Bold Politics with Zack Polanski

Why are UK prisons so overcrowded? How has the standard of prisons deteriorated over the past 40 years? Why are reoffending rates so high? How do we improve working and living conditions in our prisons? In this week’s episode, Zack Polanski is joined by General Secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, and President of the Trades Union Congress, Steve Gillan. Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What role has the UK played in the genocide in Palestine? Why has the RAF flown so many surveillance flights over Gaza since October 2023? Was Margaret Thatcher a class warrior? Why is the UK incapable of standing up to Trump? In this week’s episode, Zack Polanski is joined by the MP for Islington North, and former head of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn. Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the British media’s key structural issues? Is it more difficult to have a voice in the current political climate? How do we talk about complex topics without alienating people? What was Keir Starmer like before he entered politics? Is this week’s episode, Zack Polanski speaks to writer, broadcaster and journalist, Afua Hirsch. Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should we be increasing our military spending? What do we actually mean when we talk about our national security? Where does Palantir sit within the UK’s military industrial complex? Zack Polanski talks to journalist, author and arms trade and international security expert, Anna Stavrianakis. Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we become more economically sustainable? What can be done to revive UK manufacturing? How do we stop the wealthy from buying power and influence? What is the UK’s economic responsibility towards the Global South? Is this week’s episode, Zack Polanski speaks to economist and author, Thomas Piketty _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the media responsible for a lack of nuance in today’s public debate? Should government ministers be leaving social media platforms, or regulating them? Why are online controversies and issues often not reflective of local politics and concerns? What has been the effect of decades of fear mongering over immigration? Is this week’s episode, Zack Polanski speaks to broadcaster, writer and campaigner, Natasha Devon. _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Andy Burnham represent a genuine change from Keir Starmer? How much has the hunt for the clip changed British media? Do politicians behave differently when they’re off-mic? Is this week’s episode, Zack Polanski speaks to broadcaster and author, Iain Dale. _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now. Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How has government policy made crossing the Channel on small boats more dangerous? What’s it like working with children in Calais? How is the treatment of migrants in Calais mirrored in the UK immigration system? And why do migrants avoid photographers and the press? In this week’s special extra episode, Zack Polanski speaks to Lily MacTaggart, from Humans for Rights Network. Sign the petition to call for a public inquiry into the UK’s role in border violence: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-border-violence-public-inquiry-now Find out more about the campaign to stop border violence here: https://stopborderviolence.co.uk/home/ Donate to the campaign to stop border violence: https://chuffed.org/project/190721-stop-border-violence Donate to grassroots organisations supporting people in Calais: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/calaisappeal To find out more about the organisations mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.humansforrights.org https://www.project-play.org https://www.calaisappeal.org _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Pre-order the new book , Hope Is Here now. Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is women’s work so often neglected within traditional economic theory? How have pensions become affected by gender? Why does the gender pay gap still exist? And what should governments do to deal with these systemic issues? Is this week’s episode, Zack Polanski is joined by Executive Director of Women’s Budget Group, Dr. Daniella Jenkins. _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now. Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How are politicians failing LGBTQIA+ people in the UK? Have we become less accepting of difference in society since Brexit? How much do things get taken out of context on reality tv, and is politics similar? What are the benefits of a well-funded creative industry? Zack Polanski speaks to drag legend and artist, Bimini at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield. _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now. Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What prompted the U.S. to implement the war on drugs? What’s the modern history of the legalisation and regulation of drugs? Why do the media expect simple answers to complex questions around drug policy? In this week’s episode, Zack Polanski speaks to author and professor, Kojo Koram. _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now. Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did Britain use its empire to accumulate enormous wealth? What role did the British play in the dispossession of the Palestinian people? How does a corporation become more powerful than a state? In this week's episode, Zack Polanski is joined by historian William Dalrymple. _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now. Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How is Nigel Farage evading scrutiny? Should social media companies be held to the same standard as broadcasters? Why did Keir Starmer almost immediately start sinking in the polls after his election victory in 2024? Zack Polanski talks to comedian and broadcaster, Nish Kumar. _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now. Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's it like being the main carer for a loved one? Why are kids as young as six years old dealing with the responsibility of looking after a sick parent? How are young carers penalised in the education system for stepping in to do a job that the state should be doing? Zack Polanski speaks to three carers about their unique and real-life experiences providing care for a loved one. _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now. Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do billionaires manage to pay less tax than the average British citizen? What needs to happen for wealth taxes to be implemented? And has wealth inequality become a bigger issue than it was at the start of the millennium? In this week’s episode, Zack Polanski is joined by economist, Gabriel Zucman _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life with Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now. Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did Spain decide to challenge Trump on the International stage? What’s it like being a green minister in a coalition government? How can European alliances and institutions come together to take on the billionaire class? In this week’s episode, Zack Polanski is joined by Spanish Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun. _____ What's your bold idea? Bring it to life at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bold?utm_source=boldpolitics&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cf_boldpolitics_spotify _____ Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now. Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does UK law make sex workers less safe? Why has the Nordic model of criminalising demand failed so dramatically? In what ways have new online platforms disrupted the sex industry? In this week's episode, Zack Polanski is joined by sex worker and organiser for Decrim Now, Audrey. Decrim Now is a grassroots campaign for the full decriminalisation of sex work. Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we tackle the wealth inequality emergency in the UK? Why is spending on public investment different to spending on tax-cuts? Should more British people join credit unions? This week, Zack Polanski speaks to the New Economic Foundation's CEO, Danny Sriskandarajah. Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is Britain’s housing sector in such a bad state? Is the fact 10% of MPs are landlords a conflict of interest when it comes to voting and policymaking? And why have successive governments not built enough social housing? In this week’s episode, Zack Polanski speaks to housing campaigner, Kwajo Tweneboa. Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we doing enough to protect our children from harmful online content? How can we do more to tackle violence against women and girls? And what’s it like to take a career break from the Civil Service to go on Love Island?! This week, Zack speaks to campaigner and former civil servant, Sharon Gaffka. Bold Politics Live is at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield on July 5th. Pre-order the new book, Hope Is Here now . Email: zack@boldpolitics.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.