Shows
The Prospect PodcastWhat Blue Labour gets wrongThere’s been a buzz in Westminster about Blue Labour, the socially conservative group led by peer Maurice Glasman. But where did Blue Labour come from—and how much influence does it really have over government?This week on the Prospect Podcast, Ellen and Alona are joined by political theorist and director of the UCL policy lab Marc Stears, who was one of the founding members of Blue Labour 15 years ago but is now critical of its turn towards the populist right.Marc explains how and why he believes its ideology has shifted and d...2025-07-0936 minThe Prospect PodcastWhat Blue Labour gets wrongThere’s been a buzz in Westminster about Blue Labour, the socially conservative group led by peer Maurice Glasman. But where did Blue Labour come from—and how much influence does it really have over government?This week on the Prospect Podcast, Ellen and Alona are joined by political theorist and director of the UCL policy lab Marc Stears, who was one of the founding members of Blue Labour 15 years ago but is now critical of its turn towards the populist right.Marc explains how and why he believes its ideology has shifted and d...2025-07-0936 min
Beyond Neoliberalism: The Conference PodcastPolitics in a Post Neoliberal WorldBeyond Neoliberalism Conference second plenary panel on "Politics in a Post-Neoliberal World," chaired by Gary Gerstle (University of Cambridge), with participants Pablo Bustinduy (Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and the 2030 Agenda, Spain), Julius Krein (American Affairs), Marc Stears (University College London), and Gillian Tett (Financial Times and Provost, Kings College Cambridge). https://beyond-neoliberalism.org/2025-07-071h 49
The Constitution UnitHow to be an effective oppositionOpposition parties play a crucial role in parliamentary democracy, scrutinising the government and putting forward alternative policies. But what makes opposition parties effective, both inside parliament and beyond? As the Conservative Party announced its new leader, this expert panel with first-hand experience of life in opposition discussed the task facing them and the other opposition parties.Speakers:Baroness (Kate) Fall – former Deputy Chief of Staff to David Cameron, and Conservative peerProfessor Marc Stears – former chief speechwriter to the Labour Party, and Director of the UCL Policy LabDr Nigel Fletcher – co-founder of the Centre for Opposition StudiesChair...2024-11-061h 13
The Power TestLabour's New Test: can public services be revived in gruelling economic conditions?Live from Labour Party conference, The Power Test returns to look at the Labour's first months in power. Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman are joined by Georgia Gould, Labour MP and Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Helen MacNamara, former Deputy Cabinet Secretary, and Marc Stears, director of the UCL Policy Lab, who supported this special episode, to discuss how Labour can reform and revive public services when the coffers are *cough* running low. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-09-2754 min
IOE insightsHow can researchers help politicians and policymakers do their jobs better? | Research for the Real WorldThe winners of elections in the UK and abroad need to ensure the right conditions are in place to allow cutting-edge ideas developed by experts in our universities to meet today’s policy challenges, and vice versa.
Dr Laura Outhwaite talks to our guests, Professors Marc Stears and Huw Morris about their approaches to undertaking research that informs policy, their experiences working across the academic/political divide, and what they’d do if they had a direct line to the next UK government.
Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2024/jul...2024-07-0129 min
ChangeMakersUK Election Special - ChangeMaker Chat - participation and electionsIn this special UK national election episode we are joined by Marc Stears from UCL Policy Lab and Martha MacKenzie from Civic Power to talk about the 2025 national election from the perspective of participatory and everyday politics.Civic Power Fund and the UCL Policy Lab are sponsors of this podcast, and this episode was conducted in London in the middle of the election campaign. It explores the context of electoral politics, how the election is creating a space for people’s involvement in politics and what all of this means for people after the election.2024-06-1939 min
IOE insightsPreview: Politics, policy and protest | Research for the Real WorldDid you know that in 2024, more voters than ever in history will take part in elections across the world?
