Mile End Institute Podcast

To close the second season of the Mile End institute podcast, Co-Director Tim Bale is joined by the economist, journalist, broadcaster, and author, Tim Harford. Using Tim Harford's new book as a jumping-off point, they discuss the use of statistics to explain and solve problems, the way that humans can (often wilfully) make mistakes, the importance of landmark numbers, and the issue of partisanship - why it matters, and how it influences how people form opinions and perceive the world.

In this episode, Giles Edwards, author of 'The Ex-Men: How Our Former Presidents and Prime Ministers Are Still Changing the World', looks at what happens when world leaders stop having ‘all the power’. In conversation with Tim Bale, he discusses the international organisations, global foundations, and club consultancies where global leaders enjoy an array of opportunities to carry on making a difference - both at home and abroad - after leaving office. They also consider how such organisations are funded, who interacts with them, and how they have an impact.

This week, the Mile End Institute Podcast welcomes Peter Cardwell, author of 'The Secret Life of Special Advisers'. In conversation with Co-Director Tim Bale, he discusses the different types of special advisers (SpAds) and the relationships between them and the Civil Service, the issue of leaks to the press, the final days of Theresa May’s administration and the most famous (ex) SpAd of the moment, Dominic Cummings.

In this episode, we welcome Deborah Mattinson, author of 'Beyond the Red Wall: Why Labour Lost, How the Conservatives Won and What Will Happen Next?' In conversation with MEI Co-Director Tim Bale, she discusses the importance of focus groups in understanding public opinion, the motives of those voters in the North of England who deserted Labour for the Tories in 2019, and what the parties need to do either to win them back or keep hold of them.

This Mile End Institute Podcast is part of the "Future of British Democracy Series" led by MEI Co-Director, Dr Robert Saunders. In this episode, we welcome Helen Mountfield QC and David Gauke to discuss Judicial Review. They explain what it is, how it works, and why it matters. 

This week on the Mile End Institute podcast, we welcome the prize-winning broadcaster and political commentator Iain Dale.  Iain talks about his latest book, 'Why Can’t We All Just Get Along' - and discusses how, on social media especially, we might help ourselves to do so.  In a wide-ranging conversation, he also chats about his political views and how and why these have mellowed over time. Along the way, Iain shares his thoughts on education, on business, and on broadcasting, and looks back on his attempts to become an MP, on his time in political publishing, and, of course, on how he became one of the UK's favourite radio voices.

In this episode, we welcome Marie Le Conte, author of 'Haven’t You Heard? Gossip, Politics and Power' to the Mile End institute podcast. In conversation with Co-Director Tim Bale, Marie discusses how she became interested in British politics, life as a freelance journalist, politics as a form of entertainment, her bonus chapter on Boris Johnson, and how her book can act as a guide for working in Westminster.

In this episode, MEI Co-Director Robert Saunders discusses the book Brexitland: Identity, Diversity and the Reshaping of British Politics with its authors, Maria Sobolewska and Robert Ford.  They touch on Brexit from a historical perspective, the political rendering of English and Scottish nationalism, and also summarise how the electorate changed, socially and in terms of values, in the decades leading up to the momentous referendum of 2016.

In this episode, MEI Co-Director Tim Bale welcomes Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire, authors of Left Out: The Inside Story of Labour Under Corbyn. They discuss the advantages (and disadvantages) of co-authoring a book and offer their insights into Labour under Jeremy Corbyn, touching on his advisors, party management, Brexit, and his lasting impact on the Labour Party.

In this episode of the Mile End Institute podcast, Co-Director, Dr Robert Saunders, is joined by Professor Christina von Hodenberg and William Waldegrave, Lord Waldegrave of North Hill, to discuss the thirtieth anniversary of German reunification.  The panel discusses the historical context of a divided (and subsequently reunited) Germany, the 1989-90 revolution, the response of the British Government, and legacies of reunification.

In this episode, columnist and Conservative peer, Daniel Finkelstein, discusses Everything in Moderation, a collection bringing together many of his greatest pieces from The Times. In conversation with MEI Co-Director, Professor Tim Bale, Finkelstein discusses, among other things, how he went about selecting columns for the collection, his political predictions, both correct and incorrect, and the value of data in understanding political developments.

