“Our economic emergency has only just begun”. That was how the Chancellor Rishi Sunak kicked off his 2020 Spending Review. There were some sobering forecasts from the Treasury’s independent forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility - the worst hit to GDP this year since 1709 - a deficit of £394bn of GDP this year (almost 20% of the entire economy). Plus some very politically controversial decisions - a cash freeze in the pay of many public sector workers - a cut in the foreign aid budget....
Nov 25, 2020•17 min•Season 2Ep. 17
President-elect Joe Biden gave a widely praised victory speech in the US presidential race on Saturday night, while Donald Trump continued to deny the results. Looking back over President Trump's term though, has he achieved what he promised? Host Lucie McInerney and Washington DC Bureau Chief John T Bennett look back to Trump's victory speech in 2016. An address he never thought he'd have to give, the speech was free of the divisive language we've come to associate with his presidency. From con...
Nov 12, 2020•38 min•Season 2Ep. 16
The US election is just days away, but already millions of Americans have cast their vote. Mail-in voting has been a controversial topic during this campaign season and quickly became a key area for both candidates to focus on. Host Lucie McInerney is joined by Senior US Correspondent Richard Hall who has been travelling the length and breadth of America speaking to voters ahead of polling day. Tap the link to support original reporting from The Independent : independent.co.uk/support Subscribe ...
Oct 31, 2020•35 min•Season 2Ep. 15
This week The Independent's award winning health correspondent Shaun Lintern published multiple stories revealing claims that world famous surgeon Derek McMinn has spent the last 25 years storing more than 5,000 samples of body parts. According to a leaked report staff at Edgbaston Hospital were aware of Mr McMinn's behaviour and went as far as aiding him in his efforts. Shaun also revealed, via an investigation that was leaked to The Independent, that Mr McMinn may have put the health of patien...
Oct 02, 2020•25 min•Season 2Ep. 14
As possible signs of life have been discovered on Venus, we are closer than ever in answering the age old question: are we alone in the universe? With our neighbouring planet being host to a rare gas in its atmosphere, could this mean alien life existing in our solar system? And if so, in what form? To find out more about this breakthrough discovery, Ben Kelly is joined by technology editor and science reporter Andrew Griffin to discuss whether the traditional extraterrestrial might be closer to...
Sep 18, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Is it a great deal or an awful deal? We've heard both from the prime minister on the EU Withdrawal Agreement. The grand finale for Brexit is here as negotiations, or lack thereof, enter their final stages. So as threats of walking away with no deal rear their head again, what does the future look like? Host Ben Kelly is joined by Parliamentary Sketch Writer Tom Peck to discuss the government's handling of the negotiations, and how that fits in with the coronavirus pandemic. Tap the link to suppo...
Sep 11, 2020•26 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Christopher Nolan's latest movie 'Tenet' has been released in UK cinemas this week and will land in US cinemas this weekend. Those who are yet to see it, and most of those who have, are asking the same question. What is it about? The $200m blockbuster is Nolan's most confusing movie to date, so to better understand it Ben Kelly is joined by The Independent's Chief Film Critic Clarisse Loughrey. Don't worry, there are no spoilers in this episode, in fact we're not sure we'd be able to spoil it if...
Sep 04, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 11
After two weeks of speeches, protests and fireworks both the Democratic and Republican conventions are over. Donald Trump and Joe Biden have both accepted their party's nomination for president and the race between the two is now officially on. But what have we learnt over the last fortnight? From Trump using the White House as a party political tool to Biden surprising viewers with his speech to the nation - where are we now as we head towards November? Host Ben Kelly is joined by US Voices Edi...
Aug 28, 2020•34 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Front pages have been filled with stories of the chaotic fallout of the government's handling of exam results for the past week. Gavin Williamson and the education department have been under intense scrutiny after they let an algorithm decide the fate of thousands of school children across the country. So, why is he still in his job? Host Ben Kelly is joined by Policy Correspondent Jon Stone to discuss the catastrophe that has been the A-level results and how Boris Johnson's government deals wit...
Aug 19, 2020•23 min•Season 2Ep. 9
On Tuesday, Finding Freedom , a biography about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was published. Written by royal journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, the book documents the reporters’ experience of working in close proximity to the couple. So what does the new book tell us about Meghan and Harry that we didn't know before? And where do these new revelations fit in the wider context of the public's relationship with the couple? Host Tom Richell is joined by The Independent's lifestyle edito...
