Shows
Politics UnpackedIs The Budget The Chancellor's Obituary? Rachel Reeves has told Times Radio she is determined to remain in Number 11 Downing Street, and that she wasn't going to have her political obituary written today - how might this play out with Labour’s election chances? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Robert Colvile and Megan Kenyon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-11-2729 min
The Insurgency with Steve BakerOne Month Until The Budget: Why the UK is in such a bad state - and how we can fix itOn Tuesday 28 October 2025, Fighting for a Free Future hosted our first briefing event. Titled One Month Until The Budget, we heard from some of the UK’s most eminent free market thinkers on why the UK is in such a bad state, and what can be done about. Speakers included:Rt Hon Steve Baker FRSA, Fighting for a Free Future; Robert Colvile, The Centre for Policy Studies; Maxwell Marlow, The Adam Smith Institute; Fred de Fossard, The Prosperity Institute; John O’Connell, The TaxPayers’ Alliance; Harry Wilkinson, The Global Warming Policy Foundation.
2025-11-251h 32
Cross Question with Iain DaleBaroness Luciana Berger, Tobias Ellwood, Zoe Gardner & Robert ColvileSimon Marks sits in and is joined on Cross Question by Labour peer Baroness Berger, former Conservative defence minister Tobias Ellwood, campaigner Zoe Gardner and director of the Centre for Policy Studies think tank Robert Colvile.
2025-06-2452 min
YIMBY Pod – formerly The Abundance AgendaWhy the Tories should embrace AbundanceOn this week’s episode of The Abundance Agenda, hosts James O’Malley and Martin Robbins make a bold prediction about when the Sizewell C nuclear plant will get the green light.Then Martin horrifies James with a frankly shocking deep dive into caravans – or trailer homes.And finally, we speak to Robert Colvile, Director of the right-leaning Centre for Policy Studies about his views on the Planning Bill, and whether the Conservative Party can ever be persuaded to embrace Abundance.The Abundance Agenda is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hopefully wherever you ge...
2025-04-2255 min
The CapitalistDespatch: Mel Stride, Robert Colvile, David Miles and Alys DenbyRachel Reeves entered her first Budget with a familiar refrain—blaming the Conservatives for the difficult choices ahead. But now, the focus has shifted to her own decisions, particularly the impact of tax rises on business confidence, jobs, and growth. Can her latest fiscal measures break Britain free from economic stagnation, or have they only deepened the challenge? CapX Editor-in-Chief Robert Colvile leads a live discussion with Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride, David Miles from the OBR Budget Responsibility Committee, and Alys Denby, Opinion and Features Editor at City AM.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from th...
2025-04-0433 minThe CapitalistGeorge Osborne, Robert Colvile, and Professor Sir Niall FergusonAs Britain reflects on 50 years since Margaret Thatcher took the helm of the Conservative Party, the outlook for free-market thinking—and a dynamic economy—has rarely seemed so uncertain. In this special edition, CapX Editor-in-Chief Robert Colvile is joined by former Chancellor George Osborne and Professor Sir Niall Ferguson of the Hoover Institution to chart a course for the party’s future. Recorded live at the Margaret Thatcher Conference, this episode is presented in partnership with the Centre for Policy Studies.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to sub...
2025-03-1859 min
RethinkRethink... immigrationRethink looks again at the issues of our time, and considers how we might approach them differently. Scrutinising the latest thinking and research, we look at what this might mean for policy and society. In this episode, we’re looking at one of the most divisive issues of our time – immigration – and in particular, how we can change the discourse around migration. Polling from the British Social Attitudes survey suggests that the UK is now more divided on immigration, by age, education, and political party, than at any time since 2011. But polling also indicates that there...
2024-10-1028 min
Politics UnpackedGo For Degrowth?Keir Starmer says it's all about growth, growth, growth - but why do some economists and politicians say we're looking at it the wrong way? Ed Vaizey finds out about the radical theory of 'degrowth', and asks whether happiness is a better measure of success than GDP.Plus: Columnists Melanie Reid and Robert Colvile discuss Britain's faltering national pride, the crucial role of public libraries, and why the Tories are seen as a bit weird. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-09-0345 min
Best of the SpectatorSpectator Out Loud: Katy Balls, Gavin Mortimer, Sean Thomas, Robert Colvile and Melissa KiteOn this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Katy Balls reflects on the UK general election campaign and wonders how bad things could get for the Tories (1:02); Gavin Mortimer argues that France’s own election is between the ‘somewheres’ and the ‘anywheres’ (7:00); Sean Thomas searches for authentic travel in Colombia (13:16); after reviewing the books Great Britain? by Torsten Bell and Left Behind by Paul Collier, Robert Colvile ponders whether Britain’s problems will ever get solved (20:43); and, Melissa Kite questions if America’s ye olde Ireland really exists (25:44).
