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Programme: The Bigger Picture
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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Aftermath of Trump's victory, can he and Musk work together & Badenoch's win

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Aftermath of Trump's victory, can he and Musk work together & Badenoch's win
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the aftermath of Trump's unexpectedly complete election victory. He has the consent of the people, but what will happen in 4 years' time if he doesn't deliver. Elon Musk is in charge of delivering government efficiency but can the two men – similar in many respects – get along long term? If they can, it could have a transformative effect upon the USA. At home, Kemi Badenoch has had a strong start as Tory leader and could be good at keeping Keir Starmer on his toes. But she needs to be wary of being too spiky with people, particularly given the fractiousness of the remaining Conservative MPs.
Guest:

Mike Indian


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: The AI revolution, Labour heading to the market right & Cronygate

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: The AI revolution, Labour heading to the market right & Cronygate
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says that we are living through the days of immense change and that AI is an evolving technology without end. While imperfect and with moral challenges that need to be faced, everyone should get to grips with it. From non-doms to university fees and housing, he returns to the subject of Labour moving to the market right of politics with little challenge from the directionless Conservatives. And with Labour's honeymoon well and truly over and talk about links between Lord Alli and Syria's Assad, how damaging will Cronygate be?
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Budget lookahead, the Tory leadership contest & Alex Salmond

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Budget lookahead, the Tory leadership contest & Alex Salmond
Political commentator Mike Indian looks ahead to the Budget, discussing whether Labour will be breaking its manifesto commitments, feeling that a time-limited wealth tax would be better than discouraging pension saving. He discusses the surprise ejection of James Cleverley from the Tory leadership contest, perhaps the one best placed to unify the party. He predicts that at the end of this Parliament, it will be Boris Johnson who is leader of the opposition. He also reflects upon the life of Alex Salmond, who so nearly became Prime Minister of an independent Scotland. He had flair and talent, though perhaps not integrity. The latter, in the long run, is more important in a politician.
Guest:

Mike Indian


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: European-style welfarism, the medical monopoly & the politics of the Tractor Tax

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: European-style welfarism, the medical monopoly & the politics of the Tractor Tax
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University discusses how the government wants to turn the UK into an EU-style higher-spending social democracy, not realising that the European model is falling off a cliff. With Germany in economic meltdown, he reveals that directors of German's biggest car manufacturers are considering moving the businesses abroad. He discusses the role of Physician Associates in the NHS and the problems caused by medical monopolies opposing supply-side reforms. And he discusses the Tractor Tax. While it might have the whiff of class warfare, he cannot see Labour retreating while the right is so disunited.
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Poaching young talent, British industry's voice & the truth about plastic recycling

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Poaching young talent, British industry's voice & the truth about plastic recycling
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says the UK has to worry, not just about the top 1% who pay 29% of income tax leaving, but also young talent. They – the future high earners – are being tempted by offers from countries like Italy and Portugal. With an ageing population we could face an ever declining economic pie and get into a doom loop. Tim also considers why business (and indeed unions) have largely lost their voice and rarely speak up to defend their interests. With no robust argument we end up with soggy thinking and it's unhealthy. And he looks at how the science and economics of plastic recycling has not been properly thought through, producing unintended consequences, as so often with political short-termism.
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: The ramifications of Trump's victory & Kemi Badenoch as new Tory leader

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: The ramifications of Trump's victory & Kemi Badenoch as new Tory leader
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says that the emphatic victory of Donald Trump will have huge consequences for the US and the world geopolitically. He will be helped by having done the job before, will go for energy dominance, try to slim the federal government, impose tariffs, cut illegal immigration and be radical on culture too. What might it mean for the country's relationship with the UK, whose government is going in a very different direction? He also discusses why he felt, from the moment she entered Parliament, that Kemi Badenoch was a fascinating politician and why a British-African leader of a major party is to be celebrated. But can she unite her party and make the Tories electorally significant again?
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Reaction to Rachel Reeves' first budget, the Tory leadership contest & the US election

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Reaction to Rachel Reeves' first budget, the Tory leadership contest & the US election
Political commentator Mike Indian fillets Rachel Reeves' first Budget, with a massive increase in taxes, in large part to be paid by business, particularly through an increase in their National Insurance contributions. While the public sector will be getting considerably more money, it is important for the government to make the state more efficient. It is Mike's view that Reeves will be raising taxes more further down the line. He also looks at the Tory leadership contest but believes the new leader will not only not become PM but won't even be the leader in two years' time. As for the US election, the polls are tight – as always – and if there isn't a clear, outright win, we can expect a protracted and bitter aftermath.
Guest:

Mike Indian


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Starmer's trap for the Tories, Labour's private housing & the AI revolution

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Starmer's trap for the Tories, Labour's private housing & the AI revolution
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says that Labour, beginning with the means testing of the winter fuel payment, has moved to the right of the Conservatives and begun a barrage of welfare cuts. He believes the Tories have fallen into Starmer's trap and do not know how to react; they need a more sophisticated approach to opposition. He discusses how Labour intend to drive growth with a housebuilding spurt but will central planning work? And he marvels at the inflexion point that is AI, particularly withthe news that AI will be able to detect early signs of over 1,000 diseases.
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Sue Gray's salary & Starmer's freebies, the LibDem conference and the nation's health

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Sue Gray's salary & Starmer's freebies, the LibDem conference and the nation's health
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the increase in salary of Downing Street Chief of Staff Sue Gray to £170,000, £3,000 more than the PM. Only time will tell how valuable her role is. Given Labour's attack on sleaze when in opposition, how serious are the revelations about freebies given to Keir Starmer and other politicians? What do donors expect in return? Mike also discusses the optimism of the LibDem conference. But they aren't a cohesive parliamentary group yet and are very much a party of southern England. And he looks at the Darzi review into the NHS. What could reforms look like and how can Labour seriously reduce the number of people who are off work sick?
Guest:

Mike Indian


Published:
Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: The Tory party leadership contest & conference and Labour freebie controversy

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: The Tory party leadership contest & conference and Labour freebie controversy
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the surprisingly upbeat tone at the Conservative Party conference. He takes Simon Rose through the four leadership contenders, explaining who he thinks will be the pair party members will vote on. He also talks about the interventions of three former leaders, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Boris Johnson. Turning to the controversy about freebies given to Labour ministers, he considers the ethics of lobbying. While feeling Keir Starmer is right to return £6,000 of gifts, the PM must address the giving of gifts, as well as tackling MPs' second jobs and the issue of Sue Gray.
Guest:

Mike Indian


Published: