Pod Save the UK

Stay out of wombs Nigel! Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wants us to have more babies - which for new mum Coco feels like being bamboozled into being rightwing. Not only this, Farage is even coming for abortion - saying it’s “utterly ludicrous” to allow abortion up to 24-weeks. Keep your wits about you! From leaked memos and inner-circle beef to U-turns and rumoured U-turns - Keir Starmer is feeling the pressure. Nish and Coco dive into the Westminster bubble to find out why the Government has become a leaky ship with Politico reporter Bethany Dawson. Half a decade on from the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests that shook the world, only one third of the recommendations of major reports to tackle endemic racism in the UK has actually been implemented and equality initiatives are facing a rightwing backlash on both sides of the Atlantic. So, is the UK backsliding on racial justice?  Guardian community affairs correspondent and author Aamna Mohdin reflects on the personal and political legacy of the largest anti-racism rallies in the UK since the abolition of slavery. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS  SHOPIFY: https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk [https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk]  Guests: Bethany Dawson Aamna Mohdin Useful Links: Scattered: The making and unmaking of a refugee by Aamna Mohdin https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/scattered-9781526652591/ [https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/scattered-9781526652591/] Politico’s London Playbook  https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/page/109/ [https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/page/109/] Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk [PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com [https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com] Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk [https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk] Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk [https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk [https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk] Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk [https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK [https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Reunited, Coco and Nish are finally back together in the studio to talk U turns, disability benefits, Brexit and… gimp masks? There’s a lot of politics to catch up on including some big shifts from the Labour government.  First on Gaza - Keir Starmer and David Lammy changed tack with fierce criticism of the Israeli government. But critics argue that without an actual arms embargo talking tough with Israel is inadequate. So is it all too little, too late?  And in another change of direction, the Prime Minister has been listening to voters and his own disgruntled MPs on benefits. He signalled a rethink on one of Labour's most unpopular moves - cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners. But reforms of disability benefits are still on the cards so Nish heads to Westminster where disability activists gathered to lobby their MPs. With a major rebellion on the cards from Labour MPs, can Starmer be steered into a U-turn on this too? Employment minister Alison McGovern explains how she’s going to get more young people into work and she has a message for Pod Save the UK’s disillusioned Labour voters.  And did you think Brexit bollocks was in the rearview mirror? Well sorry - this week the Brexit undead returned with nonsense we thought was safely consigned to the dustbin of history.  Guests: Alison McGovern MP Ellie Chowns MP Nadia Whittome MP Meg Thomas, Disability Rights Campaigner  Audio Credits: Parliament TV BBC GB News Useful Links:  https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/mass-lobby-against-benefit-cuts-21st-may-be-there [https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/mass-lobby-against-benefit-cuts-21st-may-be-there] Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk [PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com [https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com] Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk [https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk] Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk [https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk [https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk] Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk [https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK [https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Coco’s back! She’s both sleep and politics deprived, but Nish is ready to fill her in. The government's shake-up of legal migration laws landed this week - but the news has been dominated by one question. Is Keir Starmer Enoch Powell incarnate? His speech warned that we ‘risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks together’ - a careless comment or a reaction to Reform gains? Nish and Coco dissect and take a deep dive into the government’s plans with Minnie Rahman, CEO of migrants' rights charity Praxis.  Next up, the Government are jumping for joy about the US-UK trade deal, but Nish struggles to find anything to say… is this just a downgrade portrayed as an upgrade?  The race for the next leader of the Greens is on, and will Youngblud make a foray into politics? Nish and Coco discuss how to capture the youth vote. And grassroots football teams are fighting back against the FA’s ban on trans women playing football.  CHECK OUT THIS DEAL FROM OUR SPONSOR  Shopify: https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk [https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk]  Useful Links:  To find out more about how people will be impacted check out Praxis' socials and ⁠sign up to their emails⁠ [https://act.praxis.org.uk/join] for campaign actions.’ https://everpress.com/gdfc-let-the-dolls-play [https://everpress.com/gdfc-let-the-dolls-play] https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/nish-kumar-nish-dont-kill-my-vibe [https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/nish-kumar-nish-dont-kill-my-vibe] Guest:  Minnie Rahman, CEO of Praxis  Audio Credits:  BBC Parliament TV Kemi badenoch / X Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk [PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com [https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com] Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk [https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk] Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk [https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk [https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk] Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk [https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK [https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

