Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the political lie of the land after Rishi Sunak's first 100 days as Prime Minister. While believing he did the right thing when it came to Nadhim Zahawi, Mike feels that the Prime Minister needs to show more ruthlessness when it comes to his own party. As for the country as a whole, the current batch of strikes simply feed into the picture that nothing in Britain is working as it should.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University wonders where and what are the benefits of Brexit, three years after the UK left the European Union. He looks at a fascinating set of numbers analysing housing trends over the past two hundred years. And, 100 years since the founding of the BBC, he explains why he admires the BBC, despite – or because of – its ability to irritate all sides equally at once.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says that we must face the fact that Britain is going the way of Argentina and becoming a poor country. The war on the ultra-rich, he points out, will spell disaster for the UK's public finances. And it is surely time we recognised that the NHS is in a state of permanent crisis and that a Royal Commission should be set up to find a solution.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Politicial commentator Mike Indian analyses the New Year's addresses of Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. Will the PM be able to deliver on his 5 pledges? Is Starmer being ambitious enough, channelling the likes not just of Blair, but also Wilson and Callaghan? With the May elections expected to give the Conservatives a massive drubbing, could Boris Johnson yet make a comeback as leader?
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans looks back at the challenging year that was 2022, taking us through learning to live with Covid, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US mid-terms and the Trump revelations, the passing of the Queen, the rapid turnover of Prime Ministers and the cost-of-living crisis. Looking ahead, he wonders how China will cope with Covid, wonders if the current industrial unrest might rebound on Labour and wonders what will become of Russia as the war grinds on.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the nurses' strike. When all solutions to the NHS's problems are difficult, he feels emphasis should be on patient outcomes. He looks at the new bullying claims against Dominic Raab, wondering why the relationship between government and the civil service has deteriorated so markedly. And he summarises an extraordinary year which, he says, shows just how the Conservatives have thrown away most of the advantages they held.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Politicial commentator Mike Indian says that PM Rishi Sunak should not get bogged down in detail, but work out what to concentrate on and make himself visible where it counts. He discusses government U-turns and what the Chester by-election means for Labour, suggesting it reinforces the idea that the party will form the next government. With Stephen Flynn the new SNP leader in Westminster, does this mean that Nicola Sturgeon's days are now effectively numbered?
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University suggests ways in which the UK can return to growth and compete internationally, but wonders which government – if any – will do what is necessary. He discusses the mindless vandalism of cracking down on overseas students. And he considers whether China's increasing economic woes will benefit India, the world's biggest democracy.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the aftermath of the Autumn Statement and what it mean for UK politics. While he can't see Labour not winning the next election, he's not convinced the Conservatives will be wiped out. He looks at Nicola Sturgeon losing the independence referendum case and at the prospect of yet more rail strikes in the weeks to come.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says the Autumn Statement has no vision, will make a difficult situation worse and will be hated by Conservative voters. He predicts that Labour will outflank the Tories as a moderate, pro-business party and that there will be no more than 100-150 conservative MPs. He feels the NHS, with falling output and productivity despite extra funding, is in uncharted waters with Labour calling for greater partnership with the private sector. And he admires Gordon Brown's insights on nationalism, which is weaponising trade to the detriment of us all.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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