Aug 13, 2020•20 min•Season 2Ep. 8
The UK plunged into its deepest recession on record in the first half of the year as the coronavirus lockdown saw the economy contract by more than a fifth between April and June. The economy shrank by 20.4 per cent in the second quarter of the year, worse than any other G7 nation, taking the UK into its first recession since the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The dramatic fall in output came after a 2.2 per cent drop in the first three months of the year. Business Correspondent Ben Chapman joins h...
Aug 12, 2020•14 min•Season 2Ep. 7
At 6pm local time on Tuesday 4th August a massive double-explosion rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Videos posted to social media showed a large fire burning at a warehouse in the port area of the city, before a blast sent a mushroom cloud towering into the sky and a shockwave across the city that was felt as far away as Cyprus. The Independent's correspondent in Beirut Bel Trew joins Deputy International Editor Gemma Fox and host Tom Richell to talk through her experiences of the last 24 ...
Aug 05, 2020•21 min•Season 2Ep. 6
With fewer than than 100 days to go to the US election, who will join Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket as vice presidential candidate? Biden has already committed to selecting a woman and Kamala Harris is currently the favourite. The Independent's Washington Bureau Chief John T. Bennett wades through the rumours with host Ben Kelly for a detailed look at all the names on Biden's potential shortlist. Tap the link to support original reporting from The Independent: independent.co.uk/support Subs...
Jul 30, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 5
This week, Ben Kelly is joined by US reporter Chris Riotta to discuss the story of Marie Garofalo, a once indignant Trump supporter who has since pledged her support for Joe Biden. As the coronavirus pandemic and anti-racism protests continue to sweep the US, many voters will find themselves with a difficult decision to make in November. How important is party loyalty during a time of crisis, and with politics becoming ever more divided, have we lost the ability to listen to views which oppose o...
Jul 24, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 4
This week, Deputy Editor David Marley is joined by Health Correspondent Shaun Lintern to discuss a hospital trust at the centre of Britain’s biggest maternity scandal in history. With Shrewsbury Hospital Trust already facing a criminal investigation, why does the picture across the wards appear to be worsening? And what could have been done to prevent such widespread failings? You can read Shaun's full report here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/shrewsbury-maternity-scandal/shrewsbury...
Jul 17, 2020•22 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This week’s news has been dominated by the latest coronavirus stories. But alongside that, another old news favourite has crept back into view - yes, you guessed it - Brexit. Or life after Brexit, to be more specific. This week, we’ve had the first glimpse of the government’s advertising campaign to get the country Brexit-ready, we’ve had the Home Secretary unveil her immigration plans, and we’ve learned more about what travel will be like for Brits heading to Europe after the transition period....
Jul 16, 2020•28 min•Season 2Ep. 2
On July 1 The Independent's Chief US Correspondent Andrew Buncombe was arrested while covering a police operation to clear Black Lives Matter protesters in Seattle. In this first episode of a brand new podcast series Behind the Headlines he recounts his experience, which included officers ignoring him when he was struggling to breathe and being assaulted by a guard in jail. You can read Andrew's full story here: independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/journalist-arrest-seattle-chaz-protest-police-...
Jul 13, 2020•37 min•Season 2Ep. 1
On the show today TikTok star and impressionist Meggie Foster joins The Independent's Social Media Editor Ben Kelly to discuss her rise to internet stardom during the Covid-19 lockdown. For many people around the world ‘lockdown’ has been a major part of the last few months. In fact we’ve just passed a remarkable 100 days of these restrictions in the UK. Meggie, who was furloughed from her full time job, took to TikTok and began lip-syncing politicians' voices in a new wave of internet satire. H...
Jul 03, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 21
On the show today Deputy Editor David Marley is joined by addiction expert Ian Hamilton to discuss our relationship with alcohol during coronavirus. As pubs prepare to open this weekend, are we drinking more or less booze than before the lockdown? And how does being cooped up at home affect us and what dangers could that bring with it? If you enjoy the show please leave us a rating and a comment. Get in touch with your suggestions by emailing thecoronaviruspodcast@independent.co.uk or using #Ind...
Jun 30, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 20
On the show today Deputy Editor David Marley is joined by author and pandemics expert Mark Honigsbaum to discuss how this virus, and others like it in the past, came to be. Where did this virus originate and how does the global response compare to previous examples of pandemics? Mark is the author of the book The Pandemic Century takes readers from the 1918 Spanish Flu to more recent viruses such as Sars and Mers. If you enjoy the show please leave us a rating and a comment. Get in touch with yo...
