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
⏱️ 38 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?
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Transcript
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| 0:46.0 | and 999 a month thereafter. |
| 0:48.0 | Cancel any time T's and sees apply. |
| 0:50.0 | The New Statesman. |
| 0:54.0 | Statesman. |
| 0:55.0 | To South End Central, calling at West Ham, Barking, Upminster, Occanden, Chafford Hundred, |
| 1:05.8 | Grays, Tilbury Town, East Tilbury, Stansford Leho, |
| 1:10.8 | I've just left Fenschert Street Station and I'm headed for Grey's Town Centre in the |
| 1:16.5 | Borough of Thurruk, Essex. |
| 1:18.8 | Now we're recording this episode of Westminster Reimagined here because it's a borough which |
| 1:22.4 | is suffering major cuts to all its council services after it went |
| 1:25.9 | effectively bankrupt last December. Hundreds of millions of pounds were put into risky investments that didn't pay off. |
| 1:33.1 | It's a symptom of austerity which included major local authority cuts since 2010 |
| 1:37.6 | as well as poor management. |
... |
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