Past Present Future PPF+: A Taste Of What You’ve Been Missing (Taster 2)
Apr 24, 2026
Alec Ryrie, historian of Christianity, links Calvinism and Puritanism to political developments like apartheid. Shannon Vallor, philosopher of tech, frames AI as a mirror of our past and its societal risks. Robert Saunders, historian and political scientist, teases Brexit’s lasting structural shock to British politics. They explore politics, culture and technology in short, sharp conversations.
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Satire Of Political Courage In In The Loop
- In The Loop satirises political courage by showing a minister who repeatedly hovers on resigning without ever acting.
- David Runciman contrasts Tom Hollander's clueless Simon Foster with real figures like Robin Cook to show the moral weight of actual resignation.
Robin Cook's Defining Resignation Speech
- Robin Cook's resignation and 2003 House of Commons speech exemplify genuine political courage against the Iraq war.
- Runciman calls Cook's 12-minute speech the greatest parliamentary speech of his lifetime and contrasts its measured clarity with In The Loop's language-as-slapstick.
Brexit Broke British Party And Constitutional Norms
- The 2016 Brexit referendum created structural political problems by giving an outcome without terms and forcing governments without stable majorities to implement it.
- Robert Saunders argues this produced constitutional strain and long-term fracturing of party politics.