In this season of Research for the Real World, it’s all about how research evidence informs policy. How could we not cover it when we know that policies implemented by the winning parties will prove consequential for years to come, shaping the future of democracy around the world?
Guests:
Professor Marc Stears and Professor Huw Morris on how policymakers can meet the challenges of modern Britain
Dr Claire Crawford on what it's like providing ev...2024-06-1704 min
The Rundown by PoliticsHomeThree weeks left to goAs attention switches to party manifestos this week three people first-hand experience of writing them; Rachel Wolf, who co-wrote the Tory 2019 manifesto, Marc Stears, part of the team who wrote Labour’s 2015 manifesto, and Lord Richard Newby, who wrote the Lib Dems’ in 2017 and chaired this year’s one too, talk about how the documents come together, as well as their impact on campaigns. Also on is PolHome editor Adam Payne and former Conservative special advisor Fred de Fossard to discuss if three weeks out the Tories might have already given up on winning, Lucia Hodgson, partner at strategy firm Ch...2024-06-131h 01
Latest 300 | LSE Public lectures and events | VideoHow to build a cohesive societyContributor(s): Professor Jonathan Wolff, Professor Marc Stears, Professor Margaret Levi | Tim Besley, School Professor of Economics and Political Science and Director of the Programme on Cohesive Capitalism chairs our discussion on cohesion and capitalism.2024-06-0400 minAll items | LSE Public lectures and events | Audio and pdfHow to build a cohesive societyContributor(s): Professor Jonathan Wolff, Professor Marc Stears, Professor Margaret Levi | Tim Besley, School Professor of Economics and Political Science and Director of the Programme on Cohesive Capitalism chairs our discussion on cohesion and capitalism.2024-06-0400 minAll items | LSE Public lectures and events | All media typesHow to build a cohesive societyContributor(s): Professor Jonathan Wolff, Professor Marc Stears, Professor Margaret Levi | Tim Besley, School Professor of Economics and Political Science and Director of the Programme on Cohesive Capitalism chairs our discussion on cohesion and capitalism.2024-06-0400 minAll items | LSE Public lectures and events | AudioHow to build a cohesive societyContributor(s): Professor Jonathan Wolff, Professor Marc Stears, Professor Margaret Levi | Tim Besley, School Professor of Economics and Political Science and Director of the Programme on Cohesive Capitalism chairs our discussion on cohesion and capitalism.2024-06-0400 min
The Bunker – News without the nonsenseWhat is England? – Setting seven national myths straightWhat is England? Well, that depends on the myths and stories you listen to. Are these tales more fiction than fact? In their new book England: Seven Myths That Changed A Country – and How to Set Them Straight authors Tom Baldwin and Marc Stears seek the reality of England’s national story. They join Ros Taylor in The Bunker. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. Buy England: Seven Myths That Changed A Country – and How to Set Them Straight through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help...2024-05-2930 minLatest 300 | LSE Public lectures and events | VideoEngland: seven myths that changed a country – and how to set them straightContributor(s): Dr Marc Stears, Tom Baldwin | Some politicians will talk of restoring an English birthright of liberty or the swashbuckling self-confidence to rule the waves. Others will yearn for the old-fashioned morality with which, they claim, England once civilised a savage world. Still will more look inwards to a story of an enchanted island that can stand alone and isolated against the world. But England - written by Tom Baldwin, the best-selling author of Keir Starmer's biography, and Marc Stears, influential think tank head - unravels seven myths that have provided so much ammunition for charlatans or culture warriors...2024-05-281h 32All items | LSE Public lectures and events | AudioEngland: seven myths that changed a country – and how to set them straightContributor(s): Dr Marc Stears, Tom Baldwin | Some politicians will talk of restoring an English birthright of liberty or the swashbuckling self-confidence to rule the waves. Others will yearn for the old-fashioned morality with which, they claim, England once civilised a savage world. Still will more look inwards to a story of an enchanted island that can stand alone and isolated against the world. But England - written by Tom Baldwin, the best-selling author of Keir Starmer's biography, and Marc