Share Sounds. from Thought for the Week related to Politics - UK

Podcast Directory


Genre: Politics / Topic: UK
Programme: Thought for the Week
Clear Selection

Editors Pick

Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Mexican Stand-off over Health

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Mexican Stand-off over Health
Rachel Reeves points to a sea change in economic policy, 'As we did at the end of the 1970s, we stand at an inflection point': but there's no indication, apart from a tiny hint of criticism for an 'inflexible welfare state', of moving away from the socialist dogma which is ruining health services in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile the Conservatives' fear of losing electoral support among the elderly leaves them incapable of introducing mandatory health insurance for wealthy old folk which the NHS can draw down as it's used. It's a confrontation where no strategy exists that allows any party to achieve victory — the only way through is to look for a consensus. Background music: 'People Watching' by Sir Cubworth

Published:
Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Shifting the Burden Stealthily

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Shifting the Burden Stealthily
Jeremy Hunt's focus on young working people, by making a further significant reduction in employees' NI, is welcome; but his overall strategy is cloaked in disguise. As Michael Gove made clear in February, young people need direct economic encouragement: for example, the omission of any mention of unclaimed adult-owned CTFs indicates more of a studied indifference from HM Treasury. Background music: 'Hidden Agenda' by Kevin MacLeod - http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1200102

Published:
Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Counteracting Fear and Greed

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Counteracting Fear and Greed
Rishi Sunak's call for tolerance in Downing Street on Friday 1st March was couched in terms of hard work and endeavour, which are generally associated with self-interest; but what's really needed is convergence based on generosity of spirit, starting with tolerance and journeying through respect for others, no matter how different they are, towards unconditional love. Background music: 'Resolution' by Wayne Jones

Published:
Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Manifesto for Manifestos (UK)

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Manifesto for Manifestos (UK)
Universal provision of free health and social care plus the payment of interest on government debt comprise nearly two-thirds of UK public spending. We need fresh polices underpinned by a new set of principles appropriate for the 21st century, and political advisers and pundits would do well to check our Thought for this week when constructing their manifestos for the approaching UK general election. Background music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins

Published:
Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Democracy, Ownership and Young People

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Democracy, Ownership and Young People
Oxford University Professor Ben Ansell is delivering this year's Reith Lectures on the future of democracy: whether it's in retreat across the world, whether citizens of wealthy countries have embraced a false sense of security, how to build a sense of solidarity in polarised societies, and how to enable continued economic growth without wrecking the environment in the process. But will he tackle the question of how democracy can — and should — evolve from national to global governance? And will he address the need for participation in individual ownership and the accompanying enhanced sense of responsibility, combined with the need for the young to be empowered through inter-generational rebalancing? The next three lectures will tell. Background music: 'Resolution' by Wayne Jones, Image source: BBC
Guest:

Lord Lee


Published:
Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Health & Education Shortcomings hold back UK Growth

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Health & Education Shortcomings hold back UK Growth
Adam Smith set out the foundation building blocks for economic growth in the Wealth of Nations, and capital and labour were the key components — Jeremy Hunt says he is now pursuing growth as his key priority, and there's no doubt that increasing capital availability in both public and private sectors will help: but where is the labour capacity? It's on NHS waiting lists. Background music: 'The Nexus Riddim' by Konrad OldMoney

Published:
Gavin Oldham

Though for the Week: Who should stay, Who should go?

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Though for the Week: Who should stay, Who should go?
A warm welcome back for David, now Lord, Cameron. Let's put the years of struggling in the wake of Brexit behind us, and look forward to a new global perspective in which Britain acts as a catalyst in bringing the world together. What better place to start than by setting out plans for strengthening the democratic legitimacy and authority of the United Nations, with a new perspective on long-term governance which fully addresses the challenges of conflict, climate change and inequality. Background music: 'Master of the Feast' by Kevin MacLeod (licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Image source: Wikipedia

Published:
Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Frozen tax thresholds lose votes

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Frozen tax thresholds lose votes
There's a rising crescendo of concern over HM Treasury's decision to leave tax thresholds frozen at current levels until 2028. At a time of high inflation, it particularly bears down on low- and middle-income earners, and itself keeps inflation higher for longer. Several suggestions have been made for alternative ways to sort out the public finances, not least in these Share Radio commentaries, but there's no indication of any willingness to sit down and talk: like an ostrich, heads are firmly in the sand. Background music 'The Nexus Riddim' by Konrad OldMoney

Published:
Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Curate's Egg

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Curate's Egg
As the Party Conference season draws to a close, we check out last week's rather lacklustre Conservative event and add some thoughts to Sunak's agenda for education. Meanwhile, for those more focused on how to invest and still meet the net zero targets, don't miss the Sustain:Social Investing Conference on Saturday 21st October! https://sustain.social Background music: 'Communicator' by Reed Mathis

Published:
Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Cummings' Unintended Legacy

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Cummings' Unintended Legacy
After the December 2019 election, Dominic Cummings brought HM Treasury under the heel of No. 10. Little did he realise that in 2023 the financiers would be running the whole show. Rishi Sunak, financier par excellence, thinks he is making long-term decisions for a brighter future. Not everyone agrees: but then a week is a long time in politics — or finance, come to that. Background music: 'Something Is Wrong' by Sir Cubworth Image source: BBC

Published: