Podcasts

Private debt in the UK stands at £1.5 trillion, according to the latest figures from "The Money Charity" which educates people in managing their finances. The average adult now owes almost £30,000 or just over 113% of their annual earnings, while outgoings from mortgages, loans and credit cards constitute 82% of what the entire economy produces in a year. Yet behind the numbers lurk individual stories of hardship along with concerns about the impact of debt on the economy's long-term ability to function. So is it time for governments to change their perception of debt and to stop seeing it as the sole responsibility of those who are struggling to pay their way? Joining Share Radio's Juliette Foster and our economics correspondent Professor John Weeks is Dr. Johanna Montgomerie, Deputy Director at the Political Economy Research Centre at Goldsmiths University.

The Government has announced plans for the first integrated rail franchise separate from Network Rail in decades. East West rail will manage both the tracks and trains of a new link between Oxford and Cambridge - an approach that Number 10 hopes will put Britain's railways back on track. Share Radio's Juliette Foster is joined on the line by Steve Hedley, Senior Assistant General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) to gauge his reaction: is this a positive move?

Fears are mounting that Italian bank Monte dei Paschi's €5bn bank recapitalisation plan has been jeopardised by the political upheaval following Matteo Renzi's resignation as Prime Minister. Bankers have said that if this private sector solution does fail, the world's oldest bank may require a state bailout. Share Radio's Juliette Foster is joined by Ferdinando Giugliano, Economics Commentator at la Repubblica based in Rome. Themes include the likelihood that a state bailout will occur, and the consequences of such a bailout.

It's day 2 of the Supreme Court hearing on Prime Minister Theresa May's bid to take Britain out of the European Union without a parliamentary vote. While the lawyers slug it out, Chancellor Philip Hammond says the government hasn't dismissed the idea of Britain paying into the EU budget even after leaving the bloc. He claims it's the only way that British companies will be able to access Europe's single market in a post-Brexit world. However Michel Barnier, Europe's Chief Negotiator, says countries outside the bloc can never have the same rights and benefits as those within. So the message to Mr Hammond: "Collez-le dans votre pipe et fumez la" - which in English means "Stick it in your pipe and smoke it!" For more analysis Share Radio's Juliette Foster was joined in the studio by John Barrass, the non smoking Deputy Chief Executive of the Wealth Management Association.

The financial Services sector made its highest recorded tax contribution in the year to 31 March 2016. The figure of £71.4 billion is an increase of 7.4% on the previous year. To find out more about this Simon Rose was joined by Andrew Packman tax partner from PwC.

Financial heavyweight, Lindsay Cook is here, slugging away for that pound in your pocket. This week we'll be taking on the energy firms hiding their cheapest tariffs from customers. As Christmas shopping continues apace we debate whether store cards are really worth it and delivering the sucker punch to the rip offs. Plus continuing the festive theme we look at the demise of the Christmas card in modern manners.

Shapr allows its users to make new business connections and network by offering up relevant potential contacts in a Tinder-like format. Georgie Frost spoke on the line to Shapr's CEO Ludovic Huraux to discuss his app.

Could high street shops we obsolete by 2050? With more of us going online - is there a need any more for traditional bricks and mortar? Georgie Frost was joined in the studio with Jonathan Chippindale, CEO at Holition to discuss the possibility of our high street disappearing.

This week as Christmas celebrations get going - things can get pretty expensive what with office parties and drinks, dinners out and that's before you include presents and other festive spending. Georgie Frost spoke to blogger Lynn James on how we can keep to a budget, avoid the curse of contactless payments, and find ways to keep things cheap.

As the legal battle over the process of leaving the EU enters its second day at the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister's reportedly facing a Conservative rebellion. It's claimed more than 20 of the party's MPs could back a Labour motion demanding the Government reveals its plan for Brexit. To discuss this and more, Jack Sommers of the Huffington Post joined Share Radio Breakfast.