Presented by Patrick Gibbons.
2024-06-2930 min
Spectator Out LoudKaty Balls, Gavin Mortimer, Sean Thomas, Robert Colvile and Melissa KiteOn this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Katy Balls reflects on the UK general election campaign and wonders how bad things could get for the Tories (1:02); Gavin Mortimer argues that France’s own election is between the ‘somewheres’ and the ‘anywheres’ (7:00); Sean Thomas searches for authentic travel in Colombia (13:16); after reviewing the books Great Britain? by Torsten Bell and Left Behind by Paul Collier, Robert Colvile ponders whether Britain’s problems will ever get solved (20:43); and, Melissa Kite questions if America’s ye olde Ireland really exists (25:44). Presented by Patrick Gibbons. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast...
2024-06-2930 min
Radical with Amol RajanRishi Sunak Talks to TodayLess than a day after calling the general election, Rishi Sunak kicked off his campaign with a set-piece interview with Nick on Today.
Amol and Nick explore what clues it provides for the coming campaign – and Nick talks though his interview strategy.
Also, with inflation now down to 2.3% we bring together two of the leading economic thinkers from the left and the right to talk tax-and-spend: Kate Bell, assistant general secretary of the TUC, and Robert Colvile, director of centre-right think tank the Centre for Policy Studies. Plus. comedian Angela Barnes provides her moment of the week.
Ep...
2024-05-2350 minThe CapitalistAnalysing the Autumn Statement with Richard Hughes and Vicky PryceAside from a windfall from higher inflation which the Chancellor used to make tax cuts, the underlying picture for the economy is essentially flat. That being said, some welcome pro-growth measures were announced, most notably the decision to make full expensing permanent. But is it too little too late? To analyse what this means for the future of the public finances, Robert Colvile was joined by Chair of the OBR Richard Hughes and economist Vicky Pryce.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted...
2023-12-0131 minThe CapitalistMaking sense of Conference with Robert ColvileIt’s Party Conference season, and while the Lib Dems were kayaking and playing crazy golf in Bournemouth last week, this weekend it’s the Tories’ turn to troop up to Manchester. Attendees are anticipating drama, gossip and exciting policy announcements – the Prime Minister is promising 'long-term decisions for a brighter future'.But while Rishi Sunak will be rolling the pitch for an election manifesto, on the fringes other grandees will be fighting for the soul of the Conservative Party.CapX welcomed our Editor-in-Chief and Director of our parent organisation the Centre for Policy Studies...
2023-09-2911 minPolitics UnpackedHow To Look Like A Prime MinisterKeir Starmer may be ahead in the polls, but nearly half of voters say they still don't think he looks like a prime minister in waiting. Matt hears advice on how to look the part from experts from the worlds of fashion and photography, and Thatcher's biographer Charles Moore explains how the Iron Lady changed her voice.Plus Columnists Rachel Sylvester and Robert Colvile on what Russell Brand is like in person, why Robert is obsessed with a Labour Party video from 1997, and what has happened to the Conservative Party after 13 years in government. Ho...
2023-09-1849 min
A Long Time In FinanceNutrient NeutralityThe government is embroiled in a row about environmental protection. Should it apply pollution rules inherited from the EU in the way its own environmental advisers interpret them, or should it change the rules to help housebuilders construct more homes? Neil and Jonathan discuss the trade-offs with Robert Colvile, a self confessed housing nut who is director of the Centre for Policy Studies.Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With Robert Colville.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.In association with Briefcase.News Hosted on A...
2023-09-1522 minPolitics UnpackedThe Political Editors: Fred EmeryThe Political Editors is half a century of politics told by the people who wrote the first draft of history for the Times.First up is Fred Emery, who became political editor in 1977 after a series of foreign postings including covering the Vietnam War and Watergate. He tells Matt about getting the scoop that President Nixon was about to resign, the fall of the Callaghan government and what it was like to interview Margaret Thatcher.Plus: Columnists Robert Colvile and Libby Purves discuss what the Lucy Letby case says about large institutions, whether...
2023-08-2141 minPolitics UnpackedWhat Does Tony Blair Want?It's 16 years since Tony Blair walked away from frontline politics, forced to step down by a party that had fallen out of love with him. But with Keir Starmer keen to hug the three-time election winner close, could he and his Institute for Global Change have a big influence over British politics in the future?Plus: Columnists Robert Colvile and Helen Lewis discuss the implications of Donald Trump's indictment in Georgia, Labour's contortions over congestion charging, and why Parliament is still crumbling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...
