Pod Save the UK Are we stuck in never-ending political scandal? w/Ash Sarkar
Feb 26, 2026
Ash Sarkar, contributing editor at Novara Media and author of Minority Rule, offers sharp political analysis. She dissects Mandelson’s arrest and media blindspots. She explores whether politics can be rebuilt through different organising models. They also cover Labour factionalism, immigration politics, SEND reforms, and recent protest victories.
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Politicians Manage Democracy For Capital
- Politicians act as intermediaries who manage democracy to protect capital, making them responsive to financial and institutional pressures.
- Sarkar points to bond markets, depoliticisation and weakened unions as mechanisms that make politicians prioritise capital over voters.
Access Politics Shapes What Gets Reported
- Westminster journalists often avoid reporting on elites due to access incentives and group dynamics, letting known issues fester.
- Sarkar describes lobby culture where access and fear of losing it silence scrutiny until social media pressure forces coverage.
Demonstrate Usefulness Before Asking For Votes
- Build political trust through community service before seeking votes, following the Belgian Workers Party model.
- Sarkar cites running local health clinics and proving usefulness as tactics to demonstrate reliability to skeptical voters.
