What’s in the list of potential crises that could derail Labour’s first year, drawn up by Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray and nicknamed “Sue’s shit list”? Today Ros Taylor tells Andrew Harrison what happens to Labour if the prisons crisis boils over, the NHS hits a funding shortfall, or universities start going bust. If you missed Part 1 yesterday, listen now to hear Jonn Elledge explain the consequences of the possible £15bn bankruptcy of Thames Water, the looming collapse of one or more...
Jun 14, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1311
A new Labour government could be thrown into chaos by any one of six potential crises, each identified in a dossier of dire warnings prepared by Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray. What’s in this critical document, which was quickly nicknamed “Sue’s shit list”? Today journalist Jonn Elledge takes Andrew Harrison through three of them: the possible £15bn bankruptcy of Thames Water, the looming collapse of one or more local authorities, and public pay running out of control. In Part 2 tomorrow...
Jun 13, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 1310
Is Macron’s snap election an act of desperation or a brilliant bluff? With young upstarts nipping at his heels, unprecedented alliances forming and his legacy hanging by a thread, Ros Taylor is joined by The Economist’s Paris bureau chief Sophie Pedder to get an insight into Macron’s election gamble. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 12, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 1309
With the SNP in turmoil and the Conservatives deeply unpopular, Scotland’s seats are potentially key to a Labour victory. Is Starmer’s party set to sweep up across the country? Gavin Esler talks to Glasgow Caledonian University Professor of Social Change Gerry Hassan , about Scotland’s role in the upcoming election. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Eliza Davis Beard. Audio p...
Jun 11, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1308
Emmanuel Macron's surprise snap election has shocked politicos. Why did he call it? Alex Andreou and Andrew Harrison discuss the landscape in France and the wider changes in Europe. Plus, where’s Sunak? We discuss the press dodging PM’s latest from the campaign trail. And manifestos are due this week – what should we expect? We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou. Managin...
Jun 10, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 1307
The ’90s was a hugely consequential decade for the United States – for good and for bad. On the down side, we saw the rise of angry white men and the world’s worst TV channel. If only they’d stayed in the past. Jacob Jarvis speaks to Terry H. Anderson , author of Why the Nineties Matter , to discuss what made this ten year period so significant. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. Support us on Patreon . Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Produced b...
Jun 07, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 1306
The European Elections are fast approaching – and the rise of the far-right is sparking concern. With some 373 million Europeans eligible to vote, this is a pivotal moment for democracy as a whole. Rafael Behr talks to political scientist Simon Hix , the Stein Rokkan chair in comparative politics at the European University Institute in Florence, about what this means for Europe – and the rest of the world. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon...
Jun 06, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 1305
Trump’s dominance of his political space is unprecedented, with the GOP in thrall to him despite all of his faults. There’s not much advice Biden should take from him, not morally or ethically at least, but could he benefit from copying his style somewhat? Chris Jones speaks to Berkeley professor of political science, Steven M. Fish , about his new book Comeback: RoutingTrumpism, Reclaiming the Nation, and Restoring Democracy’s Edge. You can buy a copy of Professor Fish’s book by following the l...
Jun 05, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1304
Election campaigns are expensive to run, from travelling across the UK, to leaflets to adverts. So how are Sunak and Starmer going to spend their money? University of Sussex Senior Politics Lecturer Sam Power sits down with Ros Taylor to discuss how Sunak and Starmer are spending their campaign cash – and whether they’ll focus on traditional actions or pump it all into TikToks. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. Support us on Patreon . Written and pres...
Jun 04, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1303
As Labour try to brand themselves as the party of defence and the Tories go ever-more anti-woke, it’s the first head debate between Starmer and Sunak on ITV tomorrow – what can we expect? Plus, South Africa’s ANC has lost power after 30 years and now enters coalition talks. Big gains for far right parties are expected in the European Elections across 27 countries this week. And the US expects Israel to accept Joe Biden’s three-part ceasefire proposal, a huge development in the Israel-Palestine c...
Jun 03, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1302
As AI becomes more intelligent, should we cease treating chatbots like robots and more like humans? Should they be held accountable to similar standards and laws? Amid the exponential growth of humanoid machines and interfaces, Chris Jones speaks to Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt , co-author of As If Human: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence and professorial research fellow in computer science at the University of Oxford. Buy As If Human: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence through our affiliate bo...