Stears, influential think tank head - unravels seven myths that have provided so much ammunition for charlatans or culture warriors...2024-05-281h 32All items | LSE Public lectures and events | All media typesEngland: seven myths that changed a country – and how to set them straightContributor(s): Dr Marc Stears, Tom Baldwin | Some politicians will talk of restoring an English birthright of liberty or the swashbuckling self-confidence to rule the waves. Others will yearn for the old-fashioned morality with which, they claim, England once civilised a savage world. Still will more look inwards to a story of an enchanted island that can stand alone and isolated against the world. But England - written by Tom Baldwin, the best-selling author of Keir Starmer's biography, and Marc Stears, influential think tank head - unravels seven myths that have provided so much ammunition for charlatans or culture warriors...2024-05-281h 32All items | LSE Public lectures and events | Audio and pdfEngland: seven myths that changed a country – and how to set them straightContributor(s): Dr Marc Stears, Tom Baldwin | Some politicians will talk of restoring an English birthright of liberty or the swashbuckling self-confidence to rule the waves. Others will yearn for the old-fashioned morality with which, they claim, England once civilised a savage world. Still will more look inwards to a story of an enchanted island that can stand alone and isolated against the world. But England - written by Tom Baldwin, the best-selling author of Keir Starmer's biography, and Marc Stears, influential think tank head - unravels seven myths that have provided so much ammunition for charlatans or culture warriors...2024-05-281h 32
Politics Weekly UKKeir Starmer: new deal, new drama? Politics Weekly UKThe Labour leader has managed to stem a potential showdown with trade union leaders this week over wording on a workers’ rights deal. If this is a dress rehearsal for Labour in government, how has Keir Starmer and his party fared? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the columnist Polly Toynbee and Marc Stears, a former Labour party speechwriter and UCL Policy Lab director. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod2024-05-1633 min
Politics WeeklyKeir Starmer: new deal, new drama? Politics Weekly UKThe Labour leader has managed to stem a potential showdown with trade union leaders this week over wording on a workers’ rights deal. If this is a dress rehearsal for Labour in government, how has Keir Starmer and his party fared? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by the columnist Polly Toynbee and Marc Stears, a former Labour party speechwriter and UCL Policy Lab director. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod2024-05-1633 min
PoliticsJOE PodcastAnother round: Can Keir Starmer reclaim English nationalism?Welcome to the PoliticsJOE Podcast. What does it mean to be English? On St George’s Day, I was joined by author and journalist Tom Baldwin and academic Marc Stears who argue that Englishness is a collection of stories we tell ourselves, discuss how they’ve been appropriated for political ends, and if Keir Starmer can be the one to reclaim them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-05-0455 min
The Two MattsIs it really okay to be proud about being English?What is England? What is Englishness? The Matts are joined by Tom Baldwin and Marc Stears, authors of a fascinating new deep dive into the question of nationalism, called England - Seven Myths That Changed A Country And How To Set Them Straight. It’s a wide-ranging conversation on their journey from Runnymede to Hull via Plymouth, Wolverhampton, Oxford, Blackpool and Greenwich to discover the real England. Enjoy!Subscribe to The Two Matts: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-04-2649 min
Reasons RevisitedCHATTEROO #21 England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country - And How To Set Them StraightJust in time for St George's Day, former Mili-gang members Marc Stears & Tom Baldwin join the Chatteroo to talk about their excellent new book 'England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country - And How To Set Them Straight'Treat yourself to a copy - you deserve it! https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/england-9781526646231/Email us: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-04-2242 min
UCL MindsPolitics of Ordinary HopeEPISODE SUMMARY This week we’re discussing life, politics, and the power of ‘ordinary hope’ with Professor Marc Stears, the inaugural director of the UCL Policy Lab.