2023-08-1547 min
Sky News DailyRhodes on fire and is the UK cooling on net zero policies?Evacuation orders due to wildfires on the Greek island have seen tens of thousands of residents and tourists fleeing the flames. And while wildfires in the region aren’t uncommon, scientists say climate change is increasing the intensity of heatwaves which can trigger fires. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our Europe correspondent in Rhodes, Siobhan Robbins and Rhodes resident Micah Greaves, who tells us how dependent the island is on tourism. Plus, Niall is joined by Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies and former Tory advisor, to discuss if net zero po...
2023-07-2420 min
Sky News DailyRhodes on fire and is the UK cooling on net zero policies?Evacuation orders due to wildfires on the Greek island have seen tens of thousands of residents and tourists fleeing the flames. And while wildfires in the region aren’t uncommon, scientists say climate change is increasing the intensity of heatwaves which can trigger fires. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our Europe correspondent in Rhodes, Siobhan Robbins and Rhodes resident Micah Greaves, who tells us how dependent the island is on tourism. Plus, Niall is joined by Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies and former Tory advisor, to discuss if net zero po...
2023-07-2420 min
Daily Politics from the New StatesmanWhat does a think tank actually do?Shadowy forces, deep state actors in the pay of nefarious oligarchs... or an important part of the political ecosystem?Rachel Cunliffe meets senior figures from three think tanks from across the political spectrum to find out how think tanks work, how they are funded, and the role they play in creating public policy.Guests:Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS)Carys Roberts, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)Matthew Lawrence, founder and director of Common Wealth...
2023-07-2430 minCross Question with Iain DaleMatt Wrack, Steve Norris, Claire Hanna & Robert ColvileJoining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Fire Brigades Union General Secretary Matt Wrack, former Conservative Transport Minister Steve Norris, SDLP MP Claire Hanna and Robert Colvile from the Centre for Policy Studies think tank.
2023-07-0353 min
Iain Dale - The Whole ShowUK to investigate banks blacklisting accounts, Cross Question and are religious leaders out of touch on assisted dying?UK to investigate banks blacklisting accounts, Cross Question and are religious leaders out of touch on assisted dying?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Fire Brigades Union General Secretary Matt Wrack, former Conservative Transport Minister Steve Norris, SDLP MP Claire Hanna and Robert Colvile from the Centre for Policy Studies think tank.
2023-07-032h 24
Politics UnpackedHow (Not) to Write a ManifestoPatrick Maguire is in for Matt, looking at Labour's 1983 manifesto - 'the longest suicide note in history' - 40 years on, with historian Phil Tinline. He also finds out how to write a modern manifesto with two people with first-hand experience, Ayesha Hazarika and Robert Colvile.PLUS: Timandra Harkness and Jimmy McLoughlin discuss Boris Johnson's WhatsApps, whether MPs who are under police investigation should be barred from Parliament, and whether AI is an existential threat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-06-0243 min
Coffee House ShotsWhat's behind the latest migration figures?James Heale speaks to Fraser Nelson and Robert Colvile from the Centre for Policy Studies about today's migration figures, which hit a record high yet still came in lower than expected.
2023-05-2515 min
Talk BreakfastCruel BritanniaChief Political Commentator at The Independent John Rentoul kicks off today's show to discuss the morning's top headlines as Keir Starmer announces his intention to give millions of EU nationals the right to vote. Former MEP and Chairman of the Freedom Association David Bannerman joins shortly after to discuss the weekend's conservative conference, where Home Secretary Suella Braverman urged the UK must train its own workers to curb migration. Director of The Centre for Policy Studies Robert Colvile returns to The Independent Republic to discuss his recent report on UK net migration as forecasts predict figures may top one million thi...
2023-05-151h 04
The CapitalistBreaking down the BudgetIt's that special time of year again when the Chancellor delivers a Budget, before commentators, policy wonks and political opponents rush to tear it apart in the ensuing days.In that noblest of British traditions, we invited our editor-in-chief, Robert Colvile and the Centre for Policy Studies tax and policy guru, Tom Clougherty, for a special Budget edition podcast.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-03-1731 min
Politics UnpackedGay Marriage: 10 Years OnA decade after the Commons voted to introduce civil marriage for same-sex couples, Patrick Maguire looks back at a moment of change for the country and the Conservative Party with former MP Matthew Parris, former culture secretary Dame Maria Miller and former equalities minister Baroness Featherstone.Columnists Robert Colvile and Dorothy Byrne consider whether the Brexit summit at Ditchley Park was an innocent meeting of minds or remainer skulduggery.Plus Patrick is joined by historian Andrew Lownie to imagine what might have happened if Edward VIII hadn't abdicated. Hosted on Acast...
