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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Rwanda Bill delay, the WASPI women & Varadkar's resignation

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Rwanda Bill delay, the WASPI women & Varadkar's resignation
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the latest delay to Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill, wondering if there is anybody other than him who believes that the legislation is a good idea. Instead, it is an indication of his waning authority. He looks at the Parliamentary Ombudsman's statement on the WASPI women, born in the 1950s, who lost out as the state pension age was raised. While the Ombudsman says they should get compensation the government is still refusing to comply. What will a Labour government do? And Mike lastly looks at the surprise resignation of Leo Varadkar as Irish PM, despite still being young and energetic. He sees it as an indication of just how tough political life can be.
Guest:

Mike Indian

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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Improving central government, why Britain isn't working & the forthcoming energy revolution

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Improving central government, why Britain isn't working & the forthcoming energy revolution
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University assesses the report of The Commission on the Centre of Government and its main proposals. To him, its suggestions point to running things more in the way a business is managed, with proper budgets for projects and making ministers accountable. He looks at why so many people in the UK aren't working, the effects of Covid, high taxes and healthcare problems. And he believes that the PM's U-turn on gas plants recognises that wind and solar can't do it all. But, on the horizon, nuclear fusion suddenly looks an imminent reality, which will have profound implications, not just for energy but also for geopolitics.
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans

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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Hunt's Budget, a Trump v Biden rematch and the Rochdale by-election

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Hunt's Budget, a Trump v Biden rematch and the Rochdale by-election
Mike Indian reflects upon this week's Budget from Jeremy Hunt, which was much signposted in advance. He doesn't feel it indicates there will be an early election, finding no clear vision from the Chancellor. With Hunt copying some Labour ideas, the tax base could be squeezed even further under Labour, even if Rachel Reeves may not admit it in advance. Mike looks at the probability of there being a Trump v Biden rematch after Super Tuesday. The possibility of Trump becoming President again could be a problem for NATO and Ukraine, though neither is likely to be a close friend of Britain. He also discusses the Rochdale by-election, with George Galloway returning to Parliament. It's a contest that, he feels, highlighted the weakness in the selection process for prospective MPs.
Guest:

Mike Indian

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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Private space enterprise, NHS hidden waiting lists & Eurozone problems

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Private space enterprise, NHS hidden waiting lists & Eurozone problems
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University turns his eyes skyward to marvel at the boom in private space enterprise, with the space industry now worth around $400bn. He finds it a source of optimism, feeling that it will be transformative in the future with great benefit for mankind. He is shocked by research showing that the true NHS waiting list figure is not 7m, which measures people waiting for their first treatment, but something approaching 20m. This, despite the fact that 40% of all government spending goes on the NHS. Lastly, he looks at the financial stresses of the Eurozone, with the Bundesbank losing money and its reserves collapsing. While the Euro may look a success, he says, there are serious fissures and fractures in the system.
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans

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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: The Speaker & The Commons, The Post Office Scandal & Alexei Navalny

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: The Speaker & The Commons, The Post Office Scandal & Alexei Navalny
Politicial commentator Mike Indian discusses the uproar in the Commons over Gaza amendments which has damaged Speaker Lindsay Hoyle's hitherto high reputation. Party politics has once more trumped meaningful debate in a world where MPs are increasingly seen as being targets. Mike asks if this was a face-saving exercise for the Labour leadership and assesses what it means for the Speaker. He also returns to the Post Office Horizon Scandal and questions whether public-owned bodies providing key services to the state like the Post Office ought to be run as businesses at all. Lastly, he turns to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. With much of the world turning towards authoritarianism, Mike feels we must cherish and strengthen our democracy.
Guest:

Mike Indian

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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Reform UK's policies, Trump's agenda and the rise of fake scientific papers

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Reform UK's policies, Trump's agenda and the rise of fake scientific papers
Rather than rely upon press reports, Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University delves into Reform UK's policies, finding no evidence of far-right attitudes but instead a mix of old-school Thatcherite ideas with socialist control. He suspects some ideas could be appropriated by other parties. Donald Trump's Agenda 47 baffled him more, being a smorgasbord combining centre-left ideas on welfare with more nationalistic, protectionist policies. By offering something for almost everyone, he may have a broader base than previously. Tim is very concerned about the rise of thousands of fraudulent scientific papers, with 10,000 believed to have been retracted last year alone. This black economy, driven in large part from China, India, Iran and Russia, could prove extremely dangerous in the scientific arena.
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans

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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Debt problems, the BRICs and the downside of government interference

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Debt problems, the BRICs and the downside of government interference
Tim Price of Price Value Partners considers the possible outcomes, given that interest rates have risen from a record low in a world awash with debt. He discusses the pendulum of economic growth shifting towards the BRICs and Asia (minus China). And he laments the failure of governments to learn the conseqences of interfering with markets. He suggests, when it comes to the drive to Net Zero, that people ask "Who benefits"? And, explaining his own investment principles, while he still feels inflation is a clear and present danger, he believes that precious metals and commodity stocks are at bargain levels.
Guest:

Tim Price

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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Milei lecturing the WEF, plummetting EV car sales & the truth about Gen Z

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Milei lecturing the WEF, plummetting EV car sales & the truth about Gen Z
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University explains why he so enjoyed new Argentine President Javier Milei lecturing the great and good of the World Economic Forum about libertarian and Austrian economics, attacking corporatism and socialism. He feels Milei could be the most consequential politician economically-speaking for many years. He also looks at falling EV car sales, lamenting the way in which politicians set goals for achieving their hobbyhorses irrespective of scientific progress and consumer demand. And he is fascinated by a meeting between journalist John Humphreys and members of Gen Z, which showed them to be different to the popular perception.
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans

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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: The Post Office Horizon fallout and what we can expect in an election year

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: The Post Office Horizon fallout and what we can expect in an election year
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the fallout from the ITV drama about the Post Office Horizon scandal which has finally galvanised politicians. Labelled the biggest miscarriage of justice in British history, Mike examines what it means for people's trust in democracy and our institutions. He expects 2024 to be an election year and explains what we might expect from the main political parties, comparing them to competitors at a school sports day.
Guest:

Mike Indian

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Simon Rose

The Bigger Picture: Why 2024 will be such a momentous year, the real story of immigration & Labour and defence

Simon Rose
Original Broadcast:

The Bigger Picture

The Bigger Picture: Why 2024 will be such a momentous year, the real story of immigration & Labour and defence
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University discusses the potential challenges of 2024, including elections in so many places, the problems of NATO, Ukraine & the Middle East and the militarisation of Russia. He explains why so much of what politicians tell us about immigration is wrong. And he points out that, despite many people's perception, Labour is historically the party of strong defence and that this may be yet another way in which the party will outflank the Conservatives.
Guest:

Professor Tim Evans

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