EPISODE NOTES This week, we have a slightly different kind of episode to normal. Rather than discussing an academic publication, we’ll be looking at the ideas and career of Professor Marc Stears. Marc is currently the inaugural director of the UCL policy lab, set up to break down the barriers between academic researchers and broader society. His career to date has included stints in academia at Cambridge, Oxford and Macquaire, being the Chief Sp...2023-10-2429 minThe Power TestBehind the GlitterThe Power Test is back for a new series with hosts Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman. In this first episode, they are joined by Anne McElvoy, Marc Stears and John McTernan live from the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to ask how a future Labour administration will govern and change Britain for the better - and whether it can deliver radical change in tough times.The Power Test is a political podcast where, with the help of invited guests, each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus...2023-10-1353 minPolitics Weekly UKWill Stevenage Woman make Starmer PM? – Politics Weekly UKWho does Labour need to win over – or win back – to form a government at the next election? The Guardian’s John Harris is joined by columnist Gaby Hinsliff, former Ed Miliband speechwriter Marc Stears and Josh Simons from Labour Together to discuss how the party can target these voters. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod2023-04-0637 min
UCL Uncovering PoliticsThe Politics of Ordinary HopeThis week, we have a slightly different kind of episode to normal. Rather than discussing an academic publication, we’ll be looking at the ideas and career of Professor Marc Stears. Marc is currently the inaugural director of the UCL policy lab, set up to break down the barriers between academic researchers and broader society. His career to date has included stints in academia at Cambridge, Oxford and Macquaire, being the Chief Speechwriter of the Labour Party, writing major speeches for Ed Milliband, the CEO of the New Economics Foundation, and the Director of the Sydney Policy Lab...2023-03-0929 min
UCL Political Science EventsHow we get our future back: why Britain needs ordinary hope not extraordinary disruptionMarc Stears is an internationally regarded academic, political strategist, speechwriter and executive educator, who specialises in creating dynamic collaborations between academic researchers and broader society. Currently the inaugural Director of the UCL Policy Lab, Marc has previously been Director of the Sydney Policy Lab at the University of Sydney, CEO of the New Economics Foundation, Professor of political theory at the University of Oxford and chief speechwriter to the UK Labour Party. He enjoy a worldwide reputation as a leadership coach and communications strategist, having supported Board and Executive Committee members for major organisations including for some of the w...2022-12-011h 09
The Bunker – News without the nonsenseIs there any hope after austerity 2.0?Hunt’s cuts upon cuts have left the nation worried, depressed and frightened. Is there any hope beyond austerity 2.0? Marc Stears, director of the UCL Policy Lab, author of Out of the Ordinary and former Ed Miliband speechwriter, speaks to Ros Taylor about the state of Britain and its future prospects.
“The reality of the economy is an extraordinary living standards squeeze that people confront in their daily lives.”
“Anger, rage, unpredictability – you see that everywhere at the moment, but particularly in the Conservative backbenches.”