2023-02-1448 minPolitics UnpackedSmaller Parties Win Elections TooHow can the smaller political parties win in 2023 when the electoral system is stacked against them and they are struggling for the public's attention?Patrick Maguire sitting in for Matt talks to YouGov's Tanya Abraham, The Times' Political Reporter Geri Scott and the Green Party Deputy Leader Zack Polanski, before taking a look at the electoral map around the UK.Plus: Columnists Melanie Reid and Robert Colvile discuss how to be a ghostwriter and whether Liz Truss is about to make a comeback. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
2023-01-0645 min
The Rundown by PoliticsHomePrivate schools are giving Rishi Sunak a headacheConservative MP and former immigration minister Kevin Foster, Labour’s shadow local government minister Sarah Owen, and Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies think tank and Conservative Party’s 2019 election manifesto co-author, join PoliticsHome's Alain Tolhurst to discuss the latest rows over Levelling Up, housing and private schools.
2022-12-0235 min
The EditionWhat crisis?On this week's podcast: For the cover of the magazine Kate Andrews assesses the politics of panic, and the fallout of last week's so-called fiscal event. She is joined by Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies think tank to discuss where the Conservatives go from here (00:57). Also this week: Does the future belong to Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland? This is the claim that Jenny McCartney makes in this week's Spectator. We speak with journalist Melanie McDonagh and politician Mairia Cahill about what this could mean for Irish reunification (15:58).
2022-09-2941 minPolitics UnpackedPolitics Is Back!Matt Chorley is joined by Times Radio's Chief Political Commentator Lucy Fisher to discuss what's coming up in a frantic week of politics as Liz Truss' cabinet set out three key policy plans in the House of Commons. We also hear from Institute for Fiscal Studies Director Paul Johnson, Miriam Deakin from NHS Providers and Abby Jitendra from Citizens Advice.David Aaronovitch and Robert Colvile discuss economic growth and beige food. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-09-2042 minThe CapitalistRobert Colvile and Henry Hill on the way water worksWater, water everywhere...this week's news has been dominated by rows over the privatised utilities. From polluting water companies to 'greedy' energy bosses, it's open season on anyone who dares turn a (highly regulated) profit while providing an essential public service.Recent water and high energy prices have also turned a spotlight on a chronic failure to build new infrastructure, with the UK failing to approve a new reservoir for more than three decades.Joining us for this topical edition of the podcast are two leading lights of the centre-right policy world: CapX's...
2022-08-1950 minCross Question with Iain DaleGrace Blakeley, Robert Colvile, Jonathan Lis & Ryan ShorthouseJoining Iain Dale on Cross Question are economist Grace Blakeley, the Centre for Policy Studies' Robert Colvile, political commentator Jonathan Lis and Bright Blue's Ryan Shorthouse.
2022-08-0155 min
Farage | GB NewsEpisode 180: Islamist terrorism against the LGBTQ+ communityTonight on Farage, Nigel gives his take on Wimbledon banning players who were born in Russia and Belarus, reacts to OCR proposing the removal of works by Wilfred Owen, Philip Larkin and Thomas Hardy from their GCSE syllabus and asks ‘why do the establishment not want to talk about’ Islamist terrorism against the LGBTQ+ community and much more. Then, on Talking Pints, Nigel is joined by Robert Colvile, Director of Centre for Policy Studies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-06-2845 min
Inside Briefing with the Institute for GovernmentTHE UKRAINE CRISIS HITS HOMEThe war in Ukraine shows no sign of easing, and its impact is being felt across UK government. What will it mean for bills if Russian energy imports are cut off? And why is the Home Office making such a mess of the Ukraine refugee crisis? Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies and Sunday Times columnist, joins the pod team to discuss. And a new IfG report looks back at the last crisis, which saw a lack of accountability and blame-gaming mark central government’s relationship with public bodies during the pandemic. So...
2022-03-1148 min
CBIAre we serious about growth?The CBI’s number one priority for 2022? Get the government to take economic growth seriously.
The long-term health of our public services, businesses, and the leveling-up agenda are all at stake. Hear from the CBI’s Director General, Tony Danker, alongside Robert Colvile, Director at the Centre for Policy Studies, and Sunday Times columnist, as they explore the radical actions the Chancellor must take to break the UK out of the economic trap of low growth, low productivity, and high taxes.
Recorded in front of a live audience from CBI headquarters in London on 03 February 2022.
2022-02-1156 minRethinkThe Great British Baby BustAmol Rajan and guests look at why British birth rates have declined so much. Can we - should we - try to reverse this and how will we pay for the health and care needs of our growing elderly population?
