Does nanny (state) know best?
Radical with Amol Rajan
BBC
4.5 • 919 Ratings
🗓️ 1 February 2024
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In a week in which the government told us more about its plans to create a smokefree generation, Amol and Nick look at why many politicians from across the political spectrum are now embracing the nanny state. But how much do we want them telling us how to behave?
They speak to James Bethell, the former health minister responsible for Boris Johnson’s anti-obesity strategy – who now says that Margaret Thatcher would have embraced nanny statism if prime minister today.
And they hear from Baroness Claire Fox, the non-affiliated peer, who is opposed to the latest plans for a smoking ban.
Episodes of The Today Podcast land every Thursday and watch out for bonus episodes. Subscribe on BBC Sounds to get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme.
If you would like a question answering, get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us Today@bbc.co.uk
The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the UK’s most influential radio news programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.
The senior producer is Tom Smithard, the producer is Hazel Morgan. The editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths. Technical production from Michael Regaard and digital production from Elliot Ryder.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:04.8 | If it isn't a personal question. |
| 0:06.9 | Here we go. |
| 0:08.1 | How much rum did you drink this week? |
| 0:10.3 | That's none of your business, actually. |
| 0:11.9 | How many steps did you walk yesterday? |
| 0:14.4 | That's also none of your business. |
| 0:16.1 | It is my business because I want to make you a happier, healthier person. |
| 0:21.6 | Is this nanny Nick I see before me? |
| 0:24.3 | It is. |
| 0:25.3 | But Nick, I'm an autonomous individual. |
| 0:27.0 | I know what's best for me. |
| 0:28.6 | You don't need help from me. |
| 0:30.6 | It's funny, isn't it? |
| 0:31.6 | How annoying it can be. |
| 0:33.2 | And yet this is the week the politicians have decided they will tell people what to do. |
| 0:39.3 | Rishi Sunak is ready as a conservative to tell the nation, don't smoke if you're in Generation |
| 0:45.2 | Alpha, that to you and me as teenagers and below, and certainly don't have a disposable vap. |
| 0:49.8 | And amazingly, this is an issue on which there seems to be some consensus because |
| 0:53.2 | Sirkir Starrma has said that he wants supervised brushing of teeth in some of our primary schools. |
| 0:59.5 | And he's also said when accused of being someone representing the nanny state, that it's a label he almost embraces. |
| 1:05.3 | So don't smoke, don't vape, don't drink large glasses of wine. Do brush your teeth. do keep two metres apart, do wear that face mask. |
... |
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