Shows
Inside Briefing with the Institute for GovernmentWill Ukraine be “Keir Starmer’s Falklands - or his Iraq”?So much has happened since that explosive – and unsettling – White House press conference bust-up between Donald Trump and Vlodymer Zelensky, but does Keir Starmer have a workable plan for peace? UKICE’s Anand Menon joins the podcast team to reflect on another extraordinary week of UK/US/EU relations. Despite the focus on international affairs, the government also needs to deal with tough spending choices with not a lot of money to spend. After the aid budget, what could be next to face some cuts? PLUS: What is going wrong with prisons in England...2025-03-0738 min
The Expert FactorTrump, tariffs and EU trade negotiations: what can Keir Starmer do?A week is a long time in politics, but it is even longer in international relations. Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the US and Americas programme at Chatham House, joins Paul and Anand to work out what the complex combination of Trump, tariffs and trade negotiations means for Keir Starmer and the UK. What will Donald Trump’s tariffs mean for the US’s closest trading partners – and the EU and the UK? How should Keir Starmer approach relations with the unpredictable US president? Can the PM improve the UK’s deal with the EU, and if so then...2025-02-0935 min
The Expert FactorThe Expert Factor on tour: Five years since BrexitTo mark the fifth anniversary of the UK’s departure from the EU, Anand, Paul and Hannah took a trip to Oxford of the Expert Factor. So how has the Brexit worked out for the UK? What questions are still being asked – and unanswered? And how might Keir Starmer and the Labour government approach the UK’s ever-evolving relationship with the EU? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2025-01-3023 min
The Expert FactorHow will Keir Starmer's AI plan change government (and your lives)?The robots are taking our jobs, we’re going to be a nation run by chatbots, and an all-seeing, all-powerful computer is set to know everything about all of us.Well, not really. But Keir Starmer says AI is poised to generate “incredible change in our country”So what exactly is he talking about? Helen Margetts, professor of Society and the Internet at the University of Oxford and director of the Alan Turing Institute’s public policy programme, joins Hannah and Paul to...2025-01-1841 min
The Expert FactorHow can the social care crisis be fixed?Why is the social care challenge so complicated? Why can’t the nation’s politicians find a way forward? What is a possible solution? And what could Baroness Casey do to succeed when nobody else has managed to do so? This week’s Expert Factor sees Hannah and Paul joined by Andrew Dilnot, who chaired the Commission on Funding of Care and Support, to explore three decades of disagreement and delay, look at how social care currently works – or doesn’t, and discuss what Louise Casey should do to deliver lasting change. Learn mor...2025-01-1037 min
The Expert FactorHow can Keir Starmer meet his milestones?We’ve had missions. We’ve got foundations. We had some first steps. And now we have milestones. So what are they? Are targets a sensible way to go about governing? How do they change the way civil servants work? Whose heads roll if targets aren’t met? And has Keir Starmer even chosen the type of targets that the voters care about. Anand, Paul and Hannah have read every word (probably) in Keir Starmer’s Plan for Change, and are here to tell you exactly what the targets say, whether they can b...2024-12-1334 minThe Expert FactorAssisted dying: What are the problems with Private Members’ Bills?With the assisted dying bill dominating discussions and debates in Westminster, former House of Commons clerk David Natzler joins Hannah and Paul to explain how private members’ bills work – and why they sometimes don’t. The bill to legislate for assisted dying isn’t a government bill. It hasn’t emerged from a Whitehall department. And it isn’t being steered through parliament by a minister. It is a private member’s bill, introduced by a Labour backbencher – Kim Leadbetter – whose name was drawn from a ballot. So why might that be an issue? Has thi...2024-11-2941 minThe Expert FactorWhat does Donald Trump’s election really mean for the UK?What does Donald Trump’s plan to make America great again mean for everyone else? What do tariffs actually achieve and who feels the pain or reaps the benefits? Will Trump’s America First vision push the UK towards the EU? Could the UK’s defence spending rise - and what might that mean for public services? Is there any chance of a US/UK trade deal happening? And does the US result tell us what voters might be looking for here at the next general election here? Hannah, Paul and Anand assemble in the podcast s...2024-11-1442 