Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University asks what the vision – if any – is of the Tory Government and worries that we are witnessing the dialogue of the deaf. He looks at the levelling-up debate and how our politics is so riven with contradictions. He reserves praise, however, for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, which he considers a masterclass in strategic communications and statecraft, an enriching series of events with something for everyone.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Victoria Scholar of Interactive Investor looks at the latest from the ECB, hinting that it will increase rates by 25 basis points in July and ending its asset purchase programme. With the price of filling a tank now hitting £100, she discusses what it means not just for households but also businesses. Which can pass on rising costs? As well as oil and commodity companies, she suggests that it could be worth looking at the luxury brands; they seem fairly immune, as long as there's no recession.
Guests: Victoria Scholar
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
With Top Gun: Maverick powering past £30m at the UK box office, James reviews creepy new entry Men at #3, written and directed by Alex Garland and starring Jessie Buckley. Although periodically interesting, James found it "ludicrous". He preferred Emergency, a well-written and acted take on racism in the US on Amazon Prime, which was overlong but absorbing. He also looked at the top 10 films so far in 2022 in America, noting that only one does not feature a British actor in a leading role.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Share Radio's tech supremo Steve Caplin delves into the features of Apple's forthcoming iOS update and looks at the world's fastest supercomputer. China is planning to put a solar power plant in space, there's an autonomous gas tanker, driverless taxis in San Francisco, 3D printing of ears and the ability to print inside the body, mouse jigglers for those not working particularly hard at home and a crowd-funded portable extractor.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the outlook for the Prime Minister in the wake of the vote of no confidence. He wonders when political gravity will take hold, thinking that the conference season could be critical. He considers who might replace Boris Johnson at the head of the Conservative Party and remarks upon the extraordinary connection between the vote and a bus stop in Parliament Square.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson celebrates a bounce in UK box office caused by Top Gun:Maverick arriving at #1 a mere 36 years after the original. He found it spectacular and exciting. He also enjoyed the movie spinoff of Bob's Burgers once he became attuned to it, not knowing the TV show. He also recommends the Danish Netflix film Toscana about a chef going to Italy to sort out his late father's affairs.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin, Share's tech expert, discusses with Simon Rose a new electric car powered by the sun. There's an electric DeLorean, a tracked VW camper van, an e-bike that could climb Mount Everest – if there was a road, objections to a car park pizza vending machine, parents using Alexa to help with homework, litter-picking in space, robot snakes and crabs and why people using mobile payments are more likely to overspend.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Russ Mould of A J Bell discusses those central bankers, past and present, admitting their mistakes on inflation and demonstrating that they're as fallible as any of us. He points out that with markets rising for years, investors were lulled into a false sense of security. He thinks investors should now be concentrating on valuation of shares. With the bid for Countrywide, he thinks it could be worth looking at builders and perhaps also at banks, both sectors currently out of favour.
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University reflects upon the Second Elizabethan Age and the changes in Britain over the Queen's reign, believing we are now one of the most creative and diverse of nations. He is horrified by an article showing how the most needy in society, who will always need support, are being failed by the stringency of the system which is supposed to help them. And he is staggered by statistics showing just how near the NHS GP service is to a tipping point which could spell its collapse.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Victoria Scholar of Interactive Investor discusses with Simon Rose Chancellor Rishi Sunak's measures to alleviate the effects of inflation on the more vulnerable members of the public. She comments on the U-turn over the oil producers' windfall tax; an Interactive Investor poll found people were concerned, not just about their own investments, but what it might mean for their pensions. The markets, however, appear to have priced the tax in in advance.
Guests: Victoria Scholar
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