Burst Into Flower: Siân Berry MP on the Green Moment

If they come for one of us

In this second conversation with Siân Berry, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Leslie Clarke turns to the issues that matter most to Scene Magazine's readership: the state of LGBTQ+ rights in the UK in 2026, and what to do about the decline. They cover the Supreme Court ruling and its real-world impact on trans people's daily lives, the EHRC interim guidance and why Berry believes it should be withdrawn, the organised international campaign she argues is driving the rollback of rights across the world, hate crimes up more than 100 per cent in five years, and what a Green government would actually do differently. Recorded ahead of Pride Month 2026. Part of Scene Magazine's Pride Edition. About Political by Design Political by Design is the podcast from Scene Magazine that looks at politics through an LGBTQ+ lens. Hosted by Leslie Clarke, publisher and editor of Scene. New episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Scene Magazine Instagram: @scenemagazineuk [https://www.instagram.com/scenemagazineuk/] Facebook: @GScene.Brighton [https://www.facebook.com/GScene.Brighton] BlueSky: @scenemag.co.uk [https://bsky.app/profile/scenemag.co.uk] YouTube: @scenemagazineuk [https://www.youtube.com/@scenemagazineuk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Which one do you hate more? Dian Cathal on being trans, American, and unbothered in Britain

Dian Cathal is an award-winning trans comedian, writer, and performer who has spent the last decade doing what most people wouldn't dare: turning the politics of his own existence into a night out. Born in New York, living in London by medical necessity rather than choice (corn syrup, of all things, is the villain), he has built a body of work that uses sharp, personal comedy to pull apart identity, migration, and what it actually means to belong somewhere. His current touring show Trans*Atlantic asks one beautifully blunt question: if you are a trans man and a US expat living in Britain right now, which identity makes you the bigger villain? The show has already picked up a five-star review from Reviews Hub, which recommended it be watched by Starmer's cabinet, JK Rowling, and assorted Guardian columnists. In this episode of Political by Design, Dian joins Leslie Clarke for an hour of comedy, politics, and some genuinely unexpected tangents, including what the Irish changeling myth has to do with transphobic parenting, why Northern Ireland is functionally a trans country, Labour's revealing response to being asked whether they hate Americans, and what Dian was thinking when he heard Luigi Mangione had been shot. They also get into the Supreme Court ruling on gender recognition, the difference between free speech and freedom of expression, why art can change government policy when it is good enough to be undeniable, and what Dian makes of queer people who stand against the trans community. It is one of those conversations that keeps turning corners. What's in this episode •      Why Dian had to leave the US and what corn syrup has to do with it •      Trans*Atlantic: the show, the question, and the five-star coalition of intended viewers •      Deadnamed, Irish mythology, and why nobody is actually dead •      The attention economy, hate comments, and getting paid either way •      TERF Island as seen from the outside, and why Britain's trans debate looks different to the US •      The Supreme Court ruling: sitting in a theatre doing final edits when it landed •      Free speech versus freedom of expression, and why Brits have confused the two •      Why Is That So Funny? by John Wright, the book Dian recommends on how and why comedy works •      Art as a force for political change, from 1980s East Germany to queer comedy nights •      Labour's accidental admission, and what Dian's planning to do with it •      Time Bomb: his next show, about cancer, family history, and healthcare Trans*Atlantic tour dates •      Brighton: 2 May, Komedia Studio (Brighton Fringe) •      London: 18 May, Queer Comedy Club •      Cambridge: 29 May, Blue Moon •      Dublin: 4 to 9 May, Wild Stages Festival (Deadnamed) Find Dian Cathal •      diancathal.com •      Instagram: @diancathal About Political by Design Political by Design is the podcast from Scene Magazine that looks at politics through an LGBTQ+ lens. Hosted by Leslie Clarke, publisher and editor of Scene. New episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Scene Magazine Instagram: @scenemagazineuk [https://www.instagram.com/scenemagazineuk/] Facebook: @GScene.Brighton [https://www.facebook.com/GScene.Brighton] BlueSky: @scenemag.co.uk [https://bsky.app/profile/scenemag.co.uk] YouTube: @scenemagazineuk [https://www.youtube.com/@scenemagazineuk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Burst Into Flower: Siân Berry MP on the Green Moment

What does it feel like to inherit the most famous Green seat in Britain? Siân Berry, MP for Brighton Pavilion and successor to Caroline Lucas, sits down with Leslie Clarke to talk about the rise of the Green Party and what it means to be at the heart of it. From the inside story of how the Greens planned and executed their historic 2024 four-seat win, to Zack Polanski's transformation of the party since becoming leader, to why young people are turning Green in record numbers - this is a candid, wide-ranging conversation. They also get into wealth taxes, the housing crisis, electoral reform, the real work of a bill committee, and why Siân keeps a scrapbook of 1989 newspaper cuttings about the last Green surge. About Political by Design Political by Design is the podcast from Scene Magazine that looks at politics through an LGBTQ+ lens. Hosted by Leslie Clarke, publisher and editor of Scene. New episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Scene Magazine Instagram: @scenemagazineuk [https://www.instagram.com/scenemagazineuk/] Facebook: @GScene.Brighton [https://www.facebook.com/GScene.Brighton] BlueSky: @scenemag.co.uk [https://bsky.app/profile/scenemag.co.uk] YouTube: @scenemagazineuk [https://www.youtube.com/@scenemagazineuk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

From Change to Status Quo: Labour’s branding dilemma

In this episode of Political by Design, Leslie Clarke is joined by Labour councillor and former journalist Sebastian Salek to unpack Labour’s and Prime Minister Keir Starmer's struggle to turn its message of “change” into a convincing governing brand. From the challenge of communicating achievements to voters, to the underestimated role of simple, positive language, we explore why political branding is make-or-break in 2025. The conversation covers how Labour can reset its narrative, what the deputy leadership race really signals, and why storytelling matters as much as policy. Follow Sebastian on Twitter: @SebastianSalek [https://x.com/sebastiansalek] About Political by Design Political by Design is the podcast from Scene Magazine that looks at politics through an LGBTQ+ lens. Hosted by Leslie Clarke, publisher and editor of Scene. New episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Scene Magazine Instagram: @scenemagazineuk [https://www.instagram.com/scenemagazineuk/] Facebook: @GScene.Brighton [https://www.facebook.com/GScene.Brighton] BlueSky: @scenemag.co.uk [https://bsky.app/profile/scenemag.co.uk] YouTube: @scenemagazineuk [https://www.youtube.com/@scenemagazineuk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Politics of Care: inside Britain’s trans health crisis

In this special episode for Scene Magazine, Leslie Clarke interviews Dr Sam Hall, a GP and advocate for trans healthcare, discussing the challenges faced by trans individuals in the healthcare system, the impact of societal perceptions, and the importance of informed consent. They explore the evolution of trans rights and the need for compassion and understanding in medical practice. The conversation highlights the urgent need for reform in healthcare policies and the importance of a unified LGBTQ+ community in advocating for trans rights. About Political by Design Political by Design is the podcast from Scene Magazine that looks at politics through an LGBTQ+ lens. Hosted by Leslie Clarke, publisher and editor of Scene. New episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Scene Magazine Instagram: @scenemagazineuk [https://www.instagram.com/scenemagazineuk/] Facebook: @GScene.Brighton [https://www.facebook.com/GScene.Brighton] BlueSky: @scenemag.co.uk [https://bsky.app/profile/scenemag.co.uk] YouTube: @scenemagazineuk [https://www.youtube.com/@scenemagazineuk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.