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Electoral Dysfunction

What was behind Starmer’s 'Enoch Powell' moment?

Electoral Dysfunction

Sky News

News Commentary, Politics, News

4.6659 Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Another week, another sticky situation for the prime minister and some of his MPs - this time it's centred around his language on immigration.

When Sir Keir Starmer announced his White Paper, he argued that Britain "risked becoming an island of strangers" if immigration levels were not cut.

So was he intentionally evoking Enoch Powell's infamous 1968 Rivers Of Blood speech? Or was this a big mistake?

Also, with the Assisted Dying Bill back in parliament this week, Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman go on a tour of the British Isles to look at how different parliaments are approaching their legislation. If MPs in Westminster vote their bill down, could it stop it in its tracks in Holyrood too?

Come and join us live on Tuesday 20 May at Cadogan Hall in London, tickets available now: https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/event/electoral-dysfunction-live/

Remember you can also watch us on YouTube!

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Now time to thank our partner for this episode The Economist.

0:04.3

Let's be honest, between endless news updates, social media hot takes and a 24-7 information cycle,

0:12.3

it's hard to know what to focus on or who to trust.

0:16.5

But for over 180 years, the economists' high-quality journalism has helped readers cut through the noise and makes sense of the world's most important stories.

0:27.5

One recent example was their reporting in Lincolnshire.

0:30.6

It explored whether the regions become one of the most conservative places in Britain and how local issues have shaped Lincolnshire's

0:39.0

deep-rooted right-wing politics. It's the kind of thoughtful reporting that not only informs

0:45.3

but also empowers. You come away feeling smarter, more confident and better equipped to engage

0:51.9

with complex global issues.

0:58.5

Search for the economist and make sense of the world around you.

1:02.0

What might happen if Russia attacked the UK?

1:04.8

This is clearly an enormous show of force.

1:06.7

It is definitely out of the ordinary.

1:10.9

We ran a war game with former ministers back in the hot seat.

1:11.6

Ben Wallace.

1:12.4

Amber Rudd.

1:12.9

Jack Straw.

1:17.0

It's the kind of war game that's genuinely tested inside government.

1:19.9

The Russians are signalling that there may be an attack.

1:22.4

Russian knows our weaknesses, but do you?

1:25.4

I'm Deborah Haynes from Sky News and Tortus.

1:26.6

This is the war game.

...

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