GUESTS
Prof Sarah Harper, Director and Clore Professor of Gerontology, Oxford Institute of Population Ageing
Miatta Fahnbulleh, CEO, New Economics Foundation
Robert Colvile, Director, Centre for Policy Studies
David Runciman - Professor of Politics, University of Cambridge
Presenter: Amol Rajan
Producer: Rob Walker
Editor: Kirsty Reid
2022-01-0442 min
THE DEEP COVER SHOW with Damien DynanTHE DEEP COVER SHOW with DAMIEN DYNAN NOVEMBER 2ND 2021THE DEEP COVER SHOW with Damien Dynan: Tuesday NOVEMBER 2ND 2021 www.thedeepcovershow.comTonight – The Scariest people on earth & what to do when…, Clowns attack!!...&The Great Acceleration: our rapidly accelerating need for change, as well as why it's unlikely we'll be able to slow down . . .or even want to, as The World Is Getting Faster with Robert Colvile...Up on our Eyes & Movies & TV -Johnny Richardson joins me to review THE FRENCH DISPATCH & ARMY OF THIEVES followed by this week's (Movie Moment in Movie History)THE MATRIX
2021-11-032h 01The CapitalistCapX Live with Jacob Rees-MoggIt's a very special edition of the podcast this week as we take you inside Tory conference in Manchester for a fascinating, fun-packed conversation with the one and only Jacob Rees-Mogg and our editor-in-chief, Robert Colvile. It's a bit of a cliche to call these chats 'wide-ranging', but they really did cover a lot of ground, from the Labour politicians he most admires, to the state of the British economy and the thrill of taking on the world's fastest zipline dressed entirely in tweed. Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the hea...
2021-10-0835 min
The CapitalistNiall Ferguson on the Politics of CatastropheFrom the eruption of Vesuvius to the Chernobyl meltdown, human history has always been punctuated by catastrophes - some natural, others very much man-made. In his new book Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe, world-renowned historian Professor Niall Ferguson argues that far from being "unprecedented", the response to Covid-19 exhibits the same political and social pathologies that have shaped so many previous crises. Moreover, we can't hope to understand the pandemic without a keen appreciation of the history of economics, society, culture and politics.The latest episode of the CapX Podcast is a record...
2021-07-0254 minCross Question with Iain DaleBim Afolami, Robert Colvile, Gaby Hinsliff & Zack PolanskiJoining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Conservative MP Bim Afolami, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies Robert Colvile, Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff and Green Party Member of the London Assembly Zack Polanski.
2021-06-2952 minIain Dale - The Whole ShowSajid Javid 'bullish' on lockdown easing | Cross Question | How do you cope when your partner is unfaithful?Sajid Javid 'bullish' on lockdown easing | Cross Question | How do you cope when your partner is unfaithful?
Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Conservative MP Bim Afolami, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies Robert Colvile, Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff and Green Party Member of the London Assembly Zack Polanski.
2021-06-292h 21
Making a Musical: The Future of British Musical TheatreS1, Ep5 All That Scratch: Robots, Pirates and ZombiesThe All That Scratch Podcast is a curated hour of promising new British musical theatre recorded live at The Other Palace. Handpicked from open submissions, each episode features a line-up of talented writers sharing their work and taking part in exclusive interviews.Join our live studio audience for an intimate evening of original writing. It’s a chance to hear your future favourite musicals before anybody else!Visit www.allthatproductions.co.uk for more information, submission details and future episode recording dates.EPISODE 5Recorded: 23 September 2019‘Love Is Not...
2019-10-101h 06
The CapitalistThe Case for ConservatismThis week is a special episode of Free Exchange, recorded live at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. The director of the Centre for Policy Studies, Robert Colvile, was joined by some of the leading lights on the right to discuss why free markets, competition and conservatism really are the route to prosperity.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2019-10-041h 00
Sky Sports Cricket PodcastBrilliant Burns and what can Ali learn from Lyon?Charles Colvile, Bob Willis and Robert Croft discuss Rory Burns' brilliant maiden Test century and what Moeen Ali should have learnt from watching Nathan Lyon bowling.Watch every episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast on YouTube here: Sky Sports Cricket Podcast on YouTubeListen to every episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast here: skysports.com/sky-sports-cricket-podcastYou can listen to the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Sky Sports Cricket Podcast".Join in the debate on Twitter @SkyCricket.For a...
2019-08-0226 min
Arts & IdeasAre we being manipulated?Who's pulling your strings - from advertisers and peer pressure to political campaigns and self-deception - hidden persuaders are everywhere. Journalist Poppy Noor, historian Sarah Marks, psychologist and magician, Gustav Kuhn, the philosopher, Quassim Cassam and Robert Colvile from the Centre for Policy Studies join Matthew Sweet to track them down. We're all confident that we know our own minds -- but do we? And if we don't, why not? Producer: Zahid WarleyQuassim Cassam is professor of philosophy at Warwick University. He is the author of Self Knowledge for Humans and his new book...