To launch the second series of the Mile End Institute Podcast, Co-Director Professor Tim Bale discusses The Sunday Times bestseller, Democracy for Sale: Dark Money and Dirty Politics, with its author, the writer and broadcaster, Peter Geoghegan. Peter discusses his entry into journalism, the process of writing his current book, and reflects on its relevance when looking at the most current developments in British politics.

In this episode, MEI Co-Director Professor Tim Bale discusses life in 10 Downing Street with Gavin Barwell (Lord Barwell), Patrick Diamond (QMUL), and Jill Rutter (UK in a Changing Europe). They reflect on their experiences of working in this unique environment from different political perspectives.

In the wake of Black Lives Matter, Britain is thinking seriously once again about the obstacles faced by the country's ethnic minorities right across society, including in government and politics. Although representation has obviously increased in recent years, and there are more politicians from minority communities at Westminster and in council chambers than there used to be, it's still not as high as it would need to allow us to say it's proportionate. In political parties in particular, particularly at the grassroots level, it's woeful and that prompts a number of questions. In this Podcast, Co-Director Professor Tim Bale discusses ethnic minority representation within UK political parties with special guests Councillor Farah Hussain (Labour, Redbridge), Councillor Rabina Khan (Liberal Democrat, Shadwell), and Mercy Muroki (Commissioner - Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities). 

In his first twelve months as prime minister, Boris Johnson has shut down Parliament, won a general election, taken Britain out of the EU and faced a global pandemic. He’s lost a Chancellor of the Exchequer, expelled 22 MPs from the Conservative Party, experienced the biggest economic hit for generations and taken on the wage-bill for a quarter of the workforce. In this special Mile End Institute Podcast, Co-Director Dr Robert Saunders examines a year of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister with special guests Professor Sarah Childs (Royal Holloway, University of London) Michael Bankole (King’s College London) and Jeevun Sandher (King’s College London).

In this episode of the Mile End Institute Podcast, Co-Director Professor Tim Bale, discusses the response of British businesses to Brexit with special guests Nicole Sykes (Head of EU Negotiations, CBI) and Professor Chris Grey (Head of the Department of Human Resource Management and Organization Studies in the School of Business and Management, Royal Holloway University of London). The discussion explores how businesses responded in the immediate post-referendum era and Nicole and Chris also offer their thoughts on what business has done (and not been able to do) to make the best of Brexit.

In this episode, award-winning journalist, novelist and political commentator, Jonathan Freedland, and Miri Rubin, Professor of Medieval and Early Modern History at Queen Mary University of London and President of the Jewish Historical Society of England discuss some of the characteristics of Antisemitism and their historical formation. They explore how histories of Antisemitism can be used as a way of thinking about Antisemitism in Britain in 2020 and also discuss the relationship between Antisemitism and populism.  The discussion is facilitated by Dr Robert Saunders, Reader in Modern British History at Queen Mary University of London and Co-Director of the Mile End Institute. 

In this Mile End Institute podcast, our expert panel discusses the impact of Covid-19 on local government, including the financial implications and the attitude and actions of central government. The panel also offers their thoughts on the threats and opportunities that may be faced by local government in the wake of the pandemic in both a short and long-term context. Panel: Dr. Patrick Diamond (Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, QMUL) Dr. Jonathan Carr-West (Chief Executive, Local Government Information Unit) Dr. Andrew Walker (Head of Research, Local Government Information Unit) The LGiU report on Post-Covid Councils can be viewed here. 

In this Mile End Institute podcast, our expert panel will discuss the new leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer. This will include reflections on his successful leadership campaign and thoughts on what sort of leader he will be in the current unprecedented circumstances. Panel: Dr. Patrick Diamond (Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, QMUL) Councillor Farah Khanum Hussain (Cabinet Member for Housing & Homelessness, Valentines Ward and PhD Candidate, QMUL) Dr. Karl Pike (ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow, QMUL)