minThe Expert FactorWhat difference will Rachel Reeves’ Budget really make?It is nearly a week since Rachel Reeves set out her Halloween Budget – the first from a Labour government in 14 years. So who are the winners? Who are the losers? Do the numbers add up? How big are the numbers? And have manifesto promises been broken along the way? Former Treasury special adviser Sonia Khan joins Paul and Anand to crunch the budget sums, dig into the chancellor’s plans and strategies, and explain what it all means for the government, for the economy, and for everyone who listens to the Expert Factor. ...2024-11-0535 minThe Expert FactorBeyond Brexit: How can UK/EU relations be reset?Remember the days when Keir Starmer used to campaign for a second Brexit referendum? Since the general election we hear rather more about the Labour government wanting to reset the UK’s relations with the EU. So have there been any substantial changes in the relationship so far? How likely is it that the government will be able to successfully negotiate on any trade barriers? What about Labour's plan for a security pact with the EU - what could this look like? And from the EU's perspective, is there even any appetite for closer relations?2024-10-2935 minThe Expert FactorThe Budget and the debt: What happens if Rachel Reeves borrows more money?Nobody wants to be in debt? To find themselves owing money? Or to end up paying back high levels of interest?But it has been reported that Rachel Reeves is looking to adjust the government’s rules to allow her to borrow more.So what’s the chancellor thinking? How can the government borrow more? What can it spend money on if it borrows more? If the rules are so quick to change then why doesn’t every chancellor do it? And what actually happens if the government racks up a bigger debt?Well...2024-10-2138 minThe Expert FactorExpert Factor: Policy Festival 2024 SpecialHow does power work in government? Where does power really sit in government? And how can power best be given away from government? The Expert Factor team aren’t exactly known for being 24-hour festival people – but when it comes to a festival about policy they are properly in the mood. And in this special recording for this year’s Policy Festival, Hannah, Anand and Paul explore how policy is made (and could be made better through) with a fascinating discussion taking in missions, devolution, ministers, money and much more. 2024-10-1148 minThe Expert FactorHas the Conservative Party worked out why it lost the general election?Hannah, Paul and Anand – with some snazzy new remote podcast recording equipment – met up at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham to record a special episode of the Expert Factor. So what is the mood? How does it compare to Labour’s get together in Liverpool? Has the Conservative party reflected on its historic defeat and considered how it might govern differently? And are there any announcements that we need to be paying attention to? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2024-10-0428 min
The Expert FactorIs there a better way for government to approach benefits?How many people claim benefits in this country? Who should be allowed to claim benefits? How much money does the government spend on benefits? Questions about benefits are back on the agenda. The row over cutting the winter fuel allowance is ongoing. Keir Starmer is insisting that most people who claim benefits should be looking for work. And the government is planning to legislate to stop benefit fraud. So is the government taking the right approach for bringing the benefits bill down?--------THE EXPERT FACTOR: Each week t...2024-09-2733 min
The Expert FactorStarmer’s freebie row: How can we fix standards and ethics in public life?How angry should people be about Keir Starmer’s free gift list? How does a confusing set of rules governing standards and ethics in public life actually work? Whatever happened to Labour's grand plans for reform? And what can the PM due to reset the narrative?The IfG’s standards expert Tim Durrant joins Hannah and Anand to get beyond the row over Keir Starmer’s new suits and Arsenal tickets and explore how the standards system works - and often doesn’t - and what could be done to fix it.--------2024-09-2331 minThe Expert FactorHow do National Wealth Funds really work?What exactly is a National Wealth Fund? Lots of other countries have one - or something similar. In fact, there are 179 of them - holding up to $12.4 trillion in assets. And now the Labour government is going to set one up too. So how do they work? Where does the money come from? Where does the money go? What are the opportunities? And what are the risks? And how might Rachel Reeves’ wealth fund vision play out? Hannah and Paul are joined by top macroeconomist, finance expert, development specialist and sustainability advi...2024-09-1543 minThe Expert FactorWhat happens next in British politics?Parliament has returned. MPs are back in Westminster. And the government is gearing up for a busy autumn, with the budget and some big legislation in parliament coming down the track. The Conservative party is battling through a leadership contest. The party conference season is almost upon us. And there’s a rather important election taking place in the US. So what do we need to look out for? Where might the government run into difficulties? Which political rows might erupt? And are there actually any taxes to raise? Hannah, Anand and Paul return to the...2024-09-0628 min
