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Woman's Hour

Dido Harding, Friendship between gay men and straight women, Foreign aid cuts

Woman's Hour

BBC

Society & Culture

4.13K Ratings

🗓️ 7 June 2021

⏱️ 57 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It’s just over a year since the businesswoman and conservative peer Dido Harding was brought in to set up a test and trace system to help stop the Covid-19 pandemic. The system was going to be “world beating” and help get the UK out of lockdown according to the Prime minister but the incredible costs involved – around £37 billion – have been criticised for failing to make an impact. The system has improved but what will its legacy be? Dido Harding talks to Emma Barnett on Woman’s Hour today in her first interview since leaving the role last month and reflects on the ups and downs of the last year.

As we celebrate Pride Month throughout June we thought we'd spend a moment celebrating the relationship between gay men and their female BFF. From reality stars like Jenny and Lee on Googlebox and Olivia Bentley's relationship with Ollie and Gareth in Made in Chelsea to Will and Grace to the designer Halston and Liza Minelli. What is it about the relationship that makes them so special?

A group of MPs, Including the former Prime Minister Theresa May, are trying to push through a vote in parliament which they hope will reverse controversial cuts to the international aid budget. It's likely that an amendment to the Advanced Research and Invention Agency bill will happen, and that technical change will result in aid spending going back to what it was. It was recently cut from 0.7% to 0.5. Preet Gill MP is Shadow International Development Secretary and Ella Whelan is a journalist and commentator who doesn't believe in foreign aid.

Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.

0:05.3

Hello, I'm Emma Barnett and welcome to Women's Hour from BBC Radio 4.

0:09.9

Hello and welcome to the programme.

0:12.0

Today we hear from one of the women at the heart of the government's Covid response.

0:15.9

Baroness Dido Harding stepped down last month from running England's much-commented

0:20.3

upon test and trace system.

0:22.2

The Prime Minister said it would be world-beating.

0:25.1

Today she gives her first interview since leaving the post.

0:28.2

There's a theme running through today's programme, money, our money and how it's spent

0:33.4

to give you some figures which will go into more detail shortly.

0:35.7

37 billion has been earmarked for test and trace in England.

0:39.6

Four billion pounds is the approximate amount being saved by cuts to international aid,

0:44.1

which the government may face a major rebellion on today.

0:47.1

Something will also come to and the potential effects on women and girls around the world.

0:52.0

Your take though, as always, is welcome.

0:54.3

You're already getting in touch and any questions you may have.

0:57.6

84844 is the number you need to text on social media, where app BBC Women's Hour or you

1:02.7

can email us through our website.

1:05.4

Also on today's programme, as BAFTA winner Michaela Cole, the creator and star of the BBC's

1:10.0

I may destroy you, pays tribute to intimacy coaches making actors feel safer on set.

1:15.6

We talk to a leading one.

1:17.0

What do they do?

...

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