Jun 08, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 19
On the show today Assistant Editor Lucie McInerney is joined by science writer David Quammen and The Independent's Senior Climate Correspondent Louise Boyle to discuss the role of wildlife in the pandemic. It's thought that Covid-19 originated in bats before making the leap to humans, so what did that process look like? If it can happen once, what's to stop it happening again? And, with all that in mind, is there any reason to be hopeful for the future? The Independent is campaigning to Stop The...
Jun 01, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 18
On the show today Executive Editor Chloe Hubbard is joined by food writer Julia Platt Leonard and sub-editor Emily Clarke to discuss how grow your own fruit and veg while in lockdown. Even with limited space you can optimise on the good weather and extra time by getting some fresh produce growing in your home or garden. What is best for small, medium and large spaces? Is there a 'perfect' soil? And what is the ethical way to deal with a slug? If you enjoy the show please leave us a rating and a ...
May 22, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 17
On the show today The Independent’s Head of Multimedia Tom Richell is joined by actor and writer Kevin Childs to discuss a new podcast series. Passion And The Plague, which launches on Wednesday 20th May, will feature 10 stories from Giovanni Boccacio’s The Decameron . The book was written nearly 700 years ago during the Black Plague and bears striking resemblance to the situation today. Click here to subscribe to Passion And The Plague: https://podfollow.com/passion-and-the-plague You can also ...
May 19, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 16
On the show today Deputy Editor David Marley is joined by Moscow Correspondent Oliver Carroll to discuss how Russia coping with the Covid-19 pandemic. How has Putin responded to the crisis, and how is he viewed by the nation? Oliver also discusses his own experience of contracting the virus and what it was like and recovering in a Moscow hospital. If you enjoy the show please leave us a rating and a comment. Get in touch with your suggestions by emailing thecoronaviruspodcast@independent.co.uk o...
May 15, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 15
On the show today Executive Editor Chloe Hubbard is joined by Music Correspondent Roisin O'Connor to discuss what you should be listening to while in lockdown and how social distancing measures are impacting the industry. Without the ability to perform, how will artists make it through this time? And what about the venues that need live music to survive? After you've listened, why not read some more about those questions here ? Check out Roisin's weekly playlist 'Now Hear This' on Spotify . Also...
May 07, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 14
On the show today The Independent's Deputy Editor David Marley is joined by Policy Correspondent, and former Brussels-based Europe Correspondent, Jon Stone to usher Brexit back into significance. Is it feasible or sensible to leave the Union while the world is on lockdown? Or does the pandemic provide the perfect cover for the government to sneak through yet another extension to the transition period while Brexiteers look the other way? The pair also discuss how the EU has responded to the crisi...
May 01, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 13
On the show today Deputy Editor David Marley is joined by intensive care doctor Sarah Hart to discuss what life is like on the front line of the fight against Covid-19. Sarah opens up on the importance of forming emotional attachments with patients and reveals how, at times, she has “had a feeling of hopelessness”. David and Sarah also discuss PPE. After the government was heavily criticised for its failure to provide equipment to medical staff, Sarah says she's never had to enter a Covid-19 war...
Apr 23, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 12
On the show today Deputy Editor David Marley is joined by The Independent's correspondent in Paris, Anthony Cuthbertson. Anthony brings us up to date on the lockdown in France, which has recently been extended, and talks about what it's like to live in such strict conditions. How is the mood across the nation and what is the public feeling towards Emmanuel Macron? And how will a city that loves to protest, as Paris does, voice their frustrations if they can't take to the streets? As a new father...
Apr 17, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 11
On the show today Executive Editor Chloe Hubbard is joined by former England rugby player Fiona Pocock to discuss the best ways to stay fit during the lockdown. The coronavirus pandemic has had us all cooped up now for three weeks, but one hour of outdoor exercise is permitted each day. Have you noticed the running resurgence? The pair discuss how to make the most of both the outside and inside to fit and active. Fiona, who now works as as personal trainer, also reveals how it's affected her bus...
Apr 15, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 10
On the show today Deputy Editor David Marley speaks to Middle East Correspondent Bel Trew about how Covid-19 is affecting the region. Coronavirus could be catastrophic as many countries do not have adequate healthcare systems to cope with the sweeping pandemic. Bel takes us behind the scenes on a recent trip to an Intensive Care Unit at a hospital in Beirut and we hear from the doctors she spoke to. She also explores how the very notion of social distancing is impossible for many, such as those ...
Apr 10, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 9