The Expert FactorDeliberative democracy: Is it time to let citizens decide policy?Are the right people making the right decisions about your future? How do politicians really know what you are thinking about the big questions facing the country? And is a tick in a box once every half a decade really a good enough way to tell our politicians what you want them to do? Polly Curtis, CEO of the think tank Demos, joins Hannah and Anand to dive into the world of citizens' juries, citizens’ assemblies, and the new democratic experiments that could shake up how policy is made. Can these ideas make a difference, or are...2024-08-2331 min
The Expert FactorWhat lessons should the government learn from the riots?The country is reeling from the worst civil unrest in the UK since the London riots of 2011.So why did violence break out across England in recent weeks? How well has the Government handled it? What can be done about disinformation on social media? And should we be thinking about the root causes of dissatisfaction?Nazir Afzal, former Chief Crown Prosecutor and Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners, joins Anand and Hannah to try and make sense of the scenes that followed the tragic events in Sout...2024-08-1632 minThe Expert FactorCan the government really deliver clean power by 2030?One of the Labour government’s big missions is to deliver clean power by 2030 – so what is its plan for getting there? Nick Butler, a top energy consultant and economist, joins Hannah, Paul and Anand to explain what the government is trying to do, who is going to pay for it, and examine whether it will actually work.What exactly is GB Energy? How does the Crown Estate fit into the plans? Is onshore wind going to be enough or do we need a bigger mix? How many more pylons does the UK need to b...2024-08-0940 minThe Expert FactorWhat is in Rachel Reeves’ £22bn black hole plan?Rachel Reeves has accused the previous government of leaving a £22 billion shortfall in public finances. But do the chancellor’s sums add up or was this all about the politics?Anand, Hannah and Paul examine what could be a defining moment for this government, explore what Reeves is trying to do, and try to make sense of some of the decisions - like scrapping road and hospital building projects, restricting winter fuel payments, and cancelling the imposition of a cap on social care charges – that she made this week. So what actually is the state of the...2024-08-0236 minThe Expert FactorHow can the government meet its foreign policy challenges?The general election was less than a month ago, but Keir Starmer has already had to deal with an assassination attempt in the United States, a NATO summit, and hosting the European Political Community at Blenheim. And there are more challenges ahead. The US election. The question of how to deal with China. And, of course, Gaza and Ukraine will continue to dominate the headlines.So how clear a plan does Labour have? How might it approach these and other challenges? And to what extent does David Lammy’s doctrine of ‘progressive realism’ provide a useful guide? La...2024-07-2634 minThe Expert FactorWhat can be done to fix the prisons crisis?Within days of winning the general election, Keir Starmer has had to respond to what is undoubtedly a crisis – perhaps even an emergency – in prisons across England and Wales. The equation is a simple one. Too many prisoners, not enough prison places. More prisons are being planned. But even this won’t keep track of the expected rise in prisoner numbers.So how on earth was this allowed to happen? Who is to blame?And has the Labour government come up with a sensible plan to fix the problem – or just a short term sticking plaster?2024-07-1936 minThe Expert FactorWhat does the general election result mean for British politics?It’s not even a week since the British electorate voted to hand power back to Labour. Keir Starmer now leads a government with a huge majority. Rishi Sunak is still – just – leading a massively reduced Conservative opposition. The Liberal Democrats have reclaimed their status as Parliament’s third largest party. The SNP had a