Podcasts from The Bigger Picture

Political commentator Mike Indian, author of the Groucho Tendency blog, talks to Simon Rose about the latest developments in the Brexit saga. After further defeats in the Commons, Theresa May will soon find out how she fares in the Meaningful Vote on her deal. What will happen if she loses the vote, though, as she's widely expected to do. What are the viable alternatives? Has John Bercow lost the confidence of too many MPs? Are Parliament's actoins undermining democracy? How likely is another election? Or another referendum?

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University ponders what the biggest security threats around the world might be in 2019. He also considers whether what one commentator calls "The Mad World of Theresa May" might have lured the EU into a trap that makes a no-deal Brexit more likely and how the Police in the UK are losing the war against guns.

James Cameron-Wilson examines the UK holiday box office, led by Disney's Mary Poppins Returns, starring Emily Blunt. He has his head in his hands when discussing the much-derided Holmes & Watson with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. His favoured home release is the much-garlanded Polish film Cold War. James also looks ahead to what he thinks could be some of the biggest movies of the early part of 2019.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University takes a look at the government's immigration proposals and reveals that, on the subject of immigration, he himself is to the left of Jeremy Corbyn. He also discusses a Fabian Society paper about extradition rights and the EAW after Brexit and looks ahead to 2019, which will be a massive year for elections around the world.

Political commentator Mike Indian, author of The Groucho Tendency blog, looks back over a momentous few days in British politics. He discusses the Meaningful Vote that never was and the vote of no confidence in Theresa May as Conservative leader. Whither Brexit, now, though Will the ECJ ruling on Article 50 be used. Is another referendum or general election on the cards and, if the former, what could possibly be on the ballot paper?

Andrew Kenningham of Capital Economics considers whether a global economic slowdown has now begun. He looks at the prospects for China, the United States and the Eurozone in particular, assessing the prospects for Germany, France and Italy. He explains why the flattening of the yield curve in the United States COULD be a harbinger of recession and discusses Capital Economics' new 20 year forecasts and the main conclusions that have been drawn.

Political commentator and author of the Groucho Tendency blog Mike Indian discusses Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement from the EU and what the Prime Minister achieved? He looks at the reaction to the deal and considers what could happen in the Meaningful Vote. If it does not pass in Parliament, what would the outcome be?

With the Prime Minister under fire from many quarters, Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks at the role of the Prime Minister and whether she is doing the right thing. He also examines the rather scary future of warfare and looks at why South Africa's new policy of land expropriation will lead to disaster.

How should UK investors behave when the political and economic outcomes are so uncertain? Tim Price, fund manager with Price Value Partners and author of Investing Through The Looking Glass argues for the benefits of diversification and traditional "value" investing. He considers the possible implications of a second Brexit referendum and a future Corbyn government and looks at the worsening prospects of world trade.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University considers the ramifications of the US midterm elections and the dangers for the US Democrats, believing we are living in dangerous times politically. He also explains the importance of the split in the Eastern Orthodox Church and considers why MI5 might have taken over in the fight against UK right-wing extremism.