“We’re probably overly gloomy as to where we might be able to get, b...2022-11-2027 min
The Zeitgeist TapesSherwoodThis month (and a bit - sorry about the delay!) Steve and Emma are joined by Professor Marc Stears of the UCL Policy Lab. The writer of Sherwood - James Graham, who regular listeners will be familiar - is a visiting professor at the Lab so Marc came to tell us why and give his thoughts on this fascinating and engrossing drama about the long tail of the miner's strike. 2022-08-1838 minUCL Uncovering PoliticsHow to Transform Our PoliticsUniquely, this week we are discussing both a new publication and a new institution. The publication is a book called Out of the Ordinary: How Everyday Life Inspired a Nation and How It Can Again. This book examines the political thought of a group of writers and artists in mid-20th-century Britain, centred around Dylan Thomas, George Orwell, and J.B. Priestley. Their ideas, it argues, offer a vision for how to overcome the polarisation and alienation of our politics today.The institution is the UCL Policy Lab, which was launched earlier this week, and w...2022-06-0142 min
The New Statesman | UK politics and cultureDoes Keir Starmer have enough policies? With the former Labour adviser Marc StearsFresh from Sydney, Professor Marc Stears, a former Labour speechwriter and author of its 2015 manifesto, tells Anoosh Chakelian what Labour can learn, and where Keir Starmer is going wrong.Stears reflects on how Anthony Albanese, the new Labor prime minister of Australia, avoided culture warring with Scott Morrison, his predecessor, what Keir Starmer can learn from this, and his concerns about Labour's lack of policy direction - and its fear of the Daily Mail.The UCL Policy Lab was launched on 30 May 2022.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman fo...2022-05-3121 min
The Future, This WeekThe future of geopoliticsThis week: the future of geopolitics. From Australia’s place in Asia to the war in Europe, we discuss new ways of thinking, with Professor Marc Stears. Sandra Peter (Sydney Business Insights) and Kai Riemer (Digital Futures Research Group) meet once a week to put their own spin on news that is impacting the future of business in The Future, This Week. You can find transcripts, links for the curious and more episodes on our website: https://sbi.sydney.edu.au/the-future-of-geopolitics/ Subscribe to our new podcast, The Unlearn Project. You ca...2022-04-2937 minThe Future, This WeekThe future of geopoliticsThis week: the future of geopolitics. From Australia’s place in Asia to the war in Europe, we discuss new ways of thinking, with Professor Marc Stears. Sandra Peter (Sydney Business Insights) and Kai Riemer (Digital Futures Research Group) meet once a week to put their own spin on news that is impacting the future of business in The Future, This Week. You can find transcripts, links for the curious and more episodes on our website: https://sbi.sydney.edu.au/the-future-of-geopolitics/ Subscribe to our new podcast, The Unlearn Project. You ca...2022-04-2937 min
Peach and The ColonelNew Year, Same 'ol VirusHappy New Year lovely listeners! As the Omicron Variant takes hold we wonder about how our politicians have dealt with the flood. We search for optimism and wonder about why everyone is so angry about Novak playing tennis. We return to the influence of money and interest groups on our politics as the Federal election looms. Come and join us as we try to hold onto the things that matter and moan about the endless stuff we can’t control!
Political donations in Australia
https://theconversation.com/amp/more-than-half-of-funding-for-the-major-parties-remains-secret-and-this-is-how-they-want-it-154364
https://iview.abc.net.au...2022-01-061h 47Peach and The ColonelNew Year, Same 'ol VirusHappy New Year lovely listeners! As the Omicron Variant takes hold we wonder about how our politicians have dealt with the flood. We search for optimism and wonder about why everyone is so angry about Novak playing tennis. We return to the influence of money and interest groups on our politics as the Federal election looms. Come and join us as we try to hold onto the things that matter and moan about the endless stuff we can’t control!
Political donations in Australia
https://theconversation.com/amp/more-than-half-of-funding-for-the-major-parties-remains-secret-and-this-is-how-they-want-it-154364
https://iview.abc.net.au...2022-01-061h 47
Sydney IdeasWhat will living with COVID look like?As Australia looks to reopen, and in the week NSW emerges from lockdown, we examine the path to reopening and how we can rebuild Australian society looking forward.
Drawing upon the work of the Open Society, Common Purpose taskforce hosted at the University of Sydney, we ask: What do we need to get right?
Featuring:
– Professor Catherine Bennett, epidemiologist, Deakin University
– Dr Nick Coatsworth, infectious disease physician, ANU
– Dr Luara Ferracioli, Senior Lecturer in Political Philosophy, The University of Sydney
– Professor Adam Guastella, Michael Crouch Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health, University of Sydney
– Professor Fiona Russell, paediatrician and epidemiolo...2021-10-1456 min
House of CommentsOut of the Ordinary - Interview with Marc StearsThis one off episode is a discussion between Emma Burnell and Marc Stears. Previously a speechwriter for Ed Miliband, Marc now runs the Sydney Policy Lab.