terrible night. Reform have established a foothold in Westminster too.British politics has been turned on its head. So what does it mean for how this country is governed? Is this a significant shift or a short term protest? What do Keir Starmer’s...2024-07-1135 minThe Expert FactorCan the next government fix the housing crisis?Whoever wins the general election – and right now it looks set to be Labour – is going to inherit a particularly stacked and complicated in-tray. And most complicated of all might just be housing.It’s a problem that so many people are facing – and it’s a problem that successive governments have completely failed to solve. There aren’t enough houses. There aren’t enough houses being built. Houses are too expensive to buy. In some places they are too expensive to rent. So what is the solution? Hannah and Paul are joined by special guest Toby Lloyd...2024-07-0844 minThe Expert FactorDo Sunak or Starmer really have a plan for economic growth?It’s the Holy Grail. The answer to all our problems. The key to, well pretty much anything the next government wants to – and can – achieve. Rishi Sunak made it one of his five pledges. Keir Starmer placed it front and centre of Labour’s manifesto. But does anyone really know how to deliver economic growth?With Paul on his holidays, The Expert Factor is joined by IfG chief economist Gemma Tetlow for a closer look at the questions that could define the next government – and the future of our public services. What levers can governments pull to make gr...2024-06-1839 minThe Expert FactorWhat will happen to taxes after the 2024 general election?Promises not to raise tax are a feature of every general election campaign, and this year is no different. But what are Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer really saying about tax – and what does it mean for what the government can spend on struggling public services?Which taxes could still rise? What taxes need reform – and how can government go about it? And what does the public really think about tax? Anand, Paul and Hannah crunch the numbers and tell you what the tax rows are all about.Plus: Rise of the Right... what just happene...2024-06-1137 minThe Expert FactorAre we selecting the best MPs?How do parties decide who gets to stand to be an MP? And are they doing it right? So far this general election has been whirlwind of surprises and unexpected recrimination. Keir Starmer has been accused of purging the Labour Left to install friendly faces in plum seats. And the Conservatives had to search frantically for new candidates to replace record numbers of their MPs who’ve decided to stand down.What does it take to get on the ballot paper? And how do the parties’ choices shape their future in power (or opposition)? Special guest Isabel Hard...2024-06-0648 minThe Expert FactorElection 2024: What's behind the Starmer-Sunak Stand-off?It is a week since a rain-soaked Rishi Sunak called a general election. So what on earth is going on? Does Rishi Sunak’s surprise decision make any more sense? Is the idea of national service going to win back the younger voters? Do the claims and counter-claims about tax add up? And will anyone talk about Brexit over the next six weeks? For impartial, insightful and, yes, expert analysis and insight, there is no better podcast to turn to than the Expert Factor.From now until the July 4th polling day, Hannah, Paul and Anand are go...2024-05-3039 minThe Expert FactorHow can public inquiries make a difference?Hillsborough. Bloody Sunday. Grenfell. Scott. Leveson. Chilcott.And just this week, infected blood, the Post Office and Covid.Public inquiries can make headlines. They can alter the course of political careers. They can bring closure. They can shape all our lives.So in the week that the contaminated blood inquiry’s final report was published, Emma Norris, the IfG’s deputy director and resident public inquiries expert, joins Anand and Paulto examine what makes a successful public inquiry - and what makes an unsuccessful one. Should politicians resist them or welcome...2024-05-2433 minThe Expert FactorWhat’s going wrong with Britain’s universities?UK universities are widely regarded as some of the best in the world. Boasting six of Europe’s top ten universities, it’s easy to see why so many students choose to study in Britain.Yet despite this, Britain faces a major skills shortage. Outcomes vary greatly across students from different backgrounds. And prospective students are increasingly sceptical about whether a degree is worth the money.With the election fast approaching, all parties are laying out their vision for the future of Britain’s universities. So why does it matter? Are UK universities really world leading...2024-05-1733 minThe Expert FactorWhat do the 2024 local elections really tell us about UK