PoliticsJOE Podcast

Clara Mattei, economist and founding president of the Forum for Real Economic Emancipation, explores how wage labor and market dependence create hidden coercion. She challenges the myth of the free market and reveals how central banks and austerity shape politics. She also discusses local, participatory alternatives and the barriers to collective organizing.

Today Ava is joined by journalist Peter Oborne to discuss the Labour party under Keir Starmer, and the man that dragged him into power: Morgan McSweeney.Peter breaks down the allegiances that McSweeney built over a long career campaigning for the Labour Party, leading to his links to the man that almost brought down Starmer's premiership - the former American Ambassador Peter Mandelson.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lively run-through of Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain project and its online aesthetics. A debate about who or what is pulling British politics to the right. Discussion of Reform's tactics, litigation, and how movements shift the Overton window. Reflections on Labour's patriotic pivot and whether economic fixes or symbolic gestures matter more.

A rapid reaction to the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the police inquiry details. Email links to Jeffrey Epstein and the wider fallout are discussed. Media influence, elite networks and how journalism treats powerful figures come under scrutiny. Debate about the monarchy's future and public fatigue with politics is raised.

Michael Waldman, documentary maker and director of The Tony Blair Story, guides listeners through his motivations and the series’ scope. He discusses Blair’s post-office influence, the film’s contributors, interviews with family and key figures, and the ongoing debate over Iraq and legacy. The conversation teases editorial choices and timing for the Channel 4 broadcast.

A lively chat about the scramble to reinstate 30 local council votes after a U-turn on delaying them. Funny banter about Pancake Day, Ramadan and a viral dessert vendor keeps things light. They debate democratic timing, local reactions and how the reversal could reshape council politics. Brief reflections on pandemic-era journalism and personal COVID stories add a human touch.

They unpack a story about a group commissioning probes into journalists and the £36,000 paid to a PR firm. Conversations explore possible links to security services and whether political donations and registrations were handled correctly. The hosts debate ethics, PR industry norms, and who inside the organisation should be held accountable.

Oliver Bullough, investigative journalist and author on financial crime, explains how vast sums flow through London and the UK. He outlines why governments shy away from tough action. He discusses luxury trade as a conduit for moving value, the role of big banknotes, debanking controversies, and why enforcement lags far behind the scale of laundering.

Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour leader and co-founder of Your Party, reflects on decades of politics. He recounts Peter Mandelson's rise and media savvy. He warns about privatisation, PFI strains on the NHS and Palantir access to health data. He questions party funding, lobbying, House of Lords power and argues for public ownership and democratic reform.

Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic and veteran campaigner for a UK parliamentary republic, discusses Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to the Epstein files. He covers reporting Andrew to police, alleged institutional cover-ups, palace cooperation questions, media deference to royals, protester rights, and calls for accountability and policing without favoritism.