Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the Sue Gray Report into Pandemic parties in Downing Street and how it reflects upon the culture there. Although he thinks that the PM might yet survive, he feels he's a two-dimensional figure in a world where 3,4 or even 5 dimensions are needed and wishes he was a student of history any later than Pericles. He also gives snap judgement on Rishi Sunak's measures to cope with the rising cost of living, the recording being made while the Chancellor was speaking.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University agrees with Andrew Neil that, around the world, democracy is on the march again. Putin's Ukraine invasion is actually helping to bring the rest of the world together and reconsider the attractions of autocratic rule. Tim wonders if the Bank of England is plagued by groupthink and, as a result, has boxed itself into a corner and could be about to crash the economy. And he ends by asking why modern culture is so dull in the UK and wonders whether the 1990s were the last golden cultural age.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the Queen's Speech, with the Queen herself absent. What was in it and what wasn't? He also discusses the Government's response to the growing cost-of-living crisis before turning to the recent local election results and what they might mean for the three main political parties. Lastly, he turns to Northern Ireland, where Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party; dos their success increase the prospect of a united Ireland?
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Russ Mould of A J Bell looks at the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee decision to raise interest rates to 1% with a statement dampening some expectations for future sharp rises. He asks if the MPC (and the Fed) have painted themselves into a corner and wonders whether more debt should have been the answer to a debt crisis. Indeed, can 9 people in a room, however smart and well-intentioned, really set the price of money? As always, he offers advice for investors about what lies ahead.
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University examines how Europe will cope as it tries to reduce its energy dependence upon Russia. He looks at an article on what those at the top of the Conservative Party profess to believe against their actions and whether Conservatism is ideological or pragmatic. And in the light of America's resurfacing divide on the subject of abortion, he considers why there is so little debate on the subject in the UK.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the continuing macho culture of Parliament and the recent behaviour of some MPs and asks whether there's a need for a robust external body to police our elected politicians. He looks ahead to next week's local elections and what they might mean for national politics and considers in detail what might happen in Northern Ireland, where Sinn Fein are expected to do well. And he also considers whether there might be a General Election earlier than expected.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University considers an article by ex-Australian PM Kevin Rudd about how war between China and the United States might be avoided. He looks at an apparently feasible project to transmit energy over 2,000 miles from Morocco to the United Kingdom. And he gives his thoughts on Partygate, wondering where the impressive politicians are we need in such difficult times.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian reflects on the consequences of the two most senior members of the government breaking laws that they helped to implement and wonders how it might affect the forthcoming local elections. If they go badly, will the PM have to go and who could replace him? With no more than 750 days until a General Election, he assesses the two main parties' electoral prospects. And he looks at the situation in Ukraine, considering the responsibility of the West for doing nothing when Putin annexed Crimea. He feels that, hard though it may be, the West must do more than it is already doing to help Ukraine.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks at Russia's failures in Ukraine from a business school angle, regarding it as an mid-20th century state with a mid-20th government. He reflects upon some of the lessons that can be learned about governance and statecraft from the Covid pandemic. And he considers the potential privatisation of Channel 4, hoping that it can somehow once more be a disruptive channel for thinkers.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP for North East Somerset, formerly Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council, and now Minister of State for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency, joined Sue Dougan in 2016 to discuss his life in politics, his family history and his favourite tracks (first broadcast March 2016)
Guests: Jacob Rees-Mogg
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