There’s no ifs or buts - Reform had a won big in last week’s local elections - but it’s not all bad news. Near-total Tory wipeout, positive signs for the Liberal Democrats and Greens and a lesson for Labour: acquiescing to Nigel Farage will only empower him.  A slightly jetlagged Nish and a fresh as a daisy Zoë digest the results before diving into demands to end Israel’s occupation of Gaza… Led by, of all people, rebel tories? In the wake of the Netanyahu’s latest actions, why isn't the British Government speaking up more?  Later, the pair are joined by climate activist Patience Nabukalu, for an injection of hope following her direct action calling for an end to fossil fuel investment from one of the UK’s biggest banks.  **Comment was sought from HSBC regarding claims of dismissing voices at their AGM but was not received in time for publication. We will update this podcast if we receive a reply** CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS  SHOPIFY https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk [https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk]  SKY SPORTS F1 https://www.sky.com/tv/sports [https://www.sky.com/tv/sports]  Useful Links  https://www.instagram.com/patiencenabukalu [https://www.instagram.com/patiencenabukalu] Guests Patience Nabukalu Audio Credits Number 10 Downing Street Zack Polanski Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk [PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com [https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com] Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk [https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk] Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk [https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk [https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk] Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk [https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK [https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

In the wake of the UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of woman should be based on biological sex, Nish and Zoë speak to LGBTQ+ activist Ellen Jones, author of "Outrage: Why the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is not yet won and what we can do about it" about the implications for trans people .  They discuss how the campaigning of reactionaries like billionaire author JK Rowling led to the decision that has seen Prime Minister Keir Starmer backflipping on his support for the trans community. Ellen speaks on the dangers of the recent ruling and practical ways to resist and support the trans community. Then, as the Tories flounder ahead of the local elections, Zoë hedges her bets. And we take a look at two shocking attempts to seize the limelight by Liz Truss and Tony Blair. Plus, ahead of the Australian election this weekend, Nish speaks to former Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan about how, in the wake of Trump's tariffs and attacks on allies, the commonwealth might be more important than ever and what the US and UK could learn from Australia's compulsory preferential voting system. CORRECTION: In this episode we at one point refer to the EHCR incorrectly, for clarity, it is the Equality and Human Rights Commission. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS  AURA FRAMES https://www.auraframes.com [https://www.auraframes.com/] CODE: PSUK SHOPIFY https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk [https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk]  Guests: Ellen Jones Wayne Swan Useful links: Outrage: Why the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is not yet won and what we can do about it by Ellen Jones https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/ellen-jones/outrage/9781035030606 [https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/ellen-jones/outrage/9781035030606] The Good Law Project Crowdfunder to legally challenge the Supreme Court Decision https://goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/supreme-court-human-rights-for-trans-people/ [https://goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/supreme-court-human-rights-for-trans-people/] Compilation of protests against the Supreme Court Decision https://whatthetrans.com/compilation-of-protests-against-the-supreme-court/ [https://whatthetrans.com/compilation-of-protests-against-the-supreme-court/]  Volunteer at your local trans pride - London Trans Pride call for stewards https://www.instagram.com/londontranspride [https://www.instagram.com/londontranspride] Write to your MP https://transactual.org.uk/change-actions/write-to-your-mp/ [https://transactual.org.uk/change-actions/write-to-your-mp/] Reclaim the framing of UK trans rights https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTWR6sdj_xWKoOGLmwp0JotSL3NBrYSd1Dy3VZOIIKJKy0Ej6cFPt32IIKan3qCq6fG4lpgrw46ewO0/pub?urp=gmail_link [https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTWR6sdj_xWKoOGLmwp0JotSL3NBrYSd1Dy3VZOIIKJKy0Ej6cFPt32IIKan3qCq6fG4lpgrw46ewO0/pub?urp=gmail_link] Protect the Dolls T-shirt in support of Trans Lifeline, a US-based charity https://connerives.com/products/pre-order-protect-the-dolls-t-shirt [https://connerives.com/products/pre-order-protect-the-dolls-t-shirt] Info on voting in the Australian Election abroad: ALPABROAD.ORG [http://alpabroad.org/]  Audio Credits Sky News ITV News Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk [https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk] BlueSky: @podsavetheuk.crooked.com [https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dki56gfnrcysvhcpu3r4kfbn] Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk [https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk [https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk] Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk [https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK [https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]