May 31, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1301
Sunak banked on an improving economy when he went for an early general election. But does it matter if people aren’t feeling the changes? Do the Government’s claims that the UK is the fastest growing country in Europe stand up? And are the Tories now marked as the party of high inflation? Former Theresa May advisor Giles Wilkes talks to Andrew Harrison about the Tories’ high-stakes bet. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. Support us on Patreon . Present...
May 30, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 1300
What is England? Well, that depends on the myths and stories you listen to. Are these tales more fiction than fact? In their new book England: Seven Myths That Changed A Country – and How to Set Them Straight authors Tom Baldwin and Marc Stears seek the reality of England’s national story. They join Ros Taylor in The Bunker . We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. Buy England: Seven Myths That Changed A Country – and How to Set Them Straight through our af...
May 29, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1299
Sunak’s election campaign is going as you’d expect – he’s managed to annoy everyone and make himself look like an idiot at the same time. After the national service announcement, can we expect anything but red meat for Express readers in the coming days? And, on the other hand – what real stuff will Starmer be discussing? Plus we look at the latest in Europe ahead of the EU elections. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Writte...
May 28, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 1298
Rishi Sunak’s hapless, rain-sodden election announcement left the country agog. Is this how he means to go on? Why did he choose now? Can he really handle six weeks of punishing campaigning? Hasn’t anyone in No.1 got an umbrella? Seasoned political journalist Steve Richards of the Rock N Roll Politics podcast forecasts stormy electoral weather with Andrew Harrison. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. Support us on Patreon . Written and presented by Podm...
May 24, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1297
The upcoming Indian election will be the biggest in history, with one fifth of the world’s population voting. How consequential will it be – for the nation and the rest of the world too? Gavin Esler speaks to Rohan Venkat, consulting editor at the University of Pennsylvania ’s Centre for the Advanced Study of India and editorial consultant at India’s Centre for Policy Research . • “India is an unusual democratic experiment. What happens in this election is important for democracy all across the ...
May 23, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1296
Say “monetarism” to anyone who was around in the early 80s and watch the chill run down their spine. Margaret Thatcher tried to conquer inflation by using a fringe economic credo of slashing the money supply. The result was a collapsed economy and unemployment on a colossal scale. What was monetarism? Did it work, even in its own terms? And where are its echoes today? Tim Lankester – then the PM’s private secretary for economic affairs, now author of Inside Thatcher’s Monetarism Experiment – tak...
May 22, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 1295
Conspiracy theorists and disinformation around issues such as the Coid-19 pandemic have created an army of non-expert experts around the world. With the advancement of AI and social media dominating people’s lives, properly researched information from trusted sources is needed now more than ever. But has society already gone too far? Tom Nichols is a writer for The Atlantic and the author of “The Death of Expertise: The Campaign against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters ”, and joins Ros T...
May 21, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1294
Will the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash destabilise Iran, worsen its conflict with Israel, reignite the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ protests – or all three? Plus the infected blood scandal turns out even worse than anyone thought. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case faces the COVID inquiry. And are the Tories deliberately driving British universities into crisis? The week ahead with Alex Andreou and Andrew Harrison . We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £10...
May 20, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 1293
The most searing drama of the 1980s, Alan Bleasdale’s Boys From The Blackstuff turned Thatcher’s unemployment crisis into unmissable TV. Unemployed builder “Yosser” Hughes’s desperate plea “gizza job” became a catchphrase. Now the story comes to London in an acclaimed stage adaptation by James ‘Dear England’ Graham. Barry Sloane , cast as Yosser, talks to Andrew Harrison about why the Blackstuff still matters, the legacy of original Yosser actor Bernard Hill… and the power of dark humour. We are...
May 19, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1292
Vladimir Putin has surrounded himself with loyalists who have kept him in power for 20 years. Earlier this week, Russian defence minister and close ally of Putin, Sergei Shoigu, was removed from his post. But the author of The New Politics of Russia , Andrew Monaghan, says Shoigu’s removal was less of a sacking, as Western media suggests, and more of a promotion. He joins Chris Jones to discuss how Putin’s inner circle operates. Buy The New Politics of Russia through our affiliate bookshop and y...