politics?The dust has settled, we've caught up on our sleep, and the Expert Factor team have assembled in the studio to make sense of a big set of local elections. Local Government Chronicle editor Sarah Calkin is this week’s special guest, joining Anand and Paul to explain what these votes were all about and why they matter. So what do these elections mean for Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer? Will the results have any impact on campaign strategies for the general election? Could they even force Sunak to call an early election - or perhaps a very...2024-05-1029 minThe Expert FactorWhy should voters care about the government’s industrial strategy?The general election campaign will probably be all about immigration, the economy, jobs and the NHS, but an industrial strategy – or not, if there isn’t one – could be critical to the future of this country.But what exactly is an industrial strategy? And why should voters pay attention to whether the government has one – and what Labour might do differently?Hannah and Paul are joined on this week’s Expert Factor by Giles Wilkes, who has worked on industrial strategy at the heart of government, to explore what an industrial strategy actually means for anyone vot...2024-05-0336 minThe Expert FactorIs there a better way to pay for the NHS?The NHS is front and centre of a general election campaign. Rishi Sunak has placed the NHS at the heart of the five pledges he wants to voters to judge him on, while Keir Starmer has made NHS reform one of the five missions which he says would drive a Labour government. But money is tight, and performance levels are poor. That familiar subject of how to reform the NHS is surfacing again – along with the tricky question of how to pay for our health service.So how is the NHS funded? How much do we...2024-04-2632 minThe Expert FactorWhat is behind the UK’s asylum policy?‘Stopping the boats’ was one of Rishi Sunak’s five priorities at the start of 2023. The numbers, and the visuals, of small boats arriving on the UK’s southern coast is an issue long seized upon by Nigel Farage and the Reform Party that has, to some extent, spooked both the Conservatives and Labour. And it is a policy problem that has caused massive headaches for the finest minds in government, a succession of ministers as well as the officials trying to implement that policy.So what's actually happening in asylum policy? How many people are trying to claim asylum i...2024-04-1829 minThe Expert FactorWill 2024 be the year of (more) populism?With elections being held in the UK, India, the US, Austria, Belgium and for the European Parliament, 2024 is going to be a huge year for politics, politicians and political parties. But could it also be another big year for populists? In recent years populist parties of the right and left have exploited anger towards the political elite, a loss of trusts in governments, and growing democratic dissatisfaction. They have surged in polls and made electoral breakthroughs, but will the coming months see more of the same?What would this mean for the numerous elections set t...2024-04-1236 minThe Expert FactorBiden v Trump: What is at stake in the 2024 US presidential election?On 5 November 2024, up to 161 million American voters will go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States – and will be faced with a choice between the same two candidates that stood in 2020. Joe Biden, the incumbent, will again face Donald Trump – the former president who lost to Biden in 2020. But polling suggests many voters are less than enthused by the choice. Non-MAGA Republicans feeling queasy about the prospect of Trump – who is still facing a pile of legal challenges – returning to the White House, and many Democrats wonder if Biden, who would be 86 at the end...2024-04-0541 minThe Expert FactorWhat would a hung parliament mean for the UK?Take a look at the polls and you might be forgiven for thinking that the next general election is heading towards one outcome and one outcome only. But that election could be months away – even next year, and a week, let alone a month, is a long time in politics. Keir Starmer keeps reminding his party not to be complacent, and Peter Mandelson has even predicted that the next election will result in a hung parliament. If so, then what happens?What would it mean for the country if no party wins a majority at the general el...2024-03-2237 minThe Expert FactorWhat is wrong with the centre of government?A major new report by the Institute for Government says the centre of government – No10, the Treasury and the Cabinet Office – is not capable of meeting the challenges that the UK faces in the 21st century. So what has been going wrong?How has No.10 failed prime ministers from different parties over the last two decades? What does the Cabinet Office