2018-12-0644 min
WSJ Opinion: Foreign EditionBritain's Parties Search for Message, London Searches for Brexit PlanJoseph C. Sternberg and Robert Colvile catch up on Britain's annual party convention season, and weigh the next challenging few weeks in Britain's divorce from the European Union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2018-10-0424 min
The Anglo-Boer WarEpisode 37 - Johannesburg falls to the BritishWe are into week 37 of this series and Johannesburg lies before Lord Roberts’ army. But he’s using a Velvet Glove which in retrospect is one of the biggest bungles of his career. While he frets over the details in Johannesburg, Colvile is given a severe case of bloody nose by the Boers in Lindley in the Free State.
Lord Robert’s large army has made its way over 1400 kilometers from Cape Town to Johannesburg, and in the north, the Transvaal Republic Capital Pretoria awaits his khaki dressed soldiers.
The mines are safe, and that’s been one of the main wor...
2018-06-0321 min
The CapitalistIs the internet destroying democracy?We recently welcomed Jamie Bartlett to the CapX offices to talk about what happens where politics and technology intersect. Jamie is the author of The People Vs Tech: How the Internet is Killing Democracy, a book that touches on a number of the most pressing concerns surrounding the rapid pace of technological change and, as the title suggests, what that means for democracy. He spoke to CapX's Editor-in-Chief Robert Colvile about the ideas in his new book in front of a live audience. This week's episode of Free Exchange is an edited version of that conversation. We hope you e...
2018-05-1638 min
The CapitalistIs Universal Basic Income the answer?Universal Basic Income may just be the trendiest idea in politics. It's also one of the most radical. Its advocates include Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson and John McDonnell. From the joblessness that could arise from automation and machine learning to growing concern over income inequality, UBI's cheerleaders claim the policy could solve some of the biggest political challenges we face.Put simply, a basic income is a lump sum from the government to which everyone is entitled. These days this generous sounding proposal is associated with the Left. But it has its roots on the libertarian...
2018-02-0734 min
The CapitalistJohn KayJohn Kay was born a year before Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. In the latest episode of Free Exchange, the CapX podcast, he tells Robert Colvile that "sometimes I look at Corbyn and I think, he thinks what I thought when I was 17. It's just that I've learnt a bit since then and he hasn't."Whereas the Labour leader has spent his life ploughing the furrow of far-left activism, John Kay has had a diverse and fascinating career as an economist. In the 1970s, he worked at the Institute for Fiscal Studies under its Nobel prize-winning director...
2017-11-0843 min
The CapitalistLord HeseltineMichael Heseltine finds himself in an unusual position. He is one of the most distinguished Conservatives in the country, but is completely at odds with the party’s stance on the biggest issue of the day. While most Remain-supporting Tories – not least the Prime Minister – have taken the referendum result and run with it, Lord Heseltine has remained steadfast to his view that Brexit is an unmitigated disaster.In this week’s episode of Free Exchange, he tells Robert Colvile that he has become a controversial figure. But that it is “the Conservative Party that has changed. N...
2017-11-0132 min
The CapitalistDaniel HannanDaniel Hannan MEP is known to most people as a leading Eurosceptic, or, in the Guardian's words, "the man who brought you Brexit". With Britain on its way out of the EU, Hannan has established the Institute for Free Trade, which makes the intellectual and moral case for free trade, and sees Brexit unique opportunity to revitalise global trade. A few weeks ago, at the Conservative Party Conference, he sat down with Robert Colvile, CapX's Editor-in-Chief, to discuss what sort of deal he would like to see between Britain and the EU, the genius of comparative ad...
2017-10-271h 02
The CapitalistMatthew Elliott and James KanagasooriamJeremy Corbyn has built a potent political movement on the back of his explicit anti-capitalism. But it is not just the crowds of Corbynistas who don’t think much of the market. New research by Matthew Elliott of the Legatum Institute and James Kanagasooriam of Populus finds that on the economy the attitudes of the public as a whole are much closer to the Labour leader than the Conservative Party’s position.Capitalism is overwhelmingly associated with negative concepts such as greed and selfishness. Even among Conservative voters, renationalisation of the railways is a popular policy. What explains the unpopularity of p...