May 17, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1291
Britain has a spy problem, with a significant surge in threats from China, Russia and Iran in recent months. What kind of covert operations are they running? Gavin Esler sits down with former MI6 director of operations and intelligence and director of transnational threats and political risk at the International Institute for Strategic Studies , Nigel Inkster, to find out just how concerned we should be. • “We’re seeing a significant upsurge in espionage and other forms of covert activity direct...
May 16, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1290
You might have seen a flurry of alarming headlines and articles about bird flu in recent weeks. Some reports are comparing it to COVID-19, and positioning it as the next potential worldwide pandemic. How concerned should we be? Alex Andreou asks Devi Sridhar , Professor and Personal Chair in Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh. • “Previously, you’d have to be in very close proximity with an infected bird. That is changing. For the first time, we have now confirmed cow to human tr...
May 15, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1289
Brits have a bad reputation abroad – but what about Britain as a whole? To discuss how other countries look at Britain, Rafael Behr speaks to FT journalist Michael Peel, author of What Everyone Knows About Britain (*Except the British). • “Looking at Britain from overseas made Brexit easier to see coming.” – Michael Peel Buy What Everyone Knows About Britain (*Except the British) through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Books...
May 14, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 1288
In your round-up of the week ahead… Rishi Sunak warns that the UK is about to face its most dangerous years ever. The Israeli assault on the Gazan city of Rafah is imminent. And, what does Russia’s new incursion into Ukraine north of Kharkiv mean? Plus, the Trump trial continues with testimonies scheduled from his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. And why were EU flags banned from the Eurovision finale? • “Rishi Sunak says the challenges of the next few years are so enormous and so scary th...
May 13, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1287
Britain and America’s link is often called the “special relationship”. But is it that special anymore – or is it actually pretty one-sided? Angus Hanton is a businessman and entrepreneur and the author of Vassal State: How America Runs Britain. He argues that the relationship has changed for the worse – and that Britain has become the 51st state of the United States at great cost to its economy. He joins Gavin Esler in The Bunker to discuss. Buy Vassal State: How America Runs Britain through our...
May 10, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1286
Swearing is a part of life. But is there a place for it in politics? Would Parliament function better if politicians were allowed to use a bit more profanity? Alex Andreou discusses this with Philip Seargeant, senior lecturer in applied linguistics at The Open University and author of The Art of Political Storytelling . • “Swearing always has a purpose.” – Philip Seargeant • “The idea that language can be particularly harmful has come more from the younger generation.” – Philip Seargeant We are ...
May 09, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1285
Starmer’s referencing of Thatcher has enraged the left – but is it anything beyond symbolic politicking? And is he really Thatcherite at all? Andrew Harrison speaks to Robert Saunders , a reader in modern British history at Queen Mary University of London , about the legacy of Thatcher and how it ties in with modern Labour policy. • “It’s worth remembering that Margaret Thatcher herself borrowed ideas from the left.” – Robert Saunders • “I think Thatcher would be quite alarmed by what she would ...
May 08, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1284
Rishi Sunak is trying to spin his local election trouncing as best as he can – what bluster should we ignore this week? Plus, the latest from Gaza as Israel strikes Rafah. And, the Trump trial rolls on – while Xi visits Europe for the first time in five years. Alex Andreou talks Jacob Jarvis through the week ahead. • “There’s a sort of electoral ruthlessness to the Labour Party at the moment.” – Alex Andreou • “Sunak should call an election, he won’t, but he should.” – Alex Andreou • “If Sunak s...
May 07, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 1283
Is “fandom” one of the drives behind our dysfunctional politics? That’s the thesis of Dr Phoenix Andrews new book I Heart Politics – who writes about how people power is behind a series of quake moments in recent political history. He joins Andrew Harrison to discuss whether the phenomenon and power of fandom is overlooked in contemporary politics, and how the fandoms of politicians like Trump, Farage and Thatcher affect the cultural zeitgeist. • “The world feels mad, but finding people with a c...
May 06, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1282
