchair, the zip that could kill astronauts' favoured tradition, the advent of Wifi 6, how many people google "how to change a lightbulb" and Harley-Davidson's electric bikes for three-year-olds.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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