2017-10-0935 minThe CapitalistDeepak LalDeepak Lal is one of the world's foremost development economists, who helped billions of people to prosper by arguing that prosperity is better delivered by markets rather than central planners. He talks to Robert Colvile about why the enemies of progress once again have the upper hand.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-07-2642 min
The CapitalistAnne ApplebaumAt the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security, Robert Colvile talks to the Pulitzer Prize winner about Russia, Trump and the state of the West.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-07-1931 min
The CapitalistCapX's Great Immigration DebateIn a special edition of the CapX podcast, recorded live in Parliament, Nicky Morgan, Sunder Katwala, Garvan Walshe and Eric Kaufmann debate whether immigration is a good or bad thing - with Robert Colvile in the chair.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-07-121h 05
The CapitalistPhilippa StroudRobert Colvile talks to Baroness Stroud, the new head of the Legatum Institute about fighting poverty on an individual, national and international level.From working with drug addicts in Hong Kong to working with IDS on welfare reform, Philippa Stroud has spent her life trying to help others. She talks us through her extraordinary personal story.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-07-0547 min
The CapitalistLord SacksJonathan Sacks, the former chief rabbi, talks to Robert Colvile at the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security about whether the West has lost its moral compass.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-06-2941 min
The CapitalistDavid WillettsNow executive chairman of the Resolution Foundation, Lord Willetts has long been one of the Tory party's intellectual heavyweights - the man so smart they nicknamed him "Two Brains". He talks to Robert Colvile - in a conversation recorded before the election - about what Britain's getting right.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-06-2153 min
The CapitalistElection SpecialCapX's deputy editor Oliver Wiseman spent the weeks before the election criss-crossing the country. He talks to Robert Colvile about the extraordinary results, and what happens nextStay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-06-1446 min
The CapitalistJohn CurticeProfessor John Curtice, the pollster's pollster, talks to Robert Colvile about election night and taking the pulse of the nation, in a special election edition of the CapX podcast.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-06-0745 min
The CapitalistAndrew CooperAs strategy director to David Cameron and pollster for the Remain and Better Together campaigns, Lord Cooper of Windrush has been at the heart of some of the biggest moments in British politics. Ahead of the UK election, he talks to Robert Colvile about what he's learned, why pollsters get it wrong, and why Margate holds the key to Britain's future.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-05-3153 min
The CapitalistDavid OwenLord Owen was Britain's youngest ever Foreign Secretary - before jumping ship to start his own party. The former leader of the SDP talks to Robert Colvile, CapX's Editor, about making Brexit a cross-party cause and why today's Labour MPs shouldn't follow in his footsteps. (This interview was recorded before the election was called.)Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-05-2435 min
The CapitalistSue CameronSue Cameron has made it her life's work to understand the people who run Britain - not the politicians, but the civil servants who sit behind them. She talks to Robert Colvile, CapX's Editor, about how well Britain is governed, which Prime Ministers have got the best grip on the Whitehall machine, and how the Civil Service is going to cope with Brexit.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-05-1758 min
The CapitalistFrank Field MPRobert Colvile talks to Frank Field - the Labour MP who's spent his career thinking the unthinkable, and often been punished for it by his party.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-05-1050 minThe CapitalistNick CohenRobert Colvile, Editor of CapX, talks to the Observer columnist Nick Cohen about the decline of the Left, his fears over Brexit, and why Jeremy Corbyn isn't going anywhere.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-05-0343 min
The CapitalistDaniel HannanRobert Colvile, Editor of CapX, talks to Daniel Hannan MEP about Brexit, free trade and the most surprising and important idea in economics.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-04-2635 min
The CapitalistPeter OborneAn award-winning columnist and polemicist, Peter Oborne is the premier chronicler of the decline and fall of Britain's political class. He talks to Robert Colvile about the rise of political lying, his hopes for Brexit, and why he thinks we don't understand the Muslim world.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-04-1944 min
Voices in the DarkLaw 45 - Preach The Need For Change, But Never Reform Too Much At Once | Exploring The 48 Laws of PowerThere is only one constant in life: Change. It destroys, creates, excites... but also terrifies. Most of us, however opened-minded we claim to be, instinctively resist change and prefer to cling to our familiar routines and circles. But creatures of habit are rarely powerful. Law 45 breaks down this inertia: how can we make changes that suit us? How can we overcome the innate, tribal resistance of the people and structures which surround us? Acceptance can come surprisingly quickly if you know how to play the game effectively, and in this episode we reveal the tools...
2017-04-171h 25
The CapitalistNigel LawsonChancellor, Brexiteer, climate change sceptic, Spectator editor, prime ministerial speechwriter - Lord Lawson has had one of the most packed careers in politics. He talks to Robert Colvile about what he's learned over his career, and where the next crisis is coming from.Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2017-04-121h 02Voices in the DarkLaw 42 - Strike The Shepherd And The Sheep Will Scatter | Exploring The 48 Laws of PowerBad apples, shit-stirrers and fifth-columnists. It only takes one to disrupt and destroy your power, but how can you spot and remove them before it's too late? Purging, banishment, shame and rebellion – Law 42 explores the enormous power of isolation and exile, but it's frequently more complicated than it seems to put into practice. How can you keep people on side without pandering to their whims, and how can you dethrone a power-player without fostering an eventual counterstrike? This episode we get controversial. We get into a tense debate about whether mercy can ever be a too...