actually do, and why has it more than doubled its size in the last ten years? Should the Treasury be split up? Is it right that the most. important decisions in government are taken in Cabin...2024-03-2232 minThe Expert FactorIs politically divisive language getting worse?Politics is not for the faint hearted, but it feels like we’re witnessing an outbreak of increasingly divisive language. Lee Anderson has been suspended as a Conservative MP. Suella Braverman’s interventions divide opinion. The Labour Party – no stranger to running into controversy over its politicians or party members – has endured a particularly difficult time in the build-up to the Rochdale by-election. So what’s going wrong? Why are politicians choosing to use this type of language? Do political parties have any power to stop them? Or will things only get worse in a general election year?Tim Bale...2024-03-0825 minThe Expert FactorWhat will be in Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget?Jeremy Hunt will reveal his 2024 Spring Budget on Wednesday March 6th. So what can we expect from the chancellor? Has the fiscal situation improved – or worsened – over the last few months? Are tax cuts really plausible given the state of public service performance? How will Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves respond? Will this be the last budget before the general election? And could this be the moment that Rishi Sunak turns around his government’s fortunes? On this week’s Expert Factor the team look ahead to a big day in the Westminster calendar and a hugely signific...2024-03-0131 minThe Expert FactorWhat does an era of global instability mean for the UK?On the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Expert Factor team assemble to examine what an era of global instability means for the UK, for our government and for British politics. What would the return of Donald Trump to the White House mean for whoever wins the general election? How is the conflict in the Middle East impacting British politics – and the decisions that British politicians need to take? Does the UK have the resources to meet its foreign policy aims and defence needs? What difference has Brexit made to how the UK acts on the worl...2024-02-2332 minThe Expert FactorWhat does the power-sharing deal really mean for Northern Ireland?With Paul Johnson away on holiday, Hannah and Anand are joined by Katy Hayward, professor of political sociology at Queen's University Belfast, for a deep dive into recent dramatic political developments in Northern Ireland.A deal has finally been struck and power-sharing has been restored in Northern Ireland. So how will it work? What has been the human cost of an absence of government at Stormont? How will this impact Northern Ireland's relationship with the EU? And what could the deal mean for the future of Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland? --------T...2024-02-1635 minThe Expert FactorIs there any hope for the UK’s economy?Guess what issue tops the charts of voter concerns? It’s the economy, stupid. Interest rates have soared. We've had high inflation. Mortgage rates have hit eye watering levels. And tax rates are at record highs.So just how unhealthy is the UK's economy? How might things change in the run up to the next election – and will Rishi Sunak’s pledges work out? Will whoever forms the next government be in for a nightmarish fiscal inheritance – and what does this mean for public services? And what, or who, should we blame for all this economic bad news?...2024-02-0931 minThe Expert FactorWhat is the state of Brexit?It is four years since the UK left the EU – and nearly eight years since that referendum. So what have we learnt? How has Brexit worked out – and what changes could yet be introduced? What is the current state of UK/EU relations? How might they develop in the future? And could a future government try and renegotiate the UK’s deal with the EU?This episode of The Expert Factor is a deep dive into how Brexit is working out – and how it might develop in the months and years ahead.--------THE EXPE...2024-02-0236 minThe Expert FactorThe Expert Factor Live!Adam Fleming, presenter of the BBC’s daily Newscast on BBC Sounds and Antisocial on Radio 4 joins us for this special live recording of The Expert Factor! What is the best way to hold politicians to account? Does it matter if a minister is given an official warning for making inaccurate claims? Who reads manifestos and do manifesto pledges actually matter? How can we find out what voters are really worried about? And what is the best way to be an expert in a general election year?This episode of the Expert Factor was recorded in front of...2024-01-2639 minThe Expert FactorHow do opposition parties prepare for power?Power changes hands overnight following a general