Why don't politicians care about happiness? With Richard Layard and Armando Iannucci | Westminster Reimagined
The Politics Show
The New Statesman
4.2 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 11 December 2023
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Thurrock is suffering major cuts to all its council services since it went effectively bankrupt last December, after hundreds of millions of pounds were put into risky investments that didn’t pay off. One of the services to be gravely affected by the cuts is a place called “Thameside”, an arts complex, described locally as a “mini Barbican”, which houses a theatre, library, archive and museum.
Places like Thameside often serve as the heart and soul of our communities. They bring people together, foster a sense of belonging, and contribute to our overall well-being. But what happens when these vital services face budget cuts?
In this episode of Westminster Reimagined we discuss The Good Life - how much value do we put on happiness in Britain? How can government policy boost happiness? And is it possible to quantify personal wellbeing?
Listen to all previous episodes of Westminster Reimagined here: https://podfollow.com/westminster-reimagined-with-armando-iannucci-the-new-statesman
Download the app:
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US
Subscribe to the New Statesman WhatsApp channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9latS0wajogms2z02c
Sign up to our daily politics email:
https://morningcall.substack.com/
LISTEN AD-FREE:
📱Download the New Statesman app
MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:
❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday
⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning
✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | May I have your attention please you can now book your train tickets on Uber and get |
| 0:08.0 | 10% back in credits to spend on your next Uber ride so you don't have to walk home in the rain again. |
| 0:15.0 | Trains, now on Uber. T's and C's apply. Check the Uber app. |
| 0:20.0 | A year ago I had to sleep wherever I could. I thought well I'll be out here on Christmas Day. |
| 0:27.0 | Thousands in the UK are facing homelessness this Christmas. |
| 0:31.0 | At crisis I was safe. I had someone in my corner. My first day at |
| 0:35.8 | crisis was my last day on the streets. Give £29.73 now to help provide urgent care, housing advice and long-term support. |
| 0:45.8 | Make this the first day of a life beyond homelessness. |
| 0:48.7 | Search crisis Christmas appeal. The New Statesman. |
| 0:54.0 | Statesman. |
| 0:55.0 | To South End Central, calling at West Ham, |
| 1:01.0 | Barkin' Upminster, Arcumden, Chafford, Hundred, Gays, Tilbury Town, East Tilbury, |
| 1:09.4 | Stanford, Leho, I've just left Fenchitt Street Station and I'm headed for Gray's Town Center in the |
| 1:16.6 | Borough of Thoreck, Essex. |
| 1:18.9 | Now we're recording this episode of Westminster Re-imagined here because it's a borough which is suffering major cuts to all its council services |
| 1:25.3 | after it went effectively bankrupt last December. |
| 1:28.7 | Hundreds of millions of pounds were put into risky investments that didn't pay off. |
| 1:33.2 | It's a symptom of austerity, which included major local authority cuts since 2010, |
| 1:37.6 | as well as poor management. |
| 1:39.2 | But what really caught my eye when I went to report from Graves back in August with a cuts to a place called |
| 1:44.2 | Thameside, an arts complex, described locally as a mini Barbican which houses a |
| 1:49.1 | theatre, library, archive and museum. It got me thinking about something Armando and I have been |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The New Statesman, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The New Statesman and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.