2017-03-271h 27Voices in the DarkLaw 41 - Avoid Stepping Into A Great Man's Shoes | Exploring The 48 Laws of PowerYou've got Daddy Issues. And you're going to have to deal with them if you want to find your way to Power. Law 41 penetrates deeply into our psyches and draws back the veil on the automatic behaviours we go through life with – unconsciously playing out the patterns we inherited from our parents, whether by copying them or trying, naively, to reject them. So how can we forge our own distinctive routes to Power? This week, we ask some crucial questions. What is real drive? Who has it; can it be learnt; and should you rely on y...
2017-03-201h 27
Voices in the DarkLaw 39 - Stir Up Waters To Catch Fish | Exploring The 48 Laws of PowerControl. We crave it, we scramble for it, and we hate to feel under the control of anyone else. Law 39 is all about learning how to retain control without even trying, explaining how it's precisely by grasping for power that so many people lose it forever. Stillness and calm are the heart of power, but turning up your volume is the desperate resort of those who're losing it. When emotions and fear take the lead, you become laughable or pathetic to those around you; retaining discipline and poise can make all the difference, even if your material situation is...
2017-03-061h 12
Voices in the DarkLaw 38 - Think As You Like But Behave Like Others | Exploring The 48 Laws of PowerBehave like others?! Doesn't this contradict the very fabric of The 48 Laws of Power, a book designed to reveal the mechanistic, unreflective ways in which most people act and then give us the tools to escape the imaginary cage this seems to confine us in? How can we Create Compelling Spectacles or Keep Others In Suspended Terror without acting in ways markedly different from the norm? But Law 38 is a complex affair, offering both a slap in the face to the idea of 'just being yourself' and expecting everything to work out, and simultaneously providing a nuanced way to ret...
2017-02-271h 21
Voices in the DarkThe Great Acceleration - Robert Colvile InterviewNever got enough time? Always feel like you're spinning a dozen plates without a moment for yourself? Worried you're unable to remember anything without needing to Google it? You're right. The world is getting faster, faster. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Robert Colvile, author of The Great Acceleration, joins us as we try to get to grips with what this apparently endless speeding-up of life means for our mental health, relationships, careers, and even our ability to just sit down and read a good book all the way through. Robert's worked on the front lines of T...
2017-02-231h 13
Talk CocktailWhy Acceleration Equals Anger
We throw around a lot of words and ideas about technology, about disruption, about progress and about the impact of technology in speeding up our lives.
The fact is the speed up is more than just technology. As we move to cities at increasing rates, as the workplace demands greater productivity, as global competition abounds, the pressures to speed up are everywhere.
But how fast is fast? How fast exceeds our evolutionary and biological ability to cope? And what happens to the the anger of those left behind in the cloud of dust from creative destruction.
These are...
2016-10-0317 min
Talk CocktailHow the World is Getting Faster, Faster
We throw around words and ideas about technology, about disruption, about progress and the impact of technology in speeding up our lives.
The fact is, it’s more than just technology. As we move to cities at increasing rates, as the workplace demands greater productivity, as global competition abounds, as we experience the globalization of acceleration, the pressures to speed up are everywhere.
But how fast is fast? How fast exceeds our evolutionary and biological ability to cope? And what happens to the the anger of those left behind in the cloud of dust from creative destruction.
These...
2016-08-0417 min
Experience: This Best-Selling Full Audiobook For Story Seekers.The Great Acceleration by Robert ColvilePlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/116791to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Great Acceleration
Author: Robert Colvile
Narrator: Matt Addis
Format: mp3
Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins
Release date: 06-21-16
Ratings: 4 out of 5 stars, 19 ratings
Genres: Technology & Society
Publisher's Summary:
2016-06-2112h 37
Start the WeekIs Faster Better?On Start the Week Andrew Marr looks at the pace of life with the writer Robert Colvile who celebrates today's accelerating flow of change and argues that we are hard-wired to crave novelty, speed and convenience. But Carl Honoré challenges this cult of speed in his praise of slowness. The scientist Steve Jones looks back at another period of history where the pace of change was revolutionary impacting scientifically, socially and politically - the French Revolution. And the writer Sarah Dunant focuses on 16th century Italy at a time when ideas in politics, religion and art were gathering pace.
P...
2016-03-2141 min