election. Shadow ministers go from running small offices to being in charge of thousands of civil servants. Their advisers become all-powerful special advisers operating at the heart of government. And the leader of the opposition moves from an office in Parliament to 10 Downing Street, instantly handed the levers of power and a Rolodex of the world’s most important people. So how can oppositions prepare for such a massive change? What goes wrong if they don’t? And with Labour 20 points ahead in the polls, what does Keir Starmer need to do to g...2024-01-1927 minThe Expert FactorYour expert guide to UK politics in 2024This could be a pivotal year for British politics. A general election is set to take place in 2024. Rishi Sunak is urging voters to stick with the plan. Keir Starmer is pitching this as a year of change.So when might the general election be held? What is the most likely outcome? How will the economic outlook shape the next government’s options? Will the March Budget shift the dial? What are the big moments to look out for in Parliament before polling day? What could we learn from local and mayoral elections in May? And how mig...2024-01-1242 minThe Expert FactorThe Expert Factor: 2023 Year in ReviewSpectacular by-elections. The Covid Inquiry. The privileges committee report into Boris Johnson.. War in the Middle East. An outbreak of civil war in the Conservative party. It has been quite some year. So how did Rishi Sunak's pledges work out? Has Keir Starmer done enough to convince the electorate? Is the economy on the mend? Are public services on the decline? Is Brexit still getting done? And how will global affairs impact on British politics?For this final episode of the year, the Expert Factor team take a deep dive into the last 365 days – the highs, the lo...2023-12-2142 minThe Expert FactorWhat have we learned from the Covid Inquiry?Matt Hancock, Dominic Cummings, Rishi Sunak, Patrick Vallance, Chris Whitty and, of course, Boris Johnson have all relived – and tried to justify – the decisions taken by government during the pandemic. So as the year draws to a close, The Expert Factor takes stock of progress in the Covid Inquiry and whether the questions being asked – and the answers being given – are helping to explain how Johnson’s No10 functioned during this crisis. What have we learned so far? Who has given a good account of themselves – and whose reputation has suffered even more damage? What questions should have been asked? And c...2023-12-1631 minThe Expert FactorWhat can be done to fix the NHS?Satisfaction with the healthcare system is at its lowest level since 1997 – but the issue has been consistently rising as a priority for voters over the past two years. Waiting lists are at record levels. The damage caused by the Covid pandemic continues to be felt across the NHS. More money has been thrown at staffing, but productivity continues to lag.So what is the answer to the NHS’s problems? How do you pay for a bigger workforce – and how can it be done while simultaneously reducing immigration numbers? How can you ensure you meet the needs of the enti...2023-12-0933 minThe Expert FactorWhat do the public really think about British politics?This month marks four years since the 2019 general election, when Boris Johnson bulldozed his way to a Conservative majority with his promise to ‘get Brexit done’ – and Labour sank to its worst election result since 1935.But so much has changed since then. We’ve had a global pandemic. The partygate scandal. Two changes of prime minister. A huge economic downturn. War has returned to Europe.And for the last two years, Labour has held a poll lead over the Conservatives of around 20 points.So what are the public really thinking about British politics right no...2023-12-0143 minThe Expert FactorIs our education system getting good results?Education. Education. Education. General election slogans often zero in on education, and now Rishi Sunak has made building a “world class education system” as one of his top priorities. But just how well are English schools performing? Has enough to been done to make up for learning lost during the pandemic? Do Labour and the Conservatives disagree on education policy? And what can be done to fix our crumbling schools and recruit more teachers?In this episode, the Expert Factor take a deep dive into the state of our schools and explore the dividing lines in education poli...2023-11-2432 minThe Expert FactorWhat can we expect from the Autumn Statement?Rishi Sunak and his chancellor Jeremy Hunt have spent weeks poring over the books, squinting at the balance sheets, and crunching the numbers in the hope of sharing good economic news with the country – and setting out some policies – which excite Conservative MPs and entice the electorate. Yes, the wait for the Autumn