Pod Save the UK

This week, Nish & Coco reckon with the latest act of political desperation from Farage and his ailing Reform party: returning to their single-issue roots and promising to shut down England’s asylum system altogether. 
Plus, amidst the ongoing Manchester City scandal, we dive into the PSUK vault and return to an interview from June 2023 with then-mayor Andy Burnham, where Nish & Coco quizzed him on Abu Dhabi investment in the city. Back then, he said broader issues were a “matter for government”. Now he is the government–what next? Also, Nish outs himself as a football nerd. 
And, Brexit’s back on the table– again?! We’re joined by Professor of European Politics Anand Menon, to talk about whether rejoining the EU is desirable, or even possible anymore. Will this dominate the next ten years’ worth of political debate? Does Europe even want us back? We discuss, using a lot of Marvel metaphors…
USEFUL LINKS
Manchester Mill’s reporting on Abu Dhabi’s relationship with Manchester City Council: https://manchestermill.co.uk/exclusive-sheikh-mansour-contract-manchester/ 
UK in a Changing Europe website and resources: https://ukandeu.ac.uk/ 
Don’t forget you can get in touch! Contact us via email: podsavetheuk@crooked.com if you want to share questions, thoughts, or general musings! 
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Pod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.
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This week, Nish & Coco are joined by Megan Kenyon, Political Correspondent at the New Statesman, to unpack some of the noisy headlines coming out of the Green Party conference over the weekend. They discuss what the passing of the ‘Zionism is Racism’ means for the party, and how the Greens are positioning themselves in relation to Labour: as a wholesale replacement, or as a way to hold Burnham to account? 
They also look ahead to the Holborn & St Pancras by-election (which is happening today as you listen!), and ask: who is the Conservative Party actually for in 2026? Dinkwads, Dumpys, or something in-between? 
Also, newly elected SNP MP Lara Bird joins us! She shares her experience navigating Westminster, reflects on how her work for Britain Palestine Project has shaped her politics, and explains why achieving the SNP’s core mission would put her out of a job…
**Coco was a little under the weather in this week’s episode, so you may hear some coughs. We tried to remove as many as we could, but there was so much interesting conversation we didn’t want to lose! ** 
USEFUL LINKS
Catch up with Megan’s reporting on the Green Party Conference and the ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2026/10/greens-vote-to-declare-zionism-as-racism 
Watch the I Think You Should Leave Hot Dog sketch Nish references: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLfAf8oHrMo 
Join the National March for Palestine on the 10th October: https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-march-for-palestine-save-the-date/ 
Don’t forget you can get in touch! Contact us via email: podsavetheuk@crooked.com if you want to share questions, thoughts, or general musings! 
CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS 
HEXCLAD: https://www.hexclad.co.uk/PSTUK 
BETTERHELP: https://www.betterhelp.com/psuk    
SHOPIFY: https://www.shopify.co.uk 
Pod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.
Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk 
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This week, Nish & Coco catch up on the Labour Party Conference, and react to Andy Burnham’s promises to break with the politics of the past, and build a sustainable future…but what about the present? 
We’re also starstruck in the studio as we’re joined by Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor to discuss their latest book, ‘End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World’. They talk about the consequences of a dangerous alliance of tech bros, Christian fundamentalists, and ethno-nationalists, wary of the so-called “great replacement”. 
But there’s also hope in community organising, action, and championing the natural world; staying grounded, while the billionaires plan their exit to space. Nish wanted to call this episode “gay porn and soup”... you will have to listen to find out why! 
USEFUL LINKS
Buy Naomi & Astra’s book: End Times Fascism : Naomi Klein, : 9780241816288 : Blackwell's 
Read Jane Bradley’s reporting for the New York Times into Nigel Farage and Reform UK’s links to one of America’s most influential conservative Christian groups, the ‘Alliance Defending Freedom’: They Helped Topple Roe v. Wade. Now Their Sights Are Set on Britain. - The New York Times 
Join the National March for Palestine on the 10th October: https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-march-for-palestine-save-the-date/ 
CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS 
VANTA: https://www.vanta.com/PSTUK
SHOPIFY: https://www.shopify.co.uk 
Pod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.
Don’t forget you can get in touch! Contact us via email: podsavetheuk@crooked.com if you want to share questions, thoughts, or general musings! 
Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk 
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This week, Nish & Coco are left reeling from the news that Tom Watson is the latest in a long line of politicians swapping the ballot box for big tech bucks. They consider the implications of Palantir’s cosy relationship with former government officials, and ask where the line is with lobbying. 
Also, we’re joined by 33.3% of the hosts of Crooked’s new podcast, ‘Still Counting’ - Galen Druke. He demystifies all things polls, explaining the methodology in the madness and how much we can learn from all these numbers. Plus, have you ever wondered who’s the most optimistic about fighting a bear? 
And, Coco & Nish reunite with Nikesh Shukla, ten years after the publication of The Good Immigrant. They consider the role identity politics has played in the last decade, and how we can stay optimistic–and active–members of our communities during increasingly scary times. 
USEFUL LINKS
Read the Nerve’s excellent reporting on Palantir poaching government officials: https://www.thenerve.news/p/palantir-revolving-doors-peter-thiel-transparency-corruption-risk 
Listen to Still Counting: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/still-counting/
Buy Nikesh’s book (10th anniversary edition)! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Immigrant-writers-reflect-contemporary/dp/1837266220 
CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS 
INCOGNI: https://www.incogni.com/podsavetheuk Code: podsavetheuk
SHOPIFY: https://www.shopify.co.uk 
VANTA: https://www.vanta.com/PSTUK
Pod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.
Don’t forget you can get in touch! Contact us via email: podsavetheuk@crooked.com if you want to share questions, thoughts, or general musings! 
Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk 
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk 
X: https://x.com/podsavetheuk

This week, journalist and friend of the show Will Hayward joins to unpack a landmark summit between the leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. With pro-independence parties joining forces and declaring that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end” – bold words, but what does it really mean? 
Plus, Jordan Stephens, musician, writer and one half of Rizzle Kicks, joins Nish and Coco to discuss the rise of hyper-masculine figures online, and whether human connection can offer a healthier model and an alternative to the politics of division.
USEFUL LINKS
Subscribe to Will Hayward’s substack here
Watch Jordan Stephens ‘In Search Of Peace’ here 
CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS 
BETTERHELP: https://www.betterhelp.com/psuk    
SHOPIFY: https://www.shopify.co.uk 
Pod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.
Don’t forget you can get in touch! Contact us via email: podsavetheuk@crooked.com if you want to share questions, thoughts, or general musings! 
Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk 
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk 
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