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Best of the Spectator

The Edition: The Starmer supremacy

Best of the Spectator

The Spectator

Society & Culture, News Commentary, News, Daily News

4.3826 Ratings

🗓️ 4 April 2024

⏱️ 40 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On the podcast this week: what could achieving a large majority at the next election mean for Labour; how much should parents worry about picky eating; and why are humans fascinated with the apocalypse?

First up: The Starmer supremacy.

If the polls are correct, Labour could be on to a record landslide at the next general election. Any political leader would relish such a win. But can achieving such a large majority present internal problems of its own? Labour MP Harriet Harman joins The Spectator’s political editor Katy Balls to discuss. (1:32)

Then: Lara and Gus discuss some of their favourite pieces from the magazine, from Charles Moore’s column to Christopher Matthew’s piece on A. A. Milne’s time at Punch magazine. (16:21)

Next: how much should parents’ fuss over their children? Spectator contributor Hannah Moore argues in the magazine this week that parents shouldn’t worry about picky eating. Hannah joins the podcast, alongside The Spectator’s commissioning editor, Mary Wakefield to discuss this. Look out for a surprise revelation about our usual host William Moore… (18:27)

And finally: why are we so obsessed with the apocalypse? Dorian Lynskey’s new book ‘Everything Must Go’ is reviewed in this week’s magazine. It explores the stories humans tell about the end of the world. Dorian joins us with archaeologist and author Chris Begley who wrote ‘The Next Apocalypse’ about what humans can learn from past disasters. Is there hope for humanity yet? (28:34)

Hosted by Lara Prendergast and Gus Carter.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons. 

We are always looking for ways to improve the podcast, please send any feedback to podcast@spectator.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

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0:00.0

The Spectator magazine is home to wonderful writing, insightful analysis and unrivaled books and

0:04.9

arts reviews. Subscribe today for just £12 and receive a 12 week subscription in print and online,

0:11.3

along with a free £20, John Lewis or Waitrose Voucher. Go to spectator.com.uk forward slash

0:17.3

voucher.

0:22.9

Hello, this is the edition podcast from The Spectator, where each week we shed a little light

0:28.7

on the thought process behind putting the world's oldest weekly magazine to print.

0:33.2

I'm Lara Prendergast, the Spectator's executive editor.

0:36.4

And I'm Gus Carter, the Spectator's Deputy Features Editor.

0:39.7

This week we'll be discussing what achieving a large majority at the next election could mean for labour,

0:45.5

how worried parents should be about picky eating in their children,

0:49.3

and humanity's fascination with the apocalypse.

0:52.1

Why are we so obsessed with the end of the world?

0:59.2

Thank you. his fascination with the apocalypse. Why are we so obsessed with the end of the world? This week, our cover piece explores the impact of the Labour Party,

1:02.8

should they win a landslide later this year.

1:05.3

It's written by our political editor, Katie Balls,

1:07.5

and on the cover, we've depicted Kirstama as a future PM, backed up by government

1:12.5

benches that can only be described as bulging. But does such a large majority open up the

1:18.4

possibility of civil walls within the Labour Party? We sat down with Katie to discuss her piece

1:23.6

alongside former deputy leader of the Labour Party, Harriet Harmon.

1:32.1

Harriet has served in Parliament for 42 years and is stepping down at the next election.

1:38.8

Katie, in your cover piece this week, you explore what a superma majority would look like for Labour should Kirstama win big at the next election.

1:42.5

And actually, in fact, you've released a poll yesterday showing Labour on course to win over 400 seats at the next election. And actually, in fact, you've released a poll yesterday showing

...

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