Statement is nearly over.So what might the numbers reveal? How much room for manoeuvre do Sunak and Hunt have? Are tax cuts likely – and should they be? And how much do these fiscal events really shift the narrative?In this episode, the Exp...2023-11-1734 minThe Expert FactorWhat is the truth about immigration?For decades governments have grappled with immigration – arguably it was one of the key reasons for the 2016 Brexit vote. But what has “taking back control” meant for the UK’s immigration statistics? How might numbers change in the years ahead? To what extent does the UK need immigration to bolster its labour market? Where does the row over small boats fit in? And where are we in terms of voter attitudes?In this episode, the Expert Factor team take a deep dive into one of the most controversial questions faced by politicians of all parties – and a possible w...2023-11-1033 minThe Expert FactorWhat next for Net Zero?Climate change used to be that rarest of things in British politics – an issue over which there was broad interparty consensus. That consensus saw Ed Miliband oversee the passing of the Climate Change Act in 2008, committing the UK to an 80 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; Theresa May enshrining of the target of net zero in law; and Boris Johnson going further still, increasing the target for 2030 reductions to 68%.But recently we have seen a divergence from this consensus, with Rishi Sunak pushing back the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK...2023-11-0233 minThe Expert FactorWhat can be done to fix standards in public life? Do you remember when politics was the domain of good chaps and a time when politicians could be trusted to stick to the rules? Ok, so maybe there was never quite such a rose-tinted age – but from lobbying scandals to accusations of minsters bullying their staff, standards in politics seem to have been slipping in recent years. So this week the Expert Factor team take a deep dive into standards and ethics in public life – and how they are meant to be uphold. Why have standards been on the slide? Have the good chaps left the po...2023-10-2741 minThe Expert FactorWhy is the UK so bad at infrastructure?From HS2 cancellations to Heathrow’s still unbuilt third runway, the over-budget Elizabeth Line to the repeated delays to the Hinkley C nuclear reactor, why is the UK so bad at infrastructure projects? This week, the Expert Factor team take a deep dive into what goes wrong when the UK wants to build big things. How did the costs for HS2 get so high? Is there the right level of government expertise to see through big infrastructure projects? Does the UK have a bigger NIMBY problem than other countries? And what could be done to lear...2023-10-2031 minThe Expert FactorIs there any money left?Rising inflation, a cost-of-living crisis, striking public sector workers, the NHS facing another winter crisis….costs on the public purse are spiralling and government borrowing is being pushed still higher. So is it true to say there is no more money left?This week the Expert Factor team take a deep dive into the state of Britain’s public finances. What would it mean if we stick to current tax and spend policies? What choices are facing this country’s politicians and its public services? What does the country expect its governments to deliver – and how does it expect...2023-10-1341 minThe Expert FactorWhat is Britain’s place in the world?Some politicians are keen to talk up global Britain. Others boast that the UK is world leader in, well, just about everything. But some say this is a country in non-stop decline. So what’s the true story?This week the Expert Factor team take a deep dive into Britain’s place in the world. How do other countries view the UK after a tumultuous time in Westminster? What is the state of the UK’s post-pandemic economy compared to other countries? Just how special is the ‘special’ relationship with the US? And what is the true story abou...2023-10-0634 minThe Expert FactorWhat is the Point of Party Conferences?A general election is looming. Manifestos are being drafted. The battle of ideas is intensifying. From tackling climate change to turning around the economy, rethinking Britain’s place in the world to restoring trust in politics, the UK is facing huge challenges. So how can we make sense of it all?The EXPERT FACTOR is the podcast for people who haven’t had enough of experts. Each week we the directors of three leading and respected think tanks – Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Hannah White of the Institute for Government, and Anand...2023-09-2921 minThe Expert FactorThe Expert Factor - trailerAre you tired of experts? We're not. The Expert Factor, a brand new podcast - coming soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2023-09-2800 min