The discussion focuses on Marc's book Out of the Ordinary which shows how a previous generation of socialist thinkers were inspired by the wonder of the everyday and how we could be again. 2021-10-0932 min
IfG Events‘Australian-style’ politics: what is the government learning from abroad?The current government has close ties to Australia, with Australian campaign strategists such as Sir Lynton Crosby and Isaac Levido both having led successful election campaigns for the Conservatives in recent years, and the new trade deal between the UK and Australia agreed in principle in June 2021.British politicians also like to point to Australia as an example of policy models to follow – from an ‘Australian-style’ immigration system to the prospect of an ‘Australian-style’ deal with the European Union.This event brought together an expert panel to discuss why Australia has so captured the government’s imaginatio...2021-07-131h 02
Institute for Government‘Australian-style’ politics: what is the government learning from abroad?The current government has close ties to Australia, with Australian campaign strategists such as Sir Lynton Crosby and Isaac Levido both having led successful election campaigns for the Conservatives in recent years, and the new trade deal between the UK and Australia agreed in principle in June 2021.
British politicians also like to point to Australia as an example of policy models to follow – from an ‘Australian-style’ immigration system to the prospect of an ‘Australian-style’ deal with the European Union.
This event brought together an expert panel to discuss why Australia has so captured the government’s imagination, what the UK is learning...2021-07-131h 02
Mile End Institute PodcastOut of the Ordinary with Marc Stears and Emily RobinsonIn this episode, Co-Director, Colm Murphy is joined by Marc Stears (University of Sydney) and Emily Robinson (University of Sussex) to discuss Marc’s recent book ‘Out of The Ordinary: How Everyday Life Inspired a Nation and How It Can Again'.
They consider whether contemporary politics can learn from ordinary people, as it did in the 1920s to 1950s, in an age of ever-increasing polarisation. 2021-06-2538 min
The Future, This WeekThe importance of relationships with Marc StearsThis week: a special episode with Marc Stears on the importance of relationships. Sandra Peter (Sydney Business Insights) and Kai Riemer (Digital Disruption Research Group) meet once a week to put their own spin on news that is impacting the future of business in The Future, This Week. Show notes and links to this episode, including the news stories of the week, other stories we bring up and more are available at: https://sbi.sydney.edu.au/the-importance-of-relationships-on-the-future-this-week/ You can follow us to keep updated with our latest insights on Flipboard, LinkedIn, Twitter...2021-03-2639 minThe Future, This WeekThe importance of relationships with Marc StearsThis week: a special episode with Marc Stears on the importance of relationships. Sandra Peter (Sydney Business Insights) and Kai Riemer (Digital Disruption Research Group) meet once a week to put their own spin on news that is impacting the future of business in The Future, This Week. Show notes and links to this episode, including the news stories of the week, other stories we bring up and more are available at: https://sbi.sydney.edu.au/the-importance-of-relationships-on-the-future-this-week/ You can follow us to keep updated with our latest insights on Flipboard, LinkedIn, Twitter...2021-03-2639 min
It's Bloody Complicated - A Compass PodcastOut of the Ordinary with Marc Stears, Jon Cruddas, Sue Goss and John Harris | Ep.38Special guest host John Harris is joined by Marc Stears to discuss Marc's new book, Out of the Ordinary: How Everyday Life Inspired a Nation and How It Can Again.Joining John and Marc are Jon Cruddas, Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham, and Sue Goss, author of Open Tribe and the Compass report Garden Mind.In Out of the Ordinary, Stears describes how, in a period of intense political turmoil from the 1920s–50s, a group of British writers and artists showed a way forward by shining a light on th...2021-03-221h 09